Single Track around Hermanus ?

[JohnnyReggae]

I'm heading out to Onrus just after easter for a few days, going to chill at the in-laws place. I'd like to ride some single track preferably DownHill

 

I contacted the guys at Euodia Cycles to find out some details about trails around there, and their response was to go into the shop and chat to them. This is great and I'll definitely be doing that. My problem is that I'd like to know what the trails are like so I can work out if it's worth me packing my Mountain Uni and my kit in the car, bearing in mind that it's going to be quite full with baby JR's stuff already, so not much space is available.

 

I'm not into doing distance, probably nothing further than about 10km's. Riding distance on a Uni is not how I get my kicks. I'm looking to max out on some downhill single track, but am not averse to heading uphill to start. I know you have to go up to come back down again

[JohnnyReggae]

Bump ....

 

I know there is another Hermanus thread, but I'd like to specifically know about single track...

[Velouria]

There is some stuff right near the shop, as you go up the Valley on the left hand side (starts to the left of the crash barrier on the first corner). It's nice riding, not so much downhill type single track - more like twisty turney XC single track through trees.

 

There is some further up the hill (after the big climb) on the right hand side that could be quite fun, and is more downhill like.

[timM]

Start off at the Fernkloof reserve - just as you go through the gate you will see a small sign directing you to the right. Start your ride here. Take note of the small sign as these boards mark the trail from now on. The trail is immediately single track and heads off in an easterly direction along the Fernkloof mountain. The trail runs above the residential fringe of Hermanus. There are one or two short (50 or 60m) sections where you ride on tar to link parts of the trail, but the vast majority of the ride for the first 8 or 9 kms is single track. There are no long climbs, but there are a number of tricky short sharp rocky climbs that will get the old heart rate up. There is also a nice river crossing The trail reaches its easterly extreme a couple of kms outside Hermanus on the Stanford road. The trail then crosses this road and doubles back towards Hermanus on the other (coastal) side of the road in a Westerly direction (look out for the signs). Here you will ride another 2km or so single track - including a few quite technical and sandy sections before popping out near the caravan park. After a couple of hundred meters on the tar the trail then turns towards the sea going through some awesome forest tunnel. For the next few kms the trail runs between the beach houses and the sea (with one or two exceptions - look out for the signs!) After a relatively easy river crossing, the trail enters the suburbs for a km or two before ending off at the start at Fernkloof. The total distance is about 15kms but you can tailor it as much as you like. It is a very rewarding ride - exceptionally beautiful with some nice interesting riding surfaces. Highly recommended.

[JohnnyReggae]

@timM and Veloria - thanks for the info guys Made up my mind to take my Mountain Uni

[JohnnyReggae]

Start off at the Fernkloof reserve - just as you go through the gate you will see a small sign directing you to the right. Start your ride here. Take note of the small sign as these boards mark the trail from now on. The trail is immediately single track and heads off in an easterly direction along the Fernkloof mountain. The trail runs above the residential fringe of Hermanus. There are one or two short (50 or 60m) sections where you ride on tar to link parts of the trail, but the vast majority of the ride for the first 8 or 9 kms is single track. There are no long climbs, but there are a number of tricky short sharp rocky climbs that will get the old heart rate up. There is also a nice river crossing The trail reaches its easterly extreme a couple of kms outside Hermanus on the Stanford road. The trail then crosses this road and doubles back towards Hermanus on the other (coastal) side of the road in a Westerly direction (look out for the signs). Here you will ride another 2km or so single track - including a few quite technical and sandy sections before popping out near the caravan park. After a couple of hundred meters on the tar the trail then turns towards the sea going through some awesome forest tunnel. For the next few kms the trail runs between the beach houses and the sea (with one or two exceptions - look out for the signs!) After a relatively easy river crossing, the trail enters the suburbs for a km or two before ending off at the start at Fernkloof. The total distance is about 15kms but you can tailor it as much as you like. It is a very rewarding ride - exceptionally beautiful with some nice interesting riding surfaces. Highly recommended.

How difficult would the trail be in terms of physical effort ? I could go for a 15km ride especially if most of it is single track. Although I still love DH

[timM]

The trail is not particularly tough - no long climbs - but there are a few short sharp sections. It takes me about an hour - I consider myself to be an average Joe!

[JohnnyReggae]

So I finally got to do the Fernkloof ride yesterday. Nice route which is quite different to what I'm normally used to. Tokai is very different, probably because of the downhill.

 

The route is exactly as timM described. I met a really nice MTB'er, Riaan, who felt like a mellower ride on the day. He very graciously took me around the whole route. It was quite a mission trying to keep up with even him even though he was going at a very leisurely pace on his MTB. Good to have some company on the ride though, especially from someone who rides the trail very often.

 

I'd definitely do the ride again

 

On a side note, I went to see the guys at Euodia cycles to chat about single track in the area. They were ... well lets just say ... unhelpful and uninterested. I felt a little annoyed walking out of there after being kinda patronised after mentioning that I'm looking for some tech downhill to do some Mountain Uni. Don't think I'll be heading back there again. I'd rather drive into Hermanus to go to another cycle shop to get anything I needed.

[NJ01]

I think JohnnyReggae that you are a bit sour because for once someone didn't jump up and down because you are a uni cycle rider, and showed little interested? The guys at Euodia knows the tracks in the area very well and they would have help you if there was any tech downhill tracks for you to ride. And by also knowing most of the tracks around the area in know that there isn't technical downhill stuff. They are also one of the few people in the area that does track building. So I think they are helping a lot of us to a degree. May you should ask yourself if you are not one of those rides that expect trails and tracks to pop out of nowhere and maintain it self, so that you go and and ride whenever you feel the bee in your bonnet. Instead get involved and help to build something. I did just that and got involved and is proud of my local shop and the service they have. I'm sorry if you did not experience the same service, but to me they are doing just swell. Thanks the Euodia Cycles team.

[JohnnyReggae]

I think JohnnyReggae that you are a bit sour because for once someone didn't jump up and down because you are a uni cycle rider, and showed little interested? The guys at Euodia knows the tracks in the area very well and they would have help you if there was any tech downhill tracks for you to ride. And by also knowing most of the tracks around the area in know that there isn't technical downhill stuff. They are also one of the few people in the area that does track building. So I think they are helping a lot of us to a degree. May you should ask yourself if you are not one of those rides that expect trails and tracks to pop out of nowhere and maintain it self, so that you go and and ride whenever you feel the bee in your bonnet. Instead get involved and help to build something. I did just that and got involved and is proud of my local shop and the service they have. I'm sorry if you did not experience the same service, but to me they are doing just swell. Thanks the Euodia Cycles team.

I agree with your sentiment about getting involved. However I do not live in the Hermanus area, and very seldom get to ride there when I am around there. The guys at Euodia were very uninterested in chatting about the trails in the area. They mentioned one track which in their words was 2 minutes long and not very technical. When I mentioned that I had the Fernkloof trail in mind they quickly said that was my only bet and left it at that. I tried to solicit more info hoping that mentioning that I MUni would give them an idea that I'm not looking for long XC type trails ... their response was go ride Fernkloof.

 

I appreciate that they are and have been helpful to you and probably many others, but from my experience with them I have no reason to go back there again.