http://www.ambmag.com.au 53KILIMANJAROBukulebe and Melkiad Mahendeka, rounded out
the top five.
Brett appeared, having run the singletrack to
check the markers. He said the first 4km was
quite technical and we might need to hike-a-bike
a little. Maybe it was the wind, maybe I misheard.
Skipping the hot drinks at the helipad feedzone
we headed straight into the singletrack that was
far more taxing than we were expecting. The first
kilometre we negotiated well by pedalling through
the babyhead rocks but soon after we found
ourselves in a rocky ascent that was probably
beyond us. Certainly with 3 days of racing ahead
and no hospital nearby we weren’t prepared to
practice on the very technical terrain. It was at
this point we caught up with Philip again while the
singlespeed mens duo powered away.
At the top of the climb, with bike over the
shoulder was Cathedral Junction. When not in
cloud as it was when we reached it the view is
apparently breathtaking - kind of like the climb.
The magnitude of the drop below was impressive,
enough to ensure you didn’t step too close. From
here the singletrack was mostly rideable back to
the main road. Nola took the lead and we bombed
down the hill, taking care of the pea gravel, in 30
minutes.
Each day our bikes were cleaned for us. On
return the broken spoke that gave my bike the
sound of spokey dokies on the descent was
obvious. I had this sinking feeling as I realised the
work needed to replace it. Tommy Clark, the event
mechanic, came to my rescue. As long as I didn’t
mind that spokey dokey sound he could remove
it and keep me rolling for the rest of the race
without much bother. FINDING THE RHYTHM
As with any stage race the days developed this
natural rhythm of ride, debrief, recover, brief,
repeat. For me that it is the beauty of stage
racing. It is a simple being that centres around
riding in the outdoors. Briefing for Seven Sistersincluded instructions on what to do in case we
meet elephants. First and foremost they have
right of way, stop for them and wait no matter how
long that takes. Second don’t make yourself look
big or play too small. Easy really.
Come day 2, we took our leave of Simba Farm
for an 80km leg and our first night under canvas.
The start was just outside the farm gate with
many from Simba waving us off. This day would
turn out to be our favourite. At one stage as a
hyena ran across our path we were just stopped
in the middle of the Africian plains saying ‘Wow,
oh wow!’
Before we got to the plains though we headed
out through the farm tracks. The same groups as
the first day quickly formed and we descended
onto a 15km singletrack that descended 800m.
This was where we first watched the professional
downhilling skills the other women’s pair of Anka
and Katie as they overtook us and flawlessly
accelerated away.
At the bottom was our first Maasai village,“ON REACHING GELAI BOMBA TOWNSHIP
WERE TOLD TO ASK FOR MAMA J’S GROCERY.
GROCERY, IN TANZANIA MEANS BAR.
THE FEED ZONE FOR THIS SECTION
HAD AN OPEN TAB.”