Adventure and Travel

Trail Daze | Boschendal – Searching for Sugar Bowl

· By BikeHubCoreAdmin · 8 comments

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Crossing the Helshoogte Pass into the incredibly scenic Franschhoek valley, we stopped off at the more-than-300-year-old Boschendal wine farm, to see what the Boschendal team and master trail builder, Bennet Nel have put together.

Still a very young trail, having only been established in 2015, it already features six different riding options, with the 33 km (1025 m elevation gain) loop being the longest of the lot. A considerable amount of work has gone into these trails in a short amount of time with a nice mix of well-maintained single track, mountainside jeep track and some farm road. With the majestic Simonsberg towering above and views across the Franschhoek valley, you would be forgiven for stopping every few kilometres, as this is truly a five star view.

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ccs-38514-0-38757700-1474614468.jpgRemaining clouds from the downpour the night before made for cool temperatures and dramatic skies as we started climbing.

ccs-38514-0-96296900-1474614479.jpgA short stint of winding single-track through the olive groves.

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ccs-38514-0-12874300-1474614508.jpgLots of history around these trails. An old farm house ruin, property of Frans Diederik Muller, dating back to the 1750’s when mining silver was on the up.

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ccs-38514-0-62927100-1474614521.jpgThe remains of the devastating fires that ravaged the area earlier in the year.

ccs-38514-0-36307500-1474614554.jpgBut nature is more than bouncing back, with carpets of lumo green ferms all around you in some areas.

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I tell our foreign guests that the sun always wins over the clouds here in Cape Town. Winter rain falls from the skies, the soil greedily soaks it up and the sun comes out before long. In return, we get a beautiful flower display with grippy trails and hardly a puddle in sight. After living in the UK, with its boggy trails, our weather is something I am profoundly grateful of! While we still have a way to go before summer, don’t forget to get outside to enjoy the extra grip and let ‘er rip!
Daniel Dobinson | iRideAfrica

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ccs-38514-0-15400700-1474614593.jpgGlorious, fresh, grippy, tacky soil.

ccs-38514-0-79783900-1474614599.jpgNo corners were harmed during the making of this episode.

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ccs-38514-0-68545100-1474614628.jpgSpeedway rider on track!

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Boschendal trails offer a variety of different terrain. From fast forest trails to open twisty flow trails. The scenery surrounding the trails is truly breathtaking with the Simonsberg mountain always in the peripheral. There has really been a lot of effort put in to making these trails in such a special place just outside of Stellenbosch. Not the most technical trails, but certainly an enjoyable day out!
Matt Lombardi

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ccs-38514-0-08437000-1474614771.jpgSpring has sprung with the oaks showing their new coats.

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ccs-38514-0-40487100-1474614781.jpgThe bottom section of Inferno consists of an incredibly lush and scenic, fast, hard-packed section following all along the creek.

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ccs-38514-0-96803600-1474614796.jpgMore ruins. This water mill dates back to the early 1800’s.

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ccs-38514-0-92218700-1474614825.jpgWith Simonsberg towering above you, the Sugar Bowl drops down perfectly groomed single track, snaking its way down berm after berm towards the Trout Cottage.

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This project is made possible by:

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Boschendal GPS: 33°52’40.4″S 18°58’25.3″E

Riders : Daniel Dobinson | Matt Lombardi

Permit: R50 at the

Boschendal Wine Farm

All images by Ewald Sadie

instagram:

@ewaldsadie

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Comments

CAAD4

Sep 26, 2016, 5:58 AM

I see what you did there...

NPJ

Sep 26, 2016, 6:40 AM

Incredible images Ewald! Seriously appreciate every Trail Daze! Great work man!

the_Jackal

Sep 27, 2016, 9:01 AM

amazing, and such cool shots!

GLuvsMtb

Sep 27, 2016, 10:19 AM

There like a bear!

 

Are the trails properly marked? Any trail maps available?

dev null

Sep 27, 2016, 10:36 AM

I am doing the Rectron race there on the 15th October. Just hope the wind does not pump the way it did when we did the Trailseeker there.

Dan Dob

Sep 27, 2016, 11:08 AM

There like a bear!

 

Are the trails properly marked? Any trail maps available?

Trails have been re-routed with some new options last week so all signage should be good. You can view the trail map on our website here

DoomedUser

Sep 27, 2016, 11:24 AM

Trail Daze features are simply the best! Great work!! 

Dan Dob

Sep 27, 2016, 12:02 PM

Trails have been re-routed with some new options last week so all signage should be good. You can view the trail map on our website here

Just realised our map is a bit out of date so don't use it! Trying to get latest one uploaded ASAP.

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