Banhoek and Stellenbosch trails

[Headshot]

Headed out  from the Southern burbs with our trail/enduro bikes to Banhoek with a friend this weekend. My mind is blown and my enthusiasm for MTB restored after riding some of the best built/fun tracks you'll probably find anywhere in SA. This area had fallen off my radar after some initial rides a few years back where we did the Skyfall and Boschendal routes. 

On the Botmaskop side, the tracks are amazing. The climbs are generally at a reasonable gradient bar a few steeper sections and the options to descend back to Kylemore are amazing. The descent we chose was chock full of steep bermed corners and a few kickers - superb. Later we joined the bottom of Skyfall and encountered perfect jumps and some gnarly rock gardens with a steep ramp towards the end. After a mild slog up the valley we did the Nik Nak climb and descended the Cobra back to the car. That track has amazing step down jumps, wooden wall rides and a step up near the bottom. The last flattish section of perfectly sculpted jumps and berms is a total blast.

 

Cant wait to get back there. STF and the builders have done amazing work. Stellies has so much on offer I'm fantasizing about moving there...

[Robbie Stewart]

I've only ridden Banhoek trails that side of the world. Sounds like the rest is better than I thought. I was always under the impression it's just miles and miles of singletrack geared more for xc type riding with little to no drawcards for riders looking for some spice. Seems I was wrong and will have to go find out for myself. I've always wanted to ride Skyfall, but never actually did.

[Headshot]

The stuff we rode would be quite rideable on any bike but the sketch factor would be far higher. With a proper bike and descent tyres and brakes you can ride that stuff properly and have fun. I think the corners and flow are far better than anything at Tygerberg. JH is more comparable. Stoltz and Turvey were involved in some of the tracks at Banhoek. 

Skyfall is cool but pales abit compared to the descent we did. Follow the Sky Traverse until the end and take the last descent which is about a km or more after the start of Skyfall.

[Chrisjanopsyfiets]

[Chrisjanopsyfiets]

Just now, Chrisjanopsyfiets said:

I will just leave this here….

[Headshot]

The view from the brekkie and beer stop after your ride...

[JayLow]

Doesn't get much better than this: https://www.strava.com/routes/3006857371696386550

[Robbie Stewart]

8 minutes ago, JayLow said:

Doesn't get much better than this: https://www.strava.com/routes/3006857371696386550

Thanks for this. Is it possible to ride that with the fee payable at Banhoek, or must I pay separately at each farm like Tygerberg?

[JayLow]

For the route I shared, just a once off Snapscan at Bethlehem farm security booth would sort you out. Just one point of uncertainty is the gate code to get into Botmas from Delaire Graff - you need someone with a winelands membership to get access to that PIN (unsure whether the security booth will have it). 

[Headshot]

1 hour ago, JayLow said:

For the route I shared, just a once off Snapscan at Bethlehem farm security booth would sort you out. Just one point of uncertainty is the gate code to get into Botmas from Delaire Graff - you need someone with a winelands membership to get access to that PIN (unsure whether the security booth will have it). 

We did a similar loop of 27km from Kylemore parking lot and paid R100 ea. We rode up the side of the road to the top of Helshoogte and then crossed the road to the old pass, down the tar to the pipe tunnel and onto Botmas that way... No gate codes needed on our route.