Tygerberg MTB Trails

[Robbie Stewart]

That Hoogies skill park has made massive improvements to how I ride a trail, and I am way more confident in the techie stuff since it opened. 

I enjoy the jumps tremendously, even when I realize that those jumps are in a "safe space" where one can, to a degree, control what happens. It has still made my trail riding better. Not even venturing far, I now ride the Gorge with much more confidence. Also, those new tables at the bottom just before the end of the trail, are simply sublime since I know how to attack them. They make a prefect end to a tough ride.

Dropping down into Trail-Z/Welvergenoegd etc. has also become more of a jol.

All thanks to the skill sessions I spent at that park. 

now, if only there is an easier way to ride up a hill...(without e-motorbikes)

 

[PhilipV]

at less than 1% of the total trail distance, it's nice but needed a lot more elsewhere, IMO. As was very nicely displayed when 6 riders went off to hospital on Friday's practice, 3 broken shoulders and 17 crashes on ONE section of the XCO course.

Southeys Vines has nothing technical, yet it is still claiming shoulders at the tabletops.

So any skill park/ pump track / jump line / set of drops is better than nothing. My memory is fuzzy (it has been a year,) but I remember there being a couple of rocky lines at the bottom of the skills park?

 

I think the problem isn't the lack of technical trails or the abundance of flow trails.

Even if there are 2X more rough trails, the majority of people will CHOOSE to ride the flowy blur trails that make them feel like heroes.

 

I'm sorry, if riders plan on racing XCO, then they must make a plan to practice XCO features that they will face on race day. If you're serious about racing, then the course shouldn't scare you on race weekend, you should be proficient on technical trails by then.

 

 

I reckon if Tygerberg MTB polls their riders on what type of trails they want to see more of, the handful of riders asking for more Gnar, more tech, will pale into insignificance compared to the flow trail votes.

[Wannabe]

at less than 1% of the total trail distance, it's nice but needed a lot more elsewhere, IMO. As was very nicely displayed when 6 riders went off to hospital on Friday's practice, 3 broken shoulders and 17 crashes on ONE section of the XCO course. 

 

Which goes to show, ride it more often and your skills will improve (if you survive the first couple of times)   

[Christofison]

How sick would it be if Bloemendaaler had some steeper lines, heading a bit more directly down the hill? Or even down the steeper side of Dorsberg at Meerendal.

Edited February 6, 2019 by Christofison

[Rapunzel]

How sick would it be if Bloemendaaler had some steeper lines, heading a bit more directly down the hill? Or even down the steeper side of Dorsberg at Meerendal.

Steeper means straight down the hill which is an erosion problem and eroded trails are notoriously difficult to rehabilitate. I suggest if you want steeper that you stick to Conties black.

That said, I did notice on a flight into cape town a few months back that it is a big scar on our tygerberg hills :-(

[Christofison]

Steeper means straight down the hill which is an erosion problem and eroded trails are notoriously difficult to rehabilitate. I suggest if you want steeper that you stick to Conties black.

That said, I did notice on a flight into cape town a few months back that it is a big scar on our tygerberg hills :-(

Conties black is down a gulley. Where else is the water supposed to go? Up top before the gulley, the track is reasonably narrow.

 

A steep trail doesn't have to cause erosion, if it's done sustainably. Corners/kinks/bench cuts etc properly planned to acheive adequate drainage.

[Robbie Stewart]

I am assuming that cutting a new, steeper DH line would only appeal to a very narrow segment of the club's membership volume, and would cost a ton in terms of labour and money, for a very limited return. Hence I am guessing that such a request won't find approval from club leadership. Even more so if club members won't even ride the skills park for the vast majority who visit existing trails such as Hoogekraal. To game this out even more, arguing an increased uptake in DH should more lines come online would also carry no weight, as the same folks who ride past Hoogekraal Skills Park also happily pedal past Cobra.

 

Truth be told, Tygerberg MTB is not soon likely to cater for a niche segment such as DH for the same reason CWC et al only cater for Marathon / Road cycling, and less AllMountain, Trail, DH type riding.

 

The member base is mainly folks who think how far one rides is the measure of a good day's riding as opposed to quality of trails. That being said, I do think Tygerberg caters decently for the bulk majority, and will not possibly keep all riders happy all the time.

 

But then, last I heard, Rob Starke maintains his own trails at Contermans...

[Hairy]

The Black / DH does not look any worse than the Blue Route at Conters, or elsewhere on the Tygerberg trail network on Google Earth .... see Bloemendaaler attached for ref.

 

 

Steeper means straight down the hill which is an erosion problem and eroded trails are notoriously difficult to rehabilitate. I suggest if you want steeper that you stick to Conties black.

That said, I did notice on a flight into cape town a few months back that it is a big scar on our tygerberg hills :-(

 

[Thermophage]

The Black / DH does not look any worse than the Blue Route at Conters, or elsewhere on the Tygerberg trail network on Google Earth .... see Bloemendaaler attached for ref.

Don't come talking sense on a Tygerberg forum now!

[Robbie Stewart]

The Black / DH does not look any worse than the Blue Route at Conters, or elsewhere on the Tygerberg trail network on Google Earth .... see Bloemendaaler attached for ref.

 

You mean this Bloemendaaler, and not Lombard's Terra?

