Spruit

[Henryfeather]

Hi guys

I ride braamfontein spruit on weekends

Without incidents

Now I'm considering doing it on occasions in the week in the late pm

Entering at Rivonia side at about 5.30/6 pm

Question is would it still be safe

At what time would there be no more cyclists

I will be riding solo

What's the general consensus?

Thnx

[BlackBikes]

Hi Henry.

Just be vigilant. I commute from melville to bryanston along the spruit 3 times a week in the morning and late afternoons. I've never had an incident in 8 or so years. But keep your eyes open. If you see some dodgy geysers just give them a bit of distance

 

Enjoy

[rvdm1]

I am also curious about this. I have done some late afternoon/early evening rides on the emmarentia/victory park side without incident.

 

What I am considering now is to use it to commute to work every now and again. This would mean early morning rides from linden side to sunninghill/paulshof and late afternoon rides in the opposite direction (weekdays obviously).

[Spinsei]

I'm from the other side of the Jukskei and aside from riding the first JUMA (which actually sucked) I'd never ridden the spruit. On an invitation from friends I rode there on Sunday. We rode from Cambridge Crossing around the dam and back. OMG... it was freakin' horrible... smelled like sh*t and p*ss the whole way... trash and litter everywhere. When you go under the bridges it's like you're riding through a vagrants bedroom. There we are on our bombing along on our R30k bikes and these poor bastards are scraping out an existence living under a bridge. VERY uncomfortable. VERY awkward. And if I was riding alone it would've been flippin' terrifying. All I want when I ride is to get out and enjoy fresh air and nature. But overall this ride actually depressed me. 

 

Jeez... I sound like a moaner... but heck... I DON'T recommend it.

[chris_meowzit]

I'm from the other side of the Jukskei and aside from riding the first JUMA (which actually sucked) I'd never ridden the spruit. On an invitation from friends I rode there on Sunday. We rode from Cambridge Crossing around the dam and back. OMG... it was freakin' horrible... smelled like sh*t and p*ss the whole way... trash and litter everywhere. When you go under the bridges it's like you're riding through a vagrants bedroom. There we are on our bombing along on our R30k bikes and these poor bastards are scraping out an existence living under a bridge. VERY uncomfortable. VERY awkward. And if I was riding alone it would've been flippin' terrifying. All I want when I ride is to get out and enjoy fresh air and nature. But overall this ride actually depressed me. 

 

Jeez... I sound like a moaner... but heck... I DON'T recommend it.

 

Welcome to Africa.

 

there are some great sections. I ride the spruit solo and with mates and have had no issues thus far and is a great ride for what it is.

 

But hey, if thats how you feel then I suppose less traffic for the rest of us who enjoy riding the spruit!

[NelAndre]

Yip, I love the contrasts that the Spruit offers. One can experience all of humanity in a Spruit ride. I travel from north of the Jukskei often to go do the Spruit.

 

Each to his own I guess.

[GRoux]

I have recently started cycling at 05:00 from the top of delta park to Victory park in the mornings. It seems fine thus far. Not a lot of traffic on the spruit that time of the morning! :-)

[Whitters]

I commute most weeks on a Thursday from work (Midrand) to Home (Linden) and then Friday morning back Linden to Midrand, with a mate. We've never had any safety issue and it's awesome to get a mid week ride in. On a number of occasions when my riding partner is not able to ride due to a late meeting or something I'll ride solo, again never had any issues. I'm not saying it's completely safe I'm just saying we've had no problem. We both ride with a small teargas spray. Keep your eyes open.

[Whitters]

...  linden side to sunninghill/paulshof and late afternoon rides in the opposite direction ...

 rvdm1 this is the route and times we do the ride so you're welcome to join us to give it a try...

[NE1L]

Do it

 

Our family moto is "without fear" which I have recently taken to heart after my grandfather passed away

 

Dont let fear hold you back, that being said this is Africa so be vigilant but most importantly Enjoy life and enjoy living it as much as possible 

[rvdm1]

 rvdm1 this is the route and times we do the ride so you're welcome to join us to give it a try...

 

Will definitely take you up on that

[Honkdonk]

It's without doubt a sign of the times. A reflection on society. The haves and the have nots..

There have been issues but it seems to gave been sorted out, of at the least gone quiet..

I was never a fan of the Spruit, but, you know, to get from north to central it does ok. There are some cool bits, some dirty bits, some seriously eye opening bits and everything in between.

The best is the community just behind PnP on Nicol. Recyclers of note living in filth right across from Bryanston Country Club

 

Generally...

Be nice. Don't be a ****

[Sven137]

Welcome to Africa.

 

there are some great sections. I ride the spruit solo and with mates and have had no issues thus far and is a great ride for what it is.

 

But hey, if thats how you feel then I suppose less traffic for the rest of us who enjoy riding the spruit!

 

 

Think you have become numb to the destitution and filth around you

[nonky]

Think you have become numb to the destitution and filth around you

 

Yip, we all have to greater or lesser extent.

 

On a return from a recent trip overseas, it struck me again how degraded Joburg is - it has become really ugly and neglected from the perspective of the M2.  

Potholes, broken streetlights, old signs, fading lines, central barriers in the process of being stolen, vagrants,old mine dumps, hostels etc.

It just looks unkept and unloved.

If you look closely, many of the northern suburbs are also falling apart.

Truly depressing in many ways.

[jugheaddave]

Yip, we all have to greater or lesser extent.

 

On a return from a recent trip overseas, it struck me again how degraded Joburg is - it has become really ugly and neglected from the perspective of the M2.

Potholes, broken streetlights, old signs, fading lines, central barriers in the process of being stolen, vagrants,old mine dumps, hostels etc.

It just looks unkept and unloved.

If you look closely, many of the northern suburbs are also falling apart.

Truly depressing in many ways.

I had the same experience returning from a trip over December. I think we all get used to the slow decay of our once beautiful nation.

[nonky]

I had the same experience returning from a trip over December. I think we all get used to the slow decay of our once beautiful nation.

 

and that's probably why the current state of the Spruit is such cause for concern.  I used to ride there three times a WEEK, but i've only ridden there once this YEAR.