[Event] Freedom Challenge 2014

[tubed]

The Osseberg Passage:

 

Below is my post from last year regarding the Osseberg, for 2 years now I have suggested that along with with other monuments of the race such as Lehana's Pass and Stettyns Kloof the Osseberg will become one of the hardest obstacles to overcome and it seems to be the case that the legend is building. There is an overwhelming sense of relief as the riders exit there in daylight and return to district roads. With good rains and no human intervention for years now it is returning to its wild roots and becoming less and less a place where you should be burdened with a bicycle.

 

There are still some riders to go through this year, although most seem to be going cautiously - preferring to take at least most of the day to get through.

 

2013 comments below:

 

"Looking forward to chatting about the Osseberg, seems we might have the first real challenge to the riders – if the foul weather won’t play ball for us sitting at home waiting for some adversity – then maybe this notorious stretch described as Mordor will.

 

I remember mentioning to the race director last year that 30 odd riders a year is not going to keep a path through there – I can almost hear the cursing of the riders now if I sit still.

 

Lets not mention those going through there at night….. "

 

The Osseberg:

If you are following the race on twitter or elsewhere, you will hear riders talking about the Osseberg and most of them describing it with some fear or trepidation. The Osseberg is a now disused wagon trail used originally as an alternative route into the famed Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area. It starts on a ridge high above the eventual valley and is flanked by the magnificent Cockscomb Mountains on the one side and your fist view of the ocean since Durban – with a magnificent vista looking toward Jeffery’s Bay. It is here that after riding east for a couple of hours, you make a turn and start riding west again.

 

The Osseberg used to be accessible to 4x4 drivers and was regarded as one of the must do routes in the country for its length, technical challenge and most of all, its views. The route starts off and pretty much descends for the rest of the ride, but it is no easy ride and it is one of the most technical rides you will do on the whole trail, added to this is the fact that it is now severely overgrown and the grass and bushes tug at your handlebars, but there is enough momentum to keep going , so you do, but there are dongas, ruts and ridges which you follow, just hoping you have found the right line and continue with it until it pans out or you need to find a landing place. This is wild country though and these routes belong to porcupines and aardvark (if you must - ant bears), these buggers can dig and they leave craters or rather holes which can swallow you no problem, often they are covered by grass and the only warning you have is the “Faaaark – hole!” from the rider in front of you if you are lucky. But oh the views – they are endless and pristine as you smell fynbos and brake pads.

 

When you eventually reach the river you arrive at a well laid out but overgrown abandoned camp site in a beautiful valley – did I mention overgrown? Well it would take famer Glen and all his resources a day to clear 1km in this place and you still have many km to trek to get to the road and Cambria Support Station. So the trek down the river begins, you walk in it, next to it around it and cross it 11 or so times. The bush is thick if you are on the side of it and the reed almost impenetrable in it, but forward you go. At this stage there are about 50 cyclists going through there each year and they give it a gentle comb or tickle as they pass over it – year after year it gets worse and more overgrown.

Alex Harris referred to it as Mordor two years ago when he did it at night after a massive deluge and he fought the night to find the river to cross it as he had to bash through massive bermed debris of acacia thorn trees washed down in the floods of 2011. Few people go in there at night and few if they do, don’t end up spending the night in there as even on the clearest day it is confusing to find your way out.

 

As it is a wilderness area famed for leopards, kudu, warthog etc, you see carcasses and smell dead carrion from time to time, whatever the case you know that you are being watched by animals as you move through with great effort. As a final thorn in the side so to speak, if you try and hack your way through a shortcut, you will discover the thorns or every description, the worst being something like a prickly pear, except it is light, so it sticks and it has barbs so you can’t flick it. It clings and spikes at the same time, almost impossible to get rid of, even with gloves on.

 

So that’s the Osseberg – it is wild, beautiful and majestic – but to get through you need a barbarian mind set and you don’t go timidly, or else it will detain you – perhaps for a night. It is one of the privileges of the Freedom Challenge.

 

Pictures:

 

The start of the Osseberg trail looking down in to the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area.

Wading in the Groot Rivier.

Looking back at the valley toward the Cockscomb Mountains in the distance.

 

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[tubed]

Photos below from FC twitter feed:

• Con - flat out from the bushwack down the Osseberg and through the Groot Revier Kloof.
  

• Marnitz sporting a smile and an impromptu haircut from one of the support stations, Dam se Drif I think.
  

• The elusive Graham Bird, current race leader out of Dam se Drif at speed this morning.
  

[tubed]

Update/ Correction to this mornings sheet:

 

I am very very pleased to see that Tracey is still riding - showing some real grit, she arrived at Gegun and was on her way to Grootdam trailing Hanno.

