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Gotta agree on the I must agree with you - done a handful of them now, and it is right at the top for one day events done. It just ticks all the boxes, and then some !

"Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie !!!" Was amazing to listen to two post race interviews, one was the men's winner, Filipo Colombo (from Switzerland, and the other Mona Mitterwallner (the current marathon world champ)....where they both commented that it was probably the best marathon event they've ever done. Now is that not music to one's ears. For mere mortals, kudos to each lady and each gentleman who completed the event. Hardly anyone would disagree with the sentiment that it's the toughest one out there, but we thrive on challenges as I said before. A cool morning at the start and the sun only really started to heat up on the last climb (Patatskloof), which was the the only real time I zipped down looking around for a dam....Not a tree in sight and the black Rawson Properties shirt did me no favors ! Will say by the time you hit Patatskloof Climb with 2500m of climbing done already, the legs started smelling like burnt toast, and you are constantly aware of those few little punchy steep mini-climbs still to come towards the finish venue. The event remains one of those "must do ones" for a rider that likes a proper challenge and thrive on the endorphins of suffering. Shout out to the organizers, and all their partners for another memorable day and well organized event - the pinnacle of marathon challenges for sure ! ps: spare a thought for a good mate of mine, who sadly went down on the last downhill of the day and is currently in hospital, awaiting a physician and anesthetist to visit him at 10 am with a metal plate for his broken collarbone. Strongs Waldo, gutted for you....wishing you all the best for the recovery.

News just in, race entry capped reached (400) surpassing all previous years for this event.....actually believe a few UCI elites from Europe are making their way to the start-line too, so + 10 for good measure. This event started out as one that perhaps needed to first find its feet among the abundance of marathon events out there, and quickly did just that. Still regarded as probably the toughest marathon event in SA, it is without a doubt not for the "fun rider" or weekend warrior. Saffas love to suffer and take on a challenge and as result the event has grown to become the pinnacle of marathon challenges. Surely is a feather in the cap of the organizers, and their full team of sponsors and landowners. With the likes of Nino Schurter and his Cape Epic partner Andri Frischknect and a host of other top 20 UCI elites lining up against our boys, such as Alan Hatherly and our country's best marathon racers, the elite showdown should be about as hot at the temperatures come Saturday ! Elite ladies not standing back for the men, and boasts with the number 1 & 2 from recent World Champs on the line, and a number of European ladies around them. For me, having had my stomach bug a week earlier this year, I guess I do not have that excuse-card to play this time around, and now just pray for a finish line dismount, without my normal all-cramping-giraffe-stance !

Hallo Morne Thanks for bringing this to my attention. Personally, I saw these same "guests" about 4 weeks back at the same location. I informed the landowners and their security office. Been told these are KhoiSan Rastafarians, who are after a specific flora from that region. The landowners and security are aware of their presence from time to time and we've informed them each time of sightings. Assume it is not all that difficult to get access into Hillcrest from outside of normal access, and quite tricky to get to them with vehicles etc. Been told they are not dangerous at all and very friendly, and although that might be the case, during my personal sighting of them at close range, I was extremely uncomfortable with them having panga-like tools, which they use for their self-help-vegetation activities. Have alerted the role players of latest sighting. Kind regards

....after spending a hour on the bike today in this heat, I reminded myself to stop feeling sorry for myself, as there is a strong possibility of having to do just that but 4 times as long ! (yes I said 4, as fortunately the first two hours should be shaded and not as warm with a 6h30 start). Gotta feel for the okes lining up tomorrow for the AK (read that any way you want) in Oudsthoorn

listen meneer, when I stop and get off my bike, it is to walk it back to the finish area....klaar en gedaan

On race day, my suggestion will be to stop at each water point, bar perhaps waterpoint one. This is of-course if you are not racing for a top 10 finish. I don't ride with hydration packs, and only use two bottles, and those would be 550ml only, but even if you manage to fit 750ml bottles in your bike, you will go through fluids rather quickly. Once out of the early morning shaded comfort, the heat can really bake down on you, and finding yourself out on those lung busting mountains, without water or underhydrated, will add to your woes.....yip, I've got the T-shirt (printed on the front : " I skipped Water-Points @ IB5 "

....I must still tri

Well done on thinking ahead and already now starting to plan for what is surely going to be another fantastic event. I have just sent you the direct telephone number of the organizer (for Durbie Dash).

.....works a charm down Suikerbossie too

You guys rock !! Few people these days still doing events with the sole purpose of generating funds for charity. Well done for keeping it real !! (not saying for one second that other event organizers running another strategy should be frowned upon....not at all. Just saying that it makes an already great event just that much better still, knowing that your each drop of sweat makes a difference back in the communities. See you again in 2024 !!

Knee ops are quite expensive these days.....so avoiding Dr Spike Erasmus should be a priority

think it was three years ago when I did the event on a new bike I got a day or two before the event, with a new saddle (brand) never ridden / tested before, and a 34 T......not sure which decision I regretted most at the end !! If you have a 32T lying around, fit it, take my word for it, you are not running out of gears on the flats.....(as there ain't any !!) - but every little bit of help you can get for the climbing should be taken. Hence I'll be asking around locally for a 32T just before the event once more 🙂

.....because after the first 5, you climb with your eyes either full of blood, or shut......and keep on telling yourself it is flat roads to the end

Think it comes down to what you are used to. My son has only ever owned and raced hard tail bikes. Recently he was without a bike for a few weeks and using a courtesy dual sus, which he was extremely grateful for. However, he maintain he still prefer what he was used to, and was happy to get back on his hardtail a couple of days ago. I know how much I suffer with a dual on that event, as the body does take a fair beating on some of the dry and very long singletrack-sections......so can only imagine on a hardtail it is much worse (unless you are used to it as said). My son has raced the Eselsfontein stage race twice on his hardtail, and Esels is def a lot tougher on bike and body as IB5. So in closing, if you are used to your hardtail, you should be more than okay come Feb.

