2010 Gravity Adventure Festival
13-15 August, Kleinmond:
- Trail Runs
- Kayaking
- River Swim
- MTB race
- Croc races
I participated in this event last year and really enjoyed the vibe. Check it out: http://www.adventurefestival.co.za/
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I think I will…
For 32 days now, I’ve done nothing much except eat, drink and drive ( not in that order). In fact, I drove a neat 8927km to be exact. That trip took me from Cape Town, all the way to Beit Bridge in Zimbabwe, out again at Mutare and into Mozambique to the Gorongosa National Park. From there I went north and then a week later south again, all along the pristine Mozambique coast line.
So, the point I’m trying to make is this: there was not a lot of cycling to be done. In fact: no cycling of any kind during that period.
Back home now, I must consider how to ease back into things. Hence the purpose of this post. Though not the easiest of rides, the Burger MTB Challenge in Stellenbosch has always been a great event and often filled with much mud, may I add.
So, whether I can get myself into shape in a mere 18 days, with 2 business trips in the mix, remains to be seen and will be seen and felt on 31 July in Stellenbosch.
Bastille Festival Freedom Ride – 18 July
FRANSCHHOEK CYCLING CLUB INVITES YOU TO COME AND ENJOY AN AWESOME RIDE IN FRANSCHHOEK DURING BASTILLE FESTIVAL!
Remember the Dewdale MTB Classic (2001 – 2007)..?
Well, we hope to bring it back as the Bastille Festival MTB Classic in 2011..!
For 2010, the FCC (Franschhoek Cycling Club) will be hosting the Bastille Festival Freedom Ride: an informal MTB Ride (NOT a Race). Proceeds of this Ride will go towards the FCC’s Development initiatives, including the FCC Development Team.
- DATE: Sunday 18th July 2010
- START TIME: 9h30 (please Register where you see the Manic Cycles banner)
- REGISTRATION: 8H00 – 9H15
- VENUE: Huguenot Monument, Franschhoek
- DISTANCES: +-30KM (for the Fitter riders) – Moderate Intensity, +-15KM (for the Families/Kiddies) – Easy Intensity
Both Groups will start off together
FCC Members will lead the Outrides according to ability
- ENTRY FEE: R30-00
- CONTACT: Geddan Ruddock – 082 578 3017 or Paul Barkley – 083 302 9096
After the Ride, we are going to have some Lucky Draws where you can win 1 of 3 Limited Edition FCC Cycling Tops!
After the Lucky Draw, you are welcome to do some Wine Tasting and/or Eat out at a Restaurant in Franschhoek, after all it’sBastille Festival in Franschhoek:
Seaotter Classic 2010
It took me 41 hours to get from Cape Town to Monterey, home of the Seaotter Classic for the last 20 years.
As much as it was a long trip, it was certainly worth the while to be able to participate in that grand MTB event. Of course there were nuemoerous events over a 4 day period. These include cross country, short track, downhill, 4 croos and even road events.
My time constraints only allowed me to take part in the 30 mile MTB tour. It was a glorious day and the vibe there was simply amazing. The organisers spoke of about 15 000 cyclists and about 3 time that many spectators that would descend on the Segway Racecourse over the 4day period.
The tours was what I know as a “fun ride” with a group start. The track though, was ceratinly suitable to racing with a number of serious uphills, single track, jeep tracks, sand, stones and a few hairy down hills.
The refreshment points were amazing. Besides water and energy drinks, they served chocolate chip cookies, M&M’s, grapes and jelly babies.
After the event, every tour rider was invited to a great pasta lunch in a marquees tent, exclusively for the tour riders. Chicken penne with a great marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, fresh rolls and a ceasar salad went down very well.
At the luck draw one rider walked away with a certificate for a new Specialized MTB bike, tailored to his size and requirements.
The event also had an expo with all the major MTB brands present. These include bikes, forks, clothing, helmet-top cameras, spare parts, etc.
I met Barry Stander’s mechanic at the Specialized van. It was great to speak with a fellow South African and Capetonian right there at the Seaotter.
The towns of Monterey and Carmel ( where I stayed) are both beautiful tourist friendly villages and well worth an extra day’s stay.
I’m really keen to go again in 2011 but for the whole 4 days, if possible! Wanna join?
Sea Otter Classic… at last!
For many years now I’ve wanted to participate in the Sea Otter Classic. Though it will only be one event ( out of the many to choose from) I will finally be able to participate in just that, this weekend when I do the Mountain Bike Tour as part of the 20th anniversary of the Sea Otter Classic.
According to their web site, the Mountain Bike Tour will allow me the opportunity to enjoy trails of the BLM Fort Ord Public Lands! The 20 mile loops is a combination of singletrack and fire road trails. I will enjoy a fantastic post-race lunch and the Sea Otter Festival after my ride. There will be one rest stop for those in need of a mid-ride energy boost.
The rest stop will be stocked with CLIF bars, Clif Shots, Cytomax and bananas. So, wish me luck not with my ride but the 30hrs it will take me to get from Cape Town to Monterey California. I will be sure to tweet (www.twitter.com/mtbZA) and blog from there.
Riding Mongolia?
Wanna give the 2010 World Cup a miss in SA? Then this is a good way to do it. See the email I just received from the organisers:
Next year we will organise the first and only international MTB race in Mongolia.
It is the first and only MTB race in Mongolia! A 5 stage race with a total of 483km of real Mongolian adventure!
