Miss Sharapova

On my trip to the UK to watch wimbledon I managed to bump into one Ms Sharapova. I managed to even get a pic with her after hastily thrusting my camera into some passer by's hand and telling her to take a pic!! (I swear I did, I don't even know how to use Photoshop!!!)

Steve has given me an idea, that would make a Sindle proud, to use the pic to score some free stuff from Cape Storm!!!

As posted on Steve's blog (http://muizies.blogspot.com/)

"Stu managed to co-opt ms Sharapova into a Cape Storm photo shoot. Note how he handles the pressure, very hot under the collar and barely a bead of sweat is visible - that's when selectively porous membrane is your friend."

As for the other pics of actual tennis, well those pics are sitting on a cd at a friends house in the UK!!! Will post them as soon as I get them back!! (It was raining for a large portion of the day I was there so the Sharapova pic is actually as good as it gets!)

Till later

TdF 2

The whole TdF experience was great. It all started with the team presentation on the Friday night. I was their with my sister and we decided that rather than fight the crowds in the middle of Trafalgar square it would be better to wait around the corner and watch the riders coming off the bus. Each team then walked past us, and although there were barriers between us it was still very close. The riders didn't go out of their way to give out their autographs, but managed to get the attention of Tom Boonen, Levi and Frank Schleck and got their signatures on a TdF Meussette (spelling).

The riders then all went inside to prepare for the presentation and we climbed onto a small wall where we could look over the barriers and see the riders very closely. This only lasted for about 3 teams though before the marshals started moaning about "health and safety" and how they would be sued if we fell and broke our legs!! The wall was less than a meter high and about a meter wide. (Brits obviously lack balance!!)

As for the prologue, got there very early 9am, but was worth it because if you were even one row off the fence you couldn't see much. There was a big screen behind us so could keep up to date with the leader board.

The crowd was very much behind the 5 UK riders in the race, but there was also huge support for all the 'big' riders and a huge roar when F.C. blitzed the field

I had put up 2 SA flags on the barriers and the bunch of South African's I was with gave Robbie a huge cheer when he came past and he gave us a quick wave and a smile.

I think though if you want a chance to talk to some of the riders then the stages in France in the smaller towns would be the best bet, especially on the rest day.

All in all it was a magic experience! Now to start saving to see them on the big Alps!!

Le Tour

Yip its a pic of the one and only Vino. And guess who took the pic, yes me!!!! London hosted a great start to this years TdF and I was there to witness it!!!

The festivities of the tour started on Friday night with the team presentation. Chel and I picked our spot near where the riders got out of their busses rather than in the centre of Trafalgar square. From where we stood we got to see the riders up close and even managed to convince a couple to come over and sign a TdF Muessette!! Managed to get Boonen, Levi and Schlek's signatures. I also got 2 others but am still trying to find out who they are!!!

Saturday was the Prologue which we knew was going to be very popular so we made sure we were there first. We were actually meant to meet Dave and some others at 7:20am at Vauxhill station to be there in place at 8am, but after a long night before (the presentation and Stomp) only managed to get there by 9am. Dave already had our spot though which was in a perfect position opposite Buckingham palace. From this spot we could see the riders going up and down Constitutional hill. There was also a big screen behind us so we could keep up to date with the Leaderboard.

The only problem with this position is the lack of free stuff they threw out to us, for some reason they weren't meant to hand out anything where we were??????

The first rider was off at 3pm so it meant it was a long wait, but well worth it and the wait was shortened by the bottle of Pimms that Dave brought.

The crowd as could be expected was behind the 5 local Brits that were riding. As usual they didn't live up to the crowds expectations and Wiggins with his 4th was the best.

After Klodi set a blistering time of 9min 03 secs everybody thought the yellow jersey was his for certain but the world TT champ Cancellara didn't disapoint and knocked over 12 seconds off Klodi to comfotably take the maillot jaune.

What a day. Definatley one of the highlights of my trip. More on my trip to follow...........

World's most unnecessary bunker!

Please tell me why they built a bunker on this course??

The course in question is in Henties bay north of Swakopmund in Namibia.
As you can see from the second Photo it is a full length course with the
6th hole being a 426m par 5.

Note the rake next to the green, you will have your work cut out if you
have to rake the fairways.

P.S. I doubt sand bags are necessary on this course!

The Argus (the Muddy Version)

This last Sunday was the offroad Argus at Boschendal winefarm, just outside Stellies. There were 3 route options: 55km, 26km and 13km.

