South African cyclists raise over R110,000 for SA Harvest in virtual race

On Friday 24 April at 15:00, 105 cyclists started the v360km+ Ultra, a virtual cycling race not only to burn off some lockdown energy but also for a good cause – SA Harvest. There were no prizes. SA Harvest and the thousands of under-resourced hungry and homeless South Africans were the real winners. With an operating cost of R5 a meal, the R110 000 raised will support the delivery of more than 22 000 meals.

Many of the riders were due to ride the annual 36One Mountain Bike Challenge in Oudtshoorn but due to lockdown, the event had been postponed to later this year. Not wanting the long hours and many kilometres of training to go to waste, avid Benoni-based cyclists Dion Guy and Aiden Choles decided to organise the v360 Ultra using the virtual cycling platform Zwift.

“We also wanted to use the event to raise money for a charity,” explained Choles, who adds that riding for a cause helps to keep the motivation levels especially in the lonely, dark hours of the morning. Choles set up a campaign through the crowdfunding website backabuddy.co.za.

Paying forward the calories burned towards food for others
Hunger is becoming a serious problem in South Africa as the economic effects of the lockdown deepen. Vulnerable communities are severely impacted and the need for food is on the increase.

“On endurance rides such as these, cyclists can burn up to 12 000 calories while also taking in significant amounts of food and liquids to sustain them. We thus encouraged people to pay forward the calories they would burn on this ride towards food and hunger support by donating to SA Harvest,” said Choles.

Zwift tracks calories burnt as pizza slice equivalents, at roughly 285 calories each. “We asked riders to back themselves by sponsoring R12 for every slice burnt – you’re likely to burn about 12 000 calories, so that’s 42 slices (or R500). Riders could also donate R1.50 per km (about R550)”

A number of the cyclists were in it to race while others joined for the ride. By the end of 360km – comprising five laps of a 72km route called the Pretzel – only 50 riders managed to finish.

Mental game
“If you think riding 360km in the real world sounds tough, it is harder doing it on an indoor trainer,” said Guy, adding that it requires a lot more determination to finish especially when you are not in the middle of nowhere or you know your family is in the next room.

A smart trainer is an indoor bicycle trainer that connects to a virtual world. allowing the cyclists to complete in-game cycling routes. By using the smart trainer’s power meter, Zwift adjusts the resistance to mimic the effort required to cycle up hills.

Alan Browde, CEO of SA Harvest, sent regular voice notes to keep the riders’ spirits up while the organisation’s chairman and former Comair CEO Gidon Novick even sent a video message on Friday night as he rode his spinning bike in his pyjamas in solidarity with the v360km+ participants.

”We are blown away by the effort of each and every one who participated in this amazing event and, of course, we are deeply grateful for the significant sum of money that we have received from their hours of toil. Hunger is perhaps the most serious issue facing our country at the moment and enabling us to deliver 21 600 meals is a significant gesture,” Alan said.

Virtual winners
In first place was Jaco Davel in 12 hours 29 minutes, followed by Dusty Day in 13 hours 20 minutes and Mike Chumbley in 14 hours 11 minutes. First lady in was Jenny Close in 14 and a half hours. The last rider “home” was George van der Merwe in just under 33 hours, which was the “loose” cut off. “Whether people did in 12 or 33 hours, it’s still a phenomenal accomplishment, and we want to acknowledge each and every rider who took part and to everyone who contributed to the fundraising campaign,” says Guy.

Guy and Choles also created the 200km+ club. Guy says, “Completing 200km is a significant achievement in itself, so even if riders didn’t complete the full route, we wanted to acknowledged this accolade.”

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