[Event] The 36ONE MTB Challenge

[Dryland Events]

Event Name: The 36ONE MTB Challenge
When: 22/05/2026 - 24/05/2026
Where: Kleinplaas Resort, OudtshoornOudtshoorn, Western Cape
Category: Mountain Bike

This is South Africa’s ultimate race with 361km and a maximum of 36.1 hours to complete it. While this race remains a mountain bike race in our opinion, participants now have the flexibility to take it on with a gravel- or mountain bike, so choose wisely!  If you are not up for the full Challenge you can take on The Half or opt for The Relay in a team of 4 or 2.

Join us from the 22nd to the 24th of May 2026, when all trails lead to the breathtaking mountainscapes of the Klein Karoo.
The place where the thrill of mountain biking, the spirit of camaraderie, and the pursuit of triumph come together in an unmatched celebration of a day/night journey you need to experience to justify the magnitude of the accomplishment.

Go to Event Page.

[Nestus]

It is getting closer to race day and the nerves are setting in for my first 36one. With the last bit of planning, I would really appreciate some guidance as to what to pack in each box for the comfort points. For example, with the late afternoon start, water bottles should be sufficient, do you pack a hydration pack for the first or second comfort point, Warm layers etc. Or do you start with enough layers to keep you through the night.
I guess with winter approaching, you have to be prepared for wet and cold.     

[hboli4]

15 minutes ago, Nestus said:

It is getting closer to race day and the nerves are setting in for my first 36one. With the last bit of planning, I would really appreciate some guidance as to what to pack in each box for the comfort points. For example, with the late afternoon start, water bottles should be sufficient, do you pack a hydration pack for the first or second comfort point, Warm layers etc. Or do you start with enough layers to keep you through the night.
I guess with winter approaching, you have to be prepared for wet and cold.     

Hi Nestus,

Do a search on this forum for 36ONE - there are loads of info and advice on the previous threads.

Are you only making use of the boxes or do you have a support crew at the Checkpoints?

The WP's & CP's are close enough together in my experience that you can make do with two bottles only, no need for a hydration pack.

Depending on the weather at the start(normally warm enough for a 'summer' start - but perhaps take a light jacket & buff with for when the sun sets) you can pack some warmer clothes in for CP1 and warmest for CP2 - depending on your planned riding time. Most people will reach CP2 before sunrise when it is coldest. 

CP3 you can dump your extra clothing if warm enough. Will your light last for 12hours - if not a spare battery in CP1/2.

If you have a support crew it is much easier as you can give them a backpack with stuff for all eventualities which you can access at each CP.

[Nestus]

17 hours ago, hboli4 said:

Hi Nestus,

Do a search on this forum for 36ONE - there are loads of info and advice on the previous threads.

Are you only making use of the boxes or do you have a support crew at the Checkpoints?

The WP's & CP's are close enough together in my experience that you can make do with two bottles only, no need for a hydration pack.

Depending on the weather at the start(normally warm enough for a 'summer' start - but perhaps take a light jacket & buff with for when the sun sets) you can pack some warmer clothes in for CP1 and warmest for CP2 - depending on your planned riding time. Most people will reach CP2 before sunrise when it is coldest. 

CP3 you can dump your extra clothing if warm enough. Will your light last for 12hours - if not a spare battery in CP1/2.

If you have a support crew it is much easier as you can give them a backpack with stuff for all eventualities which you can access at each CP.

Thank you for the reply and the tips. Currently there is no support crew, still working on that one. I guess it makes things easier, hopefully we can get the logistics sorted out. Your info with regards to the layers and the CP's are valuable.

Cheers

[hboli4]

Just now, Nestus said:

Thank you for the reply and the tips. Currently there is no support crew, still working on that one. I guess it makes things easier, hopefully we can get the logistics sorted out. Your info with regards to the layers and the CP's are valuable.

Cheers

A support crew definitely makes it easier but it is very doable with boxes only. Weather closer to the time will determine what you pack where and as mentioned depending on your planned/goal time...

I am a slow poke and usually aim for 24-26 hours. Have also done a 28 hour one....

You are welcome to ask here or pm me - happy to help. Love this event, will be lining up for my 7th if all goes well.

