Faced with a tougher economic climate, and the precedent of a spectacular 2008 cycle tour which collected R2.3 million for charity, the organisers of this year’s Change a Life Cycle were undaunted. Sponsors stepped up to the plate and the 62 participants didn’t blink over the R22 000 entry fee - although knowing little other than that they would be based on the luxury Rovos Rail train, cycling for four consecutive days on road bikes. This year’s Mystery Tour, really did remain a mystery despite a dizzying pre-calendar of events, newsletters, training rides and a marketing campaign dispensing tantalising hints at the possible location of each day’s ride.

Words cannot do justice to the stately sway of a Rovos Rail carriage, and even the most stressed out executives soon surrendered to crystal-clad drinks and the clink of silver on bone china in the dining carriages. Daylight brought a thermometer showing 1 degree Celsius, and kilometre after kilometre of quiet roads with good tar surfaces leading the cyclists away from a railway siding in Moerengon! Road signs pointing to towns like Hopetown, a hundred windmills and even the lunch stop at the vast Vanderkloof dam did not really pinpoint the location. Apart from enjoying koeksisters in the right wing settlement of Orania, much of the day was spent sorting out the pecking order within the three cycling groups on the remote roads of the Northern Cape. That night, the train’s journey was interrupted for a spectacular track-side feast on a bed of carpets and brocade cushions under a zillion stars.

Sumbigriver was the following day’s destination, which turned out to be the Gariep Dam (Gariep is the traditional name for the Orange River). The southern Free State brought smooth tar, quiet roads and just enough wind and undulation to keep us focused, whilst we entertained ourselves with a ghoulish game of identifying the road kill. No expense or effort was spared in preparing the spectacular tea and lunch stops, and that afternoon the stand-out moment was the radio broadcasts ringing out from the support vehicles that the ‘Boks had won the Tri Nations series!

That night’s route briefing was again vague about where the next day’s ride would be, but the altitude charts said it all: with more than 300km already in the legs, 2 300m of altitude gain over less than 100km was going to hurt! Daybreak left the cyclists anxiously looking up from Maseru into the huge mountains of Lesotho. Tracing the Makhaleng River along the A3 road to the Mohale Dam, they faced the appropriately named God Help Me Pass (2318m) followed by Blue Mountain Pass (2641m). Although the first lot of cyclists reached the Mystery Lodge at the top well ahead of predictions, the real story unfolded in the triumph of determination over gravity for those further back in the field who doubted they could do it, but did!

The last day’s riding started among more familiar towns in the Free State, and with “only” 60km to ride. The climbers had their moment of glory the previous day; this day’s ride was to end in a thrilling sprint against the train to the end point of the tour. It was touch and go, but SA cycle champion Malcolm Lange managed to add another victory to his career tally of over 400 wins.

At the spectacular Gala dinner there was hardly a dry eye when surprise guest PJ Powers called all the hotel workers and support staff, including three of Martin Dreyer’s protégés, up on stage to join her in singing Feel so Strong. We had conquered mountains, made lifelong friends and raised R3.5 million in the process - this truly was a tour to change lives.

Computershare, the JSE, Kelly Group and Sun International were the primary sponsors of the 2009 Change a Life Cycle.  

This year’s Change a Life Cycle was a Mystery Tour so the route was a closely guarded secret. All we revealed was:

• Day 1 will be a full day of travelling as cyclists get to know one another and unwind from the stresses of the office.

• Days 2 and 3 will be long cycling days of 145 km each, but the ride will be gentle and undulating. Click on the links to see what happened
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSKSejvAJMo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBR1sIqAT7s

• Day 4 is 100 km long, but this is the big hill day and those who haven’t trained properly will feel it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjXO4RYPnjE

• Day 5, the last cycle day, is a fun day – only around 60 km long - but there is a twist!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=impnE7pma1Q

The final Gala dinner takes place on the evening of 14 September and cyclists will return to Park Station around midday on 15 September.

Each cycle participant has paid R22 000 to enter, with all proceeds going directly to the Mike Thomson Change a Life Trust. Computershare has again shown its commitment to combating crime by matching rand for rand all funds raised. In 2008 the Mike Thomson Change a Life Trust received nearly R3 million and the aim is to at least match this in 2009.

We thank the following sponsors for their commitment:

• Afrifocus
• Anatomic
• Bell Dewar
• Bene
• Blue Label
• Boss Lighting Projects
• Burlington-Dataprint
• Computershare
• Computershare Pan Africa
• Connection 42
• Cyclesure
• Dischem
• First Ascent
• Hertz
• iml
• INCE
• Internet Solutions
• JSE Ltd
• Kelly Group
• Konica Minolta
• Macsteel
• Medi Clinic
• Metrofile
• NFB
• Perago
• Pick n Pay
• Raven Imaging
• Rovos Rail
• Rudy Project
• Spier
• STT
• Sun International
• Tracker
•  

For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mnandi Bestbier.