dirtman

You can cut out Rooikat by making a right turn at the end of the flat jeeptrack section before you drop down to Rooikat. You will then climb (or push your bike!) past the little hut and pump house where you will rejoin the green route. However, if you cannot ride Rooikat you might have problems riding the other two ST sections on green - Geelslang and Mongoose. The green route is not for beginners. If you are a complete noob, I would recommend you first build up some fitness and skill on the easy orange route which you must enter from the Radish entrance, or you can ride (or walk) up Kaapzicht Killer till where the red route splits to your left, follow red till where it joins orange and ride orange all the way back to the Radish exit. You can then return via the Bottelary tar road.

Glad you enjoyed the route. The single tracks will even be better once we get some rain and can start with maintenance.

You should be able to get a beer at all the starting points, as there are coffee shops or restaurants at all of them. To get a permit at 7.30 am however you need to start at Asara, DV Hotel or Zevenwacht. If you are coming from the northern suburbs, you can buy a permit at the Engen Garage (24 hours per day) at Soneike, Kuilsriver (next to Bottelary road) and start your ride from Hazendal.

Rather start your ride at Asara. Devon Valley Hotel is an "unofficial" starting point - due to gates that were installed it is not that easy joining the route from there and certain route markers have also been removed. If you know the route, then you can start at Devon Valley Hotel. If not, you will get lost, so rather start at Asara.

Day permits will now also be sold at the new coffee shop at Hazendal (see attached photos), but only from 8 am. If you want to ride earlier, please buy your permits at the Engen garage at Soneike, Kuilsriver. The coffee shop is to your right just before you enter the parking lot. There is also a bike wash in the corner of the parking lot near the barns. We will put up signage next week. Bike racks will also be ready soon. All cyclist (even roadies!) are welcome. There is a paved road for roadies all the way to the coffee shop. 1.pdf 2.pdf 3.pdf

No incidents since we opened the route in 2011. Lots of solo riders.

No need to worry - permission for the photo shoot was requested and granted in advance!

Ons benodig dringend reën om te begin met onderhoudswerk - langtermynvoorspelling vir Maart wys egter geen noemenswaardige reën nie. Ons hoop maar vir die beste. Die rooi ST deur die woud is langer gemaak (September verlede jaar al) en nie korter nie - jy sluit nou net verder aan by die breër kontoerpad.

@ Zatopek - Glad you like it up there. We are waiting for rain so that we can sort out the few rutted sections - your ride will then even be better.

Not sure what extra loop you are referring to - long green or the section of climbing single track (Rooikat)? The normal green loop including the climbing single track (Rooikat) is about 16 km and 430 m of climbing from Hazendal.

Was very nice riding - there are some long flat rock sections that are not too steep around Jakkalswater. General riding in the area also very good (Last rode there 40 years ago riding a dikwiel Humber). Would not recommend a summer outing there however.

Adult R500, Spouse of adult permit holder R400, Pensioners/Students/Under 18 - R250.

Friday and Saturday - around Jakkalswater just outside Nababeep in Namaqualand.

With summer here and our trail system closing in on 60 km, we have made two taps available where you can refill your bottles. One is on the red route and the other on the return leg of the yellow route - see attached maps. The water is guaranteed to be clean and safe - both sources were certified to comply with EU standards. There are signs directing you to both taps. Just click on the maps to get a full page view.

Thanks for the positive feedback - was the most difficult and expensive build to date! We are monitoring the sandy / soft spots - we unfortunately did not have enough rain between the completion of the trail and the STBB funride to get a good enough compaction and that caused the few loose spots. Hoping for rain!! The only other problem after the STBB funride is the new exit section on the Ribbok (forest) single track that is very loose and dusty - we are working on a plan to sort that section out. Rest of the route is in very good shape.

Welcome to the life of a trail builder!! We are riding all the single track sections tomorrow to evaluate trail conditions after the STBB race and decide on maintenance.

You can ride Friday afternoon.

New yellow route will be open for riding as from tomorrow (Wednesday) - see attached map. To get to the new single track from the red route, look out for the route split sign about 500 meters after you have done the single track section over the open field. From Devon Valley road and Asara / Overgaauw, just follow the yellow route signs and you will get to the new single track sections.

Had a look at the new single track this morning and unfortunately we won't be able to open it for riding tomorrow. The unexpected rain yesterday (Friday) caused the track to be too wet in certain areas as it is not compacted yet - if we allow riding now it will cause tyre ruts that will harden with expected warm weather over the next few days. We need to get the balance correct between too wet and too dry. We will evaluate the situation again tomorrow. For those who have figured out where the new single track is, please do not ride it until further notice.

The new section of single track has been completed. Route markers are going up on Saturday and new route will be open for riding on Sunday. Will post a map and directions on Saturday.

The building of the new 2,5 km of single track is nearing completion. Should be finished by the end of next week (weather permitting).

@ Mountain Lion - jy is in die kol - dink jy sal dit geniet!

Refer to post above - photos seem to be "cut off" - just click on the photos for a full view.

Busy with another 2,5 km of stunning single track - hoping to open it up for riding by the end of September. Best news of all - the whole distance is either flat or downhill!!

Bottelary should be OK for a ride on Sunday, but please stay away tomorrow if possible.