MTBing at fountains valley pretoria-Video

[Edwin Watson]

Hey Guys

 

I just uploaded a video onto youtube of myself MTBing at fountains valley Pretoria. I don't normally upload my videos but though I would just upload this one to show everyone who has not gone to Groenkloof and fountains how great it is. This video was taken in Fountains(so not the nature reserve)today,and is just one of the runs/tracks of the many.Its one of my most favourite sections but I hardly ever do it.

 

If you go onto youtube to watch it please just click like Its an unedited video so has no added sound effects or cuts.

 

Info

Mountain biking at fountains valley in Pretoria. Riding single track down the the side of the fencing along the M6 all the way down into a grass land then into a bit of forestry over a few wooden bridges and a river and finishing at the end of the valley on a tarred road just before A thorn run. Vally was slippery and wet due to rain.

 

Edditing: Original video,no editing,no added sound/music.

Shot with: GoPro 960 from Helmet.

Activity: Mountain biking MTB

Terrain: Wet | Muddy | slippery | Forests

Where: Fountains valley in Pretoria,Gauteng South Africa

Coordinates: 25°46'29,44"S 28°11'44.02"E

Features: River Crossings | Bridges | Smooth Single Track

[Moolz]

Great video!

Think I need to visit Groenies again this weekend!

[covie]

That looks like majik forest squished really flat lol. Not to take anything away, maar julle pretoria seuns weet nie wat julle mis nie.

[traaidmark]

Hey dude,

 

We used to go ride regularly at fountains, but somehow switched over to the reserve. So, seeing as I know of both, or at least, have been to both, my question is probably going to be ridiculously stupid: Do the two link up somehow? If I go to the reserve, can i switch over to fountains, and vice versa?

 

I used to love the singletrack riding at fountains, but that's just for fun you know, you need to have some of the boring steady climbing of the reserve.

 

Nice video, you made me lus to go ride fountains again. maybe Friday morning, as it's a public holiday!

[AIRMAVRICK]

Hey dude,

 

We ride often at fountains, but somehow switched over to the reserve. So, seeing as I know of both, or at least, have been to both, my question is probably going to be ridiculously stupid: Do the two link up somehow? If I go to the reserve, can i switch over to fountains, and vice versa?

 

I used to love the singletrack riding at fountains, but that's just for fun you know, you need to have some of the boring steady climbing of the reserve.

 

Nice video, you made me lus to go ride fountains again. maybe Friday morning, as it's a public holiday!

 

My friend and I go often to Groenkloof and you can ride both of them.

 

You have to go into the nature reserve entrance and pay your $$$ and park where everyone usually parks, cruise around in the reserve, you can put a good 2 hour in there and then when you get back to the car park, cycle down the tar road in the reserve towards fountains and you will find a guard and a main gate, by the way keep your eyes open while cycling on the tar, there are some offroad routes to the left which you guys can join on and it does take you back to the tar.

 

The guard will let you in, and basically go have fun in fountains. He will not let you in if you park in fountains and try to go to the reserve, tried that before and access was denied

[dirtrider]

Get your annual permit and you can go either way . When you return from Fontains to Groenkloof also look out for the single tracks on the left again that will take you back to the gaurd house .

[Edwin Watson]

That looks like majik forest squished really flat lol. Not to take anything away, maar julle pretoria seuns weet nie wat julle mis nie.

 

Remember that the camera is on my head so is equally vertical with the surface at all times ;)This side of fountains has more grasslands.The other side is more forestry but also remember we will in the Highveld so we don't have tons of the stuff.

 

I actually think there is a decent place to ride in almost all of our provinces and they all will definitely be unique! I just don't think you can ride in the city like we can here in Pretoria. If you look at my video you can see UNISA on the right of the vid, that's how close to the city you are. And that cant be taken for granted plus Groenkloof and Fountains are guarded so you can assume you going to be riding without any worries of being mugged.

 

from both the sounds of things

Hey dude,

 

We used to go ride regularly at fountains, but somehow switched over to the reserve. So, seeing as I know of both, or at least, have been to both, my question is probably going to be ridiculously stupid: Do the two link up somehow? If I go to the reserve, can i switch over to fountains, and vice versa?

