Mamil rides the 36One MTB challenge 2025

Join me on an epic ultra-endurance adventure as I tackle the 36ONE MTB Challenge – a grueling 361km mountain bike race through the arid beauty of the Klein Karoo. This race report captures the highs, lows, hallucinations, saddle sores, and snack strategies of one Middle-Aged Man In Lycra (MAMIL) who trained hard to be slightly below average. From the start to the euphoric roll across the finish line, I take you inside the mind and legs of an amateur cyclist battling sleep deprivation, headwinds, and existential doubt on one of South Africa’s toughest long-distance races.