Two hundred and thirty kilometres in 24 hours was the extreme challenge several local mountainbikers took on in the annual Trans Baviaans last weekend.
Temporarily renamed Langs Baviaans, due to a route change days before, the team cycle race is the longest single-stage team mountain bike race in the world.
Teams start at 10am and ride through the night.
Two hundred and thirty kilometres in 24 hours was the extreme challenge several local mountainbikers took on in the annual Trans Baviaans last weekend.
Temporarily renamed Langs Baviaans, due to a route change days before, the team cycle race is the longest single-stage team mountain bike race in the world.
Teams start at 10am and ride through the night.
“Due to bad conditions in the Baviaanskloof we will be using the Groot-River alternative route for the 2011 Trans Baviaans,” the organisers told participants in an e-mail sent three days before the event.
Altogether, cyclists climbed 2 366m.
Six locals took part. Grahamstown Gallopers, Colin Meyer and Peter Britz, finished in 14 hours 36 minutes and 54 seconds. Meyer, who did last year's event, said the new route was much tougher than the old one.
Neil Currie, cycling with Port Elizabeth-based Michael Askew (team Red Cherry 2) finished in 15:22:45. An Ironman SA finisher, Currie called the race “the toughest endurance event I've ever done”, but said while it was hard, it was enjoyable.
Team Just 4 Kix, made up of Trevor Amos, Mattheus Louw and Brian Colloty, finished the ride in 20:26:04.
Dylan Weyer and Mandilakhe Fanga, of Grahamstown, were part of team Quest Africa, with Kevin Horwitz (Gauteng) and Craig Allen (Kenya).
They finished the ride in 21:30:22. Weyer said the ride was "hectic but fantastic". He said he hoped to be back next year and do it a lot quicker to be able to enjoy more of the scenery before nightfall.
Quest Africa is a company aimed at helping youngsters taking a gap year learn life skills and build character. Fanga, Horwitz and Allen are all 18 years old and all started cycling only this year.
Grahamstown results from the Trans Baviaans 230km mountain bike race:
173. Grahamstown Gallopers – Colin Meyer and Peter Britz 14:36:54
201. Red Cherry 2 – Neil Currie and Michael Askew 15:22:45
336. Just 4 Kix – Trevor Amos, Mattheus Louw and Brian Colloty 20:26:04
346. Quest Africa – Dylan Weyer, Kevin Horwitz, Mandilakhe Fanga and Craig Allen 21:30:22
