Duration: 4 days, 3 nights
Destination: Clarens, Eastern Free State.
Accommodation: Cottage Pie Guest Lodge
Includes: All meals, (One dinner at a local Restaurant), tea, coffee, water & a daily guided MTB ride.
Interests: Mountain biking & Tips from a Pro!, plenty of fresh air, Village life, delicious food & Pamper Treatments (own account).
Time to enjoy this fantastic terrain on your MTB. Relax & unwind, while meeting like-minded Women who could well become lifelong friends.
Carla Oberholzer, Your Coach & Guide
Carla Oberholzer is a South African professional racing cyclist, who most recently rode for UCI Women’s Continental Team Bizkaia–Durango. She rode in the women’s road race at the 2016 UCI Road World Championships. In June 2021, she qualified to represent South Africa at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Carla is a fountain of knowledge and will be happy to share her knowledge, tips & tricks with you. Don’t be daunted by her track record or doubt your ability. You’re in very safe hands so just soak up the experience & have fun.
Accommodation & Food
Nicely secluded yet only a few minutes from the centre of the village of Clarens is your home for a few days, The Cottage Pie Guest Lodge.
Find rest for your heart and peace for your soul in the charming vintage-themed thatched home, nestled in the safety of the sandstone Maluti Mountains. A trickling stream, surrounded by an English Country Garden is home to indigenous trees and old-fashioned roses, where abundant birdlife and the occasional buck can be spotted.
The food is healthy home-cooked fare. On Day 2 you will have a celebratory dinner at a restaurant in the Village (drinks for own account).
There is no Bar at the Guest House so feel free to bring your own drinks.
Pamper yourself to a well-earned massage in the beautiful garden (for own account & must be pre-booked)
Riding Level
We cater for riders who have some MTB experience and are comfortable riding flowing single track as well as open district roads. You need to understand the basic workings of your MTB including front and rear braking as well as gear shifting. Daily rides will be from 2-4h in duration and will include a refueling station.
There is plenty of unallocated time where you can stroll aimlessly around the village, maybe investigating the myriad of Art Galleries, pubs and quaint shops.
For the die-hard bikers, there are plenty of short marked trails (Not guided).
After a few hours of intensive cycling, many Ladies prefer to just relax in the garden with a good book and a glass of wine or have a relaxing massage.
A highlight on Day 2 is the well-earned foot scrub in the garden after your ride!
Itinerary
Day 1
From Gauteng is an easy 3.5hrs drive, mostly highway on the N3.
The last 40 minutes is a lovely drive through agricultural land and once you get a sighting of the Maluti mountains in the distance, you’ll know you’re almost at your destination.
DAY 1
12h00 – Arrival and check-in at Cottage Pie Guest Lodge
13h30 – Light lunch
15h00 – Explore Clarens Village by MTB. Ride the undulating ups and downs, criss-cross streets and experience the easiness of village life.
Stop for a delicious cup of Terbodore Coffee at The Artist’s Café Restaurant.
17h30 – Back to Cottage Pie Guest Lodge to freshen up.
18h30 – Dinner
Day 2
06h00 – Wake up
07h00 – Breakfast
08h00 – Guided MTB ride. The route starts with some easy single track, we then pass through the beautiful Swartland neighbourhood before tackling the climb up to Titanic Rock. Cross over the R711 and turn right into the Toeka loop which takes you on a winding district road through the Eastern Free State farms. A mid-way refuelling and snack stop will make sure you stay energised and hydrated for the journey.
13h00 – Lunch at Cottage Pie Guest Lodge
14h00 – For the die-hards feel free to tackle a few trails on your own.
15h30 – Enjoy a luxurious foot scrub and massage under the trees.
18h30 – Dinner
Day 3
06h00 – Wake up
07h00 – Breakfast
08h00 – Guided MTB ride. The route follows the scenic Clarens Conservancy single track and includes some challenges such as wooden bridges, rock gardens and downhill switchbacks. This is the day to step out of that comfort zone and challenge yourself to ride where you’ve never ridden before. The ride finishes with a stop at the Clarens Dam where you can cool down before the freewheel back to your accommodation.
14h00 – Lunch
15h00 – Afternoon free to enjoy Clarens
18h30 – Dinner at a local Clarens Restaurant. Feel free to dress up and enjoy the evening with your newly made friends.
Day 4
7h00 – Wake up
o8h00 – Coffee and tea
09h00 – Yoga/Pilates session under the Ouhout trees in the beautiful Cottage Pie garden.
OR
Grab your bike for a last ride around Clarens
09h30 – Celebratory farewell breakfast
12h00 – Check out, departure.
Until we meet again! à bientôt