ajnkzn

Hey guys - to paraphrase the immortal words of Monty Python - “Let’s not argue over singletrack or not, this is a happy occasion” 🤣. If you’re in KZN it’s a no brainer to come and ride and if you aren’t, what a great “excuse” to see a different and beautiful part of the world with lots to do before and after as well. The lap type course (56km laps won’t exactly get boring) should make the racing and spectating more exciting and the route is a sublime lap around the Karkloof valley. It is mostly fast gravel with a bit of tar and a few short sections of more chunky stuff to keep things interesting. Come a few days early / stay a few days after and take advantage of the miles and miles of quiet tar / gravel roads or one SA’s top trail networks. Go for coffee and a snack or lunch at Yard 41, The Old Mushroom Farm, Fable, Salt Slab, Rawdons, La Lampara, Bierfassel, Blueberry Cafe etc etc. Karkloof Club has an amazing vibe with excellent coffee and food, camping and space for the kids to run wild. See you there 🤘

Karkloof is challenging as timber harvesting can start up with short / no notice so one uses the GPS track and if a detour is needed around an area, this is done on the morning of the race. Very few people in the Karkloof Valley to mess with route markings.

https://www.wikiloc.com/gravel-bike-trails/karkloof-gravel-168km-203880922 I might be wrong (sure the organizer will chip in), but the route above doesn’t go anywhere near the falls (for the main men’s and ladies’ races). The only “singletrack” I am aware of is getting up to the Shafton Road and is an uphill, non technical section less than 400m long, and possibly some very tame stuff at the end / start of each lap near the feed zone. No silly stuff as far as I know. The organisers want a close race where the strongest riders will win, not a crapshoot down to luck.

Sounds about right for the route of this race. Not sure about severely underbiked, but slightly yes. Unless you pitch up on 28mm slicks, then you’ll have a long day out 🤣

Mid South Gravel in the US also one of the biggest and the section of singletrack is an iconic part of the route. Riding bikes should be fun, if your bike setup or skills preclude tame singletrack being fun, then see it as an opportunity to change things up and have a new experience.

Entered - going to be a 🔥 route and a beaut day out

Guys all I can say is, if you can, SA Gravel is going to be good.

Is it not the same chassis, just a different air spring? Honest question

I have a very nice Pike for sale in the classifieds...just saying 😉

I reckon that the Imbuko boys will be right up there for at least a few stages...

Also look on Rene Herse website, GCN etc etc

Latest research shows beyond doubt that on anything other than dead sooth gravel / tar, a lightly treaded MTB tyre is faster than a smaller gravel tyre.

And they’ve spent a lot of time together training in the US with Matt staying with Keegan I think. Keen to see how they go 🤘

Ja - box at each overnight stop and they can shuttle your car to the end 🤘

Hey Team Anyone on here planning to ride Nonstop this year? Done it before? Anyone planning / done a self supported one?