Just over ten years ago I got on a plane with my bicycle and a small backpack, one way ticket to Durban. I then rode home. I was doing the Freedom Challenge, which is a 2200km mountain bike ride from Pietermaritzburg to Paarl – in midwinter. At the time 26 people had ridden it, now over 300 have. It hasn’t quite gone ‘mainstream’ yet, as it is limited by the size of the accommodation options along the way and it just really is that hard. On reflection it was a pivotal moment in my life, almost to the point where I bookmark things as pre and post ‘Freedom Challenge’. What lessons came my way during those 750 000 pedal strokes?
You really can do anything if you put your mind to it
All the cute ways to say this have already been taken, but the cliché is true. This was really tough, way out of my normal comfort zone with extreme cold and long days putting the body into serious and prolonged exhaustion. It’s all about eating that elephant, you start with the first bite and just keep on going – eventually the seemingly impossible can be achieved
Really don’t put off those dreams
I had always wanted to cycle through Lesotho unsupported, so when I first heard this race it captured my mind immediately. I decided it was something I would do -a long term bucket list sort of item, but within two years there I was on the startline. I was very intimidated by the undertaking, you had to apply and list all the endurance races you’d done. Comrades/2 Oceans/Dusi etc – my boxes were all unchecked and I thought I might not even qualify for a place. A lot of people thought it was just madness, I’m glad I didn’t listen to them.
Control the controllables
Sometimes things just happen, if you can’t stop them then just got on with it. This ranged from an impending weather shower to a tyre that was degrading dangerously. Put your effort into the things that you can influence, the ones that are beyond your means are not really worth worrying about. (ie. Don’t lose too much sleep over politics – unless you’re an MP)
(most) People are amazing
My ride happened just after the xenophobic attacks of 2008, there was a lot of nastiness around and one could justifiably have a very negative outlook on our citizens and their behaviour. It was as usual the 5% of the bad eggs giving everyone else a tarnished image. This race you engage with fellow riders, who while in essence are ‘racing’ also become fellow warriors in arms. You engage with locals on the side of the road and in their kitchens. The race originator, David Waddilove, was still in charge then and it was just amazing to see a man in control of this passion project that had morphed into an incredible monster – I learnt a lot of respect for him and how he treated everyone, including scolding me for getting mud on a school floor!
South Africa is a special place
I’ve felt proudly South African before it was a catchphrase, and I suppose initially also to one that had a different flag too. The contrast of places and people this route takes you to is just unbelievable. Bicycle remains a viable way to explore, and in many cases the best! Most of the dorpies you pass through are way off the tourist map, and the valleys and by ways you take to piece them together are a piece of genius by itself. I came away feeling very committed to my corner of the planet and something indeed worth fighting for.
I cribbed most of these pictures from the amazing Andrew King, who did the first ever ride as well as the one I did. He was the photog in 2012 and this is some of his skills in play. The rest are from my blog itself, yes you can read all about the whole shebang here
Don't stop moving 