Way to much fun!

The 2009 Imvelo MTB Classic was a fantastic event and as some have said, there's no stopping Imvelo now!

The success of the event is certainly founded upon a brilliant route, actually, make that 3 awesome routes.

The 65km Classic is a wonderful example of free flowing cross country terrain with lung busting climbs being rewarded by wicked downhills. The single track features heavily in all the distances, but the maturing single track on the longest distance is what differentiates this race from others.

65kms will have you climbing over 1600m with the last 44kms providing 1307m - so it's a short distance compared to the ultra marathons out there now, but certainly no pushover.

the event itself attracted a capacity field of 500 with brilliant goodie bags up for grabs to each riders...the coup de grace was the tasty MTB cycling shirt given to the classic riders. Free! The usual trappings were there for the rest, T-Shirts, water bottles and for the first time, double tickets to the official House on Fire aft

er party - which was massive.

The times this year were quicker than last year, Andre Cordes clocked in at 3:18, several minutes quicker than last year.

Results are available here: http://www.biggameparks.org/newsfacts_events.html while photographs are also available on that page.

I have the route profile now:

Riding on Mlilwane certainly rewards those keen on exploring...gnarly singletrack is often optimised by random game sightings - adventure is to be had under the watchful gaze of Execution Rock, alongside the abandoned railway, in and out of tunnels...the fun goes on.

Mliwane Wildlife Sanctuary is famous for being an attractive destination for family fun seekers and while Conservation is the cornerstone to the Parks, interactive adventuring is fast becoming a reason to travel there. The most popular pastimes have always been the overnight horse trails but these excursions have now been joined by the overnight mountain bike trails which are proving to be extremely popular.

Single track is alive and kicking and rumour has it, there are more MTB events on the horizon in Swaziland...watch this space.

Cycling is a priority early in 2009 for Swaziland

Barely 3 weeks into the new year and already the wheels are turning, more quickly for some than for others. The inaugral Newcom Wheelz race held in Mafutseni on Sunday the 18th attracted a 70 strong field - pretty good for a newbie.
The Men's 80km event was snatched by William Kelly from Craig Randall, both saying the wind made for tricky riding.
Other accounts of the day suggested the overcast morning was ideal to get the legs moving. Linda Loffler came in second to Lesley Fitton in the elite ladies' category.

The Nhlangano race is also around the corner and wile it's a road race, it is one gaining popularity and proves to be a hotbed for contenders of future races.

Mud, Glorious Mud....or not.

Conrad has recently agreed to share his thoughts on mud and has posted below...

Mud has been a strange benchmarker for me over the years. From an exhiliratng medium to powerslide across the cricket field, to teetering on the brink of control in a vehicle on a slippery road. To public enemy number one.

There are of course a variety categories of mud to describe - recently damp gravel roads create brilliant "spray-on" decals those in Sandton, Pine Valley and the like would pay lots for - that's good mud. Even riding your MTB through that is ok, it's when the mud coagulates around the wheels, rendering the greatest invention on earth impotent. A wheel that can't turn. Eish. Added to that, the bike now needs to be carried as far as a water trough (poor cattle) or a tap or the like - but do that and notice how heavy mud is. On your shoulder. get home and realize how heavy it is on the pocket. Mud is abrasive and it destroys the best bikes, very little good can be said about this type of mud. Unless of course you are leaning agaisnt your bike watching the brave souls plunder on through tranches of thick mud, battling it out - bravely. And then uncermoniously being dumped. Then mud is good - its funny, but this again is not true for the soul who recently bonded with the wet earth. Also, this mud is good for your bike shop - they really rub their hands with glee everytime it rains on race day because that is when your logic is overruled by your raceface and you challenge the wet dirt.

Bliksem, it makes trail running and riding tricky - but if you are a forward thinker, berm up the mud or shape it into jumps in exactly the right sections and you'll reap the rewards of a lekker jump on packed earth when it all dries out.

Conrad - 36

A Clip of Mkhaya Game Reserve

While trawling the net of things to do in Swaziland, I cam across the following link which shows elephants cavorting about Mkhaya Game Reserve in Swaziland.

This Big Game Parks is full of conservation history, dealing with pioneering conservation from the obstacles and challenges, to the cohesion with the Monarchy and ultimately the reintroduction of 22 species and counting. Central to all this is the Reilly family who to this day play a key part in Swaziland's fabric. In fact, Ted Reilly was honoured at the recent extravagant 40-40 celebrations and is formally being recognized on the 17 September 2008.

In other stuff, the Swazi Frontier now has their website up and running www.theswazifrontier.sz which has prompted cold shivers all over and I am now again eyeballing hitting the hill climbs for training!

Swazi Frontier Looms

I am coming out of hibernating - indeed, it has been somewhat forced due to a knee injury. If pushed, I' admit I could ride quite comfortably, but running is an issue. ok, WAS an issue.

