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.

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.