[Event] Homeward Bound Challenge

[NickmtbTrails]

Event Name: Homeward Bound Challenge
When: 6 October 2012
Where: Mount Splendour to Pietermarizburg, Kwazulu-Natal
Category: MTB

With the Race season drawing to a close in October, Homeward bound offers the avid mountain biker a new challenge.

 

The inaugural running of Homeward bound takes place on the 5th and 6th of October 2012. This event is a Point to Point race, starting in the majestic Central Drakensberg and finishing 220km later in Pietermaritzburg. Riders will be faced with a number challenges throughout their journey Home. The event starts at 2am in the morning which will present riders with their first challenge, Night riding. This format of riding is experienced by few, and loved by all that have tried it.

 

The route is unmarked and riders will need to navigate their way by means of a GPS unit. A number of check points will be placed at random points along the route, to ensure teams stay on the correct track.

 

Teams are made up of teams of 4 people, 3 riders and one support driver. The support driver will double up as a substitute rider. Teams will have the option to swop one of their weaker riders at the halfway point. Support drivers will be able to follow their teams from the 50km point onwards.

 

The route consists largely of rolling district roads and meandering Jeep tracks, allowing for easy navigation. Riders will be spoilt for scenery, with views of the amazing Drakensberg, through to the Thorn veld that surrounds Albert falls. Don’t be fooled by the lack of single track. The Challenge lies in completing this beast of a journey . Homeward bound will test your endurance, navigational skills and the ability to get along with your team mates for the duration of the event. Easy!

 

Come give it a bash and learn to ride beyond your limits!

 

The event is limited to 100 teams.

 

Event Program

Friday 5th October

Registration 4:30pm - 6:00pm

Rider briefing 6:00pm -7:00pm

Dinner 7:00pm - 8:00pm

 

Saturday 6th October

Final riders briefing 1:45am

Race starts 2:00am

First team home 11:00am

Last team home 8:00pm (cut off time)

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Go to Event Page

[Nancy Drew]

Not that I'm thinking about doing this or anything.........

 

But I'm curious about what the total ascent is. Nothing mentioned on the website

[Joe Low]

Spent some time thinking about this today & going through the website, cuz being fit from other events, it was half-tempting. My conclusion was that it seems to be under-prepared, so I'll look out for it next year when there's been time to get everything straight.

 

The dealbreakers for me:

• No route established or even partial route description available until after entering and one week before the event
  
• No control over support vehicles, and envisaging 100 cars on the route trailing their teams around - profoundly depressing for all concerned
  
• The rigid team structure
  

There's lots of other bits and pieces I'd like to know too, but it can wait til after the first edition has run.

 

The idea, start location, proximity to Jo'burg etc is all good. So good luck in getting it off the ground.

Edited August 29, 2012 by Joe Low

[RichB]

We have entered a Team and looking forward to the ride. There are always a few glitches with these new rides, but its all part of the experience and the guys are usually open to constructive feedback after the ride. You get a special connection with an event if you were part of the pioneer field. I remember the very first Berg and Bush in 2006 which only had about 70 riders. It was brilliant - one of the best stage-ride experiences I have had - a far cry from what B&B has become today.. I let you gius know how it went..

[RichB]

Eish! That was THE hardest one-day event I've ever done in any (sport incl paddling, running or triathlon). I'm interested to see the stats of how many finished by the 8.00 pm cut-off last night. My guess would be around 50-60%. My GPS showed a final dist of 232k with 3580m in 14.30 hrs. It had everything from massive 12k grinds, fast long winding descents, single-track (one 7km section in Karkloof after 163k), fast District Rd, catte track (in the dark). If you want to do this ride, get to know how to really use a Garmin, get a good light with at least 3hrs running time (and I would suggest a head torch as well as a bar mounted one), have a good seconding team and train your nuts off. You have to go along way to find a tougher MTB challenge.

[GregSted]

Also did this ride! WOW!! It was amazing, but the thoughest event I have done in a very long time!

The terain we rode through was for the most part truely amazing, with awesome routes threw the backroads of the midlands you where treated to views that you would normally not see.

A lot of people I spoke to where concerned about the start time, but I think that it was one of the factors that made the event what it was!

Starting at 2am gave everyone in the field the same challenge of riding in the dark and also meant that you knew how long you had to be prepare yourself for nightriding.

I will be back next year!

[jpmD]

Hey I agree Rich - that was the toughest thing that I have ever done. Your GPS was spot on I got 231km and 3490m clibing we managed 12h30. Not the 227km and 2600m Nick lead us to believe! Rgds James

[Percyzn]

Well done guys. Awesome race to have completed.

I was away, but hope to take part in 2013. Respect.

[Edgar]

You guys need to learn to use your GPS's. 228.5km across the 3 members of our team. Rich, better start practicing for Portugal next year bud.

Almost as tough as Non-stop Sani.

If a 63yo geriatric can finish this well inside the cut off, what is everybody else's excuse.

 

Great effort by everybody that started. Kudos to those that finished.

[RichB]

Hi Edgar, Yup we took a number of wrong turns (which probably amounted to an extra 3k or so) esp in the last 10k section in the forests above Cascades - flying down what we thought would be the last downhill stretch into Cascades, only to notice that we were off track and have to haul back up to find where we had gone wrong. What zoom did you have your Garmin on?

[RichB]

BTW, respect to the 63yr old uncle. The man's a machine.

[Edgar]

Hi Edgar, Yup we took a number of wrong turns (which probably amounted to an extra 3k or so) esp in the last 10k section in the forests above Cascades - flying down what we thought would be the last downhill stretch into Cascades, only to notice that we were off track and have to haul back up to find where we had gone wrong. What zoom did you have your Garmin on?

 

Changed from 80 - 300m depending on the terrain. Almost missed that sneaky turn off as well.

[Percyzn]

In for 2013. Whoop, whoop.