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...

Trail Running paradise

Swaziland was designed for trail running, it has some serious mountains, remote areas and plenty of tracks and trails. And if you search just a little bit - you'll find places like Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary where you can run to your heart's content.

Ngulube went on a burn around what is part of the Imvelo MTB route which took in the Rock of Execution, nyonyane and a few other peaks. All told, the climbing alone was in excess of 700m. On foot that's a fair bit, but the real pain is no free wheeling down. However, Ngulube is in training for the Swazi xtreme http://www.swazixtreme.co.sz/, for the sport event this year - should be a hoot, but tough.

Looking forward to the Imvelo MTB race! Apparantly all the accommodation is just about sold out - great for tourism.

More Single Track for the Imvelo

Just got this posting that there will be a bunch more new single track to play in during the Imvelo MTB race in Swaziland, check out this article:

More new single track for 7 June 2008

Words any mountain biking enthusiast loves to hear, and this is in addition to the already plentiful single-track from last year.

Ann Reilly, the 2008 course director, has alluded to the new single-track sections:
“We know the value of single-track to a mountain biker, however, we are also keenly aware of the potential bottlenecks that ensue after cutting in single track in the wrong places at the wrong time – so we have built this into what remains a largely unchanged route.”

Having traveled much of the course during the end of March 2008, it became abundantly clear why Nedbank Swaziland’s Imvelo MTB Classic is such a hit year in year out.

Not only are the distances suitable for a variety of abilities, but the terrain matches them too.
The Family 22km fun ride traverses predominantly flat plains taking in plentiful game viewing and vistas of distant mountains while the Challenge at 34kms rewards you with a wicked downhill. But of course, you will need to gain that elevation to earn the downhill. The classic is what good mountain biking is all about – plenty open, flat plains to get the lung and legs warmed before taking on several impressive climbs (of those distant mountains!) – spectacular scenery, varied terrain and a true physical challenge are all characteristics of a legendary race.

While working away at whichever distance you have chosen, allow a smile in acknowledgment that your entry fee is making a real difference in someone’s life – you will have contributed to an orphan getting a slightly better shot at life than if you were not riding. It’s a small fee for a community project, but many such races over time have contributed meaningfully to managed projects where community involvement is far more than lip service.

The race is gathering momentum so we anticipate entries being fully subscribed and a very real chance that we will not be taking entries the day of the race.
Enter NOW at www.imvelo.co.sz

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