[Event] Karkloof Gravel (SA Gravel Champs)

[Robin]

The CSA rules stipulate a gravel bike as a bike with drop handlebars.

So a MTB with dropbars is then a gravel bike.

 

Quote

81.1 Gravel bikes use drop handlebars, bikes must have two working brakes.
81.2 Mountain bikes, Hybrid and other bikes with "straight" handlebars may use "bar ends" The use of "aerobar" extension or “Tri-Bars” s are not permitted on any bike. These bikes are not classified as “Gravel Bikes” (01/01/21) (17/10/23)
81.3 Gravel Bikes shall be powered by human power alone.
81.4 SA National championships Elite podium finishers may only use a bicycle classified as a ‘Gravel Bike”. (23/09/2023)(20/11/2024)

 

['Kaze Pete]

22 hours ago, sias said:

A Gravel Championships taking place on 6 April 2025 hosted by @karkloofcountryclub 
❗️Important information ❗️
Elite Podium Finishers may only use a bicycle classified as a Gravel Bike.  All other age groups may use any bicycle.  The use of “aerobar” extension or “Tri-Bars” are not permitted on any bike.

Khomas100, in their Rider Guide (https://khomas100.com.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Rider-Guide-Khomas100.pdf), they list the following as acceptable for their race
Will the "once-piece handle bar with short extension" be allowed?

[Dobri]

22 hours ago, Robin said:

The CSA rules stipulate a gravel bike as a bike with drop handlebars.

So a MTB with dropbars is then a gravel bike.

 

 

Yip, a MTB with drop bars is classified as a gravel bike. I took part at the Berg 100 last weekend and one lady showed up with an S-Works Epic World Cup LTD that her husband converted to a gravel bike by replacing the flat MTB bars with drop bars - no comment from the CSA commissioner.

It is the most beautiful bike I have ever seen.

[Robin]

28 minutes ago, Dobri said:

Yip, a MTB with drop bars is classified as a gravel bike. I took part at the Berg 100 last weekend and one lady showed up with an S-Works Epic World Cup LTD that her husband converted to a gravel bike by replacing the flat MTB bars with drop bars - no comment from the CSA commissioner.

It is the most beautiful bike I have ever seen.

I saw it too, was a bit of a looker! The frame had a different colour too it though, I haven't been able to find the exact bike yet.

I know spez were shipping them with drop bars

[Gav.S]

Hi Ladies and Gents,

We have had to do some route changes to due to weather and harvesting damage on parts of the original route. This is by far the wettest March we have experienced. The changes are not major, but make a major difference to the rideability.

Prep your bikes for a bit of wet track. The rain and sunshine are forecast on and off this week.

If you are practice riding the route this week, please check the following post with link to revised routes and where the detours happen until the day of event.

The original routes on our website will be taken down on Monday and updated with the new ones.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16BYTag3i6/

Many thanks, Gav.

Edited Sunday at 03:59 PM by Gav.S

[Jbr]

interested in hearing if anyone is on site this week how muddy/sticky it is over there, I've got the 2.2 on, with probably 2/3 mm clearance where the side knobs are, much more from the top of the tyre

Edited yesterday at 11:15 AM by Jbr

[ajnkzn]

Rode yesterday, the route changes have (hopefully) dodged the areas that had become a mess.

 

Tricky to say what will happen this week with weather - sunny now but most days' forecasts are showing a bit of rain at least.

 

Unless there's lots of rain the route really shouldn't be too bad at all.

[betaboy]

I just wish CSA put up the dates at the beginning of the year so riders can plan for such events. I know generally there is a slot In April but some other discipline hasn’t even got a date confirmed yet by CSA 🙄. And then we wonder why the turn outs looks like a club ride and not a National Championship. 

[MongooseMan]

2 hours ago, Jbr said:

interested in hearing if anyone is on site this week how muddy/sticky it is over there, I've got the 2.2 on, with probably 2/3 mm clearance where the side knobs are, much more from the top of the tyre

@Benky was doing some reels/stories on his instagram
About 80% of the way through here:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18015278147679928/

[Jbr]

16 minutes ago, MongooseMan said:

@Benky was doing some reels/stories on his instagram
About 80% of the way through here:
https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/18015278147679928/

Thanks yes I followed that thoroughly, I was just hoping for some other feedback from people who actually rode there, looks like it's been raining non stop for 2 weeks already, if it's not too bad now it shouldn't really get worse by race day hopefully

[Jbr]

yeah I'm stalking the strava clubs / insta posts in the area, seems people are riding and not mentionning mud that much, will probably go with that setup and spares, and hopefully not have to change tyres late the day before the race

[Gav.S]

An update while on the route check this weekend is that no major issues with the revised routes. These were again revised today as the Karkloof river burst its banks and put one of the private roads under water.

These are expected to remain the final routes and have the V250331 date on the file names.

Riders were doing well on route on Gravel bikes and this was after 1 day of good sunshine after 2 weeks of rain.  Lots of cheerful training went on this weekend.

Our bespoke rustic tin cups and embossed decals have arrived for all riders taking part. 100km and 160km riders get an additional Karkloof Gravel branded garment and a decent steak roll at the finish line

See you guys on Sunday!

[milky4130]

8 hours ago, Jbr said:

interested in hearing if anyone is on site this week how muddy/sticky it is over there, I've got the 2.2 on, with probably 2/3 mm clearance where the side knobs are, much more from the top of the tyre

You dont leave yourself much room for mud clearance, you can almost certainly expect to wear that frame through if it is going to be muddy and you ride those 2.2's. Hoping for a dry race for you okes.

[Jbr]

11 hours ago, milky4130 said:

You dont leave yourself much room for mud clearance, you can almost certainly expect to wear that frame through if it is going to be muddy and you ride those 2.2's. Hoping for a dry race for you okes.

yeaaaah.... I'm going to take a Thundero HD 48 with an insert in the bike box or probably make a last minute call to fit it instead of the 2.2 if the next few days aren't completely dry. I believe the 2.2 will be the perfect tyre to handle all the descents and the over course that has very little tar, but if it means messing up my frame or having to clean up my tyres every 5 mins it's a bit of a gamble, and I don't feel I need to take a gamble for this one. On the other hand the knobs are nicely spaced out so I think it's unlikely the mud sticks to it too much, idk, hard decision to make

Edited 15 hours ago by Jbr