Meerendal (Durbanville) MTB Trails has a Hiking problem

[Skubarra]

2 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

 

I think there is an internet 'extreme' being assumed that it happens all the time on every ride?

It is likely something one encounters sporadically. Which means you needn't make provision for it on every corner of every ride. 

But when you do, slow down, stop and move on. Tell them they are in the wrong place and the next person might clatter into them at 55kph. But do it politely. 

That is my point. 

All the hypotheticals are just going round in circles.

I saw the post as someone who had a close encounter (or a few) with peeps being where they shouldn't be and then just wanted to vent to fellow cyclists and then can move on with his life. But the hub being the hub he is now getting life advice, history lessons and being told how his problem is not really a problem 😄. 

[HeinMies]

2 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

I saw the post as someone who had a close encounter (or a few) with peeps being where they shouldn't be and then just wanted to vent to fellow cyclists and then can move on with his life. But the hub being the hub he is now getting life advice, history lessons and being told how his problem is not really a problem 😄. 

Lol. Nicely summed up there. How dare I complain about a problem that shouldn't be a problem in the first place if people just had more mutual respect for each other. I don't go riding my MTB where I shouldn't or I am not allowed to...or where I can potentially hurt other people that are walking their dogs or hiking...how dare I expect the same treatment! The life advice and history lessons have been great...something to think about next time I am hurtling down a single track at 55kph at some wide eyed hikers and screaming I don't have any breaks. Aside from the bonus packages of history and life advice, I got what I came here for, some advice from my fellow cyclists on how they deal with the issue!

[edgarblount]

Dear OP,

Hope this message finds you well. Welcome to The Bikehub.

I don't really see how posting or ranting on a bicycle forum helps addressing the issue your complaining about. You are literally preaching to fellow cyclists. You had a chance to educate fellow nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts but chose not to. If you cannot stop and smell the roses, proverbially speaking, I don't know what you are doing riding a bike, Might have to reconsider another sport like chess boxing or unicorn show jumping. Maybe try and post on 'trailrunnersincapetownthatmesseswithmeerendalracingsnakes.co.za'.

Edited May 8, 2023 by edgarblount

[MORNE]

So……..

this is obviously a bike problem.

….as in you lot need louder hubs😅

also…there are few things as nerve wrecking as feeling like you are going pretty fast….just for a young Shreddy McShredface to come up behind you ringing his bell haha.

Edited May 8, 2023 by MORNE

[dave303e]

Sounds like the Cape MTB trails have got nothing on the chaos of the Spruit... Wait till you add dogs into the equation.

[Hairy]

2 hours ago, Graham S said:

Yup, exact same thing happened to me on the section with the S berm that goes into the forrest of multple lines.

I wont down the right hand very steep section and went head on into 2 old ladies CLIMBING up the trail. 

They said "We didnt expect anyone to be coming down this steep section" 🤣

 

That is a cool pic.

Did you ride it out, or do you have some purple tinted grey hair lodged on your bike somewhere?

 

EDIT:
Your choice of bars, grip and frame colours have my interest ... any other PITCHA's of the bike?

Edited May 8, 2023 by Hairy

[PhilipV]

2 hours ago, MTBRIDER1234 said:

I somewhat agree, but it also begs the question of where to train when you need to go fast and work on high speed bike control? .

Definitely not at Meerendal.

2 hours ago, Jewbacca said:

 

I think there is an internet 'extreme' being assumed that it happens all the time on every ride?

It is likely something one encounters sporadically. Which means you needn't make provision for it on every corner of every ride. 

But when you do, slow down, stop and move on. Tell them they are in the wrong place and the next person might clatter into them at 55kph. But do it politely. 

That is my point. 

All the hypotheticals are just going round in circles.

Courtesy, always a good idea.

Albeit sometimes very hard to practice when the red mist has descended. More of us can really do with the zen you have found in life.

1 hour ago, HeinMies said:

Lol. Nicely summed up there. How dare I complain about a problem that shouldn't be a problem in the first place if people just had more mutual respect for each other. I don't go riding my MTB where I shouldn't or I am not allowed to...or where I can potentially hurt other people that are walking their dogs or hiking...how dare I expect the same treatment! The life advice and history lessons have been great...something to think about next time I am hurtling down a single track at 55kph at some wide eyed hikers and screaming I don't have any breaks. Aside from the bonus packages of history and life advice, I got what I came here for, some advice from my fellow cyclists on how they deal with the issue!

Never attribute lack of logic where stupidity is at play. 

People don't think, don't want to be told that they are wrong, and want to do whatever they want wherever they want. And then they get surprised by a guy on a MTB on a blind corner. And most often will blame said rider for being reckless. We have a friend who met hikers while going down Red Phoenix in Jonkers. Two old men tried to tell her why she was wrong and being reckless, who refused to listen to her when she said that they are on a MTB trail. Thew lowest common denominator is stupid people.

[Graham S]

43 minutes ago, Hairy said:

That is a cool pic.

Did you ride it out, or do you have some purple tinted grey hair lodged on your bike somewhere?

