Pure XTC

That's correct. Probably my favorite section of trail in the area. Sketchy "widowmaker" downhill leads you on to undulating trail with sneaky overgrown twists and turns. Rocky climbs and decents and Mont Marie at the end. Super fun and the view is worth the effort.

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Stellenbosch Trails

Jonkershoek map. I think that Zululand has been added to the trails but it isn't indicated on this map as yet. http://www.bmtsa.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/BMT_Jonkershoek_Trails_Map.pdf 50ZAR to get a day pass.

here, there and everywhere

NOTHING COMPARES TO THE SIMPLE PLEASURE OF A BIKE RIDE

The occasional times I saw Songo swim on my training days I watched with admiration as he progressed from brick to buoy. To me it wasn't so much that it was Songo (sorry Songo) but the fact that a person was willing to take himself out of his comfort zone and tackle something firstly as big as learning to swim and secondly doing an Ironman. Well done sir and may it show and spur other mini Songos on to what can be achieved if you want it enough.

Around the burb. Not today but who's counting.

Stellenbosch BMT riders lighting up the track again. Well done boys and girls!

Thanks. Saw that was in JHB. Those XTC are fast but surely not that fast.

A mates Giant XTC Carbon MTB was stolen yesterday avi out of his garage. Its a 2011 Giant XTC composite 29er - the grey/ black one. Tubeless rimes. XTR (I think) all over and medium sized. Not actual bike attached but lookalike. He's in Namibia for business until Thursday so don't have a serial # as yet but if anyone sees one that could be hot or gets wind that one is for sale suspiciously under priced please drop me a message. Maybe there's an off chance of it finding it's way home again? Thanks

My neighbour across the road had his Giant XTC Carbon MTB stolen out of his garage yesterday. His wife was taking him to the airport and I had just returned from riding to notice his garage door wide open. First item I looked for was naturally the bike but saw that the perpetrator was kind enough to swop out his Giant Sedona in it's place. Funny thing was that he went through portions of the house and that was the only thing he nicked. BTW. I live it Stellies before anyone asks.

Many thanks and it is on my list. As a pointer, I am no rouge rider and appreciate the time, effort and cash that goes into this so I (and the group I ride with in fact) are all paying members of the fraternity so permits are never an issue but always a thank you. Looking forward to it already.

Hi Dirtman and others I live in Stellenbosch and know of the Bottelary Route well but have never ridden it and I would love to try it as an alternative to Jonkies for a change (sound like a spoilt brat don't I). I have however heard that one mustn't ride it without tubeless as there are thorns galore. Is this so as it would be a shame but any guidance on this would be well appreciated. It would also allow an off-rode route to the out-laws as road is always a bit of a contentious issue. Cheers Scott

@Slowbee Phew. I'm glad somebody posted this. My experience on Sunday confirmed that generally either road cyclists are ignorant or just don't give a rats. Please don't get me wrong here as this is not a anti-roadie thing but there is a massive gap between what I experience on the road to on the mountain - this includes etiquete but mostly from a skills perspective. I don't know what it is and nor am I going to expend energy trying to find out. There is an art to bunch riding. It is a skill that needs to be mastered as it can be quite dangerous and painful if not. My complete and utter generalisation is that at least 80% of my group had no idea as to how to ride in a bunch greater than 6 people. In ye days of olde when I used to ride road bike there was a conduct that was followed and you watched and learned as people taught you the yes/no of the road and it was adhered to otherwise.... There was also respect. Respect for the road, cars, yourself but also for your fellow cyclist. Nowadays it feels like that that is all but gone and so I take to the mountains instead. Read here for more http://www.thehubsa....ing-should-be/.