[Event] Eselfontein

[Eselfontein]

3 weeks to go !

[Eselfontein]

LAST CHANCE -

Entries close end of the Today, 10 October 2022!

https://www.entryninja.com/events/77818-eselfontein-festival

[ChrisF]

SO looking forward to this event.

 

First time since 2019 that Maritz will be doing an event ... 

[Eselfontein]

Our Online Entries is CLOSED.

Late or on the Day Entries/Registration:

Friday 14 October Registration opens @ 15:00

Saturday 15 October Registration opens @ 06:00

[ChrisF]

Any Hubbers doing Eselfontein on Saturday ?

 

Maritz and I will be doing the 20km 🤪👍

 

 

Always nice to add faces to the Hub names

[ChrisF]

What a lovely event !!!

 

 

So nice to see FULL starting grids again.

 

These gents has the best seats in the house, and tons of fun leading out the riders.  THANKS GUYS.

 

 

The 55km riders gets going ....

 

 

This time round I did the 20km with Maritz.  Nice new perspective on the event and the riders ....

 

Gent that parked next to us was doing his first ever MTB event, long time roadie.

 

Couple of parents with kids doing the yo-yo as the kids would blast ahead, then need a moment to recharge.

 

Time for the 20km to get going .... oops, the runners started immediately .... it was a bit tricky for the parents and kids at the back starting slow and the lead runners zig-zagging through the field ... thankfully no issues.

 

 

Cloudy day, cool air .... lots of riders starting with jackets.

 

 

LOTS of adults walking the climbs, granted there were a few technical bits with the odd step-up that could easily stop your accent.  Add if you happened to put down the power while your rear wheel was over some of the loose stuff it was a sudden spin out .... none of which allowed a re-start.

 

The runners and riders soon found their balance, and nice friendly chatter along the trails.

 

 

Tricky little water crossings had many pushing their bikes.

 

 

And yet .... this group has such a different vibe to the 55km group, which I did last year.  The 20km group has a sheared comeradery of improving their skill, and completing the route.  Not once did we see any frustration when a rider was held up by another.  Instead a lot of support.

 

Maritz did very well on the mild techy stuff.  His lack of fitness meant we stopped regularly.  This was his first event since 2019, so it went as well as could be expected.

 

 

All too soon we got to the second water point.  What a stunning group of people 

 

 

Shortly after this Maritz had his front wheel wash out in a sandy corner .... other than a thorn in his hand no issues, but his confidence took a nook .... the next 2 km was slow going, until he got his rythm back.  By now we were properly last of the 20km group.  So we stopped for the tricky bits, put the bikes down, walked it, planned the best approach and tried it ....  I ended up riding a tricky one that I walked last year.  Nice to have zero pressure, and to be able to just enjoy the trails.

 

And the lovely views ....

 

 

Followed by a nice trail at the end ...

 

 

 

All too soon it was done.

 

 

@Eselfontein  THANK YOU to Janene and her team for a LOVELY day.

 

 

PS - Hi to the Hubbers that introduced themselves 

Edited October 16, 2022 by ChrisF

[Delarey]

https://www.facebook.com/Eselfontein/photos

[mrcg]

Absolutely got to give a shout out to the Eselfontein event and awesome crew. Once again, it was a fantastic 3 days. Nothing like it around in terms of price and experience. What sets it apart, besides the atmosphere, vibe, great organisation, routes and hospitality, is the day/night ride of the 1st day. Perfect "prologue". Even though the 2nd and 3rd stages are a touch shorter, they are extremely enjoyable (although tough) and challenging in the right combination. It certainly ensures I am back (nearly) every year according to availability. I wish more events could follow this example.....

[ChrisF]

And they also allow Saturday entries on the 55km route, for those that cant do all three days.

 

In addition they also have the 20km shorter ride for the younger families.

 

Truly one of thee best events

[wolver]

Looking forward to going back for the duathlon next weekend!🙂