dirtman

Yes, extra signs were put up this week - just follow the RED arrows. Should you get lost, just head for the bluegums down at the dam and you will be able to pick up the trail again. Enjoy

TYGERBERG MTB CLUB AND CONTERMANSKLOOF WILL BE OPENING THE KLIPRUG MTB TRAILS THIS WEEKEND. KLIPRUG IS AN EXTENTION OF THE HILLCREST AND CONTERMANSKLOOF MTB TRAILS. THE TRAILS ARE ABOUT 7 KM IN LENGHT AND 90% ARE SINGLETRACK. IT IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN TYGERBERG MTB CLUB AND CONTERMANSKLOOF AND CAN BE RIDDEN FROM EITHER HILLCREST OR CONTERMANS. For full details see the "routes and trails" forum.

The new Kliprug trails are open and ready to be ridden. From Hillcrest follow the GREEN route to the top to just before you start going down towards the split of the green and red routes and you will see the signs directing you to Kliprug (if the signs are still covered up, please uncover them - not sure I will get there before the weekend). From Contermans, ask for directions at the hut or look out for the markers when you get to the dam about 200 metres before the end of the route coming down from the top. We have taken 2 groups through this past weekend and the feedback was great. Just keep in mind that it is not easy route back to Hillcrest - you will need the same fitness that is needed to climb back from Contermans past the masts - the climb via the new route is just shorter. The way in is all dowhnhill or flat and a blast to ride - still a bit bumpy, but is will smoothen out with time. You must have either a Hillcrest or Contermans permit to ride Kliprug (you do not pay extra for Kliprug). Tygerberg MTB club members ride for free on Hillcrest and Kliprug.

Please take note that we are postponing the opening of the Kliprug trails for non-members of Tygerberg MTB club until next weekend, as a result of Murphy's law. The cows in the adjacent camp managed to break through the fence early this morning and thrashed the single track that was fenced off. We also had to close the connecting path between Kliprug and Hillcrest to prevent the cows from reaching the Hillcrest trails. We will be building a ride-over this weekend to re-open the link to Hillcrest. The rides called by Tygerberg MTB club for Saturday and Sunday IS GOING AHEAD AS PLANNED - we will just use an alternative route that will be closed up after the rides again.

TYGERBERG MTB CLUB AND CONTERMANSKLOOF WILL BE OPENING THE KLIPRUG MTB TRAILS THIS WEEKEND. KLIPRUG IS AN EXTENTION OF THE HILLCREST AND CONTERMANSKLOOF MTB TRAILS. THE TRAILS ARE ABOUT 7 KM IN LENGHT AND 90% ARE SINGLETRACK. IT IS A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN TYGERBERG MTB CLUB AND CONTERMANSKLOOF AND CAN BE RIDDEN FROM EITHER HILLCREST OR CONTERMANS. RIDERS MUST PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING: • TYGERBERG MTB CLUB MEMBERS RIDE FOR FREE ON HILLCREST AND KLIPRUG • THE DAILY CONTERMANSKLOOF OR HILLCREST PERMIT IS ALSO VALID FOR THE KLIPRUG TRAIL, MEANING YOU DO NOT PAY EXTRA TO RIDE KLIPRUG • IF YOU START YOUR RIDE AT CONTERMANS AND YOU CROSS OVER TO THE HILLCREST TRAILS AT THE END OF THE KLIPRUG TRAILS, YOU MUST BUY A PERMIT AT THE HILLCREST RESTAURANT IF YOU ARE NOT A TYGERBERG MEMBER • IF YOU START YOUR RIDE AT HILLCREST AND CROSS OVER TO THE CONTERMANSKLOOF TRAILS AT THE END OF THE KLIPRUG TRAILS, YOU MUST BUY AN ADDITIONAL PERMIT (AT THE TICKET HUT) TO RIDE ON CONTERMANSKLOOF THE KLIPRUG TRAILS ARE SHARED WITH THE RESIDENT COWS AND SOME PARTS OF THE TRAILS WILL BE MUDDY AND BUMPY AS A RESULT OF THE COWS WALKING ON THE SINGLE TRACK. TO JOIN THE TYGERBERG MTB CLUB, PLEASE VISIT www.tygerbergmtb.co.za OR PHONE 0728528272

Glad you enjoyed the ride. Re the bumps - we will wait and see how the track gets compacted during the winter and sort the bumps out after the winter.

