How does it work?
Team blogs are quite useful when small groups of people wish to contribute to a single blog. Basically, one person (Billy Teeton) initially creates the blog, then adds other people to it as members.
The Administrator (Billy Teeton) can edit all posts add and remove team members (and grant admin access), and modify the blog's settings and template. Non-admins can only create and edit their own posts.
So lets get started. Anything on your mind you'd like to share? Get going! Here's my post to get the ball rolling!
The excitement is growing, the days are flying past and riders and crew are preparing hard for this year’s great event from Middleburg to Port Elizabeth. 500km in 5 days on mountain bikes following gravel roads and jeep tracks across the Great Karoo raising funds for the EMMANUEL CHILDREN’S HOME - Middleburg, Cape.
To wet your appertite, read our 2011 Blog.
Trans Karoo MTB Tour 2011
The second Trans Karoo Cycle Tour 2011 enjoyed twice the number of participants compared to 2009 (the tour is held every two years), with an enthusiastic 36 cyclists of all ages and various levels taking part in the 500km five-day expedition through the panoramic Karoo. Kicking off at 08h30 at Woodridge Preparatory (40km outside of Port Elizabeth towards Van Stadens), organisers and cyclists sloshed their way through puddles of mud while packing and loading bikes and gear. The rain and gloomy weather forecast (snow!) for the impending five days did little to deter anyone’s mood, and the spirit of the tour was animated from the get-go.
And so, in true form to the Woodridge outdoor adventure mantra, everyone adopted the perspective that “Mud washes off; Memories last a lifetime.” The tour, aside from its aim to challenge cyclists of all ages and levels of experience to dig deep both physically and mentally, served to celebrate Woodridge Preparatory’s 75th anniversary. It is also a fundraiser, this year hoping to raise a total of R10 000 to donate to the Isithembiso Children’s Home – a safe haven for orphaned babies in Walmer, Port Elizabeth. The first night was spent at the Lord’s family’s Guest Farm, Marien , just north of Hofmeyr, where the ‘younger-blooded’ crew set up camp inside the neighbouring shed for shelter from the cold night ahead. Everyone gathered around the fire pit for the evening with a few bevvies and hot water bottles to get the temps up during the evening’s briefing.
The 2011 team was privileged to enjoy the experience of cyclists such as two-time Cape Epic winner (mixed category) Nico Fritzenmeir, Merrell cyclists Andrea Von Holt, Hilana Marais, Sanmarie Woeithe and Emil Houghard as well as South African track cyclist Brent Pfeiffer. This year’s tour attracted cyclists from around the country – Johannesburg, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and East London – as well as a few members from the Karoo itself, offering a rich knowledge base of alternative more demanding courses for the challenge-hungry. Thanks to Mike and Lesley Lord at Lords Guest Farm for their excellent hospitality on their beautiful farm. Day 1: Hofmeyr to Rocklyn, 6 August 2011 The first cycle day – totalling 130km - kicked off to a tough start with an icy morning temperature of 6 degrees (the maximum that day being 8). The goose-bumps and blue knuckles were rewarded however, with majestic snow-covered mountain views. The start of the tour was not without its few hiccups. From the logistical side, the brakes on the minibus froze. From the cycling side, the group had to conquer the steep gradient of the Uienhoek Pass, although the feedback afterwards indicated that it was as rewarding as it was challenging. Everyone was relieved to arrive at the first water stop at the top of the pass, although less comforting was the patches of snow on the ground. Thankfully, a road-side barn provided shelter and everyone clambered together to defrost before the second leg. The afternoon took a more leisurely turn, and while the snowy patches persisted for most of the afternoon, the ride through Golden Valley before Tarkastad with its golden grasslands illuminated in the late afternoon sun against a backdrop of blue and purple mountains, was simply breath-taking. The arrival at Rocklyn after the physically gruelling yet enriching 130km ride was a warm one (both in terms of hospitality and comfort!), and everyone was happy to curl up for the night next to the fire. Thanks must go to Dave Miller for opening his lovely, spacious home on Rocklyn to the group, as well to Liesa King for her superb catering for the first two days of the trip. Thanks also to Warren Horne for setting up piping hot mobile showers!
