deanbean

Logistics Find out more about our Logistics arrangements. We have made it as easy as possible for you to register, and have your bike transported to the start and back from the finish. (At this stage for Gauteng Riders) We will also have a complimentary shuttle service waiting to take you from the East London Airport to the start and from the finish back to the airport. Queenstown: Rider Registration, Race Briefing & Start Venue & Accommodation Rider registration and Race Briefing will take place at Queens College Boys High School, my old school, which incidentally is turning 160 years old in April – we will confirm exactly where at the school closer to the time. Rider Registration: 12h00 – 16h00 Rider Briefing: 16h00 The Great Kei Trek will start at Roydon Private Nature Reserve, Lodge, Conference and Adventure Centre, situated approximately 10km outside Queenstown. (www.roydon.co.za) We will have shuttles running from Queens College to Roydon. Roydon will also be offering a special welcome braai dinner the night before the race and this will be included in your accommodation package should you choose to book and stay here. We will keep you posted, but our advice is to book now to avoid disappointment. Finish Venue We will now be finishing at the Kei Mouth Golf Course, situated approximately 2.6km from the Morgan Bay Hotel – sadly there is a nasty 700m “sting-in-the-tail” at the end, so please pick on the course designer – Dean Bean, and NOT the Race Organiser, Rob. Thanks In Closing Entries will be closing in early April, but before we close, we will be off on another trip to the Eastern Cape and will bring you up to speed on new developments. I’ve said this before, but the farmers and the various communities are really excited about The Great Kei Trek. It promises to be something special, different and absolutely fantastic. And Finally: If the route is not to your liking you can shoot down the route manager, Deanbean, on The Bikehub.co.za’s Great Kei Trek thread. He’ll be wearing his fireproof suit and bullet proof vest for the week of and after the GKT. For any queries, please don’t hesitate to contact me on rob@leveragecorporation.co.za Chat soon Regards Rob Jackson & The Leverage Corporation Team http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/enterhere.jpg http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/FINDOUTMORE.jpg Sponsors http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/LibertySml.png http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/Luxliner.png http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/bridgestone.jpg http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/Dailydispatch.png http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/kulula.png http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/splashworks1.png Upcoming Events - Jan to April 2018 http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/Cradle.png http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/xsGKT.png 14 - 15 April 2018 28 - 30 April 2018

The Great Kei Trek : 28 - 30 April 2018 http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/newGKTheader.jpg If this video doesn’t get you to want to ride The Great Kei Trek, nothing will We have just returned from a trip down to the Eastern Cape, where we will be hosting The Great Kei Trek; and thanks to the team from ATV Productions, here’s a little teaser of what to expect. http://cdn.myactive.co.za/wm-63503-cmsimages/GKTVimeo.png If this doesn’t get your attention, then possibly nothing will….. just saying So best you enter now. And remember that Kulula, our Official Airline Sponsor and Partner of The Great Kei Trek is offering a lucky entrant a chance to win two return tickets to East London. If you have already entered, do not despair. You will automatically be entered into the draw. The dates are 28, 29 & 30 April. (As a matter of interest - The 27th of April and the 1st of May are Public holidays, so you will only need to take one day’s leave) Overview The Great Kei Trek, is a 3-day, 260km race/ ride that will be something new and exciting on the MTB calendar. This will definitely appeal to those who traditionally use the months of April or May for their “away-game”. So if you are tired of doing the “same old-same-old”, or are still stuck on a waiting list, and you are looking for something new, this is definitely something for you. A 2-rider team race, fully catered for, with different tented accommodation options – read more on www.greatkeitrek.co.za - and some new and exciting tracks, and of course some stunning Eastern Cape Hospitality – something that will get you wanting to do this ride. (Warning – the Eastern Cape okes, especially the farmers, know how to look after you) Why is Great Kei Trek so special? The riding – much of the route will be based on existing roads and tracks, but we have met with many of the farmers and other landowners in the region and they have granted us permission to build and create our own tracks. So much of the trail you will be riding will be almost brand new. Offer riding that will give riders a good mix of single track, jeep track and dirt roads More focused on this being a tour – not a race Strava sections – this will appeal to some of the “downhill racers”, as well as the climbers, and the technical guys/ girls VIP hospitality all round – see more about the fun tented accommodation options Not a mass participation event – limited numbers Not as expensive as competitor events E-Bike category Unique riding to the area Good Eastern Cape hospitality.

