Date 30 April – 3 May 2020 | Distance 243km | Ascent 4807m | Cut Off 72 hours | Meals 9 | Overnight Points 3
R8 500 per rider
Sharing
The Concept
A Spiritual bicycle journey in the most sparsely populated but exceptionally hospitable region of South Africa – the Namaqualand. There are easier ways to traverse a region, but besides hiking there isn’t a way that immerses yourself in the landscape quite like cycling. Now throw everything you need on your bike and you’re bikepacking.
The Location
Namaqua Coastal Route, the piece of South Africa often referred to as Eenkantland. The Challenge will traverse from Okiep Country Hotel an historic mining town to the great coastal plains of the Atlantic Ocean at the small fishing village of Hondeklipbaai.
The Fees
R10 000 per rider
Single room
Includes
9 Scrumptious Meals | 5 Star & Under The Stars Accommodation | Event Merchandise | Event Logistics
The Schedule
30 April – 3 May 2020
| Date | Description | Destination | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 April 2020 | Arrival | Okiep, Country Hotel | From 14:00 |
| Welcoming Ceremony Dinner | Okiep, Country Hotel | 19:00 | |
| 1 May 2020 | Start | Okiep, Country Hotel | 8:00 |
| 4 May 2020 | Cut off | Hondeklip Baai | 8:00 |
The Route
There is not one designated route for the event and riders can choose between Green and Red Route options. Green being the easier less technical route and red being the opposite. There will be minimal route markings on the route only indicating major turn offs, basic map knowledge will be required and GPX files will be provided for navigation devices.
| Green Route | Red Route | |
| Okiep to Nigramoep | 48km | 48km |
| Nigramoep to Naries | 44km | 32km |
| Naries to Kookfontein | 90km | 75km |
| Kookfontein to Hondeklipbaai | 61km | 61km |
| Total Distance | 243km | 216km |
The Strategy
You can choose to ride the route in one go or tour it over 72 hours and take your time to take it all in. Touring or racing, this is the structure we will provide if you skip a bed or a meal that is your strategy or choice, this also means that a breakfasts might become your dinner. Some accommodation and meals will be 5 Star and some will be under the actual stars with local cooking.
Take note there will not be any water points and no bag service.
We will provide
- Dinner and Bed the night before the start
- Breakfast on the start morning
- Lunch Stop at Nigramoep
- Dinner, bed and breakfast at Naries
- Lunch Stop at Kommagas
- Dinner, bed and breakfast at Kookfontein
- Finishers Lunch at Hondeklipbaai.
The Kiep Stations
The Passport
The most important item of your journey
How it will work
Your Bikamino Passport will be given to you at registration and you will need to carry it with you on your journey. You will be required to collect Passport stamps at points of interest, accommodation points and shops. You will need to present your completed passport at the finish in order for your journey to be recognised as an official finish.
The Rules
- Riders need to stick to the event routes and may only deviate between the Red and Green route choices.
- Passports will form part of the race and all stamps need to be collected to count as an official finish. More info on Passports.
- Riders may choose not to sleep at designated kiep stations but need to check in and out at them. Some meals will only be available in certain time frames, if you miss these time slots you forfeit your meal.
- The organiser will not transport overnight bags to any of the Kiep Stations and the riders need to carry on them what they will need for their overnight stops. The organiser will provide a sleeping structure, mattress and meal.
- There will not be any water points on route except for the designated stop points. Riders must carry enough sustenance on them in between these stop points and or make use of local shops in the area.
- The road is open for normal traffic. Please obey all traffic rules, officials, marshals and medics.
- Remember that certain points on the route are very remote or isolated where access to medical support may be limited and take significant time to reach.
- Closed gates on the route must be closed after you went through it.
- Riders must be self-sufficient between kiep stations and must carry basic repair and puncture kits.
- Strictly NO Littering
- Riders will be traveling through people’s homelands, courtesy and friendliness will go a long way
- Rider safety and vigilance of possible danger will be the responsibility of the riders.
- NO Assistance by family or friends will be allowed on route or Kiep Stations.
- Riders may assist and be assisted by fellow competitors / race official and local inhabitants of the area.
- Withdrawal must be reported to the nearest marshal or Kiep Station. Riders may phone the event organiser to notify them of a problem, without any penalty.
- GPS Trackers will be provided to all participants with an emergency notification button on each device, to be used when there is no cellphone signal.
- Marshalls and officials will apply rules at own discretion.
- The decision of the race judge will be final.
The following compulsory equipment is required and must be seen as the bare minimum to be on the bike (this will be checked):
- Helmet to be worn at all times while riding
- Basic first aid kit (with bandages, strapping and Antihistamine)
- Space Blanket
- Bivvy or Sleeping Bag
- Waterproof Jacket
- Base Layer Top and Bottom
- Buff or Beanie
- Puncture repair kit or spare tubes
- Front and Rear Lights and spare batteries or charger
- Whistle
- Passport
- Bike Number
