The Argus Cycle Tour 2009

Estelle Bruwer, 8 Jun 2009

Cape Town, 105.5km

Dear Argus Cyclists, Organisers, Sponsors, Wonderful Spectators and those interested

I would love to share my amazing story of how I was able to finish my first Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay Cycle Tour in 2009!
I started cycling at 10:18 and had a fairly good race up until the top of Chapman's Peak, taking into consideration the 60km/h wind on Sunday 8 March of course...

As I was starting the descent down Chapman's Peak, a ghastly wind torpedoed down the mountain and blew me into a fellow cyclist. My front wheel collided with his back wheel and unfortunately we could not avoid colliding with the tar road as well.

Both of us just sat on the road quite flabbergasted by what had happened. Eventually, a concerned cyclist stopped and helped us out of our daze and onto the side of the road. With extreme effort and a very painful right shoulder, I managed to straighten my saddle. As I was trying to gather my thoughts and come to my senses I realised that the only way I was going to finish this race was by the grace of God. After praying, a few vitamin tabs, a banana and some hydration, I was able to send out an sms to a few friends for prayer support for me to finish the race. After some recuperation, I finally felt ready to get back onto my bike.

I tried to get going but then realised that the wheels didn't want to turn. On closer inspection I noticed that one of the front wheel spokes had broken and that the wheel was bent so badly that it couldn't rotate past the front brakes. I managed to attach the broken spoke to another one with my "I support a smoke free world" wrist band. I adjusted the front brakes to be as wide as possible, but the wheel still couldn't turn a full cycle. At that moment, another cyclist came past and asked to use my allen keys. I agreed without hesitation and then asked him to please bend my front wheel for me. After some inspection we concluded that the front brake would have to be removed. The friendly cyclist managed to remove one of the front brake pads for me and warned me to go slowly, especially on the downhills!

Finally I was progressing forward again, with approximately 25km still to go. All went well until I reached "Klein Suikerbossie" and started changing gears and putting some power into my pedalling. A terrible noise sounded from my back gear and my feet froze in mid air. Before I knew what had happened I was on the side of the road and a band of very eager spectators/victorious Argus cyclists were trying to figure out how to fix my bike. The drop out joint had collapsed and we managed to remove the derailleur but the chain was now way too long and the support vehicle nowhere in sight. We then made plans and decided that I would be pushed up the hill for some momentum to see if I could manage to pedal in only one gear with this long chain. All went well until I started pedalling and the chain dropped all the way to the bottom and kept slipping.

One of the spectators then said that he would have lent me his bike (which was halfway up Suikerbossie) if it wasn't for the fact that he was flying back that evening! I was astounded by the offer and promised that I would be able to return his bike as soon as I completed the race, as my friend was waiting for me at the finish. As we were busy trying to figure out the logistics, a new bystander said that he could lend me his mountain bike which was in his garage only 2 blocks away! We almost ran to his house and as Brian was getting the bike ready for me, I finally got the opportunity to use the lavatory as well! He adjusted the bike's seat for me and filled his water bottle for me. We realised that neither road cleats nor bare feet would do on the MTB pedals and I desperately asked for some flip flops! Finally I was back on the road again!

The race officials tried to cancel the race twice, because of safety precautions, but the enthusiasm and will power of the cyclists at Suikerbossie triumphed. We pedalled our hardest against the wind down Suikerbossie and I finally finished at 17:37 with the commentator's words echoing in my victorious spirit, "In fish slops!! Come on girl!"

I would like to extend my sincere apologies for colliding with the poor unsuspecting cyclist mentioned above!
I praise God for His provision to let me finish my first Argus Cycle Tour! I would also love to extend my sincere gratitude and thanks to the race organisers and sponsors, all the support from the spectators, especially the extremely helpful ones included in my story, my wonderful friends and family, Diversit? (for checking my grammar and spelling) and all involved!