Day 2: Blanco to Skelmkloof in the Baviaans River Conservancy, August 2011 80km – Easy day! Humph!!! The lawn flanking the Rocklyn farmhouse on the second day of the tour was white with frost, and the tyres and seats of every bicycle were encrusted with icicles. But, the weather was warm and sunny, as was everyone’s mood in anticipation for the cycle ahead. Before long everyone and everything had thawed out nicely and was ready to make the 80km journey towards Skelmkloof in the Baviaans River Conservancy. The ride itself got off to a beautiful start winding through the picturesque Spring Valley along a flowing river amidst a riot of gorgeous winter colours, weaving through tunnels of bare spindly Poplar trees. It was an ethereal start to the day. Hilana Marais took a smaller group of six more experienced riders on a more technical route, but the rougher terrain proved all the more worthwhile as it took them through breath-taking mountain scenery flanked by riverbeds. But the climb to the top of the Winterberg proved to be the test of the tour thus far. Skelmkloof farm had experienced the heaviest rains it’s had since 1974 which had left slushy, muddy ruts in its wake. For the bikes, the final 7km climb proved bumpy, but manageable, but for the vehicles, it proved slow and frustrating. Thankfully, Warren Horne, owner of Advanced Irrigations, saved the day, pulling vehicle after vehicle out of the muddy mess. The arrival at Skelmkloof – the beautiful farm of Francois and Hilda Marais, with a unique indigenous garden – had everyone feeling right at home, and drivers and cyclists alike kicked off their mud-spattered clothes and shoes to bask in the late afternoon sun over cups of noodles. Thanks must go the Marais family for giving up their farming time to assist with everything from fetching extra diesel to finding space for all of us to have a cosy sleep, to cooking a delicious home cooked meal till every belly was comfortably full. We cannot express enough gratitude to them for opening their home to us.
Day 3: Skelmkloof to Somerset East, 8 August 2011 Everyone bid a fond farewell to the Marais family at Skelmkloof Farm that morning to begin the 85km-ride towards Somerset East. It would prove to be another challenging day, with 1600-metres of climbing ahead. The route involved crossing numerous bridges over the fast, freezing Baviaans River, as well as navigating the bikes along the treacherous rock precipices that border the Baviaans River Conservancy. Once again, the ladies were pillars of support at the strategically-placed water points, the first of which was at the De Klerksdal farm, armed with words of encouragement and energising jellies and sandwiches. The afternoon route took on a northern ascent of the Bosberg and with it, a challenging 16km climb. It also meant witnessing a dramatic change in the landscape as we moved away from the northern thorn-veld terrain towards the vast mountain grasslands characteristic of the southern area of the Karoo. The cyclists were rewarded with sweeping views - north to the Winterberg and south towards the Zuurberg, as well as the magnificent southern slops of the Bosberg, rich in thick indigenous forest After the morning’s uphill work, the group relished the exhilarating 20km ride downhill into Somerset East for a night in the Somerset East Family Church. Thanks to Suzette and Hennie Liebenberg from the Somerset East Family Church for opening your doors to us for the night and allowing us to make use of your excellent facilities.
Day 4: Somerset East to Zuurberg, 9 August 2011 The morning of the 100km-ride to Zuurberg had a few surprises in store – firstly, it was cold… much colder than anticipated after two almost balmy winter days. Secondly, it involved a few push starts – one or two for a few sluggish morning riders, and another group effort to get the minibus on the move after digging its wheels in after a night out in the cold. The first waterpoint at 48km, saw the farmer kindly inviting us in to use his barn, shelter from the cold and occasional drizzle. Thank you to the farmer at Beenleegte. But once on the road, everything ticked like clockwork. By the second water stop at Ann’s Villa – now a charming blacksmith’s museum – everyone was in the zone to gun the final leg. The final 27km climb from the north over the Zuurberg is a great climb. Winding its way up from dry semi desert Karoo to a scenery of big valleys, ridges that roll on for miles and the purple Heather beginning to show. The drizzle soon gave way to a lovely evening as the riders came in small groups winding their way up to the resort. The arrival at the Zuurberg Church Campsite, with a glorious view over undulating green hills towards Addo, was an undisputable highlight, and everyone settled into quaint wooden cottage-like rooms before heading over the road to the Zuurberg Hotel Pub –something of an institution in the area – for a few dinkies of port and sherry next to a roaring fire. Everyone then tucked into a delicious three-course meal, courtesy of the Zuurberg Hotel. The final evening of the tour closed with a fascinating presentation by professional triathlete Nico Fritzenmeir on his personal experience of nutritional requirements as an athlete. Two shirts were then auctioned, fetching a commendable RXXXX for the Isithembiso Children’s Home Thanks must go to Annekie from the Zuurberg Church Resort as well as Henri Allant and the staff at the Zuurberg Hotel for catering for our final meal.
DAY 5: Zuurberg to Woodridge, 10 August 2011 The final 110km left everyone feeling tremendously proud and undoubtedly, exhilarated, signified by whooping punches in the air as they rode through the Woodridge Prep gates after a breezy ride past the Addo Elephant National Park past elephants, blesbok , kudu and zebra. We’ll be including testimonials of some of the riders and publishing a full list of all those we’d like to thank for their contributions and support of this, the 2nd Trans Karoo. We’ll also be updating you via this blog, on the money raised for the Woodridge Prep 75th / Isithembiso project.
Congratulations must go to Hilana Marais and Andrea Von Holt of the Merrill Team, for achieving a support 2nd in the Ladies Team event of the Trans Baviaans 2011. What a race it was!
Thanks also to mechanics Brent and Terry as well as sports therapists Hilana Marais and Tim Ellerbeck for keeping everyone in physical ship-shape throughout the tour.
Thanks to Alex Westcott for writing a superb account of the 2011 tour.
