Much has happened to technology during the short lifespan of this blog. I think Google swamped and took over blogger. But one thing remains, trailing in Swaziland is spectacular.
There have been a few more new MTB races organised:
The greatest MTB Race in the world: Imvelo MTB Classic (WAS on June 8th 2013) http://www.biggameparks.org/imvelo/
NgwenyaGlass MTB Race 6 July 2013 E270
Swazi Trac 3 Reserves 21 September 2013 E180
Inyatsi Nkonyeni 10 August 2013 E200
City to City date? Entry fee? E200
The Imvelo is so good because much of the race route is still available throughout the year, one simply needs to visit Mlilwane and with a Wild Card, this is free. Throw in affordable accommodation rates and your dirty MTB weekend is sorted.
What does seem to go hand in hand with decent MTB trails, though, is Trail Running. SA has seen this explosion and it won't be long until there is an event in Swaziland that will become popular with the Saffers. And who would be against this happening on Mlilwane??
They have a number of hiking trails leading from the Rest Camp up to Nyonyane Mountain, famed as having a great view of Sheba's Breasts and also for being the "Rock of Execution".
So it is here that I am attempting to break the shackles of hibernation and navigate my way through the trails, the most recent of which was the less than benign Hippo Trail. I incorporated that 6.6km trail into a regular trail which gave me over 300m ascent over 12.5kms. It also gave me a huge blister and legs that are still not speaking to me. Will see if I can find pics and route profiles.
Ngulube....
Wednesday, August 14, 2013
Friday, June 18, 2010
Imvelo 2010 was a blast!
word has it that the first weekend of June will again be race dates - probably 4th of June? People have already taken up plenty accommodation - and it is scarce at Mlilwane - amazing stuff.
There were no real changes in this year otherwise - Andre Cordes is still the undisputed Kinf of Imvelo - 3 consecutive wins as well as improving times. the field is still struggling to reign him in - he looks unbeatable. The Swazi contingent has shown vast improvement in both performance and numbers.
Many Swazis opted for the 65km ride owing to the cool free cycling shirts again - but along with the shirt comes a hell of a ride...and rumour has it - much training was done. Good all round, the sport grows!Some single track succumbed to gravity, much to the joy of many - what was once a hard slog scrambling uphill is now a tricky, speedy and exhilarating downhill - good move by all accounts.
The Hoglet distance was a huge hit - over 60 kiddies dragging their folks around the track - this is sure to stay on the calendar.
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the support for the sport is strong, with a number of sponsors eager to associate themselves with the event, not least the Swaziland Tourism Authority and Nandos - this is alongside the cycling short sponsors of last year as well as the big guns of Nedbank.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
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
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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.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
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
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
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
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!
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!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
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.
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.
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