The Camdeboo Cycle Challenge is organised and managed by the members of the Camdeboo Conservancy as a community fundraising event. We are a group of passionate farmers striving to give visitors the best mountain bike experience possible!
Our conservancy lies within the Camdeboo valley which is 20km to 45km west of Graaff-Reinet.
The Camdeboo Cycle Challenge, launched in 2020, is a boutique mountain bike event, dubbed as a ‘true free range Karoo cycling experience’. Limited to about 70 cyclists, ensures an intimate and unique Karoo experience.
The Camdeboo Cycle Challenge is not a race – it is a great opportunity to enjoy what the Camdeboo has to offer: mountain biking in open Karoo landscapes on tracks and dirt roads, fresh air, amazing scenery and hospitality. E-bikes are welcome.
The event stretches over 3 days and the ride totals about 100km, starting with 20km on Friday afternoon, 50km – 60km on Saturday morning and the last 20km on Sunday morning. Each ride starts and finishes at the ‘hub’. The Saturday ride is “The Challenge” as it will take you to the top of mountains in the Camdeboo Conservancy.
Accommodation for the 2 nights are on the various farms of the members within the Camdeboo Conservancy. Thus you can enjoy comfortable farm-style accommodation during the event and stay at guest houses or hunting lodges, situated within a 22km radius from the ‘hub’.
Karoo hospitality is truly embedded in the core of this event. Each day, after a hearty breakfast of venison sausage, free range eggs and artisan bread/toast and fruit, you leave the event ‘hub’ and follow the clearly marked routes to experience the beauty that the Karoo has to offer.
You are catered for along the routes, at about 20km intervals, with water, energy drinks, and venison “biltong and droë wors” at the various snack stations.
Each evening is a celebration of the past day, served with our home made cuisine and a chance to catch up with your friends in a relaxed and friendly farm environment. Here you can enjoy our wine, beer and homemade lemon syrup. You may choose to bring your own drink of choice.
On Friday evening we prepare handmade pasta at the ‘hub’, served with veld reared beef bolognaise as well as a sensational mushroom sauce. Our cuisine is on another level, as we strive to use only free range produce and exclude preservatives, additives, and flavour enhancers.
Our artisan bread is handmade bread using traditional methods, simple ingredients, stoneground flour and longer fermentation times. Thus the gluten has been fermented and even gluten sensitive people can enjoy fresh sourdough bread with real butter.
Lunch and dinner on Saturday extends your taste sensation experience, with locally sourced farm fresh lamb, chicken and venison.
Our aim is to make your experience as comfortable and memorable as possible, however the Conservancy is within an arid climate. The Karoo is beautiful but unpredictable: weather conditions can change quickly – you need to be prepared for all weather conditions.
Cellphone signal is limited along the route, but the sweeper vehicle is right behind you for support.
• Goody bag
• 2 nights farm-style accommodation
• Karoo cuisine, artisan bread, veld reared meat and free range produce from Friday dinner to Sunday breakfast
• Beverages such as wine, beer, lemon syrup, Energade and Coke
• Water and snack points
• Medical emergency crew along the routes
• Sweeper vehicles and support vehicles along the routes
• The routes consist of varied terrain and multiple elevations.
• Riders must be prepared for moderate to demanding and challenging mountain biking.
• The tracks are a good mix of gravel, jeep track and limited single track.
• You should be comfortable to ride over obstacles like small to medium rocks, river sand and small rubble drops.
• You should be comfortable and balanced standing up off your seat and maintain level pedals for a descent and be comfortable to use your front and rear brakes when needed.
• Due to the nature of the terrain and remoteness of the ride, cyclists need to be adequately trained and prepared. The fitter you are, the more you will enjoy the ride.
• This is a free range experience, not a race, so enjoy the journey and take time to breathe in the fresh air and absorb the views.
• The sweeper vehicle is there to support and to pick you up should you need assistance.
• Toiletries
• Medical aid card
• Cell phone & charger
• A well-serviced bicycle with good tyres (tyre sealant), brakes, gears and spares
• Cycling gear, helmets, gloves and cycling shoes
• Additional water bottles and hydration pack
• Sunblock
• Something warm for early mornings and cooler evenings, plus for changeable weather during the ride
• Alternative drinks if you do not drink the wine, beer, lemon syrup and Energade on offer
• The organisers reserve the right to change the routes, and enforce the withdrawal of participants for any safety or health reasons.
• Officials must be notified of any withdrawal for whatever reason as soon as possible.
• Check in at water points are compulsory.
• Respect all private property: No smoking on route and no littering.
• Participants must be fit and able to handle technical challenges.
• No helmet, no ride.
