DISTANCE: 30KM

This group has been going – on mountain bikes – since 2005, and comprises riders of all ages and from all walks of life. And the rides, often done while others are sleeping and long before the sun rises, are known to strike fear and lactic acid into the legs of those brave enough to join one – there are usually around four

WHEN: TUESDAY - FRIDAY,4.45AM STARTING POINT: BP GARAGE, CORNER MILDRED & DE BRON AVE, KENRIDGE

per week, of varying distance and pace, with a bunch of guys who like riding hard.

Tuesday is the toughy. It’s pretty much full-on racing, over a 30km urban assault course through Durbanville, Plattekloof and Burgundy, before heading back to Kenridge via the infamous Tiekiedraai climb.

Some brave souls have pitched up on road bikes before, but usually meet their fate when the dikwiele hit their stride and start unloading serious dollops of wattage up the slopes of Tiekie. There’s even an annual trophy for the rider with the most KOMS in the year up this slog of a climb: the KOTS trophy – for King of Tiekie Summit, of course.

GEES FACTOR

“There’s always a sense of trepidation when joining one of these brutal rides. The pace is usually mellow for the first 10km, but eventually starts ramping up – especially when somebody goes off the front. Things get mental once Tiekiedraai is in sight. This is usually when the group splinters, and the battle begins – for bragging rights, and much-needed ‘points’ for the KOTS trophy.”

– Aaron Borrill, Bicycling Online Editor

GET INVOLVED

Contact Braam Rust on 082 822 0799 to be added to the Whatsapp group.