SUNSHINE AFTER RAIN
JUST OVER A YEAR AGO , the world we know was turned upside down . Countless people have suffered enormously as a consequence . For many of us , 2020 was a year to forget , but I challenge anyone not to find at least one real positive that came out of the crazy year that was . For me , personally , my business publishing magazines and hosting sports events suffered hugely with retailers and printers closed and
The horseshoe ’ s on the other foot ! In cowboy country in the eastern Free State .
government rulings prohibiting gatherings . It ’ s now May , 14 months later , and in Level 1 we are back up and running with a sense of renewed optimism that permeates all industries .
With so many new riders and runners seeking health and open spaces , and experienced athletes realising just how much they have missed racing , our 2021 events have surpassed 2019 numbers . By the same token , social media overload , fake news and screen time saturation has seen magazine sales bounce back from their predicted doom . We athletes live for our passion and this offline indulgence remains a spam-free place to feed the soul and learn . For those fortunate enough to be racing the KAP sani2c , we hope the mags you received as a gift from the organisers make you agree that print is a premium
reading experience .
So did mountain bike racing perish ( as some predicted ) when riders fell out of the habit of bunch riding and the need to win races , and instead opted for lesser travelled trails ? No , as much as everyone learned that digital dopamine is fleeting and that fomo is an insecure notion , racing is just a fun experience . The pre- and post-race banter and beers with like-minded biker brethren is as much of the allure as the heightened senses when pushed beyond any level your coffee-ride mates or Strava screen can deliver . All lockdown did was force race organisers to be more cognizant of creating unique experiences on courses that justify the hard-earned time and money of thrill-seeking participants .
On the flip side of that scale is the desire to spend more time outside exploring our planet with friends and family at a balanced , slower pace . When our borders shut , local
game reserves and resorts soon realised that South Africans were their prime source of income , and were desperate to experience , but couldn ’ t afford , what others have flocked to our sunny African shores to explore . We as media were invited to experience and publicise a few places that cater for mountain bikers , and if there ’ s one thing I ’ ll be eternally grateful to Covid-19 for , it ’ s these powerful sensory experiences that I had neither the free time nor the disposable income to indulge in before .
Hopefully you read about our successful anti-poaching fundraiser in Kariega Game Reserve in our previous edition . That was epic , but another awesome experience was a trip to Limpopo . Abelana Game Reserve is a successful publicprivate partnership that turned a long-term hunting lodge into an employment-generating gem that welcomes mountain bikers to it ’ s silent leafy trails .
Another light in the darkness of 2020 , was a journey that opened my eyes as to why the Freedom Challenge nutters like to suffer in silence . We were invited to suss out some farms in the eastern Free State as to their viability as a trail destination . Well , hello there , the eastern Free State has mountains , huuuge ones in fact , with spectacular sandstone cliffs ! The vast open spaces are an adventurer ’ s happy place , with hiking trails , caves ,
" WE ARE BACK UP AND RUNNING WITH A SENSE OF RENEWED OPTIMISM THAT PERMEATES ALL INDUSTRIES "
wildlife and animal tracks for days . On one occasion I rode for nine hours and saw only two humans , not easy for a chronic extrovert . I began conversing with cattle and making a cosmos necklace – there ’ s a unique spiritenriching magic in that .
One particular moment that will be described in much detail in a future issue was resting in a huge cave overlooking Rustlers Valley with a horse – while its rider , our guide , reattached the sole of my mate ’ s cycling shoe using wire and pliers from his backpack . Yes , this is cowboy country – you will venture there to ride when you see what ’ s waiting on the Lesotho border .
We look forward to your pics , stories and comments .
Mountain Bike SA
@ mountainbikesa
PHOTOGRAPH KEVIN SAWYER , PAUL INGPEN
12 | MTB | proud as punch