 

[Hairy]

my mistake ... Lombards at Bloemendal .... too many Bloems for me to accurately comprehend

You mean this Bloemendaaler, and not Lombard's Terra?

 

Bloemendaaler.jpg

['Dale]

Got my sexy new pink number board fitted on my stealthy Scalpel.
See you on them trails, Cupcakes.

Must say it’s been a while since I’ve rolled the brown stuff.

Kudus to the club for always searching for new frontiers and doing their utmost to sustain cool relationships with all stakeholders involved.

Edited February 8, 2019 by 'Dale

[Christofison]

I am assuming that cutting a new, steeper DH line would only appeal to a very narrow segment of the club's membership volume, and would cost a ton in terms of labour and money, for a very limited return. Hence I am guessing that such a request won't find approval from club leadership. Even more so if club members won't even ride the skills park for the vast majority who visit existing trails such as Hoogekraal. To game this out even more, arguing an increased uptake in DH should more lines come online would also carry no weight, as the same folks who ride past Hoogekraal Skills Park also happily pedal past Cobra.

 

Truth be told, Tygerberg MTB is not soon likely to cater for a niche segment such as DH for the same reason CWC et al only cater for Marathon / Road cycling, and less AllMountain, Trail, DH type riding.

 

The member base is mainly folks who think how far one rides is the measure of a good day's riding as opposed to quality of trails. That being said, I do think Tygerberg caters decently for the bulk majority, and will not possibly keep all riders happy all the time.

 

But then, last I heard, Rob Starke maintains his own trails at Contermans...

I'm not saying we should build a track so gnarly that you must have a DH bike to be able to ride it. A light trail bike gets the job done on Conties Mainline.

 

What I am saying is, build something like the top half of Iron Monkey. 10% of the clubs' membership are able to ride something like that. Another 20% of the existing membership would have an option to "skill up" when they're ready. And people who aren't members because they're bored of the 1000 berms, might actually consider joining.

 

It doesn't have to cost a ton. You pick a line with some cool features, where the soil is good and you know the drainage can be managed in the future. Clear a few trees if they're in the way and get the trail crossings/dropoffs sorted. The rest you leave raw and let it get ridden in.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I'm not saying we should build a track so gnarly that you must have a DH bike to be able to ride it. A light trail bike gets the job done on Conties Mainline.

 

What I am saying is, build something like the top half of Iron Monkey. 10% of the clubs' membership are able to ride something like that. Another 20% of the existing membership would have an option to "skill up" when they're ready. And people who aren't members because they're bored of the 1000 berms, might actually consider joining.

 

It doesn't have to cost a ton. You pick a line with some cool features, where the soil is good and you know the drainage can be managed in the future. Clear a few trees if they're in the way and get the trail crossings/dropoffs sorted. The rest you leave raw and let it get ridden in.

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????. THIS!!!!

[Sparky and the Warden]

I'm not saying we should build a track so gnarly that you must have a DH bike to be able to ride it. A light trail bike gets the job done on Conties Mainline.

 

What I am saying is, build something like the top half of Iron Monkey. 10% of the clubs' membership are able to ride something like that. Another 20% of the existing membership would have an option to "skill up" when they're ready. And people who aren't members because they're bored of the 1000 berms, might actually consider joining.

 

It doesn't have to cost a ton. You pick a line with some cool features, where the soil is good and you know the drainage can be managed in the future. Clear a few trees if they're in the way and get the trail crossings/dropoffs sorted. The rest you leave raw and let it get ridden in.

Come to the Helderberg trails my friend! Or better yet join the next shuttle day, there are some exciting plans for the future however mother nature needs to play along and give us rain this winter. That's a huge issue here no water so the dust is hectic but do yourself a favour head up to the top lines all the old school lines are being opened up that means rock drops, rock rollers and rock gardens... I think you get where we are going with this but all these rocks that magically embed themselves in the trails come from somewhere lots of hard work and carrying on a legacy left by those before. The biggest issue that faces most Trail networks is riders that think braking means you need to lock up and drag 10m before the corner instead of controlling one's speed and rolling through or over an obstacle. The damage done by this type of riding is terrible and really takes its toll on the trails.

 

Lastly I don't understand why so many people do not buy a day permit or annual permit... That really pisses me off to see this sort of behaviour, riders knowingly ride late afternoon/evening without any permit and then get pissed off when they are caught and asked to kindly leave. (rant over)

 

Respect the trails and ride within your limits. Happy trails!

Edited February 8, 2019 by andrewdh

[Robbie Stewart]

I'm not saying we should build a track so gnarly that you must have a DH bike to be able to ride it. A light trail bike gets the job done on Conties Mainline.

 

What I am saying is, build something like the top half of Iron Monkey. 10% of the clubs' membership are able to ride something like that. Another 20% of the existing membership would have an option to "skill up" when they're ready. And people who aren't members because they're bored of the 1000 berms, might actually consider joining.

 

It doesn't have to cost a ton. You pick a line with some cool features, where the soil is good and you know the drainage can be managed in the future. Clear a few trees if they're in the way and get the trail crossings/dropoffs sorted. The rest you leave raw and let it get ridden in.

 

I'm with you on this. I wonder though if a farmer (_{Mr Starke - hint hint}) would be willing to allow a crew of members who have an interest in such a line to come help on a volunteer basis to cut such a line. This may go a long way to convincing the club that such a need exists, and they may allocate resources to help?