Withdrawals this year forced a postponement to 2023 - dates will be announced in November 2022
Minimum 16 riders - Maximum 36.
Minimum 16 riders - Maximum 36.
Endure your character? you ask. - There'll be moments of jubilance and moments of a little physical suffering. After all, what's life without a few "war stories"? Every group has a character, and then of course there is your own.
The locals of this area of South Africa call it - "The Karoo Heartland"
The daylight hours will be an immersive experience across barren wastelands, mountain passes and river valleys interspersed with racing segments of different disciplines.
The terrain is undoubtedly the domain of the gravel bike - drop bars, stiff frame, big chainring.
Mountain bikes are welcome if you feel a plush ride is more important.
e-bikes are also welcome to come along on the adventure.
The evenings are a social affair, great food and excellent accommodation.
The locals of this area of South Africa call it - "The Karoo Heartland"
The daylight hours will be an immersive experience across barren wastelands, mountain passes and river valleys interspersed with racing segments of different disciplines.
The terrain is undoubtedly the domain of the gravel bike - drop bars, stiff frame, big chainring.
Mountain bikes are welcome if you feel a plush ride is more important.
e-bikes are also welcome to come along on the adventure.
The evenings are a social affair, great food and excellent accommodation.
What's in the package?
- 6 nights of top notch accommodation, 2 nights in De Stijl Gariep Hotel, 2 nights in The Drostdy Graaff Reinet, 1 night in Die Tuishuise and Victoria Manor in Cradock, and one night of "Glamping" on the shores of the Fish River.
- 6 dinner and breakfasts, 5 lunches
- 5 days of supported riding over approximately 480km through the Eastern Great Karoo on long forgotten, classic routes.
- 14 km of adrenalin filled river rafting on the 2nd day, the Orange-Fish River irrigation tunnel empties out a few Km's above, so there is always a torrent of water to enjoy. (it's optional if you don't like water)
- Bus with bike transfers between certain sections.
- Sweep vehicle with experienced ER24 medic always in attendance
- Fully stocked water-points along the way.
- Experienced Ride captain to assist with mechanicals and rider safety.
What does the Route look like?
The route design allows you to leave your vehicle at the De Stijl Hotel in Gariep in a secure parking lot. The event will always commence on a Sunday afternoon and end on the following Saturday morning. So let's say you are driving down from the Gauteng area, you would leave at around Sunday lunchtime and arrive at Gariep in the evening, check in and then ride for five days, returning to Gariep for the final night's social and prize-giving on the Friday night. You then leave on Saturday morning and arrive at home at Saturday lunchtime.
How hard is the route?
You need to be fairly fit, but remember, you are NOT racing flat out on each stage, there are only a few short segments each day where you put the hammer down a bit if you want to race it, the rest of the time you ride at a leisurely pace, chatting with your mates and enjoying the scenery. You've got lots of time to finish the route, so don't think normal stage race type riding, stop, take pics relax, keep the heart rate really low. The Gravenduro is the perfect opportunity as an introduction into endurance stage racing if you are new to it, or if you trying to build a good fitness base for an upcoming event. Get miles in the legs without racing like a maniac.
You need to be fairly fit, but remember, you are NOT racing flat out on each stage, there are only a few short segments each day where you put the hammer down a bit if you want to race it, the rest of the time you ride at a leisurely pace, chatting with your mates and enjoying the scenery. You've got lots of time to finish the route, so don't think normal stage race type riding, stop, take pics relax, keep the heart rate really low. The Gravenduro is the perfect opportunity as an introduction into endurance stage racing if you are new to it, or if you trying to build a good fitness base for an upcoming event. Get miles in the legs without racing like a maniac.
How does the racing work?
Check out the Ride/Race Rules
Check out the Ride/Race Rules
What do I need to bring with?
- Yourself in fairly good form
- A sense of humour
- At least 3 changes of cycling kit, you can have it washed at Cradock and Graaff Reinet.
- Bring along kit for hot and cold conditions, altitudes vary, things can get nippy in the Sneeuberg even on a nice day.
- One big bag, stage race style, we'll transport it for you.
- A hand luggage size bag, you can leave in the larger support vehicle, you'll see it everyday at the halfway water-point.
- A head lamp or small torch always comes in handy.
- Suntan lotion, lip balm and moisturiser, the Karoo air is dry.
- Oh yes! swimming trunks for your 14km float down the Fish River in a river raft.
- Some river shoes if you have, there are some portages around weirs.
