The Ocean2Ocean - Inaugural Gravenduro
This event happened on the 9th of November 2019. Go to The Results page to read about how it unfolded and to check out the leaderboard.
Swartberg Hotel, Prince Albert to Leentjies Klip, Wilderness Beach
160km and 2538m of climbing, 4 short timed sectors along the route, the rest is a jolly with your mates.
Good coffee, ice cold beer and wholesome chow is assured.
160km and 2538m of climbing, 4 short timed sectors along the route, the rest is a jolly with your mates.
Good coffee, ice cold beer and wholesome chow is assured.
Why is it called the Ocean2Ocean?
OK, so it sounds a bit odd, from the "almost desert" Karoo to a beach on the Garden Route? If you have spent time riding in and around the Great and Klein Karoo you cannot help but notice the twisted, contorted rock faces in the ravines and passes. The talk of marine fossils found in dry barren Karoo Basin. The massive deluge of water that must have created Meiringspoort and Seweweekspoort millions of years ago. Yes the Karoo Basin was an ocean, and so Prince Albert would have been a beach resort 290 million years ago.
OK, so it sounds a bit odd, from the "almost desert" Karoo to a beach on the Garden Route? If you have spent time riding in and around the Great and Klein Karoo you cannot help but notice the twisted, contorted rock faces in the ravines and passes. The talk of marine fossils found in dry barren Karoo Basin. The massive deluge of water that must have created Meiringspoort and Seweweekspoort millions of years ago. Yes the Karoo Basin was an ocean, and so Prince Albert would have been a beach resort 290 million years ago.
Our requirement of you, if you would like to join us.
- You should have a sense of humour
- You should be someone who regularly rides 60 to 80km at least once a week.
- The ability to ride 160km on undulating gravel at an average speed of 20km/hr
- You need own a GPS unit that fits on your handlebar and you need to know how to navigate with it. At the back of George you will get lost on the single-track if you can't navigate. The sweep vehicle won't follow you in there, we won't come looking for you.
- You will need a Strava account and be fairly adept at using Strava.
- You need to be sensible, the water-points and support will be on a time schedule, you need to bail if you are not coping when it's convenient for the support team to assist you.
- If you do not make it to the top of Swartberg Pass within 2 hrs we suggest you turn back to Prince Albert. We will not wait for you.
- The route is designed for a gravel bike, but you can ride a mountain bike if you so wish.
- You need to be self-sufficient as far as punctures and minor repairs are concerned, the sweep vehicle will not assist you with any repairs.
- If you are left on the route somewhere, you need to be able to call someone to assist you or find your own way to the finish or the start.
- You need to be clear that this a ride with a group of people where you've been given a GPX file, a few water-points, a support vehicle at certain points and some camaraderie. For the rest you're pretty much on your own. There are no road closures, no marshalls directing traffic, no medics, no nothing, it's just a weekend ride with a bit more support than usual.
The Route
The route is 160 km with a total of 2538m of ascent. Its from the town of Prince Albert to Wilderness beach. The racing part is only four short sectors of different disciplines that are timed. The rest is a social ride with the group and you have 10 hrs to complete it. The route is unsupported except for a few water-points where there are no cafe's or coffee shops. We will provide a sweep vehicle and a bus service for 22 riders and their bikes to return to Prince Albert after the ride. (first come first served), book it on the Entry Ninja event.
You will need to navigate using a GPS device.
You will need to navigate using a GPS device.
gravenduro_o2o.gpx |
What happens at the finish ? - see below
Ride/Race Itinerary
Saturday 9th November 2019
05:15 - Gather for Coffee etc from 5:15 am onward at Lazy Lizard restaurant in Prince Albert. Sunrise is at 5:26 am
REGISTER yourself by checking off on the list we have of the riders.
06:00 - Start gun... outside The Lazy Lizard.
08:00 - If you have not made it to the top of Swartberg Pass, we suggest you turn back. Water-point & support leaves.
10:15 - Cross roads Waterpoint is ready to support at 105km mark after Gravel Endurance segment.
12:15 - Cross roads Waterpoint closes and leaves.
12:15 - Mandela University, Seven Passes Water-point is ready to support at the 150km mark.
14:45 - Mandela Univ, Seven Passes Water-point closes
12:45 - Wilderness beach official with a few refreshments ready to receive you.
15:00 - Podium announcements at "Locals" Restaurant.
16:00 - Ride/Race closes.
05:15 - Gather for Coffee etc from 5:15 am onward at Lazy Lizard restaurant in Prince Albert. Sunrise is at 5:26 am
REGISTER yourself by checking off on the list we have of the riders.
06:00 - Start gun... outside The Lazy Lizard.
08:00 - If you have not made it to the top of Swartberg Pass, we suggest you turn back. Water-point & support leaves.
10:15 - Cross roads Waterpoint is ready to support at 105km mark after Gravel Endurance segment.
12:15 - Cross roads Waterpoint closes and leaves.
12:15 - Mandela University, Seven Passes Water-point is ready to support at the 150km mark.
14:45 - Mandela Univ, Seven Passes Water-point closes
12:45 - Wilderness beach official with a few refreshments ready to receive you.
15:00 - Podium announcements at "Locals" Restaurant.
16:00 - Ride/Race closes.
Transport and Accommodation
- We have a large grassed field and brand new ablution blocks where you can camp overnight in Prince Albert on Friday 8th of November, it's part of your entry fee.
- We have a Transport for 14 riders with bags and bikes from George/Oudtshoorn to Prince Albert on Friday in our Airport shuttle bus
- We have transport for 22 riders with bikes back from Wilderness to Oudtshoorn and Prince Albert at 16:00 on Saturday afternoon
- The transport options are under "add merchandise" on your Entry Ninja entry, if you have entered already you can go back to your entry on the Dashboard and add the merchandise (Transport options)
- In short if you coming in from down Cape Town way or North of Prince Albert, leave your car in PA and jump on the bus at the end of the day to come back.
- If you live in George or Oudtshoorn, you can jump on the bus on Friday, come and stay overnight in PA and all your stuff will be waiting for you at the finish. Oudtshoorners can then get a lift back home as well.
The Racing Segments
Please log into your Strava account and search for these segments, you can then analyse where they start and finish etc.
We will have a vehicle at "Die Top" with water and Coke after this segment.
There will be an organiser water-point at the cross-roads where this segment ends.
|
You can stop and refresh at the Cango Ostrich Farm restaurant, the segment ends right outside.
Once you've finished the single track segment, you will coast down through Nelson Mandela University grounds until you meet the 2nd organiser water-point at the entrance gates.
|