OK, so I arrived 5 minutes before the start, cutting it fine. Woke up at 6 and cycled there. It's been a few weeks since I have been on these trails but I have to say hats off the trailblazers - they really have done an awesome job in preparing the trails - and this is Bottelary hills - the best trails around Stellenbosch. As could be expected I did not set any PRs on the segments due to race traffic but I did have a chat with a few folks riding this for the first time and they loved it. Some rode last year in the rain and said it is a completely different experience - the absolutely loved it this year. There were a few litterbugs and two people (one from PRG) did come off their bikes on the bit of single track next to Zevenwacht. Did not seem too serious. Maybe they will upgrade to the more agile tekkies and flat pedals soon. Absolutely loved the floating bridge. I really hope Backsberg brings back theirs for 2018. these things are so much fun. Thank you to STBB for organising such a lovely event. Next year I hope to see a super long route making use of some of the newly added trails because they are epic. Many thanks yet again to Bottelary Hills Conservancy, you have the best single track in Stellenbosch. I look forward to buying my year permit every year. Was cool to go "up" cork screw once more.