- Your bike - a gravel bike, mountain bike or e-bike, you can choose your weapon.
- Your bike must have tubeless tyres with fresh puncture sealant in them.
- Your bike should have been recently serviced and in good working order, we can only assist with roadside repairs.
- A spare rear tyre at least.
- A spare set of brake pads
- You need to be self sufficient with your bike tools, pump etc.
- Bring along a tube and gator in case you tear your tubeless tyre badly.
- You know yourself, if you tend to break chains a lot, bring a spare one.
- We supply Squirt Chain lube in the mornings and at water-points, if you have a preference, bring it along.
- If you tend to break spokes a lot, make sure you bring along spares, remember the drive side spoke on your bike is a different length to your brake side spoke on your rear wheel. We can replace a spoke for you in most circumstances.
- Two water bottles should be fine, there are water-points along the way.
- If you're riding an e-bike you might think about a spare battery.
How much does it cost?
So here's the thing, what inspired us to look at designing the route and race format, was the entry price of various popular stage races, and of course that hard-core one that traverses the Karoo in December. We decided to see what we could offer at a similar or lower cost. An endurance ride with a bit of racing, and at least the possibility to socialise with your mates along the way, time to take in the surroundings, and not be so knackered at the end of a day.
Accommodation had to be top notch, meals first class and the routes filled with history and atmosphere.
The good news is we managed to offer it at a competitive price.
So here's the thing, what inspired us to look at designing the route and race format, was the entry price of various popular stage races, and of course that hard-core one that traverses the Karoo in December. We decided to see what we could offer at a similar or lower cost. An endurance ride with a bit of racing, and at least the possibility to socialise with your mates along the way, time to take in the surroundings, and not be so knackered at the end of a day.
Accommodation had to be top notch, meals first class and the routes filled with history and atmosphere.
The good news is we managed to offer it at a competitive price.
- 6 Nights, 5 days of classic adventure riding.
- Single Entry sharing a room R 21 900.00
- Single Entry with private room each night - R 24 800.00
What is the Payments and Cancellation Policy?
1. Payments
50% deposit to secure your entry within 10 days of registration
Full payment must be received 60 days prior to the event
2. Forced cancellation by pandemic or natural events.
60 days or earlier we provide a full refund less a small administration fee.
Within 60 days we can move you to a new date but you may incur some costs due to lost deposits.
(Please note that we have not had to change any of our GravelGrinder events since August 2020, as they fall in the 50 participant or less rules.)
3. Customer cancellations
90 days or more, prior to the event
A refund can be requested, there is a small administration fee.
If you want to move your entry to another one of our events on a later date, it will be done at no extra cost
Between 30 and 90 days prior to event
Your entry can be moved to a later event date at a fee of R1200 per person.
Very difficult for us to find a replacement for your entry, therefore no refunds can be made if cancellation is received within the 90 day period of the upcoming event.
30 days or less prior to event
We can unfortunately not allow any moving of entries to a later date, as by now we have already committed and paid for the upcoming event in full, and we will not receive a refund from our service providers.
All fees paid by entrants will be forfeited.
Covid and severe injury leniency
If a doctor’s certificate is provided within the 30 day period, which precludes you from participating, we will move you to a future date of your choice and incur the loss, but unfortunately you will forfeit 50% of your fee.
1. Payments
50% deposit to secure your entry within 10 days of registration
Full payment must be received 60 days prior to the event
2. Forced cancellation by pandemic or natural events.
60 days or earlier we provide a full refund less a small administration fee.
Within 60 days we can move you to a new date but you may incur some costs due to lost deposits.
(Please note that we have not had to change any of our GravelGrinder events since August 2020, as they fall in the 50 participant or less rules.)
3. Customer cancellations
90 days or more, prior to the event
A refund can be requested, there is a small administration fee.
If you want to move your entry to another one of our events on a later date, it will be done at no extra cost
Between 30 and 90 days prior to event
Your entry can be moved to a later event date at a fee of R1200 per person.
Very difficult for us to find a replacement for your entry, therefore no refunds can be made if cancellation is received within the 90 day period of the upcoming event.
30 days or less prior to event
We can unfortunately not allow any moving of entries to a later date, as by now we have already committed and paid for the upcoming event in full, and we will not receive a refund from our service providers.
All fees paid by entrants will be forfeited.
Covid and severe injury leniency
If a doctor’s certificate is provided within the 30 day period, which precludes you from participating, we will move you to a future date of your choice and incur the loss, but unfortunately you will forfeit 50% of your fee.