Hog_ Posted October 11, 2008 Share So I had the opportunity to play around in the new park yesterday. Probably not the best day for me to ride, since I could feel the flu creeping up on me, and I pretty much wrecked my legs during my commute this week, but I sure as hell was not going to say no! First things first: The park is in BRYANSTON, not Fourways. I know this because I live in Bryanston and the entrance to the park is 1 road up from mine. Yes, that's right, it's less that a kilometer from my house to the entrance! I'll accept offers starting at 3 times market value Going into the park, the first thing that struck me was that they still have a LOT of work ahead of them. While waiting for the others in our group to get their bikes ready, I rode around the parking area a bit, and caught some glances of what's to come. The BMX course had my jaw getting caught in my drivetrain! The thing is HUGE!!! They're still busy with it, but I can tell you now it's going to be amazing! So with everyone ready to ride we headed into a trail. Geoff warned us that the trail branches off in a few directions, and that we should maybe stick to the left or right exits, since the middle is for the brave only. Cool, turn left, got it. Head into the trail, which I don't know at all, and find myself with nice, solid berms on almost every corner! Flying through the trail I see it splitting. Cool, go left. Go over a few bumps and through a few lovely corners and meet up with the rest of the group, who are looking at the dropoffs Geoff referred to earlier. He was not kidding! Continue our ride, go through some awesome singletrack (a bit dusty, but only rain can help there) until we get to a new obstacle they built. It's a wooden bridge. It's about as wide as a driveway. It goes up, up, up and up. After playing around on the bridge, we did some of the singletrack on the other side of the highway. It is beautiful!! Going through twisty singletrack, dodging tree branches - what more could you want? Less dust! Lets hope for rain! We went back through the tunnel, over another wooden bridge (there LOTS of them in the park) we get to a trail entrance right next to Main road. On this trail there is some of THE most insane climbing switchbacks I have seen in my life! A hectic climb that will challenge even advanced riders. After pushing my bike to the top, carry on riding through some nice singletrack, only to go down to the exact level we were at before the switchbacks . Only this time you're going down an estimated 45 degree slope. I say estimated, cause I didn't really have time to wonder what it was, what with my heart in throat, my poepol knyping smaller than a smarty, and me just hoping a don't smash my balls against the back of the saddle (yes, I was leaning that far back). Pure adrenalin! We then carried on over a trail that goes onto a mini-mountain thing. Think massive drop on your left, and nothing to hang onto on your right. And it's rather twisty. Go over a bump thing, catch some speed an OH MY *@*#*@#$! Wooden bridge coming up at massive speed, only it's hanging in the air, with no rails, and a huge fall on the left. Man that was awesome! Now I can honestly say that I ride a lot at Logwood, and I love doing the black trails there, especially Sugar Bowl. Another favourite is Zombie Birdhouse. This could not prepare me for this trail! I was actually scared for the first time in months! But at the same time I was like a four year old at a kiddies party - you know when you've had so many sweets you're ready to kotsch, but you continue stuffing your face? After that we did some more riding in a trail that the group was calling 'Berm City', and we played around on the BMX track for a bit before we headed home. Well, they went for beer & pizza, but I had to get some work out for my Canadian clients, so I had to go home. My overall feelings: There's still a LOT of work ahead. The trails are AWESOME! The technical bits are, uhm, Technical (with a capital T) The park is going to be EPIC! I will be standing first in line to buy my annual membership. Well done to Geoff, Cyclelab and the sponsor, and good luck with all the work still to come. I can't wait for this park to open. Thanks for arranging the invite Terrence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perp Posted October 11, 2008 Share sounds like alot of fun, when is the official opening and do you think that things will be ready by then.I heard that this park was not going to be as hectic as the first one but it sounds like some parts are quite technical, cant wait to ride it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nancy Drew Posted October 11, 2008 Share Sounds really cool Hog.. so how many beers did an invite set you back? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dicky DQ Posted October 11, 2008 Share Sounds like Jonkershoek minus the bridges. Good to see you Gautengers will get some technical riding done............ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed Posted October 11, 2008 Share is sugarbowl really a black? been a long time since i was there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog_ Posted October 12, 2008 Share Sounds really cool Hog.. so how many beers did an invite set you back? Funny haha! Like I would give away my beer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog_ Posted October 12, 2008 Share sounds like alot of fun' date=' when is the official opening and do you think that things will be ready by then.I heard that this park was not going to be as hectic as the first one but it sounds like some parts are quite technical, cant wait to ride it.[/quote'] I'm not sure of the opening, Geoff did mention a date, but I'd rather not repeat it here just in case it needs to be moved out a week. I'm sure there will be enough awareness on the hub once an opening date is revealed. It should be in the next few weeks though! The stuff we played around in was mostly black routes, and they are tough! Tougher than Sugarbowl at Logwood (in my mind). We did ride some easier stuff which was fast and non-technical, so I think it will cater for everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog_ Posted October 12, 2008 Share is sugarbowl really a black? been a long time since i was there. Yes it is. A Black 3 if I remember correctly. You can complete Sugarbowl with both wheels safely on the ground pretty much all the way. Some of the stuff we played around on you have to jump otherwise it's game over. This park is going to be a great training ground for all-mountain type riding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tumbleweed Posted October 12, 2008 Share is sugarbowl really a black? been a long time since i was there.Yes it is. A Black 3 if I remember correctly. You can complete Sugarbowl with both wheels safely on the ground pretty much all the way. Some of the stuff we played around on you have to jump otherwise it's game over. This park is going to be a great training ground for all-mountain type riding. cool, couldn't remember! as i said, been a long time since i've been there. was my fave track! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
calabash Posted October 12, 2008 Share Look forward to the opening of this park. Thanks for a great review. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baaisikilist Posted October 12, 2008 Share Only black part of sugar bowl is the circular bridge, otherwise the rest is blue... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
idrive Posted October 12, 2008 Share sounds great .... but seeing as though it took me 2-hrs to get to cycle lab for crater cruise numbers I can't see myself making it there more than once. Oh, I live in Edenvale!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hog_ Posted October 12, 2008 Share Only black part of sugar bowl is the circular bridge' date=' otherwise the rest is blue...[/quote'] That bridge has caught me by surprise! I think Sugarbowl also gets tough with all those climbs and drops. The trail rating is a little confusing, cause for me Zombie Birdhouse id much tougher than Switchback and Maelstrom, but they're both black trails vs Zombie's blue. Man I can't wait for this park to open so I can start comparing routes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NotSoBigBen Posted October 12, 2008 Share Only black part of sugar bowl is the circular bridge' date=' otherwise the rest is blue...[/quote'] Should be taken with a pinch of salt from this circus act Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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