SHOOTING stars . . . moonlit roads . . . and animal calls – a thrilling 129km experience on a saddle and two wheels.
Hundreds of adrenaline-junkies and mountain bike-enthusiasts will descend on Patensie on Saturday, November 16, as the gruelling Midnight Express mountain bike race comes to a pedalling end.
“The yearly initiative, that usually took to the road in January, is different from any other bike race as it takes place through the night,” says Midnight Express owner and founder, Mike Glover.
The 129km mountain bike race will leave the starting blocks at Steytlerville at 00:00, from where it will follow a 45km gravel road with a gradual descent to the first water hole at Bucklands Farm.
“The only way riders can tackle the Grootrivier Poort is in the coolness of sunrise. For that reason, the race starts at midnight, with the first team to arrive at the base – about 95km into the ride – at around 03:00. The last teams will arrive at around 06:00,” says Glover.
Leaving the farm, riders will head into 20km of jeep track that forms part of the Freedom Challenge route, before tackling the 30km gravel road to Grootrivier – a roller-coaster of ups and downs all the way to the Poort Waterhole.
Then for the toughest piece: the 20km route from the Poort to the Tower over the Antoniesberg Pass with an elevation of 866m.
The main pass is only 5.4km with vistas over the Cockscomb Mountain and Baviaanskloof Mountain.
The last 14km stretch to Patensie is mostly a descent of 943m, with a few sharp climbs.
For more information, visit www.midnightexpress.co.za.
