TYGA

Would love to hear some more about this....all gravel? Distances / Route / Accommodation? Is it possible to take the train to Matjies with your bikes and ride back?

Did it with a few friends a couple of years back. The first 130 or so KM's of the Kloof is easy riding with a couple of passes closer to Patensie....check out the threads on the Trans-Baviaans for profiles etc. There are some awesome self-catering type places (as well as camping) both in the Kloof as well as Patensie...plenty of info available on the net. IMO it would be a bit of a waste to do it in two days though, it really is an amazing area and deserves a bit more time.

Around 6H15 from Steynsrust usually leaves plenty of time, I only do it when the mood strikes and work / activities allow but we should try and hook up some time for a ride in. Maybe do a regular Wed or Fri ride in or something.

The Wannabee's have been very active on getting land access in the area, the trails at the waterworks is an extension of the trail on the Western side of the R44 AKA Helderberg Cycle Route. I use the Western side on a regular basis commuting to work...no better way to start the day! Patensie what time do you leave SSW? I usually leave Steynsrust 6H15 and it gives me plenty of time but I R44 it as far as the Eikendal Road.

The markers are marginally easier to follow from the SSW / Longridge side. https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/108079-helderberg-mtb-route/page__hl__helderberg__fromsearch__1 Any of you guys (other than Bergbok...) commute on a regular basis between SSW and Stellies? It might be nice to get a posse to commute to work offroad in a roundabout way once a week or so.

Bergbok ons ry min of meer dieselfde roete maar ek kom van Technopark af...ons moet bietjie connect en saam ry. Hoe laat ry jy in die oggende uit SSW?

What time do you ride? I try and follow that route from Eikendal Road to Stellies, then around the back of the Blaauwklippen Road and down to Technopark via the vineyards when I can....picked up some pooh splatter on my bottle this AM which wasn't great but otherwise ALWAYS an awesome way to start the day!

What kind of 29er FS are you riding? Might just be a bit of a donkey in comparison in terms of weight and efficiency. I find my hardtail SS is 100x more efficient than my dually and there's no sitting back and spinning out a hill at a mellow pace...it's all or nothing when you get out the saddle.

Did you take the Inbred or Shova? Quite tempted to Gear Up this time around....Dead Man Walking does not lend itself to SSin, the rest of the course is mostly rideable.

Just pulling into Underberg to start the tour...massive friggin hills in this place, going to be interesting hauling a fully loaded SS to Winterton!

Race in November and another next year is the only way we'll know if the battle plan really works.

You okes are ROUGH!!! And I thought JC was a guy...weird.

Same here but quite a bit more moola.

There you go.... https://www.bikehub.co.za/index.php?app=hubmarket&do=view_item&item_id=37909

I reckon the Zula and Shova are knockoffs of the Heckler and Superlight....

Meet Mr and Mrs Cruz. Like Fantana says I reckon you'd be happy with either of the brands but no prizes for guessing which one I'd go for though you can pick up Zula's dirt cheap these days.

Very nice looking build!

Sorry...this is the URL I meant to post I have the B17, it's awesome, may be too chunky for a racer though. Trawl the net, there's a myriad of info re these legendary saddles. https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/47738-brooks-saddle-big-ugly-and-oh-so-comfy/page__hl__brooks__fromsearch__1

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/108079-helderberg-mtb-route/page__hl__helderberg__fromsearch__1

Those are the same "style" markers as on the Longridge side...my guess is an extension of the route. It's a pity they could not extend from Longridge via the farms to the Helderberg trails as you would then have a great link between SSW and Stellies.

Tandem?

Where in Technopark was it stolen from? Looks a lot like a bike I used to see regularly on a BMW wagon across the road from our offices.

I'd ride that. Nice looking bike Nic and great work with your initiative...keep it up, well done.

Try guys like these, this particular one doesn't list Volcan but there are a couple of companies on the net that specialises in hangers...believe it or not. http://bicyclederailleurhangers.com/ I'm sure you could get one machined as well if you can't source one.