The rain had been pouring down the night before but luckily the weather started clearing just before the start or the race. The conditions actually were perfect in the end, enough mud to make it real mountainbiking but not too much to destroy a bike within the 55km’s

As with all MTB races are this one was a tough one but even though I have been taking things easy for the last 2 weeks due to a mild dose of flu, the legs felt good. Well for 54,5kms at least. Things almost fell apart during the toughest part of the race, the last 500m over the grass of Boschendal. Eiissshhhhh.

Myra joined me on Sunday and she did the 26km route. She experienced a much more muddy course having to follow all the long route riders through the muddy section.

In the end my race time of 2:36 was good enough to get me 46^th place out of about 800.

I will post some pics once http://www.actionphoto.net/ posts them on their site. If you want to go check it out on your own my race number was 59.

Here is the route profile (don’t know if it will work???) (DIDN'T WORK!!!!) My ave heart rate was 173bpm and max only 186, so it was up there all the way!

Golf Day

Who would believe that a cyclist could hack away well enough on a golf course to win the Shoprite IT Golf day!!! Well I would have to admit that I didn’t do it on my own. The format was 4 ball alliance, which meant that 2 out of the 4 scores counted at each hole. I did however score the most points in the team but that is mainly because I am a ringer!! And played off a 24 handicap. (But considering the fact that the last time I played a full 18 was at the same golf day last year I think it is fair!)

The team, Reinhardt (11Hc) , Henco (15Hc) and Philip (9Hc) and I played exceptionally consistent golf scoring well even though none of us managed to get a birdy on the day.

First prize was a R1k voucher each at the ProShop. (What cycling stuff can I get at there???) Funny thing is, is that 2^nd place walked away with a Callaway Hybrid worth R1200?? I think they knew we were ringers!!

I am updating this from email so I hope the attached photo gets uploaded. As you can see I posted the previous try twice just to make SURE it worked!! So I am still not so clued up yet. But you know what they say “Practice makes Perfect” or to keep with the golfing theme “The more I practice the luckier I get” – Gary Player.

This is a test

 

Hi all

I am trying to do the Blog update via email thing. If it works it will mean that I will be able to keep it up to date a little more often.

 

Cheers

 

This is a test

Hi all

I am trying to do the Blog update via email thing. If it works it will mean that I will be able to keep it up to date a little more often.

 

Cheers

 

New Years

Me and Andre at the New years Bash. This is us looking to the New Year! 

Knysna Oysters

THis last weekend was the Oyster festival. Andre, Tamara, Chris, Yolande and Me and Myra went to the festival.

Had a real great weekend especially the ride through Harkeville. See pic

More later

Birthdays and Patat

Hi there all. I know it has been a while… Things that have happened recently include a triple birthday bash at a Chinese restaurant at the V&A waterfront. Andre (13th June), Neil (also the 15th) and I joined up to celebrate being one year closer to racing in the vets league!! Neil and Andre are a lot closer than I am though. It will be sad not having them in the Elite bunch next year!!!

The next thing worth writing about was a trip down to Napier for the Patat Fees Mtb race. My, Andre and Tamara made the trip down to the small town with me. There was a good old “bazaar” there with a stand selling “Snoek & Patat”. A great way to get the post race protein in!!

Next on the cards is a trip up to Knysna for the Oyster Festival and the MTB race.

Boring Me

Howzit

Well since Zim I haven't been up to much so that explains the lack of any new postings!

Hopefully will do something Awesome soon so I can tell you all about it!!

Zimbabwe

Just returned from a week in Zimbabwe, the place I was born (a long time ago!). What an awesome trip.

The reason for the trip was to go up for my cousin Tara's (Tammy to me!) wedding. It was really cool of Ant and Tara to delay their honeymoon and book 26 other people on a houseboat on Kariba. It is a very embarrassing fact that, before this trip, I a born (but not bred) Zimbo, had never even seen the lake let alone spent a week drinking on it!

Well this trip definitely made up for that and I am sure it won't be the last. Plans are already being made for Easter next year.

It was my first time on Kariba and this led to me catching my first fish (actually 2) as well as my first game of "Dorp Properly" (actually 2). "Dorp Properly" for those uninitiated is similar to monopoly exept you drink when you buy property and you drink when you land on other people's property! It is a hiding to nothing. Stellenbosch definitely needs a version of this game.

Will try post some pictures of the trip later.

Thanks to all those on the 2 boats that made my first experience great.

Stu
P.s. Tara and Ant enjoy the honeymoon in Thailand.

My first Blog

Howzit

Seeing as though alot of my mates (and family) have decided to disperse themselves around the world I thought I would take Colin's example and start a blog??

Think I can keep it up?? Well only time will tell.

Thats enough for a first entry....

Stu