Exciting, fun event for mountain biking lovers

Davidson Kamau (left) and team mate David Kinjah of Safari Simbaz Cycling club cross the Ewaso Nyiro river during the Mount Kenya mountain bike two day 160km challenge at ol Gaboli in Laikipia. FILE

By EVELYN SITUMA


IN SUMMARY
The championship which started in 2002 continues to attract big names both locally and internationally.

Next weekend, all roads will lead to Mt Kenya for the annual mountain bike challenge.

For those that have never had the opportunity to see the magnificent work of nature, registration for the event is still open if you want to take part but if you just want to spectate, then star making travel plans to the mountain region.

The course for racers is already marked out. According to Adele Wilson, the challenge organiser, bikers should gear up for thousands of kilometres of amazing trails through peaceful villages, indigenous forest, expansive savannah and majestic mountains.

“On a bicycle, you get to experience Kenya at its very best. The people, sights, sounds and smells of Kenya are all part of the cycling experience that more and more Kenyans are starting to experience not just as a form transportation but also a leisure pursuit,” said Adele in an interview with BDLife.

Big names

The Mt Kenya 10to4 was established in 2002. This was after a group of mountain bikers cycled from 10,000ft above sea level down Mount Kenya to IL Ngwezi at 4,000ft. Thus the name 10to4 was invented.

Since then, the championship has attracted big names in bicycle racing. Among them is David Kinjah, cyclists and mentor.

Kinjah trained Kenya’s first yellow jersey wearer Christopher Froome, the Tour de France champion in 2013. Froome, a Kenya-born biker is now cycling for Britain’s Sky team.

The 10to4 event is aimed at raising funds for conservation activities in the Mount Kenya ecosystem.

Mt Kenya Trust is the custodian of the funds. The Trust conserves, protects, educates and develops sustainable habitats for wildlife and local communities.

The trust is currently working on reforestation of 2000 hectares in the Mt Kenya National Reserve.

The competition has, each year, managed to produce champions who excel in consequent national races.  Kinjah and his fellow cyclist Kerry Glen were the 2013 winners in the national series.

“The event has the distinct honour of being the only multi-day mountain bike event in the country’s calendar.

As testament to its challenge, winners of the event have always gone on to win the national series in both the male and female categories,” adds Adele.

From 2011, the 10to4 challenge has been rated as a blue ribbon event in the national series which has nine cycling events across the year in its calendar. This year’s event will feature participants from across the region and Europe.