 

EDIT:
Your choice of bars, grip and frame colours have my interest ... any other PITCHA's of the bike?

Kind of just fell over, see video below 😅

Pic of my bike.

[peetwindhoek]

You seem friendly in your interaction with them @Graham S, kudos! With that friendly laugh, were you able to tell/teach them where they could walk?

[Graham S]

5 minutes ago, peetwindhoek said:

You seem friendly in your interaction with them @Graham S, kudos! With that friendly laugh, were you able to tell/teach them where they could walk?

Thanks! I dont have the full clip any more, but just laughed with them and showed them where to walk. They seemed like they were trying to be helpful by not walking on the bike trails and assumed no one would go down the really steep section 🤭I walked up with them and said good bye and re did my line.

Just a note: This was not the incident I was talking about earlier in the thread, these ladies were very nice

Edited May 8, 2023 by Graham S

[MORNE]

Maybe just that upper bit up to where it turns into the forest by Spar…but Majik is not for bikes anymore in my opinion. Hasn't been for a while. Not worth collecting a dog….or worse…a toddler in the forest on the way down. A few years back when there was an uneasiness about the vagrants living inside there, it was a lot quieter. These days it’s a premium spot for taking pictures with the family, hiking with small kids, locals walking dogs. Im surprised they even still allow mtb’s there….that DA ward counsellor hates cyclists and that park is her pet project.  

Edited May 8, 2023 by MORNE

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, HeinMies said:

@Bub MarleyI am just gonna call a spade a spade...But it is a bit of a silly comment. lol. Don't ride the MTB trails that were completely and purposely built and created by the MTB club that I pay membership to...and also being maintained with the same membership fees. And just because some entitled hikers can't stick to the hiking trails that have been exclusively assigned to them...but insist on using the MTB specific trails that they shouldn't be on... Don't you think it's a bit ridiculous to expect that mate? Seriously...It's not like the hikers don't have an alternative...

And no....Meerendal is not geared more towards trail running. The have historically been very involved with hosting prologues and even final finishing spots for one of the biggest MTB races in the world...the Cape Epic, and also some other MTB races. And this year once again brought the Epic to the Meerendal trails, so if they are more geared towards trail running it is a funny way to show it...At least one could say they are equally serious about both, and then both need to have the mutual respect to stay off each other's dedicated trails, so each one of these sports can get the enjoyment out of their respective trails.

But thanks for the advise, but I don't think I will avoid the wonderful Meerendal trails over the weekends just because some hikers forgot to check their sense of entitlement. Somebody else on here had much better advice...scream that you have no breaks and watch them jump out the way...think I will rather try that approach and see how it pans out...

Did you really just label another user group "entitled"?!

I do agree that they shouldn't be on the MTB trails, but good luck with an aggressive approach.

 

[Graham S]

7 minutes ago, MORNE said:

Maybe just that upper bit up to where it turns into the forest by Spar…but Majik is not for bikes anymore in my opinion. Hasn't been for a while. Not worth collecting a dog….or worse…a toddler in the forest on the way down. A few years back when there was an uneasiness about the vagrants living inside there, it was a lot quieter. These days it’s a premium spot for taking pictures with the family, hiking with small kids, locals walking dogs. Im surprised they even still allow mtb’s there….that DA ward counsellor hates cyclists and that park is her pet project.  

I have only been riding MTB for just over a year now and Majik maybe 10-15 times but I tend to agree, every time we go through the forrest along the river I feel bad because we get in the way of all the walkers. 

It is a nice loop to do though but riding it on the weekend is kind of out of the question now. Just a pity becasue I like the loop and some of the features on the trail and its a quick way to get 10-15kms in.

[Vishal72]

34 minutes ago, Graham S said:

I have only been riding MTB for just over a year now and Majik maybe 10-15 times but I tend to agree, every time we go through the forrest along the river I feel bad because we get in the way of all the walkers. 

It is a nice loop to do though but riding it on the weekend is kind of out of the question now. Just a pity becasue I like the loop and some of the features on the trail and its a quick way to get 10-15kms in.

also at Majik Forest, was going down the vineyard section after the steep climb and noticed a guy and his 2 dogs coming up the path, stopped on the side to let them pass. One of his dogs was running up, changed direction and ran into my bike almost knocking me over...

The guy did apologise 

[DieMelkman]

Saw this on another platform and thought it fitting

[Robbie Stewart]

6 hours ago, PhilipV said:

We have a friend who met hikers while going down Red Phoenix in Jonkers. Two old men tried to tell her why she was wrong and being reckless, who refused to listen to her

I push the scale at around 125kg. I stand 6'4" in my 2FO's. When I descend Red Phoenix I'm not looking for toppies on a hike and if I smash into them the likeliest outcome is a trip to hospital for all involved. Maybe in a bag, maybe not. Point is people need to wake up. You can't walk where you shouldn't be. And it's not for a lack of signage. Jonkers probably has the clearest signage of all trails around the Cape. But as you say, stupid is the common denominator. Sigh.