The header collage pictures Cape Town's Mark Blewett ascending a monstrous climb somewhere in Ethiopia.
Part of team of cyclists riding from Cairo to Cape Town, Blewett's own Swift Carbon brand are the bicycle sponsors for this world record attempt. Initially intending only to be an equipment supplier, the former professional cyclist and South African National Team captain couldn't resist the urge to be part of this undertaking first hand, deciding to join the group as a rider in what must surely be the ultimate – and most extreme – form of product testing as far as road bikes go.
But there are perhaps more important aspects than world record attempts and product testing as Blewett, David Kinja and co make their way down the Dark Continent. While the aforementioned factors are no doubt important and noteworthy, what about the notion of sport as a vehicle for adventure, self-discovery and even personal growth?
Bob Skinstad would know. A precocious rugby talent in the late 1990s, the former Springbok spent several years abroad, first as a player and then commercially in the advertising industry. His return to home shores saw him fight for a place in the Bok squad from the ground up, eventually culminating in World Cup glory in 2007. Pack your bags and travel the world he said when asked to impart some advice for aspiring players unsure of how to reach the next level in sport. Wise words indeed and it would be difficult to envisage Skinstad's sporting revival were it not for his self-enforced sabbatical from the luxuries of the local scene in favour of extended time away on foreign soil, working, travelling, playing and experiencing different cultures.
Finding oneself some may say, in reference to that lovely cliché. While there are those who might scoff at that term – myself included on occasion – there could be some legitimacy if applied correctly of course. Viewed from a slightly different perspective, sport can be likened to an art form, where creativity and tangibility are foremost in making any sort of progression. The trial and error and learning from one's mistakes can lead to a personal growth and sense of discovery not attainable by any other means. Life definition - and even change – can be the end products of such a journey, without even setting out with that goal in mind initially.
Take a listen this excellent podcast with Gordo Byrn, former venture capitalist, professional athlete and coach, whose life journey is encapsulated in this chat with host Brad Kearns. Now settled down with a wife and kids in Boulder, Colorado, Byrn relates how having the opportunity of making a host of bad decision was critical in his personal development as an athlete and coach; husband and father.
Sport can also be a central theme in the midst of life progression and evolution. While certain things don't always last forever (jobs, relationships, coffee shops etc), a sporting passion can remain indefinite, providing an escape whilst helping guide one through life's ups and downs in more ways than one.
Laurent Vidal states that he is "living an intense and unconventional outdoor lifestyle." One of the outstanding performers in the London Olympiad, Vidal's athletic progression was halted abruptly with an in-competition heart condition only months later. Now unable to compete, Vidal's ethos remains unchanged, albeit as a high performance coach instead of an athlete. He still loves sport - exercising daily rather than competing at the highest level - and the pursuit of excellence, just in a different way as he guides fiance Andrea Hewitt and others in their quests for Olympic excellence.
Back to Blewett and co, and I cannot help but think that some sort of adventurous desire has contributed to Mark's embarking on such an epic quest; one doesn't commit to riding several thousand kilometres on a whim without some sort of lust for the unknown. After all, his elite cycling career was a roller-coaster adventure in so many ways, an education for life of which few others have the privilege. Their was a period immediately after his professional career where he hated cycling. And now, all these years later, another journey combined with extreme endurance promise to be a true test of the mind, body and spirit. The passion for cycling runs deeps and is still there, just in a different application.
Setting records and marketing are no doubt important aspects of this trip and rightly so. Yet the lessons learned and the sheer camaraderie are perhaps the most valuable, precious and life defining.
Follow these intrepid cyclists on their journey here.
After all, if it is Tuesday, it must be Belgium. Or Cairo or Addis Ababa.
