The Phantom Rider of Trans Baviaans 2024

This isn't your typical race report.

It's not about how the Speeding Seal Sprint Squad crushed a 9h39 time at the 20th Trans Baviaans. It's not about the perfect road conditions or the tailwind that felt like it was pushing us all the way to Jeffreys Bay. It's not even about me being the only nutter to have ridden every single Trans Baviaans since its inception.

No, this is about the guy who should've been there. The one and only Snack Monster - Michael John Baker.

Snack Monster Mike in his happy place

Twenty years of Trans Baviaans finishes. That's a lot of dust eaten, a lot of chain lube used, and a hell of a lot of padded shorts worn out. But none of it would've happened if Snack Monster Mike hadn't sold me my first proper road bike back in the day. A Le Jeune beauty with downtube shifters and aero spokes that made me feel like I was riding a spaceship. All for a cool grand - or as I calculated it then, about 365 beers' worth.

Still drinking my beer money

Back then, Mike was the cyclist, and I was just a hockey player who thought bikes were for getting around campus. But Mike? He showed me the light. He showed me that two wheels and a frame could be more than just transport. It could be an adventure.

Our paths crossing

Our cycling journeys diverged over the years, crossing paths occasionally like two riders in different pelotons. But in 2018, everything changed. Mike joined The #BigDayOut, and suddenly, after two decades, we were riding in the same direction again.

#BigDayOut 2018

Fast forward to 2021, and Snack Monster Mike was initiated into the madness of racing Trans Baviaans. He fitted in perfectly, except for his habit of treating every water point like an all-you-can-eat buffet. Hence the nickname.

Trans Baviaans 2021

2023 saw another Trans Baviaans adventure with Mike. Uneventful, unless you count the heated debates about how long is too long at a water point.

This year was supposed to be special. The 20th Trans Baviaans. My potential 20th finish. My 47th birthday. And there I'd be, riding with the guy who got me into this crazy sport and the mate I've suffered alongside in countless races. Snack Monster Mike, Captain Craig and I - The Speeding Seal Sprint Squad.

More beers!

But life, like a badly maintained mountain bike trail, can throw you off course when you least expect it. Just days before the race, Mike had a serious accident doing what he loved - riding his bike.

How do you clip in for a race when your mate's fighting for his life? Do you even ride? The answer, I realized, is yes. You ride because that's exactly what Mike would want to be doing if he could.

Trans Baviaans 2024 was... different. The usual nerves, anticipation, and suffering were there. But everything felt muted, like riding through a fog. Mike was never far from my thoughts - memories of past rides, the realization that our current pain was nothing compared to his or that of his family.

Bike riding in France

Captain Craig and I had joked earlier in the week about bribing Mike with cookies to pull us through the tough sections. Even though he wasn't there, I still packed some in my pocket. In a way, it felt like he was still with us.

Trans Baviaans 2023

I might have a special place in Trans Baviaans history, but it's not my race anymore. It's Mike's. And I'm holding onto hope that one day, our wheels will roll side by side through the Baviaanskloof again.

Snack Monster Mike - snacking

Until then, I'll keep those cookies in my pocket, a reminder of the Snack Monster who should've been there, pushing the pace and raiding the aid stations.

Ride on, Mike. We're all rooting for you.

💙