Royal Drakensburg Mountain Bike Challenge

So there is a mtb race this weekend at royal natal. www.royal-drakensberg.org.za I will be doing the 45km. Should be fun, anyone else doing it? Looks like the weather might not play game though! We will camp at Mahai.

Would love for there to be some longer 75km, 120km races is the berg. Would be epic!

There used to be a race called the Giant's Castle MTB Challenge which rides to the top of the little berg along the reserve management tracks there.

The only other option I know of is the Freedom Trail. Pietermaritzburg to Paarl via 2300km of the most adventurous MTB SA has to offer. It goes through the Southern Berg (Malutis) near Matatiele and Ongeluksnek and then you get to carry your bike to the top of the Berg via Lehana Pass - a 1000m climb in 5km on a donkey track. It's worth it though... as it's all downhill to Cape Town from there

Rode it Mon/Tues this week. Nice trails. Nice views.
Enjoy

Giants Castle Race was cancelled this year due to high rainfall.

They have had 1,5m rain in the Royal Natal area this year.
Brilliant. Think how that has recharged the wetlands!

Okay awesome! So although it has rained a lot.... is the course still ridable or should I be putting the 2.4 inch tires on? If you around I'll be on a Merida 120 or a Giant Alias depending on my shares with the girlfriend.

Secondly any ideas of the difficulty level of the 20km?

Thirdly are these the only trails around royal natal? Training for magalies monster so looking for some steep hills!