Meerendal (Durbanville) MTB Trails has a Hiking problem

[Bub Marley]

11 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...

You do you, mate. I was merely pointing out that Meerendal is full of hikers and if you can’t accept that you’re likely to encounter them there then best to use another trail. Majority of people are okay with it and have no issues. 

[PhilipV]

7 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

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.

Make no mistake, she is fast, and she managed to stop without anyone getting hurt. In reality we’re not going as fast as we believe we are, and stopping distances are shorter than we think. 
There is a bigger chance of tempers flaring up to the point of a fist fight that will lead to a hospitalization. And that will reflect poorly on you and the hiker if you go that way. 

[Robbie Stewart]

9 hours ago, PhilipV said:

Make no mistake, she is fast, and she managed to stop without anyone getting hurt. In reality we’re not going as fast as we believe we are, and stopping distances are shorter than we think. 
There is a bigger chance of tempers flaring up to the point of a fist fight that will lead to a hospitalization. And that will reflect poorly on you and the hiker if you go that way. 

That is true. I am one of the members of society who doesn't have a fuse, just a hair trigger, so I constantly have to check myself whether I am on the right side of acceptable.

though, I took my bike for a service to the LBS before the previous Jonkers Enduro, and that included replacing the rear brake pads. Cue the top of Phoenix, and me dropping in. By the second switch back it has become patently clear stopping is not on the cards since the disc is greased. By the third switch back I'm braking by chucking the foot out. Had it been me on that day, someone was going to have a bad day. Stopping at the bottom of Phoenix 2 was a massive challenge.

[Robbie Stewart]

15 hours ago, Bub Marley said:

You do you, mate. I was merely pointing out that Meerendal is full of hikers and if you can’t accept that you’re likely to encounter them there then best to use another trail. Majority of people are okay with it and have no issues. 

Besides, you can barely ride Meerendal and call yourself a real mountain biker  

[mazambaan]

16 hours ago, Robbie Stewart said:

Besides, you can barely ride Meerendal and call yourself a real mountain biker  

He he if the trail is steep (flat?) enough to allow walkers you are in the wrong place to complain.