Please note that the Hillcrest MTB trails outside Durbanville wil be closed for riding this Sunday 6 June till <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />2 pm due to the Western Province XC race being held there. It will also not be possible to cross from Hillcrest to Contermanskloof and vice versa. If you are looking for a place to ride on Sunday, go and ride the new trails at Meerendal on the Vissershok road or do Contermanskloof.

Any hubbers that want to join - I will do the Meerendal ride tomorrow morning, leaving form the Rose Garden in Durbanville at 7.45 am, going past the traffic circle at Durbanville High School at 7.55 if you want to join there and will be at the Meerendal gate/security hut at 8.15 am if you want to meet there. Pace will be medium. As jy wil saamry, my kontakbesonderhede is braamlouw@yebo.co.za of 082-8298885. As jy nie 'n Tygerberg MTB klublid is nie, bring asseblief R25 saam vir die permit.

BMC Fan and any other hubbers that want to join - I will do the Meerendal ride tomorrow morning, leaving form the Rose Garden in Durbanville at 7.45 am, going past the traffic circle at Durbanville High School at 7.55 if you want to join there and willl be at the Meerendal gate/security hut at 8.15 am if you want to meet there. Pace will be medium. As jy wil saamry, my kontakbesonderhede is braamlouw@yebo.co.za of 082-8298885. As jy nie 'n Tygerberg MTB klublid is nie, bring asseblief R25 saam vir die permit.

There is only one downhill of about 50 metres in lenght on the entire route (on the red loop) - not very difficult to ride, but she can just walk it down if needed. We have marked out 3 routes - description as follows: YELLOW ROUTE: <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> FLAT, EASY AND JUST A VERY SHORT SECTION OF SINGLE TRACK. IDEAL FOR BEGINNERS AND FAMILIES. VERY EASY TO RIDE. LENGTH ? 5 KM <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /> GREEN ROUTE INCLUDES ALL OF THE YELLOW ROUTE.. NO TECHNICAL SECTIONS. EASY TO RIDE WITH ONE LONGISH JEEP TRACK CLIMB TO THE START OF THE SINGLE TRACK. LENGTH ? 10 KM. RED ROUTE INCLUDES ALL OF THE YELLOW AND GREEN ROUTES. LOTS OF SINGLE TRACK. DOES HAVE A FEW CLIMBS AND SWITCHBACKS, BUT STILL EASY TO RIDE. LENGTH ? 14 KM.

