Thank you for your interest in the Royal Drakensberg Mountain Bike Challenge.

We are planning a weekend of family fun in support of Royal Drakensberg Primary School. A number of events have been organized to accommodate all ability levels, as well as heaps of fun for spectators.

The Challenge is taking place on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th May 2010, at the All Out Adventure Centre in the Northern Drakensberg.

Saturday is going to be a full day with the following events:

• 40km Classic MTB Race
• 20km Intermediate MTB Race
• 10km Beginner MTB Fun Ride
• 15km Trail Run
• 15km Night Ride

On Sunday there will be a Mardi Gras themed Family Fun Ride to Alpine Heath for a festive Lunch. Prizes for the best dressed!

The schedule is as follows:

Saturday 15th

07h00 – 09h00

Registration (Registration for trail run closes at 08h00)

Cappuccinos and breakfast rolls on sale

08h00-14h00

Kids Zone Open

The Kids Zone is a child care facility where parents can drop their children off while they do the MTB race, or just relax with a cappuccino and a piece of cake knowing that the children are having fun. It is also a place for the young riders to have an awesome time before and after their ride.

There will be an enclosed area that will offer a number of activities, including our new Ninja Warrior course and dueling zip lines. There will be a jumping castle, arts and crafts, colouring, face painting, and all Kids Zone Kids will get a free bungee bounce or mini trapeze ticket.

The children will be supervised at all times. The parents will be required to register their children coming into the activity area. Parents may choose if the children can sign themselves in or out, or if they must stay until the parent comes to find them. Teaching staff from Royal Drakensberg Primary will be supervising the Kids Zone, so children will be in experienced hands!

There will be a nominal fee of R20 per child for entry into the Kids Zone, all of which will go towards Royal Drakensberg’s Fund raising efforts

08h30

15km Trail run

R50 per person

This run follows a spectacular route in the foothills of the Drakensberg, offering some fun boulder hopping, river crossings and hill scrambles. Runners will be inspired by the beautiful views of the Drakensberg’s Amphitheatre, and the Puterill’s stream in the valley below.

Mountain Bike Rides

09h30

40km Classic

R130 per person

This is a more technical trail with big climbs and awesome views! The trail starts in the All Out Adventure Forest and then crosses the road to access the quad trail down the “twisties” – a fast smooth meandering descent that takes riders down to the Canal trail, which meanders along level terrain beside the canal for several kilometers. A gradual climb around the soy bean fields brings riders to a short single track and onto 3kms of the most scenic tar road in the Berg. This stunning stretch is cut into the side of the mountain with the Tugela River far below. At this point you are riding directly towards the Amphitheater. You will need the inspiration from this awesome view to tackle the next climb…

From The Mont Aux Sources Hotel you Climb up a disused 4×4 track that fades into a single cattle path. This trail follows the ridge above the All Out Adventure Centre. The awesome panoramas of the Main Escarpment and the Little Berg make the climb worthwhile. This is followed by a long rutted downhill to Dutoits’ Cattle Farm. From there it’s a quick traverse of the fields to the tar that takes you up to Alpine Heath, where the 4km climb (from hell!) on concrete strips to the Drifters Camp begins. You then traverse the base of a long row of sandstone cliffs along a 4×4 trail. This is followed by a 3km technical downhill to Montusi Dam. The downhill continues past the Montusi Windmill and connects to the Waterfall Trail. This single track follows a contour track on the edge overlooking the Puterill’s Valley for 3km. then its time for another gradual 2km climb to the Montusi air strip. The trail rolls over the hill and down into the plush surrounds of the Wanhoop Valley. There is a bit of a climb out the valley to Lone Tree overlooking both the Puterill’s and Tugela Valleys

You then descend the Secret Pass to cross the Puterill’s stream. The 40K then follows the Tugela River all the way to the big weir. You now make a short climb through Mila’s Soya bean field to the contour trail connecting Hlalanathi and the Adventure Centre. The finish comes back through the Adventure Forest into the heart of the All Out Adventure Centre. This is an Epic Ride for most.

09h45

20km Intermediate

R90 per person

A fairly challenging ride from the Adventure Centre to Orion Mont aux Sources Hotel and Montusi Lodge and back with plenty of steady climbs that earn you stunning views of the Amphitheater. Like the 40k route, the 20k Trail starts in the All Out Adventure Forest and then crosses the road to access the quad trail down the “twisties” – a fast smooth meandering descent that takes riders down to the Canal trail, which meanders along level terrain beside the canal for several kilometers. A gradual climb around the soy bean fields brings riders to a short single track and onto 3kms of the most scenic tar road in the Berg. This stunning stretch is cut into the side of the mountain with the Tugela River far below. At this point you are riding directly towards the Amphitheater. You will need the inspiration from this awesome view to tackle the next climb.

