Former professional rider Nic White (recently relocated from Gauteng to the Cape) has carved out a few niches in his post-race career, including a successful coaching and bike-fitment business with his wife Diane; but none have given him – or his clients – more pleasure than a leap onto the burgeoning gravel-biking bandwagon.

The adventure we look at here is a prime example of how customisable a tour of the backroads in South Africa can be. It’s a long one, with very big days, and was crafted for riders who want that side of the adventure; but the expansion of the touring business has led to many more manageable options. 

”We like to keep the distances a bit shorter, more achievable, and with more time to have fun and drink beer.”

“Back in Jozi, we were doing plenty of gravel-bike riding before Covid hit. It was our preferred choice of biking. Along with the few Lesotho trips we’d been doing for many years (since 2005), we’d put on a few Amashova road trips for groups over the years. 

“We decided we wanted to explore more options off the beaten track, with gravel bikes. The main route to Durban isn’t exactly direct, and the roads were deteriorating on some parts, which made our traditional route not really rideable any longer. So we started searching for an off-road option, and came up with some nice sections – we’d ridden some parts on Joberg2c, etc. 

“And that’s how our adventure was created; or should I say expanded on. We wanted to ride from home in Johannesburg, along our regular training roads, and then head for a really nice place to end, but without taking too much time off work – and thus the Drakenberg Escape was born. 

“On the fringes of the lockdown period, getting guys to head out for a few days and across a provincial border was very exciting for everyone. So we made this trip two nights away and three days of riding. 

“Heading out from Jozi, we rode to a farm beyond Frankfort; this was a long day! 206km, about half on tar roads, the rest off the beaten track and on gravel district road. The following day was almost the same distance again, but most of it on country gravel roads; and a bit of tar, past Sterkfontein Dam. Then, into the paths and hills of the Drakensberg, arriving at our destination high up on a hill in the Northern Berg.” 

“We did this trip with support, as the infrastructure in the farmlands of the Free State is rather sparse, so we needed to provide our own refreshments for the food and drink stops. Our support met us at predetermined intersections, rather than following on the dirt. 

“On our second night we stayed at the Drakensberg Greenfire Inn, a really special place we’ve used for numerous trips; we’ve stayed there often. It’s nestled high up above the Alpine Heath Resort. We approached it from the Little Switzerland area – which is not the usual way that a guest would drive in, so it’s a pretty special way to arrive. We got there in the fading light in late August that lockdown year, and were greeted with a warm, cosy fire. And some cold beer, which at the time of the prohibition was a great reward! 

“The final day was a leisurely ride down towards the battlefields of KZN, and we finished in Bergville, with a place for a good lunch and a clean-up before heading back to Jozi by vehicle.”

What a cracker of an adventure, albeit extreme in nature – too extreme for most. “We’ve even built some routes for people to do a gravel trip all the way from Joburg to Durban; but it does end up mostly being 160-200km days, unless you take six to eight days. So we like to keep the distances a bit shorter, more achievable, and with more time to have fun and drink beer.” 

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