MAKHADO (LOUIS TRICHARDT) – An exciting two-day mountain bike event in the mountain forests to the east of town is being organised for the Heritage Day weekend at the end of September after sponsors Pie City, Select Meats and Masekane Safaris committed themselves to supporting the venture.

Cyclists will stay in forest hiking accommodation for three nights, arriving Friday evening, September 23 and leaving on Monday morning. The cycling will take place in four stages on Saturday and Sunday. The total distance traversed will be 150km and include some fairly heavy mountain terrain and a 20km night ride.

The race is being organised in conjunction with Komatiland Forests as part of their Eco-tourism and recreational use of the forests commitment. Although the first event will be run on a fairly small scale, the vision for the longer term is for it to become an event on the scale of the Sabie Mountain Bike event, which attracts a field similar to the Kremetart Cycle Race to Sabie. The Sabie event is a partnership between Komatiland Forests, the Sabie Municipality, the Sabie Business Chamber and the Sabie Tourism Association.

Cyclists will only be required to bring their bikes and sleeping bags, as they will stay in forestry huts and houses, and seven meals will be provided over the course of the event. The race will be advertised to cyclists mainly in Gauteng, and on-line entries will be available through cyclelab.

For more information phone Malcolm Tucker at Tel (015) 516 0387 or 084 262 1386.