Cape Town Cycle
Photo Credit: Supplied

A family in Cape Town are gearing up to tackle the Cape Town Cycle Tour together! A journey of health, overcoming challenges and an inspiring bond:

 

Cape Town, South Africa (07 March 2024) —A Cape Town family share a unique bond based on bicycles. Inspired by grandfather Ronald Kotze —who has a long history with the Cape Town Cycle Tour, though he only did his first when he was 57 in 2008— he has now completed 15 tours and looks forward to being back on the 109 km start line on Sunday 10 March.

But when Ronald faced a setback after a bad cycling accident last year, he had to switch to the inaugural 42km event for that year’s Cape Town Cycle Tour. This was something of a blow for a determined cyclist. However, this meant he got the chance to ride with his grandsons for the first time on the Cycle Tour, replacing the disappointment of not getting to tackle the 109 km with joy.

In turn, her family members have inspired Anneline to improve her own health—pedalling from a place where she was struggling with her weight to one where she feels confident and able to live her life in a much more fulfilled way.

“The most important thing is that I can do this cycling with my kids and my dad now. It is also saving my life; I was not living, I was just surviving, and now I can go mountain biking with my kids. I can go mountain climbing with my kids without it looking like somebody is going to die at the end of the day,” she shares.

She says there are now seven family members cycling and spinning at the gym together. One day, when some of them didn’t make it to class, the instructor told them that ‘when the whole family is not here, my glass is only half full’.

“There is a bond in the family around cycling, and I think that’s great,” says Anneline. 

Anneline’s sons Jayden-Paul (14) and Joshua (15) have grown up watching their grandfather’s cycling, and getting to cycle with him was a big honour.

“My oupa finished first, Joshua and then me. He helps us with practices and now we are also excited to do this with mom. We are not going to wait for mom, but will wait for her at the finish line! It is nice spending time with oupa with all our activities. Mom has lost a lot of weight and we not only cycle together, but she gyms with us. We can do heavier weights though,” Jayden-Paul chuckles. 

“This is going to be the biggest event we are all doing together and I tell all my friends how hard my mom is practicing.”

Ronald says he is grateful to be able to witness his grandchildren on a productive and healthy road for their future.

“My daughter has inspired herself and even some family members, and is always actively involved with the boys’ sports and MTB. Since my daughter and my grandchildren got involved in cycling, other family members have joined us in spinning classes. This is huge for me and the family. They need to get confidence and experience, and hopefully we can do the full 109 km together,” he says. 

“Although last year was a tremendous setback due to my cycling accident, I could not have been more proud of my two grandchildren, and now my daughter.”

Anneline says: “Oupa was bursting with pride at his grandchildren doing that 42 km with him. I think if we’re going to sign up next year for the 109 km, it’s going to mean the world to him.”

The 46th edition of Cape Town Cycle Tour takes place on 10 March, with the second edition of the newer 42 km ‘short route’ making it possible for novices to get a taste of what the ‘big one’ will be like.


Sources: Supplied; Maryann Shaw
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About the Author

Ashleigh Nefdt is a writer for Good Things Guy.

Ashleigh's favourite stories have always seen the hidden hero (without the cape) come to the rescue. As a journalist, her labour of love is finding those everyday heroes and spotlighting their spark - especially those empowering women, social upliftment movers, sustainability shakers and creatives with hearts of gold. When she's not working on a story, she's dedicated to her canvas or appreciating Mother Nature.

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