BIKE TO THE FUTURE | ||||||||||||||
Right |
now, |
gravel |
is |
where |
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mountain biking was 20 years | ||||||||||||||
ago. It’ s booming abroad and | ||||||||||||||
taking hold in South Africa too. With | ||||||||||||||
South Africa’ s unique terrain, climate | ||||||||||||||
and stage-racing heritage on dirt, the | ||||||||||||||
country is the ideal place for the first true | ||||||||||||||
pro-am gravel stage race. | ||||||||||||||
The Nedbank Gravel Burn will take riders | ||||||||||||||
DURING A SHORT BREAK FROM THE EVENTS WORLD, people kept asking Kevin,“ What’ s next?” He had no answer because he didn’ t really know. There’ s an admission of a flicker of something from the man who redefined cycling events in South Africa, a |
from lush coastal forests to stark inland serenity. It is as much about chasing podiums as it is about exploring the unknown. This isn’ t just another event. It’ s contained yet free. It’ s |
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kernel of an idea, but not a full picture in his head.
One day, though, while riding, inspiration struck – a vision formed of a long, open gravel road, clear sky above, a handful of riders, but no one else in sight. This evolved into what
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more open, more fluid, more human. It’ s the road less travelled. In the mind of the organising team, there is something truly special brewing at the Nedbank Gravel Burn. |
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is now the Nedbank Gravel Burn. It’ s a new kind of ride | ||||||||||||||
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for a new kind of rider, and at the same time, something different and exciting for experienced riders looking towards new horizons.
This vision isn’ t a sequel to a popular first release. It’ s a complete shift – less noise, more wild, more real, more space. The Nedbank Gravel Burn is
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THE SPIRIT OF GRAVEL
Gravel riding is about reconnecting with the landscape, the rhythm of racing, the open road, the surroundings, the people and with yourself. Gravel riding is all about discovery …“ with your eyes wide open,” adds Kevin. The phrase“ eyes wide open” is at the core of Nedbank Gravel
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about getting back to the soul of riding. It’ s riding for the joy of it, even if it’ s the joy of fiercely racing your bike.
When asked about his vision and hopes for the Nedbank Gravel Burn, the man behind the
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Burn’ s philosophy. It’ s not a plush ride through manicured paths. It’ s raw, physical and emotional. This is a race that offers moments of stillness, space and that electric tension between rider, road and each other. It invites a shift between isolation and camaraderie, discomfort and wonder. That’ s what the event is offering: new |
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plan is forthright and excited by what lies |
horizons, literally and figuratively. |
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ahead.“ We are creating something new, | ||||||||||||||
with a series of ingredients that already exist in various worlds, from cycling to festivals,” says Kevin.“ We want to set the global benchmark for endurance |
WHERE ROAD MEETS TRAIL
Gravel riding blends many worlds. And it welcomes all types of riders – newbies and experienced, mountain bikers and roadies, cyclocross and track racers. Everyone brings something to the table when the table is on gravel.
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cycling by shaping a new frontier in sport, where the physical challenge meets deep immersion, cultural |
Right now, gravel riding is a true melting pot of cyclists and probably the most accessible variation of the sport. You could argue that gravel is also the most inclusive and diverse category of cycling since the invention of the bike itself. |
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connection |
and |
meaningful |
In Europe, gravel is an evolution of road cycling. In the United States, it’ s a lifestyle. |
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purpose across some of the world’ s most iconic terrain.” |
In South Africa, it’ s a bit of both, but just a cursory glance at the bikes on display at road events shows that the passion for gravel is growing. |
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