Walter and Beer Boy did the Cape Epic together this year and have an entry for 2009 again, so this sort of marks the start of their training and, as I discovered, their Bromance. I felt quite honoured to be privvy to this over the weekend, and sharing a tent with them was also rather interesting.

Karoo to Coast is a hugely popular mtb race, with well over 1000 finishers each year. It covers 100km of gravel road linking Uniondale to Knysna (with the slightest bit of tar). Although it is predominantly downhill (53%) there is still over 1700m of ascent.

It is also a bit of a logistical nightmare, as it is an A to B race, meaning that you need a driver to get your car, tent and kit bag from Uniondale to Knysna on race day. The route itself is closed to traffic on the day, so vehicles have to drive 2hrs via George to get to the finsh line. And if you don't have a driver...? Well, that's what we dealt with this weekend.

Four of us drove up to Uniondale on Friday late afternoon, arriving there at midnight. One of our group had decided not to camp, so we dropped him off at his B&B. Walter*, Beer Boy and I then proceeded to the camp site and set up our tent in freezing temperatures. Saturday morning we were up early, having been woken from the cold. We emptied the car of anything we wanted for that night, locked it all in the tent, got into our cycling kit, packed hydration bags for the day, and set out in the car for Knysna.

In Knysna we first headed to the Waterfront for a big breakfast and then on to the finish line to park the car overnight. The organsiers were in the process of setting up as we rode under the finishing banner to start our ride up. Stopping to have a quick chat, we found out that they are actually considering doing the race as a two day 'there-and-back' as we were about to do. I'm definitely up for that when they do it!

So off we were on our Coast to Karoo Mission. The route for K2C takes in the Ou Wapad and Kom se Pad at the start and finish, but it was already 12pm by the time we left Knysna, so we headed out on the N2 towards Plett, and took the first left at the top of the hill, getting directly onto the Uniondale road via Prince Alfred's Pass.

None of us wanting to exhaust ourselves before the race the next day, we took it slightly chilled and spun our way up the 2000m+ ascent to Uniondale. It was a great day out. We had purpose to our ride as we had to get back up to the start line, so it had a different feeling to just doing a day's outride.

Along the way we stopped at the "Groot Boom" - a 650+ yr old Outeniqua Yellowwood. Very impressive indeed! It took us 1hr30 to climb the 14km and 760m ascent of Prince Alfred's Pass. By the time we got to the top it was 4:30pm and my watch registered a mere 9deg! I was having flashbacks to France, being this cold at the top of a long consistent climb.

As in France, you see a crest which appears could be the top, but as you come around the corner you see another long stretch ahead of you. So far this is the best climb I have found locally that can begin to compare. So if you're keen on doing La Marmotte, come train here.

From the top of the pass we took the main road that heads directly to Uniondale although there were signs saying it was closed. And we soon found out why: half the road appears to have been washed away in recent months. At places only one lane was visible and railings were suspended over large dongas. Quite eery.

We went directly to registration upon our arrival, and were greeted by some mates who weren't all that surprised that we'd cycled up, although they did shake their heads. Guess we've established a bit of a reputation already. But there were at least another 9 guys that had done the same that day. I got off the bike feeling a bit of a cold coming on, so resigned myself to taking it easy on race day.

It felt a bit odd standing in the front group of registered riders for the first time. But, wearing my new Club 100 kit, I felt I should prove my worth, cold and all. Off went the gun and we shot down the road. I kept a close eye on my heart rate to make sure i didn't blow early, and spun as much as I could to let the legs warm up after the previous day.

The joy of starting first is that you avoid all the congestion on the Ou Wapad. An old, rocky jeeptrack allowing two lanes only, where many people start to walk early. I was ahead of all that, so managed to keep a pace all the way.

Descending Prince Alfred's Pass was pure pleasure. 14km of sweet downhill, making use of the entire width of the road and screeching brakes at the sharp corners. Having 'conquered' the climb the day before, it made it all that much more enjoyable. It took me all of 20minutes to get to the bottom!

The rest of the ride was great. I kept at a steady pace, not wanting to overdo it at all, but apparently not going slowly either. By the halfway mark I was on course for a 4hr30, which is what I'd originally hoped to do, so I kept at it. The only section I didn't enjoy, and it was the same last year, is going through Kom se Pad. A great deal of it is at a very slight incline. Not enough to call it a climb, and it's definitely not flat. I found it highly demoralising, a bit like Chinese water torture, as if you're going nowhere slowly. Aaarghhh!!

Looking down Prince Alfred's Pass

The last big climb of the day takes you up to Simola Golf Estate, after which they send you along the (red) brick road. This has to be one of the best descents, flying down, jumping over speed bumps and avoiding golf carts. From here it's a couple of kays on tar to the finish line. I pedalled as hard as what was possibly left in me over the last stretch and came across the fiish line in 4hr31. A full hour faster than last year!!

But the cold that had been creeping up started to make itself even more known and has since knocked me out for a few days. Beer Boy and Walter came in not too long after me and we went in search of the kind chap who'd brought our bags and tent down for us. Cold showers were on offer at the finish, as well as cold beers, which were all much appreciated. As soon as we could, we packed up the car and headed back home before the rush, although I think many stayed on in Knysna for a holiday.

* Name has been changed to protect his identity

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