AFTER hearing all the talk from the seasoned riders about the spectacular Nungwane waterfall and valley, the new members of the Amanzimtoti Cycling Club’s Mambas mountain biking section requested to be shown this route.
So after a lot of organising people to drive some riders up to the drop-off point on the Umbumbulu Road and route calculations for the people cycling from Illovo, everyone settled on a meeting time at the top of Nungwane falls for 9.30am.
The first riding group left Illovo grass patch at 6am and the second group left at 6.30am. These two groups had to ride over 40kms up some very steep, long climbs to get to the meeting place at the same time as the newer riders who were being driven up at 8.30am. Well, miracles do happen. Everyone got to the falls at more or less the same time.
Twenty seven mountain bikers converged on the top of the beautiful falls which exist just behind Toti. The group then started its gentle meander through the Nungwane valley, which ended up being not so gentle on the legs, once they had to climb out. Everyone made it home safe and sound. For some, they now know what a tough 67km mountain bike ride is really like and for the new mountain bikers, the 27km trundle through the valley was a good experience and the huge climb out with some parts at a 27% gradient, was a challenge that was attacked with vigour.
The roadies’ breakfast ride was an awesome outing with amazing weather, where the ‘ballies’ group left Toti at 6am and had a fantastic ride down to the turnaround point in Scottburgh, while the ‘fast and furious’ group left half an hour earlier at 5.30am so they could have a longer ride to the turnaround point of Rocky Bay. The club had a visitor from Burg Wheelers Cycling Club in Pietermaritzburg, Kevin Caldicott who joined in for the ride. He thoroughly enjoyed the spectacular ride along the coast. On the return to Toti, a hearty breakfast was enjoyed at the ever popular Coffee Theatre in Winklespruit. The roadies were then excused from ‘duty’ on Sunday due to it being Father’s Day.
The Toti 69er road race to be held on 12 July needs a lot of marshals. If you can give up your Sunday morning to help out, call Barry Walker on 083-459-8253. Club mountain bikers especially are requested to marshal this race in order to allow the club road cyclists to be able to do the club ride. The Toti69er takes place from Hutchison Park, Amanzimtoti and covers distances of 19km, 69km and 94km. Make enquiries with Caroline Grix on 071-688-6585 or for online entries, go to www.roag.co.za
Registration on 10 July is from 4pm to 6pm at Cyclesphere, 2 Gordon Road, Morningside and 11 July from 2.30pm to 4.30pm at Hypersure, 4 Winklespruit Road, Amanzimtoti. Online entries close at midnight on 8 July. Registration on the day closes at 6am.
All pre-entries qualify for a lucky draw for a Silverback Stride mountain bike, courtesy of Cyclesphere.
The first 400 pre-entries will get a bulging goodie bag, courtesy of the Pick n Pay Family Store Athlone Park
Keep those legs turning.
