Lottering takes his ‘second chance’ at life
PUSHING the limit is the motto that ultra-endurance cyclist Grant Lottering bears in mind each time he gets on his bicycle.
Armed with perseverance and what he deems is his “second chance” at life, the Joburg man is preparing for his second Im’Possible Tour in August.
When Lottering, 47, takes on what many perceive as “virtually impossible”, he will try to become the first South African to complete a non-stop, gruelling 414km trek through the French Alps within 24 hours.
He is still recovering from an horrific accident in 2013 when he suffered extensive injuries, including collapsed lungs, spinal fractures, a crushed shoulder and extensive internal bleeding.
During a 140-km world championships preparation race in Italy, Lottering had entered a wet cor ner at a high speed and crashed into a rock embankment, which left him fighting for his life.
Surgeons predicted he would never ride again.
But 11 months and countless operations later, the cyclist last year took on his first Im’Possible Tour – titled “From Death to the Top of the Alps in One Year”.
This time, in just one day, he will cycle over eight Alpine mountains and peak 1 000m higher than Mount Everest.
Lottering wants to use this tour, themed “Taking a Second Chance at Life to the Limit and Beyond”, to push himself “be- yond the limit of my capability”.
“I want to build on my Im’ Possible story, and tell people that we should live without imposing limits on ourselves.
“I have no doubt there are many people capable of doing what I will attempt in August, but most never will because they don’t believe they could, or simply think they are not capable, which I of course don’t agree with.
“I often say, ‘you will never know how far you can go until you push yourself further than you thought was impossible’.”
But last year’s challenge was no easy feat, as the cyclist felt the pain of pushing his injured body.
“The biggest challenge was overcoming the fear of descending the Alpine mountains at over 70km/h, knowing what could happen if I were to fall again while not fully recovered.
“My right leg was still weaker than my left, my shoulder in absolute agony, often not being able to pull on the handlebars. At times, I remember crying from the pain and still having over 10km to climb to the summit,” he recalled.
Last October, after a sixth operation to his shoulder and an unsuccessful bone graft, Lottering still wouldn’t give up, and he began the rigorous training for the August cycle only the following month.
He does indoor training three times a week using the specialised performance Wattbike, while practising numerous longdistance rides.
Lottering also practises sleep deprivation to condition his body, by staying up all night once every three weeks.
“My tour will require me to ride through the night with no sleep. During the night I will climb and descend three Alpine climbs, so it will be dangerous and I will have to be alert.”
A team will be on standby throughout the entire day’s ride, including a camera crew who will be filming Lottering’s attempt. Excited at the video documentary, he added that he believed it would be “the first time that many South Africans will get to see the splendour of the Alps in this way”.
Lottering hopes to raise R1 000 for each kilometre he completes, with all proceeds going to the Laureus Youth Empowerment through Sport Programme, which identifies and trains promising youngsters excelling in sporting codes.
SA chairman for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, Morné du Plessis, said Lottering’s values and goals were “strongly aligned” with those of the organisation.
“We are delighted to have him as an official fundraiser.”
Push yourself further than you thought was impossible