dirtman

As Mountain Lion stated, there is an easy option - at the bottom of the climb there is a big sign (A4 size) giving you the option of going straight up the climb, or turn right for a much easier and flatter option - just look out for it next time. Glad you enjoyed the rest of the ride.

please call a spade a spade and give the starting point a place-name that I can actually locate. My guess it is referring to Middelvlei? Yep, it is Middelvlei. I just pasted a copy of the map that will be put up at the start at Middelvlei - therefore the name is not there, as you will be standing at the start at Middelvlei when reading the map. However, the maps on the website will be changed to indicate the names of the starting points - so thanks for the feedback.

To give riders from the Stellenbosch start some more options for a quick 2 hour ride or so without having to go over the top of the hill and back via the red route, we will open up a purple loop as well (it is more of a link between two sections of the red route) We hope to have signage up before easter, but no guarantees. Those of you who know the area, are welcome to start riding this loop in the meantime.

Thanks for the info - structure removed by the farmer today - will keep a lookout the next few days

You can get to the red route from any of the 3 starting points - your ride will however be longer as you will add on either the yellow or green loop. If you are coming from Somerset West, you can start your ride at Middelvlei Stellenbosch and join the red route via the yellow loop.

Anyone is welcome to join the Tygerberg club rides on Saturday - see detail below. I will be leading the long ride - make sure you have enough water!! Grand Opening of the new Bottelary Hills MTB Trail Saturday 9th April 2011 This trail is presented to you by the Bottelary Hills Renosterveld Conservancy ( sense a theme here?!? ). Join us for a guided tour of the new trails. Meet at 'The Only One' Restaurant at Hartenberg on the Bottelary Rd at 06.45, 07.45 or 08.45 depending on the ride you choose to do. for a detailed map of how to get there...click on this link... http://www.wineroute.co.za/images/maps/map_stellenbosch.gif Riding times are approximate - we will take it easy, wait for backmarkers and for flats to be fixed! 40km (red, yellow and green trails) 1150m ascent, 3.5hrs Start at 07.00 30km (red & yellow/or green trails) 8/900m ascent, 2.5hrs Start at 08.00 (will decide route with the group!) 20km (red route only) 600m climbing, 1.5 hrs Start at 09.00 Devil Thorns around;- DO NOT attempt these trails without tubeless tyres/slimed tubes at the very least! You have been warned :-) Expected finish time to be 10.30 am for all routes, when we will go for an optional, well-earned breakfast at Hartenberg. Need numbers for breakfast booking, please advise asap. send a BLANK email with the subject 'BREAKFAST PLEASE' TO adrian@tygerbergmtb.co.za All inclusive cooked breakfast coffee and juice is R50. payable on the day. CLICK HERE to see a map of all the routes, the view is from the Bottelary Road looking South/South East. The pink routes are the entry points to the trails (Hazendal and Hartenberg on the Bottelary Rd side and Middlevlei on the Stellenbosch side). Permit Fees are R30 per person per day. For Saturday only, your guide will issue the permits. Please note, along with the day permit, you will get a dated wristband, your id for the day. Liked the trails? Annual permit (bike boards) for April-Dec 2011 will be available after the rides for R270 on the day. For a list of where to buy permits, trail descriptions, maps and other info, visit;- www.bottelaryhillsmtb.co.za working for Renosterveld regeneration.

Just about finished with the route - putting up some extra route markers this week to ensure no-one gets lost, and building a bridge on a lovely new piece of single track we have decided to add at the last moment. Keep this weekend open to try out the route - hope you will enjoy the route and looking for some feedback next week re any problems we need to sort out. Hellwarp will advise when the website will go live with full details.

There is no official Tygerberg MTB club involvement; however, Adrian (secretary of Tygerberg MTB club) and I (a member of Tygerberg) have built most of the Tygerberg trails and are also doing the route for the new Stellenbosch trails in our private capacity. We will also assist with advice re the initial start up of the trails. These new trails will however operate as an independent trail system and Tygerberg MTB club will have nothing to do with the running of the trails, but will promote it as much as possible.

Sorry guys - no Google map at this stage. There are unfortunately riders who will start riding the route before the opening and we don't want the farmers to shut down the route before it has even opened. @ Cassie - pm me to join us next weekend.

Just a further update. The route layout is just about complete and we will test ride it this weekend and next weekend with a group of riders, after which we will start putting up the route markers. At this stage the target date for opening to all riders out there is 1 April.

