I woke up at 4 AM, drove an hour to Cape Town, and lined up for a full-gas gravel race up a brutal mountain climb… all on a borrowed bike from the standert community (thanks!).
The route? Blockhouse, a 4.5 km climb with over 400m of elevation, starting at 6:30 AM sharp. The plan was simple: push hard, enjoy the community, and see how far I could send it. But then my friend Laz got a flat just 1 km into the race, and things didn’t go exactly as expected…
🚴♂️ In this video:
✅ POV race footage – full send up the mountain
🔧 Stopping mid-race to help a friend with a flat tire
🌍 Post-race ride through Cape Town & why this community is special
💭 Lesson of the day: Say YES to early morning adventures – they always pay off.
💬 Have you ever raced gravel or climbed a mountain before sunrise? Drop a comment below!
🔔 Follow My Training & Adventures:
📍 Strava: https://www.strava.com/athletes/74182628
📍 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gksieben/
Chapters:
00:00 intro
00:29 early morning prep
01:47 getting ready
03:09 to the startline
04:04 the race
04:43 the plottwist
07:45 the way down
10:31 done coffee interlude
12:25 learnings endtalk
songs:
1. phury - early mornings
2. mansij - kiwi juice
3. aves - try so hard
4. steve ross - through their mind
5. aves - forgotten dreams
6. alchemorph - rain town my love for you
7. kicktracks - no worries
thumbnailphoto by the talented Lea Kurth: https://www.instagram.com/lela__labs/