Riding the Nedbank Gravel Burn, across ancient lands, will be a new experience for the gravel enthusiast and her many followers.

When Galina Bodnaruk hits ‘Post’, more than 170,000 people get a glimpse of her life on the gravel roads of Barcelona and beyond. Most know her simply as Lina Bo – the cyclist whose Instagram feed documents a life spent navigating the hills and valleys of Catalonia, where gravel tracks disappear into the countryside. 

Behind the beautiful compositions of bikes and landscapes, which reflect her background as a designer, is the story of a pure cyclist. With tens of thousands of kilometres in her legs, Lina rides year-round, fitting her escapades around a full-time career whenever she can find the time.

Later this year, she will explore somewhere very different from her backyard – the Karoo.

From 25 to 31 October, Lina will line up in Graaff-Reinet for the Nedbank Gravel Burn. Over seven days and 750km, she and hundreds of cyclists will cross the rugged, arid terrain of one of South Africa’s great wonders. The route begins in the historic frontier town and heads deep into semi-desert plains before finishing at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

Lina is no stranger to point-to-point adventures. “I’ve done Transpyr across the Pyrenees, the Canary Islands, and trips through Ecuador, Colombia, Mexico and Patagonia,” she says. “Gravel Burn actually reminds me a lot of Patagonia – desert one day, mountains the next. I really like the variety in the landscapes.”

The remoteness of the region gives rise to a unique “travelling bubble” of characters from all over the world united by a single purpose. After a day in the saddle, riders roll into custom-built Burn Camps to share stories into the evening. By the end of the week, lifelong friendships are forged.

This shared experience is the reason gravel racing has grown so quickly. The discipline attracts riders from road cycling, mountain biking, triathlon and even BMX – all curious to explore further than the tarmac allows.

Women are an increasingly visible part of that community. At the 2025 event, 20% of the field were women – a number the organisers expect to grow in 2026. Riders like Lina help show that the sport is far more accessible than many imagine. Her advice to anyone considering a challenge like this is uncomplicated.

Her advice to anyone considering a challenge like this is uncomplicated.

“I’d say there’s nothing to worry about if you follow three basics,” she says. “Be in decent shape and ride regularly – six thousand kilometres per year is enough. Go at your own pace and don’t try to set speed records. And eat a lot, even when you’re not hungry.”

For Lina, cycling has always been driven by curiosity. She grew up near the Black Sea and discovered the cycling scene in Saint Petersburg before moving to Spain in 2014. “I just try to ride as much as I can,” she says.

For many of her followers, this will be their first glimpse of the Karoo. They will see the dust settling behind the riders after a long day on endless roads, and the sky darkening to reveal stars like they’ve never seen before.