[Event] Eselfontein MTB Festival

[Ceres]

is there any way of getting some basic directions? i don't know the area at all and haven't been able to find anything to help me!

 

If you know how to get to Ceres then drive straight through Ceres you will see a big cold store on your left called Crispy Coolers turn right there, there is a sign that says Ezelfontein rd (don't ask me why its not spelled the same as the farm). Then just straight down that road it will start to become a gravel road about 8 km down but just keep going you will eventually drive straight into Eselfontein farm.

 

If you don't know how to get to Ceres there are a few ways.

 

1. take the N1 towards Worcester just before the big one stop garage turn left towards Ceres (road works on that road)quite a while down that road T junction turn right quite a while down this road next T junction turn right that will take you into a pass which leads into Ceres.

 

2. Take the Klapmuts road towards Wellington just before the golf course turn left at the robots. If you stay on that road it will take you all the way through Nuwe Kloof to Ceres, no turn offs.

 

3. The way I use is go through du Toits Kloof on the N1 as you come out of the Pass by the way station turn right. Then turn left at the Goudini spa turn off it will take you through Slanghoek and eventually over a single lane low water bridge then at the T junction turn left and you will be on the "Worcester" road where the road works are, then carry on as no. 1.

[Ceres]

Thanks Ceres! Seems I'll have to scale it down to only 1 bottle then

 

I hope you are doing the night race because we will be doing some carbo loading that evening.

[Capricorn]

Nastly climbs followed by rewarding trail descents is my idea of MTB. the one should not out weigh the other, but if any should then it should be the descent .

 

similarly "Technical" is all part of it IMHO. i know i go to the mountain to climb rocky sections, and descend upon tricky turns,berms and corner... that what gets my Rev counter going...

 

the last two event i competed in was Spur Lourensford - just climbing! and no fun on the single track due to crowding and bunching. Lebanon MTB - was a blast!!! up and down 50/50 split, descent was also mostly trails.

 

K, im definitely considering partaking in this event as opposed to the Dirtopia Enduro at Simonsberg...

 

bull. dont go all chickens**t now. Pull in dude!

Edited November 19, 2013 by Capricorn

[flymango]

Just rode the deadman walking route (to the top most point past the pipeline)with Buchu this evening man that down hill is wicked. Deon Malherbe has added a few more twist and turns so the down hill is now over 10 km long of just single track.

 

Here is also the profile from last years race nasty climb to get to the top but that down hill makes it all worth while.

 

Wow, Ceres. That climb from km 33 - 40 km looks like a meneer. About 500 m in 7 km? Correct? And how much of that climb is single track?

[Ceres]

Wow, Ceres. That climb from km 33 - 40 km looks like a meneer. About 500 m in 7 km? Correct? And how much of that climb is single track?

 

About 90% is single track. Then its 10km 100% single track down again.

[Ceres]

Looks like its going to a big one on Saturday got about 240 online entries and another 30 or so at Ceres Cycles. Considering a lot of the locals (and there is a lot of them) enter on the morning I think we are in for a good turn out. Also the weather looks like its going to be perfect, also had about 5 mm of rain on Wednesday so the dust should be minimal, Eselfontein drains very well so there will be hardly any mud patches. Will report back tomorrow on how's the river crossing.

 

Also what's great we have already 30 entries for the night race on Friday so that's going to be a jol.

[Ceres]

I will be there on the day to enter. Super stoked. Can you give us the address so I can stick it into my gps please. Farm name!! Thanks. I hope there will be an entry left for me on the day.

 

Its Eselfontein farm, its very easy to get to just drive straight through Ceres you will see a big cold store on your left called Crispy Coolers and a sign that says Ezelfontein rd turn right there, its about 300 metres out of Ceres the turn. The farm is at the end of the road about 14 km down, at about 8km it will turn into gravel just keep going.

[Stevief]

I will be there cannot wait, highlight of the year for me.

[Surv0MTB]

been waiting for this since I entered... off day tomorrow. heading up early, and plan on staying for the weekend.

 

 

 

Seems that ill need more time on Sunday to nail some of that single track I might miss doing the 36km..

 

 

[Jaco-fiets]

been waiting for this since I entered... off day tomorrow. heading up early, and plan on staying for the weekend.

 

 

 

Seems that ill need more time on Sunday to nail some of that single track I might miss doing the 36km..

 

You making a wknd out of it so just do the 65km and get in over with bud

[Surv0MTB]

Jaco I would.. coming out of a multiple ankle ligament injury which seems to act up at around the 30km mark. Dont want to try push it and I know Ezelfontein isnt smooth jeep track.

 

 

 

+ 1400m of climbing.. might be a bit much for my slightly underprepped legs

 

 

[Buchu]

Perfekte weer vir vanaand se Night Race. Hoop ons sien baie mense daar.

[whistler]

yes yes yes die tyd is hier!!!

[Carinus]

Can I still enter online today or should I rather enter at the race in the morning. Planning to do the 65km...eish

 

 

[Stevief]

Where shoudl i start?

 

1. It was hot very very hot, my garmin said a max of 39 degrees, climbing dead man walking in that heat was probably the hardest thing ive ever done on a MTB.

2. The 58 oddkm of singletrack has got to be the best MTB route in SA. From start to finish all ST. As for the 10km downhill run was probably the best time ive ever had on an MTB.

3. The technical skills from most of the field was very impressive, normally at a "race" most of the field cant hop on a pavement, but the field at Eselfontein seem to be the most technically proficient riders i have ever seen. Downhill skills, river crossings, gnarly rocky climbs, not once did i see anyone unclip and push it was awesome.

4. The field was pretty small which made it even better it felt like i was all alone most of the time , for me that was one of the highlights, endless ST and nobody to clog it up.

5. Hats off to the organisers a brilliant ride which in my book is the best 1 day race in the western cape if not the entire SA.

6. I know its a bit of a clichy but this ride is truly a "Proper MTB Race" hardcore stuff no comprimise you dont like rocks, routes, drop offs , river crossings, fast flowing ST, rocky rutted descents you need not apply. I think i have sunstroke but it was a day i will never forget.

[Jaco-fiets]

Probably the most singletrack I have ever ridden! Awesome mtbing and must be 1 of the toughest 65km races in the country.

 

I completely hit the wall at 40km and started cramping so bad that I had to walk most of the climb up to the pipeline at 45k mark. The last 25km was the longest 25km of my life.

 

Big up to the organizers for the best mtb race on the calendar. PPA should come take some pointers