THE RHINO CHALLENGE

Read about Charles Mansfield's journey and the Rhino Challenge.

Learn about PROJECT RHINO KZN

Learn about my beneficiary, their important work and how your sponsorship can make a difference.

FREEDOM CHALLENGE 2013

Learn about the Freedom Challenge and the 2013 Race Across South Africa.

RHINO CHALLENGE 2013 SPONSOR

VISIT THE - I AM SPECIALIZED - WEBSITE - OFFICIAL SPONSER

RHINO CHALLENGE 2013 SPONSOR

VISIT THE - CYCLOTECH - WEBSITE - OFFICIAL SPONSER

Sunday 16 June 2013

Navigation nightmare in the stormberg

Hi all, apologies for not posting until now...reception issues... What can be said about today!!?? First 50km were the most difficult if ever ridden...less than10km/h average!! with over 4000m vertical ascent of which much of this saw the bike catching a lift on my shoulders! Then from the ntsikeni support station, my plan was to cover the next 100km in the afternoon and evening...NOT!!! About 10km out I took a turn too soon and ended up in completely the wrong valley. This 28km section of the route was supposed to take me about 3 hours, instead I wondered around in the pitch black wilderness for more than 6 hours. This has forced me to spend the night at an emergency stop, totally exhausted but glad to be back on the route. My intended 150km for the day only saw 80km completed. Time to stay calm, I'm sure things will improve. As for the Freedom trail, incredible scenery so far and a real privilege to be riding it. The body is screaming for me to stop with many aches developing all over...hopefully the mind can keep those voices out! Off to bed now, another early start tomorrow. Cheers, Charles

Saturday 15 June 2013

Freedom challenge .... Eventually!

And so it started.... eventually... After all the months of training, setting up bikes and bags, shopping for the right gear, and lately serious carbo loading! When the Pietermaritzburg town hall bell chimed at 6 this morning,  the 5 riders of today's batch took off... No starting gun, no banners, no coffee cart, no ra ra girls.... Just the riders, a handful of supporters and dave... Oh and the clock...  Charles started in a batch with robbie and christo who are both first time FC riders. The nienaber brothers also started with them on a tandem - that should be fun to watch... Especially when they have to carry the bike in some areas... The 2 other riders with them is stopping in Rhodes. 
The general consensus is that the winner of this year might come out of this batch of riders, but it's still very early days ... And there is a cold front coming.... :) 

Charles getting ready to start....

Today's batch of riders outside town hall this morning, waiting for the bell.

Friday 14 June 2013

The night before

I can't believe we are here! Tomorrow these wheels start turning...