Sedgefield to CT on Mtb's (gravel)

[City Cycling Athletic Club]

Last year City members rode back from the Knysna Oyster Festival and really had a enjoyable time.

This year we are going to ride back on gravel roads from Sedgefield. We are opening the trip to non City members so if you are interested in joining us for a memorable trip please pm me.

 <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Just in brief this is what we have planned so far:

Leave CT on Friday 3 July

Ride the mtb race on Saturday

Day 1.Leave for CT on Sunday 5 July, arrive and sleepover at Zingela Ndledla (game farm)

Day 2 ? sleep over at Riversdale (Oakdale Farm Cottages)

Day 3 ? Sleep over at Barrydale Hotel

Day 4 ? Sleep over in Montagu

Day 5 ? Sleep over at Nekkies

Day 6 ? Home

Please note , we will NOT be camping in tents.

 

The price of R2 800 includes your transport up to Sedgefield, all meals other than lunch on Saturday, your bike will be cleaned and lubed every day for you.

70% of the trip will be on gravel secondary roads.

City Cycling Club2009-03-26 12:40:53

[City Cycling Athletic Club]

my original post stated that we will be camping,  that is incorrect we will not be camping.

[City Cycling Athletic Club]

the mtb'ers in the club reckon that the distances per day are too long - only 2 days out of the 6 is under 100 kms. we have therefore still a few places open for non members.

anyone interested?

[City Cycling Athletic Club]

after lots of planning, its all systems GO for our trip back to CT after the Knysna mtb ride. we are also pleased to confirm that we will be cycling back to CT in aid of a charity/trust called FAITH (foetal alcohol syndrome). our trip will be reported in the local editions of the Burger and there will be a daily report on Radio Sonder Grense. 14 City CC members with a backup crew will begin the trip from Sedgefield and complete our 700 kms at the Willowbridge Mall. go to www.citycyclingclub.org for a preview of some of the overnight locations and route. 

[ccc2]

yes , we finished but i'm finished and my butt is finished. this was hard. you have to be mtn bike fit to ride 100+ k's a day on gravel. meandering thru the countryside also posed problems in that the road follows the sweep of the land and some very fast downhill always results in very steep climbs up out of the valley. on day 2 , Zingela to Riversdale via Herbertsdale , the switchbacks never stopped. doing this for 8 hours a day is not easy. the hardest day was day 4 from Barrydale to Montagu. we never stopped climbing after we left the reserve and had the added discomfort of a cold headwind. then it was a long, white knuckle, downhill into Montagu. another 8 hour + day for the butt. next year we'll do it again but(t) with some tweaks here and there to the route.

i will post a report and photos when i have recovered

 

ccc22009-07-12 12:50:37

[Guest Frail4Life]

Wellcome Home Gravellers

 

I hear you had some falls.

I pray everyone is OK.

I look forward to those pics

Welldone City

[ErikV]

This sounds awsome. Look forward to see the report and pics.

[ccc2]

Cycle 700 Report

There we were , Friday afternoon, ready to depart 10 minutes ahead of schedule and club member Butch ? BP Letchworth ? walks over to the kombi with a case of cold Energade. Thanks Butch, we savoured every drop.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

We had a 7.00pm appointment with the rest of the touring party at La Piazza in Sedgefield but this was thrown out a bit when we had a blowout between Mossel Bay and George. Quite scary. Conrad maneuvered the vehicle to the hard shoulder and we replaced the tyre within a reasonable time.

We all negotiated the Knysna Mtb races safely on the Saturday morning without no major falls or mechanical problems. Missed the Bokke getting a klap as it seems as if a lot of establishments are also feeling the pinch and cutting down on unnecessary costs. No DSTV at Myoli.

The Tour kicked in from Saturday night with a scrumptious meal prepared by Rita Koch.

We were all a bit nervous at the Grand Depart on Sunday morning . Family and friends wished us well as we bade our farewells to Sedgefield and headed towards the Vleie on our way to Wilderness. Robert, our youngest rider at 13 years decided to jump in the backup van as we discarded the warm clothing in preparation for our first test on the trip. I don?t know the name of the road, but it has a sign at the beginning and one at the end that says ?Map of Africa?, the steepest sections are13%, the average can?t be less than 10%. Enough said. Cyclists are tough.

 

It was a long day in the saddle that ended in a long ascent up to Zingela Game Lodge above the hills of Bonniedale (not Bonnievale). News filtered back from our advance party that the owner of Zingela had 3 cases of beer waiting for us.

The second day to Riversdale via Herbertsdale is a never ending series of switchbacks, some easy but many short  but steep. My memory of the day is of a numb bum and very steep climbs out of valleys and of a town that just wouldn?t appear on the horizon.

Day 3 was supposed to be the shortest day of 78 k?s but turned out to be the longest time wise, as we missed a turn somewhere along the road and ended up getting to Barrydale via the Tradouw Pass. We caught the end of the Tour on TV and Philip provided enough pasta to feed an army. I could of easily fallen asleep in front of the log fire in the dining room.

It all happened on Wednesday. Some rode the additional 28 k?s to Warmwaterberg Spa, including Jaco our  mechanic from CMC, the rest of us got ferried to the Spa in vehicles. A quick cup of coffee at the restaurant and then we headed towards the east gate of the Sanbona Games reserve to meet their head conservationist, Paul Vorster, as we were to be escorted through the reserve. Paul and his assistant gave a short lecture. and then took a few photos for their ?propaganda?. Our first fall, Kirsty?s front wheel gave way on a very rutted and rocky section and her  thumb swelled up immediately. We spotted a few rhino and eland but none of the big cats or giraffe. After we exited the reserve the fun and games started. Our backup went ahead to Montagu to drop off our gear and then headed back to support us. The road to the end of the mountain is long and straight and climbs steadily in a series of steps for about 30 k?s. A strong head wind didn?t make it easier. Oubergpass, from the top its 30 kms to Montagu, all downhill. You think it?s easy. Its fast, terrifying, exhilarating. Oh, and every now and then you get the whiff of something burning. Why does steel turn blue? You want the answers? Ride down Oubergpass.

2 Kms to our destination for the night we had a fall, which resulted in Gary and Steve having to withdraw from the rest of the trip as well.      

Thursday?s 90kms flew by as half of it was on tar. We were having our fotos taken by the local Worcester newspaper at 2.00 pm. That night we enjoyed a lekker big T bone steak.

We took the decision to call Conrad to ferry us to the foot of Bains Kloof thus cutting 50 kms off our 122 km trip to Bellville. We had a date with the Burger, sponsors and the organizers of FAITH who were receiving us at a restaurant in Durbanville. Tasted rain for the first time on the trip that delayed our arrival by half an hour.

Glad to be home.

In Summary: For this roadie, it was hard BUT the route was fantastic, if somewhat long and at times tedious. The scenery??I haven?t words to describe it, you?ve got to see it for yourself.

The food was excellent. Rita, in sometimes difficult and unfamiliar kitchens prepared a 3 course meal every day except for the Barrydale stopover. Fantastic. The vasbyt meals at lunch time were absolutely delicious.

We had our bikes cleaned, checked and lubed every day by Jaco of Cycle Maintenance Centre. They could not have received better attention. In fact no-one experienced any mechanical problems on the trip.