#UltimateKarooExperience – 2017
#UltimateKarooExperience – 2017 https://stagerace.ridethekaroo.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1-8-2.jpg 1000 549 RideTheKaroo | https://stagerace.ridethekaroo.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/1-8-2.jpg#UltimateKarooExperience – or better known as the annual limited-entry Lormar Endurance Mountain Bike Tour.
This unique 3-day mountain bike Tour kicks off with 100 purebred Arabian horses galloping past participants as an opening ceremony! Stage 1 offers a Night Ride into the Karoo sunset followed by a Karoo lamb “spitbraai”.
Day 2 awakes riders to farm noises of chickens, turkeys and horses around the tented village at Fairview. Stage 2 takes riders on a 70km journey past the beautiful Compasberg to the quaint village of Nieu Bethesda where they spend the day enjoying the artistic town, it’s people and little shops. During the afternoon riders are treated to a “Pub Ride” to the local microbrewery to enjoy a free beer as part of the package. The Tour with it’s 200 riders and spectators will spend the night in tented accommodation. Stage 3 takes riders through a nature reserve where zebras, kudus, springboks, wildebeest and much more wild life can be spotted from the bicycles as riders make their way back to Fairview farm. Upon finishing the Tour, each participant will receive a locally made “windpomp” as finishers medal.
2016 saw 250 participants not only from all over South Africa but also all the way from the United States, Belgium and England! The Lormar Endurance MTB Tour’s main goal is to create awareness of the spectacular Karoo, it’s people and to provide participants true “platteland” hospitality! The Tour benefits the local community in many ways by booking out all guesthouses in the area, purchasing tour meals from the local supermarkets, bakeries etc and providing more than 1000 man-hours of work.
Review by Marc Sasinski from Santa Monica, California:
“I had an amazing time at the Lormar Endurance MTB Tour! The route itself was breathtaking, the support the organizers provided was excellent, and the care and attention for all the logistical details really showed. (Not to mention the food was delicious!) I made the trip all the way from the United States to experience this part of South Africa and everyone made me feel right at home. Overall, it was an amazing experience and I’ll certainly be back to take on the Great Karoo again!
Marc Sasinski
Santa Monica, California USA”
2017 will host two back-to-back tours! Entries are now open! Each tour is limited to 200 riders and 40 spectators. Keep an eye out for Super Sport as the 2016 Tour will soon be broadcasted on Super Cycling!
Photo credit: Capcha Photography