Just a quick update re the new trails - we have been busy over the last 3 weeks putting the route together. Initially it will be around 45 kms of jeeptrack and farmroads with a lot of climbing (will test ride the provisional route lay-out this weekend to get exact figures). Riders will have the option of riding the whole 45 kms or just certain sections. Single track will be built when the trail starts to generate money to pay for it, or getting volunteers to help. We do however need rain before any ST can be built. Worth mentioning is that more than 20 farmers bought into the idea and gave permission for the route to cross their land - it will now be up to the MTB fraternity to behave in such a manner that this route will remain open. One of the crucial elements is to pay for the privilege to ride the route. The farmers are not getting a cent from the trail fees - all money generated will go to nature conservation in the area. Hoping to open the trails somewhere in April - will keep you posted.

Please take note that Meerendal trails will be closed this Saturday (12th) till 11 am due to the new 99'er MTB race that will take place on Meerendal and neighbouring farm Diemersdal. So, if you are not riding the 99'er MTB race, head for Hillcrest, Kliprug and Contermans.

Start your ride at 5.15 am - flies are all still sleeping at that time!!

- bump -

Thanks

Tygerberg MTB club received a brand new Isuzu 4x4 bakkie from REEDS Tygervalley today. This will be of great assistance in the club's trail building and maintenance efforts. If any of you hubbers down in the Cape (or friends) are thinking of buying a GM product (Opel, Chev or Isuzu), please consider supporting Reeds Tygervalley. If you do, please mention to them that their sponsorhip of the bakkie persuaded you to support them. Attached photo - Mike Powell of Reeds hands over the bakkie to Adrian Winsor, chairman of Tygerberg MTB club

Sad to report that another attack and robbery took place in Majik yesterday - see report below. REPORT FROM WITNESS AT THE SCENE Yesterday afternoon, between 16H00 and 16H30 (as in the previous attack), I was walking my dogs with a friend and came upon the gentleman who was robbed of his mountain bike after being hit over the head with a pickaxe size piece of wood. He had a few minor cuts, a broken cycling helmet, but was otherwise calm and ok. I'm sure shock must have set in later. He had called his wife who was waiting for him at the Spar, so we walked down with him. Unfortunately, through the shock of it all, we never asked him his name. However, he is a regular cyclist in the area, and somebody will know who he is. He did say he was going to report the incident to the police. We are convinced the attack was by the same individual as the previous time. Each time he is seen standing or sitting somewhere watching cyclist going up the hill from the pine trees towards the beacon. On his return on the single track, he was hit over the head with the piece of wood and his bike taken from him. The attacked in question is young, has an earring, and was seen in the area a few days prior to the first attack a few months ago, obviously scouting the area. He is dressed relatively well, and is definitely not a "bergie"/ vagrant living in the area. This guy knows what he wants, and carefully calculates the moment of attack (when there are few people around at that moment to give chase). The previous time I predicted that he would be back, and everything about the second attack indicates it is the same person. Having gotten away a second time, I predict he won't take as long before he tries it again.

Lappe Laubscher from Rapport published a book in 1978 that covers the first 5 tours - book is called 'RAPPORT TOER - 'N DROOM VAN 'N GEEL TRUI". I ordered a copy in my "younger" days (was in matric in 1978). I attach a copy of the cover of the book.

Have replaced broken plank on Brent's bridge this morning around 10 am (still need to nail it down - did not have hammer & nails with me as I was doing a morning ride), and have removed mini-bridge completely (is dry enough there at the moment)

The choice is yours - you can follow the green route and just keep on going to the top and not turn right out of the jeep track where instructed to do so, or you can follow the red route till after Stairway to Heaven and turn left up the hill when you reach the jeeptrack crossing. The extension will be marked as a "blue loop" extention from the red route within the next week or so.

Evening rides still on - but only for Tygerberg members

We (Tygerberg MTB club)have just built a new 2km piece of Singletrack coming down from the very top of Meerendal koppie and linking up with the single track at the top of Stairway to Heaven. The singletrack needs riding in, so we invite you all to head for the hill and start packing down the track as much as possible as soon as possible. We haven't built any berms yet, so going round the bends is F-U-N! To get to the start of the new section, just follow the jeeptrack (green route) straight up to the very top of the hill and you will see the start of the new single track.

Same as Hillcrest - you have to be out before dark, otherwise you might be mistaken for a cattle thief and be shot. Seriously - NO night riding allowed.