[Event] Wolseley MTB Funride 2015

[Huis Mostertshoek]

Event Name: Wolseley MTB Funride 2015
When: 15 August 2015
Where: Mountain Ridge Winecellar Romansrivier Wolseley, Western Cape
Category: MTB

The Wolseley MTB Funride event consist of 4 main routes (72km,50km, 30km and 15km) and a 5km round the orchard kiddies route. For the first this year, a 5 km Fun Walk. The routes start with farm tracks through the local orchards, meeting the famous Waterval Mountains at Verrekyker Farm with the epic climb of Kluitjieskraal Pass lying in wait for the 75 km and 50 km riders. The 30 km and 15 km follow various loops along the side of the mountain in die Kluitjieskraal state forest land before returning to Mountain Ridge through more local farmland. These shorter routes are aimed at the more social cyclists but do contain a few sharp climbs.

After climbing the Pass, the 50km route skirts the hidden Suurvlakte plateau before ascending the sometimes treacherous jeep track to the Waterfall crossing, where bike and rider will get a bit wet, depending onthe depth of the river. The route then returns via the lower forestry ground, but along energy sapping undulations.

The 72km, which should only by attempted by the superfit and mad, generally follows the same route as the 50km, but with extra loops and steep climbs thrown in. These include the infamous Horseshoe climb and Ben Hur (Rooibult), where the gradients can cause a pride-denting dismount. The long (72km) riders must not be lulled into a false sense of security as they head for home, as the lower slopes of the Mostert's Hoek Twins hold a late surprise to further ransack the energy reserves.

And this with the finishing line tantalizingly in sight.

Go to Event Page

[Trail Ninja]

It appears to be the same route as last year?

How deep is the river crossing? Wolseley get much rain during the past month?

Will be there Saterday morning

 

What time is the 50km start?

[Rouxenator]

Route of the 70K from last year : 

 

Profile of the 70K from last year : 

 

I just hope that despite the heavy rain that is coming our way that the route remains as is. Last year they excluded the long loop around Suurvlakte because the two streams were too strong. I was foolish enough to do it any way and barely made it. Two years ago they excluded Suurvlakte completely and it was a disaster, so I do hope the route will stay as is. 

 

If the router stays as planned this is one excellent ride, I can highly recommend it. The views are surreal, Suurvlakte is like riding on the moon. 

 

[Trail Ninja]

Do you perhaps have the 50km route profile?

I rode it last year, was a good ride

Seems like the rain is only coming after lunch, I should be heading home by then

 

Lekkerrrrrrrrrrr

[Rouxenator]

The 50 will be round about like this : 

 

[Trail Ninja]

Confirmed, starting times

 

75km - 8h30

50km - 8h-50

30km - 9h-10 etc.

 

Very little rain in Wolseley this winter so the soil should drain well, however, will be wet in places. The "Waterfall" is hardly visible at the moment, and with the little rain predicted today and tomorrow, shouldn't worsen the river crossing too much by Saturday

[BrandonF_]

Keen to go and just ride it for fun (as everything else I've entered this year) But at the same time not keen to start at the back of XYZ, and not keen to support PPA MTB this year, as I feel they can really start listening to their bread and butter and at least show some interest to improve ....oh well, let's see how it goes

[BenReaper]

Will be in there on Saturday.The oncoming rain will however decide weather I do the 75km geared or the 30km on the singlespeed with the wife.

 

Edit:How much climbing for the 50km,I might even have go at that on the 'single'.

[Johny Bravo]

Keen to go and just ride it for fun (as everything else I've entered this year) But at the same time not keen to start at the back of XYZ, and not keen to support PPA MTB this year, as I feel they can really start listening to their bread and butter and at least show some interest to improve ....oh well, let's see how it goes

Absolutely, dont want to hijack the thread. However, the PPA calendar is soooo thin these days, just not worth it anymore. I will go do the 50km, if the weather holds.

[Rouxenator]

Confirmed with one of the organisers I have been in touch with over the last couple of years - 50 and 70 will go up to Suurvlakte and if needed they will uses tractors and cables to make safe crossing above the waterfall. So I will be there for my 5th Wolseley this year.

 

About PPA, I have not had any problems with them. Started in X my first years and since then I have been in B or C the following years. It is a pity that they have less rides on the calendar as of late, I was going for a Club 10,000 but could only manage 3x Club 2,000 before they pulled the plug on it.

 

Either way, Wolseley is an epic ride. 1100m climbing on the 50K and 1700m on the 70K. This is a challenge you should take on - especially in the typical rainy winter Wolseley weather. Doing this in fine weather is not as big a challenge. The last 4 I did was always in wet and cold weather.

 

This is not for posers or sunshine riders. 

[BenReaper]

At 1100m climbing for the 50km I dont think I'll be attempting it without gears.

[Stevief]

 

 

 

 

 

This is not for posers or sunshine riders. 

 

That leaves me out then 

[Trail Ninja]

I phoned the organizer yesterday. Wolseley has not seen much rain lately, so the soils should drain well this year compared to last year.

 

In the wet the race is tough but very nice, especially the 50km.

They mentioned that the Waterfall is hardly visible at present, and with some rain yesterday and today, it should not come down too hard

 

Should be better weather than last year. Great ride enjoy guys

[Huis Mostertshoek]

Thanks for your response. The weather at this stage : light drizzle typical Cape Town weather. For the profiles, just double click on the maps at the top - The routes are the same except for the starting - there will be no crossing on the railways. I just organized to extend online entries until tonight 24:00. How ever if you still want to enter, you can do it at registration. However there will be a R30 added on entryfee.

[Sparki 1]

What an awesome race. Tough as hell. Got mixed feelings about this one. Well done PPA. Route well marked and marshalled.

[BenReaper]

This was my first time at this event and as mentioned above it was well organised.I did the 30ish distance with my wife,she strugged quite a bit,but we managed to finish in 5th and 6th.......last.[emoji1]

Will defs be back next year,hopefully the wife will be fitter by then so that she can be left on her own for the 30km and I can go 'big'.