Huddle Park MTB Trail

[jbrews]

Hi All

 

I am the only trail builder at Huddle Park. Thank you for all your feedback and support. I would like to give you a quick update on where the track is and what we are trying to do. 

Firstly, as you know, we share the ground with a golf course. Initially we overlapped but after putting up the new netting, the trail now no longer interferes with the golfers.

 

In terms of the trail itself, the route has been changed into one trail starting next to the mashie course 1st tee box and ending at the pro-shop area (creating a ring). We do not have a farm like Modderfontein and we cannot realistically offer trails of their distance. With time we will definitely cut new trail. As of now the trail is about 8/9km and we are looking to extend it down to the other end of the course as well. 

 

Over the last 2 weeks a huge amount of work has gone into clearing vegetation on the trail which seemed to have shot up after the rains. We have made good progress and after recutting, sweeping and spraying the trail is looking great.

 

As some of you may know, Huddle Park is a wetland area and we naturally collect most of the run-off water in the area. This caused recent problems as it created a lot of mud. we have been building ladder bridges all week to amend the issue. This is our first rainy season so please bare with me. I have never seen so much mud. 

 

As for the marking of the trail: After the past few weeks cutting and clearing the trail, we hope to have made it a lot clearer. We will be replacing markers this week as many have been covered by the massive vegetation growth. Also, our previous map was rubbish, I made it on powerpoint and it was very confusing. I apologise. A new map is on its way which clearly shows the route. A new map and the re-cut should make the trail more familiar and easier to navigate.

 

As far as the charge for the track. It is R20 and it will stay at R20 for the time being. We are aware that we cannot charge you R40 for a product not worth R40 and until we feel the track is at that level we will not do so. Please understand that I commute to CT and all the resources used to build the track have come from Huddle Park and our own in-house labour and equipment. Our small team of guys are kept plenty busy maintaining a beautiful golf course so please bare with us. I assure you that all money earned from the trail goes back into the trail. In the future the administration will definitely create memberships/multiple ride options. 

 

Feel free to send me any enquiries on my email

jessb@huddlepark.com

 

Regards

Jess Brews

[SwissVan]

Hi All

I am the only trail builder at Huddle Park. Thank you for all your feedback and support. I would like to give you a quick update on where the track is and what we are trying to do.

 

Firstly, as you know, we share the ground with a golf course. Initially we overlapped but after putting up the new netting, the trail now no longer interferes with the golfers.

In terms of the trail itself, the route has been changed into one trail starting next to the mashie course 1st tee box and ending at the pro-shop area (creating a ring). We do not have a farm like Modderfontein and we cannot realistically offer trails of their distance. With time we will definitely cut new trail. As of now the trail is about 8/9km and we are looking to extend it down to the other end of the course as well.

Over the last 2 weeks a huge amount of work has gone into clearing vegetation on the trail which seemed to have shot up after the rains. We have made good progress and after recutting, sweeping and spraying the trail is looking great.

As some of you may know, Huddle Park is a wetland area and we naturally collect most of the run-off water in the area. This caused recent problems as it created a lot of mud. we have been building ladder bridges all week to amend the issue. This is our first rainy season so please bare with me. I have never seen so much mud.

As for the marking of the trail: After the past few weeks cutting and clearing the trail, we hope to have made it a lot clearer. We will be replacing markers this week as many have been covered by the massive vegetation growth. Also, our previous map was rubbish, I made it on powerpoint and it was very confusing. I apologise. A new map is on its way which clearly shows the route. A new map and the re-cut should make the trail more familiar and easier to navigate.

As far as the charge for the track. It is R20 and it will stay at R20 for the time being. We are aware that we cannot charge you R40 for a product not worth R40 and until we feel the track is at that level we will not do so. Please understand that I commute to CT and all the resources used to build the track have come from Huddle Park and our own in-house labour and equipment. Our small team of guys are kept plenty busy maintaining a beautiful golf course so please bare with us. I assure you that all money earned from the trail goes back into the trail. In the future the administration will definitely create memberships/multiple ride options.

Feel free to send me any enquiries on my email

jessb@huddlepark.com

Regards

Jess Brews

Great stuff it is good to see this kind of effort to build more MTB trails in the suburbs.

[Long Wheel Base]

Thanks for the update. 

[scubes]

I rode huddle this morn.

Much better.. still some mud (could do with a few small bridges more maybe) but the existing new bridges are great. Better use of descents and is more fun now. Last long descent is great. Is now one loop and easy to follow. The one drop off is still there which is great the other has gone. More grass than hardpack as is new, and along with the mud is a mini leg work out. Free self bike wash at end is clean brilliant and much needed. R20 entry is worth the 8.5km. I combined it with Links Ridge and the single track around the golf course and some tar for a 20km ride. 

