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joBerg2C – Going alone for the long ride

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The Old Mutual joBerg2c is a demanding team event, but if you feel the need to add an extra challenge, you can always ride by yourself for nine days.

There’s a pinch of madness required to enter the nine day, 900km-long Old Mutual joBerg2c. As the days and distance tell you, it’s one long ride, the longest stage race in South Africa, in fact. Time, effort and money all go into getting to the start, along with the not so trifling matter of finding the right partner. Choose wisely, and the nine days will be the ride of your life. Choose poorly, and your ride will seem even longer than the 900km on offer.

Of course, the Old Mutual joBerg2c is also one of the few stage races that allows riders to enter as a solo participant. So if your partner pick ’n mix fails to yield the right combination, you can always take on the challenge alone, something 227 people (209 men, 18 women) have decided to do at this year’s joBerg2c. It’s the highest number of solo entries joBerg2c has ever had, and something that race director Craig Wapnick puts down to the excellent safety features of the race. “When stage racing started in South Africa a big concern was safety,” says Wapnick. “That’s why a lot of races started with the team aspect. I think that over the years our excellent safety standards have convinced riders that this is a challenge they can take on solo.”

Wapnick initially decided to introduce the solo category because of the number of phone calls he received from entrants who couldn’t find suitable partners. He says he’d prefer for more teams to enter, but as long as people are having fun at joBerg2c then it’s all good. “We couldn’t do more than this year’s number of solo riders, though. They each get a tent, so we are at full capacity in terms of space.”

Not having to share a tent is one perk of the solo entry. But make no mistake; riding alone is a test of endurance and mental strength. The climbs seem longer, the water points further away, the bumps in the road more aggressive and the solitude more haunting.

Leading the solo category in 2016 is Calvin Beneke. Just behind is Charles Mcfall. On Day 4, after three long testing days, the pair “teamed up” for the 93km ride from Sterkfontein Dam in the Free State to Winterton in KwaZulu-Natal.

“I was offered the opportunity to ride two weeks before the race started,” says Beneke. “It was too late to find a partner, but I really wanted to ride. It’s tough, though. If you ride with a partner there is someone there to help you through the bad patches, but if you’re on your own you need to get your head right all by yourself. That’s why Charles and I paired up today; it was good just to have someone to ride with.”

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Mcfall was initially entered into the team event, but his partner was injured before joBerg2c started. He didn’t want to miss out, so changed to a solo entrant. “Riding solo definitely impacts you,” says Mcfall. “It can make the race very difficult when you are by yourself. joBerg2c is already tough, but taking on the challenge solo ramps that up. On a positive note, when you ride by yourself you can go at your own pace. Sometimes with a partner he can ride you into the ground, and that can ruin your race too.”

Someone well accustomed to riding alone is 2015 Munga winner and current third placed solo rider at 2016 joBerg2c, John Ntuli. After riding days and nights alone to win the 1000km single-stage race from Bloemfontein to the Western Cape, Ntuli was looking forward to some company at joBerg2c. His partner was away racing just before the event started, so Ntuli ended up in the solo category again.

“I cycled solo in 2015 because I couldn’t find a partner strong enough,” says Ntuli. “And now I’m back again because my partner was unavailable. It’s been good so far, but very tough. Riding alone is incredibly hard. I have some team events lined up after this, and I’m looking forward to that.”

Winner of the women’s solo race on Day 4, Patsy Hime, already knows all about the negative side of being without a partner at joBerg2c. “Riding solo has its ups and downs,” she says. “On Day 1 I had an absolute nightmare with mechanical issues and was dropped by all the groups. That’s when you really feel the lack of a teammate. I was out there by myself for long stretches. On the other hand, when you get into a bunch and you’re with people, it’s very enjoyable. But yes, riding solo does take you into some dark places. You just have to keep your head strong and push through.”

Also view:

Mountain Bike Safety and Riding the Trail

 

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