I think I'm going to make a plan, depending on the weather at the end of September, maybe we can get a bus going from Slummies and surrounds

The planning for the Great Kei Trek is coming on nicely, and the route development is forging ahead. Day 2 Starts at The Old Thomas River Tavern, for those that got stuck in the pub with the locals the night before there's a "gentle" 8km climb to start the day. Then it's downhill to the Toise River, and under the Scenic N6. The route then takes you through friendly villages, to the Qacu Forest Reserve, one of the last breeding areas of the critically endangered Cape Parrots. Photo Courtesy of Rodnick Biljon and the Cape Parrot Project facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/capeparrotproject/ Once through the Forest reserve, you will be meandering through farms and along gravel roads, until you hit the descent into the Kubusie River. There will be a no pedalling Strava zone here, to even things up for the heftier riders, because the Strava up the other side will definitely not be to their advantage. The road is a bit steep. Take a moment before the bridge to take some pics of the scenery, it is magnificent. From the top of the Kubusie pass, you’ll ride through another of the stock gangs, through a farm to the now defunct railway between Amabele and Butterworth. It’s an easy ride into Komga next to the railway line from here.

Buddy of mine has just bought one, I visited him 2 weeks ago and he was bragging about his Kombi, a split windscreen. Stuff the Kombi's, I've got a river that would suit this

Hangover loop Fanie? I'll be back on my bike this week, had bad luck, moered off my bike in the Transkei and buggered my shoulder, then pneumonia. Soo I've been avoiding this thread, FOMO

A list of low carb studies done, from Dr Sarah Hallberghttps://titter.com/DrSarahHallberg/status/958019277126356993 https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Ucfpvs2CmKFnae9a8zTZS0Zt1g2tdYSIQBFcohfa1w0/edit#gid=547985667

Oh no India, not what you want when you win the toss Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I enjoy her in #politeenquiries - "Does Kohli have a review reserved for himself" http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/video_audio/index.html?genre=119 Video won't embed

Single speed world champ 2012 Winterton Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

No I'm a sheep farmer, the meat is payment for accommodation in Cape Town, and for dog sitting my two dogs, plus we'll be eating a lot of it, it's cheaper than buying in Cape Town, and far cheaper than eating out. I pay bonuses, I don't receive them

The holiday supplies. A fridge full of chops chilling for the trip and a roast or 2 [emoji41] Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

That would be great. Need to put in some base miles, so tar is best. Pm me your route Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

I'm going to be in Lakeside over Xmas. What roads must I avoid towards Cape point and on the Atlantic side. Riding MTB bit need to do tits, so will be wearing my knobblies out on the tar. TIA

What a jol, the photogs missed me, all I got was a few pics with me in the background. That's the Bigwig at the back :clap:

Sat looks okay, just a bit of drizzle in the morning, this is Sat forcast BTW

They're not long, and are pushable[emoji6] Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

And day 3 will have a compulsory stop on the Morgan Bay kranzes, for a photo and beer, before the descent to the Hotel.

As Fanie says, it's all downhill, except for a few little hills on day 2, oh and one or two on day 3 too Day 2, some of this could change, busy working on a little detour with some land owners Day 3

To check these very pregnant ladies. Less intrusive than the moto and faster than walking[emoji16] Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Did a whole fillet and a 1/2 on the braai last night, marinated in milk and balsamic for a day, for a bunch of mates last night. Absolutely delicious, and melt in the mouth tender. Now to braai some wors for supper. The old oak tree makes for an awesome braai room. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Had a ride around Thomas River. Always nice to start and end at the Tavern. The rivers are coming down in spate after the weeks rain in the mountain. Crossing the rivers was a bit dodgy, esp the first one. All the bridges built for the Thomas River MTB washed away. And a bit of hike a bike. Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Get well then.Chris Heaton of Emeralvale Brewery will be waiting for us with a keg of something special at the last waterpoint Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Day 1- Queenstown to Thomas River. The start at the Queenstown Airfield runs onto gravel roads, unfortunately at this stage no jeep track or single track for the first 45km. After the Hylton Church, the route turns off onto an old road, jeep track for the most part, with some technical climbs for the next 15km, where you turn off the road onto Jeep track and single-track to the highest point of the day. Beyond this you will cross the tar road for some lekker cattle tracks and jeep track down hills with some hard climbing, over the Hogsback Road, to the Happy Valley road. After the Happy Valley road you will be riding along an old stock gang, which the farmers in the early part of the 1900's used to trek their stock to the coast for the winter months, and back again for the summer. You will be encountering these gangs every now and again on the Trek. At the top of the hill, you descend into the Thomas River valley, through some farmsteads, and head along the gravel road to the Old Thomas River Station, or the Tavern, as the locals know it, which is the camp for the night. Here you will be entertained by the local farmers, beware of their hospitality, it could make day 2 heavy going.

How are you feeling. I cannot wait. Been looking forward to this one for a while. Hopefully we'll have Emeraldvale brewery at the last water point. I can see.myself jumping on the broom wagon from there to the top of the hill