Get on your bicycle and celebrate

On January 30 the Barberton Rotary Club will host their 20th race. “It’s a great achievement for the club, and we trust that we will continue with this race for at least the next 20 years,” says George Pearse, Barberton Rotary Club president.

For the past 20 years cyclists have been visiting the beautiful small town of Barberton, also known as “The jewel of the Lowveld”. On the last Saturday of January – it is a “date”.

Riders, supporters and spectators can look forward to a great day out – a big race with a small-town feel.

Bring your picnic blanket and umbrella and enjoy the day with the club at the Barberton High School sports fields. Breakfast buns, coffee and tea will be available from the early hours of the morning, with more delicious food stalls, drink stalls, music and even a mini mountain-bike course.

Barberton Nursery School will host this mini mountain-bike challenge for children aged between 2 and 12 years. According to the principal, Gerda Coetzee, they trialed the idea in September during the launch of the Barberton XCM and were overwhelmed by the response from the locals as well as all the giggles and anxious smiles on the kids’ and the parents’ faces. “Who knows? The next world champ mountain biker might be trained right here in Barberton.”

The Barberton daisy is known world wide for the beautiful, delicate flower that it is, however, the slogan is not “Not as delicate as a daisy” for nothing.

Cyclists can choose between the easier (delicate) fun rides of 20km or 30km and the not so delicate and possibly one of the toughest half-marathon routes in the country, the 48km, the 77km or the big 110km ultramarathon through the Makonjwa Mountains.

Riders will enjoy a variety of landscapes, including the macadamia orchids of Danroc, sugar cane and macadamia farm and bushveld-like stretches of Jeddo Stoetery, the magnificent scenery of the Mountainlands Nature Reserve, through Sappi plantations and finally – just before you reach town – the beautiful Greenstone Wildlife Estate.

Pearse further reiterated that the race would not be possible without the hard work of the Barberton Rotarians, “It’s basically a full-time job and the guys really go the extra mile to ensure that we deliver a race that we can be proud of. A great event and race is not possible without the athletes, locals and of course, the sponsors. The local Choice Pharmacy and Coca-Cola are the main sponsors of 2016.

Ultimately every cent that we make with this race goes towards Rotary charity projects. Having fun, catching a tan, exercising and socialising all in the name of charity, sounds like a good deal to me.”

Make sure you are part of one of the most popular mountain-bike races in South Africa, enter the Barberton XCM now!

For more information regarding the race, our sponsors, accommodation, things to do in Barberton and so much more, visit www.barbertonxcm.co.za.

Pre-enter the race at www.cycleevents.co.za. Pre-entries close on Tuesday, January 26 at 23:00. Late entries and registration at Barberton High School on Friday, January 29 from 15:00-21:00 and Saturday, January 30 from 05:30. Branded shirts and buffs will be available to purchase online and at registration.