NEXT EVENT:
The Great Karoo Gravenduro Invitational
5 days and 505km
25th October 2020
5 days and 505km
25th October 2020
We have handpicked a team of intrepid "gravelista's" to test the concept of the multi-day Gravenduro. It will consist of 5 gruelling days on gravel bikes through the Karoo Heartland, starting on the banks of the Orange River, traversing vast stretches of Karoo gravel back roads and passing through towns such as Cradock, Somerset East, Graaff Reinet, Nieu Bethesda and Middelburg.
On the night of the 25th of October 2020 the riders will assemble, readying themselves for dawn, when the great adventure begins. Support vehicles and water-points will be provided, accommodation will be in recognised establishments. The daylight hours will be an immersive experience across barren wastelands, mountain passes and river valleys.
The terrain will undoubtedly be the domain of the gravel bike - drop bars, stiff frame, big chainring.
On the night of the 25th of October 2020 the riders will assemble, readying themselves for dawn, when the great adventure begins. Support vehicles and water-points will be provided, accommodation will be in recognised establishments. The daylight hours will be an immersive experience across barren wastelands, mountain passes and river valleys.
The terrain will undoubtedly be the domain of the gravel bike - drop bars, stiff frame, big chainring.
Countdown to start:
What is a Gravenduro?
Gravenduro is a social form of gravel racing that's a whole lot of fun. Not too much fuss, self-supported to a degree, lots of great gravel and rideable track routes. Beer at the end will be an important ingredient. Four disciplines, a gravel climb, a tar time trial, a gravel endurance test and a section of single track or technical terrrain will be timed along the route. You can wait for your mates at the end of each racing sector and enjoy the ride together until the next timed sector.
Gravenduro is a social form of gravel racing that's a whole lot of fun. Not too much fuss, self-supported to a degree, lots of great gravel and rideable track routes. Beer at the end will be an important ingredient. Four disciplines, a gravel climb, a tar time trial, a gravel endurance test and a section of single track or technical terrrain will be timed along the route. You can wait for your mates at the end of each racing sector and enjoy the ride together until the next timed sector.
Gravel bikes have opened up a new form of riding, that involves fairly mixed terrain. The average ride can involve, tar, gravel roads, fire roads , jeep tracks, prepared single track and of course in South Africa the occasional "skaap paadjie". Gravel bike racing is not a UCI category and is therefore fairly informal as far as race rules are concerned. Organisers outline the rules of the race themselves and it is usually less draconian than the likes of racing in an internationally recognised cycling category.
With this in mind, and taking into account the exorbitant costs involved in running a fully supported cycling race, the Gravenduro is aimed at somewhere between that and a social ride with your mates. You can compete and still socialise while doing it, it makes the competing that much more fun. We plan to host single day and multiple day Gravenduros in interesting and remote places.
