Oak Valley trails ok?

[wildog_a]

Has anyone we know ridden these trails in isolation? They were part of the Cape Epic route this year, but it would be interesting to see how riders feel about them in isolation...

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OAK VALLEY LAUNCHES 5-STAR MOUNTAIN BIKING EXPERIENCE
Oak Valley, a leading Elgin winery, situated alongside the N2, has recently launched the Oak Valley Mountain Biking Experience, a 21-kilometre mountain biking route on this beautiful 1 786-hectare mountain-side farm. The Experience is the brainchild of Oak Valley?s winemaker, Pieter Visser, an avid mountain biker himself, who has ensured that the route, although a red route (classified as difficult) is suitable for young and old and the experienced biker.
The route rose to prominence earlier this year when the gruelling ABSA Cape Epic mountain bike race from Knysna to Somerset West camped at Oak Valley farm on the race?s penultimate day. The final part of the route that day saw the competitors wind their way up and down steep vineyard- and fynbos-covered slopes of the Groenlandberg, on their way to their overnight stop at the lower-lying oak-strewn section of Oak Valley farm.
The Oak Valley Biking Experience takes the rider through spectacular scenery, including an oak forest; mountain vineyards; apple and pear orchards; and pastures where Simmentaler beef cattle roam. All of these are set against the backdrop of the rugged slopes of the Groenlandberg.
The circular 21km trail starts at the farm?s entrance gates and includes a couple of hills that are definitely fodder for the mountain goats. Close to half the distance is single track biking, with wooden bridges (over farm fences) and streams, making for a highly enjoyable ride, especially the downhill single track. The rest of the route is over farm roads. The well known mountain biking website www.mtbroutes.co.za recently rated the Oak Valley Biking Experience five stars, the highest rating it awards. Currently the route is classified as a red route, but Pieter is in the process of developing two other routes - a green route for the whole family and a black route for the advanced rider with technical skills.
Cost and opening times
The entrance fee is R20.00 per rider and is open throughout the year, weather permitting of course. No booking is required.
Directions to Oak Valley
On the N2 from Cape Town turn left at the Peregrine Farm Stall near Grabouw, turn right onto the R321 to Villiersdorp and turn right again onto the tar road leading past the Elgin Station and on to the main entrance gate of the farm. It?s an hour?s drive from Cape Town.
Wine Tasting
Once you have completed your ride why not sample some of Oak Valley?s award-winning wines. The tasting centre is open to the public during the week from 09h00 to 17h00 and on Saturdays from 09h00 to 13h00.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

[carbon:gal]

My partner and I did it the Sunday before last Sunday. It is one glorified loooong downhill single track with minimum climbing.  Easy flowing, non technical. 

 

Don?t expect to find a ?tokai? or ?Jonkershoek canary? type single track experience out there (maybe in the future?).  No it is, in my opinion, a track made for the BIG blade for an unadulterated full out sprint effort leading to super fast single track speed?. mega enjoyment!<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

I wonder, will those wooden bridges get green and slippery in a few years time?  And those cows?ooooh?the one kept on checking me out?scary stuff.

 

First do <?: prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Lebanonon> red route. Then head to Thandi and finish off with Oak valley. If you have energy left quickly pop to the Groenlandberg mast and back.  These venues are not linked.  Thus a separate drive to each.

[Velouria]

I have been meaning to head out that way for a while - sounds quite nice - thanks Carbon:Gal

[ChrisH]

We rode it yesterday. Simply put, Oak Valley is great. Fantastic even. It's the best R20 I have spend on MTBing this year.<?: prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

 

We did both the green and the red routes. Total distance for both was 34km with only 495 meters of climbing. There is NO ?technical? single track, no rocks or roots or massive drop offs. It is all very much like what you see on TV at the Sani2C. It's pristine, fast, flowing, and never ending. The route must easily be 80% single track and stunningly beautiful in a Harkerville kind of way. (blasphemy I know) After a while we just called the place Narnia because around every corner is another view or sight that just takes your breath away. We spent over 90 minutes of our ride simply stopping to look at the beauty of the place

 

I was amazed how the owners have even cut single track into flat fields which join wooded areas to make the journey more fun, but be warned, take soap to wash your hands because the cows think that the single track through the open fields is for walking on, and cows tend to crap where they walk. Carry water in a camelback unless you don't mind eating bulls**t off a water bottle.

 

Directions. On the N2 from Cape Town turn left at the Peregrine Farm Stall near Grabouw, turn right onto the R321 to Villiersdorp and turn right again onto the tar road leading past the Elgin Station and on to the main entrance gate of the farm.

 

You can see some pics at www.theworld.co.za/oakvalley although most of them are taken in open areas because we were having too much fun to stop and take phodies on the single-track.