THIS YEAR'S BEST KEPT SECRET IS FINALLY REVEALED! Tygerberg MTB Club is proud to announce the OFFICIAL opening of a BRAND NEW TRAIL at Meerendal Wine Estate, Visserhoek Road, Durbanville on Saturday 22nd May. Riders and their families are welcome from 07.30, celebration breakfast will be served from 08.00 on the lawn of the Barn and Lawn restaurant. The trail, conceived and built entirely by The Club and graded easy to medium, has been cleverly designed for the whole family to ride, is split up into three inter-leading, easy-to-access routes of 5, 10 or 14km. The tracks make extensive use of the natural contours of the land, avoiding mean climbs or dangerous rocky descents, with one main ascent on the long ride to test your mtb prowess called 'Stairway to Heaven' which features four specially constructed switchbacks, that a novice should be able to cope with. Situated in the heart of the Wine and Wheatlands, Meerendal offers breath-taking views of the mountains from Robben Island around to Malmesbury, varied wildlife from bat-eared foxes to duikers to birds of prey, and a piece of tranquillity and solitude to take you away from the bustle of everyday life. After your ride, reward yourself with breakfast on the lawn with the Club, or perhaps visit the Wine Tasting room where Daniel will give you an expert's guide to Meerendal's excellent wines. Non-club members can buy a day permit at wine sales for R25 per rider, Tygerberg MTB Club members ride for free. Outside of trading hours an honesty box system is in operation. TO JOIN THE TYGERBERG MTB CLUB, PLEASE VISIT www.tygerbergmtb.co.za OR PHONE 0728528272 <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Hi Wannabe Daar is 2 rides die naweek, maar beide beperk tot Tygerberg MTB klublede (sien besonderhede hieronder soos per die Tygerberg nuusbrief). Jy het laas Saterdag ges? jy gaan die einde van die maand aansluit, waarom doen jy dit nie nou nie en doen een of beide "rides" die naweek - daar is nog plek op beide. Gaan na www.tygerbergmtb.co.za. kliek op "membership" en voltooi alles "on-line". Daar is van die beste single track waaraan jy kan dink in die reservaat - en dit is slegs Saterdag wat jy dit kan ry (en weer in November met die klub se jaarlikse funride) As jy wil saamry, moet jy 'n e-pos (Engels asb) stuur aan Adrian by mountainbiker@mweb.co.za sodat hy plek kan bevestig. Sat. 24th April Tygerberg Nature Reserve Ride 07.00 -09.00 Grading:medium to difficult Still a few places left for the Ride in the Reserve on Saturday 24th April. You cannot normally ride there, but our friends at Tygerberg Hills have made it possible, and will make us breakfast afterwards...2 laps of +/- 10kms each with quite a few metres of climbing and spectacular views you never normally get to see... Make sure you have your bike board on, and bring R50 for the entrance fee and breakfast afterwards. All proceeds go to the Friends Of Tygerberg Hills. SUNDAY 25th April. Another Unique Special Opportunity! Grading: Easy (maybe!) <?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> Japie Scholtz of Union Cycles in Brackenfell has secured access to a farm just of <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /> Bottelary Road for MTB riding and has invited 20 members of Tygerberg to join him and other riders for a ride this coming Sunday morning. The idea is to see what the farm has to offer and to give feedback to Japie. The ride is free. The first 20 riders to sent an e-mail to Adrian at mountainbiker@mweb.co.za can join the ride which will be led by Braam. The plan is to ride to the farm, starting at 7 am from the BP garage in Kenridge and 7.15 am from the corner of Mountain View and Old Oak Road in the Stellenberg area. It is about a 15 km ride on tar along Bottelary road to the farm entrance. The ride on the farm will start at 8 am ? duration of the ride is unsure, but is expected to be about 2 hours. If you have a bakkie or 4x4, you can also drive to the farm. The access road to the farm is not really suitable for cars. Directions and further details will be sent directly to those riders who will participate in the ride.

Those of you who are going to join the ride on Saturday - please bring the correct amount for the permit(s) with you (R25 Hillcrest and R50 if you are going to ride both Hillcrest and Contermans - Tygerberg members ride for free on Hillcrest and only need to pay R25 for Contermans). We won't have change and any bigger amounts will be regarded as a donation to trail maintenance. Hope to see you tomorrow morning.

Those of you who are going to join the ride on Saturday - please bring the correct amount for the permit(s) with you (R25 Hillcrest and R50 if you are going to ride both Hillcrest and Contermans - Tygerberg members ride for free on Hillcrest and only need to pay R25 for Contermans). We won't have change and any bigger amounts will be regarded as a donation to trail maintenance. Hope to see you tomorrow morning.

Will be an easy pace (jip, I know easy pace can mean anything), but you definately must be able to ride hills, even if it is very slow. If you can ride the climb in Majik Forest from the bottom of Jip de Jager up through the vineyards and up to the beacon (beacon where the single track starts going down) without having to stop or push your bike, you can ride Hillcrest. Going down into Contermanskloof from Hillcrest is downhill all the way, but the problem is to get out of Contermans to Hillcrest again - there is only one way and it is UP and UP. If you are unsure if you can make the whole ride or not, ride til Hillcrest and decide then if you want to cross over to Contermans.

From bottom of Jip de Jager past substation in Majik over D"aria and Nitida to Contermanskloof via Hillcrest and back to Hillcrest, doing both red and green routes on Hilclrest and then back to Majik are about 900 metres of climbing in total. You need climbing legs to do the whole route!

