Kommetjie - Western Cape

[Bundu Ric]

Good day all, 

We will be down in Kommetjie in the Western Cape and I was wondering if anyone knows of any gravel road or beginner trails in the area?

 

As per my intro I only started MTB a week ago so for me it is gravel roads and easy trails to get into the swing of things. 

 

I did do a search and went through the trails thread but cant seem to pick up anything for the Kommetjie area.

 

Thanks

[Duane_Bosch]

You MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT want to be riding the dirt roads in the area! There have been multiple criminal incidents on the tar roads in the area let alone the dirt roads. Oceanview is close to Kommetjie and it is a mess of gangs and drug activity.

 

Rather take your car and drive to Tokai. You can hit the greenbelt trails all the way up to the top of Southern Cross drive and beyond. These are very beginner friendly. There's also Tokai and Silvermine that have dirt roads if you aren't keen on the single track.

 

Also don't discount riding in the reserve. Yes it is tar but It's a real treat to ride in there. Especially now with the lack of tour busses. It's about 25km from the gate to the point and back.

 

I'd also HIGHLY recommend a day trip or 2 out to Stellies for Jonkers and Eden/Mont Marie. There are beginner friendly trails there.

Edited December 3, 2020 by Duane_Bosch

[Mntboy]

Good day all,

 

We will be down in Kommetjie in the Western Cape and I was wondering if anyone knows of any gravel road or beginner trails in the area?

 

As per my intro I only started MTB a week ago so for me it is gravel roads and easy trails to get into the swing of things.

 

I did do a search and went through the trails thread but cant seem to pick up anything for the Kommetjie area.

 

Thanks

Hey Bundu

 

Having grown up in Kommetjie I can tell you for sure that there isn't anything ito trails or gravel. However you will be close to Tokai as well as the Greenbelts but be aware that you'll need to organise yourself an activity card for access to Tokai as the price for a daily permit is pretty expensive (+/- R100) if you plan on riding regularly. Greenbelts, which starts in lower Tokai, is free up until crossing Southern Cross Drive after that the Tokai activity card will again cover you for access from that point. Greenbelts is good for beginners, Tokai inspect first and ride only what you feel is within your capacity to do.

 

I would also suggest that you pm Dirtypot, he is the co-owner/owner of Cranx - a local LBS, who should be able to give you better more up to date advice.

[-cK-]

You MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT want to be riding the dirt roads in the area! There have been multiple criminal incidents on the tar roads in the area let alone the dirt roads. Oceanview is close to Kommetjie and it is a mess of gangs and drug activity.

 

Rather take your car and drive to Tokai. You can hit the greenbelt trails all the way up to the top of Southern Cross drive and beyond. These are very beginner friendly. There's also Tokai and Silvermine that have dirt roads if you aren't keen on the single track.

 

Also don't discount riding in the reserve. Yes it is tar but It's a real treat to ride in there. Especially now with the lack of tour busses. It's about 25km from the gate to the point and back.

 

I'd also HIGHLY recommend a day trip or 2 out to Stellies for Jonkers and Eden/Mont Marie. There are beginner friendly trails there.

What he said regarding Oceanview/Kommetjie area. 

I will not go ride there again unless it is with an armed escort that shoots first and asks no questions...

[Mntboy]

What he said regarding Oceanview/Kommetjie area.

I will not go ride there again unless it is with an armed escort that shoots first and asks no questions...

Kommetjie itself is still pretty safe it is the roads out of it that is the issue especially with them being low on regular traffic.

 

Yes OV is problematic due to drug and gang related violence. However a number of church and faith based NPO's are hard at work to address the underlying issues that lead to the aforementioned violence. To write of the community just because of a few bad apples is somewhat unfair.

[Bundu Ric]

Thanks everyone for the great responses, for some reason my posting is limited so I can not reply to each message. 

 

I will definitely stay within the Kommetjie roads and not wonder out but will for sure explore the Tokai suggestions as well. 

[Shebeen]

What's the latest on the blackhill/kleinplaas dam route?safe or not?

[Bundu Ric]

What's the latest on the blackhill/kleinplaas dam route?safe or not?

 

I assume this is also in the Kommetjie area?

 

Hopefully there will be some feedback, but it seems I would be ok to sticking to the Kommetjie town roads, at least I can get some biking.

[Mntboy]

I assume this is also in the Kommetjie area?

 

Hopefully there will be some feedback, but it seems I would be ok to sticking to the Kommetjie town roads, at least I can get some biking.

Yes and No, it's on the way towards Kommetjie if you're using either Ou Kaapse Weg (M64 - iirc) or Kommetjie Road which runs North South through Fish Hoek and connects it to Sun Valley.

