Could anyone know how much planning went into putting the new K2C route together?
It is no mean task and a huge community effort between Rotary, Timbavati, Thornybush and Kapama. Each of these private reserves works with experienced riders and practical Rotarians who have been organizing the tour for the past eight years.
Some of the critical elements that were considered when designing the new route.
- It must be challenging enough for all the skilled riders
- We must be able to accommodate e-bikes
- Potential for exciting game viewing must be catered for (and these guys know all the magic spots)
- And most important of all, if possible, we want the riders experience of the beautiful pristine bush they will be traversing to be a life changing experience!
Paul White and Candice Pierce of Timbavati who have participated in most of the previous tours have lent their professional expertise in designing just such an interesting route for the K2C Cycle Tour.
Of course, some other very practical circumstances have to be considered to accommodate well-spaced feeding and watering points for our riders along the route and also providing convenient pit stops.
Haenzberg Rotary, a bunch of seriously motivated volunteers, will again this year be providing the riders with a delicious early breakfast in the bush. They arrive the previous day, spend the night in preparation and are up at the crack of dawn to ensure a delicious warm meal is served on the cool July morning. As the pelotons arrive in waves the Rotarians feed them well. The route designers are very aware that these special people need to have a good overnight spot and a perfect place from which to serve their breakfasts for 130 people counting riders and officials.
Past President, Wilna Mew liaises with donors to sponsor water points along the route. They not only supply water but sweets, fruit and other delicious snacky goodies to keep the riders energized until lunch time and then again in the afternoon for the last lap of the tour as the winter sun starts fading.
The lunch spot is also selected with the utmost care and Paul White is fastidious to makes sure that all the team surrounding Rotarian Christine du Preez have a good venue to serve their delicious boerewors rolls. The local farmers’ wives have spent days making homemade farm boerewors especially for Christine’s lunch to nourish the riders for the last of bit of the 100 km trip. I have personally heard the requests for “Tannie can I please have another boerie roll, it was just so lekker and the best lunch I have ever had on a cycle tour”.
The K2C has become famous for its amazing route and food along the way and the new one promises to beat all expectations.” I have never seen anything like the kindness between the peloton riders and their leaders”, Peter Papsdorf, our tour Paramedic, told the organizers.
Come and ride with us and feel the sense of happiness in each of the pelotons as during the journey, your peloton becomes your family for the day, each one led by competent compassionate guides.
“I was exhausted at the end but my guide was so kind, he stayed with me, encouraging and pushing me through the tough sand areas making sure I completed the tour- how proud was I. I made it.”
