The morning sun cast long shadows across the road as Freddie Oosthuizen (56) pushed off from Gqeberha on Wednesday, 26 November, his bicycle wheels beginning an ambitious journey to Namibia, via the Garden Route and Cape Town.
But this time, every pedal stroke brought searing pain — a reminder of the life-changing operation needed to treat his double hernia.
Oosthuizen, from Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, is now appealing for sponsorship to fund a crucial hernia operation and continue his charitable cycling campaigns across South Africa.
His latest tour, though cut short in Mossel Bay, represents just the latest chapter in a story of courage, endurance and determination.
“I started cycling at a very young age in my life,” Oosthuizen reflects. “Just after I turned 20, I already started riding long distances on a bicycle.”
His early cycling achievement speaks to his fearless approach to long-distance cycling.
“I have successfully cycled from Newcastle to Gqeberha, then I went via Bloemfontein, Colesberg, Graaf-Reinet, Kariega, Despatch and Gqeberha — that was 1,400km that I completed at that time when I was still young, in 10 days, without much experience.”
His adventurous spirit has characterised Oosthuizen’s approach throughout his cycling journey.
“I just jumped in and did it,” he shared with the PE Express, though he admits, “I have not achieved much success when it comes to fundraising for charity organisations.”
Journey undertaken despite physical pain
Oosthuizen’s latest adventure began with careful planning, though the execution proved more challenging than anticipated.
“I first left Johannesburg by bus on November 25,” he shared. “So, on November 26, I cycled from Gqeberha, the first day to Jeffreys Bay and there I knew people who gave me accommodation,” he explains.
The second day tested his endurance in ways he hadn’t expected. “The next day I stretched to Plettenberg Bay, where I started at 05:30 and only arrived there at 20:00 in the evening and unfortunately, I was not successful in finding accommodation,” he adds.
Despite reaching Mossel Bay on the third day and finding respite with family in nearby Hartenbos, Freddie made the difficult decision to halt his tour — a choice driven by pressing health concerns.
His initial plans to cycle from Gqeberha to Cape Town and then Namibia have been placed on hold.
The reason for stopping became increasingly clear as Oosthuizen’s condition worsened. “I need to have a double hernia operation,” he explains. “I thought that cycling like this I could establish a back-a-buddy and see if I could get a sponsor for my operation.”
The physical reality of cycling with this condition has become unbearable.
“At the moment, it is very uncomfortable to cycle with a double hernia,” he shared. “I am pedalling with extreme pain, pressure, stress and discomfort, so it doesn’t help me at this stage to complete my original plan to cycle to Cape Town and then to struggle to Walvis Bay in this condition.”
Oosthuizen’s efforts to raise awareness and support for his journey haven’t yielded the response he’d hoped for. “I already advertised on Facebook that I was going to do the cycling but got very little support,” he admits.
Preparation for the tour presented its own challenges. “A month or two beforehand I got a sponsor to be able to buy a bicycle, but it is not the right bicycle to tour with, but I started getting everything together,” he says.
Despite the limited response, he remains grateful for those who have supported him.
“I want to personally thank all the people for their support,” he emphasises, acknowledging the individuals who provided financial assistance to help him begin his journey from Gqeberha.
Looking ahead, Oosthuizen’s determination remains unshaken. “My plan, if it is the Lord’s will, is to start over again next year in Gqeberha.”
A lifetime of solo adventures
His approach to long-distance cycling has always been uniquely independent. “I am used to long-distance riding and I do it solo. So, I ride sometimes in the evening or during the day,” he explains.
His personal achievements speak to remarkable endurance: “The furthest I’ve cycled in a day is 200km, but the furthest I did now was from Jeffreys Bay to Plettenberg Bay.”
As he faces this challenging period in his cycling career, Oosthuizen’s determination to continue raising funds for charitable causes while managing his own health needs reflects the spirit that has driven him to achieve great distances.
Those wishing to support Oosthuizen’s operation and charitable rides can go to the following link: www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/operation-funds~3
You must be logged in to post a comment.