Freedom Challenge - Race across South Africa

[ScottM]

Anyone thought about doing this?

http://www.freedomchallenge.org.za/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=41&Itemid=65

At 1500 miles and mostly dirt roads, it seems like it's the closest thing out there to the GDR.  Yet it's different.

First, there seems to be accommodations every 4 hours or so.  That's by design of the trail --  it's designed for bike touring and also for economic development of the towns it travels through.  From the photo gallery, it looks like many people don't bring sleep / bivy gear.  That changes a lot.

GPS is not allowed.  But cell phones are.  Completely opposite of the GDR.  I dug a bit into the forums to figure out the reasoning behind the GPS rule, and apparently route finding is a major issue.  People mention you often have to talk to the locals to figure out where to go.  That's all well and good, but it gives a major advantage to people that live there and also people who have ridden the route before.  Seems like the cue sheets / maps may not be well developed.

Here are the records:

Freedom Challenge Race across South Africa
Male Tim James (2008) 14:12:15.
Female Hannele Steyn-Kotze (2007) 19:9:03
SS Andre Britz (2007) 21:10:57

Another major difference is that this race is not free.  It's ZAR8000 ($800) and it gets you:

A full set of 1:50 000 topographical maps of the Freedom Trail.
Meals and accommodation of the competing challenger at all support stations during the Ride to Freedom.
Sponsored supplements for the competing challenger at support stations. Challengers will be notified of available supplements and refreshments.
Sponsored products.


When you add up food and hotel on a full GDR, this might actually be cheaper.  You just have to get yourself there!

Also, note that only 1/3rd of the route is complete.  This is going to be a beast when it's all done.

[Kevin Montgomery]

Where did you read GPS was banned?

"21.1 During the Ride to Freedom Challengers are restricted to the use of traditional forms of navigation. This includes time, distance as known or measured on a map, speed as is computed with simple arithmetic and direction as indicted by magnetic compass and GPS.

21.2 Other electronic or mechanical devices that measure speed and direction are prohibited, i.e. Loran, night vision goggles."

Also, this race doesn't sound "self-supported" to me.

[ScottM]

Well spotted.  In this forum thread it says:

Our goal is to engender a sense of self-sufficiency and independence.  Accordingly no use of GPS will be permitted except in the following circumstances:
- Each participant will be supplied with a GPS unit in a sealed unit for use in emergencies only.
- If the unit is used it must be reported at the next support station and a time penalty will be incurred (probably 24 hours).
- The time penalty will probably be implemented immediately (ie you will not be allowed to proceed further along the trail until the penalty period has elapsed).
Each participant will also be supplied with a transponder that we will be able to use to locate you (or at least to get a fair idea of where you might be).

This may have applied to the '08 version.  The rule you pointed out may be modified for '09.  I'll ask for a clarification.

Yep, it seems several of the key players in the race hesitate to call it self supported.

[TimTitus]

Carl H directed me to this site. Its great to have some interest in our race from your side of the pond. The GDR and FC do have a lot in common and it will be interesting when someone has finally done both events to really get a good comparison.

The FC is a race held once a year in mid June to promote the Freedom Trail, which is available for touring throughout the year. One of the main objectives of the Trail is to provide employment for the communities along the route. The community based hiking lodges, B&Bs and small hotels all benefit. Some guides have been trained and some bikes have been donated and small local clubs have sprung up. Enough of the Trail though, this a race thread, is it not?

During the race, at roughly 100km intervals there is a “Support Station” where you will be given a bed and a square meal. For the average rider this is a manageable days ride. The average speeds are slower than GDR due to the many cow paths, donkey paths, hiking trails and portage sections. The most famous of these would be Lehanas Pass, which is a portage of 1000m vertical in about 6km. This takes us up over the Drakensberg (3000m/10000’) on a small herders path. Vuvu is a good example of the community benefiting from the race. There is no lodge or B&B. The villagers are subsistence farmers. We arrive at the school to an amazing welcome. They bring food. A camping shower is rigged up outside with the water being heated up in a huge cast iron pot over a fire (there is no electricity). They open their homes to us and will vacate a bedroom, usually the master bedroom. The bedroom is more than likely also be the lounge, dining room and kitchen. The whole community benefits from the race coming through Vuvu and they show us incredible hospitality. It is probably the highlight of their year.

The racers up front will be doubling up most days and may also be making other sleeping plans on some nights. To each of the support stations you may send a 2liter container with whatever you think you may need to get you to the next SS. These have to be marked and in Cape Town by a certain date and are then distributed to the appropriate SS. As the route avoids the small towns as far as possible, it would be difficult to buy supplies along the way as with the GDR.