Are you interested in joining this exclusive and extreme event?
The event is very exclusive (to avoid natural impact) and we only admit 50 riders.
MTN Attakwas Extreme: 2010
MTN Attakwas Extreme
The MTN Attakwas MTB ultra marathon is hosted at Chandelier Game Farm just outside of Oudtshoorn. The route traverses the Klein Karoo, the Attakwas jeep trail and crosses the Outeniqua mountain range to finish in Grootbrak on the coast.
The distance of 135km has close to 3000m of vertical ascent and features rolling gravel roads, rough jeep track, many river crossings and washed out rocky descents.
This is an extreme Mountain bike event. Fitness and a strong mind are essential! Click here for more route info
MiWay Attakwas Mini
The MiWay Attakwas Mini, that is what the 53km odd new race will be called, will start and finish in Great Brak river, and will share certain sections of the MTN Attakwas Extreme route. To enable the supporters and crew of the riders from the extreme race to be able to compete in the Attakwas mini, we have decided to start this shorter version only at 09:30, with the average finishing time around 3 – 3.5 hours. Don’t underestimate this one, the name still says “Attakwas” Click here for more route info
Cut-Offs in the MTN Attakwas Extreme
The first ten positions in the overall classification for both male and female riders will receive a gold medal, all male competitors that finish under 7 hours and lady competitors who finish under 8 hours, will receive a silver medal. All other participants that make the 12 hour cut off receive a bronze finisher’s medal.
Race cut offs is extremely important in a race of this nature – our main concern is rider safety, and these cut off times are non negotiable. If we deem a rider not to be medically fit to carry on with the event, he/she will be removed and taken to the start/finish area – this is non negotiable and remains at the sole discretion of our medical team.
Race cut off will be enforced at two points;
Water point # 4 (96 km) at 16:30 (10 hours)
Finish (135 km) at 18:30 (12 hours)
Riders reaching water point # 4 before 16:30 will be allowed to continue but have to reach the finish before 18:30.
With the MTN Attakwas once again receiving the award for SA’s top one day cycle event, entries will once again be in high demand, so please enter early to avoid disappointment. Spectator view points are available!
Entries are closing fast!
Enter before 30 November 2009 & Receive;
HH Technical shirt!
A saving on your entry fee!
The experience of SA’s #1 rated one day MTB race for 2009
A saving on your entry fee!
The experience of SA’s #1 rated one day MTB race for 2009
Totalsports Challenge: 2010
TOTALSPORTS CHALLENGE Kleinmond “One Team, Seven Challenges”
Start the New Year with a bang by tackling the thrilling Totalsports Challenge presented by New Balance and Powerade. Multi-sport enthusiasts, fitness junkies and lovers of the outdoors can choose between the action-packed Totalsports Challenge or the less daunting, but still exciting Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge. The full-on challenge consists of seven disciplines, while the Terra Firma Challenge only features four land-based disciplines.
Totalsports Challenge entrants can compete individually or in teams of two, three or seven (male, female or mixed), while Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge entrants can compete individually or in teams of teams of two or four. The organisers of the Totalsports Challenge are delighted to welcome the Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays and the Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa in Kleinmond as the official accommodation partners of the Totalsports Challenge.
Registration will take place on Thursday, 07 January 2010 between 16h00 – 19h00 at Westin Grand Cape Town Arabella Quays, followed by the race briefing at 19h00 and pasta party at 20h00.
EVENT DATE: Saturday, 09 January 2010
VENUE: Start in Gordon’s Bay (Beach Front), End in Kleinmond (Beach Front)
START: Totalsports Challenge – 06h00, Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge – 07h45
DISTANCES:
Totalsports Challenge – 12km surfski, 1.5km swim, 50km road bike (from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 13km K1 canoe, 25km mountain bike and finally a 9km beach run
Totalsports Terra Firma Challenge - 50km road bike (from Gordon’s Bay to Kleinmond), 13km road run, 25km mountain Bike and 9km beach run.
Entries for the 2010 Totalsports Challenge are now open and can be submitted online at www.totalsports.co.za. The 2010 event will also feature a new category, specifically created for veterans aged 40 and older. Support and back-up crews can also get into the action during this year’s race and look forward to a challenge of their own. A prize will be awarded to the best seconding team involved in the race and crews are challenged to dress to impress with eye-catching team clothing and turn heads with attention-grabbing branding on team vehicles. The winners will walk away with a R2000 shopping voucher at any Totalsports store.
The Arabella Western Cape Hotel & Spa is offering a great weekend rate exclusive to participants and spectators of the Totalsports Challenge. For event information, contact Stillwater Sport and Entertainment on (021) 883 – 2413. For entry information, contact Top Events on (021) 511 – 7130. For accommodation enquiries, contact 028 284 0000 or email reservations@arabellawesterncapehotel.co.za
Want FOX to sponsor you for 2010?
Hey you mountainbiker. Did you know that Fox Racing Shox is looking for riders?
So, finally you can get that sponsorship break that you’ve been looking for and deserve, off course.
See BikeRadar.com for more.
Sea Otter Classic 2010
Entries are now open for the 2010 Sea Otter Classic, the 20th Anniversary from 15-18 April 2010 in Monterey California.
Go to their web site for details.
You can also find them on facebook at this link: http://twitclicks.com/neio
Their twitter account: @SeaOtterClassic