Cyclists challenged by tough wind

Gallery Update Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS AND VIDEO - Hand cyclist Vusi Marenene left Mossel Bay on Monday, 4 September, as part of a team, raising awareness of paracycling, on a trip to Hermanus.

On Thursday morning, when Mossel Bay Advertiser spoke to Vusi, the team was at De Hoop.

PHOTO GALLERY: Vusi Marenene aiming high in paracycling

The bicycles were being loaded and the team would then travel to Bredasdorp for the stage of the cycling route from Bredasdorp to Stanford.

The last stage is taking place today, Friday, from Stanford to Hermanus.

Wednesday had been the toughest day, with strong headwinds. Every day the team had had to contend with wind.

"I'm doing very well," Vusi told the Advertiser. "It's just the weather. It's always against us. We are always battling the elements, so it's not a big deal. So far so good; we are strong."

The stage from Bredasdorp to Stanford was 90km. The team was not taking the fastest route.

Hand cycling is tough on the hands and arms. Vusi said: "There was a time yesterday (Wednesday) that I could not feel my hands, but we persevere and carry on. I am getting stronger."

The trip Vusi is undertaking, called the Sea-Battical Paracycle tour, aims to raise awareness of paracycling and raise funds for him to hand cycle on an international level.

Vusi, who was a professional cyclist, was hit by a bakkie in February 2022, and is now a wheelchair user.

Neels Terblanche, who organised the cycle tour, will be circumnavigating the African continent in a pedal boat, starting off from Mossel Bay in December 2024.

Guinness World Records

He has registered his trip with the Guinness World Records. Neels decided he would organise the Sea-Battical Paracycle tour, as a precursor to his pedal boat trip.

He decided the cycle tour should start in Mossel Bay because his pedal boat journey is starting in Mossel Bay. He will be the first person to circumnavigate Africa in a specially designed human-powered pedal boat.

He will be raising funds for children worldwide suffering from malnutrition, supporting the global M5M foundation. To find out how to pledge funds, see https://sea-battical.co.za/.

Neels says: "Vusi and I are undertaking a rigorous cycling regimen covering 20 000 kilometres on the road before I embark on my pedal boat expedition. I am riding a mountain bike and Vusi a hand cycle, showing his indomitable spirit despite his physical limitations." For more information on how to support the cyclists, contact Inge de Villiers (076 827 1245 or pro@sea-battical.co.za).

The cycling team comprises cyclists from Mossel Bay and Oudtshoorn. Vusi, Neels and Pieter Marais are from Oudtshoorn.

Mossel Bay resident Fred van Zyl; Warrant Officer Daniel Prins, a Mossel Bay policeman; and Mossel Bay's Pieter Koekemoer, who was a warrant officer and retired from the police this year, are also in the team. Pieter is an amputee and uses a prosthetic. During his police career Pieter was an acclaimed sportsman in several codes, winning many medals provincially and nationally. He also won the national disabled police sportsman of the year award.

Vusi thanked the organisers and sponsors who were supporting the tour.