The entrance fee has gone up this year but if you are “touring” the race and sleeping in each of the 26 SS’s this would work out to about $40 per night for your “dinner, bed and breakfast”. I think that the race organizer may be paying the SS the full fee this year even if you only stop for a quick late lunch. Soon a race strategy of only 14 nights you end up effectively paying a bit more for you accommodation. Outside seconding along the route is not allowed.

I think the rationale behind the “no GPS rule” is to encourage you to really become more at one with the environment and not just to be following a line on a screen. But if riding for 18 hours a day and possibly not being able to charge batteries every night a GPS may just let you down at the worst time. How do GDR racers charge batteries? We have a similar Sports Tracker system to yours which has an emergency feature but if activated results in immediate disqualification. Your route can be checked and this makes for great cyber spectating. But you are correct in that it would be difficult to race to your full potential first time out. But I guess “school fees” are worth a lot in the GDR as well.

Being winter, one can expect to be caught in snow at some stage. The Cape is also a winter rainfall area with frontal weather patterns. Last year the guys had to ride in rain for the last few days and had some flooded rivers to cross. Its hard to get away with less than 10kg and most choose to use a small backpack instead of carrier systems.

This year there are 60 entrants. There will be 5 starts at 0600 under the Town Hall clock tower on 5 successive days. Your own elapsed time is all that counts. This is due to the limited accommodation at most SS’s.

They are both wonderful events. Some differences, but many similarities.

[carlhutch]

Whilst the rain has plagued the GDMBR this year it has been the same story at the freedom challenge in S Africa.Ive been trying to watch both events from far away this year and its fair to say Tim James is the Matthew Lee of the freedom Challenge.Tim broke his own record by a huge 21 hrs this year.Tims sleep pattern in hrs over the last 5 days was 4-3-2-1-1.

I gave him a set of 6 GDR maps earlier this year 

[protoceratops]

21.1 During the Ride to Freedom Challengers are restricted to the use of traditional forms of navigation. This includes time, distance as known or measured on a map, speed as is computed with simple arithmetic and direction as indicted by magnetic compass.

21.2 Other electronic or mechanical devices that measure speed and direction are prohibited, i.e. Loran, night vision goggles, GPS.


Kevin, this is what I saw on the rules page.  GPS prohibited.  Two different rules pages?  Evolved since 11/2008?  Looks like it also makes ordinary bike computers illegal too...wondering how to "measure speed and direction" with night vision goggles.  Any ideas?

[Jilleo]

Bumping this thread. Out of curiosity, has anyone on this forum ridden the Freedom Challenge? I'm giving some thought to 2014.

[james-o]

Jill, it could be worth looking up Alex Harris, a South African racer in this year's TDR. I rode with him for a few days and he talked about the FC. He's ridden it a couple of times at least, and won it one year. Sounded like a tough race.

[Jilleo]

James, thanks for the suggestion. I'll see if I can get ahold of Alex. I'd love to hear his thoughts about how the experience and terrain of the Freedom Challenge compares to the Tour Divide. From my understanding from another friend who's ridden part of that route, there's a fair amount more trail, or at least animal track, as well as some off-trail hike-a-biking. The navigation aspect seems like an nightmare for people like me who are dependent on modern GPS crutches and thus have few real map navigation skills. But it's intriguing nonetheless. I've long wanted to visit South Africa; to tour across the country on a mountain bike would be fantastic, and the semi-supported nature of the Freedom Challenge is inviting due to the scary factor of wild camping alone in Africa. Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone who's ridden it before. I want to get a few more opinions before I commit.

[openroad]

Jill, it could be worth looking up Alex Harris, a South African racer in this year's TDR. I rode with him for a few days and he talked about the FC. He's ridden it a couple of times at least, and won it one year. Sounded like a tough race.

James, how then heck are you!

[openroad]

James, thanks for the suggestion. I'll see if I can get ahold of Alex. I'd love to hear his thoughts about how the experience and terrain of the Freedom Challenge compares to the Tour Divide. From my understanding from another friend who's ridden part of that route, there's a fair amount more trail, or at least animal track, as well as some off-trail hike-a-biking. The navigation aspect seems like an nightmare for people like me who are dependent on modern GPS crutches and thus have few real map navigation skills. But it's intriguing nonetheless. I've long wanted to visit South Africa; to tour across the country on a mountain bike would be fantastic, and the semi-supported nature of the Freedom Challenge is inviting due to the scary factor of wild camping alone in Africa. Anyway, I'd love to hear from anyone who's ridden it before. I want to get a few more opinions before I commit.

Hill Jill. Great to hear you are keen to do the FC. I raced it in '10, '11, and 2012' and then this year raced the TD. Will happily answer questions. I've also guided sections of the FC so know it well. Alex

[james-o]

James, how then heck are you!

Pretty good thanks Alex, hope you're well! (will mail you!)

[openroad]

Good stuff! alex@alexharris.co.za

[Jilleo]

Thanks for responding to my post, Alex! I sent you an e-mail.