The Real Steel Race

Elgin/Grabouw | 20 April 2023 | Partner Contributed

Wanting to see how fast your Real Steel Steed can go?

This is the event for you! Racing 3 segments between the Franschhoek Motor Museum and the Trail’s End Bicycle Museum at Trail’s End Bike Hotel in Elgin. The catch? You have to race a pre-1999 steel (or other metal) bike with traditional pedals and toe clips or flats (no cleat pedals); downtube shifters; and drop handlebars. Are you ready to race for the KOM/QOM??

The race will start at the Franschhoek Motor Museum with a morning coffee, the group will then roll together socially to the base of the Franschhoek Pass where the the first timed segment will be to the Summit of the Franschhoek Pass. At the summit there will be snacks and drinks, maybe even some Champagne!

The group will roll down the other side of the pass to the next segment, a flat and fast segment to the bridge over the Theewaterskloof Dam, there will be another snack stop before rolling to the bottom of last segment, the Viljoen’s Pass KOM/QOM.

After a beer stop at the top of Viljoen’s Pass the group will roll together to Trail’s End and the Finisher’s Party and Prize Giving!

The entry fee includes the waterpoints and the post race braai and all profits will go to supporting the running of the Trail’s End Bicycle Museum, first bicycle museum in Africa.

Route Details | 72km; 1080m vert.

Neutral Zone: 13km roll through to the base of Franschhoek Pass

Segment 1: 7km; 450m vert. finishing at a watering hole at the top of Franschhoek Pass

Neutral Zone: 7km down the back of Franschhoek Pass

Segment 2: 10km; 33m vert. Fast and Flat section from the base of the pass along the edge of the Theewaterskloof Dam to the bridge. Let’s hope for a tail wind!

Neutral Zone: 19km a scenic cruise through the farmlands of Vyeboom, along the Graymead Road.

Segment 3: 2km; 130m vert. A short punchy climb up Viljoen’s Pass to end the day.

Neutral Zone: 17km down into the Elgin Valley to Trail’s End for the after party.

Cars may be left at Franschhoek Motor Museum, we can arrange bag transfers so that you can ride back the next morning, or get your spouse, offspring, friend etc. to follow the race by car and join the festivities at the end (Spectator Braai tickets available for R280).

Great prizes up for grabs for each segment and fun prizes for great outfits and crazy bikes!

Stay over at Trail’s End and get your family and friends to join too to make a weekend of it. Visit www.trailsend.bike to book, and pop us a mail at [email protected] with any queries.

If you’re worried that you don’t have a Real Steel bike to compete on, there is a special tab on BikeHub that you can browse (https://bikehub.co.za/classifieds/c/vintage-bikes), or head over to the legends at Woodstock Cycle Works, or hit us up and we can try to organise one for you.