Gravel burn 2025

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Dobri said:

Thank you for the info on the Dirty South gravel event, looks really nice and exceptionally well priced. I will follow them if they have similar events next year. 

I was seriously looking at GB and the GRG but I just cannot justify spending so much money to ride on open gravel roads. For the same price I can go and ski for 10 days in EU! 

Come on , this is getting old. Yes there are other options to spend your money. If you want to go ski, you’ll go ski. If you want to ride/race gravel burn , cape epic, grg then that’s where you’ll spend the money. They’re all holidays if you don’t earn a living from it.

15 hours ago, jcza said:

Update from the camp somewhere outside Cradock. Very hot today on the climb to the finish. Garmin registered 44c. Long tar section but into a headwind. 
My thoughts. It’s tougher than I expected. Understand why people fit suspension forks and 50/2.0 tyres to gravel bikes. 
Day 1 was brutal with rain and cold. 
Don’t have the numbers but so many international riders here. 
Longest stage tomorrow, I thought it is the queen stage then onto Swamwari. 
I’m riding with mates and it’s been superb. The amount of work that has gone into this is crazy. Some teething problems but nothing has been a crisis. With all due respect to Stan you cannot compare this to Karoobaix. 

Yebo, I think many many people underestimated what it takes to ride a gravel bike at pace for 8 days. This is not the Cape epic, you’re on your own if you get dropped then it’s a long day getting rattled around on a suspension less bike. I tend to have a good laugh at the are core okes promoting the latest road derived gravel bikes while deriding hardtail mtbs with drop bars as not being in the “spirit of gravel”. I’ll bet the song will have different lyrics by Monday.

3 hours ago, SSCC said:

No one’s comparing them. 

Eeer yes there was , and also a copy paste claim. It’s all derivatives of the original activity called “riding a bicycle “. The packaging changes and fitting the pieces together is the new innovation. 
 

[TheDogShow]

45 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

I think you can comment on GRG here. 

Because this is the Dryland logo, remind you of anything?

🙂 Windpomp? In the middle of the Karoo?

[Bro Derek]

1 hour ago, Shebeen said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3I2M_jIvu/?hl=en

 

in unrelated news, I was not aware that Ollie is doing it on this Avalanche Dust. probably a whole bunch of Titans that also cost less than the weeks' entry fee.

So, while I think this is cool, it does also illustrate a bigger issue in the bike industry and it's global marketing networks and examples.

How many times must the same guy do the same thing? There is little evolution and it loses it's impact as it has been a recurring thing with different brands on a few occasions.

It aligns with the bigger picture in the industry still using very old, traditional importing structures, sales structures, marketing structures etc

The 'scene' markets and sells to itself and gatekeeps information and then wonders why races and events are so poorly attended. 

Bike evolution is hamstrung by outdated rules and market share regulation etc

I won't list ALL the examples, but just to suggest that with a bit of imagination, you can draw the parallels 

Marketing teams need to step up and stop regurgitating the same stuff, despite it being cool

[Danger Dassie]

1 hour ago, Spafsack said:

True that, Ollies rig costs less than 35k as is, full carbon, carbon rims, bargain actually. 

Alloy rims, Oli upspecced his with cSixx wheels afaik.

[Headshot]

At the moment its 2  saffers in the top 3 GC positions. Beers is protecting his lead. He looked poked (for him) after yesterdays stage.

[Shebeen]

40 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Alloy rims, Oli upspecced his with cSixx wheels afaik.

saw that. R30k carbon rims on a R33k bike. kind of defeats the purpose of the run it on a budget bike vaaib, which is what he did at epic with the Signal hardtail in 2019 (I looked it up).

 

BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT

the marketing people will buff that out, and it will sell bikes so all good in the end

[Spafsack]

1 hour ago, Danger Dassie said:

Alloy rims, Oli upspecced his with cSixx wheels afaik.

I am sure i saw a post of his on instagram where someone asked what the price was of his total build and he said something like 33k, with carbon rims. To me that seems a good deal still.

[Kylie]

NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN

PRESS RELEASE

Merino to Gwanishi, South Africa – 31 October 2025

Extreme weather on the route has led to the ‘neutralisation’ of today’s Stage 6 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn.

 

In other words, the riders’ times on the 144km stage in the Eastern Cape - from Merino Farm near Cradock to Gwanishi - will not be counted towards the overall standings.

 

Riders woke early this morning to extremely strong winds and then rain. At one stage, riders were evacuated from their Lapa’s to a central meeting point in the Burn Camp for their safety. It was decided to delay the 7am start by an hour and neutralise the racing to Padstal 1 - water point - at 46km on the route. This decision was welcomed by riders. 

 

Unfortunately, Swiss professional rider Andri Frischknecht crashed in extreme crosswinds during this neutralised section - at about 36km - and had to be taken to hospital with concussion and a shoulder injury. We have been in regular communication with the hospital about his condition and will continue to do so. We wish him a speedy recovery.

 

The wind continued to gust, making racing unsafe, and the day became increasingly hot - with temperatures of about 35degC being recorded on the route.

After requests from the leading professionals the race commissaire decided to neutralise the entire stage.

 

Race founder Kevin Vermaak said: “This is an obviously unfortunate turn of events and we would like to thank the positive spirit in which riders have approached it and the event crew for their hard work throughout the day.”

 

All riders who started today’s stage will be eligible to ride tomorrow and for a finishers’ medal, tackling the final stage from Gwanishi to Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

 

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Well that sucks for Hayley Preen. I wonder which leading Pros requested the cancellation?

35deg is also a normal summers day in the Karoo... Gravel BURN right?

Edited October 31, 2025 by BuffsVintageBikes

[DieselnDust]

32 minutes ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

Well that sucks for Hayley Preen. I wonder which leading Pros requested the cancellation?

35deg is also a normal summers day in the Karoo... Gravel BURN right?

It’s a bit early for the softness to set in huh?!

[the_roadie]

42 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

It’s a bit early for the softness to set in huh?!

The issue wasn't just the wind. It was the (in my opinion) irresponsible route choice for today. Descends like we had to do today are extremely unsafe on a gravel bike. Or even a hard tail MTB. It was like an epic stage. I think Kevin will be facing some hard criticism after today's stage if the feeling around camp is to be believed. 

[jcza]

39 minutes ago, the_roadie said:

The issue wasn't just the wind. It was the (in my opinion) irresponsible route choice for today. Descends like we had to do today are extremely unsafe on a gravel bike. Or even a hard tail MTB. It was like an epic stage. I think Kevin will be facing some hard criticism after today's stage if the feeling around camp is to be believed. 

This 👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 yes the start had to be neutral but everyone still rode it. However, sections of the course were simply unsuitable for gravel racing. The event is great for South Africa and tourism but in my opinion the route does not showcase the gravel we have available in South Africa. 

[betaboy]

… now let’s hear from that route planner who boasted.. this route is for everyone! Straight to the fire…🤣🤣🤣. Tonight there will be a different roasting! 

[Eugene Oppelt]

380 / 522 left

Edited October 31, 2025 by Eugene Oppelt

[DieselnDust]

Gravel bikes do have brakes right? And riders can use them right?

can’t have it all easy or theres no “spirit of gravel”

Edited November 1, 2025 by DieselnDust

[Rowl]

Matt wins and Ashleigh is off the podium... Seemingly the French lady took it back?