Loubser Shatters the 36ONE MTB Challenge Course Record

[News bot]

Dan Loubser not only won the 2025 36ONE MTB Challenge on Saturday, 24 May, but also shattered the course record and the 13-hour mark in the process. The Freewheel Cycology man’s time for the 356 kilometre course was 42 minutes and 20 seconds faster than Drikus Coetzee’s 2022 benchmark, as well as 25 minutes and 3 seconds quicker than the 13-hour goal. This ensured that he would take home a performance bonus to top up his winner’s prize purse to R36 100. Women’s winner, Yolande de Villiers, also broke the course record, knocking 10 minutes and 59 seconds off her 2021 […]

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[tubed]

Wow, what a ride! Well done Dan. Enjoy the prize money - well deserved.

Interesting result - bike choice and lights - both debated extensively and yet they still have an impact on the unfolding and outcome of such a big race. 

I was always under the impression that the ultra-endurance stuff favoured a slightly older rider with the ability to rationalise the pain for longer - seems like the winners are getting younger - or they have figured out the mental game better. 

[Sid the Sloth]

2 hours ago, tubed said:

Wow, what a ride! Well done Dan. Enjoy the prize money - well deserved.

Interesting result - bike choice and lights - both debated extensively and yet they still have an impact on the unfolding and outcome of such a big race. 

I was always under the impression that the ultra-endurance stuff favoured a slightly older rider with the ability to rationalise the pain for longer - seems like the winners are getting younger - or they have figured out the mental game better. 

Thanks. Stoked to come away with the win and really enjoyed the race and the route - what an epic adventure. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves riding their bike. It was a truly unique experience. 
 

I was kindly loaned my light by Kevin Benky so I was a bit unfamiliar with it - I don’t do enough fast, off-road night riding to have invested in the equipment for it yet. I used the Exposure Sixpack, which has multiple programming modes but having it mounted under the bars with a massive number plate above it, I couldn’t tell which program and mode it was on. I actually started with the light on in program 3, in low mode which should have lasted 24h, and going to high at night would have taken that to 12h, (-3h pf low so effectively around 10h, which I forecasted would have been enough). Somehow I managed to mess this up when flicking between modes and ran out at the bottom of rooiberg but luckily had a spare small Ryder 900 light mounted in my frame in case of emergency. I made it to the aid station fine but my dad and I couldn’t get the clamp open due to dust, which resulted in about a minute or so lost. 
 

The gravel bike behaved itself for the course, I consulted my eyeball aero expert Matt and went for a deep and wide Roval Rapide CLX II, with a 2.2 Specialized Airtrak mtb tyre front, and then a shallower Terra CLX on the rear with a Specialized Tracer 50mm tyre on the rear with a Vittoria Tyre liner. Both 80ml sealant from Endroseal. A mountain bike would have saved some energy on the more rocky farm roads in the farms as well as down Rooiberg but I think in general the time saved with the weight and aerodynamics of the gravel bike makes it faster. I’d like to experiment more to see how comfortable a drop bar mountain bike could be for the course but I think bigger chainring size is another element that favours the gravel bike. 

As for age, I just channel my grumpy old man energy, and try make the race as short as possible! I do think there’s a massive amount you learn about yourself and dealing with your competition over such long distances as you age, so I am looking forward to taking this experience into long stuff going forward as I certainly found out a lot about myself and my abilities. If you have any question or words of wisdom let me know! 

[tubed]

Thanks for the comprehensive reply.

You are lucky to have Benky in your corner - he has lots of wisdom and I am sure your dad knows what to say and what not to say when something doesn't go according to plan.

Looking forward to seeing where this goes from here.

 

[DieselnDust]

17 hours ago, Sid the Sloth said:

Thanks. Stoked to come away with the win and really enjoyed the race and the route - what an epic adventure. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves riding their bike. It was a truly unique experience. 
 

I was kindly loaned my light by Kevin Benky so I was a bit unfamiliar with it - I don’t do enough fast, off-road night riding to have invested in the equipment for it yet. I used the Exposure Sixpack, which has multiple programming modes but having it mounted under the bars with a massive number plate above it, I couldn’t tell which program and mode it was on. I actually started with the light on in program 3, in low mode which should have lasted 24h, and going to high at night would have taken that to 12h, (-3h pf low so effectively around 10h, which I forecasted would have been enough). Somehow I managed to mess this up when flicking between modes and ran out at the bottom of rooiberg but luckily had a spare small Ryder 900 light mounted in my frame in case of emergency. I made it to the aid station fine but my dad and I couldn’t get the clamp open due to dust, which resulted in about a minute or so lost. 
 

The gravel bike behaved itself for the course, I consulted my eyeball aero expert Matt and went for a deep and wide Roval Rapide CLX II, with a 2.2 Specialized Airtrak mtb tyre front, and then a shallower Terra CLX on the rear with a Specialized Tracer 50mm tyre on the rear with a Vittoria Tyre liner. Both 80ml sealant from Endroseal. A mountain bike would have saved some energy on the more rocky farm roads in the farms as well as down Rooiberg but I think in general the time saved with the weight and aerodynamics of the gravel bike makes it faster. I’d like to experiment more to see how comfortable a drop bar mountain bike could be for the course but I think bigger chainring size is another element that favours the gravel bike. 

