[Event] Crater Cruise Gravel

['Kaze Pete]

Event Name: Crater Cruise Gravel
When: 08/06/2025
Where: Koedoeslaagte Trail Park & Venue, Venterskroon, North West
Category: Gravel

The Crater Cruise...

In 2004 the Crater Cruise was established as a "the original" Gravel Road Race in South Africa. The organisers were indeed ahead of their time and systematically converted the event into a hybrid mountainbike event. On Sunday 8 June 2025 we will relaunch the Crater Cruise as the Gravel Road Race it was always intended to be. The 145km and 92km routes are truly spectacular. Since 2004 the organisers have complimented and promoted competitive cycling with a substantial prize purse - in 2025 the price purse will mount to R75 000!

Event Status:

• Gauteng Gravel Series event #3 (OPEN to all provinces and nationalities)
• In U/23 Elite category - only drop-handle Gravel Bikes will come in contention for the Gauteng Series log
• All other categories are welcome to ride on mountain bikes!
• An official Free State calendar Gravel Race
• An official Northwest calendar Gravel Race

Route details, categories maps etc:

145 km Full Cruise 

• Official race category for Elite & U/23 Men and Women, Vets Men and Women 30-39, Vets Men 40-49, Vets Men 50-59
• Also an OPEN category for non-racers

92 km Crater Cruise

• Official race category for Junior Men and Women, Vets Women 40-49, Vets Women 50-59, Master Men and Women 60+
• Also an OPEN category for non-racers

50 km Half Cruise

• Official race category for Youth Boys and Girls, Sub-Junior Girls and Boys
• Also an OPEN category for non-racers

15 km Dirt Flirt

• A fun timed event with an OPEN category

Go to Event Page.

[RobynE]

This sounds very cool. 
 

I think your dates are muddled as the text says July and Entry Ninja says June. 

['Kaze Pete]

3 minutes ago, RobynE said:

This sounds very cool. 
 

I think your dates are muddled as the text says July and Entry Ninja says June. 

Thank you. Fixed it! 8 June 2025 is the date

[Dobri]

54 minutes ago, 'Kaze Pete said:

Thank you. Fixed it! 8 June 2025 is the date

That's the Berg and Bush weekend, eish, it's not really same style or type of event but still, why clash with an already established date from long time ago, and forcing riders to choose between the two.

I would like to take part but B&B takes precedence.

[JJDT]

Do know part of this route as I normally ride some parts of this route for an out and back ride when we camp in the Parys area. I normally turn around at the Schoemansdrift bridge.

Just past Venterskroon the road is getting somewhat spicy with corrugations and just general roughness. Once past the climb the road is better, but returning the descent to Venterskroon will not be smooth and do not expect a fast descent. The last two climbs before the finish will be somewhat demanding, the first short but steep and the second climb long, but will be rewarded with a fast descent to the end. Hopefully it will not be that cold as the last time in winter I rode past Koedoeslaagte Trail Park it was a chilly -3.

[Attie Koekemoer]

A lekker Crater Cruise Gravel teaser video of Jannes (my son) taking on the gravel. It will be the GRAVELICIOUS experience we promise to deliver!

 

[eddy]

 

I remember this well. Did my first one in 2011 and a few more thereafter.

I think that it lost its unique character when the manne derided it as a "dirt roadie" race and they responded by adding more and more singletrack - i.e. congestion in the sandy footpaths next to the river - into the event, making it less and less special. 

The climb over Eben's hill was lekker but eventually it became a wannabe MTB event. It was held in September and October and it was so hot, dusty and congested that its only saving grace was that every other event that season could only be better.

It was the original 100km gravel race and something very different until they messed with the formula. I hope it reverts to something that can be done on a gravel bike, in which case I look forward to giving it a go again. I loved the first one, but maybe that was only me.

Oh, it also had a halfway stop where you could have a swim in the river and the clock stopped. I think you were given up to 15mins or so before the clock started again. 

Edited April 9 by eddy

[Wyatt Earp]

Oh the good old days.When men were hard, before they traded their putters for MTB’s.

The good old singlespeed battles out on that course.

What an event 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[eddy]

17 minutes ago, Wyatt Earp said:

Oh the good old days.When men were hard, before they traded their putters for MTB’s.

The good old singlespeed battles out on that course.

What an event 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

 

Easy for you to say.

I did my first one on a 26" Epic some guy in Halfway House palmed off on me.....

2014 on a SS rigid P29. Should never have sold that bike.

['Kaze Pete]

2025: I'm stuck between two choice; a rigid 29er or a gravel bike.
Let's just call it a shock choice: one or none.

I'll leave the SS stuff to Wyatt, et al

[Stevovo]

Hey we are in the era of gravel! Ride that freaken gravel bike! 🤣 lets get this industry booooomin

I will also take my gravel bike...even though I know it is gonna hurt. Its rough mostly. These were photos taken in 2019. Beautifull place to ride a bike.

 In 2019 the roads had a mayor rebuild. Mannnn it was smooth. You could take your road bike onto it and go full tilt everywhere. Joh, guys would have moaned its too smooth for gravel if used in a race😆

Need to start training for a long day on the 'ruk en pluk' stuff.

[betaboy]

19 hours ago, Attie Koekemoer said:

A lekker Crater Cruise Gravel teaser video of Jannes (my son) taking on the gravel. It will be the GRAVELICIOUS experience we promise to deliver!

 

In our current climate, making promises is super dangerous unless you know something we don’t! 😂😂😂 Hopefully I will enjoy this Crater, lookout for me wearing my HelloPeter skin suit.🤓

[betaboy]

1 hour ago, Stevovo said:

Hey we are in the era of gravel! Ride that freaken gravel bike! 🤣 lets get this industry booooomin

I will also take my gravel bike...even though I know it is gonna hurt. Its rough mostly. These were photos taken in 2019. Beautifull place to ride a bike.

 In 2019 the roads had a mayor rebuild. Mannnn it was smooth. You could take your road bike onto it and go full tilt everywhere. Joh, guys would have moaned its too smooth for gravel if used in a race😆

Need to start training for a long day on the 'ruk en pluk' stuff.

Hey.. you still got that bike?😃

[Stevovo]

1 minute ago, betaboy said:

Hey.. you still got that bike?😃

Yes but got a revolt Im riding now. Done many rides on that steel farr. Maluti d90 with the roadies as well.

[eddy]

Time to dust this baby off....

[betaboy]

1 hour ago, eddy said:

Time to dust this baby off....

Nice ride! Steel is real. 🤛🏻