Trelawney

Anyone know if they publish the pictures from all the photographers that were out on the route? Tried Googling but only find a few official ones.

Is there a beer license this year ? Last year's lack of one came as a bit of a surprise ! Do we need to pack a couple in a cool box in case ?

So how does the LionMan this year compare to this year's MTN nationals route at van Gaalens in terms of technical difficulty, hills, beer stops etc ?

Hey Wessel, Just wondering how many batches there are each for the Marathon and Half Marathon at Hakahana ?

Stunning video !! Post more

See you there then, have also entered the marathon. I did the marathon last year, my first visit to Hakahana, I walked a few sections but still had a great experience. One of those races that you make a mental note afterwards to ride again the next year !

So far MTB is winning for sure, just glad I wrote up a few years ago how to do the other hobby at www.chezwallis.com/pensans/

Sorry, it posted the last message twice and I can't seem to delete this one ...

Johan, any pics from yesterday's ride ? Someone said there was a pic from the start on your Facebook page but I can't seem to find it ?

I battled with that s-bend part way down but otherwise it's an exciting new section.

50 years ... that was me ha ha !

Many thanks Johan for this morning's group ride, was so enjoyable ! The new section was pretty exciting to say the least, thanks to you and the team for all the work cutting it out. Let us know if you post any of your Go Pro footage from the ride ?

Thanks for the info, anyone know: - Who to contact to join (or do you just pitch up?) - Planned total distance (approx), is it just the black loops or also the red added thereafter ? Thanks.

Have only ridden there once, last year's Trailseeker Marathon and have entered the 5 July marathon too. Am keen on riding there this Saturday but currently going on my own, not usually a wise move ... Usually come about two thirds the way down the Trailseeker field if that gives an idea of speed. Let me know if you're open to someone joining you on a longish ride (eyeballing the black and red route combo) ?

Garmin 500 says 1362 elevation gain and 73.33 km … it seems to turn off whenever I walk !

Hi Thomas, my first year on the Trailseeker series was a rude awakening for me as I had never ridden at vG before and finished in 7 hours 30 ! It was 45 degC in the sun at 11.30 that day, I went through a litre of water an hour. It was the year they ran out of water. I was lucky to get off the satellite climb in time to get the last of the water at that water point after the descent. If you had no water there you would have been mad to carry on in that heat. Last year I returned (3 year break) and managed it in 6 hours 30. The killer for me is the satellite climb and descent, I ended up walking so much that you can easily add an hour to your time. I have been practising at vG in the past year though so know the routes now and looking forward to it massively despite what I know awaits me ... with a vG marathon I am always happy just to finish ! Its real MTB'ing though, no doubt about that and my preferred weekend ride these days.

Really enjoyed this, did the 60 km. never seen so many rocky ascents and descents in one event, really enjoyed it, well done to the organisers. It was more than worth the 90 minute drive each way from Pretoria East ! Loved the river section after the beer stop, very van Gaalenesque. Will be back.

... was there a month back, avoided most of it by keeping to the left side and occasionally popping onto the grass verge.

Maybe private message Wessel who started this thread ? He's usually quick to respond.

Have just entered the 75 km I see the number of entrants gets reported these days, as of 6 pm Sunday 8 June: - Ultra - Men - Elite : 25 - Ultra - Amateur : 71 - Marathon - Ladies - Elite : 20 - Marathon - Amateur : 458 ... so I won't be lonely out there

Ok, let's ask Photoshop to compare the 2013 Trailseeker 70 km Marathon (red) to this year's planned MTN 75 km Marathon (blue) ...

Kind of difficult to guarantee being up front so I guess I would walk endlessly !

Someone said that the Monster has a large % of corrugations, sand and constant grass and rocky bumps so is tiring for that reason. That initial elevation climb is presumably a long walk for many people, is it single track so if a few people start walking uphill everyone else does the same ?

My only marathon out in the Magaliesburg has been two Nissan races (70 km) from van Gaalens. How does the Monster marathon compare ? I can complete the vG marathons but feel it and am always happy to see the finish line. In the past 8 months I have learned to ride the technical stuff at vG of the strips, Pofadder, Dagga Pad, Greek Church, Yo Bliksem and the river route back to base, is that enough for one of these Monster marathons ?

Which route at Hakahana would you do twice ? Haven't been there other than last years Nissan race, really enjoyed it but can't remember much about the routes. Am thinking of doing the Monster so keen to get some calibration !