Clarisse has been to the doc several times and a new free wheel and BB later, she is purring along nicely...wait, that's not quite accurate. Her chain is a bit short (as is her temper) and as such, you have to coax her gently to change gears. Very temperamental indeed. Yes I know this humanisation of a bike is getting tiresome, but I believe this bike has tempers and moods - not a fan of winter, I think she misses the mud which is a painfully expensive taste. Anyone who has done any mud swamping would attest to this. Anyway, I am a mere rider and she is the medium.I carry on regardless though - I completed the Joe's Tubeless conversion and while the first ride I took her on was peachy, she deflated herself after a week and a half of no activity. Weird. I simply re-inflated and found she went just fine again. She did throw me off and I am sporting another bruised elbow, but that's another story.



This new post is the result of the realisation that the Swazi Frontier is approaching and I need to train. Good logic for sure. Anyway, I have taken to my favourite haunt, Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary and have started screaming my way around there. I have a morning ride of about 22kms which at this stage is taking me about an hour to do. It includes an optional dice with the Blesbok at the South Western section bordering the forest land. A great gradient allows a speed of around 50kms/hour which still sees the Blesbok sauntering along at a fairly agitated clip - but it's a rush nonetheless, especially if you imagine you are a lion or something chasing this animal. Imagine if Cheetahs could ride bikes?



I need to make mention of the dangers of assuming distances when running, but that's a blog for another day save to say you can confuse 7kms for 4kms and the result is a leap frog in fitness levels. Reverse futuristic psychology I call it.

The recent tease of rains in the Ezulwini Valley has chilled things down a bit after summer made a hasty appearence and warned of it's intense powers, but this cold snap has seen a few joggers lurching out as though taking a gap. Quite a few are on the roads, but many are hitting the trails at Mlilwane. My advice to them is to grab a Wild Card for free entry - particularly useful if you hit the trails on a regular basis. This card can be purchased at the Gables Shopping centre in Ezulwini, contact (00268) 416 3011.

Its exciting times, get out now and experience Swaziland in the wake of all the celebrations 40/40 and the Umhlanga Festivals, as she wakes up to a new summer with the green tinge subtly replacing the burnt vestiges of winter.

Chubeka Trails devoloping new excursion

This is great news for horse enthusiasts. Wait, it's good news for any adventure seeker - I am not mad about horses and fit squarely into the novice category even though I have recently been on an overnight trail. But the news is that a 4 day catered trail through Mlilwane north, through a community is being finalised with experienced trail blazers out as we speak. Fortunately there is a photographer along and images will be forthcoming.
This 4 day horse trail will augment the current product line of hourly trails and the popular overnight trail I experienced a little while ago.
Much of the terrain is "wild" in use by wild animals such as Impala, Kudu, Wildebeest etc. I can vouch for the fact that horse trailing is the best way to view game. It is my understanding that while it is easily accessible to locals, the trail's aim is to bring foreigners here.

Check back soon for details on this trail along with news on accommodation, animals spotted and other encounters

Good luck to Chubeka Trails.

Imvelo MTB Classic hits 400 entries

We were all warned...enter early to avoid disappointment, but whoever listens to those right? The organisers of Nedbank Swaziland's Imvelo MTB Classic turned away disbelieving and angry parents - with a courteous word and a slight sparkle, they have achieved quite a feat and the Imvelo race really has arrived.

The 400 or so lucky riders will enjoy pristine terrain, especially those tackling the 65km Classic mountainous trail - there is some overlapping with the shorter distances initially, but the smooth registration and starting times will allow for no congestion - well between races in any event. They will experience real Swaziland Singletrack that will appeal to anyone on a mountainbike and there is almost a gurantee that plenty antelope will be seen en-route. Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary hosts the MTB race and is a destination where trails and game create a wonderful playground for those intent on exploring mountain bike trails, hiking trails and their forte, horse trails. Enquire and you will discover numerous horse trailing options including over night trails, multiday trails to hourly trails.

That the Imvelo Mountain Bike Race has arrived is further underlined by the high quality of rider now arriving with a healthy split of MTB riders from Mozambique, South Africa and Swaziland - there is a small smattering of northern hemisphere riders thanks in part to the missionaries from the States and Europe. Regardless, some riders are approaching the Imvelo with a steely glint in their eyes, more focused than their last foray.

With the accepted fact that the Imvelo "has arrived" it has become a platform to raise awareness and indeed finances for a stricken local mountain bike rider, Bheki Mbingo who is currently in a critical condition with bleeding on the brain. A substantial prize is on offer as the raffle prize, a 6 night stay in Swaziland and this enticing raffle has attracted numerous ticket sales with all the proceeds going to Bheki. I wish the guy well.

7 June 2008 is around the corner, and with it comes a brilliant mountain bike race. I need to get some sleep and take on the beast in the morning.

Swaziland is a seriously fun playground.