Jackal's Trail on Boschkop MTB

Last weekend I made my way to the Boschkop trail race at the Stillbosch Nature reserve near Tierpoort in Pretoria.  This is the areas I usually go on long training rides but I haven’t yet ridden in the Stillbosch Nature reserve so I don’t know what to expect. The past two weeks leading up to the race I did a fair amount of training. This is not considered a very big race on my race calendar but attending smaller local races helps me to improve on my fitness preparing for bigger races. As I entered the nature reserve I could already see that the terrain is going to be hard, rocky and relatively flat.

On the start line were no real big names because many were at the Cape Epic. We hit the dirt roads and were off.  Me and two other riders split soon after the start and began increasing the pace.  Still we weren’t on the pace I was used so I decided to put the hammer down by going in front. No riders was able to follow me so I decided that I will go on at this steady pace and see what damage I have made and later ride at a steady tempo throughout the race.

At some sections I rode next to the nature reserve fence which wasn’t really a track or road or anything and things were getting rough.  The lead bike was even struggling getting through the thorn bushes and long grass.  This was probably the least enjoying with no visible route.  I pushed on and got to more acceptable jeep track.  At this time i have made a reasonable gap on my pursuers.  The lead bike gave me time checks which I doubted being correct as the time given didn’t sound correct. But nonetheless I focused and rode my own race.  I rode through flat farm lands with beautiful landscape surrounding me.  The real work started at around 20km with a long stretched climb alongside the boundary fence of the reserve. I felt good and the legs weren’t sleeping anymore when in “climbing mode”.  There were “dongas” and areas where the rain had flooded before which made the race considerably technical. Going over dip for dip made keeping your tempo difficult and I could feel every shake in my arms.

I came to a “forest effect” section where I missed the turn off and found myself getting to the main road. I quickly knew I have made a mistake and headed back finding the two riders chasing me standing at the turn i missed.  I saw the uphill climb that the leading bike referred to at the start of the race.  I made my way on the right route, but it was disappointing losing my 90 second gap riding with others once again. It was not long and I was on my own again gaining every second I had lost earlier. At this point in the race I have completed 35km of the 55km still feeling good. The next 10km consist of some climbs and rewarding loose rocky descents which were tricky where flood streams was clearly visible from earlier rain. You had to negotiate through the dips I was referring earlier and these “dongas”.

The lead bike was now staying close in front and I thought to myself that first place was only a few kms away.  Approximately 3km from finishing my front wheel was losing pressure and I knew i had a flat. I continued as far as I could but had to stop as the wheel was almost completely flat. I bombed it and didn’t hear any leaks. Got back on the bike and put the hammer down once again. After another kilometre front tire flat again. Now I was luckily passing the 30km race riders which would help me with bombs as I have used the only Co2 canister i had. Bombed the tire hearing squeals and air coming out this time. Plugged the tire and bombed with another co2 canister. The tire was leaking air with no sealant visible. At this point i have lost a lot of time. I thought to myself that this is just not my day and that I must calm down, try to seal the tire and just finish.

After a long struggle the tire was sealed.  With disappointment all over my face I finish. The race organiser interviewed me knowing how well I actually did.

I guess we all have these days and you can take a lot out of it learning and progressing forward.

Till we meet again,  Cheers

Carel laubscher

Race results 55 Km:

1^st- Thinus Redelinghuys 02:27:26

2^nd- Robert Clarke

3^rd- Jaco Ellis

4^th- Jacques van der Merwe

8^th- Carel Laubscher