Plett MTB Festival
Plett, set in the iconic Garden Route, is the new carbon of MTB event destinations. Single track, jeep track, farm road or forest canopy, when it comes to grinding gears, Plett is the place to do it. Get ready for a ‘TNT’ (Trail Not Tar) extravaganza! The Plett MTB Festival offers the whole family an opportunity to get involved in the fastest growing sport in Africa. Three days of nothing but mud, sweat and gears, and of course more fun than you can shake a stick at, will see you spinning your cogs through farm lands and along coastlines.
Now, we know what you’re thinking… MTB race!!! …isn’t that tough? This is exactly where the Plett MTB Festival’s got your back. Riders from absolutely all levels of proficiency are welcome to test their mettle. From young saplings to gnarly root rockers, the three-day festival is a celebration of MTB fun for ‘Fanie Flipflop’ to ‘Rodney Racesnake’. No excuses! Simply load the bikes and bring along the whole family for an event so exciting, you’ll be giddy for days.
So, what’s the plan, Stan?
For our inaugural event, we are taking riders through the verdant wonderland that is Cairnbrogie Dairy Farm. From cow pat grasslands, to the ancient forests of MTO and SanParks, there is no lack of breathtaking scenery or variety. Focused on the family as a whole, means that there will be plenty to do for young and old. Delicious food aplenty, Red Bridge Brewing Company and Phantom Craft Gin thrilling all with a tasty tipple or three and the little ones enjoying a little challenge of their own at the Cairnbrogie pump track, will see this event calling you back for more.
Day 1, Saturday 14th December 2019.
Cairnbrogie will play host to most of our MTB activities this weekend. Registration starts at 11h00. Then the fun begins, XCO for the youngsters, age Categories from 10yrs up to 16yrs will be catered for, throughout the afternoon, starting at 15h00, followed by a short prize-giving. At 18h00 there will be a short Race Briefing followed by the exciting and crowd-friendly Night XCO, frenetic lap racing, on a non-technical course. (No. of laps to be announced). Local beer on sale, food trucks that will delight. Bring the whole family. Remember, what happens in the dark, STAYS in the dark.
Day 2, Sunday 15th December 2019.
One of the requests I receive most often on the Cycles in the Forest platform, is a ride from Plett to Knysna, or Knysna to Plett….and the Plett MTB Festival will be the FIRST to offer this ride as a Stage in an MTB race. This year it’s the ‘up ride’ Knysna to Plett. Racing will start at Kruisfontein (just outside Knysna) and will take you on an MTB journey that will blow your MTB socks off! The best of the Coastal Corridor, iconic Harkerville single tracks, jeep tracks and homeward bound back to Cairnbrogie. Not too technical, and with distance and elevation gain that every rider will manage. (Watch the press for the inaugural ‘down ride’ next year). We finish this day back at our ‘home’ of Cairnbrogie.
Day 3, Monday 16th December 2019.
And so, we saved the best for last; the cherry on the proverbial Festival cake!! TWO distances, 68km and 38km, both out-and-back loops from Cairnbrogie. The longer route is also a Plett MTB Festival FIRST….on a race route NEVER used before, so this will delight both locals and visitors alike. The shorter distance has been included so that younger riders, and those feeling less energetic, who start the event on Saturday, can participate in the entire weekend’s racing. Festivities will continue at Cairnbrogie throughout the day, with prize-giving in the afternoon.