Brighter-Lights Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 A small group of us rode Never Ender yesterday and as promised here's some photos. We started in JBay and rode never ender backwards till the tar junction near Heroncliff, then turned around and rode back like we'll do in Trans Baviaans. What's most noticable when riding never ender during day and with fresh legs, is that it really is a nothing climb... From the tar road it gradually climbs for a few km with a fast 60km/h downhill. At the bottom of this downhill there's a road turning off to your left and then a long drag which isn't really a climb... it winds through a little kloof with a few steeper sections and then there's sharp right turn with the steepest section after that. About 1km later the road flattens on top and it feels like you're on top of never ender, but from this point it's up and down.... and that's what get to you at night... after every up, when hitting downhill you think you're over... until the next up.... there's about 7 up's and downs like this before you finally reach the final downhill, which becomes flatter towards Zuurbron. The final downhill had me 70km/h with the South Westerly gale. Some beacons to consider at this up and down section is frequent triangle road signs indicating sharp bends and passes (like a twisted arrow) A Farm house to your right, in one of these dips. When reaching this area, it's really almost there! Then 2 longer downhills, of which the second one is the longest with some loose gravel, climbing up on the other side of this downhill is the last climb before Zuurbron. Total distance from Kabeljous to turnoff from tar road near Heroncliff and back : 94km The road's fixed and in beautiful condition. It's been filled and excellent hard pack 80% of the way. The loose sandy sections coming up never ender are not there anymore. The loose rocks on downhills are all gone... the last climb just after checkpoint 7 looks steep, but the surface has been filled and there's no techinical stuff anymore, slightly sandy near the top... If it doesnt rain now... the last 50km of Trans will be on excellent surface...
Brighter-Lights Posted July 28, 2008 Author Posted July 28, 2008 The Steepest Section of Never Ender... only about 1km long before it flattens again.... Brighter-Lights2008-07-28 00:48:00
Brighter-Lights Posted July 28, 2008 Author Posted July 28, 2008 The last and final climb (also quite steep) of never ender before going all downhill to Zuurbron... perfect surface!
Brighter-Lights Posted July 28, 2008 Author Posted July 28, 2008 Checkpoint 7... This road has been fixed and is great!It's slightly sandy near the top. Looks steep, but it's a quick climb...
Brighter-Lights Posted July 28, 2008 Author Posted July 28, 2008 Climb after Checkpoint 7...top to bottom.... ...Brighter-Lights2008-07-28 01:03:43
Flea Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 Thanks for the feedback BL - here's hoping there is no rain...
Flea Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 Just looking at the photo's - everyone in arm warmers - is it cold? After 90km must have been late morning.
sampie Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 Never Ender's Ok, i'm worried about MAC. Didnt train nearly as much as last year.
Brighter-Lights Posted July 28, 2008 Author Posted July 28, 2008 It's was a beautiful morning, but we had a gale force South Westerly on our way back... actually so strong that a couple of us had front wheels washed out on straight sections... just blowing so strong from the side that you loose traction on the pebbles... Chance is 80% to have a South Westerly anyway.
Willehond Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 Wow, it actually looks nice in daylight! Pity you never get to enjoy the scenery on the TB...
HammerHed Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 Wow that looks like an awesome ride, beautiful scenery. Pity you have to ride it at night and miss all of that. I would love to do that ride but it must be seriously hardcore in one go.
Brighter-Lights Posted July 28, 2008 Author Posted July 28, 2008 It's beautiful! We did it during day to map the terrain in our heads... It's gonna be much easier at night now... like I said the worst is to never know if you're on top or not... I think I'm still gonna need a fast partner... Asked Wesley Augustyn but things are a bit unsure now... Anyone know about someone who's keen and would be able to do a Sub 10hr TB?
BigGuy Posted July 28, 2008 Posted July 28, 2008 I think I have been on this route before. My mother-in-law lives in Jay-bay. I was visiting for 3 weeks in Dec last year and took this Kabeljaus dirt track every afternoon, into Baviaanskloof. I did not go that far though, only about 70km roundtrip, but I remember the ups and downs very well. And the wind. At one point I was descending at 60km+, going around a bend, and a bakkie came up the hill. As the road was very quiet I was making the most of it around the bends. So was the bakkie. We ended up passing each other on the wrong side! Not sure who got the biggest fright! Also of note, the day before Xmas my pedal clipped a rock going downhill on the very same patch. Nastiest tumble I have had so far.
Velouria Posted July 29, 2008 Posted July 29, 2008 Lets hope the rain stays away - looks like we might be in for some good riding
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