Gravel races are not new, but they’re gaining popularity, which makes an entry spot at the Ride the Karoo 100 Miler even more sought after. The race takes place in March 2024, which is still a long time away, but in order to ensure a high-quality experience, the field is limited to 350. Here’s why it’s worth booking your place now.
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For decades now, artists, poets, songwriters, photographers and dreamers have been inspired by the Great Karoo. Why? Because it symbolises balance, that’s why. In a world of increasing uncertainty, instability and even chaos, a trip to the Great Karoo is a pilgrimage of restoration. You go there to simultaneously lose yourself – and find Your Self.
The Great Karoo is a semi-arid region that seems desolate, but which is essentially loaded with riches. You just need to know where to look. Fortunately, the team at Urban Goat has done the searching and has designed a race route and event experience to confirm it.
There are two distance options: the 100 Miler (170km with 1750 metres of ascent) and the 50 Miler (78km with 700 metres of ascent). The routes follow gravel roads, jeep tracks and district roads which deliver stunning Karoo vistas, wildlife encounters, lungfuls of untainted air, warmly hosted water points and a start/finish village like no other.
There are two notable climbs on the Ride the Karoo 100 Miler route. These contribute most of the 1750 metres of ascent for the 170km event. The summit of each climb is surprisingly high – both above the 1600 metres altitude of Johannesburg! But they’re steady climbs starting at around 1300 metres above sea level and they’re both followed by long descents. And that’s what people want – balance.
Although it excludes the two big climbs of the 100 Miler, the Ride the Karoo 50 Miler route is just as engaging with a route that rises and falls quite consistently to be both challenging and rewarding and incredibly scenic.
Urban Goat events have gained a reputation for being classy and comfortable. This is achieved by understanding that mountain bikers and gravel racers expect to suffer a little (or a lot) on the bike, but don’t really want to suffer off the bike too. The race village at Ride the Karoo 100 Miler is located at Dwarsvlei, a quaint settlement with warm hospitality and country charm. The entry fee includes two nights of accommodation, ranging from Standard Canvas Tents to Luxury Glamping Tents as well as building accommodation.
The food and beverages at the race village are of a very high standard and include lamb braai, freshly baked farm bread, vetkoek, Karoo stew, proper coffee (and condensed milk coffee), craft beer, craft gin and a selection of wine. Koeksisters make a welcome appearance at water points on the race route too…
Supporter (non-riding) packages are also available, so you can take someone that’s important to you along to share in a memorable journey to the Great Karoo to disconnect from the daily grind and restore life balance.
Early bird entries close on 31 July 2023. Click here for details.
