![\"image.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image.0fec33888ce59fb9b7a778d37582056e-1.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
\n<\/p>\n\n\tOn 10 December 2022, the discerning gravel bike and mountain bike rider will be (or should be) saddling up for the ultimate gravel hunt at the Stanford 100 Miler.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tBlow the horn, announce to the world that the hunt is underway and let yourself loose on the tar, district, rural and gravel roads of the Overstrand.
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\n\tAll that\u2019s missing will be the deafening roar of the blunderbuss as the pace hots up – though if you send enough emails to the organisers they could probably arrange one.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tEven though we use the metric system in South Africa, the event is called the Stanford 100 Miler because it just rolls off the tongue better than the Stanford 160 Kilometrerer. Isn\u2019t it odd how they spell kilometer wrong in the United States when they use miles and not kilometres anyway? That is some proper First World Imperialism nonsense right there.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tBut back to saddling up! The Stanford 100 Miler is the only way to end your 2022 gravel and mountain bike racing season. Why? Because it\u2019s literally the last gravel event on the race calendar. Happening in Stanford. That\u2019s 100 miles (169km, to be exact) long. Fact! Probably. We didn\u2019t really look it up.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tUnlike other cycling events, this one is going to blow your socks off – mainly due to the fact that it gets kak windy in Stanford in December. Jokes.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThis is a jol. This is happiness. This is cycling at its simplest, at its most soulful and at its purest. Get on your bike (gravel or MTB, up to you) and ride, ride, ride. Hunt the distance. Hunt the gravel. Hunt a great time on the bike.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tBrought to you by the okes who host The Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race (they have arm tattoos like Premier League footballers and kids with names like \u2018Willowsprout\u2019 and \u2018Elderberry\u2019, so you know they\u2019re a lot trendier than the grandpas who host the Cape Town Cycle Tour), the Stanford 100 Miler takes cycling back to what it should be – a good day out on varied road surfaces with enough of a challenge that you can talk about how great you are for finishing when it\u2019s all said and done.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tUnlike other cycling events, the Stanford 100 Miler also promises to never use the phrase \u2018done and dusted\u2019 when the event is over. That\u2019s how hip these guys are.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\t![\"image.jpeg\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.bikehub.co.za\/production\/uploads\/2023\/02\/image.980d94ff8930ced4896169c0219efbb9-1.jpeg\" "\\"\\"")
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\n\tStill not convinced? Well here\u2019s some actual event information: 2022 is the inaugural Stanford 100 Miler, total distance 169km. Gravel and mountain bikes are welcome.\n<\/p>\n
\n\tThe race will start and finish at Stanford Hills Estate. The route will take you out of Stanford in the direction of Bredasdorp and on towards Elim. From Elim, it\u2019s on to Wolvengat, a funkily named town that was originally called Wolvengat but then changed names to Viljoenshof in honour of a local minister but was mercifully changed back to Wolvengat to now give you the great privilege of telling your friends that, yes, you have actually cycled through a town called Wolvengat.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tAfter Wolvengat the hounds are unleashed and it\u2019s pure gravel riding to Baardskeerdersbos, a tiny village that is slowly being colonised by Capetonians in Audi Q7s; this is your chance to see it unspoiled before the first, inevitable Bootleggers opens. \u00a0\n<\/p>\n
\n\tWe could go on, or you could just visit the website and enter. \u201cThis is a ride made and conceived with cycling joy at its core,\u201d<\/em> says organiser and conceptualist Jeremy Crowder. \u201cYou\u2019re going to love it. Simple as that.\u201d<\/em>\n<\/p>\n \n\tWinners of the Stanford 100 Miler will receive a handshake from the organiser. Maybe.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n