Tokai trails restoration

[sub7]

It may be a good idea to get hubbers together and apply for activity permits as a group with additional members at R215 a pop instead of R500 each. Does anyone know whether there is a limit to the amount of additional members on a primary level 3 permit?   

[gwhite]

It may be a good idea to get hubbers together and apply for activity permits as a group with additional members at R215 a pop instead of R500 each. Does anyone know whether there is a limit to the amount of additional members on a primary level 3 permit?   

 

Do you know how many are required for that discount?

[sub7]

It may be a good idea to get hubbers together and apply for activity permits as a group with additional members at R215 a pop instead of R500 each. Does anyone know whether there is a limit to the amount of additional members on a primary level 3 permit?   

[sub7]

Do you know how many are required for that discount?

 

No requirement but it's limited to 3 additional members per main member.

[Flowta]

Parks have to be the biggest pansies ever. Oooh rocks falling down - when does that ever not happen on a mountain. 

 

I am about to cough for an activity permit. Its not a user friendly process at all. Multiple pics and docs, even for a 3 year old and unless you get for the whole family at once you cant go back and pay the reduced amount for the family permits.

 

What boils my blood further is that they take the money and still refuse to pay anything towards trail maintenance.

 

Its also nonsense that the place is only open on weekends for now.

 

You have to get a permit for a 3-year old??? WTF!!!

[Pure Savage]

Parks have to be the biggest pansies ever. Oooh rocks falling down - when does that ever not happen on a mountain. 

 

I am about to cough for an activity permit. Its not a user friendly process at all. Multiple pics and docs, even for a 3 year old and unless you get for the whole family at once you cant go back and pay the reduced amount for the family permits.

 

What boils my blood further is that they take the money and still refuse to pay anything towards trail maintenance.

 

Its also nonsense that the place is only open on weekends for now.

 

They were on the radio the other day moaning about how they get less money from government but they still have to preserve the place and pay peeps. 

 

They were saying thats why none of the money goes to trail maintenance. Its a bit of a joke, major draw card for Cape Town is our natural beauty, brings in plenty dosh, but do you think the Government would spend some money to preserve it. Nope, they can create another form of tax. 

[marko35s]

You have to get a permit for a 3-year old??? WTF!!!

No.

Thirteen and over so far as I remember.

[Eddy Gordo]

All permits I believe are 13 or 16. 16 Could be for fishing.

[Headshot]

There was a media/donor /hanger on/committee/volunteer builder  test ride at Tokai this morning. First time I have ridden my Enduro there and the climbs certainly felt a lot better than I remember them. 

 

I was last there in August I think and man have the wattles and gums sprouted magnificently. There is some hacking going on but its painfully slow. It will be years before the aliens are gone I recon.

 

As far as the trails are concerned - the good news is the snakes are all open from Cobra down to Snake Eyes. Boulders is open. The DH line is open from the road gap to the jump section ( I am unsure whether Vasbyt and DH3 will also be open by Saturday). They are signposted but were taped off today. There are some biggish jumps after the big berm on DH3 where the large TT used to be. These are apparently dangerous in the side wind so beware.

 

The first climb is a bit brutal - 800m at Cat 4 according to Strava but the surface is firm and I found it fine on my big bike. From there its a traverse to the old jeep track ascent and the usual route up to the snakes. Boulders is also open and as far as I know, so too, the Bridal path. 

 

The bad news is the place is wind and sun baked and even some of the armoured trails are taking strain. This is what Tokai is however - best ridden in winter even when the pines were there. People need to go easy on the brakes - there was already some panic braking and damage on Mamba today!

 

The new armoured Mamba is a far cry from the previous version and flows very well. I ran out of time so didn't ride Cobra or the Bridal path. DH 1 and 2 are great - 1 has quite a trail park feel, with features and big drop 3/4 way down while 2 also has a drop but is more rough and ready  - great fun on my Pike equipped bike. Never had the pleasure  of riding Tokai even with the Reign after the  Pike. was fitted.Hardly noticed the rocks that had the Fox 32 bending all over the place...

 

The way out follows the same torturous climb route but is a very fun fast descent. There are nicely angled water bars all the way down so airtime and high speeds are possible. I do see some issues with riders coming up and some people will get the water bars wrong and crash. This issue will go away when the old route up is opened but that is still months away.

 

Can't wait to get back and spend a bit more time exploring...

[dirtypot]

The first climb is a bit brutal - 800m at Cat 4 according to Strava but the surface is firm and I found it fine on my big bike.

 

EIGHT HUNDRED METERS!!!!  I didn't realize that the climbs got so big after the fire!!   

 

Really wish that I could have gotten there this morning, but was unfortunately not to be...

[Headshot]

EIGHT HUNDRED METERS!!!!  I didn't realize that the climbs got so big after the fire!!   

 

Really wish that I could have gotten there this morning, but was unfortunately not to be...

Hehehe, more like 800m distance and 100m of ascending...

[Raydek]

Yeah, the first climb to Bridal was not great... 8km and 400m ascent to the start of it.  After that though it was pretty ok.

 

DH3 was eventually opened later in the morning. Ran it a few times till the wind picked up. As you say it got dodgy after that.

[(Deon)]

So I see the opening is on the front page of the Bulletin today.. actually with all the errors, I should be calling the Buletwon. It turns out I am the Chair of the TMMTB forum. Who woulda thought?!? 

 

Thanks for the info Tim. Just the sound of the term, "Cat 4" seems brutal!

 

Factually speaking, Cobra is not really open yet but if you could wind your way down it, then maybe it should be signposted.

[(Deon)]

Yeah, the first climb to Bridal was not great... 8km and 400m ascent to the start of it.  After that though it was pretty ok.

 

DH3 was eventually opened later in the morning. Ran it a few times till the wind picked up. As you say it got dodgy after that.

Yes, sorry! I only spotted the tape left on the track at about 10.. sorry about this. Not sure why it was there in the first place. Also found myself cutting off the exposed stakes on the berms and features. A few last minute adjustments.. 

[Headshot]

So I see the opening is on the front page of the Bulletin today.. actually with all the errors, I should be calling the Buletwon. It turns out I am the Chair of the TMMTB forum. Who woulda thought?!? 

 

Thanks for the info Tim. Just the sound of the term, "Cat 4" seems brutal!

 

Factually speaking, Cobra is not really open yet but if you could wind your way down it, then maybe it should be signposted.

I didn't ride Cobra but saw some tracks coming out of it so I presumed. Maybe a sign would be a good idea though - a big black one perhaps?

 

Is that Karin Watkins getting the facts wrong in the C Bulletin?

[marko35s]

I didn't ride Cobra but saw some tracks coming out of it so I presumed. Maybe a sign would be a good idea though - a big black one perhaps?

 

Is that Karin Watkins getting the facts wrong in the C Bulletin?

Sign is now in place.