As for age, I just channel my grumpy old man energy, and try make the race as short as possible! I do think there’s a massive amount you learn about yourself and dealing with your competition over such long distances as you age, so I am looking forward to taking this experience into long stuff going forward as I certainly found out a lot about myself and my abilities. If you have any question or words of wisdom let me know! 

Good choice of light, probably overkill for the event but more is better in this regard. 
 

I think a hardtail MTb with a bigger chainring is the way to go but that will require some phaffing with the axle and chainline. Crankset selection is key and also max rear sprocket. All doable with current parts availability. 
maybe consider a classified planetary gear rear hub?

[tubed]

Out of interest re a mtb hardtail, what gearing are you thinking of 36x10-51?

[Sid the Sloth]

20 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Good choice of light, probably overkill for the event but more is better in this regard. 
 

I think a hardtail MTb with a bigger chainring is the way to go but that will require some phaffing with the axle and chainline. Crankset selection is key and also max rear sprocket. All doable with current parts availability. 
maybe consider a classified planetary gear rear hub?

I reckon the light was perfect, it’s just user error. It’s not super heavy and it’s super bright when you get it right. The reflex functionality boosts the brightness with built in accelerometers based off your riding, which is really smart. 
 

The problem with a hard tail is you’re almost back to the crux with tyre clearance (I don’t think you need 2.35) with some extra weight, questionable aero (unless you run drops which alters the geometry), and extra weight for the fork. I’d be super keen to try a gravel fork, and if you were to go full mtb perhaps a drop bar World Cup / supercal style bike. 

[BuffsVintageBikes]

After racing the 180 last year and nearly dying, I'm just blown away with how you managed to keep that pace so strong for 360km's.
It's one thing to ride these distances with mates but it's an entirely different beast to race it against the clock and strong opposition.
That's seriously next level fitness & strength, well done on an incredible ride, huge respect 🤙

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Sid the Sloth said:

I reckon the light was perfect, it’s just user error. It’s not super heavy and it’s super bright when you get it right. The reflex functionality boosts the brightness with built in accelerometers based off your riding, which is really smart. 
 

The problem with a hard tail is you’re almost back to the crux with tyre clearance (I don’t think you need 2.35) with some extra weight, questionable aero (unless you run drops which alters the geometry), and extra weight for the fork. I’d be super keen to try a gravel fork, and if you were to go full mtb perhaps a drop bar World Cup / supercal style bike. 

Yeah the 6 shot is awesome. I have the MaxxD which is one down in the range . I used mine for 360One in 2023. In Programme2 it ran all night and that was me riding an Mtb, not even racing for a position. Can’t go wrong with Exposure lights. First class service even for a 10 yr old unit. 
 

ya the conundrum re tyre choice vs chain stay clearance for chainring. Gearing will always win. But how wide do you reckon is wide enough? For a elite racer vs age grouper vs mid packer vs weekend warrior?

im in the 2.0 to 2.2 tyre width mindset which currently means a drop bar hardtail with suspension seat post. But as you say, that means a 100mm suspension fork which is overkill for gravel….

[ChrisF]

15 minutes ago, BuffsVintageBikes said:

After racing the 180 last year and nearly dying, I'm just blown away with how you managed to keep that pace so strong for 360km's.
It's one thing to ride these distances with mates but it's an entirely different beast to race it against the clock and strong opposition.
That's seriously next level fitness & strength, well done on an incredible ride, huge respect 🤙

 

Well said.

 

Three friends did the 26one this year, as a "casual ride".

 

One had a race ending mechanical after 100km.  The other two soldiered on to finish just shy of 25 hours, including stop and rest times.

 

@Sid the Sloth WELL DONE !!!  Huge respect !

 

Also keen to see what you do next.  Best wishes.

[Shebeen]

15 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

ya the conundrum re tyre choice vs chain stay clearance for chainring. Gearing will always win. But how wide do you reckon is wide enough? For a elite racer vs age grouper vs mid packer vs weekend warrior?

im in the 2.0 to 2.2 tyre width mindset which currently means a drop bar hardtail with suspension seat post. But as you say, that means a 100mm suspension fork which is overkill for gravel….

360km in under 13 hours is 28km/h. 

Not many people can ride a bike offroad for 28km in a single hour!

The best bike will normally be the one you can be comfortable on for that extended period of time.

[tubed]

30 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

360km in under 13 hours is 28km/h. 

Not many people can ride a bike offroad for 28km in a single hour!

The best bike will normally be the one you can be comfortable on for that extended period of time.

was wondering if he can navigate without a GPS and has a sense of adventure? the possibilities

[BuffsVintageBikes]

After this performance we should be asking the BIG question... When are we going to see Dan at the Lifetime GP Series with Matt?

[ChrisF]

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Edited May 26 by ChrisF