Van Gaalens Mountain biking and running trails

[Lizzardd]

I've been to Van Gaalens a few time, my biggest grip is that it is extremely badly marked, if you can even call it marked.

The only time I knew where I was going was at the Nissan race last year.

At Teak you are never ever in doubt as to where to go, I find at VG I never know where I'm going

[swartpiet]

check out our van gaalens video and review on alloutmtb.co.za. The new route your referring to is the "daggapad". We recorded the root and its part of the video. About 10min into the video. In my opinion it is the best piece of single track Ive ever ridden. Its super fast and the part through the woods pumps you with adrenalin (the faster you do it, obviously)

 

www.alloutmtb.co.za/node/96

 

Also check out the other trail video's and reviews on the site.

 

Enjoy!

[Markdeep]

check out our van gaalens video and review on alloutmtb.co.za. The new route your referring to is the "daggapad". We recorded the root and its part of the video. About 10min into the video. In my opinion it is the best piece of single track Ive ever ridden. Its super fast and the part through the woods pumps you with adrenalin (the faster you do it, obviously)

 

www.alloutmtb.co.za/node/96

 

Also check out the other trail video's and reviews on the site.

 

Enjoy!

 

You are 100% spot on there, rode the new "Daggapad" route on Sunday morning, awesome ride once you have made it up the concrete road / rocky climb which is pretty intense! The poffadder route which I haven't done yet seems to go even further up that mountain?

 

The single track downhill and into the forest on the other side is awesome, we all thoroughly enjoyed this ride. Then coming back that cliff trail next to the gravel road, now that is extreme! Bit scary riding clipped in cos one mistake and you literally drop 10m.

 

Coming back its nice to finish along the railway route and then river route, river is dry except for some of the bush tunnels which are soggy.

[Markdeep]

I've been to Van Gaalens a few time, my biggest grip is that it is extremely badly marked, if you can even call it marked.

The only time I knew where I was going was at the Nissan race last year.

At Teak you are never ever in doubt as to where to go, I find at VG I never know where I'm going

 

the new routes are marked pretty well, Daggapad, Poffadder etc but I hear what you saying, the other routes Greek church, Oom piets the marking is very confusing or non existent.

[rouxtjie]

Absolutely love the cheese farm, I spoke to Eric about this "daggapad" not too long ago, defnitely keen on it next time I am there

 

Thanks for the garmin files LTG...

[mark ellis]

thanks for sharing and BIG UP for sharing the Garmin file!

[L.T.G]

Pleasure guys.

A lot of people have an issue with the markings at VG, but you have to take into consideration that Erik makes up these trails on up to 40 different farms, so it's not the easiest to maintain... Especially since for the 6 months almost, all he's been doing is repairing and restoring damaged trails after all the hectic rains that there were.

That along with assisting in events like the Route69 and Honda Trophy.

 

I agree that Oom Piet is a bit hard to follow, got lost myself a few times when first trying it out, But once you get it right, doing the long way round to the concrete road then Daggapad then the railway then Oom Piet and finishing coming back on the river, is , well for me at least, the most rewarding and best ride ever!

Re pofadder ... Now that's just a different kettle of Piranhas! Its not long, 6 or 7 Km , if I'm not mistaken... But

Prepare yourself for an insane climb, and and even crazier downhill... Its a lot of work and there's no mucking around coming down, especially when wet.

 

I'll find a mapped ride with Oom Piet on and post that soon .

Edited May 21, 2011 by L.T.G

[intern]

Eric is a freakin genius. I was lucky to ride Daggapad with him and Danger Dassie late last year. Must say I do miss those trips to Van G on a Friday avvi...

[Tumbleweed]

Eric is a freakin genius. I was lucky to ride Daggapad with him and Danger Dassie late last year. Must say I do miss those trips to Van G on a Friday avvi...

 

What's amazing is that he's so new to it, and now his skills are in demand. I chatted to him a short while back about why he started building trails, and it was all kinda accidental. He's cool.

[intern]

Agreed Tumble - Eric is indeed cool. When I asked him how he could build such awesome trails before starting MTB, he said 'I just thought about what would be fun to ride.' Talk about a natural talent for it.

[L.T.G]

ok ok ... it's taken me a while.... but here's the garmin file for Oom Piet.

Rode this today...mountain biking weather heaven... you could not ask for a more perfect day.

was a touch chilly to start, but nothing like it's been the last week..

however , no wind, beautiful blue cloudless skies.

it was awesome!

 

http://connect.garmi...tivity/91540051

 

as the name of the file suggests, the route was from the FarmHouse, long way round to concrete road, down DaggaPad, onto the Railway then to OomPiet and finishing off along the "old"(original) river trail back to the FH, totalling about 45km.

i mucked about on the road to get another 5km to finish off on a 50km ride.

 

don't be fooled by slow riding time, i was taking easy so as not to show off

(yeah right..whatever) the hill up to OomPiet killed me!

but it's all worth it, although i just want to say ride it with caution, it's pretty technical and rocky.

not quite MagaliesMonster rocky but it's a good workout.

My mate and i refer to it as "Pothole Land" , once you've ridden it you'll understand why.

 

 

anyway, hope this helps.

 

PS remember the Ladies MTB day that's at VG on the 2nd of July ... good fun

i'll be there dressed as the pink fairy again this year.

Edited June 11, 2011 by L.T.G

[L.T.G]

one of the 3 or 4 fence crossings you can look out for going up Oom Piet.

 

 

and the eventual start of the awesome downhill. (though "PotHole Land")

[L.T.G]

also, i should just add...

going back on the south side of the river is a better idea.

there are no bridges yet(Erik was hit badly by all the flash flooding, costing him a fortune) and i had to wade though knee deep, fast flowing(had to carry bike, water too strong to push through) FREEZING water to cross over. it's not bad but you'll just have more rhythm not having to do it.

[L.T.G]

Had another great ride at VG this weekend, although i came home feeling rather inadequate .....

j_a_n rode with us this weekend to see what VG's all about... we did concrete road, daggapad, railway and came back along the river.. a nice, fun 37km ride...

only difference is, j_a_n... did it all on a SingleSpeed, & we were playing catch up to him the whole time

 

hats off to j_a_n, who also did the Magalies Monster 40km on the SingleSpeed

well done!

 

VG is the best

[Danger Dassie]

 

Have to get back out there, my vG dosage is a month overdue at least and the withdrawals are becoming unbearable!

People say I'm rather irritable and grumpy of late, clearly a vG ride is needed.

 

In some ways I liked the old style of the riding there where you had to ride or portage through the rivers. No doubt though, the bridges to add to the flow and are a veritable godsend in winter. Event though Intern's mate enjoys a 3m dive into the river, acrobatically avoiding the fallen trees and branches too. As Obelix would say "These roadies are crazy I tell you!"

[intern]

Hahahaha ja remember that hey Danger - poor old Gavin! For the watchers, we'd gone out there and my mate Gav van Aswegen came with on a borrowed bike, plummeted into the river. Think it was about this time last year. Early morning YEESH!! Musta been cold...