[Event] The Great Kei Trek MTB Experience

[deanbean]

[deanbean]

If anyone is at any of the overnight stops on the day, Queenstown, at the Rec on Friday, Thomas River on Saturday, Komga Show Grounds on Sunday, or Kei Country Club on Monday, come and have a beer with us. Afterparty at The Deck at Morgans Bay Hotel on Monday

Edited April 26, 2018 by deanbean

[fanievb]

http://www.dispatchlive.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Great-Kei-Trek-Twitter.jpg

[deanbean]

Wow, what an experience. My first time being involved in an event of this nature. I must have driven over 2000km over the last 2 weeks marking, visiting landowners, organising water points. And the riders, awesome bunch. I even had the leaders marking the route for me because of a hiccup in land access, when they caught up to me.
Daughter and friend helping mark the route Thurs night
Thomas River Race Village

Deanbean getting his rights mixed up with his lefts

See what I mean!!

Water point 3 Day 1 Thomas River farmers

Riders arriving at WP3

MC Liam having a kip before the party started

The last hill was a slog, we were only talking, I promise

Aerial view of the race village at Thomas River Photo Credit ZU-ELC


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Edited May 3, 2018 by deanbean

[deanbean]

More pics

Between the Toise Bridges

Under, around and over the bridge

The leaders at the bridge

Georgie taking a pic of me taking a pic

You can't take a Freedom Challenge rider anywhere without him finding the tiger line

Bridgestone Bolo Farmers WP2 day 2

Twizza and Komga Farmers WP3 day 2

'n Boer maak 'n plan, and he was a farmer too, how to deal with a big tyre slash

The Cathcart farmers at Komga


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Edited May 3, 2018 by deanbean

[deanbean]

And more. Any one that has pics please load them. I'd like this thread to document the event

 

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[Kranswurm]

And more. Any one that has pics please load them. I'd like this thread to document the event

 

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Nice looking event

First I have heard of it

Good turnout?

Edited May 1, 2018 by Kranswurm

[deanbean]

Nice looking event

First I have heard of it

Good turnout?

First year Kranzie. Not too bad for a first year. 40 2man teams.

 

The race organiser and trail master

 

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[Kranswurm]

First year Kranzie. Not too bad for a first year. 40 2man teams.

 

The race organiser and trail master

 

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Well done

I know someone who would have enjoyed it

Edited May 1, 2018 by Kranswurm

[deanbean]

Well done

I know someone who would have enjoyed it

Thanks

 

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[fanievb]

When I got the call from the Daily Dispatch wanting to know if I’m interested in doing the event I jumped at the opportunity. Not really considering the fact that it’s only a week after the 36One Challenge I surely learnt a valuable lesson about my recovery during the event and will have to be somewhat more conservative in future.

 

Things happened fairly quickly and our entries, accommodation and kit were all sorted by the fantastic people at the Daily Dispatch. We even worked in a photo session, which was quite hilarious having to not so pretty individuals playing models.

 

Our pickup was arranged and we left Gonubie just after lunch on Friday afternoon.

 

Registration at the Queens College Sports field was a breeze, followed by the race briefing. I must stress at this point that this event is a trek/jol/party and not a race, in fact the racing snakes got some “medicine” for their efforts.

 

 

The official welcome party was a Roydon and we had our first experience of proper Eastern Cape hospitality.

 

Day One: Queenstown to Thomas River

The start was very chilly and we had a neutral zone behind a tractor for the first section of the ride. Once we hit the gravel roads the pace picked up significantly. I remember thinking to myself that the other riders are either very fit or they forgot that the route is almost 100km for the day.

 

We turned off the gravel roads along the Black Kei River and headed through the farms some of which are neater than a PGA tour golf course.

 

The first water point for the day was at the hamlet of Hilton, with the prettiest little church I’ve seen in a while.

 

As we started hitting the steeper gradients, you’d think it’s downhill to the coast, so the headwind started picking up. My 36One battered body soon started complaining every time the gradient kicked up.

