The Cape Epic is on from March 15 to 22 through the Western Cape region in South Africa, where teams of two riders will ride 739 kilometres over the eight days, including 16 kilometres of climbing.

Selkrig was invited along with his teammate, Garry James of Canberra, in July last year as a wild card entry based on their previous racing results.

Selkrig has won many national events in the past year, some in 40-plus age groups, competing with riders 12 years younger than him.

He recently took out the Australian 24-hour solo national championships at Mount Annan in November.

He has many international honours too, including winning the Mongolian Bike Challenge seven-day stage race in the 50-plus category, a race that is only open to professionals and high level amateurs.

He also managed to place fourth in the WEMBO (World Endurance Mountain Bike Organisation) 24-hour solo world championship in Fort William, Scotland, despite colliding with a tree and breaking his collar bone and separating his AC joint in his left shoulder on the fifth lap.

He valiantly kept riding for another 12 laps until at 18 hours he could no longer continue.  

He said it was like Christmas the morning he found out he had qualified for the Cape Epic.

“It’s huge, [this event] is only usually kept for pro teams,” he said.

Selkrig has been busy preparing for the event, riding 500 to 600 kilometres every week, including 10 vertical kilometres weekly as well.

He said he loves the sport as he can get out in the bush and see places that everyday people don’t get to see.

“I can go out for a ride on the weekend and not see anyone for 10 hours,” he said.

While training, he wears an electronic position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) as well as a tracker which allows his wife Nancy to know where he is every 20 minutes.

He said it is nice though not to have to worry about car drivers while he is riding, and even gets invited in for cups of tea and coffee by people who live in the remote areas he trains in.

Along with mountain bike riding, Selkrig also competes in road racing events.

Selkrig started riding bikes when he was 16, later having around 20 years off, and only getting back on the bike four years ago.

He said the sport has been very good to him over the years, allowing him to go on many international trips to places he wouldn’t normally go to.

Selkrig said he is excited about the Cape Epic, despite the pressure of being the number three ranked team in their division.

“It puts a target on your back,” he said.

He said he would love to get on the podium, but just hopes to go well and have fun.

On his way back from the event, Selkrig will make a stopover in Perth to compete in a road race, flying in at 1pm Saturday, riding at 6am Sunday and flying out on Sunday afternoon.

The weekend after Perth, he will compete in the Oceania Solo 24 Hour Mountain Bike Championships, which involves around 400 to 450 kilometres of riding with only around 20 minutes in total off the bike.

Selkrig said he is very lucky to have a very understanding wife and good employees that allow him to participate in these events.