Advice for newbie ....

[Oceana]

I've recently started mountain biking (still less than 10 rides) and am looking for some advice on routes within the City Bowl and Signal Hill area. I've always done loads of sport, but am finding it pretty challenging especially off road (and especially uphill!!). I stay in Sea Point so the routes that I've been doing so far is to come over Kloof Road and then go about half way up Talfelberg Road and branch off left onto the gravel road, head along that down to Deer Park and just beyond. Then normally head back through the suburbs (I'm too buggered to comtemplate heading back up to Tafelberg Road at that stage!! On Saturady I went back via the gravel road off the Noon Gun Road, up to Signal Hill and then back down Kloof.

I'm really finding the uphills challenging with the rocks and soft sand (my back wheel tends to spin out a lot) - is this mainly technique - I know my fitness needs to improve as well? Is it ok to still be pushing up quite a few of the hills!!?? Are there any more mellow routes within the City Bowl - I'm keen to be off road, but need to get my breath back somewhere between all the climbs!?

Any advice appreciated - technique, routes, training etc. Thanks.

[Dogfish]

Hey Oceana, The joys of living in CT are the hills, your best remedy.... don't give up and get fit, and they will become your friends!

have a look on www.tablemountainbikers.co.za for the QR code for the trails and routes around Table mountain. Fitness will make the biggest impact on the uphills and the loose/rocky stuff, the lower your gear the more you will be prone to spin out and fail to apply adequate traction to the back wheel. confidence also plays a big part but this can only be found by biting the bullet and giving it a go, fall and get back up! everyone has been there, im not far off! if you can try join the Thursday ride from Kloof st, details in the TBL Mountain group ride section of the forum. good luck!

Edited September 10, 2012 by Dogfish

[HDW]

Contact Kandui, os just check out the TBM forum here https://www.bikehub.co.za/f/60-table-mountain-bikers/

 

The guys ride once or twice every week, mainly depending on the weather. And from what I can gather, they go as slow as the slowest oke, and

haven't got a problem with that at all. So maybe post on one of their forums, and hook up for a ride. They obviously know all the routes like the back of their hand, so that's probably the best place to learn.

 

Happy riding, and welcome

[JGR]

There is a regular Thursday ride leaving around 16h30 from Kloof St and is a good way to learn some of the trails. There is a thread open already

[Oceana]

Cheers guys - appreciate the feedback. Read something about not being in too low a gear so tried that on today's ride although the ride was all on the road today. So far i've been changing to the easiest gear very early in the hill so I think getting fitter and staying in a higher gear should help.

[Oceana]

How difficult is the climb from Deer Park to the Blockhouse? Is it a technically difficult climb or just a sold grind?

[Dogfish]

not Technical at all, a few small climbs and flat sections to start with followed by a long climb to the top.

[JGR]

The rocks on the path leaving up from Deer park is quite tricky for newbie like myself.

[Oceana]

what is the easiest entry point into Deer Park? From which road?

[JGR]

what is the easiest entry point into Deer Park? From which road?

Im not sure - I normally ride with Kandaui and he knows the way. Send him a msg for maps or go onto the table mountain bikers www

[Dogfish]

I will send you a map from my last ride, change it to satellite view and it should give you a good indication of entry points.

As JGR mentioned, there is a technical climb into deer park from the school but if you get onto the mountain at deer Park drive you wont have have any technical climbs.

[Oceana]

Shot - thats really useful.

[Oceana]

How do you rate the section that you do from turning off Tafelberg Road back onto the gravel road towards Signal Hill? There's a really steep section and quite tricky where it goes from concrete to gravel quite soon after the turn off. I've done it a couple of times now and finally seem to be getting the hang of it. I see you turn off right and continue down towards the city bowl - I carry on there and connect with Tafelberg Road again. Theres a decent climb there which gets the heart rate back up!

[JGR]

How do you rate the section that you do from turning off Tafelberg Road back onto the gravel road towards Signal Hill? There's a really steep section and quite tricky where it goes from concrete to gravel quite soon after the turn off. I've done it a couple of times now and finally seem to be getting the hang of it. I see you turn off right and continue down towards the city bowl - I carry on there and connect with Tafelberg Road again. Theres a decent climb there which gets the heart rate back up!

Most of the roads/tracks on the mountain are quite easy but can be tricky when going up as the gravel is very loose. Im riding K2C this weekend so wont ride much this week but we can go next week if you like as im also new to MTBing. There is also a mass ride on the 7th of Oct at 9am from deer park.

[kandui]

Coming in late here, but 2 things I can mention.

Join the weekly ride on a Thursday afternoon.

At the moment the group is tiny, but we adjust to speed of the slowest rider.

Then there is the group ride on the 7th from Deer Park where you can meet other riders and perhaps arrange a ride with someone.

Table Mountain is not technically difficult, bar for one or two sections. It is however a "mainly uphill" riding area. A moderate to good level of fitness is required to enjoy the experience properly.