From Tygerberg MTB club Join us for the most popular ride of the year so far. Meet at the bottom of Majik Forest at 7 am for a ride over to Contermanskloof and back, taking in D'Aria, Bloemendal, Nitida's 'Green Corridor', Hillcrest and Contermanskloof. 40km, +/- 4 hours. A shorter 25km option is available, that will turn around at Hillcrest (2.5hrs). Optional start at D'Aria at 07.20, where you can join the peloton as it cruises past... Depending on numbers, we will run two groups, Hares and Tortoises (if you wish to lead either group, let me know). Bring R25 for a CK permit, unless you have an annual pass. Non-members welcome, but they must bring R25 for Hillcrest and R25 for CK. Rating:-MODERATE to DIFFICULT

Invite from Tygerberg MTB club: Friday 16th April, 16.00-19.00 Join us at Nitida Wine Farm, Racecourse/Tygervalley Road outside Durbanville (between Bloemendal and Hillcrest) for the grand opening of the new 2km Mini-Trail, purpose built for kids, novices, or anyone new to mountainbiking who wants to warm up their mtb wheels on gentle slopes, bumps, dips and turns. Nitida are hosting the event and will provide boerie rolls to the first 100 members. Cool drinks, chips and wine will be available to purchase. This is a member's only event, but if you think you or your kids would be interested in joining The Club, come and meet us in the member's tent for a chat, and try out the course! Free entry (there is an honesty box where donations to trail maintenance would be much appreciated). Rating;- EASY Nitida 021-976-1467

New weather forecast shows good weather for Saturday - so the ride is on. See details below as per Tygerberg MTB club e-mail. Start at bottom of Jip de Jager at Majik at 7 am or link up at D'Aria wine cellar at 7.20 am. If you are non-Tygerberg members who want to join, you are welcome - just see permit fees below. I will be wearing a Tygerberg club kit and will be riding a black and silver Giant Anthem -just ask for Braam. Hope to meet some of you on Saturday. Join us for the most popular ride of the year so far. Meet at the bottom of Majik Forest for a ride over to Contermanskloof and back, taking in D'Aria, Bloemendal, Nitida's 'Green Corridor', Hillcrest and Contermanskloof. 40km, +/- 4 hours. A shorter 25km option is available, that will turn around at Hillcrest (2.5hrs). Optional start at D'Aria at 07.20, where you can join the peloton as it cruises past... Depending on numbers, we will run two groups, Hares and Tortoises (if you wish to lead either group, let me know). Bring R25 for a CK permit, unless you have an annual pass. You are welcome to bring non-members, but they must bring R25 for Hillcrest and R25 for CK. Rating:-MODERATE to DIFFICULT Saturday Day<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /> <?: prefix = v ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" /> Sunshine and patchy clouds High 20?C RealFeel?: 19?C Winds: SSE at 20km/h Wind Gusts: 25 km/h Max UV Index: Moderate (4) Thunderstorm Probability: 0% Amount of Precipitation: 0.0mm Amount of Rain: 0.0mm Amount of Snow: 0.00cm Hours of Precipitation: 0 Hrs Hours of Rain: 0 Hrs Hours of Daylight: 11.0 Hrs

Was busy posting an invite for a ride covering the whole route this Saturday, when I thought to have a look at the weather forecast first. Forecast (see below) says 13 mm of rain, so no ride this weekend. If forecast changes, I will post a new invite. Saturday Day http://vortex.accuweather.com/adc2004/common/images/icons/standard/wx/45x45/18.gifRainHigh23?CRealFeel?:22?CWinds:W at 25km/hWind Gusts:53 km/hMax UV Index:Moderate (4)Thunderstorm Probability:69%Amount of Precipitation:13.5mmAmount of Rain:13.5mmAmount of Snow:0.00cmHours of Precipitation:6 HrsHours of Rain:6 HrsHours of Daylight:11.1 Hrs

Thanks for the comments Mario - it makes the weeks toiling away at Hillcrest worthwhile. Just some more info - we have started working last week on another farm in the Durbanville area where we will have another 15 km of trails - at least 8 km will be single track. The trails will be flatter that Hillcrest and easier to ride. It will take about 7 weeks to build.

There are 2 routes on Hillcrest - red and green. They run together from the start till the you get to the section of tarred farm road (just after the switchbacks) where green goes left and red goes straight up. If you do the red route, it later joins up with green again before splitting again. Green is about 7 km and red 8 km. Green is easier to ride. The idea is to ride the routes separately, but you can combine them in any manner you choose, as long as you don't ride against the flow.