Preparation
I have been desiring to do a ride to Mombasa for a very long time ever since I heard of a team of pro elites who did a ride to Mombasa to Nairobi in under 24 hours. That is not only an impressive fete to behold, but it’s one of the most extreme sports that even those fit to do it are left to shy away from. I didn’t have a clear plan on how to attempt this kind of a ride, although I had done long-distance rides in the past.
But I felt extremely pleased when I saw a post on the Kenya Cycling Facebook group by Jack Siro a long-distance cycling enthusiast like myself. He had formed a Whatsapp group named Nrb — Msa in 2 days and was sharing a link to join it. On the Whatsapp group, there were many of us, from those mere spectators to those who were dreaming of attempting it even if they were not sure of how they would do it, those who needed time to get ready in terms of training and of course there were those like myself who would want to do it as soon as possible.
It was April past the Easter weekend when we joined this group and Siro had given the date of 28th August which a few of us felt was too far as much as the rest of the members felt it was good timing to give everyone time to prepare for it financially, physically and psychologically. According to Siro we were to ride from Nairobi to Voi a distance of 350 km on the first day and the remainder the next day. He explained that everyone needed to attempt a solo ride of not less than 300 km a day with an average speed of between 25 to 30 kph. A number of the members who had attempted the ride to Mombasa in under 24 hours were present and they gave a few insights on what was needed for one to be ready for such a ride and it kept me going as I worked on my desire to ride there the earliest time possible before the set date.
At first, I did a ride to Mua Hills and back with Siro and others from the Spartans Cycling group in preparation for Nakuru a ride organized by the same group. We did the ride to Nakuru in two days covering about 250 km during which I suffered an injury on my knee on my return journey after crashing due to strong cross-winds. I was told to take 2 weeks off the saddle (bike seat) by the doctor who handled me after the ride.
After the third week Spartans, Cycling organized a ride to Muranga which I attended without much struggling. I later did a solo ride around Nairobi of all the bypasses and all those rides kept making me ready for my solo ride to Mombasa. I had informed Jack Siro privately that I was intending to ride to Mombasa on Wednesday, the 5th of May, and even asked him if he could join me but he obliged citing the fact that he wasn’t ready financially. Later I informed the group and their moral support was overwhelming since the date was drawing closer with it being under 2 weeks.
On Tuesday before the ride day, I went to town and sent my luggage as a parcel to Mombasa because I needed to be as lightweight as possible. Also, I intended to stay in Mombasa for a few days relaxing at my brother’s place then come back to Nairobi via either vehicle or train whatever would work for me.
Day 1 of the Ride: Nairobi to Voi (350 km)
On the ride day, I woke up at about 2 am and started to prepare myself for the ride. I cooked porridge for my breakfast then and also because I intended to drink it on the way together with some sweet potatoes that I had boiled the previous day. I always carried sweet potatoes on my rides which I would eat with the water I carried to reduce expenses during the ride.
At around 10 minutes past 4 am I left my house near Red Hill Road and I was at Uhuru Highway at 4:30 am where I started the journey officially. Past Mlolongo you need to have a strong headlamp. No streetlights, and it is kinda lonely at that decent. I rode for 100km without any stop to Salama where I stopped to drink water. Then rode for another 20 km to Sultan Hamud where I drank my porridge and the sweet potatoes that had I carried. Afterward, I drank water and rested for half an hour.
After that 30 mins breakfast stop at Sultan Hamud, I embarked on the road, smashing, grinding, and spinning till Makindu town 170 km from Nairobi. It 11:45 am when I reached there. I was 30 minutes behind my schedule which meant rest time was to be minimized. At Makindu I took a heavy lunch for 30 minutes then rested for a further 30 minutes. I initially planned to do a 1 hour and 20 minutes ride but then I was behind the schedule. I did a few bike adjustments and then did oiling since I left Nairobi while it was raining.
It was 12:45 pm that I hit the road for the longest, dreadful ride towards Voi town. But unfortunately, after like 30 minutes, I suffered a puncture at a small town called Kiundwani which I repaired in the shortest time possible. On the road again, through Kibwezi, Kinyambu, I didn’t even realize it is also part of Tsavo forest because my mind was set on the Tsavo stretch.
I could not tell when I passed Mtito Andei as I sweated on the pedals feeling like am never getting there. After pressing for quite some time, I started the longest stretch of the Tsavo, I started seeing the elephants. Some fear downed on me that I was alone in the forest. No pedestrian, not even a motorcyclist could be seen, only vehicles were in sight. Surely there were no alternatives, but only to press forward. That stretch is very long. It took me over one hour. My speed increased tremendously on that stretch. Everything I needed was on point for instance drinking water was on the go. That was the longest continuous ride I had ever made without stopping.
It was some minutes before 8 pm when got myself to Voi finally. I had covered 152 km in that whole stretch and about 350 km the whole ride for that day. I got trouble searching for a house but eventually got one. Most of the ones I was asking for were going for between KES 1500 to 2000. I was later directed to one which cost KES 600. I took supper and bathed then slept woke up the following day at 5 am.
Day 2 of the Ride: Voi to Mombasa (160 km)
I woke up the next day a bit late compared to the previous day at about 6 am. I was now confident with the remaining part of the journey which was slightly above 150kms. I knew I had all the time on earth such that I left without breakfast. I cycled for about 30 km to Maungu town where I stopped for tea which was also not very easy getting because of Ramadhan. I had almost given up when I got a certain kibandaski (temporary roadside food outlet). I popped in for tea and sweet potatoes which were available at the time.
It was 30 minutes later that I was back on the road. The route though, now relatively short proved a little difficult. The headwinds and crosswinds are remarkably fierce and unrelenting. They probably left to stone unturned. From Voi to Msa is basically a climb. I was always riding on the pavement of the road but at some point the pavements are dilapidated and in the worst state even with protruding Terraces erected. That was the biggest challenge I encountered.
At around 2:30 pm I was in Mombasa strong but not as tired as the previous day. I headed to the parcel office and picked my luggage. In the entire journey, everybody’s concern was that I was alone, “You guys are always many why are you alone?”. I got tired of explaining myself. I finally resorted to simply answering them that my colleagues are behind coming after me.
Notes from the Ride
In terms of expenditure, the entire journey cost me around KES 2000 to Mombasa. On my return journey, I didn’t use a train to come back because I had a friend who offered to bring me back in his car with off-course some financial appreciation. A train ticket is about KES 1000 and I do not much about the bike logistics on the train but from many sources, it’s not charged provide you pack it well.
The secret to reaching a destination on time is that you have to minimize stopovers. It means you have to have fewer or no mechanical issues at all. This is a good reason why you need to have a well-serviced bike, puncture repair kit, and a few tools like an Allan key and of course oil in case you pass through rain. Riding with a dry chain is regrettable in the long run. Water and energy bars, bananas consumption should be on the go.
