This ride (Not race) is good value for money. The experience starts as early as December, where the organiser and riders, host a number of "training rides" on the route, so that you can realise the sheer distances and altitudes that will be ridden. These rides cover the entire route in smaller segments. Also there is a training ride to the Val Festival. On these rides there is sweep vehicles and sponsors climb aboard with nutrition. So the "package" includes the race and between 2 and 4, 120km training rides. The training rides will allow you to see all the views that you will (if you ride fast) miss on race day. The good bag includes a Buff, shoulder bag and a (Soon to be delivered) T Shirt. There are four checkpoints, all fully catered. The finish is at the Highland festival, so there is entertainment and drink available. Okay so where are the cons? The first big CON is the format of the support. A team (Solo or group) includes a support vehicle, which must be at each check point. THERE IS ONLY ONE SUPPORTER per team. This format, although workable, provides the following risks/concerns. Firstly the support driver has to drive through the night which may become dangerous due to sleep deprivation. Secondly, this single feature increases the hidden cost of the race, as each team (solo included) requires a high clearance car to drive from Cullinan to Dullstroom. The possible solution to this is to adopt the container system of Trans Baviaans, and a sign in register for solo riders. The second Con is the start time for non racers. The start time is 4pm because they want to time the first finisher to arrive at the start of the festival, but every year the race snakes just go faster, doing the entire race in the dark ?! The funrider?!- ride for experience guy however takes almost twice the time to do the distance. This results in many slower riders missing the morning of the festival. The possible solution is to have category based starts so that slower or experience seekers riders can elect to start earlier, and thus arrive to the festival to be able to take part in the festivities. (Race numbers can be colour coded to indicate batch start times, and only "elite/premiere" riders race for prizes) Conclusion C2T is possibly the best value for money experience available on the calendar for gravel cyclists
