Imvelo 2010 was a blast!

Nedbank Swaziland's Imvelo MTB Classic

firstly - the results are out: click here.

this was another excellent ride, fully subscribed with 3 weeks to go and the value of the race increasing year on year - wonder what will happen next year??

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.

Good news for cycling in Swaziland was the appearance of the newly formed association's president. Mandla Simelane spoke of the improvement of mountain biking in Swaziland and of the plans afoot to take the sport to as many as possible. imagine unearthing some talent in Swaziland!

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.

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!

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.

Swazi Xtreme, Horse Trails and Imvelo MTB Classic

A long time in coming, but lots has happened in this, the land of adventure. Ngulube has been doing a fair amount of off road running in the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, there really is no better place to run. For one, the roads are perfect so the terrain gets as challenging as you make it. Secondly, if you do not encounter any animals, remove your blindfold. Thirdly, with the Imvelo approaching you'll find funky bridges spanning gulleys and erosion ditches or dongas. If you need more reasons, there is the fully licensed bar at the main rest camp. One word of advice though, grab a Wild Card - you get free entry which quickly pays off the card fee.

The MTB trails in particular have been under maintenance and their grooming has produced hard pack single track in many places - a favourite would have to be on the should of Nyonyane, through the aloe garden, just before the hair raising descent!

Nonetheless, all this training culminated in the Swazi Xtreme where Ngulube's team recorded a finish. The highlight of this race was surely the remoteness and the genuine article as far as real rural people are concerned. Ngulube is quick to mention the gigantic mountains the locals inhabit and remembers one encounter where the team had to scale a huge gorge en-route to a school transition point at the top of the ridge. Back breaking work, sweat pouring and a wonderful achievement for the team...but little 5 and 6 year olds do that EVERY day, both up and then down again. Truly a different world.

A week prior to that, Ngulube experience an overnight horse trail, from Mlilwane Rest Camp right to and over Nyonyane mountain, incredible what the beautiful horses can do. The overnight was in a cave, completely catered for, wonderfully comfortable and an incredible experience to boot - on the list to do again.

Ngulube also the latest press release from the Imvelo organisers;

Closing in on 400 Entries! 2 weeks to go before Early Bird entries close! South Africa vs Wales Big Screen TV!

With just under a month to go to this year’s Nedbank Swaziland’s Imvelo MTB Classic, entries are at a record level which means the capacity of 400 (an increase from last year) will be achieved before race day. This means you need to get your entries in as soon as possible rather than risk leaving it to the last minute. Enter online at www.Imvelo.co.sz or Contact Reservations for options on +268 528 3943


Festivities of the day include a world-class mountain bike route and first class support from Nedbank Swaziland and our associated sponsors. Your heroic moments will be captured by Keith Fuller Photography and will also be displayed on the www.Imvelo.co.sz website after the race. For those with additional energy to expend, we have ordered in a Jumping Castle, we just ask that you give the kids a turn as well. As part of the community drive, four high school pupils have been selected to man the bike wash area – proceeds will go directly to these guys as they work to get themselves through school

The start/finish area will be abuzz with cyclists, hogs on the spit, beers flowing and general organized chaos, no doubt all characterized by silly grinning folk. As far as race souvenirs are concerned, in addition to your T-shirts, we have very unique medals we will be proudly presenting finishers of the 3 distances, and for those racers in the hunt for podium finishes, Ngwenya Glass has added their special brand of art to our race in the form of quality hand-crafted glass trophies, customized to record the day’s fun. For those who start with a bang and end perhaps with a whimper, Ngwenya Glass trophies will be up for grabs for the King of the Mountain as well as Queen of the Mountain, in addition, six more Ngwenya Glass Trophies will be up for grabs for the 1st 3 ladies home in the Classic distance as well as the first 3 positions in the Classic distance.

Due to popular demand, team entries are being accepted – this is for teams of 4 and the prize is awarded to the team with the lowest cumulative positions. The first team home scores R1000 cash prize! This category will be recognized with a minimum of 5 entered teams

An additional 50 T-Shirts have been ordered for sale and will be available at registration which is Friday the 6th of June (closing at 11pm) and on race day – please remember no entries will be accepted on the day, however, registration will be open where entered cyclists can pick up their race numbers and goodie bags.

