Erasmuskloof Ride Pta East

[Gliders]

Hi Guys,

 

I just trying to find out if anyone rides on the open ridge east of the N1 Highway and north of the Kloof Medi-Clinic in Erasmuskloof? I am very keen to try it out, but I am not sure if its closed off or worse unsafe?

 

Cheers!

[kingalton]

We have ridden there ages back.. 8 years ago maybe.. its very rocky and loose with steep climbs.. worth a shot..

 

Apparently they used it for 4x4 testing...?

 

wouldn't ride alone.. some dodgies lurking down in the trees...

Edited February 11, 2014 by kingalton

[BarHugger]

It was (and is) closed off, but there are many access points to this area. There are some nice 4x4 track and climbs.....roughly 1-1.5km climbs. Some nice technical sections also.

 

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME SERIOUSLY DODGY CHARACTERS IN THE BUSH AREAS......Rigel off-ramp known for smash and grab....easy to disappear into veld.

 

Rather go do some of the dirt tracks at Fort Klapperkop.

[BarHugger]

Double post

Edited February 11, 2014 by BarHugger

[Pants Boy]

That's probably one of the worst place in Pretoria to ride. We used to go there with Jeeps, but stopped that about 5 years ago. As said, lots of dodgies staying in the bushes at the bottom.

[Gliders]

Thanks for all the info, I had my concerns about the possibility of the dodgies.. Any open area like that is unfortunately going to attract the wrong type of person which is annoying because it looks like a great place for a enduro/xc type loop.

I will stick to VG for now. Cheers.

[Squier]

While we are on the subject; whose land is that? ARMSCOR?

 

Doesn't look like it's being used at all anymore?

 

Driving past their it does look like some awesome climbs and downhills!

[Vinnydabutcher]

The contour/relief really lends itself to do something special for mtb rides - Downhill, Enduro ect.

 

Even a small XC course would be great.

 

As said before - the main problem is safety.

 

Ideally - it would be a nice spot for a bike park in Pta - something like ex Logwood or MTN/Toyota MTB park in Jhb.

 

Not sure who would put the needed funds into it - would turn profitable within 3 years I guess.

 

Any venture capitalists out there?

[BarHugger]

.....maybe organise a "once a month" bosbedonnerde mountain climb group thingy for all interested MTB'ers (can coincide with ADVENDURANCE events ). Maybe enter at the bottom (near Kloof Hospital....how convenient), trapjoumoersuur on one of the routes to the top (1-1.5km) and do a recovery run on the tar back to the start. Repeat 6 times.

 

Opposite can also be done. Enter at the top (Lois Ave), pic route, identify riding lines and hold on. If you do an involuntary dismount, you are at least going in the correct direction.....towards Kloof Hospital (less than 1km away.....how convenient). Take tar road back up. Repeat 12 times.

 

After all the fun, refreshments can be ordered at Castle Walk shopping centre (parking, beer, food, beer, deli, beer, banking, beer, pharmacy, beer, spa.....how convenient)........whatever your poison .

 

ENGEN (at shopping centre) is willing to sponsor the air (compressor stuff) for your bike's tires.....how convenient!

Edited February 12, 2014 by BarHugger

[Gliders]

If I had a few $$ lying around I might just wait a week and invest in the land.. Sadly I don't but I am all in for a group ride through the area as an excuse for said refreshments.. The area looks to good just to completely ignore it and I guess there is always safety in numbers!

[Pants Boy]

It belongs to the municipality. We wanted to formalize a 4x4 track etc there - they were not interested.

[Gliders]

It belongs to the municipality. We wanted to formalize a 4x4 track etc there - they were not interested.

Guess they are waiting for someone with deep pockets..

[Pants Boy]

We (The Jeep Club of SA) had plenty deep pockets, backed by Jeep.

 

The whole area (the koppie) has been zoned as a green belt WITH provisions that it may be used at a later date (cannot remember year) for development. There's your answer ... they gonna sell it and make a killing sometime in the distant future.

 

There were a few of those pieces of land around - the other one is on the other side of the highway, in the north-east corner of the N1 and R21 ... that's been sold off, BUT the part that has not been fenced off and developed is still open for recreational development. But you are going to need DEEEEEEEEP pockets for that one.

[BarHugger]

Google Earth profile of a route on this piece of hill......add some loose rocky surface also!

[Jacoboth]

This area has recently been fenced off. Gates have been added. Locks have been put on the gates.

 

The good news is that the vagrants have left the area. The bad news is that nobody has access to the area at the moment. I still did some trail run training in the area about a week ago. I noticed that someone is laying out a trail or mountain bike route. I would really like to know what the intention is with the new trail. It can either be for recreational trail running/MTBing or a race organizer is preparing for a trail run/MTB race in the near future.

 

Does anyone have more information about this? Maybe a contact number of someone that does have access to the gates?