As we write this, we are just 3 month's away from this year's 947 Cycle Challenge or as it is now called the Discovery 947 Ride Joburg.

Entries are still open and if you're wondering "I can do it?", I can tell you now without a doubt in my mind that anyone can ride this race.

Now is the time to commit to Ride Joburg at the 947 Cycle Challenge

Before we get into some of the first-timer things you need to take note of for this race, I want to just put it out there. When I rode my first 947 Cycle Challenge, I can't even remember how long ago it was.

I think it might have been 2010, 2011; I was grossly overweight. I weighed 165kg, I was working for 947 at the time and I was the typical coffee swilling, smoking, old school DJ that you have in your mind, on radio. Obviously things have turned around a lot since then.

But my excuse was I don't have a bicycle. And literally within 24 hours I had a mate who had organised me a bike and I was entered, and I started riding and finished my first cycle challenge.

So, I don't think anybody has got an excuse. If it's in the back of your mind that you want to ride this thing, now is your time.

Revel in the vibrancy of Cycle Challenge Sunday

Dev, one of the big things that I love about this race in particular, is there's this vibrancy about Joburg.

There's this hustle and bustle in the city. On Cycle Challenge Sunday you're going to get to ride your bike in places where you wouldn't ordinarily get to ride it because of the full road closure. My favourite part of that route is riding down the M1.

You're never going to get the opportunity to do that. Full road closures, it's something special and it's a great way to take advantage of that.

It's a race that everyone is very capable of doing from all levels. So whether you're looking at just finishing it, or if you really want to challenge yourself, it is a fantastic race.

Experience Joburg's iconic landmarks at the 947 Cycle Challenge

With the full road closures, riding through the centre of Joburg over the Nelson Mandela Bridge.

There are iconic landmarks in Joburg that you will ride past. Places you will never have the opportunity to ride your bike on a usual weekend.

It's an amazing experience and there's lots of cycling races around. We've ridden lots of them, and so have you, but this one is so well organised.

You want for nothing. There are water points, there are refreshment stations. You can literally get on your bicycle, make sure you're kitted out; you've got what you need.

But you'll want for nothing on the day. There's tons of crowd support. It is a superb day out.

The 947 Cycle Challenge is extremely well organised

There are regular water points along the route as well. Cycling through the centre of Joburg is a vibe. People just come out of the woodwork to support the on the day.

It's a fantastic race and something that you really need to take on.

Let's talk about challenging yourself. It's quite a big mental challenge. Especially if you're not active and you're thinking I wonder if I can.

Let's be realistic. 3 Months to go until Cycle Challenge Sunday.

Can anyone do this thing? If you sell out now for 3 months and you do the work, and it's not a crazy amount of training, but you'll finish this thing.

Without a doubt. My first 947 Cycle Challenge was exactly that. I

had gone through a large period of time without cycling at all. Without being on a bike and I did it with very little to no training.

Which I don't advise but it just again shows that it is very possible.

Meet your own 947 challenge and finish the Discovery Ride Joburg

The reason we cycle is to challenge ourselves. As much as we like to have fun there's that aspect of competition.

We like to compete with ourselves or our mates. Just challenging yourself to take that next step from doing the standard weekend ride and being that average weekend warrior.

Pushing yourself a little bit more and saying well, let's take on a race.

Let's take on something like this that is a world renowned event. It is the 2nd largest timed event in the world and it is iconic. What better way than to challenge yourself and take that on?

Things in training for the 947 Cycle Challenge are going to get tough. We're going to talk about specific 947 Cycle Challenge training in a moment and some of the things you can do to keep yourself motivated.

But one of the things that really drove me when I first started, when I was struggling in training, and I'm sure you do the same Devlin, is the visualisation. Imagining what it's going to be like going down that home straight at the finish line.

Part of you 947 Cycling Challenge training should be visualisation

Getting your medal around your neck and the sense of accomplishment of finishing something big.

That's one of the things that really drove me. I'm sure you're exactly the same. And as I said things are going to get tough in training.

Let's talk about the 947 Cycle Challenge training.

One of the things you mentioned to me before we started this recording is that you need to train according to distance and terrain. Tell me a little bit about your thinking there and what you actually mean by it.

You often find complete 947 Cycle Challenge beginners out riding and do your average Saturday or Sunday ride, whether it's mountain biking or road biking.

They're spending a couple of hours on the bike doing 40 to 50 km and they're doing that quite regularly and getting quite comfortable with that.

Moving that distance mark further to test your ability

Keeping in mind, the 947 Cycle Challenge is a 94km race. It's a distance that you might not necessarily be doing regularly. When I say train according to the distance, is get one or two training rides in that you are covering that kind of distance.

So that you, firstly I think just for your peace of mind, you know that you're capable of riding that distance. But then at the same time for your body to be able to adapt to longer hours in the saddle.

The terrain I refer to being obviously on the tar but more the elevation and the kind of hills that you might be riding on race day. I think that's important that you are adapted to that and that you are used to what you are going to be tackling on race day.

