The Saints and Sinners Cycling Club is aiming for new heights with plans for its biggest event yet that will see riders saddle up in Grahamstown and go all the way down to sea level.
The Saints and Sinners Cycling Club is aiming for new heights with plans for its biggest event yet that will see riders saddle up in Grahamstown and go all the way down to sea level.
The Pennypinchers G2C (Grahamstown to Sea) mountain bike ride from Grahamstown to Port Alfred will cover a total distance of 58 kilometres.
Doug Cuppleditch, Saints and Sinners chairman, said the event will take place on the last day of the National Arts Festival, Sunday 7 July.
He said the organisers decided to fix the starting time at 8.30am to give riders from East London and Port Elizabeth enough time to get to Grahamstown.
“With good support from Port Elizabeth, East London, Port Alfred and Grahamstown mountain bikers, as well as those from other centres, we would like to incorporate the event into the annual National Arts Festival programme,” Cuppleditch said.
G2C will start from the Pennypinchers warehouse in the industrial area (Rautenbach Road), and finish at Rosehill Mall outside Port Alfred.
Although the event starts in the mountains and finishes at the coast, it won’t be downhill all the way.
“There are some mean, steep hills to climb en route, plus several fast downhill sections,” Cuppleditch warned.
Cyclists will begin their route, climbing to the top of Mountain Drive towards the Toposcope.
Then it’s downhill to Woest Hill on the Southwell Road, which becomes an undulating gravel road all the way to Port Alfred.
Other Saints and Sinners events that have become popular with local athletes are the monthly Woest Hill Handicap Series running through winter, and various training rides over weekends.
Pennypinchers have come on board as title sponsors for the G2C race while your favourite community newspaper, Grocott’s Mail, is the media sponsor.
The entry fee is R90 for online entries and R130 for late entries received.
Registration will take place at the race starting point on the day.
For more information phone Doug Cuppleditch on 082 900 1194 or Nicole Craig on 083 481 2981.
