3 Day MTB Tour Planning

[Cas_1]

A group of friends would like to organize a long distance multi day mtb tour. Any advice on where to start and what to look out for. We are scattered between KZN and Gauteng and is looking at either in KZN around Vryheid or alternatively in Mpumalanga around Dullstroom/Lydenburg/ Sabie. 

 

Likely looking at around 100km per day on gravel roads.

 

Any advice or ideas would be greatly appreciated.

[KingTJ]

There is lots of forestry roads out near paulpietersburg....we own a game farm in the area. Although not setup for mtbing (we still need to setup the trails and mark them) you could stay there as a base of operations if you are keen. Pm me.

[Guest]

Isandlawane battle site, outside Vryheid, has a trail but I dont know how much is on private land. Detour trails did a battle site tour through there recently. Worth a google to see if any routes go through there.

[GLuvsMtb]

Advice:

We did a similar tour many years ago from Knysna -> George -> Oudtshoorn -> Uniondale -> Knysna.

1. Decide on whether you are going to do this with / without a support vehicle. We opted for a support vehicle with my wife as the driver and was fortunate enough that my wife was willing to set up a "water point" each day where we could fill up and snack. Not having a support vehicle limits you to places where you can replenish along the way or carry additional water etc. on top of your backpack / paniers that you will be carrying as well.

2. Decide on the type of accommodation that you will use. We used back packers in the respective towns. Having a vehicle and driver available meant that we could do the backpacking option as my wife could prepare meals etc. once she left us after the water stop each day. Camping could also be considered if the support vehicle has sufficient capacity to lug tents, mattresses etc. around. If I do this tour today, I'll stay in guest houses for the added comfort and less hassle, but this is budget driven and depends on what is on offer on the route you are planning to tour.

3. Have like-minded and riders of similar ability on your tour. I rode with Epic hardebaarde who broke me in the first 2 days of our tour. The last 2 days was real rule #5 stuff.