Stephan

Yes, happened Sunday. Male guy with knife attacked female rider between Blockhouse and Rhodes Mem. Guessing it's the same people who also mugged someone else there a week ago. Need to set a trap for this guy and give him a dose of his own medicine.

Day 1 Rooidakkies to Gannaga Lodge https://www.strava.com/activities/12410432909 Day 2 Gannaga Lodge to Sutherland https://www.strava.com/activities/12410433867 Day 3 Sutherland to Tankwa River Lodge via Ouberg Pass https://www.strava.com/activities/12417453403 Day 4 part A Tankwa River Lodge to Da Doer Padstal https://www.strava.com/activities/12423277278

Yes, we did do a Tankwa Tour, but not the route above, and I am very glad we didnt because it would have been very hard. The Doringriver was still flowing too high in September so we would not have been able to cross at Uitspankraal and decided to change our plans. In the end we did four days: Day 1: Rooidakkies to Gannaga Lodge Day 2: Gannaga Lodge to Sutherland Day 3: Sutherland to Tankwa River Lodge Day 4: Tankwa River Lodge to Da Doer Padstal Amazing trip with spectacular scenery and met some very kind and friendly people along the way. If I had to do this again, I would drive to Da Doer Padstal and start/end the trip there.

Easy. Enduroseal.

If you drive there with your own car, logistics is very easy with the car shuttle service between Oudtshoorn and Pine Creek. If you need to fly and rent a car, it gets pricey.

Any more info on the route? I am planning a Overberg bike packing trip next week and am keen to include some of these sections if possible.

Is this race happening again this year? Stillwater Facebook page says nothing. Their last post was on 9 July about the Origin of Trails, and their website is down (has been for a few months).

Thanks for all the help so far. Really appreciate it. I have scoured the net and route plans and looked at a gazzilion maps. This is the plan now: Day 1 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253648923662638246 (Mt Ceder to Enjo Farm) Day 2 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253653661864698022 (Enjo to Elandsberg Cottage inside the park) Day 3 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253662945560747096 (Elandsberg to Rooidakkies) Day 4 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253663354081160358 (Rooidakkies to Mt Ceder, over Katbakkies) Will appreciate it if anyone who has been on these roads can confirm is this is actually possible? Strava heat maps seem to show yes. A few comments: We looked at the option of staying at Tankwa Tented Camp, but we want to try and avoid as much of the R355 tankwa road as possible. Apparently it can be really crap. I am aware that the road after the Biedouw Valley across from the Doringriver is horrible (classic comment in the video posted above "the road surface varies between bad and terrible") and that actually crossing the Doringriver is not a guarantee. Going up to Gannaga Lodge is still an option. We realise that if anything goes wrong (mechanical or puncture) in the middle of nowhere, then we may need to wait a few days for the next car to pass. We will carry a satellite tracker just in case.

Thanks for all the replies. Current planned dates are 13 to 16 Sept.

Planning a 4-day circular route starting in the Cederberg, venturing into the Tankwa via Biedouw Valley and then back to the start-point via Katbakkies. Only problem with my planning is that I have never been into the Tankwa. 🙂 I used a combo of Strava heatmaps, Tracks4Africa maps and a few quick checks on Google Maps, Komoot and Ride4GPS to plan, but I found it really difficult since I don't know the area and accommodation options at all (ideally a place offering a bed and food). Option A Day 1 https://www.strava.com/routes/3250812115739544092 (start near Op-die-Berg to Kromrivier) Day 2 https://www.strava.com/routes/3250813744534408732 (Kromrivier to Rooiputs, via Wuppertal and Biedouw Valley) Day 3 https://www.strava.com/routes/3250817568495228498 (Rooitputs to Tankwa Guest Farm) Day 4 https://www.strava.com/routes/3250818013866334748 (Guest Farm to start point) Option B Day 1 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253003413318015296 (Mount Ceder to Jai Yen Yen at Uitspankraal) Day 2 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253004675992186552 (Uitspankraal to Ganna Lodge) Day 3 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253007885890920120 (Ganna to Rooidakkies) Day 4 https://www.strava.com/routes/3253008752303007078 (Rooidakkies back to Mt Ceder) Is riding within the national park even allowed? The website says no (https://www.sanparks.org/parks/tankwa-karoo/what-to-do/activities/mountain-biking). Will appreciate any help and advice.

Cavendish!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just brilliant.

Where can we track the race? This side shows Benky's tracker still at home in PMB 😆 https://trackleaders.com/unboundxl24i.php?name=Kevin_Benkenstein

They set off tomorrow. Good luck to all the Saffas riding! Go Matt and Benky 💪

🤬 Not cool! Sorry to hear. I ride in Tokai and do the Silvermine loop often. This really sucks.

Live tracking shows leading men already at the bottom of Cliffhanger but "live" visuals on YT still shows them climbing up Aap Duez??

Craig Kolesky's channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC29IDPlBqTa1eV9w8dILAtg

Is there a leading motorbike uphead that would give these backmarkers a warning that the pro's are coming? They would obviously hear the helicopter as well, but this looks like a route-planning mess. The backmarkers are going to bundu-bash up that trail now because there is going to be a constant stream of riders coming down.

The 12-minute highlights of the start of Stage 2 were superb this morning. Great visuals. Starlink satellites will sort out all the signal issues. Pity it is not available in RSA.

If you don't like the commentary, mute it. If you don't like the free live feed (technical glitches and all), don't watch it. Watch the highlights reel in the evening. The constant bashing of the commentary and free live feed every year is getting old. The guys are doing their best.

Went to watch the prologue yesterday. Unbelievable to see so many Orbea Oiz bikes, as compared to a few years ago. Maybe because of SCR win on Orbea. Would love to see the results of the rider survey again. My guess is that top brands will be: Spez, Scott then Orbea.

Does anyone know when the lineup will be announced? Keen to see who is riding with who this year.

It seems like this product range has now hit the market. https://www.pinkbike.com/news/leatt-announces-new-endurance-apparel-and-helmet-collection.html I am curious to hear feedback on the MTB Endurance 4.0 helmet. I can't find a review online yet. I currently ride with a Spez S-Works Prevail II Vent, which is super light (265g) and very very well ventilated, but this new Leatt helmet looks like it may offer more protection (especially at the back of the head), so if the weight is not a whole lot more, then I think this may be my next buy.

752 people on the official entry list. 473 finished. But given the weather forecast some people decided not to ride. An hour before the 11-hour cut-off the commentator said 46% had finished. I guess DNF is between 40% and 50% of those who started.

Climbing up to KOM guys were getting readings of 52 and 53, but it felt like mid 40s, maybe because of the breeze. Riding out of Bonniedale felt far warmer, but there was no wind. Average of mid 40s feels correct.