The Sling aircraft and bike crew, doing a flyby, at Tankwa international. (Photo: @retroyspective)

South Africas longest dirt road is the R355. And it routesfrom Ceres to Calvinia. Very much through the splendid desolation of the TankwaKaroo.

Its a destination for travellers and revellers. Popularwith weekend off-road motorcyclists and those who want to recharge, in asetting that provides a crushing abundance of silence. Afrika Burn is the eventmost associated with Tankwa.

Open terrain, negligible vehicular traffic and a treasure ofdirt paths. This area has the making of an exceptional gravel bike venue. Andthats why the nearly eponymous Tanqua Kuru gravel bike event, came into beinglast year.

The addition of a mountain bike category, has seen more riders give the Tanqua Kuru a go. (Photo: @retroyspective)

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The second edition saw a slight change in equipmentrequirements with mountain bikes being allowed. This opened the opportunityfor riders who might have the fitness, but lack the hand, wrist and forearmrobustness, to ride corrugated gravel roads on a rigid bike.

In total, 125 riders completed the Tanqua Kuru take two. Theroute split into 170km over two days.

Although the total distance might not sound particularlychallenging, the Tanqua Kurus riding statistics proved deceiving.

Theres nowhere to hide in the Tankwa. If a headwind commences, you simply need to grind through it. (Photo: @retroyspective)

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The Tankwa Karoo is harsh. This is an unforgivingenvironment with raw dirt trails. And very few free miles. Even on flattersections of the route, surface changes were draining.

Anyone familiar with the deep Karoo will know how agonisingit can be to cycle across harsh corrugations. And the Tankwa Karoo does not lackfor severely corrugated road surfaces.

And then theres the sand, which immediately saps energyreserves. But nothing is quite as testing as a Tankwa Karoo wind. Riders at theTanqua Kuru had to contend with strong wind during the event.

Most think the Tankwa is all about gravel riding. But there is rocky terrain through the river crossings. (Photo: @retroyspective)

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Gravel bikes have evolved apace as more people embrace thislightweight all-terrain riding category. And the most significant upgradegravel bikes have benefitted from are larger tyres.

Many gravel bikes are now running tyre widths and volumesthat would have been appropriate for cross-country mountain biking in the late2000s.

Larger tyres, with more air volume, allow much better bumpabsorption. And at an event like the Tanqua Kuru, where corrugations and bumpydirt roads are a given, riders on wider tyres, suffered much less hand, arm andshoulder fatigue.

An image to convey the scale, of the Tankwa. Rider is bottom right. (Photo: @retroyspective)

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Tanqua Kuru organiser, Jeremy Crowder, respects theenvironment. "Riders often underestimate the harshness of the Tankwa Karoo,while there is almost no climbing, there are no free miles, it caught manyriders off guard."

Rebecca van Huyssteen bested last years winner, TeganPhillips, in the womens race. Renate Bossi completed the podium.

The mens race saw a win for Julian Robinet, followed byPieter Calitz and Schalk Blom.

The Tanqua Kuru does not believe in conventional refreshment points. Only proper Karoo riding fuel is provided. (Photo: @retroyspective)

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For most Tanqua Kuru riders, the event was a confluence ofcycling and creativity. Being in one of the worlds most paradoxically harshbut inspiring environments.

The riding might be a challenge, but the living is not.Tanqua Kuru attendees had access to hot jacuzzies, ice-cold beers and excellentlocal cuisine.

Comfort and convenience tallied crispy white linen, duvets,lights, charging points, electric blankets, flushing loos and proper showers.Entries for the 2023 Tanqua Kuru open in November.

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Tanqua Kuru is harsh gravel bike hedonism in the Tankwa - News24