[Nestus]

17 minutes ago, hboli4 said:

A support crew definitely makes it easier but it is very doable with boxes only. Weather closer to the time will determine what you pack where and as mentioned depending on your planned/goal time...

I am a slow poke and usually aim for 24-26 hours. Have also done a 28 hour one....

You are welcome to ask here or pm me - happy to help. Love this event, will be lining up for my 7th if all goes well.

For sure, I will send you a PM if I have any other questions. The aim is to finish in 24 hours which should be doable, weather depending.

Great achievement for a 7th, I heard this a lot recently, "jy moet jou kop laat lees" and this is only my first.

[hboli4]

5 minutes ago, Nestus said:

For sure, I will send you a PM if I have any other questions. The aim is to finish in 24 hours which should be doable, weather depending.

Great achievement for a 7th, I heard this a lot recently, "jy moet jou kop laat lees" and this is only my first.

I enjoy the Ultra Endurance stuff, can't beat riding into a Karoo sunset, through the night and into a sunrise.

I have a little Word document I've put together for some other 1st timers in Afrikaans, you are welcome to send me an email address and I will send it to you.

I wonder whether Foot & Mouth will have an impact on the route...

[Eugeneg]

GPX file

Hi, I am looking for a GPX file to load to my Garmin for the Half, cant find one on the web

[Sid the Sloth]

How’s the weather looking? 😆

[hboli4]

46 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said:

How’s the weather looking? 😆

Would love to have a crystal ball on that one...We have been having a very wet and early winter in the Sates.

I presume you are defending?

[JohanDiv]

On 4/29/2026 at 3:43 PM, Nestus said:

It is getting closer to race day and the nerves are setting in for my first 36one. With the last bit of planning, I would really appreciate some guidance as to what to pack in each box for the comfort points. For example, with the late afternoon start, water bottles should be sufficient, do you pack a hydration pack for the first or second comfort point, Warm layers etc. Or do you start with enough layers to keep you through the night.
I guess with winter approaching, you have to be prepared for wet and cold.     

I started with two bottles and hydration pack. Main reason is if you are riding with a group in the early part of the race, they might blast through WP1 without refilling bottles, then you loose that advantage of sticking together if you have to stop. Also had enough food and gels on me to carry me to CP1. Worked well as we had a nice group of 10-15 working together and did in fact blast through that first Kammanassie WP1 without stopping and the attacks went up that little kicker climb just after WP1 that reduced us to 7 or 8 that worked together to CP1. Lights on the bike from the start.

At CP1 everyone in that group had different plans on how long they stop, so from there on in you are likely to be solo or less than 5 guys together. I left on my own there. I dropped my hydration pack in my CP1 box, spare battery for light in back pocket for rest of the race, put on warmer clothes, swapped sunglasses for photochromics, and just refilled my two bottles from there at the waterpoints and CPs as needed. Drylands always deliver at the WPs and CPs, so no shortage of Biogen drinks and gels and food.

Ate properly at CP2, fresh battery in the box, and more layers. Spare water bottle in box in case I dropped one on the route.

Got lost shortly after CP2, luckily saw another rider's light in the distance, so could back track and catch up to join him. We stuck together from there through the night all the way to the finish line.

CP3 swapped batteries. And again spare bottle just in case. Also food I know I can stomach. Sometimes your system just get tired of all the nonsense you eat on route, so I had simple chicken and rice packed for back up. Didn't eat it though, the pannekoek en boiled egg still went down 04:30 the morning. After that I survived on gels to the end.

My moving time was just over 17 hours, but I missed Sub 18 hrs. Definitely will try and streamline my stops next time. Skipping this year, but I'll be back for my Sub 17 hopefully next year!

 

[Mamil]

3 hours ago, Sid the Sloth said:

How’s the weather looking? 😆

If it's like that rainy one a few years back I seriously might just settle in at the race village with a bottle of Obies and supply of boerie rolls

Edited 7 hours ago by Mamil

[KingZA]

11 minutes ago, Mamil said:

If it's like that rainy one a few years back I seriously might just settle in at the race village with a bottle of Obies and supply of boerie rolls

Shew, that was my first time riding 36One.

Had I known what we were in for I might not have started 😂