Bottelary Hills MTB Trails

[droenn]

I headed up on Friday. I think I rode straight past the new single track on yellow. Is it a sharp climb to the left of the trail just before you ride alongside the dam? Didn't realise until after, no idea how.

 

Anyway, enjoyed the reroute of purple through the forest section, very fun. Looking forward to the new section up there too that wasn't open yet.

 

Will be more observant next ride and hit that new yellow ST.

[droenn]

Ahh, I see now, its on the return side of yellow.

Edited October 1, 2014 by droenn

[_C50_]

We've named our singletracks and infamous climbs along with some info about the fauna, flora or topography surrounding them.

 

I have twice come across a rooikat while riding there. First time was riding on the yellow route. He ended up running in front of me for quite a while before disappearing into the vinyards. Second time was on the green route. Same thing happened, where he ran in front of me for a while before running off into the bushes along the trail. 

[Iwan Kemp]

We've named our singletracks and infamous climbs along with some info about the fauna, flora or topography surrounding them.

 

Vipa takes on Rooikat

 

[droenn]

Is it OK to ride this Friday afternoon or will the race setup be happening?

[dirtman]

Is it OK to ride this Friday afternoon or will the race setup be happening?

 

You can ride Friday afternoon.

[Hellwarp]

Bottelary Hills MTB permit holders and would be day visitors for this Saturday (18 October 2014). Please take note that we are hosting the STBB event on Saturday morning so plan your ride for Saturday mid afternoon or Sunday.

[mountain_lion]

I hope the event will also use the new single track on Yellow.

Should have a nicely compacted trail after the event then

 

When I rode it on Sunday, it was already much faster, but there were some hidden soft patches.

Some of these can catch you. One did suck my front wheel from under me into a forced lie down; not serious.   I blame the snapped branch hanging in the middle of the trail, which I removed to deny others the same excuse. 

 

The many wheels over the trail aided by some touch up maintenance after the event will make this trail really nice and flowing!

[mountain_lion]

Fish Eagle (single track on Yellow) is faster after the event, but as expected, the soft spots are now even softer: requires spot maintenance.

 

How some people manage to always hit the down slope edge of the trail, collapsing it, I do not understand. Even on the straights!  

 

Seems like someone even managed to end up next to the trail right at the entrance to Fish Eagle...

[dirtman]

 

 

How some people manage to always hit the down slope edge of the trail, collapsing it, I do not understand. Even on the straights!

 

Seems like someone even managed to end up next to the trail right at the entrance to Fish Eagle...

 

Welcome to the life of a trail builder!!   We are riding all the single track sections tomorrow to evaluate trail conditions after the STBB race and decide on maintenance. 

[mountain_lion]

Thanks Dirtman

 

You will find that Fish Eagle does not require much work - well done with the design

Some collapsed edges and a few loose sandy spots, mostly on bends.

 

Hope the rest of the trails also stood up this well to the event.

[vaalkol]

Rode Fish Eagle yesterday - what a spectacular addition to the ever-growing Bot Hills ST collection ! A big up to the landowner(s) for making the land in question available and to Dirtman, Hellwarp & co for the effort of constructing this gem of a ST. Track has been nicely compacted by the many wheels of the STBB funride, but worn away edges and soft spots here and there made for interesting riding at times.  I have an idea that Fish Eagle is in for some heavy use because riding it will very quickly become an almost obligatory part of any excursion to Bot Hills.

[Zatopek]

Rode Fish Eagle yesterday - what a spectacular addition to the ever-growing Bot Hills ST collection ! A big up to the landowner(s) for making the land in question available and to Dirtman, Hellwarp & co for the effort of constructing this gem of a ST. Track has been nicely compacted by the many wheels of the STBB funride, but worn away edges and soft spots here and there made for interesting riding at times.  I have an idea that Fish Eagle is in for some heavy use because riding it will very quickly become an almost obligatory part of any excursion to Bot Hills.

1st Time for me as well and cant thank the landowners & other people enough for making this possible:

[dirtman]

Thanks for the positive feedback  - was the most difficult and expensive build to date!

 

We are monitoring the sandy / soft spots  - we unfortunately did not have enough rain between the completion of the trail and the STBB funride to get a good enough compaction and that caused the few loose spots.  Hoping for rain!!

 

The only other problem after the STBB funride is the new exit section on the Ribbok (forest) single track that is very loose and dusty - we are working on a plan to sort that section out.  Rest of the route is in very good shape.

[mountain_lion]

I have an idea that Fish Eagle is in for some heavy use because riding it will very quickly become an almost obligatory part of any excursion to Bot Hills.

 

It is already obvious that the Yellow loop is getting more traffic since the addition of Fish Eagle.

Before not many riders diverted from Red onto Yellow.

[dirtman]

With summer here and our trail system closing in on 60 km, we have made two taps available where you can refill your bottles.  One is on the red route and the other on the return leg of the yellow route - see attached maps. The water is guaranteed to be clean and safe - both sources were certified to comply with EU standards.   

 

There are signs directing you to both taps.

 

Just click on the maps to get a full page view.

Edited November 5, 2014 by dirtman