Gillooly's up Linksfield Ridge - Ridable?

[Wez-O]

I have heard of people being mugged in this area so please be vigilant if you do ride there.

[kosmonooit]

Been coming over the top from the south west Cyrldene side for ages until the residents fenced it off. There is a thriving industry on top for processing stolen cables, using the Protea trees a firewood. Reported it to SAPS and local community watch but nothing has been done. Thieves and wattle are taking over there.

 

The whole ridge is a nature reserve and public property, it has massive potential for a mtb trail, I have worked out a few routes but the project is still on the wish list. There is a path along the top from the radio towers, and the loop could go around the bases to the south of the ridge. That down hill path to the Gilloolys is hectic but an easier path could be cut.

 

Basically we just need to put a plan/proposal together and get the support from Jhb Parks and the residents, then we can cut the trails. I am totally keen.

[RockCoach]

Been coming over the top from the south west Cyrldene side for ages until the residents fenced it off. There is a thriving industry on top for processing stolen cables, using the Protea trees a firewood. Reported it to SAPS and local community watch but nothing has been done. Thieves and wattle are taking over there.

 

The whole ridge is a nature reserve and public property, it has massive potential for a mtb trail, I have worked out a few routes but the project is still on the wish list. There is a path along the top from the radio towers, and the loop could go around the bases to the south of the ridge. That down hill path to the Gilloolys is hectic but an easier path could be cut.

 

Basically we just need to put a plan/proposal together and get the support from Jhb Parks and the residents, then we can cut the trails. I am totally keen.

 

Sounds good. The more the public access these types of areas, the more the criminals move out and the safer they become.

 

One old guy (Blairgowrie resident) was telling me how in the 80s and 90s Delta Park was a haven of crime. Then more and more walkers and MTBers started using it and it's now fairly safe any time of day.

 

 

 

 

[steve61]

Any riding in that area is dangerous.... its not the big drop offs and gnarly rocks I worry about, but the dangerous people. Even walkers are not safe on the far side of the dam which is in view of Mrs Sippi diner and offices.

[kosmonooit]

Any riding in that area is dangerous.... its not the big drop offs and gnarly rocks I worry about, but the dangerous people. Even walkers are not safe on the far side of the dam which is in view of Mrs Sippi diner and offices.

 

I often do a big loop around the ridge, used to come through Gillooly's on the ridge side of the dam, what stopped me taking that route is all the poo on the path from the Egyptian Ducks that breed like flies there.

[Trail builder]

I work at the foot of the hill and have been planning routes for awhile now but have not done anything about it due to the reports of tons of crime in the area. I would love to get in there and build some trails. A few wood slat ramps, spirals, wall rides and bridges to gap some of the bigger rock sections and make use of the small space. I imagine that we could shape some awesome switch backs up the face to make it easier to clime with a fast bermed downhill routes incorporating lots of technical sections just found on the way down (Rock gardens, built up trail jumps and so on). 

[kosmonooit]

I've worked out a few loops along the length of the ridge, really awesome.

[GrahamS2]

I used to ride down it every now and then when I lived in the area - both the Gilloolies side and the Linksfield Heights to Bruma side. But the odds of getting bike-jacked there are extremely high these days.

[GrahamS2]

Any riding in that area is dangerous.... its not the big drop offs and gnarly rocks I worry about, but the dangerous people. Even walkers are not safe on the far side of the dam which is in view of Mrs Sippi diner and offices.

Even the parking lot at Gilloolies is not safe. I had an attempted mugging there about 15 years ago at 9am on a weekend when I was going fishing. Car theft is rife there these days.

[Trail builder]

Maybe some how we can pitch a bike park idea to MTN, Vodacom, Cell C or any other huge Corp that might go in and be willing to invest? first thing they could do is beef up security? It would bring in tons of riders and I'm sure the residents would love the help and peace of mind, plus the return on their investment would be huge. I have seen all the new parks in Pretoria and they are smack in the middle of the City.

 

Just ask them if We can help design the park 

[Trail builder]

Maybe some how we can pitch a bike park idea to MTN, Vodacom, Cell C or any other huge Corp that might go in and be willing to invest? first thing they could do is beef up security? It would bring in tons of riders and I'm sure the residents would love the help and peace of mind, plus the return on their investment would be huge. I have seen all the new parks in Pretoria and they are smack in the middle of the City.

 

Just ask them if We can help design the park 

 

 

it would also help conserve the area as a National park.

[Trail builder]

I've worked out a few loops along the length of the ridge, really awesome.

 

have you recorded them on a app at all or have you not ridden them yet?

[Trail builder]

I've worked out a few loops along the length of the ridge, really awesome.

 

could you post  the screen shots?

[HappyMartin]

My girlfriend and her father were help up at gun point there while walking their dogs.

[kosmonooit]

Even the parking lot at Gilloolies is not safe. I had an attempted mugging there about 15 years ago at 9am on a weekend when I was going fishing. Car theft is rife there these days.

 

 What's left of it .. have you seen the size of billboard they have put up there? last time I check that was public space, some ass in the council make a quik buck

[kosmonooit]

have you recorded them on a app at all or have you not ridden them yet?

 

 

I've walked various potental routes and taken pics, there is just one path at the moment along the top, which you can get to from the Cyrildene side (via locked gate) What I will do it is put them onto a contour map.

 

One big loop is along the base on the south side then loop up towards the tower and back. There is another whole ridge to the west which also holds great potential for another more technical route, and another loop. Only Proteas really grow on the south side, so its quite open, on the north its much more bushy.

 

There is quite  a lot of wattle growing on the top that provides cover for no-gooders and can come down. The Ridge is largely fenced off by the residents but their security company are happy to help dislocate them, but its not pro-active.

 

But otherwise no one goes there, as they do any open public space. Rode through Rhodes Park on a Sat a few weeks ago, it was completely deserted.

 

But getting back to the ridge, what we really need to do is put together some kind of proposal, circulate that to the relevant council and residents organisations. It should be a win-win situation.