Race Briefing

Hello our amazing riders

Thank you so much for entering the Sir Fruit Go Gravel race this Saturday!

We are so excited to see you and to show you this stunning part of our country!

We are incredibly grateful to our brand-new title sponsor, Sir Fruit, who has come on board with energy and, of course, incredible products for YOU, our riders! You are in for a treat!

Below is a HEAP of information for this weekend. Please read it carefully, as ALL the information you need is here, and it is vitally important to ensure you have a great and safe race. Pls do NOT just download GPX without reading the below.

Registration

📍 Absa Karkloof Country Club | Friday: 3:00–6:00 pm | Saturday: 6:00–7:00 am

You don’t need to bring anything, and you are welcome to collect for friends.

Your race board contains your timing chip, so please look after it.

Any changes to your entry can be made at registration, including downgrades and bike category swaps.

If you decide not to ride, PLEASE return your race board to the club so that we know you are safely off the course.

Late entries will be available during these times for friends who may have missed the boat!

Race Start Times

7:00 am – 100km MTB and Gravel riders start in 1 batch.
5 minutes thereafter, the 100km e-bikes leave
7:15 am – 60km MTB and Gravel riders start in 1 batch.
5 minutes thereafter, the 60km e-bikes leave

Start times are “gun start”… ie the time starts with the gun, not when you cross the start line.

Phones

For your safety, it is compulsory for you to ride with a phone

Routes

The GPS routes for both the 100km and 60km are attached.

They are also available on our website: https://www.gogravelmidlands.co.za/briefing

The course is clearly marked. All junctions will be marked.

There are some splits in the route, so please ensure you follow your correct 60km or 100km signs.

There will be NO road closures. You will be using main roads as well as farm roads. PLEASE ensure you use normal road safety and be aware of cars, tractors, animals and people whilst riding. We are very lucky to ride these routes so please respect the people and areas you ride through. Please do not litter.

Route Marking

The route is marked with white boards and black arrows, with a green dot in the arrow. Please only follow these boards.

There will also be luminous pink stickers along the route to guide you.

***PLEASE if you see any CAUTION, SLOW DOWN or TURN AHEAD signs, we strongly suggest you abide by these, especially if you are on a gravel bike. We don’t put them out there for fun!

Assistance out on the route

MEDICAL EMERGENCY- For any medical emergency, please call: 073 440 3819. This number is also printed on your race board. Save it now!

LOST? -If you are lost, please call: Devlin – 083 799 3003

TIRED OR MECHANICAL? - If you are tired and “kan nie meer nie” or have a mechanical problem, you will need to wait for the sweep vehicle, which follows behind the back of the pack. Unfortunately, we are unable to collect every rider who has run out of energy or has a mechanical problem.You can either wait for the sweep vehicle or, if you are able to do so safely, navigate yourself back to the club using Google Maps.

IF YOU PULL OUT - PLEASE ensure you report to the finish-line timing table and return your race board so that we know you are safely off the route.

Gravel or MTB bike choice?

We have tried to use every meter of the smoothest roads in the Karkloof. However, the KZN midlands have experienced a lot of early rain this year. As a result, many of the forest roads are rougher than they have been in previous years. In addition to that, last minute harvesting has changed the route in some sections, forcing us to divert onto bumpier alternatives at the last minute. In some short sections, we have had to follow some easy (for Karkloof) singletrack sections to connect to larger roads.

For Gravel bikers, if you have the choice, we do suggest using your MTB. You can alert us to your change at registration.

If you want to ride your gravel bike, we suggest using the widest tyres you have and running softer pressures to help smooth out the ride.

E-Bike Battery Drop off

Pls bring your spare battery to registration (Friday or Saturday) in a clearly marked bag. This will be taken to water table 3 (67kms) for the 100km riders.Place your used battery back in the marked bag. The batteries will only be returned to the club in the early afternoon when the hosts are finished at their table. These will be at the timing table.

Cut Off time:

2:30 at WT 4 – 50kms for 60 and at 88kms for the 100km

No Smoking

Smoking is strictly forbidden on the route. Fire and Forestry don’t mix, and even a small cigarette butt can cause massive damage.

Water Tables

100KM ROUTE: 4 water tables at approximately 27km, 51km, 67km and 88km.

60KM ROUTE: 3 water tables at approximately 27km and 46 and 50km. (yes we know the last two are close but it’s due the nature of the 100 and 60km routes overlapping)

Slower riders MUST ride with at least 2 water bottles to make it between tables.

Saturday is expected to be VERY hot, so please make sure you drink enough and stay well hydrated.

The water tables will have items such as: water, Coke, bananas, oranges, potatoes, eggs and sweet treats.

Seconders

Absolutely NO seconders are allowed out on the route. Any rider whose seconder is out on the route will be DQ’d.

Emergency / Medics

There will be ambulances out on the route as well as a medical tent at the Country Club.

In case of a medical emergency, please call: 073 440 3819 (put it in your phone now)

Prize Giving

Prize giving will take place at 12:30.

100km prizes:

Top 3 MTB males and females
Top 3 Gravel males and females
E-bike winners only (male and female)

60km Prizes:

Top 3 MTB & Gravel (combined) males and females
E-Bike winners only (male and female)

Catering at The Club & Facilities

Please respect the Country Club’s rules regarding food and drinks – no outside food/drinks allowed. No gazebos/tents etc to be brought into the club premises.

Sir Fruit will have a tasting stand where riders and seconders can come and try some delicious drinks, so please go and meet the amazing team and try out their drinks!

The Country Club will have its own catering, including burgers, salads, breakfasts and toasted sandwiches.

LOVE Howick will be raising funds for their amazing organisation by selling boerewors rolls.

There will also be delicious pancakes, plus coffee, beers and cooldrinks available.

The Club has showers which you are welcome to use.

Rules

Normal CSA rules apply – no earphones etc etc.

Pls see all rules that need to be adhered to over the course of the weekend.

Please note that the race organiser and CSA have the right to shorten the route if the weather becomes too hot, as well as take riders off the route.

Happy riding and thank you again for your support of our event. We hope you have an AMAZING day out on your bike!

Katie and Devlin Fogg