Edited February 14, 2015 by scubes

[DominionZA]

How is Huddle Park guys? I am keen to give it a bash tomorrow as I am dying to hit some dirt.

I will be riding on my own so biggest concern is safety. The idea is to ride from home giving me 11km to Huddle, ride the trail, then head home again.

And is it still R20?

 

If no response, I will go to Moderfontein. But never ridden there on my own, so a bit concerned about safety there too.

Edited May 29, 2015 by DominionZA

[Onegear]

How is Huddle Park guys? I am keen to give it a bash tomorrow as I am dying to hit some dirt.

I will be riding on my own so biggest concern is safety. The idea is to ride from home giving me 11km to Huddle, ride the trail, then head home again.

And is it still R20?

If no response, I will go to Moderfontein. But never ridden there on my own, so a bit concerned about safety there too.

Its around a golfcourse, so there is allways people around-and a great vibe.

In a very safe area too. Its perfect to ride by yourself.

[DominionZA]

Its around a golfcourse, so there is allways people around-and a great vibe.

In a very safe area too. Its perfect to ride by yourself.

Thanks. Think I will give it a try in the AM.

[Onegear]

Thanks. Think I will give it a try in the AM.

Great, but seriously you have nothing to worry about-its really safe. You will see what I mean when you there.

Enjoy !

[Dru]

This is great news and well done on all the effort to get this going. Played a lot of golf on that course and keen to try out the trails there. Will definitely be giving it a bash soon. Keep up the efforts!

Just out of curiosity, is the golf club membership in any way tied in here, i.e. use of the trails etc. I know it's a small amount, but been toying with the idea of moving my membership to this club.

[Onegear]

This is great news and well done on all the effort to get this going. Played a lot of golf on that course and keen to try out the trails there. Will definitely be giving it a bash soon. Keep up the efforts!

Just out of curiosity, is the golf club membership in any way tied in here, i.e. use of the trails etc. I know it's a small amount, but been toying with the idea of moving my membership to this club.

Not too sure about that as i dont have a membership there either. Just use the driving range and trails afterwards. But im sure a quick phone call will answer your question Edited May 29, 2015 by Wheeler2

[DominionZA]

So I took a ride out there today. What a bad day. I was almost bonking 5km into my ride - wtf. Never been like this.

Anyway, got there, paid my R20 and headed off. Planned initially to ride it at least 3 times to accumulate some mileage but ended up doing it once and headed home.

Grand total of 26.2km and I was done. Had to have a sleep when I got home. WTF?

 

Seriously, I always have piles of energy when I climb on my bike. Not today. What causes such a drop?

 

Yesterday I popped out for a 35km riding mainly foot paths. Hardly felt like I had been riding when I got home. But today i just dropped the ball.

 

Doing the Van Gaalen mini marathon next sat. Seriously worried this happens again. What are your guys proven methods to prevent this major loss of energy?

Edited May 30, 2015 by DominionZA

[ACM]

So I took a ride out there today. What a bad day. I was almost bonking 5km into my ride - wtf. Never been like this.

Anyway, got there, paid my R20 and headed off. Planned initially to ride it at least 3 times to accumulate some mileage but ended up doing it once and headed home.

Grand total of 26.2km and I was done. Had to have a sleep when I got home. WTF?

 

Seriously, I always have piles of energy when I climb on my bike. Not today. What causes such a drop?

 

Yesterday I popped out for a 35km riding mainly foot paths. Hardly felt like I had been riding when I got home. But today i just dropped the ball.

 

Doing the Van Gaalen mini marathon next sat. Seriously worried this happens again. What are your guys proven methods to prevent this major loss of energy?

Get yo know your resting HR. Also when just sitting chilling in front of TV at night. This way I know when my 'normal' HR is above normal my body is not well or fighting something or just tired. Doesn't help you for a race day coming up, but you get to know your body a lot better ????

[DominionZA]

Get yo know your resting HR. Also when just sitting chilling in front of TV at night. This way I know when my 'normal' HR is above normal my body is not well or fighting something or just tired. Doesn't help you for a race day coming up, but you get to know your body a lot better ????

Thank-you, very valuable info!

[King_Crispy]

Jess, thanks for creating another cycling haven.

I hope it goes from strength to strength

[Uni]

So I took a ride out there today.

Grand total of 26.2km and I was done.

Wow so they've put quite a bit of work in since we were there, was about 8km of trail at that pt, and quite boring.

Apart from not feeling it, good trails?

[MSquared]

No still an 8k loop. Interesting but after two laps you're left wanting more.

 

Any reason why the bottom half of the park(walking side) was left out?