Natty Newbie episode 10: Prima donna mountain bike race jitters

Just three days before the Ride Crater Cruise race and first-time mountain biker Natty Newbie is in a state. Don’t forget to enter the fabulous competition to win a starter mountain bike and kit worth R22 000.

Oh my gosh, I’ve just received confirmation of my race entry for the Ride Crater Cruise this weekend in Parys’s Vredefort Dome, a World Heritage Site. And guess what? I am classified as a veteran. A VETERAN, I say! What rot is this? There’s still plenty of life left in these legs. And thanks to regular Simon Says moments in front of the TV watching and following Yoga for Cyclists DVD I can still, touch my toes and even do a shoulder stand. So where do they get veteran from?

On reading the entry I stormed across to the Ride magazine editor’s office and lodged a complaint about this ageist sport.

Tim Brink, the new editor of Ride, has a wicked sense of humour and after explaining that 40 and up are vets (I squeaked in at 40) then added: “Just be grateful that you don’t do running. Then veterans have to wear a V on their shirts.

“Oh,”replied I,”and what’s that for? Do not reVive?”

After this shock, I am off to CycleLab for pre-race retail therapy. I’ll be adding a set of bar ends and new grips to my handlebars (R180), a special bike wash (R95) to give my sexy Merida a sponge bath after the race on Saturday and for me, a pair of Oakley Radars to look cool (because after eight weeks I still can’t hold a line but, being a Capetonian, the only thing that matters is how you look).

The great thing about my shopping spree dear reader is that you get to benefit too. Each of these new items will be added to the grand prize, pushing the total value up to R22 000. So don’t forget to enter the competition to win a Merida Big Nine TFS300 29er and start-up kit worth that includes a pair of Oakley sunglasses and a Bryton Rider 20 bike computer with heart-rate monitor. Nice hey!

Till next time, pedal on…

Natty Newbie

 

Contact CycleLab for a great selection of products in the online store, advice, tours, online race entries and details of the stores round the country.

 

READ OTHER NATTY NEWBIE BLOGS 

Natty Newbie gets into mountain biking

Natty Newbie starts mountain biking episode two: Bike set-up

Natty Newbie episode three: Six things Natty learned about mountain biking   

Natty Newbie episode four: Mountain biking first spills 

Natty Newbie episode five: Weight watching techniques

Natty Newbie episode six: Stretching her limits in a yoga class for cyclists

Natty Newbie episode seven: How to fix a puncture

Natty Newbie episode eight: Expanding the mountain biking family

Natty Newbie episod nine: 15 things to love and hate about mountain biking 

WIN Ride, Sanlam Reality and CycleLab are giving one lucky reader the chance to win the full starter kit as described in this blog. All you have to do is follow the series and answer the question below.

Click here to enter the competition. Closing Date is 31 October 2012. The items on the prize equipment list may be exchanged for similar goods of the same or lesser value to cater for individual fit. Click here for the full prize equipment list.