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Competitive 2 wheeling begins here
Mountain biking events
South Africa's mountain biking events are full of thrilling rides.
© Gary Perkin
The South African mountain biking events calendar is headlined by the awesome Cape Epic, a 700-kilometre ultra-marathon that has its own international fan base from 40 countries around the globe.
But have you seen what the rest of the year has in store for competing mountain bikers? Read the race card and it feels like you've been on a Cook's Tour of the whole of South Africa, seen in the most thrilling fashion - from the seat of a mountain bike.
In South Africa, mountain biking events range from the Barberton Mountain Bike Classic in gold country to the Bekker Bundu Bash in the ancient Magaliesberg Mountains. There's the classy Vigne a Vigne meander through the winelands of the Western Cape to the amazing Trans-Baviaans Challenge from Willowmore to Jeffreys Bay in the Eastern Cape.
Every week, it seems, there's something new on the South African mountain biking events programme.
A good suggestion regarding choice of mountain biking events in South Africa is to do a road trip and see which parts of the country you'd like to ride through on 2 wheels. For instance, mountain riding might be your thing. Would that be the Karoo to Coast Challenge from Uniondale to Knysna on the legendary Prince Alfred's Pass, or the Karkloof Classic in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal?
The MTN National Bike Series consists of 5 hard cross-country and downhill races and a 7-event National Marathon series. One of the most exciting developments in the marketing of mountain biking events in South Africa is the launch of Tread Magazine.
The founding editor, Sean Badenhorst, works with journalists and photographers who are dedicated mountain bikers. Tread aims to ride the wave of what he describes as 'the coolest sport in South Africa'.