about mountain biking

© Gary Perkin

South Africa's mountain bike (MTB) events calendar continues to grow, presenting a pretty hectic schedule for those athletes who aim to grab championship points, but also wish to ride some of the fantastic courses that can be found all over the country.

For the masses though, this presents the perfect breeding ground in every province in our MTB-friendly country, where our climate favours our sport and many other outdoor activities.

The SA-MTB calendar reflects all events sanctioned by Cycling South Africa (CyclingSA), our national cycling body. By participating in a CSA-listed event, you are virtually guaranteed an event that is run according to a very specific protocol, with the correct safety measures in place.

If you’re considering tackling the off-road trails in 2012, observing the scenery beyond the highway, smelling the sweet scents of the pine forests and sugar cane fields, absorbing the endless views from the mountain tops, and experiencing the tremendous rush of excitement when descending singletrack through the forests, then get off the couch and get on your bike, and get yourself to at least one of the many fine events on the MTB events calendar.

So you have a sense of adventure, but you’re not sure where to start?  The concise descriptions found in this section should assist in selecting your discipline as well as being correctly equipped to safely participate with maximum enjoyment.

Competitive mountain biking originates from as early as the eighties, with the first World Championships taking place in the USA in 1990.  1991 saw the start of the World Cup racing, as we know today.