It's not just necessarily getting the legs strengthened. It's getting your body used to being on a bicycle for a few hours that you might not necessarily be used to. So getting your bum used to being in the saddle and the pain and discomfort you will experience there.

It’s not just your legs that need training for the 947 Cycle Challenge

Your hands, that's one of the big things for me is when you're on the bike for a while and your hands get sore and you don't expect that. And your shoulders and your back and that again goes down to making sure you're in the right position on the bike and getting a good setup.

You're not selling out for the next 10 years. Its 3 months that you have to sort of go, you know what; I'm going to go and do this. If you actually look at the calendar and work out how many weeks it is, it's not that long.

So it's a case of going, okay I'm going to do a couple of rides during the week. Whether it is spinning or on the road, it doesn't matter. And then on the weekend I'm going to do a longer one, or a longer two, and there's not that many Dev. If you look at the calendar this isn't a lifelong sentence.

Training for the 947 Cycle Challenge is not a life sentence

You need to put in a little bit of work for it but again you don't want to put in huge sacrifices.

If you're going with a cycling coach or you're following a particular training program, whatever it might be, you can have your training program structured around your lifestyle as well.

It might mean waking up one or two mornings early, getting out on the bike. But at the same time it can be structured around your lifestyle allowing for long hours that you might be working.

It mustn’t be a panic. It mustn’t be something where we're taking on a 90+km race and suddenly it's this huge, daunting task.

There's plenty of time to start planning for it. Preparing for it properly and I do think again, we've driven it home well here. It is very well within everyone's capability.

If you're looking for a training program by the way, Devlin has written a couple. You can get them absolutely free. All you need to do is head over to coachparry.com/start.

You can download them there and get training. It’s as simple as that. And then there are two other things we wanted to touch on Dev.

Challenge a training partner for the 947 Ride Joburg

One is obviously just not you selling out, but roping one of your mates in. I found that really helped so that I wasn't the only person going through this, especially when it came to training. I knew that if somebody was waiting for me then it was more difficult for me to chicken out.

So what I would suggest is find a training buddy to do this with. ? It's not just from having somebody there, but also from a safety perspective.

It's great not being out on your own training for the 947 Cycle Challenge.

That goes with training in general, whether it's gym training or cycling.

Having someone there, going through the same sort of pain that you might be going through. The same discomfort on a long ride or what have you, it definitely helps to have someone there in the same boat as you at that time.

So get a training buddy or buddies. Rather get a group of guys or girls together, join a cycling club, whatever it might be.

The 947 Vitality Short Ride training plans

 Get some accountability in your 947 Cycle Challenge training

It gives you a reason to have to get out of bed and train. Instead of rather thinking "well, I'm on my own, it might be a little bit chilly outside, I'm snoozing the alarm and going back to sleep".

Having someone there waiting for you just gets rid of any excuses and it makes it a lot more enjoyable as well. Something like this we enjoy cycling, we're passionate about what we do.

What better way to share that and make memories with someone else with you, rather than you slogging it out alone.

Whether it be a bunch of colleagues that you work with or if it's mates from church or guys that you grew up with. Put the challenge out there. Put feelers out and see who is going to do this with you. That would be my challenge to you.

And then the final point is as much as you might get a mate to do this with you, there are going to be tough times.

Let's be honest. This isn't necessarily just a walk in the park. There's going to be times that you're going to doubt yourself and you'll want to give up.

The best way to really get yourself into this thing that you can't chicken out is to ride for a purpose.

Find a charity angle that you feel passionate about and commit to it. There are so many different charity groups that raise funds through the 947 Cycle Challenge that you can be part of.

Ride your 947 Cycle Challenge for a purpose

Whether you are passionate about spreading the message as an example, that's something that's close to my heart. I lost my mom to breast cancer literally just before my first 947 Cycle Challenge as well. Or, if you're into animal welfare or whatever it is. I know that Choc Cows do a lot of stuff around the Discovery 947 Ride Joburg.

Riding for a purpose really gets you part of that community, the 947 Cycle Challenge community. It makes you feel part of something.

That is one of the things that I love about the organisation of this event. The fact that there is such a big drive behind the charities and with that as well as a little bit of motivation.

Ride for charity and get a better seeding at the 947 Cycle Challenge

Part of the charity is also the seeding for the race itself.

If you ride for a charity, it doesn't matter what it is, you are generally going to get a preference in terms of your 947 Cycle Challenge seeding time. So you're getting a better start time.

This means you’re not necessarily out there too late in the heat of the day. From a motivational point of view being part of a charity is great.

And then we're all passionate about something and somewhere along the line something has affected us in our lives as well. I do think this is a brilliant way to give a little back but at the same time enjoying what we're doing while we're doing it.

Commit and get your 947 Cycle Challenge race entry in today

What I would suggest is commit, get your 947 Cycle Challenge entry in. Get a mate to train with you. Find a purpose to ride for and let's see you out there.

You've got 3 months and I am convinced absolutely anybody can do this thing in 3 months and we want to help you.

Get yourself a 947 Cycle Challenge training program and keep listening to these podcasts over the next 3 months. We'll make sure you not only get to race day fighting fit, but we also make sure that you get your medal as well.