Epic Date - Race Day -1

The day started at 07:50 with an overcast morning and a slight coolness.

Breakfast was another fining carbing opportunity – bowl of fresh fruit,omelette with cheese, washed down with a large bowl of porridge. It was a feeding frenzy, last seen when devouring’s a supply of Duracell Chilli Con Carne made for 8 and eaten by four at Carbisdale Castle last May early in the training plan.

Registration was along at the V and A Waterfront – a 3 mile journey providing an opportunity to turn the legs and road test the bikes.

The noise and sense of expectation and anticipation was enormous. We picked up our branded hold all that will carry our race week equipmwnt along with wrist bands to access services, T shirts, Absa Cape Epic buff, and loads of other goodies.

After a coffee on the waterfront, the Ironman popped off to the pharmacy for some Immodium. Both the bike and the Ironman are running smoothly!

A phenomenal bicycle stunt artist performed amazing tricks at the amphitheatre to a crowd of onlookers.

We returned to the hotel to arrange our equipment for the week. It is amazing how your luggage expands to fill the available luggage space.

We then returned to the Waterfront for a bite to eat and some people watching before attending the rider briefing at 14:30. We shared the shuttle bus with a couple from Colorado who had spent 28hours travelling to get here. Lynn had done the Cape Epic three years ago. Her top tip – enjoy every day and take care of your butt.

For lunch.Bigman went for the Thai chicken to avoid further feedback from Little Nemo about travelling all the way to South Africa and having Lasagne for lunch yesterday. The Fit One also spotted the side of chips ……… choice of champions!

The briefing session included a who’s who of cycling with olympic gold medallists taking part and world champions. The Col du Carnock champion did not get a mention but Scotland got an extra cheer as the countries represented were announced one by one.

After another coffee, it was time for a Hagen Daz before heading back to the hotel to load bikes into the truck at 17:00. Dinner was a buffet at 18:30. With a 04:30 start tomorrow it is going to be an early night.

Tomorrow a year in waiting will arrive.

Bigman

Well it’s been a cracker – started off damp and miserable – it wasn’t any better outside!! The good news is that we both got a good night’s kip and woke up feeling refreshed and ready for a day of administration and organisation.

Breakfast was of the champion variety with the hotel putting a spread on that was Olympic in it’s proportions but to a really high quality. It’s fair to say that we tucked in and enjoyed the last day of ‘normal’ food before we suffer the rigours of the energy bars and drinks.

After breakfast we jumped on the bikes and headed down to the race centre at the V & A waterside. We paused and remembered the posse heading out on their journey to, we guessed, Loch Levens Larder. It was GREAT to be back out on the bike – not so sure I’ll be shouting that out tomorrow but today it was just fantastic.

With a slight breeze pushing at the remaining strands of the Bigman’s heid we peddled in to town past the stunning Football Stadium that will host many a game during the summer (or winter here) of football. It is a huge place that has hosted 3 trials games successfully and it is looking likely that those travelling to Cape Town will enjoy an experience of a lifetime.

Registration was uncomplicated. We signed in and grabbed our bags and T shirts before heading back to pick up our new dongle. The dongle is our favoured method of getting news home and with it and a friend’s Karen’s laptop we should be able to communicate with the world. I passed it off as being a business need as well. Ahem.

I, of course, being too chatty for my own good left my passport in the shop and return visit was required later to collect said passport.

We biked back to the hotel and packed the ABSA bags we’ve been given for the race. Somehow we both managed to arrive with one bag and yet have managed now to fill two. I think Bigman is the Paul Daniels of packing because he seems to have managed to create twice the amount of stuff he started with. I think he’ll like the comparison – not a lot!

After lunch it was back for the race briefing. We went to the wrong place. It was a shame that they advised us of being in the wrong pace because it didn’t half go on. We went thro the leagues of nations who are racing and I’m pleased to say that Scotland got a shout belying our limited numbers.

We sneaked off before the end as they interviewed the potential winners. I’m not sure that we actually didn’t leave because the Bigman was hacked off that they had missed us out but maybe he’ll fess up to that in his blog. More shopping for the stuff that bungs you up when in need, water and honey left us enough time for a coffee and ice cream before our taxi took us back.

Dinner was buffet in the hotel – it was fine. The hotel has been fantastic letting us leave our bike bags and other stuff in a secure store. Not sure they’ve worked out it’s for a week but time will tell.

Tomorrow is a new day. Our reason for being here has arrived. We’re as ready as we’re ever going to be and the good news is that I’ve seen 3 racers fatter than me so far. Always a comfort!

The other news is that our cycle shirts reign supreme. Karen Kelly of Karen Kelly Designs has provided us with ‘the’ top of the race. Nothing yet has come close and I suspect that we will get many an admiring glance en route tomorrow. She’s done us proud and we’ll enjoy wearing the shirts.

Bigman’s getting serious about the race – he’s checking out the route for tomorrow. 117km with 2,190m of climbing. We’ll let the racing snakes go before plotting our route to victory.

The quote of the day came from the Deputy Council Leader in Cape Town who told the assembled audience at the Launch Party that ‘in Cape Town we take our partying seriously!!!’ – maybe he used to worked in Glasgow for Stephen Purcell who knows!

Hopefully the laptop and connection will work tomorrow. We’re both looking forward to getting started. We know it’s going to be a challenge but having completed the North Face of the Col De Cleish on many occasions we’re ready!

Until tomorrow my friends…….

Ironman