 

I used to love the singletrack riding at fountains, but that's just for fun you know, you need to have some of the boring steady climbing of the reserve.

 

Nice video, you made me lus to go ride fountains again. maybe Friday morning, as it's a public holiday!

 

As AIRMAVRICK said,just go and park at Groenies and then ride along the road towards fountains,along the road you will see a single track on the left and a sign,take it.This will then take up up along the fence to the gate.You go through the gate and there is another single track on the left. You ride this single track all the way to fountains where you then have to go over the road and into the fountains section. On the way out of fountains there is also anouther single track which has a awesome wodden ramp down to the road

 

So they don't integrate due to there being fencing between the two but they have done a good job at making it fun to do it and worth it.

[Squier]

I haven't done the XC track at fountains for a while but was at Groenkloof over the weekend. I rode to the gate at fountains just to cool down and saw a new bridge that was built right by the gate coming down from the right. A pretty big bridge. Is that part of the track now? Where does it come from?

[banna]

That looks like majik forest squished really flat lol. Not to take anything away, maar julle pretoria seuns weet nie wat julle mis nie.

 

Amen brother. Been riding Majik for 10 years now and it still puts a smile on my face every time I do the section after the wooden bridge.

[dirtrider]

I haven't done the XC track at fountains for a while but was at Groenkloof over the weekend. I rode to the gate at fountains just to cool down and saw a new bridge that was built right by the gate coming down from the right. A pretty big bridge. Is that part of the track now? Where does it come from?

 

Go through the gate , just before the tar road turns to the left turn around and you will see the little MTB sign on the left . This will put you on that bit .

 

I did Majik forest at least 2 a month for 3 years and think Groenkloof/Fountains is a better trail . Unless a lot a changes has been made to the forest in the last 4 years

[banna]

Go through the gate , just before the tar road turns to the left turn around and you will see the little MTB sign on the left . This will put you on that bit .

 

I did Majik forest at least 2 a month for 3 years and think Groenkloof/Fountains is a better trail . Unless a lot a changes has been made to the forest in the last 4 years

They've added a few new sections of singletrack at Majik in the last year or so. Still remains a lekker tough trap. No free miles.

[Squier]

Thanks dirt-rider!

[traaidmark]

Thanks guys, definitely going to go play Friday!

[Eldron]

Damn! The XC course is looking over grown!

 

Man that is the sweetest part of the course - the climb to get there is rocky and steep and the hairpin hairpin hairpin hairpin drop off hairpin hairpin drop off hairpin bit afterwards saps the energy - the section on the vid is all the more sweeter because you get to take a breath there...

 

Must return to Groenies.....mmmmm.....

[mark ellis]

anybody got any gpx files for fountains?

 

is it safe to ride there alone?

[Edwin Watson]

anybody got any gpx files for fountains?

 

is it safe to ride there alone?

You dont really need any GPX data for fountains as its like a do what ever you want track. There are lots of little off cuts and other tracks around the area and every-time you go you will find something new(unless you explore a lot the first few times you go) Think of doing fountains as a time to really explore and have fun on your bike,Its not a challenging Course compared to Groenkloof and is really just a time to have some really good fun and not worry about training so much

 

However I have a GPX map of a 18K ride I did where I combined both Groenkloof and Fountains together which I have uploaded to this post but these trails are really marked out well so you shouldn't actually need it and probable better not to grab as its fun exploring and thinking you lost but you actually not However that might be my early 20s talking

 

Safety

Fountains is pretty safe,to get to it you have to go through the gate and pay so their are no hobo's or anything in the area but there are workers in there looking after the erea. I think its pretty safe and have not heard of any problems but I did almost drive into a BMW once parked on a trail near the road with a couple in it bonking away but they drove off after that very fast

 

Groenkloof is very safe! Because it is a nature reserve there is no monkey business and the whole place is well fenced so the game dont get out.

 

Edit:It didn't upload my GPX data If you need it PM me!

Edited April 21, 2011 by Edwin Watson