GravDuro 26 October 2024 Gravel Trails End Grabouw

The GravDuro popped up and I was excited to ride the Grabouw and Elgin Trails after the rain. I have ridden most of the on my MTB over the years and thought Gravel would be fun, including Hans se Kop to finish, one I haven’t done before.

The format was to have 6 timed stages with routes interlinking the stages starting at Trails End. For the racers they went flat out on the timed stages to win the race and their categories. I took it as an opportunity to have a great day out.

Amazing weather and the first 4 stages through the valleys, mainly dirt roads and tracks. Always stunning and strange to do it on gravel bike. Then to get to Hans se Kop it was up some of the A-Z trails and some properly washed away roads. Until the tar climb this was MTB territory but managed. The mast climb was proper and rode it surprisingly well and managed with my gearing. After the timed stop in the saddle, a beer and hot-dog and then climbed to the top. Back down to Trails End was hard after the tar with most tracks washed away after the rains.

Again, a lovely day out in the beautiful Cape and perfect timing before the Sunday storms.