I rode the Transafrica race twice, and I’m now the only two-time finisher. That’s a title I’m proud of, but it comes with a sad footnote: the race doesn’t exist anymore.

Why the Race Ended

In the year of my last ride, a number of endurance riders were killed by cars in other long-distance events. Mike Hall died during the Indian Pacific Wheel Race in Australia he held the record for a number of ultra endurance races, a rider on the TransAm was badly injured and put in hospital, and there was another incident on the Transcontinental. Those events weigh heavily on everyone in this community, and they weigh most heavily on the person who organizes the race. When you put hundreds of tired riders on public roads, you carry responsibility for every one of them.

I can understand why the organizer decided he couldn’t carry that any longer.

A New Format: Racing the Clock

Instead of a mass start, he moved to a time trial format like the Tour Divide. There’s no start gun and no pack. You register, pick a time that suits you, and ride. Your time is recorded, and the clock is the only opponent.

That led to the Thousand Miler, a route between Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa. The route is preplanned and uses mostly back farm roads to stay away from traffic. That keeps the ride in the quiet countryside, which is a big part of the appeal, and for me it’s a much safer way to do a long ride.

Changing Hands

There were some disagreements within the riding community, and the original organizer eventually stepped away. The time trial is now managed by Unbound Inc.

There’s an active WhatsApp community around it. Riders usually form a smaller side group on WhatsApp for their own chatter, because the main group can get busy and the banter becomes a distraction. A few riders have just finished the route in the last few weeks.

The Best Time to Go

Now is a good time to ride, heading into summer. Summer can get hot, so most riders prefer to take on the trail in spring or autumn.

Ready to Try It?

If you want to take on a long trip across Africa with a fairly safe, back-country feel, get in touch with the team at Unbound: Unbound Adventures & Tours. They do put on other paid tours, but The Thousand Miller is free.

Have you ridden a time trial route like the Tour Divide or the Thousand Miler? Let me know in the comments.