MTN Bike Park

[Robert Lofthouse]

 

This may or may not be re-hashing an already discussed topic, but seeing as I've only just started trawling theHub again recently, and also only just gotten back on my MTB again (Yesterday being the day), I felt I needed to air a view or 2.

 

Having really been off the scene for a while now (I don't even know what the latest flavour of the month bikes and gear look like, or even which races are coming up), if talk of doing this kind of thing (the Bike Park) has been around for a while, I'll have missed it.

 

As a result, seeing riders trundling down alongside the highway on what appeared to be a purpose built MTB trail a few weeks back, was a shock to the system to say the least. Enquiries around my place of work shed some light on the issue, and my interest was piqued.

 

So, I decided to give the Bike Park a run as my first foray back into

the MTB (and cycling as it turns out) scene, and that happened yesterday. I'll sum up my experience

first with a single word. Awesome !

 

 

Firstly, based on the images from Cultcycling's website, the sheer effort that has gone into cleaning this place up is staggering. Looking at the pics there, and experiencing the result yesterday, it's still hard to believe it's the same place. That somebody would make such an effort just to allow like minded people to ride their bicycles, speaks loud and clear about the commitment to keeping our sport alive and well.

 

Secondly, the route design and layout, I found, was brilliant. Clear and concise - you ride around the perimeter, pick a route you want to take as it comes up, and you enter the "zone". You ride the route, sometimes having to make a "left or right" decision on that route, and exit back onto the perimeter. The clear "one way" format makes it safe and you feel comfortable riding the routes, as you know that what you're riding on has been thought through in a very calculated way.

 

Thirdly, the actual quality of the trails themselves. Save for some deep forest sections in some exotic riding locations far away, this is the best collection of single-track I've come across. Smooth, sweeping lines, bermed corners, sweet dropoffs, river (canal) crossings on plank bridges, etc, etc.

 

I never gave any of the black routes a try, as my bike skills have all but dissappeared after nearly 3 years of absolute sloth, so I can't comment on those, but I did give the green and blue routes a good shake-down (some routes just HAD to be done multiple times due to some forks in the trail mid-route - could let the "other" fork go undiscovered, now could I ).

 

All in all, I had an absolute blast. I only rode for about an hour (all my untrained legs and lungs could handle unfortunately), and never completed all the routes (still had a green route and a blue route that I hadn't done). Unfortunately my fun was cut short by a flat I experienced while riding past the clubhouse, pondering on doing any more - pretty much made my decision for me. Serves me right to ride on tires so old they had actually started perishing

 

I'll be back, having zero qualms about paying the entrance fee asked which, while steepish, is so totally worth it considering :

• the effort which has gone in to actually clean the place,
• the thought and effort that has gone into building the trails,

• and the time and effort which is going to be quite clearly involved in keeping the place going (making sure the trails are ridable, clean, safe, etc).

If there is anyone here on the hub who was/is involved with the project, my sincerest congratulations and thanks go to you - you've produced a masterpiece (I firmly believe that).

kingcompass2009-04-20 02:59:12

[fandacious]

is it just me, or have you been dormant for 2 yrs??

[Robert Lofthouse]

No, you're right, I've been a slack, bad boy ;-)

[Spaceboy]

Great stuff. I agree, the park was a great initiative...and caters for almost all levels. I love putting in a hard 45minutes there, covering all the trails once, then faster the second time.

[L.T.G]

The park is great, however Logwood was a lot better... pity it had to be closed down.

the down side of the park though is, even though it IS a great family venue, you still get parents who take their kids there and have no control over them what so ever . Many a time I've come around a bend, with a fair amount of speed, only to have face to face with a kid or sometimes they come in pairs, coming up the OPPOSITE way!!!  I've seen them riding around without hemlets too and then again doing some routes they shouldn't be!!!

 

 

[Robert Lofthouse]

I hear you on the issues re children, even though I never experienced them, but such things can be addressed with stricter rules and the enforcement thereof. Time will tell, I guess.

 

On the Logwood thing, Logwood actually opened before I stopped riding so many moons ago, but I was never able to get out there. You see, for me to get to logwood would have involved a journey easily twice as long as it took me to get to the Bike Park yesterday - I may as well go to Northern Farm, even that's closer.

 

Therein lies another huge bonus, it's accessibility.

 

 

 

[Hog_]

On weekends it tends to be a bit chaotic with all the kids, but late afternoons during the week are awesome - especially when everyone else is stuck in traffic.

 

I'm usually on the Trials course, so don't get to experience too many kids. We did have them running around on the Trials once. Was waiting for one of them to bail.

 

 

 

[KDEE]

 

Pity about the total lack of interest my mate got from the park management when his car was stolen from the carpark there two weeks back..

 

Time for at least a security guard on the weekends at least perhaps?

 

Edit, this has of course nothing to do with park itself ( riding area, etc ) which I enjoy as well. And of course the Bmx track which is a big drawcard for us..

 

Speaking of the carpark, have no idea what will happen later this year when the BMX SA's take place there... carpark is way too small.. Going to be mayhem with about 800 people all streaming to the Bmx rack as well

 

KDEE2009-04-20 08:02:57

[djl8nite]

sup guys,

its a great bike park... but its a proper show off look at my 50k bike jol, although it was great the first 2 times it actually quite boring after 10 minutes riding there, (all respect due) .  

as for logwood - 10 times better, under the trees , track changes every week due to weather etc..... big pity it closed, we had many a conversation with jeff not to close it, but people reckon its too far.

wich from 4ways is 6ks further than northern farms.

 

anyway guys see u out there

 

enjoy

[djl8nite]

but 10 out 0f 10 to kingkompass to get back on the bike ,

c u on the tracks mate....

 

[Moab]

I like the park as well - its a great spot to go train after work. Nice and safe. Weekends get a bit hectic thanks to all the kiddies but weekday evenings are fab! I have learnt a lot from the trails at the park and thanks to the variety of easy stuff, my confidence and speed has increased tremendously!

 

In fact... I will be wearing club 100 yellow shirt with the old black shorts this arvie so see you all just after 5 today if you are going!

 

 

[Hog_]

 

I like the park as well - its a great spot to go train after work. Nice and safe. Weekends get a bit hectic thanks to all the kiddies but weekday evenings are fab! I have learnt a lot from the trails at the park and thanks to the variety of easy stuff' date=' my confidence and speed has increased tremendously!

 

In fact... I will be wearing club 100 yellow shirt with the old black shorts this arvie so see you all just after 5 today if you are going!

 

 

[/quote']

 

The days are getting too short to put in a proper ride after work lately. In summer I'd only leave there at around 7, but these days I leave around 18h15 due to lack of light. Unless I quit my job I won't be doing a lot of training during winter.

 

[L.T.G]

Totally agree on it being a show off spot for the "look at me's"

not all of them , some of those guys are serious i'm sure, but there're a lot that are flash cash.

 

 

[_Daemon_]

The MTN park is ok, personally I think the singletrack sections in groenkloof is more fun. The MTN park needs some proper north shore as well.

[Thug]

Took my kid on Sunday with his new bike and he loved it. Thought the Green routes were easy and enjoyed the Blue routes. Fortunately for me no Under 18's are allowed on the Black as I would have had a hard time keeping up with him.