First casualty picks up safety flag for Grandads Army

Flagman Rodney Offord, 66, in his lumo-green bib, methodically waves his red flag to warn oncoming traffic about the Grandads Army cycling peloton.

And, with delightful humility and pragmatism, he recalls his days as the influential transport engineer in the Eastern Cape department of transport.

He cheerfully recalls the hundreds of projects he processed in “19 years and seven months” of service, such as setting up the provincial traffic-counting programme; introducing traffic calming circles, signage and rumble strips at rural schools; and a road safety audit for major provincial roads, identifying solutions which have been gradually implemented.

Now a retired grandad, he is creating stunning, competition-level wooden sculptures in his Tokai, Cape Town, woodturning workshop.

And his word-turning skills during lockdown attracted 2,993 followers to his blog, Bicycle Blues Behind Bars in Beacon Bay.

Today, day three and 460km into the gargantuan Eyabantwana Trust’s 1,500km Heritage Ride by East London support cycling group Grandads Army, he is the first casualty of war.

Thirteen cyclists will play some part in the 14-day ride, but nine special souls — now eight — will pedal every millimetre of the squiggly map line from SA’s north to East London.

Three months ago, Offord had a stent inserted, but remained determined to be on his Prologo saddle, which he described cheerfully as “used to my bum”.

But by day two, cycling in cold headwinds on potholed, truck-heavy roads, he began to feel tired and poorly.

There are three surgeons on the “mission” , as it is termed on the road, and Dr Mie Elsen, the team doctor, told him to take the third day off.

Saddened, the man who produced a highly technical print and digital route guide using Garmin Map Source, Garmin Basecamp, and Google Earth down to street views, said it felt good to be doing something positive — keeping the cyclists safe on the heavily used R71 in Limpopo.

“Doing flagman duties reminds me of all the safety programmes we designed for the Eastern Cape.”

A profound and thoughtful Christian, he handed the dedicated atheist Deloris Koan a tiny booklet he likes to give to new friends on the road, John Blanchard’s Ultimate Questions.

There is a new energy in the cleated steps of the high-age servicemen after the heavy artillery of the cut-off-low lifted to bring patches of warm sunshine to their Forever Resort billet near Phalaborwa. 

After 460km from the northern border start, Eyabantwana Heritage riders are ready to rack their carbon steeds and take a four-wheeler game drive in the Kruger Park later this afternoon.

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