Hi Nic,
I must say that countless times, myself and Chris commented on how awesome the route was. The jeep tracks were great, with awesome views and gradual climbs, and the district roads were so much fun, as much as district roads can be fun. They were sweeping with nicely balanced dips and rises, resulting in nice flowing riding and again fantastic views. The single track was surprising and refreshing when it came and the surrounding flora and fauna with flowing rivers was simply awesome. What I liked about the sections of single track was that it seemed to be well spaced out. Every section of single track saw us letting out whoops and whistles as we shot through awesome flowing trails.
All in all we had a fantastic time, and the food and facilities at the end was top class. I would be more then happy to help promote your venue and race and I believe that you have a very well structured event, that I am sure is going to grow hugely in forthcoming races.
Well done to you and all those involved, it was a great success in our eyes and you definitely have our support!
Cheers,
Jason
Giba Gorge
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The Golovane X-plore 2009 was the premier of an 85km “explore” MTB race organized by the Hill2Hill events team and a course designed by a group of Ballito Sugar Cane farmers. The race offered some difference being a “team race” and revealed a purposely, partially marked course. The two man team system provided a great opportunity for partners to gather some experience for the up-and-coming Subaru Sani2c, which takes place at the end of this month.
The partial course marking included very well structured use of ‘lime’, no marshals on glide off roads & no bunting tape until the finish area . Riders with Garmin GPS devices, had an advantage as they were able to download the 85km route onto their GPS & hone in on their navigational skills, even though the lime marking was certainly substantial guidance.
Leigh Durham of Leigh’s Cycle Centre offered me an opportunity to do the ride with him, as he embarks on his last few preparation weeks before the Cape Epic. I was only to happy to accept an entry to the inaugural Golovane X-plore.
The day began with a choice of start time, between 6:30am-7:30am. Leigh was keen to start early, and so to was 90% of the field. The race started on a flat stretch of cane dirt roads with the occasional rut to keep our attention going. After the first few Km’s the course began to ascend and it seemed to continue to do so for the following 30km. After a tough climb, our legs received a slight break with a fun, steep loose-rock downhill. Blessed to a super clear day, we were able to see for miles across the northern KZN escarpment. Some amazing sights!
The halfway stop also offered a fun and interesting difference. Riders were informed that only water would be supplied on the route, but were given the opportunity to support the local communities and the local “Spaza” shop. Following the stop, we rode through some pristine indigenous forest single track on a private farm which land owners kindly offered access to for the event. The shady forest was most welcomed as temperatures were rising above 28 degrees by the early hours of 9:45am.
The ride back to the finish included some rolling sugar-cane road hills, with a few more sections of natural single track... All-round a great new event, offering the cycling community a nice change to the norm.
MIKE SMITH
TEAM SUBARU MEDIA LIASON
23 WALTERS ROAD
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WOW !
What an awsome ride, The conditions were absolutely perfect, the venue was breathtaking.
We started on a warm summer morning, the registration process was painless, as was the start of the race, they used a new timing mechanism were each team was scanned as they went through the start gate, although it seemed time consuming, at least you all get individual start times, this was great as it gave the guys starting at the back the opportunity to contest the overall win.
The first part of the ride was very tough! Climbing climbing and more climbing at one stage i was doing 4 km hr!! After the second water station the fun started, there were some seriously fast downhill sections, my top speed for the day was 63 km hr!! The single track was fantastic, traversing the sugar cane, winding through forests, crossing rivers, and then a banana plantation? Got slapped in the face a few times by low hanging banana leaves, Go figure?
I highly recommend this ride to anyone, without a doubt one of the best value for money MTB rides in KZN. The best part of the ride for me was afterwards, sitting under the shade of the trees around the Collisheen farm house, enjoying the huge spread the race organisers had put on, the food was awesome and i think for everyone who had been out there for most of the morning, it went down really well,
Well done Nic, Wayne, Tim & Andrew. I will definitely be back next year.
http://cyclelabonline.co.za/
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Thank you guys, for putting together a really great event. The course was tough (just what we needed for Sani2c training), but awesome. I've ridden in some of those areas, but I never even suspected all those awesome bush trails ! What a well kept secret that was! Without a doubt , I'll be signing up for the Holla Trails and cant wait to get going!
