Imana Wild Ride 2008!
July 27th, 2008 by Dan Hugo
Imana Wild Ride - wildride.co.za
I am in East London, a city higher up South Africa’s south coast, from where I’ll travel with partner Max Knox to Kei Mouth, for what has become a legendary mountain bike race in South African mountain biking folklore.
I’d been told, a few years ago, by a friend who fought on four years of waiting list, that if I ever got half a chance to get into the Wild Ride, I was to never pass it up. There’s something like a 10year waiting list, which I’ve been able to leap frog thanks to gracious kindness by the powers at be.
The intention was to ride socially, tag a sponsor along, enjoy the breathtaking scenery of the unspoilt undeveloped coast line, and network with the high and mighty who’ve also found favour from the discretionary few. My plan was set, and my influential partner was braced for a few days of beach riding, but board meetings for a mining magnate were unavoidable, and on Friday he passed the bucket to a sponsored rider of his. This being Max – A beyond gifted marathon rider. So that lengthy explanation to why I know think I may be pegged in the big blade as opposed to taking more video clips for you to enjoy the privileged ride with me.
I’m hoping to blog from each boutique hotel at our over nights, but wouldn’t be surprised if there is no mobile reception at all. The race starts on the beach, and then heads north on the coast for four days. Only around 40km per day on average. The only real instruction to get through each day to the next little hotel, is to “keep the sea on your right”. No route marking, but a map is given each night I believe. It’s an experience game again, with route knowledge outweighing fitness and ability.
To be continued in the morning… Wrote that on the plane and guys are switching off the lights in our back packers dorm here. Some dreaded hippies still dancing away up the hill, and waves breaking down below. Should be a magically memorable week this.