For the die-hard rugby fans – a big screen TV will have center stage to present the Springboks vs Wales rugby test match, this auspicious occasion has been bolstered by rumours of a happy hour. Be there to find out.

A few things to remember:
Ø No Helmet No Ride (no exceptions)
Ø No Entries on the day (do not arrive on Saturday 7 June and expect to enter, no one will be available to process)
Ø Strictly 400 entries only, excess will be turned away and once capacity has been achieved, notification will be sent out.
Ø Late entries (after 26 May 2008 attract a penalty fee of R30)
Ø Come prepared for a fun day!

Brushcutter Brilliance

A miracle of modern times, the lowly brushcutter ought to be strapped to every mountainbiker should they encounter dense brush too tricky to navigate through. Luckily the folk at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary have such devices and even better, people who know how to wield them.


Single track cutting is most definitely underway in preparation for the Imvelo Mountain Bike Classic, 7 June, 2008. With the admin issues taken care of (Nedbank have ok'd the use of the proceeds from preceeding events for charity) the focus is undeniably on the creation of a brilliant race - a route that has top SA and Swazi MTB'ers excited.


Ngulube was out for some geocaching (two great caches at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary) and luckily had a bike in tow (Specialized Epic comp).

The park was on great form with a variety of animals making arrangements for the approaching winter, so it was good to see the kudus roaming, including one large guy with 3 turns in his horns. Also present were the funny Wildebeest along with the ubiquitous impala. A strange site was 3 warthogs huddled close to the main camp fire.

As far as riding is concerned, the Donga section looks like it could be a single track bike park, it's a mini grand canyon (the result of water blasting ages ago for tin mining) - so while the trail cuts through parts of this donga section, I had immense fun tracking the game trails over mounds, natural berms etc.

Further into the park, one can join the steep gravel road to the the sundowner spot which in wet weather is entirely impassable in any type of vehicle...regardless, it is a 30 min hard climb and a 10 min descent - it is a most worthwhile excursion.

I also managed to spy some of the track going through the Usuthu forest...there are some massive mountains to contend with and then there is the scorpion...will need to ride that and revert...

Dates for 2008 Nedbank Swaziland's Imvelo MTB Classic have been announced!

This is a great event to look forward to - some of the best riding available anywhere, and really is suitable for novices to MTB junkies. Great terrain and spectacular scenery - the classic is quite a lungbuster mind you...
I gather the entries are to be limited this year and I know acommodation is already being booked - so get in now and be there.
Newsflash! Newsflash! Newsflash! Newsflash!

Nedbank Swaziland confirms sponsorship of the 2008 Nedbank Swaziland’s Imvelo MTB Classic..

Enter Online NOW!!! http://www.biggameparks.org/entryform.html

Nedbank Swaziland has once again demonstrated their commitment to this fantastic event, which has drawn top Swazi and South African riders alike. Their commitment extends beyond pure MTB in Swaziland. The proceeds of this event go towards selected community projects and conservation.

Date: Saturday 7 June 2008
Distances: *
Classic 64kms
Challenge 35kms
Family 20kms

*Please note these are guidelines only and will be confirmed in due course.

Due to the overwhelming support this race receives and the delicate nature of the environment, race numbers will be limited to 400 this year.

Accommodation:
Please contact Big Game Parks Central Reservations office for bookings at Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. A great variety is offered, including beehives, rest camp huts, dorms, self-catering, camping and caravan sites within the Rest Camp, Sondzela Backpackers lodge including rondavels (2 Km from Rest Camp) and Reilly’s Rock Hilltop Lodge (3 Km from Rest Camp).

Winter Special Rates apply for two or more nights stay!!
(excluding camping)

Tel: (+268) 528 3943/4
Fax: (+268) 528 3924
reservations@biggameparks.org www.biggameparks.org

To get a taste of what’s in store as far as the race is concerned, click on the link below to read one rider’s tale…

PPST ... WANNA HEAR A SECRET - From the Bicycling magazine - PPST ... WANNA HEAR A SECRET - From the Bicycle magazine - Click here to download the article