Meerendal - Hoogekraal Route - Pls help

[Robbie Stewart]

People miss the rant about Meerendal entirely. What people are asking for is a bit of variety on Meerendal, i.e. Have the beginner loops, but put some well marked advanced sections in as well that the beginner need to totally by-pass, not just make their own trail past an obstacle. What most advanced riders would like to do when they take beginners out for a ride is to be able to do 1 or 2 of the more technical sections and catch up again with the beginners / do a second lap at the same trail after the beginners have had a ride. Here is where Meerendal falls short.

 

You make a good argument, and I too would like to see the trails at Meerendal get spruced up with some variety. But as for that whole trail being entirely beginner oriented is a bit much, IMHO. Take the Dorstberg decent for example, that section is most definitely not beginner stuff, especially not since the latest round of maintenance. Now, before the pinners get all hot and bothered, not everyone is as radical and extreme as you guys, and gals, But still, for a total noob to come coasting down that hill with abandon is calling for a mishap to occur. As for me, I have yet to take that drop-off, yet the one at Hoogies is MUCH easier (for me at least ... )

[GLuvsMtb]

You make a good argument, and I too would like to see the trails at Meerendal get spruced up with some variety. But as for that whole trail being entirely beginner oriented is a bit much, IMHO. Take the Dorstberg decent for example, that section is most definitely not beginner stuff, especially not since the latest round of maintenance. Now, before the pinners get all hot and bothered, not everyone is as radical and extreme as you guys, and gals, But still, for a total noob to come coasting down that hill with abandon is calling for a mishap to occur. As for me, I have yet to take that drop-off, yet the one at Hoogies is MUCH easier (for me at least ... )

I like Oak Valley because the black sections are cleverly integrated in the Red / Blue sections, so I can take a beginner group out on the blue, and leave them at a point, quickly do a black section (10 to 15 minutes if I hussle), catch up with the group again after they caught their breath, and continue to the next black section. This way we all get an enjoyable ride in, and we can all have a Springbok pie at Peregrines afterwards before going home.

At Jonkershoek I usually do a loop with the beginners, leave them at the coffee shop and then go and do a more advanced loop myself (and by advanced, I mean that even walking it is a challenge at places). Its not as social as at Oak Valle, but it works.

Everything at Meerendal, bar the token drop off, can be done at a very sedate pace to make it less technical (much like G Spot's main line), not so at places like Jonkershoek and Helderberg Farm. A few such sections at Meerendal will do wonders for the skillset of the average active TBMTBC member.

[Thermophage]

You make a good argument, and I too would like to see the trails at Meerendal get spruced up with some variety. But as for that whole trail being entirely beginner oriented is a bit much, IMHO. Take the Dorstberg decent for example, that section is most definitely not beginner stuff, especially not since the latest round of maintenance. Now, before the pinners get all hot and bothered, not everyone is as radical and extreme as you guys, and gals, But still, for a total noob to come coasting down that hill with abandon is calling for a mishap to occur. As for me, I have yet to take that drop-off, yet the one at Hoogies is MUCH easier (for me at least ... )

A total noob can easily ride Dorskberg descent...easily.

[Mamil]

I suppose even Nino was a noob once ....

 

A total noob can easily ride Dorskberg descent...easily.

[Slowbee]

I like Oak Valley because the black sections are cleverly integrated in the Red / Blue sections, so I can take a beginner group out on the blue, and leave them at a point, quickly do a black section (10 to 15 minutes if I hussle), catch up with the group again after they caught their breath, and continue to the next black section. This way we all get an enjoyable ride in, and we can all have a Springbok pie at Peregrines afterwards before going home.

At Jonkershoek I usually do a loop with the beginners, leave them at the coffee shop and then go and do a more advanced loop myself (and by advanced, I mean that even walking it is a challenge at places). Its not as social as at Oak Valle, but it works.

Everything at Meerendal, bar the token drop off, can be done at a very sedate pace to make it less technical (much like G Spot's main line), not so at places like Jonkershoek and Helderberg Farm. A few such sections at Meerendal will do wonders for the skillset of the average active TBMTBC member.

Umm but we all need to start somewhere. Mrs Slowbee did the meerendal thing and it almost broke her! The mineshaft does require some skill, actually a bit of skill. But once you have the skill, then I do agree it could be overdone. However, we did the switch backs near the bottom and you could do them in loops, and these did wonders for Mrs Slowbee

[Slowbee]

People miss the rant about Meerendal entirely. What people are asking for is a bit of variety on Meerendal, i.e. Have the beginner loops, but put some well marked advanced sections in as well that the beginner need to totally by-pass, not just make their own trail past an obstacle. What most advanced riders would like to do when they take beginners out for a ride is to be able to do 1 or 2 of the more technical sections and catch up again with the beginners / do a second lap at the same trail after the beginners have had a ride. Here is where Meerendal falls short.

 

 

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sorry, just seen this.

 

as a first timer, the direction markers where shocking !

 

also the honesty system was terrible !! no one in the wine shop new where the box was to get a permit, and even then there was no way to get a receipt of your payment. Just drop your money in and hope no one stops and asks if you paid. And we saw loads of people riding with no table mountain boards on. I would really like to think they all paid. Ja right.

[MTBeer]

A total noob can easily ride Dorskberg descent...easily.

No ways bru my wife would walk 70% of that.

[Robbie Stewart]

A total noob can easily ride Dorskberg descent...easily.

 

tut tut tut...be objective now

 

a total "noob" could potentially ride the Dorstberg descent, but with all the bumps and ruts and humps built in, it would make it a bit of a hit 'n miss affair as far as staying on the bike, instead of beside it, for someone who has zero skill. 

 

In saying that, I learnt how to ride single track at Meerendal, and it helped me tons in being able to progress to places like Conties and Hoogekraal, so Meerendal has it's place. i usually go there when I am in the mood for punishing myself up Dorstberg.

[Skubarra]

No ways bru my wife would walk 70% of that.

 

Maybe we need to introduce Thermo to some actual noobs, he has far to much confidence in noob abilities 

[GLuvsMtb]

...also the honesty system was terrible !! no one in the wine shop new where the box was to get a permit, and even then there was no way to get a receipt of your payment. Just drop your money in and hope no one stops and asks if you paid. And we saw loads of people riding with no table mountain boards on. I would really like to think they all paid. Ja right.

a bit off topic, but I have to agree. I tend to have less sympathy at trails where they don't have the basic systems in place to ensure that you comply. It would cost next to nothing to have a snapscan account set up for day visitors and for you to show your scan if asked to do so.

At Hemel and Aarde you pay at Eoudia, fill your details in the permit book, take the original, place the copy in a supplied envelope with your cash and off you go. This also works, but I would prefer a cash-less system where possible.

[Thor Buttox]

Maybe we need to introduce Thermo to some actual noobs, he has far to much confidence in noob abilities

At least he is consistent, though. You gotta give him that.

[Thermophage]

I'm considering a noob someone who has ridden a bicycle before and perhaps only a few times offroad.

 

Maybe you all need to revisit your outlook of a technical trail compared to the Dorksberg descent....

Part of the MAJOR problem is people telling noobs how difficult things are. People need to change the way they approach the trails.

Grading on Tygerberg is also somewhat ... ego inflating. Which isn't exactly helping.

Dont call it a black graded trail or blue if it doesn't conform to the bloody international standards.

 

Walking sections doesn't mean they should avoid a trail! Walking a section of trail can do wonders for your confidence and skill level.