From The Mont Aux Sources Hotel you Climb up a disused 4×4 track that fades into a single cattle path. This trail follows the ridge above the All Out Adventure Centre. The awesome panoramas of the Main Escarpment and the Little Berg make the climb worthwhile. This is followed by a long rutted downhill to Dutoits’ Cattle Farm. From where you cross the road you will find 4km of fast single track that follows the stream all the way to the short climb to the Montusi Mountain Lodge Wind Mill. After a short downhill you will ride on the edge of the bluff overlooking the Putterill’s Stream that connects with the Montusi Waterfall Trail.

The trail continues to hug the escarpment above the water fall cave until it drops down the secret pass to cross the Putterill’s Stream. You then meet up with the Quad Trail that leads you back to the All Out Adventure Centre

10h00

10km Beginner

R50 per person

This is a wonderfully achievable trail, with only a couple of hills to make you huff and puff. Most of the trail follows an established quad trails, so bumps are at a minimum and the terrain is gentle. The ride follows the same beginning as the 40 and 20k routes, through the Adventure centre forest and down the “twisties” to the Canal Trail. This trail meanders along level terrain beside the canal for several kilometers before starting the ascent back to the Adventure Centre through the soy bean fields and via the contour trail (single track) connecting Hlalanathi and the Adventure Centre.

Spectator Fun on Saturday:

Supervised Kids Zone – an enclosed area where parents can drop off their children. The children will be supervised and kept busy with a variety of activities (Art & Crafts, , Games, Jumping Castle, Ninja Warrior Course, Sit & Zip Relay etc. Children will need to be signed in and out by parents)

Open 08h00-14h00

Scalp massage – 20 minute scalp massages from the ladies at the Forest Retreat

Available 11h00 to 15h00

Lucky dip prizes – All riders gain automatic entry into the draw, and spectators may purchase tickets.

Prizes include weekends away, product hampers and gift vouchers

Pony rides – Led rides for children 10 & under

09h00-14h30

Adventure Centre Activities – Paintball, Zip Line, King Swing, Flying Trapeze, Bungee Bounce and Cable Tour will all be running as usual 09h00-16h30

Yummy Food

• Breakfast rolls (07h00-10h30)
• Wors rolls & Beer stall (10h30-15h00)
• Toasted Sandwiches, soups and wraps (09h00-16h30)
• Soft Drinks
• Cappuccinos, Coffee, Tea & Hot Chocolate
• Home Made Cakes & Eats – A selection of home made cakes and eats on sale to go along with your cappuccino

17h30 registration for 18h00 departure

15km Night ride

R50 per person

Route to be confirmed but the level will be an easy intermediate.

18h00 onwards

Bring & Braai at the Adventure Centre

The night ride is followed by a Bring and Braai at the Adventure Centre – Salad and rolls provided – bring along own meat and drinks.

Sunday 16th

09h30 registration for 10h30 departure

Family Fun Ride to Alpine Heath for a Festive Mardi Gras Lunch

R100 per person (includes R50 Mardi Gras lunch voucher)

Come dressed in the Mardi Gras theme – prizes for best dressed!

Depart from All Out Adventures on the Hlalanathi trail. Enjoy long downhills through the soy fields to the Canal trail. The lovely level Canal trail meanders along the valley floor for several kilometers, before a good climb to work up a lunch appetite. The route follows a well define cattle path along a gentle gradient, running parallel to the Alpine road. A last steep climb up the tar road to Alpine Heath ensures that you really are ready for lunch, and a cold margarita!

Spectators can purchase Mardi Gras lunch vouchers for R50

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Ride for Sponsorship

Participants wishing to assist with fund raising for Royal Drakensberg Primary may obtain sponsorship forms from Loretta Mecklenborg or Megan Bedingham Riders are encouraged to get friends and family to sponsor them to ride a particular event, and money raised will be donated to Royal Drakensberg Primary School.

Sponsorship monies may be paid directly into the school’s bank account.

The rider who raises the most money *will win a family weekend for 4 at the Cavern, including an morning at the Adventure Centre for 4 and a treatment at the Forest Retreat (Forest Retreat vouchers may be exchanged for a horse ride if preferred)

*Riders must raise a minimum of R1000 to qualify for this prize.

Royal Drakensberg Primary School

Royal Drakensberg Primary School aims to provide excellent foundation phase education for children of the Northern Drakensberg Community by cultivating a culture that embraces holistic educational practices and the best lessons of South Africa’s unique democracy.

The Royal Drakensberg Primary was established in 2007 in an effort to address the great need for good education in this area. The closest school of an acceptable standard is Bergville Primary, some 50km away. A school offering a high standard of education will go a long way to give children the necessary grounding to reach their full potential. A financial assistance program has been established to make the school accessible to children in the surrounding communities. Royal Drakensberg Primary now has 32 children from pre-school to Grade 3.

Running costs of the school are covered primarily through the fees and by fund raising initiatives. All proceeds from the Royal Drakensberg Mountain Bike Challenge will go directly to the school.

Visit www.royal-drakensberg.org.za for more information about the school.

For more information on the ride, call Chris on 072 386 1344 or email info {at} alloutadventures.co(.)za

This is a ROAG administered event. Please register online at www.roag.co.za

We look forward to seeing you on the 15th

Tags: mountain bike, trail profile