Well Done!
Kevin Maguire
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Hello Tim
Thanks again for getting us all together.
Richard Downey
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Tim
Thanks for an awesome ride yesterday. Cannot wait for the Hola trails to open. Any ide when the results will be on the website?
Thanks
Andrew Kenny
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Good afternoon Tim
Thanks for a great race on Sunday. The route offered a bit of everything and the single track was stunning! The route marking was good and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Oh, and the open start worked well for us, quite a novel idea!
Where/when will you have results available?
Kind regards
DR. E.C. POOLMAN
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Hi tim
Thanks for awesome race yesterday - thoroughly enjoyed it.
Just wanted to find out if you are going to post results on the website?
Thanks, take care.
Kind Regards
Gillian Marnewick
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Good one guys – thanks for the opportunity to ride such an awesome course – hopefully there will be many more in the future !
Great venue , good organization and relaxed atmosphere –( staggered start worked really well!
Holla Mountain Bike trails is on to good thing here and I am sure it will be a great success !
Thanks
Cheers
Greg Philps
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Great event guys well done . Good relaxed – yet competitive atmosphere and great track.
Shaun Platford
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HI Guys
Many thanks for a great race. It was certainly a great wake up call for the Sani fitness status.
A really challenging and interesting course with some awesome single track.
Well done.
See you next year.
Regards
Bryn Elliot
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Thanks to you guys for putting a splendid event together. It had a nice relaxed feel about it, and it was nice to have a split field from the word go. We riders are indebted to people like yourselves who are committed to putting races and events together. You don’t receive enough recognition or thanks, so from our part, sincere appreciation and thanks.
Why not put the rider names in the results, not just team names?
Re your Holla Trails initiative: will it be possible to pay a day fee, for people who live far away and will not use the facility that often?
With thanks
Roy Cackett and Roy McGladdery
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Thanks guys ..
The event was awesome we will see you at the next event
regards
Dave / Pain (always cramp in the thighs)
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Thank you for putting together a fantastic event yesterday! What an awesome ride and refreshing not to have goodie bags, marshalls, prize giving and all that jazz, the emphasis was back on getting on your bicycle without the fuss. Well done!
Regards,
Renée
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Hello Guys
WELL DONE on a brilliant event! The climbs were tough but so rewarding with the spectacular views of the Valleys below. I found the route markings very good considering there weren't going to be any. Riding with the Garmin and using that was fun, maybe one day we can have a race purely on GPS...
Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Janine Baxter
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Hi Nic and Tim,
Thank you for an amazing Event.
After all the monotonous long training rides I have been doing for Sani, this ride just topped the list on my riding calendar!! The views, climbs and exhilarating decent’s will be spoken about for many weeks!!
I have to say the single track after all the climbing was truly spectacular. It makes you just want to turn around and go and do it all over again, no matter how tired your legs are feeling!!
Finishing at the beautiful shaded venue with nice clean showers and a delicious hot lunch was fantastic!
I really can’t wait for the Hola Trails to kick off!!
Congrats to your team for putting this Memorable event together!!
Kind regards
Jackie Wolhuter
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Hi Tim and team
Thanks for a really great event. You guys really have put in a lot of work with some of those awesome trails. Well done!
I really hope you guys keep plain and simple like this for next year, no medals, no t-shirts no fuss etc etc and reasonably priced entry. I hope you don’t fall into the trap like the rest of the race organizers who put up a good event and then just continue to load the entry price because they know they have a good thing.
Anyway, enough about that. Well done again for a great event, I definitely will be back next year to ride again.
I know you had the Hola trails info up on Sunday, but can you give it to me again as I would like to register
Kind regards,
Shane Harrison
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