RIDER INFO
Ahead of the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn, this page features all the information riders need to know.
CHECK YOUR KAROOPOST
In the lead-up to the event you will receive regular KarooPosts – emails packed with important updates, essential to your planning and preparation for Nedbank Gravel Burn. Additionally, this page summarises the key information from those updates.
Luggage Transport
We’ll transport your bag from Burn Camp to Burn Camp while you ride. Only one bag per rider will be transferred between Burn Camps. A luggage tag will be included in your registration pack for you to attach to your bag. Each morning, place your bag on your tent porch before departure so our team can collect it and have it waiting for you at your tent in the next Burn Camp.
Bike bags and boxes will be sent directly from Graaff Reinet to Shamwari Private Game Reserve and won’t be accessible during the event. These must be handed in on registration day.
PACKING LIST
Off-the-bike essentials include sturdy shoes, a good headlamp, sleeping bag, and a pillow for comfort. A list is available HERE.
During one of our test events, photographer and adventure rider Craig Kolesky shared how he would pack for the Nedbank Gravel Burn. He put together a short video with his personal gear choices and practical tips. This is not a sponsored post. Watch Craig Kolesky’s packing video HERE.
RACE RULES & CAMP RULES
The official race rules are live. Ensure you read them carefully before you arrive in Graaff Reinet. Respect the environment, your fellow riders, our crew, and life in our Burn Camps.
Read the rules HERE.
There is a strict no personal fire policy in all Burn Camps and the motorhome park – no open flames allowed. Only our Camp Masters are legally permitted to light one fire per Lapa. Our fire safety team is ready and well prepared to manage all official event fires, but personal fires or flames of any kind are not permitted.
RIDER FORUM - ESCAPE COLLECTIVE
Escape Collective is a leading independent cycling content source and they have generously created a dedicated rider forum – a space to connect, ask questions, and swap tips before the race.
Access the Rider Forum HERE.
RIDER FEATURES
The first of the 2026 registered rider stories are on the website. Each one gives a glimpse into the different paths riders are taking to the start line. From ambitious newcomers to experienced endurance athletes, you all arrive with your own story.
- Unfinished Business: A Father-Daughter Bond Forged in the Karoo Dust
- Life moves fast. Stop and look around for a while or you could miss it
- Sandro, the mechanic from Maranello, gets ready for the challenges of the Karoo
- Jodi Zulberg set to relive her ultimate gravel adventure in the Great Karoo
- Beyond the Boardroom
- From 750 Metres to 750 Kilometres
- Deby Brunold: Why I Ride
- Lina Bo’s next big adventure is the Karoo
A NOTE ON SUPPORTERS
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a full-service race, with Burn Camps on remote private farmlands, which are not open to the public. Supporters and day visitors unfortunately may not join us, as the nearest parking is often several kilometres away. While the route uses public roads, these are quiet rural roads and to keep them this way, only official event support vehicles are permitted to follow the race. There are no spectator points along the route.
As the final day of the event is a loop stage, we’ll welcome your family and friends to join us for the day. More information to follow.
PADSTALS
“Padstal” is the Afrikaans word for a farm stall or roadside shop, often found in remote areas of South Africa. This the name we have given to our service stations.
Along the race route, our Padstals will provide riders with nutrition and technical support. There will be two to three Padstals per stage, depending on distance and difficulty.
Here you’ll find AMACX nutrition, fresh fruit, boiled potatoes, savoury and sweet sandwiches and more! At each Padstal we provide Neutral Tech Support – this tech service at the Padstals is free but you’ll need to pay for all spare parts provided / fitted.
Please remember to treat the areas we go through with the utmost respect. Absolutely NO littering!
MARKING THE MOMENT
To mark the commitment, we have created an “I’m riding” graphic for you. Share it, or keep it as a reminder of what you have signed up for. Download it here.
STRAVA CLUB - TRAIN TOGETHER
If you haven’t already, join our official Nedbank Gravel Burn Strava club and connect with fellow riders preparing for 2026. It’s a great way to see who else is lining up, share sessions and stay motivated in the months ahead.
Join here.
LIGHT AND POWER
Every evening, in your tent, you will find an all-in-one lantern and power supply. It will light up your space and also serve as a 9,900 mAh powerbank with two USB ports (USB A and USB C), so you can keep your essentials charged overnight. If you plan to power more than one device at a time, we recommend bringing a multiport adapter, and if you know you will need extra capacity, your own powerbank is a good idea too. Each morning, please leave the lantern in your tent. When you arrive at the next Burn Camp, a freshly charged one will be waiting for you.
Connectivity
Thanks to our technology partners NTT, Fortinet, and Herotel, we’ll have essential connectivity in Burn Camps where there was absolutely none before the Nedbank Gravel Burn arrived. Priority is given to the essentials – safety, medical support and race timing – while riders will enjoy WiFi only in the Finish Boma at each Burn Camp. In the Lapas, however, it’s all about switching off – a rare digital detox that sparks real conversations and lets you soak up the Karoo nights without distraction
Through GivenGain you can set up your own fundraising page or make direct contributions. Every donation adds meaning to your ride. You can support your own chosen cause, or contribute to our event charities: VulPro, Shamwari Foundation, or the South African College of Tourism.
2O25 Rider Info Evening video
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are our most commonly asked questions on exactly this.
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a full-service race. Spectators and supporters cannot join us during the race. Burn Camps are private and remote, not open to visitors. The roads used are quiet and only official vehicles may follow the race.
We’d like to welcome family and friends to join us during the day on Stage 7. Find more info on our Optional Extras page.
One bag per rider is moved between Burn Camps each day. Place it outside your tent each morning for collection. Bike boxes and extra luggage are sent straight to Shamwari and can only be collected at the finish.
Go tubeless, run wide tyres (as wide as your frame will accommodate, ensure your gear ratios are appropriate to your level of fitness and consider a suspension set up. The Equipment section on our website has more complete guidance on this.
Specialized provides Neutral Tech Support at every Padstal. You can pre-book maintenance packages or walk in during the race. Parts will be charged for separately.
At the Padstals, you’ll find AMACX nutrition, fresh fruit, boiled potatoes, savoury and sweet sandwiches and more! Specialized will also be at each Padstal providing Neutral Tech Support. The tech service at the Padstals is free but you’ll need to pay for all spare parts provided / fitted.
Yes. They will be released a few days ahead of the start of the race. Although the course is fully marked, loading the GPX files onto your GPS device is highly recommended in case weather or wildlife interferes with signage.
- South African and Namibian riders: valid CSA annual membership covering the race dates.
- International riders: License from their Home Federation OR CSA day licences for each of the seven stages, available on the CSA website.