Last month, 75 of us headed deep into the Great Karoo to ride The Kindling – a two-and-a-half stage preview of the Nedbank Gravel Burn designed to test everything from rider experience to event logistics. It was a huge success – so much so that we’ve decided to launch an additional annual event over three days for April next year, starting and finishing in Graaff Reinet. More on that soon.
We had three core objectives in mind when setting off on The Kindling. First, we wanted to give stakeholders a real sense of the event and align their expectations with our own. That meant letting sponsor representatives experience the race environment firsthand – camping under the stars, sharing stories around the fire, and getting a feel for the terrain.
Second, we set out to stress-test our equipment and infrastructure – from the Lapa-style camps and camp beds to the catering, connectivity, and the many details that need to come together to run a smooth stage race.
Third, we needed to capture new footage and media assets to showcase what riders can expect in October.
In every way, The Kindling was a prototype of the main event. We stayed two nights at the Burn Camp at Blaauwater Farm, replicating the full overnight experience. We even tested four different bib number designs to assess visibility and durability, evaluated head tube stickers for legibility after long distances and trialled a few versions of the handlebar-mounted number plates, amongst many other aspects of our race.
At Blaauwater, we checked the quality of the borehole water, the drainage systems and septic tanks and the full overnight setup. Everything worked just as we’d hoped.
Sleeping under the Karoo stars was an unforgettable experience. One evening we gathered around the fire for a fascinating chat with the curator of the Graaff Reinet Palaeontology Museum, who shared some fascinating insights into the region’s deep history and the prehistoric creatures that once roamed its plains.
If you’ve seen the photos, you’ll notice that the Karoo was unusually green – thanks to rare and generous rainfall. Don’t expect the same in November, when the landscape typically returns to its more familiar arid beauty.
We also test-rode a new concept we’re planning for the event: the Night Burn criterium. We won’t give too much away yet, but at The Kindling we had DJs, bonfires, lights, smoke machines (and racing) – setting the scene for what promises to be a unique and high-energy nighttime spectacle.
Specialized brought along a full fleet of gravel bikes, giving us a chance to ride different models and set-ups, which added to the fun.
I rode every stage alongside 25 other riders – the rest of the group was split between guests and crew – and came away with a few observations that might help riders prepare for November (bearing in mind I’m 52 and probably not at my fighting weight!)
I tested all three suspension setups: rigid, front suspension only and full suspension. My recommendation? Opt for full-suspension if you can and at the very least, seriously consider a front suspension solution. A seven-day gravel race in Africa is not the same as cruising the smooth ‘gravel’ roads of The Netherlands. While our routes avoid harsh corrugation, the environment is still demanding – even a little bit of suspension makes a big difference over a long week of riding.
As I mentioned, The Kindling went so well that we decided on the spot to create a second event: a three-day version of the Nedbank Gravel Burn based entirely out of Graaff Reinet. This iconic Karoo town, almost equidistant between Cape Town and Johannesburg, will make the race accessible for riders from across South Africa – and will offer a perfect introduction to the emerging discipline of multi-day gravel stage racing.
As I wrote in a previous post, one of our sponsors – a senior South African executive and experienced cyclist – summed it up best around the campfire one night: “The best day of riding in my life, bar none… it was amazing how remote and far from civilisation it all is.”
