Mike Woolnough

It’s always best to not second guess Martin. He operates on a completely different level.

Martin got there at 12:10 in 2017. I don’t expect him to repeat that time this year. I’m expecting the front guys to make Allendale by 12:45-13:00.

If a gate is supposed to be open it will typically be fully open as in 90 degrees or more to allow a bakkie to get through. If it’s any less than that then I assume it’s supposed to be closed. Even more so if it’s barely open enough to allow a bicycle through. I had other riders near me say “leave it open the next guys are almost here.” Sorry that’s nonsense. Unless you physically hand a gate to another rider then you have a responsibility to close it even if it means closing the gate on a rider who is only 20 or 30 metres away. I don’t buy the narrative that goes, “Well I found it slightly ajar so I left it the way I found it.” Alex did say at race briefing that if you weren’t sure then default to closing gates.

Enjoyed reading that. Looks like you have engaged fully with the process. Looking forward to future posts and to seeing you on the start line AND at the finish.

I load up a whole load of podcasts as well as audiobooks to supplement my music collection.

You’ll notice that Mr Munga - Alex Harris - is on the list but he won’t be racing hard. He will be chilling midfield mingling with the other riders.

Here is the line up for this year’s race: Mike Woolnough Christopher Palmer Jerrard Le Roux Andrew Gowans Gus Pauw Mickael Da Matha Sant'anna Jean Biermans Denzyl O'donoghue Pieter Strobos George Van Maanen Gerrit Pretorius Neville Higgs Willem Brits Darrell Breetzke Fietie Rocher Johannes Smit Mark Blewett Karina Britz Daryl Wilson Sean Shaw Max Menzies Freek Van Tonder Marcus Maree Jacques Swart Clinton Halsey Gerald Cele Sarel Louw Gavin Robinson Andrew Eve Dawie Van Rensburg Steven Wolhuter Marco Martins David Cubbin Kobus Barnard Frank Masson Wade Mosterd Pieter Venter Riccardo Stermin Joggie Rautenbach Kevin Benkenstein Lonnie Tiegs Stefan Le Roux Janine Stewart Pieter Gerrit Du Preez Leonard Martin Wayne Mac Farlane Hendre Terblanche Greg Irvine-smith Ryno De Kock Bruce Biccard Casper Venter Braam Nel Dave Mitchell Justin Colling Jade Mynhardt Pieter Hugo Guy Jennings Joe Theron Alain Broglia Martin Bain Venn Paul Krynauw Riaan Potgieter Acto Cargo Simon Rollo Tom Armstrong Dion Guy John Mark Beckley Dirk Coetsee Edgar Stafford Piet Van Der Linde Johannes Griessel Gavin Horton Jane Horton Mark Harris Colin Anderson Tim Lotz Philip Van Der Merwe Stefano Migliore Lazarus Mashishi Jaco Cromhout Johannes Hermanus Fourie Arno Crous Louis Fourie Wynand Van Vuuren Giuseppe Adreani Edward Holmes Matthew Miller Daniel Alikisente Conraadt Van Den Heever Lester Tait Piet Laubscher Dale De Kiewit Fanie Venter Tracey Campbell Rion Goosen Jako Wolmarans Dirk Griesel Michael Twyman Kobus Steenkamp Jeannie Dreyer Anton Maybery Paul Fouche Bruce Campbell John Exley Sthembiso Masango Alex Harris Rafeeq Safodien

I've been a tad lazy this winter. Got busy with this and that and targeted the beginning of August to start training for this year's Munga. I took advantage of the midweek holiday on the 9th August to go for a spin. Early into the ride I took a silly slow speed tumble and hurt my thigh. A sonar revealed a haematoma that'll keep me off my bike for at least 6 weeks. It's been almost 3 weeks and the improvement is low to negligible. Going to be interesting getting into shape. Hopefully I can get back on my bike early October. 8 weeks should be enough if I stick to a proper programme. One things for sure, come November 29 I'll be on the start line in Bloemfontein. The plan was to ride a sub-70 hour race this year. Might be a big ask now but I'll still give it a whirl.

A story well told in words and pictures. Benky looks well whipped in some of those pictures but he hung in and endured. That's one winners medal that isn't going to tossed in the man drawer. It deserves a place where it can be seen often and bear mute testimony to the challenges faced and overcome.

http://mikewoolnough.blogspot.co.za/2016/12/racing-munga-2016-inauspicious-start.html?m=1

I'll start on a race report today. Wil be posted on my blog: mikewoolnough.blogspot.co.za

Since finishing the race on Saturday I've spent hours reading through these 90 odd pages. You guys are a special breed. Your commitment to this forum is no less intense than the guys and gals who entered the race. You are all a bunch of nutters as are the riders who entered the race. We make a good team. A few words from the field as it were. Choice of bike. There have been suggestions that a cyclocross bike who be the best choice of bike. I don't agree. It may be faster on certain roads but the conditions overall make it too hard. I'm not absolutely certain but I think only one cyclocross bike finished the race and that was at the back. You need to ride a bike that can keep you in the saddle for the longest time. It needs to be comfortable. I'm not suggesting La-Z-Boy comfort but you certainly don't want a bike that will hammer your hands, backside and body. I finished in 73 hours. 66 hours of that was spent moving. My bike allowed me to do that. I rode a hardtail but had big volume tyres (Scwhalbe Thunder Burt) and ran them soft (1.6 bar). I also ran my front shock very soft. I've had problems with CTS before and came out of this race with my hands in good shape. So what's the best bike for this race? Short answer, the one you have. Set it up to give you the most comfortable ride possible. Remember, apart from a cyclocross bike which I don't recommend, it's not about the bike.

That would have to be Jeanie Dreyer

Here is a list of competitors as supplied by the race office. Might be one or two additions since this list was made available. Ted Fountain Christopher Palmer Freek Van Tonder Con Loubser Clinton Halsey Trevor Seinen Jako Wolmarans Chris Van Zyl Heinrich Visser George van Maanen Clement Mabula Jan Smit Rafeeq Safodien Mazwi Smimango Leon Erasmus Wade Mosterd Vaughn Roux Michael Levell Piet Van Der Linde James Marsh Sean Wheeler Mike Woolnough Greeff Moolman Dewald Scholtz Gavin Robinson Siska Van Der Bijl Wayne Mac Farlane Mark Harris Pieter Hugo Pierre De Jager Mike Glover Lester Tait George Bester Guenter Drach Christi Viljoen Dirk Griesel Riaan Potgieter Jaco Cromhout Nicky Booyens Andries Gous Garth De Jager Tim Deane Henning Janse Van Rensburg Gerald Cele Douglas Reed Braam Roux Stephan Grobler Fjord Jordaan Pieter Van Hoogdalem Jn Smit Alan Hardaker Per Lofstrand philip kleijnhans neville higgs Ray Farrenkothen Christo Van Den Heever Guy Jennings Katja Steenkamp Giles Clinton Jerrard Le Roux Peet Balfur Cloete Murray Michael Potgieter Pieter Marius Blomerus Gavin Horton Francois Esterhuizen Anton Bosman Keven Benkenstein Daniel Alikisente Hanlie Booyens Bradley Hemphill Dion Guy Jeannie Dreyer Tim Brink Brad Jackson Janine Stewart Matthew Miller John De Bruyn BONGA NGQOBANE Dave Linder Sean Baloyi Johnny Tauyatswala Derrick Bingham Bruce malele