Cycling from Gauteng to Durban: Who can do it?

So who can do a long cycle? Who can qualify to cycle 140km's per day for more than 5 days? The answer is simple, anyone can.

On Saturday I set out on a quest to cycle to Durban from the tiny town of Witbank. The trip is planned to take no longer than 7 days. The man who will be accompanying me is an incredible mentor, role model and friend...and now, he steps into my world of adventure. Its an unusual step for him to take and will by no way be easy. Camping, eating strange things, struggling on the bike might all be new things to him but the sooner one can adapt tough life lessons, and apply them on the bike, the quicker one will learn to survive and push on.

So what can you do to prepare for a cycle expedition?

1. Do your research:

You need to have a well planned route which may take some time. You need to do some research into the gradients, the terrain and the temperature during the time of the year you wish to set out.

2. Pack the right stuff.

There are hundreds of web pages that will offer you the correct advice and give some insight into what you need to pack and what equipment will be useful on the road. If you think you are prepared, draw up a "worst case scenario" of things that could go wrong and try measure your kit up against the challenge. You will know if you are prepared.

3. Have a good bike set up:

You don't need to have spent hours and years training but it is crucial to be comfortable on that bike. Make sure you set up. you can do your own simple set up at home but it would be advised to visit your local cycle shop and get it done. A simple test I use to adjust my seat height: If your knee gets sore in the front, your seat is to low. If the back of your leg gets sore, behind your knee, your seat is to high.

4. Have communication:

In my earlier trips I hardly had any communication with anyone. In a way it was freeing but what are your goals? If your goal is to rebel against a economic society and live a life of poverty and adventure, then you need to accept that uncomfortable death is possible. Like Christopher McCandalees in "Into the Wild" you will fall off the radar and possibly never be able to cry out for help when you need. If you intend to experience adventure and then get back to your normal life in a coulple of weeks, make sure you have a phone or any other form of advice to let people back home know how you are doing.

5. Renew your mind:

Every thought, every feeling of comfort and anything you think you know for sure must be chucked out the window. If not you will have the worst time of your life. You need to open yourself up to the possibility of being taught by the road, the solitude and everyone you meet along the road. Humble yourself, open your mind.

The next couple of days on the road will be a pilgrimage for myself and my very good friend, who I think might be preferred not to be mentioned at this stage, until he finishes. The pilgrimage will finish in a holy place for both of us, a place it all began...Grey Town. We were both part of the 2010 Mighty Men Confrence that changed our hearts and transformed our lives dramatically.  Our biggest hope is that we get a chance to meet the man that influenced us so much, Mr Angus Buchan.

May the Adventure begin
Keegan "Kunjani" Longueira