[tubed]

Update:

 

All quiet on the twitter front this morning.....

 

Graham arrived at Willowmore at 21:30 last night and probably rested for a bit.

 

Glenn.....

 

Today they will scoot across the Moordenaars Karoo from Willowvale to Prince Albert - if its windy its a long slog of 160km with only the farm at Rondawel offering the best biltong, vetkoek, coke, coffee and a WImbledon update.

 

They will be in the Cape now and this will be the first sniff of home. Any navigation is now done and Tweet may as well take off the map board as it is a dash for home now. Basically whoever sleeps less now is the winner as I see it.

 

Glenn seems to be the quicker rider - his equipment a strategy seem to have that focus. Graham knows about pushing himself to the limits - great contest in the offing.

 

We have one more large black hole of no comms being the Hel, after that if the trackers are working they should be able to be followed.

[Shebeen]

 

We have one more large black hole of no comms being the Hel, after that if the trackers are working they should be able to be followed.

big IF there.

 

tweet left willowmoore at 3am, riding with marnitz. neither of them are tracking

glenn left dam se drif at 3am, and has just arrived at willowmoore.

 

There is now an effective 7/8 hour gap, and they are riding similiar speeds. There's probably about 60/65hours to the finish from willowmoore. They've both taken fairly big rests over the last two days. Glenn is probably going to have to put in a massive effort in the next 24 hours to chip away at the lead by riding faster and sleep less.

[dirtrider]

I see the tracker started again for Buks and Allen . Not far from Anysberg now . I assume they will go towards Montagu today , if that is the case when do you expect them to be at the finish ?

[Shebeen]

I see the tracker started again for Buks and Allen . Not far from Anysberg now . I assume they will go towards Montagu today , if that is the case when do you expect them to be at the finish ?

they are riding damn well, for first timers. it's also quite hard being first on the road as you can get teething issues at each SS.

 

what's possible...and assuming that they stick to a rough 20 day schedule/pace

thurs - rouxpos=>montagu

fri - montagu=>trouthaven

sat - trouthaven=>diemers finish 3pm.

 

I think the winners will come in sometime later that night.

[Wyatt Earp]

We will be talking about The Freedom challenge on the radio today.

What do you guys think people would want to hear ?

[deanbean]

I see Glenn is moving at quite a speed, he should be at Diemersfontein soon.

 

Edit, my bad thats 3.7kmph, not 3600kmph, my eyes not so good

Edited June 26, 2014 by deanbean

[Shebeen]

We will be talking about The Freedom challenge on the radio today.

What do you guys think people would want to hear ?

What station? I know tweet had an interview on SAFM over the weekend.

 

lots of material really. Probably most topical now would be the 2 way dice to the finish.

Tweet has got the advantage with about a 8 hour lead, and he's riding across the moordenaarskaroo today into a headwind, with the bonus of pairing up with Marnitz for now. Glenn will be going solo.

[DJR]

Not that it is too important, but the Moordenaars Karoo is an area closer to Laingsburg. But it's a good sounding name for a piece of tough riding.

[Wyatt Earp]

What station? I know tweet had an interview on SAFM over the weekend.

 

lots of material really. Probably most topical now would be the 2 way dice to the finish.

Tweet has got the advantage with about a 8 hour lead, and he's riding across the moordenaarskaroo today into a headwind, with the bonus of pairing up with Marnitz for now. Glenn will be going solo.

 

MIX 93.8 FM

[Shebeen]

Not that it is too important, but the Moordenaars Karoo is an area closer to Laingsburg. But it's a good sounding name for a piece of tough riding.

Damn important...I've been misquoting it directly from the narrative, I do think you're right too.

 

 

Turn right on the Strydomsvlei/Leeukloof Road and follow it as it runs northwards through the kloof and then swings

westwards. Leaving the Boesmanspoortberge off to the right the road opens up into the Moordenaarskaroo. After a

long stretch of open road riding the road reaches a junction with the Strydomsvlei farmstead on the left. (old

signposts show left to Vondeling and right/straight to Prince Albert - keep left)

[Johan Bornman]

I see three clues on Kommandant se perd.

 

How many are there?

[Ryanpmb]

Photos below from FC twitter feed:

• Con - flat out from the bushwack down the Osseberg and through the Groot Revier Kloof.
  

 

Small correction - that isn't Con. It's either Coen or one of their other riding buddies. Con posted the pic on Twitter refering to their hellish time down the Osseberg. He felt as this contestant looks .

Edited June 26, 2014 by Ryanpmb

[cat-i]

I see the tracker started again for Buks and Allen . Not far from Anysberg now . I assume they will go towards Montagu today , if that is the case when do you expect them to be at the finish ?

 

Dirty, you're planning on doing this ride soon?