Summer Is Coming But So Are The Polar Bears!!!

Barry Rankin, 1 July 2009

About Barry Rankin

For those of you that have not realized the winter solstice has passed from now on IT IS SUMMER ALL THE WAY!

The days are getting longer and the nights are shorter and yet it is still getting colder. I am almost positive that when I woke up this morning there were polar bears in my room. It was freezing, but I am loving my riding so the cold does not count!!!

So the past week was actually a very good week for training. Had 2 great indoor sessions on Tuesday and Thursday with a couple gym / swim / run sessions in between. Mixing it up is definitely keeping me motivated and is helping me with my riding!

The weekend was then spent at Mankele (www.mankele.co.za). It is situated about 30km this side of Nelspruit, about a 3 hour drive from JHB!

The best mountain biking ever, Saturday we went out and spent about 4 hours in the saddle followed by 2 hours on Sunday. The climbs are well worth the effort needed to get to the top just because the down on the other side was so much fun. Don't get me wrong I was still very nervous of the downs but I loved the riding and only about 2 hours into Saturday's ride did I manage to find 'my balls' I started taking risks again, risks that were well worth it.

The scenery stole any pain, the single track was just plain exciting and I have not thought of a word for the views yet!!! Thinking of it now I am sure I was laughing while riding, maybe I was not riding hard enough or maybe I just loved it but frankly I don't care. IT WAS FUN. We spent the evenings talking a whole bunch of nothing around a fire with a beer in hand!

What an amazing riding weekend, awesome riding and a relaxed enviroment! All I can say to everyone out there, is pack the car, grab a few riding mates and don't come home till you have to! I will definitely see you there again!