Where to ride in Centurion area

[nacnac]

Hi there

 

My missus and I are new to the MTB scene. Just started a few weeks ago and come from a dirt bike background. We are looking for some trials in the Centurion / Irene area. Need to do a couple of shorter / easier rides to build the wifes confidence and skills. We heard there is a trail at Rietvleidam - is it okay or do you have any other suggestions to get us going.

 

Cheers!!

[stewie911]

Go to groenkloof nature reserve. Just about the best place in Gauteng north for mtb.

Oposite groenkloof you can go and ride at Voortrekker monument.

 

Once you're fit enough you can go there with your bike via Botha laan. I'm from Irene and we usually ride there from here.

[nacnac]

Thanks stewie911 - how long is the trail?

Edited March 10, 2011 by nacnac

[cat-i]

Thanks stewie911 - how long is the trail?

how long you want it to be. get a map at the entrance, there's dirt raods and singletrack, some more technical than others - and some with more climbs.

 

the singletrack generally goes clockwise, on the dirtroad you could find plenty of shortcuts home if you're tired.

 

if you have a small camera, take it with, there might be a good chance to see some game.

 

 

 

edit on 'how long you want it to be':

you can decide, 3 km, 5km, 20, and anything inbetween. or 2 laps at around 40 kays.

Edited March 10, 2011 by cat-i

[nacnac]

Thanks cat-i - sounds good.

[Grondpad]

Just be very careful of any riding on your own (or just the 2 of you). It really dangerous in the Irene area. The amount of bike jacking’s is just scary. Rather go to groenies of join some club rides. FPC in Southdown & the Epic bikes shop have short rides as well.

[Ashchest]

You could also join us on Thursday evenings for the night ride starting @ 7pm from Irene Moo Mall It's usually about a 3 hour ride with loads of cool people.

[zaShadow]

Groenkloof is really an awesome place to ride. My wife and I started there too. It has really nice single tracks sections with loads of jeep track in between.

If you do one lap, following the most obvious trails, you end up doing around 18km. But after two years of riding there almost every weekend, I still enjoy every ride.

 

And its so easy to forget the abundant wild life GK has. We regularly see the Giraffe, Zebra, Impala and Wildebeest. But if you are lucky you can also see Kudu, Sable, Red Jackle and many other. Try riding early morning or late afternoon if you wanna really see it coming to life.

 

GK is also safe enough to ride alone (I agree with Grondpad, I won't ride in the Irene fields alone, or in a small group for that matter).

 

Adjacent to Groenkloof is Fountains XC track. A little more technical (wouldn't ride it the first time) but an absolute stunning track. Its possible to skip the more technical areas, but that will take out most of the appeal. I don't ride Fountains with my wife though, a little too technical for her (or too slow for me). Fountains' entry is also included in the GK entry.

 

If you want, PM me and I will meet you there some time to show you the track.

 

Northern Farms aren't too far away either. Have heard some roomers that makes the security there quite questionable.

[zaShadow]

PS. with a dirt bike background, you will LOVE Fountains.

 

I did a bit of MX, and I feel like a little kid every time I set foot there. The faster you go, the better it gets!!

[TheSlowCyclist]

There is a loop at Rietvlei dam as well, at the anglers entrance.

 

Then in Centurion, Fritz Pienaar and Epic cycles does outrides as well.

[Team SL]

If you want to venture further out of Centurion you can come and try some of the route at Vori-Berg.

One can put together a nice lap of 5 to 15 km on our route that is available any day of the week including weekends with braai facilities etc

 

You can contact me on 082 903 4211 or mail clivedhardy@gmail.com

[nacnac]

Thanks for the info guys - this has helped a lot. I will take up the offers in the near future. Good to see that the MTB peeps are cut from the same cloth as dirtbikers

 

Working on a bit of fitness and getting used to the small hard saddle...