[box type=”shadow” align=”aligncenter” width=”750″ ]Sus the Engen Ngwenya Glass Mountain Bike Challenge
Date: 11 July 2015
Distance: 70km
Website: ngwenyaglass.co.sz
Facebook: Ngwenya Glass MTB
Report By: Max Knox @MaxKnoxcycling[/box]
This past weekend I was privileged enough to race my first event in Swaziland. To say I was excited was a small understatement. After pretty much racing in every corner of South Africa and Europe I was dying to get into Swaziland!
The trip was absolutely painless and surprisingly close to all the main cities of South Africa, which left me feeling rather guilty as it’s very easy to shoot into the country for a short trip, and not have done so before left me a little embarrassed considering Swaziland is basically on our doorstep.
I really didn’t have any idea what to expect though having never been to Swaziland, and I must be honest my expectations where not too high. However, they were soon readjusted. The country side was strikingly beautiful and amazingly clean. The local people where immensely friendly, helpful, and they seem to take great pride in not only their appearance but also keeping their country clean. The terrain around the small village of Ngwenya where the race is held is very diverse with grasslands, pine forest and many amazing singletracks. Basically all the ingredients for hosting a fantastic bike race and every rider’s dream terrain.
There were four race distances on offer to cater for the whole family; naturally I competed in the 70km marathon. The course was fantastic, featuring a complete mixture of diverse terrain which changed all the time, from riding in lowlands, to climbing in the pine forests. It kept me so invigorated. The singletracks, of which there was an abundance, were flowing and pristine. The country side clean and neat, the spectators along the route where awesome cheering all the riders along. Plus the views were breath-taking and the course markers where amazing and I believe there was no one that got lost at all.
It truly was a magical morning out and I feel absolutely blessed to have been there to see the country side and find out what the mountain bike communities in Swaziland are up too.
Before heading off to Swaziland for the race (which was only a two hour drive from Sabie) I honestly believed that it would be a rustic race. That was the biggest misconception that I could have had. Everything about the event was amazing. The attention to detail, the passion and help the race crew gave every rider was awesome. Every person who did the race left feeling like they were treated like royalty and at prize giving I saw nothing but huge grins on all the riders.
For South Africans travelling to Swaziland, of which this was my first time doing it, the process is really painless.
Accommodation in Swaziland is extremely cheap, considering the great quality accommodation on offer. Mbabane, the capital of the country, looks a little run down but you will be blown away with how clean it is and how proud the Swazi people are of their national heritage. I would say 99 percent of South African towns are dirtier and more nerve racking. The weather is also beautiful this time of year in Swaziland and next year I would like to see many of the JHB families making the trip down for the weekend to enjoy this countries amazing riding and awesome hospitality. What better way to beat winter? I certainly will be taking a hoard of Lowveld riders back with me!
For those wondering about the results of the race I pulled of the win by about 15 minutes. Next year hopefully we can see some more of the local pro riders there to give the race a good crack and maybe make me suffer a little more.
Personally I don’t think this little gem of a race is going to stay small and personalised for too much longer, so if you’re looking for a weekend away next year don’t miss this race. It’s an absolute must do. Get in quick and early.
For me personally after experiencing the friendly nation of Swaziland, the cheaper cost of living and seeing all the beautiful terrain on offer, I’ll be back on regular occasions for training camps there.
Look forward to seeing you all there next year.
Word and photos by Max Knox.
[author image=”https://fullsus.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Max-profile-pic.jpg” ]Max Knox is one of SA’s top pro mountain bikers, he rides for Biogen Volcan and is based in Sabie in the Mpumalanga Lowveld. Follow him on Twitter @MaxKnoxcycling. [/author]
