typhoon

As usual, the Monster Marathon doesn't disappoint... You never get free miles, which is what the Magalies Monster is all about. The main climb is just about a steady slog to the top. What the Monster is really all about is wearing you down bit by bit, each grassy or rocky section plays a roll, until you are completely broken, which is hopefully as you cross the finish line but it's usually at the point which catches up to you as you were telling yourself in the beginning "you're going out too fast..." Had a pretty good ride with a 3h40, definitely felt a little beaten up on Sunday morning with aches and pains not in the usual places. Organisation was great, route always "fun and challenging", glad they changed the end, so that the different distances only merged pretty close to the finish (last year it was a nightmare all joining with still a few km's to go). Back next year for sure! For those that are wanting photos, they are starting to load them on: https://www.jetlineactionphoto.com/

They've always provided boards and cut them off at the finish line.

Can't remember if you get sent your batches, but they'll be with your number board when you collect in the morning. Last year it was seeded.

Can't wait!!

9 outta 10 times i'm alone at VG (at least 3/4 times a month), so I don't have a safety issue, though i do know all the trails around there pretty well. Suppose the best advice when riding solo is don't take unnecessary risks... and just greet and be friendly. There has been the odd issue, but they are few and far between, can't even recall when the last one was.

Mini oom piets is still open, but as you cross the district road, that section is closed. On that map, it's the green section below "Benburn". So to get back to the river, you need to go around on the district road and jump in at the bridge just past Greek Church.

Could it be this one? https://www.strava.com/segments/5749121 I see i did it when i was doing the concrete strips area mapping (below) Haha, umm i did this a while ago (Jan 2016) with most the trails around the concrete strips... There are new trails around that area, so i'll probably need to do this again. https://www.strava.com/activities/476313605

LTG, maybe this should go into the first post of this thread?

Couple things with your routes: 36km one: the "River section 1 going east" after mini oom piets isn't open anymore, you can go into it for a few hundred meters before it's closed. the 45km one: Going up Oom Piets now is a little different. The climb to greek church has also changed, you start about 50-100m before the old start if coming from Oom Piets side because of buffalo now on the farm the old route went through.

Think it had a space behind it and added some arb characters... https://www.strava.com/activities/1165952178/ www.strava.com/activities/1165952178

but but, you ride there so much, you should know where everything is... Which part are you looking for a file for, from Chicken Pie or the enduro? Isn't the enduro just the rocky descent down Pofadder? Chicken Pie, you basically ride next to the R512 until Nikita, hang a left up and over, cross the tar road, right at the 4way intersection by Ale House, go around the hill until the tar road that Peaconwood total is on, when you get to the total, ride next to the tar until at VG. I often ride from Nikita, it's closer to home. Chicken Pie to Nikita is about 10km's, Nikita to VG is 24.5km. Here's a ride from Nikita to Pofadder and down the other side: https://www.strava.com/activities/1165952178

She's planned and trained better for this years Munga, made 3 Towers interesting as her engine was only just getting warmed up at the end of each day

Spent Saturday with Erik (from VG) and some friends doing the first climb on the marathon and the satellite section. There is no concrete strips this year, you go along the cabbage field and turn left up some newly single track, you start this climb at about 11.5km, it's about 1.7km long and 130m climbing. The two switchbacks are a little tight, so try take them wide. The satellite downhill section has been made more flowing but there is still the odd rock garden to navigate. After you go through the river and come to the T-junction, where we use to go left and ride along next to the tar road, you now go right for like 50m and then left through a gate straight into Segwati. No idea what the route in there will be like, but from the gate, you can onto go up... Otherwise the marathon route is going to be mostly the same as i understand it. Not sure about the shorter distances. Also, if you haven't been to Van Gaalens in a while, the climb up to Oom Piets has changed a little, no more going straight all the way t the top, you turn right at the gate/turnstyle and wiggle around there a little before climbing to the top.

Shew but the pace in VC was hot! Had to burn quite a few matches on quite a few sections just to make sure i didn't fall out the back, till eventually going up Cedar, the match box was empty. Happy with 2h26 after going into the weekend "well rested" Afterwards headed up William Nicol, down Leslie to Douglasdale and rode the last 20 odd km's with my GF and her two friends, taking turns to push them up the hills. Overall, enjoyed the day out!

Not quite on TV... Telkom 947 CC @947CycleWe will be live streaming #CC2016 We go live from 07h00 to 14h00 on Sunday :-) Don't miss out on the action! streamit360.tv/#782