 

Black Hill is a local name given to the hill that connects Sun Valley to Glencairn, at the top of which is a gravel route that runs towards Cape Point National Park. However I don't know what the situation is with that particular area.

 

Edit: You may find that you'll need to do few laps in order to get in a decent amount of km's and would advise that you look into going to Tokai, the Greenbelts or some of the place Duane mentioned. Don't let yourself get stuck just in Kommetjie. Make a point of seeing more of what the Cape has ito riding.

Edited December 4, 2020 by Mntboy

[Pure Savage]

Kommetjie itself is still pretty safe it is the roads out of it that is the issue especially with them being low on regular traffic.

 

Yes OV is problematic due to drug and gang related violence. However a number of church and faith based NPO's are hard at work to address the underlying issues that lead to the aforementioned violence. To write of the community just because of a few bad apples is somewhat unfair.

Dont think he is writing the whole community off but having being driven over and attacked at Ocean View I would avoid without an armed escort.

[Pure Savage]

Dont think he is writing the whole community off but having being driven over and attacked at Ocean View I would avoid without an armed escort.

The car that drove me over is now released to the owner and the suspects are still out in the community so avoid the area.

[Mntboy]

The car that drove me over is now released to the owner and the suspects are still out in the community so avoid the area.

Sorry to hear this.

[Bundu Ric]

The car that drove me over is now released to the owner and the suspects are still out in the community so avoid the area.

 

Thanks it is good to know, definitely dont want to be involved in any such incidents on holiday and my wife will then probably sell my bike if something like this would happen. 

[Heinrich Hattingh]

You MOST CERTAINLY DO NOT want to be riding the dirt roads in the area! There have been multiple criminal incidents on the tar roads in the area let alone the dirt roads. Oceanview is close to Kommetjie and it is a mess of gangs and drug activity.

 

Rather take your car and drive to Tokai. You can hit the greenbelt trails all the way up to the top of Southern Cross drive and beyond. These are very beginner friendly. There's also Tokai and Silvermine that have dirt roads if you aren't keen on the single track.

 

Also don't discount riding in the reserve. Yes it is tar but It's a real treat to ride in there. Especially now with the lack of tour busses. It's about 25km from the gate to the point and back.

 

I'd also HIGHLY recommend a day trip or 2 out to Stellies for Jonkers and Eden/Mont Marie. There are beginner friendly trails there.

Hi Bundu Ric.

 

Unfortunately what Duane said is very true.

 

However there's quite a bit of lekker riding still to be done that involves some very nice sections of dirt in between tar if you do a loop through Glencairn, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek that includes some chappies and back.

 

It's obviously more tar but I do it on my Gravel bike and it's pretty good. It's pretty much allot of backroads through neighborhoods so you will need to know where to go.

 

Otherwise as the others suggested Cape Point is very nice, and then the other popular trail networks. 

 

Let me know, maybe we can go for a ride to show you around.

[marko35s]

Good day all, 

 

We will be down in Kommetjie in the Western Cape and I was wondering if anyone knows of any gravel road or beginner trails in the area?

 

As per my intro I only started MTB a week ago so for me it is gravel roads and easy trails to get into the swing of things. 

 

I did do a search and went through the trails thread but cant seem to pick up anything for the Kommetjie area.

 

Thanks

As most of the guys have said it is best to avoid riding around that area at the moment.

Tokai was suggested and has a few beginner friendly trails - Fairy Garden, Your Roots and Lizard are all green graded and will be fine for a beginner and if you are feeling confident then the blue graded Vasbyt and Boomslang are good with no unavoidable obstacles.

Load up Trailforks on your phone to help you find your way around the trails.

 

https://www.trailforks.com/region/tokai-forest-mtb-trails/

 

As per Duane the greenbelt is a good beginner territory.

 

https://www.trailforks.com/region/constantia-greenbelt-17002/

 

Another recomendation would be to spend a day at the Bike Park at Uitsig, you will learn a lot while having fun.

 

https://bikeparkatuitsig.co.za/gallery/

[Bundu Ric]

Hi Bundu Ric.

 

Unfortunately what Duane said is very true.

 

However there's quite a bit of lekker riding still to be done that involves some very nice sections of dirt in between tar if you do a loop through Glencairn, Fish Hoek, Noordhoek that includes some chappies and back.

 

It's obviously more tar but I do it on my Gravel bike and it's pretty good. It's pretty much allot of backroads through neighborhoods so you will need to know where to go.

 

Otherwise as the others suggested Cape Point is very nice, and then the other popular trail networks. 

 

Let me know, maybe we can go for a ride to show you around.

 

Thanks for the info, I will definitely check out the suggestions you made as well. 

 

Seems like there will be more than enough areas / roads to explore, my comment regarding gravel over tar is I dont want to be run over by some tourist looking at something other than the actual road.