MOUNTAIN BIKING: In Search of the Perfect Trail

inGEAR:

Words: Brett Coats ǀ Photos: www.showmenelspruit.co.za

trail in search of the perfect

Mountain bike racing for some is just a race, but for many it’s the lifestyle, gruelling climbs rewarded with endless vistas, twisty ribbons of dirt tracks and dangerous, rocky descents, all under big African skies.

Michael Docherthy in one of the MX 1 Moto's

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With the latter in mind, the organisers of the Lowveld Quest, which took place for the very first time from 10 to 13 April 2013, wanted to give the average weekend warrior an event where the purpose was not to get from A to B as fast as possible, but to give them the biggest variety of experiences along the way, while traversing some of South Africa’s previously undiscovered mountain bike gold.

Day 1

The Lowveld Quest saw 200 riders meet at Lydenburg High School, the first nugget to be unearthed on this voyage, where they enjoyed an incredible spread of food before the race started. Despite the early and chilly morning start, the atmosphere was warm and festive, with all the kids lining the sleepy streets to cheer the riders off. Heading south towards Mankele, the terrain started with high plains and long climbs up the back of the escarpment, with ever-expanding, jaw dropping views. From there, the geology took over and riders were treated to technical single track

out of the Magobalaan Nature Reserve, the first virgin mountain bike territory to be marauded. Onwards and downwards the trekkers pushed on over 80 km of trails, under big blue skies, before they were spat out at Mankele Mountain Biking. Once again, there was an endless supply of good food and copious back slapping, and wide-eyed war stories spewed forth.

The night, the Mark and Geoff show, ably directed by Brett, upheld the belief that riders were there to have fun, rag each other and cement traditions. The ‘Chop of the Day’ prize is sure to become a firm favorite, and is awarded to any rider who excels at stupidity in its many and hilarious forms.

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Day 2

The riders woke in anticipation of the great haul to Sabie, but the weather gods decided to throw an unseasonal curve ball and provided a steady drizzle that turned hard into soft, warm to cold and dry to wet. The one thing it didn’t do was dampen spirits.

The riders responded with determination and grit, and ground those big Sabie mountains into dust. They emerged from the aptly named Misty Valley at a wet 8 degrees, to slay some new forest single track before sliding into Merry Pebbles wet but victorious.

The Pebbles is a well-known Lowveld MTB haunt and with hot showers and full bellies, the day's suffering soon became a badge of honour. Once again Brett, Mark, Geoff and the ‘Chop’ entertained the riders, whilst the Big Shot Media boys displayed yet another stunning visual summary of the day's riding.

Day 3

The ride through to Graskop was on benchmark Sabie trails; still wet but drying forest climbs, sinuous single track, rooty, steep and slippery (like a politician’s excuse), but ultimately rewarding and exhilarating.

Some described this as the best day of mountain biking they had ever vanquished.

Beds were under slate or canvas and many chose the latter, as the prospect of the last day and the culmination of this amazing adventure - which no one wanted to end - loomed. The hall tables were soon littered with empties and the masseuse fingers were raw as the warriors headed for bed and the final onslaught.

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Day 4

A dry start was most welcome and with my stories of the ‘Three Varkies’ fresh in the riders' minds, they headed out on the final stage. On paper, it looked a breeze at 700 m up and 1,500 m down, but what they didn't expect was the portage and hard graft required to conquer the 'Pigs'. However, the payoff was immense. More virgin trails were slaughtered as the riders experienced views and sights that would even get Sir Richard Attenborough excited. And to end it all, there was 35 km of endless speed and railed corners as low down and dirty as the Lowveld gets, to the finish on the river banks at Induna Adventures.

After four days of tough riding and with over R100 000 of cash up for grabs, there were a few who left with much more than they had arrived with. But the top honours went to Max Knox and Ben Melt Swanepoel, who entertained the riders in their usual humble manner; exactly the type of anti–prima donna champions this race deserves!

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The organisers of this event had started out with the intention of showcasing a diversity of riding and providing chapter headings for a mountain bike adventure novel that would enable each individual rider to write his or her own story. They more than delivered and the event’s success was such that for most, this inaugural event will merely be the first in a series that fills an entire bookshelf.

So pack your camelbak, pull on those baggies, set your lockout to full open and get ready for the 2014 Lowveld Quest, because as the tag line says, 'Where wagon wheels once rolled, you gonna rock!” Too true! •

èRelated articles:

• Team Songo Rides for Burry (Digital article, April '13) • Inaugural Crown & Kloof MTB Race is a Hit (Digital article, March '13)

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