TG Newsletter: Ride 4 Mary
- Skinny & Chikita
- Sep 27
- 4 min read
Ride 4 Mary
(6 - 7 September 2025)
Mary McGee pioneered women's racing without even trying. Not sugaring or spicing or all-things-niceing. She just rode fast, had fun and broke glass ceilings along the way.
In celebration of Ms McGee, a bunch of friends rode out to the Waterberg to have some fun of our own and get our mojo back that had wandered somewhat off...
Skinny had a broken arm or two, Chikita nursed a limp wrist from exploring deep excavations again, WillePiet's emotionally broken-down mothership craved a sand-whooping, Crispy has had a wonky hip since childhood and Ettas, well his wife was outta town.
The five of us were hungry for bits of riding and bobs of campfiring.
A few months ago, we visited the area and reconnected with the Weilbach family (kind strangers out of Skinny's chequered past) who'd welcomed us to stay at their campsite overlooking Die Langdam.
With Skinny driving the bakkie, we chucked our mattresses and kitchen sinks in the back and had an instantaneous stash of tequila at our beck and call.
Chikita learned for the twentieth time that the distance a bunch of alcoholic bikers can cover per hour is not a lot. 😝 A road closure or two didn't help matters much either, but we endured.
We rode a bunch of Limpopo's Greats, including Bakkers pass and Jan Trichardt’s pass, enjoying spectacular scenery and wildlife en route, not to mention endless stretches of thick sand.
Actually, there were two endless stretches of sand, one for breakfast and the other for lunch, so Ettas was in his element! I suspect a little love might have been lost between the girls though, but unsurprisingly, the prospect of cold beer lightened the mood. Not even a nasty bee sting could deter Piet from completing the mission.
We pitched our tents, snorers aside, and just as the photogenic sun set, the full moon came up, and with it - the wind.
The spacious firepit came alive with booze and banter, and our delightful hosts indulged us with their company and their doggos, if not for a sample of Skinny's industrial sized paptert!
That stack of firewood went down the seesaw and catapulted a fat kid into the stratosphere. 😁 A one-nighter under the stars was just what our stinky, scruffy souls needed.
A short tour around the perimeter, via cattle fields and good fishing spots, apexed at an ancient wild fig tree, reminding us just how satisfying the simple things in life are. We felt pretty blessed for Danie and Marina to share such a special place with us.
After lengthy goodbyes to the outhouse spider, we hit the dirt back down south.
The illustrious Rankins pass fell first and then we baptized (not capsized) our bikes in the mud puddle Olympics. We're all just kids stuck in battered bodies, aren't we!?!
Soon after that we found ourselves in a bar outside Bela Bela 😝
Mary McGee always said "Yes!"
We're here for a good time, not a long time.
DIE Langdam
082 447 0667
CHIKITA PRODUCTIONS PRESENT:
If you don't know who Mary McGee was, crawl out from under that rock!
Ride4Mary (www.facebook.com/Ride4Mary) is a global movement dedicated to honouring the trailblazing legend - Mary McGee. The world over, all people were called to action (6 - 7 September 2025)
When someone says, “Let’s ride!” – JUST SAY YES!!!
A few of us took the dirt roads (some dirt became very sandy, some… very wet!) up to Limpopo. We spent the night at the Weilbach’s campsite called Die Langdam (www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61581698469163) - it really is worth a visit.
Mary’s passion burns in our hearts – WE ARE YOU, MARY!
Video produced by Jolandi Mentz (6 Sep 2025)
SPONSORS:
Sponsored by Daniel Mulder Distributors (DMD) www.dmd.co.za
Forma Boots (www.formaboots.com)
Caberg Helmets (www.caberg.it)
Oxford Products (www.oxfordproducts.com)
Givi (www.givi.ite)
Answer Racing (www.answerracing.com)
Off Road Cycles (www.offroadcycles.co.za)
2M Lazy Lowder (www.2mtrailers.co.za)
PaintAbike by Phil Privett (www.instagram.com/paintabikesa)
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Skinny & Chikita
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