[Event] Sabie Classic

[Brett MTBer]

thanks for the enquiry, yeah we had some good years but lack of sponsors and crowded calendar shrunk the field! I'm not involved in the organisation anymore but I'll be there, weather is supposed to clear up after tonight so it'll be wet but not raining. Nothing like that red Sabie mud to keep ya honest!

[SwissVan]

8 hours ago, Stevovo said:

So here we are...2 days from Sabie classic 2025. So I thought heck...lets revive this fred.

Its a shame to see this epic race go from one of the biggest attended races on the callender to a small 65km race. Names like Mannie, Evans, Max, Luus, Stander and even the Bulls guys had flippen epic battles in the mountains in the ULTRA distance races and I still get a tingling sensation thinking of those days. Ride magazine had write ups of this race with fotos of the pros dashing up and down  the races like they were hollywood celebs. (Some juiced a bit 🤣) Jinne I just wanted to go do it and I did.

Twice. First time I was gonna do the 75km....entered on the morning of the race...but when I got to the start I realized to my anger that I entered the 40km. Thank God! 75 km would have killed me. Sam Saunders blasted past me on a downhill making me feel very down to earth. I was dead and releaved to be finished and not have another 30km to go. 2nd time we were a group of guys taking a vw transporter panelvan from potch to sabie. Bean bags as seats in the back between all the bikes. Stayed in the backpackers in Sabie. Laying in bed the night before the race, listening to the rain falling all through the night and Im sure I promised myself Im not gonna ride. I lied...going down singletrack so slippery its better to just sit on your bum and slide I think I, for a moment, regretted not staying at home. I do remember a lekker feeling passing Lourens Luus pushing his bike on another slippery singletrack ( brakepads allready gone). I dont remember having too much fun that day, but did finish in 1 piece. Bike lost a few years of life there.

Its a beautifull place to be on a bike. The mountains are big. The mossy trails slippery when dry and snotty when wet. Heck Im lus for a propper sabie sufferfest on a mtb designed for propper mtb terrain (gravel😤😡) going down steep slippery singletrack feeling totally out of control but totally alive!!

Soo...any sabie residents here? Is it dry or wet on saterday? I want to be there but I dont make mistakes like a muddy sabie twice....I hope🤣

Haven’t been to the Sabie classic since +/- 2002, fantastic event and place.

Used to love going to the pancake shop before driving back to Joburg

 

Please go and have a couple of pancakes for me 👍🤟

 

[thebob]

Heading there for the Enduro. Schalk has set us a 42km route with 1400m of climbing 😱