Sectionally Challenged

Most Td’A participants start in Cairo and hope to go all the way to the end in Cape Town- this tough bunch can say they have crossed the entire continent.

There is another, smaller contingent on the tour each year who either believe they could not endure four months in the saddle or are unable to because of family and work commitments that allow them to stay for just a matter of weeks at a time. These are known as the sectional riders, and for them they quickly have to catch up to the pace of the tour, and the routines that the rest have become accustomed to.

Our current section is called the Zambezi Zone- from Lilongwe to Vic Falls covering over 1,200 km in a mere 8 cycling days. The brave souls for this leg are Simon, Alex, Nate, Markos, Ian and David. Having already completed half their cycling days they have done their best to overcome the challenges; and this welcoming group of cyclists have embraced them.

It can sometimes be difficult for the sectionally challenged to wake up so early, pack up tent, find their plate and cup, get some breakfast, fill their water bottles, pump their tires, put on sunscreen, put their gear away in their locker, copy down the directions, get on their bike all before 7:30am and then ride between 140-170km only to unpack and set up all over again. For the sectionally challenged, its never easy and just as they start to figure out their routines, and just as we get to know them a little better they are gone again and a fresh group takes their place, and the challenges start again.

Hats off to all this year’s sectionally challenged riders. Great job, and hope to see you all back here again someday.