If you love mountain biking and you live in Gauteng, then you’re sure to have heard about the annual Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg. You may even have completed one or more editions in the past. Over the past two years, a scaled down version took place, but now, with no more Covid-19 regulations, the event is back in full force. And here’s why it’s an event worth adding to your 2022 to-do list.
Paid partnership with Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg
With five events catering for all ages and fitness levels, the 2022 Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg is South Africa’s biggest annual cycling celebration. Whether you’re a keen road cyclist or a committed mountain biker, there’s an event to suit you. And if you have kids, or know someone that does, there’s an event for them too! Here’s information on all the events: https://ridejoburg.co.za. However, if mountain biking is specifically your thing, then here are six good reasons to enter the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg MTB Challenge.
CELEBRATE JOBURG WITH A ROUTE LIKE NO OTHER
There are three distances for the mountain bike event, all taking place at Steyn City on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 November. Steyn City is a large private residential estate, which dominates the area north of Fourways. But such is the layout and size of the estate that it’s able to accommodate three highly stimulating mountain bike race routes. There’s a significant volume of purpose-built singletrack that’s only accessible to non-residents during the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg. The fact that the organisers can create an engaging 50km route with no repetition should give you something to get excited about.
IT’S TOUGH, BUT REWARDING
The 50km mountain bike route isn’t to be taken lightly. You need a good level of fitness, strength and skill to be able to conquer it with confidence. For the 50km route there is more than 800 metres of vertical ascent, which will ensure you both need and appreciate the easy gears on your bike… The 25km and 10km routes are obviously less arduous, but offer an appropriate level of ‘grind’ that makes the training all worthwhile.
THE ORGANISATION IS WORLD CLASS
In 2020, the event was bought by Faces, a company that was curated to take a range of high profile South African participation sports events and grow them, either in numbers or participant value or both. Key among the structure at Faces is the company formerly known as Advendurance, organisers of premier mountain bike events since 2003 that continue that proud tradition. Since all Covid-19 restrictions have now been lifted, objectives of Faces include honing the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg into the largest timed road cycling event in the world; with the mountain bike event the largest timed mountain bike event in South Africa. It’s also worth knowing that Faces is one of the few events companies that offered full entry fee refunds in case of event cancellation during the uncertain Covid-19 period, a difficult, but admirable undertaking that didn’t go unnoticed.
IT’S SAFE AND WELL MARKED
Feeling safe and in control during a mountain bike event is important. The organisers of the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg consider this a priority. Steyn City is entirely secured by a perimeter wall that’s security monitored 24/7. Because the full mountain bike event route is housed inside the estate, participants are able to focus purely on enjoying the race. Much planning goes into where and how to place route directional markings and marshals are added where necessary to ensure there’s no doubt in participants’ minds during the event.
VIRGIN ACTIVE HELPS YOU PREPARE PROPERLY
New title sponsor, Virgin Active, is South Africa’s most established and largest health and fitness club group. Virgin Active’s world-leading clubs are located throughout South Africa with a high volume in Gauteng. Virgin Active Train Joburg is a unique, proactive initiative launched to assist participants with their preparation in the lead up to the event. Virgin Active Train Joburg gives the Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg entrants the opportunity to train safely in the months leading up to the event outdoors and indoors (in Virgin Active clubs). There is currently the option for entrants to ride weekly in Steyn City on Wednesday afternoons. More info on Virgin Active Train Joburg here: https://ridejoburg.co.za/train-joburg/
IT’S A PROPER VIBE BRU!
Think back to the start of 2022. The country was still gingerly treading lightly in an effort to adhere to remaining Covid-19 restrictions after the highly infectious, but far less deadly Fourth Wave that peaked in December 2021. The future was very much uncertain. But time changed that as all Covid-19 regulations were finally scrapped. Events were able to return without limitations and South African mountain bikers regained a sense of control, which allowed for the freedom to focus on travelling and reconnecting with the events culture for which South Africa is known. Sure, the economy took a knock, but getting to ride your mountain bike at an iconic event in the South African summer with no limitations is a wonderful way to celebrate all the good things. Even better to enter with friends and make it into a festive farewell to 2022!
To find out more and enter the 2022 Virgin Active 947 Ride Joburg MTB Challenge, click here.
