GABRAN 2009

[Veloce]

So this weekend was the GABRAN (Great Annual Bicycle Ride Across Natal) and what an event it was!! I did it on a tandem with another hubber as he had torn 2 collarbone ligaments and could not ride a bike on his ace. What a blast!! We could only do the 2 day event starting at Wagendrift dam to Midmar (90km) and then from Midmar to Hillcrest (90km) as leave was a bit of an issue for us. The official start of the 3 day event is at Little Switzerland, down Oliviershoek pass and on to Wagendift dam (120km).

 

The whole point of this ride is to have fun and see how many beer stops you can make, especially on day 2 with quite a few pubs being on the Midlands Meander route. The best stop had to have been at the Bierfassel, we all descended upon this unsuspecting little pub and made a whole lot of noise.  Every time a group of cyclists rode by (whether they were part of the GABRAN or not) the entire place erupted in a synchronised "HEEEEEEEEYYYY" ordering them to pull over and join in!! WHAT FUN it was!!

 

And then there was the food! Every meal was prepared for you, so you just pitch and eat ala Sani2C. The quality of the meals was second to none, I am truly impressed at what the little "kitchen" team  was able to achieve under difficult circumstances in order to feed a horde of hungry cyclists. 

 

The vibe on this ride was out of this world, everyone was so chilled and were joking along the way. We bumped into Adele Tait from Ride Magazine and true to her reputation she is such a friendly person!!

 

This was 2 days (next year all 3) of cycling bliss, Thank you Dave Geoghegan for organising a successful GABRAN 2009!!

Veloce2009-05-18 11:44:39

[DaLoCo]

Ah bugger, I had an invite from a wealthy friend, all inclusive.......idiot me, idiot me!!!!!!!

[rich_mark]

Veloce, thanks again for being pilot. I'm just glad to be on a bike again. Could not have done it without you.

 

[andrewbell]

Lucky bastards.  Glad that you had fun.  Hey Rich, how is the arm doing? is three weeks still to short a space of time??

[Scooterza]

Yes - awesome ride and the weather played nice too!  The min temp this year was about 10 degrees vs 5 or 6 in years gone by! 

 

I was just thinking of a modification to the route I might suggest to Dave - start at Clarens and day 1 would be Clarens to Spioenkop Dam.  I think this distance would be manageable and would give you a ride through Golden Gate!  How awesome would that be! 

 

The ISSUE would then be day 2 - already 120km.  To get from Spioenkop Dam to Little Switzerland is about 20km so that would mean day 2 would be 140km.  That is quite some hectic distance on a pretty rough route.  But on the other hand, the extra 20k's are mostly downhill so maybe not a MAJOR issue. 

 

Then day 3 is Wagendrift to Midmar. 

 

That way you avoid riding through Pietermaritzburt which I think is pretty k&k.  It is a pity that it would cut out the section through valley of a thousand hills but still, you add other lovely parts to the ride.  Also safer with fewer cars as I found that as we got closer to DBN, the higher number of cars, trucks etc resulted in more "close shaves". 

 

[Veloce]

Yo rich mark, anytime bud. That tandem was a blast!!

 

Scooterza - I agree with you about the traffic getting a bit heavy as you approach Durban however it won't be easy trying to get your idea past 20 odd years of tradition. Riding through Golden Gate, now that would be fantastic!!

[Madala]

Hi

 

Dave did organise an event through Golden Gate a few years back. Might have been called the Golden Gate Getaway - can't remember all the details but think it started in Bethlehem and went through Fouriesburg and Clarens to the overnight in Golden Gate. Then on to another overnight at Rugged Glen campsite near Royal Natal at the bottom of Oliviershoek Pass. Then on to Winterton. Think it finished there. Great event but very cold when I did it.

 

If you want another great ride try the "Grape Escape" just before the Argus. Wine farm to wine farm with some good wine tasting along the way. Think this is being run every second year now. See www.funafrica.co.za

 

 

 

 

 

[bobbie]

Veloce' date=' thanks again for being pilot. I'm just glad to be on a bike again. Could not have done it without you.
[/quote']

 

 

Geez, after your last cycling experience with Veloce, I am most impressed at your bravery of riding on a tandem with him...shew!!

 

 

 

[Veloce]

Veloce' date=' thanks again for being pilot. I'm just glad to be on a bike again. Could not have done it without you.
[/quote']

 

 

Geez, after your last cycling experience with Veloce, I am most impressed at your bravery of riding on a tandem with him...shew!!

 

 

 

 

Ahum, collarbone fracturing and TREE HUGGING are actions performed due to the offenders own free will to ride and have nothing to do with being accompanied by me.  

[bobbie]

Veloce' date=' thanks again for being pilot. I'm just glad to be on a bike again. Could not have done it without you.
[/quote']

 

Geez, after your last cycling experience with Veloce, I am most impressed at your bravery of riding on a tandem with him...shew!!

 

 

 

Ahum, collarbone fracturing and TREE HUGGING are actions performed due to the offenders own free will to ride and have nothing to do with being accompanied by me.  

 

 

just peculiar that seconds before these incidents happen, you suddenly shout out something thus distracting us....

the karkloof classic is a perfect example - though the revenge was sweet...how is your knee??....

 

 

[rich_mark]

It would be nice to blame someone, but alas, it was all me. I've been saying for a while now, the next time I fall, I'm going to do it good and proper.

 

Tandem riding is a blast. You just have to trust the oke on the front, and as I could not hold the bars for too long, guess who was stoker. < name="Generator" ="Microsoft Word 12">< name="Originator" ="Microsoft Word 12"><>

Veloce as a first timer on a tandem, and as pilot, did a

fantastic job.

 

 

 

There was always a small risk of falling, in which case it would have been, do not pass go, do not collect 200 rand...

 

[bobbie]

It would be nice to blame someone' date=' but alas, it was all me. I've been saying for a while now, the next time I fall, I'm going to do it good and proper.

Tandem riding is a blast. You just have to trust the oke on the front, and as I could not hold the bars for too long, guess who was stoker. < name="Generator" ="Microsoft Word 12">< name="Originator" ="Microsoft Word 12"><> Veloce as a first timer on a tandem, and as pilot, did a fantastic job.

There was always a small risk of falling, in which case it would have been, do not pass go, do not collect 200 rand...
[/quote']

 

 

 

ok ok rich-mark   if you say so..  (i'll hang on to my theory though)

[MandyTre]

For those of you who do the GABRAN - just to let you know, Dave Geoghegan passed away this last week-end.

[Scooterza]

Hey guys!  How did this happen?  Dave seemed in good health!

[MandyTre]

He had a heart attack while out riding. By the time he got to a hospital the damage was done. He died a few days later at home.

[rich_mark]

Met Dave at GABRAN, sad to hear he has passed. My condolences to the family.