Around Table Mountain

[Yyyy]

Bottom line is that the missing link is stil missing.

The start of thetrail has few rocky uphill stretches that needs a lot of power to maintain enough momentum to ride. My mate with his short travel mtb was very grumpy - climbs are easier on a trail bike here. After climbing you get some nice flowy trails, but we ended in 3 deas ends: 2x blocked and 1x not finished. We bundu bashed down to the tar, did not feel like riding back the way we came.

 

I did those trails a few weeks back and and took the pain and just rode back but exit at the lower section of the trail (where the fires were).

 

I think this trail has potential even if Sanparks doesnt grant access., instead of the dead end/turnaround points they can link the various loops together and just use the two exit/entry points as a start and finish.  

[Dirt Tracker]

Are these sections illegal? Genuinely asking because i know its being used but i am never sure if i should search them out and try as they are not marked.

 

I dont want to ride illegal trails even if they are commonly used

 

Which bit? The Mem stuff certainly is for just riding it while cutting and digging is also a no no. Maybe the skills tutorials and guiding has dried up leaving enough time for those guys to swing a mattock. Not alone really as you often see guys scoot off the main path up at the Nek and head down to the bottom hear the cork trail even though there are big signs there saying 'no riding' and that bit onto the tar we're talking about was always going to get used as people would find the ride back far too inconvenient. We don't do our selves any favours as a group but it's always going to happen. 

SAN Parks should have the latest maps on their site and Table Mountain Bikers also have a pretty good set here, not sure when they were last up dated though - DOWNLOAD

 

http://www.tablemountainbikers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Screen-Shot-2017-11-23-at-7.48.55-AM.png

Edited January 25, 2021 by Dirt Tracker

[capediver]

Pat's Track, the Cheese Grater and The Glen....all within striking distance and well marked.....

[Yyyy]

Which bit? The Mem stuff certainly is for just riding it while cutting and digging is also a no no. Maybe the skills tutorials and guiding has dried up leaving enough time for those guys to swing a mattock. Not alone really as you often see guys scoot off the main path up at the Nek and head down to the bottom hear the cork trail even though there are big signs there saying 'no riding' and that bit onto the tar we're talking about was always going to get used as people would find the ride back far too inconvenient. We don't do our selves any favours as a group but it's always going to happen. 

SAN Parks should have the latest maps on their site and Table Mountain Bikers also have a pretty good set here, not sure when they were last up dated though - DOWNLOAD

 

http://www.tablemountainbikers.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Screen-Shot-2017-11-23-at-7.48.55-AM.png

 

I think its clear on the maps that some trails that are ridden are not legal. I was watching BKXC videos ride "the other women" and know locals who ride there as well but based on the maps its clear that its not a legal trail. 

 

Another example is the section after plum pudding descend where some riders just continue straight down instead of going left or right down the jeep track.

 

However if you look at the trailforks app it shows that its a MTB trail. And thats just one of many instances

 

 

Pat's Track, the Cheese Grater and The Glen....all within striking distance and well marked.....

 

Thanks for this, i always enjoy watching mtb vids made by locals.

Edited January 25, 2021 by YaseenEnos

[MTBeer]

Pat's Track, the Cheese Grater and The Glen....all within striking distance and well marked.....

https://youtu.be/ryhK42y0SH4

https://youtu.be/udsz9dsPbsA

https://youtu.be/AmxjwT23AdM

The Cheese Grater aka MOAB. One of those sections of trail you DON'T want to fall.

[capediver]

The Cheese Grater aka MOAB. One of those sections of trail you DON'T want to fall.

Oh hell no! Worst section of trail I have ever seen for coming adrift from your bike!

[Dirt Tracker]

I think its clear on the maps that some trails that are ridden are not legal. I was watching BKXC videos ride "the other women" and know locals who ride there as well but based on the maps its clear that its not a legal trail. 

 

Another example is the section after plum pudding descend where some riders just continue straight down instead of going left or right down the jeep track.

 

However if you look at the trailforks app it shows that its a MTB trail. And thats just one of many instances

 

If it's not marked as SANParks as a trail then it's illegal. Just like Strava and you can plot a route on numerous apps / sites but that doesn't make it a legal route. Just makes you stupid for advertising what you're doing and causing issues for all those people who work endlessly with the SANParks beast tom secure new routes and more access. Remember, it's a national park and national park land with national park rules and (unfortunately) access is not guaranteed.

 

TOW and Step Mom are not marked on those maps I posted, neither is the run out over Plum. TOW runs down from the contour path along what is partly a hiking only trail. The contour path on that section is clearly marked 'No Cycling' and there is no legal trail marked at the bottom of Plumb. 

 

There are a lot of great riding options on all sides of the mountain and areas that are supposed to be ridden so let's all try not to spit on the efforts of those who give up alot of time to get us access so we can play around on bikes and moan about how unfair it is that we can ride here or there or cut a new trail at will. 

[Mike Mac]

I would appreciate it if anyone has a Strava link (or similar) that shows the most off road route from Camps Bay, through Hout Bay and up to Constantia Nek that they can share?

 

Thanks

 

M

[Christie]

I would appreciate it if anyone has a Strava link (or similar) that shows the most off road route from Camps Bay, through Hout Bay and up to Constantia Nek that they can share?

 

Thanks

 

M

You have to follow the M6 to Hout Bay, and then up Hout Bay rd /Rhodes drive. There are no mtb routes that connect these points, but Hout Bay rd has a narrow dirt shoulder that you can ride with a mtb.