MTB Blog

Sunday morning was a cool and cloudy morning with the prospect of rain hanging thick in the air.
The huge field of about 1700 riders meant that there were 6 starting groups, each five minutes apart.
Some local “oom” started set each group off by firing his double gauge shotgun into the air. If you weren’t awake or maybe nervous enough, then that shot surely did it for you.
A quick few km’s through town and then the Ou Wapad uphill. This very rocky and steep uphill is rideable, if you’re the only one there. With a huge mix of seasoned mountain bikers, roadies and first time mtb’ers, riding up there became a challenge though. Once you were stopped in your tracks, it was very difficult to get going again.
So at 4km my left hand pedal arm came off on that uphill and I had to stop to fix it.
Once I got going again, it was a mere 2km on the bike before my brand new chain broke. A very kind Stellenbosch student, Johan, stopped to assist me with a chain breaker and yet another helpful rider, Phillip, stopped and offered some chain links.
Well then I thought I was in the clear as far as technical problems were concerned.

The Prince Alfred’s Pass downhill was a great joy and that 10km alone makes it worthwhile going back for the ride.
At about 55km the drizzle started and stopped again after a few km.
It was only once I hit the forest section, off the pass, that it started pouring. With about 25km left the mud really put my crank, derailleur and repaired chain to the test. The rain was now full on and hard hitting and even made seeing quite difficult. It lasted only for about 8km or so.
Then there was that last 3km climb, 8km from the end.
If it weren’t for the cool weather and my relaxed state of mind at that juncture, that uphill could’ve been a problem.
All in all a great ride and most definitely on my calender for next year.

A nice cool day here in Wilderniss. We are staying at the National Park here in one of the forest cabins.
The family will take me to Uniondale this afternoon where I will stay with some friends in some-one’s home for the night.
Registration will be at the Uniondale Showgrounds this afternoon from 17h00 to 21h00 and I guess I’ll tuck into the pasta provided there.
The weather today is very cool and just right for riding.
The Weather SA web site does not exactly list Uniondale or Knysna, but it forecasts 8 – 18 for Little Karoo and 9 – 16 for Garden Route tomorrow (Sunday)
So, if you’re going to be there…enjoy

So, it’s a week and a day later..
The fact remains, this is and always was a great ride!
The organisation, the 5 refreshment stations with their coke, Bar-one’s, chomps, dairy milk chocolates, bananas and lively music and then of course the single track.
Sure, it really tires you out.
Sure, once you get stuck behind some-one it takes a while before you get a gap to pass.
Yet, it is why ride a mountain bike.
It was simply thrilling and one event I will certainly always try to take part in. Well done Deon and your team.