THE GRINROB BANK & BUSH TOUR

Venue:

Emseni Camp Winterton

Province:

KwaZulu-Natal

Link to event

Distance:

Day 1: 62km

This day follows the same route as Descent Day 2, where you’ll enjoy plenty of bushveld riding and single track. The climb up “Ox Wagon Hill” awards you breath taking views of the Drakensberg mountains before you follow the tracks made by cattle and game farmers along dry river beds. Reserve some energy in the legs for “Mike’s Pass” and then enjoy the rush of the “Puff Adder Pass” descent back to the Tugela River. You’ll then follow more cattle tracks along the river before the final crossing over the Tugela River to the finish.

Day 2: 54km

This new route starts on the dairy farm belonging to the Green family and heads to the south side of Spioenkop mountain. A brand new “Zig-Zag” route takes you high up the mountain before a spectacular descent down into “Fanagalo” which was used for the World Single Speed Champs. The new track heads through the Middledale Flats, original farm of the Green family; farm roads eventually lead to the wagon trail to Bergville before you descend down the final tracks into Em’seni Race Village.


Day 3: 50km

Early morning will take the riders to the base of Spioenkop on the southern side of the mountain where we ascend the Zig Zigs. Here riders follow a mellow gradient up and around 13 corners to where the real fun begins. We traverse the side of the mountain for a while before descending down the Fanagalo single track, a section of route which was used in The World Single Speed Champs a few years ago. Riding along the banks of the Tugela River, we pass through Tugela River Lodge before the next climb of the day, which is up and over Brakfontein Hill. Boer fortifications can be seen where they waited for the British to cross the river in 1899. Riders then descend down into The Kloof, a fun flowing section through beautiful African bushveld. At the bottom of The Kloof we ride along the dry river bed, passing Blue Cliffs before climbing out the other side on a section built by well-known trail builder, Glen Harrison. A fast descent, and along sections following cattle tracks, we eventually arrive at Spioenkop mountain climb. This 1.5km climb tests everyone’s fitness before summiting. The 13km descent back to the race village remains a highlight for many mountain bikers.