Greyton Challenge - Stage 2

Day 2 started with a lucky draw where I actually won something for a change. The prize was an Argus hamper with loads of nice Argus branded goodies. The snow was gone, but somehow it felt colder than the day before. 3 start groups became 2 groups and we set off just after 8. I have somehow "lost" the big ring on my crankset and had to stop to try and fix the problem. My brother stopped as well to see if he could help out. 10 minutes later we were off again after some guides also stopped to give a hand. Now we were chasing the pack. We had a clean run in the first singletrack and started catching riders soon after entering the second section of single track. A short stint on the Riviersonderend road lead us to a farm road that lead to some fun sections of trail. This bit is all too familiar to riders that has done the Greyton Classic in June. The single track is established and on a good day priovides for very fast riding conditions. Today the trail was dry enough but stopping to repair my bike meant that we were now weaving our way through the back markers. Soon we were climbing to connect to the next section of single track and for some reason my brother dropped off. I waited up to see what was happening and as he passed me I realised that his rear shock has collapsed. We took it easy to the next water point where Sean managed to procure a shck pump. After a leisurly stop we carried on riding, but soon it was clear that the shock needed more than just a bit of air. We said our fair wells at the point where the return riders met up with the outgoing riders and I carried on by myself. About 10 kms on my front dereullier was playing up again and I realised that the gear cable was too damaged to try and repair. I was spinning on my small blade at 18 km/h while the riders from behind was passing at about double my speed. At the second water table we were served a very nice Shiraz and in keeping with the Challenge ethos I had a taste. A few tastings later I set off again spinning at 18 km/h. I carved through another section of newly cut trails to hook up with the trail network just East of Greyton again. By now my legs were feeling the effects of spinning light gears and I started to look forward to ending the ride. Soon we climbed our way back to Uitkyk Primary school where I crossed the finish line as one happy mountain biker. Note: Uitkyk Primary School was one of the main beneficiaries from the race proceeds. We learnt this weekend that the school with about 100 learners only received R26 000 from the state and that many households in the area cannot afford the school fees. Please consider sponsoring a child's school fees as education is the only sure way to ensure an equal playing field for all. Visit http://uitkykprimary.blogspot.com/ for more info or email the principal at uitkykprimary@gmail.com I will be in contact with the local mountainbiking community to see if there is an opportunity to arrange a mountain biking weekend in the area in aid of the school. Watch this space !

Greyton Challenge - Day 1

This weekend the inaugural Greyton Challenge was held in Greyton. While this is not a race (no official timing), it was fiercely competitive. A friend of mine once commented that all you need for a race are 2 mountain bikers. The drive to Greyton was cold and wet and it was clear that the trails, many of it virgin cut single track would take a beating in the next 2 days. The last rain shower fell at 7am and as we lined up for a chilly, muddy start at Uitkyk Primary school the skies miraculously cleared to reveal a thick blanket of snow on the mountains. The start chute was orginised in 3 batches, fast, medium and slow and we set off just after 8am with a meander through the back roads towards the Riviersonderend road where we lined up the first fun section of single track. Fast and flat and non technical meant that the flow was good and there was ample opportunity to pass slower riders throughout the trail. A few kilometres later we exited the trail and after a short stint on the gravel we were climbing a little kopje to the East of Greyton to link into the second single track section. This was even more fun than the first and with a few tighter turns and short dips and rises presented more of a challenge to some of the novices on the trail. The mood was pleasant and soon we were heading west towards Villiersdorp on the gravel. At this stage the mud was getting increasingly more prevalent and at places we had to pedal through ankle deep thick sludge that was draining the life out of everyone. At the second water point (I think the "town" is called Helderstroom) a make-shift bike wash was set up. A simpler solution would have been a few buckets with hand brushes in them to give your drive train a quick rinse and lube, but riders seemed to take the opportunity to deep clean the whole bike at the wash. I elected to rinse my bike with my water bottle and after a quick lube we set off again. We hit the third section of single track. Another well built section with some mild climbs and fun down-hill sections that would ride like a bob-sled track when dry. Another few kms of winding trail took us to Genadendal where we criss-crossed the town into the Riviersonderend Nature Reserve to hit the final and what turned out to be best section of single track of the weekend. Again fast and flowing, but with a few rocks and roots in-between to keep us all honest and tight little corners that had berms built up by the local trail builders to make sure that none of the speed carried into the corners were lost. I actually started to fatigue from the arm pumping and short hard pedal sections winding our way down the mountain and as soon as we levelled out I sat up a bit to let my legs recover. Another small climb took us to the Western outskirts of Greyton and soon we were sampling a complementary Castle Light, all caked in mud with only the whites of our eyes and teeth showing.