Mensies....is dit alweer sulke tyd ? I will just come out and say it out loud, to prepare myself for what lies ahead : I have done a handful now, and never finished it without having to deal with severe cramps in the latter parts. This is just the McDaddy of suffering for me, and just "too much" climbing crammed (almost typed cramping again) into the distance on offer. But hey, for some reason, like anything worthwhile achieving, you just saddle that horse again come February and dig deep. The some reason, can probably be deconstructed by now, as being an event that offers some of the best single-track around, coupled with fantastic views from an array of vantage points up high in the sky ! Great water points with fantastic vibes, music and support, all helps you though the challenge. I'll have no other goal such as chasing a sub this or sub that, other than trying my darndest to start slower, with the aim to avoid those nasty moles in the inner thighs come 45 kms. The image below during the event from two years ago, with a smile on my face, obviously taken before 45 kms !! An "open" cold refreshing shower (......keep those bibs on boys !!) should put you in a good state, to enjoy the shaded lawns of Imbuko with your mates. Well, guess writing about it will not make me any fitter, so I'd better get out there and do some training for Feb 2024 !!

Another Eselfontein MTB event done, and dusted (pun intended). It remains much more than an event, it is a weekend away with family and friends, unlike most. Cooling off in the massive swimming pool after each stage, and chilling under the huge trees for hours on the farm, whilst laughing at your troubles back home. I have it on good accord that the landowners invested more than R200 000 in getting the trails revived, after two severe floods recently. These are the things they do not boast or tell people about - they simply welcome you with open arms. A massive shout out to Deon and Janene Malherbe, for yet again, dropping the mic when it comes to awesome (natural and rough) trails, backed up by fantastic support, gees and all round good times off the bike ! #eselsfontein

Push "Enter" when prompted .......trails should be bliss come Friday the 13th

Not sure if the question is regarding possible damage to the trails or if it stems from elsewhere, but the event is surely proceeding, as I got my riders briefing info mail just a few days back. I also have it on good accord that the trails in some areas did take a hammering, but the owners of the event, invested a lot of money, time and resources to repairs and rebuild where required.

That is a lovely machine and one I have been riding for close on a year myself. Two of my friends are on Oiz carbon variants too, and the feedback is only positive from them too. Not had any bearing issues or creaking, but as with any dual sus, pivots bearings need to be serviced and the wet conditions out there, will surely have an affect with time. Oiz is a capable machine and perfect bike for most riding / terrain in the dare I say shorter travel segment.

Was a good outing in CL country today, and hats off to the organizers for thinking outside the box and combining a day of racing, which was scheduled for two days. Yes the 60km front riders soon caught up to the 15km riders, but that was only for a very short part of the route, before the split happened. The organizers did well to inform us on the start line that it may be the case and that we should act in kindness to any of the short distanced riders - for the most this seemed to have been the case. A couple of folk missed some markers on route, but then again, most did not. Easy to just follow wheels ahead of you and when the loco ahead has his head down and misses the marker, chances are the others will follow. I got the impression that most folk enjoyed the day, which was well hosted by organizers and sponsors, and had a great post race vibe. Route was lovely and I expected a lot more mud than what we got served, and there surely are some great trails that side of the world. Very chilly in the start chute, with overcast conditions for most, but as we got going, I was more than okay with just my short sleeved shirt, and undervest. What a revival of cycling in the greater Cape region today - think no less than 6 events today in various disciplines.

Thank you for the compliment on the rebrand.....if I tell you that for a number of days during the last few month, I spent more time on the club projects, than in my own business, would you believe me ? 😎 Hoogies and Conties will give you much joy, for sure ! The codes for applicable locks, remain the same yes. Enjoy your riding tomorrow. Kindest

Morning We took the site offline yesterday afternoon after the announcement of our rebrand. The new website will offer a huge amount of improvements and additional features, and surely visually a pleasure to use. Please visit our social channels (Facebook and Instagram) for all updates herein and all matters Tygerberg. In terms of the trails, in general the trails and on higher elevation are running beautifully, for example at Hoogekraal, Contermanskloof, etc. Sections under maintenance is the Bloemendaaler @ upper Bloemendal, The Hammer @ Hoogekraal. Lower sections of Fair Cape and Klipheuwel and some other parts of network has a few mud patches that needs to be navigated. Missing Link is an absolute mess with livestock getting into that location and undone all our hard work of just a week or two back. Kind regards

But that is the case with pretty much all events with the rising costs of service providers such as medics, time keepers, etc, when comparing to a couple of years ago. This is a family run event, in aid of raising funds for the local community - they only last year had their first title sponsor, but as far as I understand not coming in with huge cash as for example the big corporate events. Still getting your accommodation free, and a lot of bang for your buck for a great weekend imo.