 

Suck it up princess, we still have a long way to go.

 

Some Strava Segments, vehicle graveyards and a cabbage patch or two later we got to the second water point with the wind really starting to pick up. The wind brought with it an icy chill and not much time was spent at the water point.

 

Some grasslands and the old “Trek Gang” (used by farmers to move their animals down to the coast during winter in the old day) brought us to water point 3. A quick beverage was consumed to ensure the energy levels were topped up for the final stretch to a warm shower and a home cooked meal.

 

Day Two: Thomas River to Komga

A hearty protein breakfast and quick luggage packing and we were off for day 2. The route would take us through the Quacu Nature reserve, some plantations to the little farming town of Komga.

 

 

After a little navigational mishap due to missing markers the ride got back on track and we started the long(ish) climb through the reserve and plantations to water point one. I knew I was in trouble early on as my knee would scream at every pedal stroke. Looking back I should probably have bailed earlier, but I did not want to let down our sponsor and more importantly my partner.

 

 

2km before the water point I however made up my mind and decided to pull out and try again on day 3 (from this point my report is form the team vehicle point of view).

 

The road started pointing downwards from here with a few stings every here and there. The team vehicle (driver excluded of course) stopped to support a local watering hole.

 

We stopped and WP2 and I quickly changed into some civvies (dirty bibs aren’t very comfy). My partner arrived ate like a man possessed filled some bottles and shot off down into the Kubusi Valley like a bat out of hell, only to (almost) grind to a halt on the uphill on the other side. We were quickly reminded of the rules of mountain biking: What goes down must come up again…

 

WP3 to Komga was only 14km and the route director decided to cut out a more difficult section of the route.

Komga welcomed us with the smell of tjops on the fire and fresh paint.

 

One of the sponsors went out of their way to revamp the bathrooms at the Komga showgrounds and I think I speak for every participant when say thank you from the bottom of my heart. There is nothing like a perfectly working warm shower after a hard day in the office.

 

Day Three: Komga to Kei Mouth

I had some strapping done before supper to relieve some of the pain in my (now) knees, hoping that I’ll be able to ride day 3. It was however not meant to be, getting off my stretcher in the morning I knew that there would be absolutely no riding for me as my left knee was slightly swollen and even more painful than the day before. Despite my disappointment my partner agreed that it’s not worth the risk of further injury, he would soldier on solo for the last day.

 

 

The route was easier than the previous two days and only 72km, with a compulsory stop on the Morgan Bay cliffs, with Emerald Vale brewery providing the refreshments. In true EC fashion the beer was served by brew master Chris Heaton himself.

 

 

 

The finish venue was at the Kei Mouth Country Club where a hearty lunch and a few cold beverages were consumed.

 

 

Thanks again to all involved in the event, a special thanks to the Daily Dispatch for giving us the opportunity to

ride the event.

Edited May 2, 2018 by fanievb

[I FLY]

First year Kranzie. Not too bad for a first year. 40 2man teams.

 

The race organiser and trail master

 

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I am really sorry that I had to miss this race because of clash of events for my wife.

So we opted for Sabie Experience in early April where ironically my wife crashed, broke her collarbone and had to miss her other event.

On my list for 2019.

[deanbean]

Thanks for the race report Fanie. How amazing were the Traffic cops, much to our amusement. They were happy to escort the riders into Komga.

 

And Chris is a legend, with his support of cycling in the area.

 

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Edited May 2, 2018 by deanbean

[deanbean]

I am really sorry that I had to miss this race because of clash of events for my wife.

So we opted for Sabie Experience in early April where ironically my wife crashed, broke her collarbone and had to miss her other event.

On my list for 2019.

Pity, that's never lekker breaking a collarbone. Look forward to welcoming you next year.

 

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[deanbean]

it's all downhill.....

Ja Fanie?

[fanievb]

Ja Fanie?

 

 

somewhat downhill