Modderfontein Bike Park - what's happening

[madmarc]

10 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

You’ve seen the roadworks and developments in the area no? So it really is out of the hands of Taroko Trails as the property owners (NMT) have to close that gate. 

Coming from Flamingo Centre really makes no difference wether you use the main road or reserve road to ride on. In fact you can still ride along the reserve road most of the way and then at the gate go upto the road and straight into Taroko Farms. Personally have never waited 40min for to pay, if it’s an issue then maybe look at one of the season bands. 

Yes i get what you are saying but - With the old gate you could jump onto the trail just after entering. We have never ridden to the trail head on the tar road, we jumped onto the trail 50m past the gate and jumped off at the same place to ride back to flamingo. 

Its not like its 1 or 2 riders - there are lots of riders who do or did it this way, most already have bands.

I understand shutting the gate due to consturction as a lot of cars used it as well - but for season pass holders riding in - Not clever - They already have an alternative gate which is manned by security but only allow cars in for the Sea Scouts - Why not use this entrance ?

You us old Valers think we own Modders trail park, so when they change things we get very abrasive 🤬😁  

[Nakoota]

Don't worry Marc, i don't believe in stress. but I am having fun giving you a go for complaining about no having a personal entrance to your bike park

 

[OVERDRIVE]

22 hours ago, Nakoota said:

Taroko is a tenant, M&T is developing their land, there is nice paved bike path that extends from Flamingo to the trail head.

If you are only paying in the 40 minute q now that the old gate is closed does this mean you weren't paying before and just skipping onto the trails?

 

4 hours ago, madmarc said:

Of course there always be that one guy with incinuations, luckily you ended with a ? so i'll indulge your curiosity

I been riding Modders since its inception, in fact we rode there even before it became a trail park.

When the Trail head was developed these last couple of years the old gate was still an alternative entrance and used by many of us who rode in from Flamingo

And no we did not rogue ride for free we pay at the gate with cash / card and some or most riders have their annual pass bands that they have to show at the gate. 

My rant is more about the access being completly taken away.  

The very least they could do is keep an alternative entry even if its only for the Annual pass band holders.

I hope my explanantion has satisfied your curiosity and relieved your stress on the thought that there are non paying rogue riders on the trails

All we need is peace

[Koos Likkewaan 2]

Need a little bit of advise.

What is the longest loop one can do now at Taroko, and what sort of elevation would that loop have ?

Have not been there for a while. Website does not help much with this.

I guess they are open tomorrow ?

[Sandro]

13 minutes ago, Koos Likkewaan 2 said:

Need a little bit of advise.

What is the longest loop one can do now at Taroko, and what sort of elevation would that loop have ?

Have not been there for a while. Website does not help much with this.

I guess they are open tomorrow ?

Yellow trail is the longest, its about 34 km with 450 m of climbing according to my Garmin. There are two shorter trails if you want to add distance though. This was in January, not sure if anything has changed since then.

Edited March 28 by Sandro

[thebob]

Can also do some sections more than once for distance. Doing "up the creek", "ruins of Mordor" and "Mudderless" trails twice on the yellow loop will get you close to 40km

[Loose cog]

Anyone know if it is possible to ride to the Fourways market via John Road Buccleuch? https://www.google.co.za/maps/place/John+St,+Buccleuch,+Sandton,+2090/@-26.057597,28.1159931,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x1e956d7f70ac26ed:0x8b8db2f5c4412e1f!8m2!3d-26.0529754!4d28.1163364!16s%2Fg%2F1vrtx71l?entry=ttu

[BaGearA]

Anyone riding on weekday afternoons ? 

 

I'll start just before 5 and aim to leave around 18:15 ish 

 

Will definitely be cold but visibility/safety? 

 

 

solo rides 

[madmarc]

8 minutes ago, BaGearA said:

Anyone riding on weekday afternoons ? 

 

I'll start just before 5 and aim to leave around 18:15 ish 

 

Will definitely be cold but visibility/safety? 

 

 

solo rides 

I think they close at 18:00 - Wed is night rides they close later at 21:00 i think

I would imagine its safe to ride there in the afternoons - never heard of any issues 

[Mark_J]

Yeah I reckon it’s safe, will be cold right now though 

[Chadvdw67]

Sheesh, loads of construction going on here now, it is quite bleak, I wonder how long we have till the trails start to get severely affected, already lost lots of trail, but I see even more getting closed 😕 

 

Also, it seems the bird is gone, pretty shitty that, probably all the contruction, maybe even took down its nesting tree

[JK7]

Considering how busy the park is, I expect them to be able to extend the trails in areas where there is no construction.   There was plenty of singletrack that does not exist anymore, that they could re-cut and bring back. 

But ya, it is a bit bleak. Looks like The Ruins will be cut from the route. 

I assume it is residential, and having a MTB / walking trail is part of the appeal to buy there. A lifestyle purchase. It would be great if they could get some man-power and equipment from the construction team for a few days to clear some more paths. Wishful thinking of course      

[Danger Dassie]

Also there to ride and run on a regular basis, the best is to speak to the guys at Trailwolf/Taroko, they can give you the factual rundown on what's actually happening.

No trail has been lost perse, some sections have been affected, but this has been largely negated by extending sections, like the river trail (Angry Birds) yellow trail has seen an extension with a reopening of an extended loop after a lot of work. 
Likewise going left at the top of the tar road now takes you onto a new flow line option, utilising some of the older trail. That doubles back into the forest trail. 

The construction is mostly at the far end of the property on the AECI perimeter, not deep within the actual trail network or reserve. It's road construction. 

Birdlife hasn't been that affected as the vast majority sits within the reserve, it's currently not nesting season where the swooping bird normally is. 
There are extended plans for the reserve trail network/reserve. The trail guys are hoping to retain the majority of the ruins. They're constantly on the go managing/maintaining the trails and reserve areas.

 

[Sandro]

It's quite sad how this once virtually untouched reserve has become so commercialised. Hardly see any animals anymore other than a lunatic bird. The trails themselves are actually well maintained and good fun though.

[madmarc]

11 minutes ago, Sandro said:

It's quite sad how this once virtually untouched reserve has become so commercialised. Hardly see any animals anymore other than a lunatic bird. The trails themselves are actually well maintained and good fun though.

Most of the buck and zebra were rounded up some years back and relocated to Groenkloof (I think) for their own welfare. There are still some elusive Antelope roaming around that they couldnt catch at the time, see their droppings all the time. Still signs of Jackal as you will come acros the remnants of bird kills on the trails - Night rides you could be fortunate to come across a Grass owl or 2 on the trails. The angry bird (Sparrow Hawk) is only there during breeding season for a few months.

But you are right - with the urbanisation of the area we reduce their natural habitat and they (Especially the birds of pray) move off. 

 

[JK7]

42 minutes ago, Danger Dassie said:

Likewise going left at the top of the tar road now takes you onto a new flow line option, utilising some of the older trail. That doubles back into the forest trail. 

Can you confirm which tar road? 

The very 1st one? Or the one after the Angry Birds?