Rietvlei blue trail

[ScottCM]

2 different places but only about 1km apart, Thaba is on Klipriver drive and Rietvlei is on Swartkoppies.

 

I'll PM you my number, I'm back from Bulgaria on the weekend and we can make a plan to introduce you to the world of MTB'ing.

 

First ride and coffee is on me, :-). Normally R25 per day / ride, although the 10 ride card it R150 so If you are in the area and will be making use of the parks more often then its definitely a good idea to get a card (Available from either shop).

 

that sounds awesome thanks, yes i live in Alberton so i think the 10 ride card will be the way to go for me.

[Bobbo_SA]

Adding a "map".

 

From my experience, although Thaba has a nice 7km "yellow" route, I would still recommend Rietvlei as the starting point, the yellow route is good for doing laps / intervals or riding with the kids, the green is great for a general workout and then you can progress to blue and black for the more serious technical stuff.

[Bobbo_SA]

that sounds awesome thanks, yes i live in Alberton so i think the 10 ride card will be the way to go for me.

 

Excellent, just be careful of that "MTBaaisikilist" oke, he is rather sketchy, :-) and likes shouting "STRAVAAAA".

 

Seriously though we have some amazing guys and gals down in the south, you will not have a shortage of company on your rides.

[l4y3rcake]

Just remember that the shop is only open on Tue-Fri 8am-5pm and on Sat-Sun 8am-1pm. I made the mistake of going on a Sat at 13:30 and couldn't ride because the shop was closed and i couldn't pay for my ride. I then went there on the monday thinking i could get a card but yet again the shop was closed. I now have a 10 ride card and wont make that mistake again.

[ScottCM]

thanks for the advice guys i shall keep all that in mind

[Blokman]

agreed go play in thaba blue.....

 

On only my second ride at Thaba green I decided that I was a real mtb'er . Went into the blue just after the twin tower climb.It took me two minutes to realise I knew nothing. Couldn't ride half, didn't know where I was.

I felt like Burt Reynolds in Deliverance.

Edited August 27, 2013 by Blokman

[ScottCM]

i recon i will be making the same mistakes too

and then i'll be brought down to Earth sharply

Edited August 27, 2013 by ScottC-M

[Bobbo_SA]

Just remember that the shop is only open on Tue-Fri 8am-5pm and on Sat-Sun 8am-1pm. I made the mistake of going on a Sat at 13:30 and couldn't ride because the shop was closed and i couldn't pay for my ride. I then went there on the monday thinking i could get a card but yet again the shop was closed. I now have a 10 ride card and wont make that mistake again.

 

You should have been able to pay the person in the hut but the entrance. There have been a few time where we have ridden the route and either paid when we came back out (think Yafta was taking a leak) or paid the following day for the previous day's ride

[l4y3rcake]

You should have been able to pay the person in the hut but the entrance. There have been a few time where we have ridden the route and either paid when we came back out (think Yafta was taking a leak) or paid the following day for the previous day's ride

 

I did not know that i could pay at the hut..Thanks for the info Bobbo. I now have a card and will make sure i always have one.

 

I noticed on my way home that a few guys turned into the veld off Hennie Alberts across from the driving range(Old Meyersdal area). Do you know where that leads or have you ridden in that area? I mostly ride alone and don't normally wonder off into velds for safety reasons.

[Bobbo_SA]

I did not know that i could pay at the hut..Thanks for the info Bobbo. I now have a card and will make sure i always have one.

 

I noticed on my way home that a few guys turned into the veld off Hennie Alberts across from the driving range(Old Meyersdal area). Do you know where that leads or have you ridden in that area? I mostly ride alone and don't normally wonder off into velds for safety reasons.

 

Haven't been up that area for years (rode the italjet in those hill many years ago as a kid), more MTBaaisikilist's "hood" so he may be better qualified to comment on that area.

 

We head out straight over Swartkoppies into the section between Brackendowns and Swartkoppies and only once felt "threatened", probably wouldn't do it alone everyday but I have not heard of any incidents recently.

 

If you plan to go out past the airfield / water board -> Heineken factory -> walkerville side then I would suggest at least going with a mate.