South Africa Cape Town Argus Cycle Tour, March 2018:
68 miles, 3,400 ft, 4hrs 20 min, 15.5 avg speed.
The Argus tour is billed as the largest participation ride in the world, and has seen up to 35,000 riders take part in recent events in its 40 year history. The event raises millions of Rand for charity projects in the Western Cape. The 2017 edition was cancelled due to very high winds although one British rider attacked the course and completed it in defiance of the closure. We gathered in front of the grand architecture of the town hall next to a statue of King Edward VII, the royal patron who was so well known in all the corners of the globe. Only 26,000 riders taking part his year, some in fancy dress, one Brompton folder, several very large people, mostly road bikes a few off roadies, only a few vintage machines. Weather was cool and light overcast, and mercifully no wind, we set off in groups of 100 from pens on the Grand Parade where the Royal Scots Greys used to be inspected. Easy climbs out of the city in motorways and dual roads, got the legs going and into the rhythm of riding with many people, keeping clear of everybody and generally observing the golden rule of restraint to save energy for the big climbs at the end of the course. Big discrepancies in speeds as casual cyclists got in the way of racing speedsters, so several collisions at water stops, these were plentiful and consisted of long lines of tables on the road side with water and energy drinks in cups, the sun is very hot when the clouds occasionally cleared but a thick layer of factor 50+ keeps the worse at bay, the route was a circuit of the Cape peninsular, and the southward leg was straightforward, much like my training ride on the country lanes around Stratford, with obvious differences in the landscapes, many people out on the roadside to cheer us on, Muizenberg was the site of great battle where the British army landed and defeated the Dutch to take control of the Cape in 1795, past Simons Town the home of the Dutch East India Company ships in 1650 and now of the South African navy, and port of departure for the Antarctic expeditions of Scott, Ross, Naher and Drygalski, almost riding to the Cape of Good Hope but turning off northwards on the return to Cape Town, on this leg the towns and seaside vista was much more interesting, the boulders of the 12 Apostles standing proud in vibrant turquoise seas and foaming white waves, it was difficult not to stop to take in the scenes, and then the major climb of Chapmans Peak Drive, a ribbon of tarmac snaking up the side of a vertical rock face, everybody in lowest gear and concentrating hard, about 3 miles at 7%, a steady grind with great views of the deep blue sea, and then a fast downhill into the posh area of some very expensive houses, using three lanes like Nigel Mansell, pretending to be Chris Froome on the 2017 Tour of France, until the second big climb of Suikerbossie, another 7 percenter just before the finish, but no real problem to conquer, and then the run in to the end just narrowly avoiding running off the road on the last sharp corner to the cry of ‘well done’ from a spectator, a giant sized medal was my reward and then back to the hotel for a water restricted shower and packing bike and bags for the next stop on the trip. Highlights were Victoria and Alfred waterfront, Kirstenbosch gardens, Laingsberg flood museum and Boer War British blockhouse, Matjiesfontein and 10 minute tour on London bus.
