Braamfontein Spruit for commuting?

[Balt]

Hello everyone!

 

I'm from Belgium and I recently moved to Joburg for work.

During my first few weeks here I got a little depressed when people told me I could only use a car to get anywhere, that things get pretty jammed at peak hours, and that safety is a permanent concern...

Now I recently found and moved to a house in Craighall Park, and I just found out that the Braamfontein Spruit Trail (easily accessible from my house) apparently goes all the way up to Sunninghill... which is right where I work! :-)

Unfortunately I don't have a bike yet to try it out...

 

So, long story short: do you guys know if that trail can be used for daily commuting?

Is it safe at any time of the day (I don't expect it to be safe after dusk) and any day of the week (or only on weekends when there is enough people)?

If safety is a concern, do you know if some people commute in groups?

And what's the trail's condition? Would you recommend a full suspension or would front shocks be enough? (i'm planning to buy a bike in the coming days -- a cheap second-hand one to begin with; BTW I'm looking on gumtree, should I look elsewhere?)

And finally, how long do you think it would take an average rider to go from Delta Park all the way up to Sunninghill? (on googlemaps I calculate 13km, so i'm hoping it's doable in about 45min?...)

 

Well, thanks a lot for your advice and any info you can share!!

 

Cheers,

Balthazar

[Jigghead]

I must say, Craighall to Sunninghill on the Spruit, whilst a lot of fun and an enviable commute route will probably land you up being mugged or even worse. If you're going to commute, the times I imagine you'll be on the route are most probably dubious at best.

 

The sections you want to ride are also quite dangerous to ride on your own, at any time. Personally, I'd not ride most of those sections, at any time of the day, with less than 4-5 people.

 

Could be just me tho, but I used to ride Sunninghill to William Nicol and back daily from 04h45-06h00-ish, sometimes alone, but sadly no more. I've just heard too many stories of people left walking home after falling victim to an affirmative shopping spree...

Edited May 4, 2014 by Jigghead

[MaXiMuM]

I recon if you go round the bit behind Pick n Pay, then back down to the spruit, you should be OK. But I don't know...

Gumtree is OK, but you will get a better deal and bike on the hub classifieds.

[Fire Engine]

Hi there I've been riding the spruit for quite a while although it's not the best trail out there it sure is the most convenient. I stay in sunninghill and try do a ride twice a week there leaving from sunninghill at 5:30 in the summer ,I usually ride with a friend and so far been very safe only once came across a guy who had his phone taken. There usually are people walking, riding etc.

You might want to take ride and scout it out for yourself and plan a route avoiding the areas you don't feel comfortable with.

 

[BlackBikes]

I commute along the spruit 3 or 4 days a week. I ride from Melville to Peter Place. Fortunately for me the dodgy part of the spruit is mostly between the pick n pay and sunninghill which I avoid.

I've never been the victim of any violence and I'm always cautious and keeping an eye out for suspicious people.

Being able to ride the spruit instead of sitting in traffic is awesome!

[Balt]

Thanks guys!

Some info is a little worrying, and some more encouraging ;-) but everything is definitely helpful!

So it seems like the Nicol-Sunninghill section is the more sketchy part... (makes sense since there seems to be vry little park area there -- so less dog-walkers and casual bikers, I suppose)

I recon if you go round the bit behind Pick n Pay, then back down to the spruit, you should be OK.

I guess I could go up the hill on Nicol and then back down on Ballyclare. That defeats the purpose a little bit, but it's better than getting mugged! BTW I guess I could find a way to never carry any valuable (I'm not sure what I'd do about my phone though) and have a cheap/unattractive bike.

But for sure, I would have to try the route for myself (maybe with some friends) and see what it looks like...

 

If you're going to commute, the times I imagine you'll be on the route are most probably dubious at best.

Fortunately working hours are quite flexible for me, so if that makes things better I could go a bit later in the morning and come back early enough in the afternoon (and do the rest of my work from home). What times are best you think? (I was thinking to do the trip up from 7-8am (-ish, or even a bit later) and come back from 4-5pm or something)

 

@ BlackBikes > Good to know the commute has been good all the way up to Nicol!

BTW, how is the riding on the road, usually? Not too scary? I have a feeling drivers are generally not too bike-friendly -- or at least not very bike-sensitive...

 

Anyone out there using the stretch from Nicol to Sunninghill for commuting??

 

Thanks again to everyone for your insight!

[Fire Engine]

You can also bypass the dodgy section if you uncomfortable with it and drop back in by the DHL building. Wich only cuts out a short section

[MaXiMuM]

I guess I could go up the hill on Nicol and then back down on Ballyclare. That defeats the purpose a little bit, but it's better than getting mugged! BTW I guess I could find a way to never carry any valuable (I'm not sure what I'd do about my phone though) and have a cheap/unattractive bike.

But for sure, I would have to try the route for myself (maybe with some friends) and see what it looks like...

That's what I was thinking, You are going the opposite direction to the traffic on W Nicol, there is lots of space on the left, path and wide yellow. Only a short tight bit, about 200m at Peter Place, then there is a service road to Ballyclare which also has a service road, almost all the way down.

I would turn at the school half way down, go one block up, then back to the spruit, thus not getting back on at the bridge.

 

And sorry, you're on a bike, that valuable enough. Cheap, ugly, beaten-up, doesn't matter.

A wallet... a cell phone... money...

And the mugger doesn't know what you have, just that you might have.

 

Do the ride with BlackBike.

[Balt]

@ Maximum > Thanks for the info and tips -- I see what you mean at Ballyclare (I lived nearby for a couple weeks and was using that route to avoid traffic!)

Regarding safety: I wasn't so much expecting to avoid being mugged by riding a cheap bike, but rather limit the loss in case it happens... Of course the best would be to avoid being mugged altogether, but I'm not sure how to do that.

 

So is the most sketchy part just between Nicol and Ballyclare? What about North of Ballyclare?

@ Fire Engine > Sorry, I'm not sure, which is the DHL building you mention?...

 

@ BlackBikes > As suggested by Maximum, I probably should indeed join you on your commute some day! (I just need a bit of time to get a bike (duh) and do a couple of rides to get back in shape and be able to follow you!) How long does it normally take you from Melville (or from the beginning of Delta Park if you know) until Nicol?

 

Thanks all again!! Really appreciated!

Hopefully I'll soon give you my personal impressions of the ride!

[patches]

I live in Randpark and work in Bryanston.

 

On the occasions that I do commute I use dirt paths through Olivedale etc to get to work (makes for some fun on the way to work), and to return home I Ride down Braynston Drive to Riverside Shopping Centre. Then ride up the Spruit to Emmarentia, then Beyers Naude to home. A little out of the way, but makes the commute home rather pleasant.

[ValeYellow]

Firstly the one and only place to look for a sweet ride is right here on thehubsa in the classifieds . The sketchy part is from the Pick n Pay through to Sunninghill, but keep in mind, you are in Jhb and **** can go down anywhere, anytime...... so be alert at all times, no matter where you cycle. Motorists in general tend to act like the own the road, personally I would face the sickest DH run on a hardtail than cycle on the road, especially here in Jhb..... I think the only motorists that are mindful of us are our fellow cyclists....... Be safe, ride hard......