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With the massive increase in trails being built here in the WC I am interested in the process / cost of these projects. It seems that every wine farm and deli in the winelands has a new trail network. These I understand as they are trying to attract more visitors and therefore turnover from restaurants, accomodation, deli, cellar doors etc other than get just the nominal trail fees. There also seems to have been a big increase in other trails outside of the traditional trail custodians [Tokai MTB, TBMBC and so on]. Does anyone have a rough guide on the kind of cost per KM that trail building entails and how the process works? A family member has about 1000 hectares of essentially mountains outside Worcester that he rides moto on and is looking add some basic cottages for riders / bikers. There is very little in the way of any kind of animal, car or moto tracks so it is a blank canvas but from when I've been there it's something special. I know there are lot of variables in the kind of trail you build and cost would depend of features included, how sculpted they are and so on but a jump off point would be a great help.

VOLUNTEER BUILD DAY 02 July, 2016, 9am - 3pm. Please consider supporting the reopening of Tokai's trails. If you are interested in joining this weekend’s volunteer build, please register at the link provided below... Dates and times are provided in the registration form and a confirmation email will be sent to you confirming your spot when registration closes.You have the choice of; full day, morning session and afternoon session, please select the relevant option.We have 20 spaces available and shuttles to and from the site will be provided. Shuttles leave for the work site at 9am so please get to the meeting point at least 15 min’s before.Remember to mark all your tools clearly and bring warm rain gear should the weather turn, because the forecast cannot seem to make up its mind.Hope to see you there! http://eepurl.com/b6O5iL

Hi Guys With all the fires raging through our beloved Western Cape in the last month we have lost a number of our favourite trails. This is nothing compared to the loss that others have suffered in the form of houses burnt down, infrastructure damage, lost plantations, lives lost and possible permanent damage to indigenous fauna and flora. The trails are however (especially in this forum) something close to our hearts and we will miss them. There is still a wealth of other trails in various networks around the Western Cape that we can still enjoy, and I am sure many of these trails will see a lot more use in the near future. With this increased use some trails will quickly start to take a beating and need more frequent repairs/maintenance. Perhaps it was the thinner air I was inhaling in Stellenbosch over the past few days, or maybe I have just been overly nostalgic with the loss of Fire Hut and Canary, but I have decided that it is time to lend a hand to the trail builders. I am certainly not educated in the art of building and maintaining trails, nor do I possess the vision required to sculpt a flowing path down a mountainside, but I can certainly pick up a shovel and throw some dirt around. I just need someone to tell me where and how. So, trail builders, please add me to your mailing list, WhatsApp, or whatever form of communication you use to organise build days (PM me, I’ll send you my details). I am sure there are other Hubbers out there that would love to help out as well. Come on guys, stop lifting weights in the gym and high-fiving your Crossfit buddies, let’s get some blisters on our hands (chicks dig it) and build jumps and berms.

I notice more and more bike manufacturers are getting involved in trail building and maintenance.Specialized has for a while been involved in Jonkershoek and recently I heard Rocky Mountain getting involved in Contermanskloof and a few other bike parks around SA.(not forgetting the local clubs as well as the guys of Table mnt doing great work).It's great that the bike manufacturers are putting money back into the sport in this way that is a benefit to all.A few weeks ago at Jonkershoek I noticed Scott also involved with the trails at Jonkershoek so a big up to all these guys.Carry on with the good work.

The Jonkershoek MTB Trail upgrade fundraising evening recently held in Stellenbosch was well supported by community members, mountain bikers and lovers of sport alike. Click here to view the article