Brilliant is a word which was often used while Joost van der Westhuizen had a rugby ball under his arm. The Springbok and Blue Bulls captain and scrumhalf had a way to make something out of nothing on a rugby field. Many of his opponents would be able to vouch for that.
With this flair to outfox his opponents, it should not be a surprise that Van der Westhuizen still holds the record for the most tries by a Springbok player in test rugby. He scored 38 tries in 89 tests.
It also came as little surprise when he was inducted into London's International Hall of Fame earlier this month.
What has all of this got to do with cycling? Well, Van der Westhuizen and his wife, the well-known singer Amor Vittone, are going to take part in the OUTsurance Tshwane Mayoral Ride, which takes place on 29 July, on a tandem.
They are definitely not just going to be numbers in the peloton. For every lap of the seven-lap event the Van der Westhuizens complete, OUTsurance will donate R5 000 to the Kidz on Bikes community development project.
The money will be used to promote cycling as a sport in primary schools in Soweto. According to Van der Westhuizen they are honoured that OUTsurance approached them to ride for the project.
"Amor and I always enjoy supporting worthwhile projects. What makes the Kidz on Bikes project for us special is the fact that money is going to be used to help children of previously disadvantaged communities."
Van der Westhuizen openly admits that he is not the best of cyclists. "I do have a bicycle and do go out for training rides sometimes.
"At the moment we are doing most of our training on spinning bikes, but once we get our tandem we'll have a full go out on the road. I know off a 7km stretch of road near where we stay where the traffic is not to bad. We'll do our training there.
"I understand riding a tandem could be tricky. You and your partner have got to get used to cycling together on one bike. Somebody also told me that taking your wife or girlfriend for a tandem ride is a good way to test your relationship.
"Apparently a lot of good relationships have turned sour after cycling together on a tandem," he chuckled. "Seriously though, it will be a nice challenge for Amor and I."
Asked whether or not they are not going to be scared to ride amongst 4 000 cyclist in bunch, Van der Westhuizen's honest reply was: "No!
"I see cycling in a peloton the same way as I view a rugby match. In every match you are going to be tackled and there is a chance that you may break something.
"If we should take a tumble during the race it will be just one of those things that happen. If nothing is broken Amor and I will be back on our bikes pedalling like hell to make money for the Kidz on Bike-project. The more the better."
Zoon Cronjé, of Kidz on Bikes, explained that there are four courses of ten weeks in which kids are taught how to cycle in the Kidz on Bikes curriculum.
"Tony Harding, the former manager of the South African cycling team, and Robert Hunter, Tour de France-rider, have worked out the programmes.
"We provide everything. We have trailers that are kitted out with 20 bikes and helmets which the kids use. What is really rewarding is the fact that we have managed to get kids that have never been on a bicycle to cycle within an hour of coaching.
"I think there is a big need for cycling to become an official schools sport. Not everybody has good ball skills or can run fast, but I everybody can ride a bike.
"You should see what cycling does to the self-esteem of some of the kids who thought they were useless in sport. Once they get onto a bicycle it's unbelievable how their confidence grows.
"Sometimes when a class finishes the parents get onto the bikes and start to cycle as well. Their kids run next to them telling them how to use the gears and enlightening them on the do's and don't's of cycling.
"I have found that the motorists around the schools where we are involved are also much more tolerant towards cyclists. I think it is because suddenly it is their kid that is on the bicycle."
OUTride Quick Facts
When: Sunday, 29 July 2007
Where: State Theatre, Pretoria (start and finish)
Format: 10.5km circuit lap ride
Distances: 35km (3 laps) / 77km (7 laps) / Kiddies ride
Kidz on Bikes Classic: 14km for u10 and u12 kids
Route: SA Championship Route around the Union Buildings
Starting time: 8:30
Prize money: R18 950
On-line entries: www.cyclelab.com
On-line entries close: 22 July 2007
Free water bottle to every on-line entrant
Free T-shirt to all on-line entrants in the 77km ride
Medals to all finishers
Be the first to receive a complimentary August issue of Cyclingnews Magazine
Spot prizes at Prize giving, sponsored by Queens Cycles, OUTsurance, USN and Cyclingnews
Loads of entertainment at Start/Finish venue
All online entrants go into a draw to win a Sunn Rage Evo MTB (valued at R8 985) and a Samsung Flat screen TV (valued at R2 895)
Loads of entertainment at Start/Finish venue
For further information contact Wynand de Villiers on (011) 958 1004 or email wynand@cyclingnews.co.za or visit www.outsurance.co.za/outride.
OUTsurance also offers bicycle insurance which will cover your bicycle, including during the race.