Mountain Bike Rides

Sani Spoors Drak Challenge MTB Ride -  Sat 21 January 2012
The Sani Spoors Drak Challenge MTB Ride is a 23km MTB single track ride that follows the Umzimkulu River along the course of the first day of the Global Trader Drak Challenge Canoe Race.

The ride will take place on Saturday, 21st January, 2012, starting at 11am, above Phoenix Nasty rapid (approx. 4km from the start of the Global Trader Drak Challenge). This ride will provide a wonderfully unique opportunity to ride alongside one of the most spectacular rivers in the country, traversing through unspoilt mountains, along some of the best single track on offer anywhere.
Queries: info@sanispoors.com
 
When & Where
- 21st January 2012
- Start is at Phoenix Nasty (Drak Gardens Road) at 11h00
- Finish is at Swartberg Road bridge, same as Drak Challenge Day 1

Registration & Entries
- Registration/entries are at Underberg School on Friday 2 – 9 pm, or at the start 9 – 10.30
- Entry fee is R90 per person
- Only for riders 16 yrs and older
- Race briefing at 10.45 at start

All riders will be required to sign a Sani Spoors indemnity form at registration / entry.
The entry fee includes a day license to ride the Sani Spoors tracks, giving the riders a further 20km of scenic river and forest single track to explore……

Route Description
The MTB ride will start above the Phoenix Nasty rapid, approximately 4km from the start of the Drak Challenge canoe race (or 18km along the Drak Gardens Rd from the Swartberg Bridge). After a speedy descent down the Phoenix track, riders will proceed 1.04 km, on the left bank of the Umzimkulu, in the shade of a wonderful Poplar avenue, taking in a unique view of Garden Castle to the right. After a small climb, a descent down the Orchid Valley road will lead to a log bridge crossing, where the riders will ride along the right hand bank of the river. After 2.08 Km along an Erragrostis field, some of the finest single track begins. A wonderful view of Mvuleni on the left hand side is amplified by the wonderful scent of wild mint and the shrill call of various Kingfisher species. After a short, steep descent of “Christie’s Clamber”, 3.83Km, there is a rock portage and a compulsory swimming hole, 4.12 Km. (Make sure that you heed the call of the pool!) From there, riders will be enthralled by the roar of the “Valley of a 1000 Rapids” and after a steep ascent, “Smiths Sense”, the infamous “Black Murray” will appear. At the 7.75Km mark, a portage across the confluence of the Mzimkulu and the Mzimude Rivers, sees the riders climb “Bonsma’s Brawl”, a short section, and ride out onto maize lands to the 10.61 Km, “Umzimkulu Swim”, a portage across the Umzimkulu River that takes one onto the Left bank again, where one will ride the magnificently manicured single tracks of Sani Spoors, that hug the river all the way to the end of the ride, at the Swartberg Road Bridge, a full 23 Km’s. As you ride, be sure to listen out for the call of the resident Fish Eagles and look out for the Ospreys one often sights, all the while taking in the scents of the indigenous plants that light the way.
Low River / High River start implications
In the event that the start of the Canoe race should be changed due to extremely low or high river conditions, the course for the MTB ride will remain the same.

Safety
The MTB ride will share the medical support provided for the GT Drak Challenge Canoe Race. This includes having Berg Protection paramedics , the local doctor and Riverview Hospital on call.
The MTB ride will not cross any public roads and therefore there is no Traffic Department involvement required, however the appropriate local authorities will be made aware of the event.
No marshalling will be provided except at the river crossing.
In the event of any emergency, the Drak Challenge Safety Officer should be contacted: Barry Cole on 082 6159709
No riders younger than 16 years of age may enter the ride.

Prizes
This is being positioned primarily as a ride rather than a race, however times will be taken and prizes will be awarded.