Every time I travel down into the Lowveld I am pretty much guaranteed to endure a 50/50 split between a “MTB’gasim” and what feels like a swift kick to the nads… The race itself was a complete success from my personal perspective. The fluidity of the direct, sweeping climbs through Pine and Blue Gum, forcing us skywards, will expose the tiniest of hairline cracks in your pre-race preparation. There was not a terrain type left to the imagination. Mankele has it all. Sand, rocks, granite, clay, quarts, tar. All on district roads, cattle track, single track, jeep track, pine slopes etc.. both up and down. There were a few “boob reductions” (uphill single track) (last year’s comments… not mine) but this added to the ever changing route “mind-bombs”! Some of the long bush tunnels NEVER ENDED! Wish I had more juice in the tanks before these as they require sharp concentration and an even sharper sense of ninja skills. All in all, a wrist breaking, mind blowing, sun baked, nerve twitching, smile educing, muscle failing race… I’m so in for 2013!
