MOUNTAIN BIKE ROUTES
Competitors have three distances to choose from (i.e. the 75Km Monster, a 45Km Race and a 20Km Fun Ride), this gives all levels of MTB enthusiasts the unique opportunity of riding some of the best MTB trails in the country. The awesome routes have everything a quality MTB race should have…mountains, tough climbs, technical single-track, undulating jeep-track, adrenaline-pumping down hills and pure countryside - all this in the heart of Magaliesberg mountain range, situated only one and half hours drive from JHB & PTA!
The 75KM MONSTER:
Starting from the Buffelspoort Holiday Resort, the route immediately heads into the nearby citrus orchards, and then up to and along the Buffelspoort dam with the Monster looming in the background. After some gnarly single-track, riders get a taste of what lies ahead with a climb through Utopia Resort and a ‘soft’ downhill through Mountain Sanctuary Park. Then onto the Monster… a tough 9kms of pristine climbing makes the riders sweat through awesome rock formations and magnificent views of the Buffelspoort valley until the top of Breedtsnek and Tamer of the Monster.
After some well-earned refreshments, an exhilarating 6km ride down the Maanhaarrand dirt road lies ahead, reaching speeds of up to 80km/h! The route then winds through Kromrivier and Rietfontein, along jeep-track and country roads until a downhill which joins up with the Zuurplaat road for a climb to test ones endurance.
Then, home time… undulating jeep and technical single-track takes riders through more citrus orchards, back along the Buffelspoort Dam and on to the unique irrigation canal single-track to a most welcome finish.
The 45 km Route proceeds along the 75 km Monster route up to the turn off to the “Monster” climb.
From there the route winds its way through Kromrivier along jeep track and single track before crossing the 2nd bridge over the Sterkstroom towards a gravel road leading up to the Ihlanti resort where it joins up with the 75km route again heading back to the start and finish at Buffelspoort ATKV.
The 20 km Route follows the 45 & 75 km routes through the citrus orchards and along the Buffelspoort dam to the Barnardsvlei gravel road up to a point where the route splits and heads towards a tar road that leads the riders back towards Buffelspoort dam where it joins up again with the 45 & 75 km routes going back to the start and finish.
MAGALIES MONSTER 2010
Route changes and Updates by Harry Schubert (Route Organiser) 20 May 2010
Please note that the following route changes will come into effect for the 2010 Magalies Monster.
PREVIOUS ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
1. Soon after the first water point situated on the Barnardsvlei road the route went down a rocky embankment to a bridge crossing over the Sterkstroom, which was for most riders a down hill portage section
2. On top of Mountain Sanctuary Park the route used to run through the bottom section of the camping ground
3. After exiting from Mountain Sanctuary Park the route used to run along a sandy and corrugated gravel road past the split of the 45 km from the 75 km race and a bit further up the road the turn-off to the “Monster”
4. After the ascent from the ring road towards the Protea Ridge along a jeep track, the route changes to a single track that comes out on the tar road running past Buffelspoort Dam towards Rustenburg. From this point onwards the route continued along the tar road (past Oppieberg on the right) to a steep downhill going towards Rustenburg. At the bottom the route made a sharp right hand turn onto a gravel road linking up with the Zuurplat road and a steep 2km climb up the top
5. After the steep descent from the top of the “cell phone transmitters” next to Omaramba, the route used to cross the tar road and head down towards the Buffelspoort Dam over a fairly rough stony single track before merging with the outward bound route along the dam
6. From the steep descent down the concrete road behind the dam wall, the route runs at times on top or along side a concrete irrigation canal shaded by indigenous forest and then heads back towards the start and finish through an orange plantation and across the Sterkstroom to the entrance gate of the Buffelspoort ATKV
NEW ROUTE DESCRIPTION:
1. The route runs now through a citrus plantation and then past a fruit orchard before making a fairly steep descent down a jeep track towards the river crossing
2. The route is now making a short detour and runs behind the community hall situated at the top section of the camping ground before heading down to a short portage across a rocky mountain stream
3. Now the route turns right shortly after the exit from Mountain Sanctuary Park gate and heads down a service road before making a single track switch-back to the split of the 45km and then on to the 9km ascent up the “Monster”
4. This year the route will be crossing the tar road after coming down Protea Ridge and will link up with the route that was used until 2008. After crossing the tar road there will be a new section consisting of old service roads and jeep track before hitting a single track ascent that leads up to a ridge with a 200 m compulsory portage section followed by a single track down hill section and a farm road linking up with the Zuurplat road
5. Now the route will be crossing the tar road going into the opposite direction and descend down towards the dam through a citrus plantation before merging with the outward bound route along the dam
6. Before reaching the above mentioned orange plantation, the route turns now off through a gate and heads past the pack house and out the entrance of the citrus estate towards the start and finish at the golf course next to the Buffelspoort ATKV
PLEASE NOTE
• Points 1 to 3 of the route changes are common for both the 45 km and the 75 km distances
• The 20 km distance is not affected at all
• Route change 4 only affects the 75 km distance, while the route changes 5 & 6 will affect all 3 race distances
GENERAL
• The route changes and updates will be incorporated on the route maps and profiles that are in the process of being updated
• They will be available for display on the website in due course and will also be on display at the Registration Tent on race day