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barrydale

Cycling

Mad Men’s 2024 Double Century Tale

Through Swellendam’s early morning hue,

Eleven friends, a daring crew.

The “Mad Men” set out to conquer the race,

With grit and glory etched on each face.

 

Up Trudouw Pass, they began their flight,

A scenic path bathed in golden light.

Through Barrydale’s charm and Montagu’s grace,

The brutal climbs were no easy pace.

 

Effervescent Mitha, the surrogate guide,

Earned “Man of the Ride” with heartfelt pride.

Yet Arshad, the captain, with wisdom so fine,

Was the mastermind behind their shine.

 

Siraaj surged, besting his past,

While Ziyaad’s first effort was a standout blast.

Motor-mouth Bera, with banter on spree,

Nearly drowned the chatter of Mills with glee.

 

Zahid, so elegant, steady and grand,

Paired with Isco, the Silent Assassin’s hand.

Their power surged, their cadence flowed,

Their efforts lifted the team on the road.

 

But alas, not all saw the finish line—

Bash, Luqman, Mota, missed the climb.

Fazel pressed on, though near his brink,

While others soared, they stopped to think.

 

Six hours and fifty-one minutes flew,

202 kilometers conquered, the Mad Men crew.

A weekend etched with laughter and flair,

As plans for next year hang in the air.

 

To the climbs, the winds, the laughs, the cheers,

This race was a memory for the years.

The Mad Men’s bond, like pedals in motion,

Forever driven by endless devotion.

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202211_dc
Cycling

Close the Gap – Double Century Cycle Race 2022

Often it takes several attempts to truly appreciate a race. Such was the impact of this year’s version of the Double Century team cycle event. After our disaster in 2012, our team enjoyed success in 2014 and each year thereafter. I was not a regular participant over the years, but this edition, my fourth, left an indelible mark. It stands, for me, as one of South Africa’s most iconic race and a race one must do, repeatedly.

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2014_dc
Cycling

Slaying the Ghost – Double Century Cycle Race 2014

What a day! The ghost of 2012 Coronation Double Century has firmly been slain. The monkey is off our back. The NH team rode strong and well despite punctures and a mechanical failure. Each member was forced to dig deep. The reward was a double medal – one for completing and the other for completing together. Stunning stuff. The 202 km was completed in 7 hours 40 minutes.

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