Veteran cyclist Garai has come a long way since his rather inelegant finish as part of the Saddle Bums social club in the inaugural event back in 1986.<\/p>\n
\u201cI forgot to undo my toe straps and, upon stopping, keeled over in the middle of the road,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\n
The 71-year-old now counts breaking the three-hour barrier, earning his first green number and winning his age category on several occasions as some of his standout memories.<\/p>\n
On the downside, he remembers being brought down by a fun rider in a fall within sight of the Hobie Beach finish and missing the 2:59 bunch time by three minutes.<\/p>\n
Having clocked a personal best of two hours 47 minutes, Garai says another sub-three-hour time is not impossible with enough training and effort but that these days his sole ambition is \u201cto finish upright\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, that is not the master plan for 2013. We\u2019ve formed a large group under the banner of Atlas Security and will try to bring everyone home in under four hours in memory of Clem Morris, whose ambition it was to break that barrier.\u201d<\/p>\n
Morris was killed in a hit-and-run accident while riding his bicycle on Kragga Kamma Road in October.<\/p>\n
Garai, who has won championship medals in his age group at national, provincial and club level, is looking forward to the 28th edition of the national classic but has some mixed feelings about the new Slanghoogte climb.<\/p>\n
The Walmer resident and lawyer, who races under lucky number 13, says the permanent green numbers will from now on differ slightly in design to distinguish between those riders who have completed 10 and 20 races.<\/p>\n
\u201cA minute\u2019s deduction off your time for every Herald completed would also be nice . . .\u201d He has only missed two outings, in 1997 and 2008, because he was overseas at the time.<\/p>\n
Garai, who was first citizen from 1993 to 1994, also holds the distinction of being the only mayor to fire the starter\u2019s gun from the seat of his bicycle and then pedal off into the sunrise to join the race. \u201cAnd they never even gave me a head start . . .\u201d<\/p>\n
He believes the cycle tour could grow into a major tourism drawcard for the metro and cites the example of the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, which he has also completed 25 times, as an example of what can be achieved with municipal support.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Cape Town<\/a> event is world famous and attracts entries from something like 40 countries.<\/p>\n \u201cThey limit the field to 30 000 starters, have an expo running over several days which draws over 100 000 visitors and the overall spend in the city is huge.\u201d<\/p>\n The PE event is an official seeding race for the Cycle Tour and takes place on February 3.<\/p>\n Riders can apply for green number status by submitting their contact details plus ID and RaceTec chip numbers to heraldcycletour@timesmedia.co.za before December 20.<\/p>\n Enter at www.heraldcycletour.co.za before January 21. Only online entries will be accepted for the Ultimate Quest.<\/p>\n Editor\u2019s Note:<\/strong> Now there is a challenge \u2013 our present Mayor is a little bit soft on two wheelers with engines \u2013 lets see him take on Garai \u2013 and win!<\/p>\n
![\"Charles](\"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-content\/plugins\/rss-poster\/cache\/e93f1_Charles_Garai.jpg\")
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