Top South African chef and committed mountain biker, David Higgs, will be doing a 361km ultra-endurance virtual cycle to raise funds for his staff, starting at 15h00 on Friday afternoon, 24 April 2020.
David Higgs. Photo credit: ZC Marketing Consulting
Higgs, who co-owns Marble and Saint restaurants in Johannesburg and is co-host of the My Kitchen Rules South Africa TV show, has already been selling his cookbook, Mile 8, online for R400 per copy, with proceeds going to a Staff Support Trust, which he established to support his more than 300 staff, who have been unable to work for the past six weeks.
Higgs closed both his restaurants on 16 March 2020 when the South African government introduced the Coronavirus Social Distancing phase in the interests of the health of his staff and patrons.
From left: Team Saint’s Cherise Willeit, Nicky Gilliomee, David Higgs and Stuart Johnston. Photo credit: ZC Marketing Consulting
Higgs was entered for the 2020 Absa Cape Epic, scheduled for 15-22 March with his friend Stuart Johnston as Team Saint. But the event was cancelled the day before it was meant to start, leaving Higgs, Johnston and more than 1200 other extremely fit mountain bikers extremely frustrated.
But Higgs has maintained a high level of fitness during the South African Lockdown, which prevents any form of outdoor public exercise, using his home stationary smart trainer and the Zwift cycling app to ride daily. He has also been using Instagram stories to offer daily cooking advice and to stay connected with his friends and followers.
David Higgs. Photo credit: ZC Marketing Consulting
The annual 36ONE Ultra-endurance Mountain Bike Challenge in Oudtshoorn, was to have taken place this weekend, but has now been postponed to 13-15 November 2020. The event is a 361km race in the Karoo region with a 36.1-hour time limit. A group of keen participants decided to hold their own virtual 361km challenge over the same period.
Stuart Johnston. Photo credit: ZC Marketing Consulting
“Stuart invited me to ride the virtual 361km event. At first I wasn’t too keen – that’s a long time to be on a bicycle saddle in one go! But then I decided it would be a good challenge, since I have the time and am reasonably fit; and it’s another way for me to raise funds for my staff,” said Higgs.
“Initially I was just going to ride it and finish without any real time expectation, but my mountain bike performance coach, Dr Mike Postumus, says he thinks I can finish in around 15 hours, so I have a bit of motivation and a goal. And yesterday (Sunday 19 April) I did 100km on my smart trainer, which is my longest distance indoors so far – and it wasn’t too bad,” said Higgs.
David Higgs and Stuart Johnston. Photo credit: ZC Marketing Consulting
“I have had a great response to people buying my book, which I punt almost daily on my Instagram account, but I’m hoping to appeal to a different market with my 361km virtual cycling challenge so that I can add to that fund,” said Higgs.
To purchase a copy of Mile 8, a 352-page full-colour hardcover book with over 90 dishes and 150 recipes for yourself, or as a gift for someone else, click here.
