Jonathan Ancer
“Give it horns, boet,” he shouted. It was my first taste of single-track and I was making my way tentatively down a trail in Tokai when a biker gave me this cycling advice from the side of the trail.
“Give it horns” is cycle-speak for “let go the brakes”. I did. And joined thousands of other Cape Town mountain bikers in their obsession with fat tyres and trails.
But where to ride? Everywhere. In addition to sneaky single-tracks (don’t become a rogue rider, though) around the city, here are some popular trails in the province.
Tokai Forest
This is Cape Town’s single-track mecca – although you can’t see the forest for the trees… are being felled. Thanks to the alien annihilation over the last few years you won’t have an all-pine experience at Tokai.
Start at the arboretum and you’ll soon be heading up the gravel. The great thing about Tokai is that it’s a mountain biking mash-up – there’s easy flowing single-track, tough white-knuckle technical bits like drop-offs, bridges, rocky gardens, slippery roots, switchbacks and, of course, some manic jumps.
You can also get in a hard slog by grinding your way to the Mast – a steep and winding leg tester – or heading up to Silvermine Dam and doing a loop over Noordhoek Peak (or both).
Turn your ride into a duathlon by swimming in the Silvermine Dam before heading down the network of snaked-named single-track back to the arboretum. You can spend hours crisscrossing the forest, riding up and down the single-track.
Watch out for the downhillers, they’re the ones in full body armour, and the racing snake wannabes shouting “track, track” as you wriggle your way down the mamba or boomslang single-track. And, of course, don’t get within poo-chucking distance of the baboons.
It gets very busy over the weekend and from 8am to 11am – it’s like being in Camps Bay on New Year’s Day, so if you’re new to the trails consider riding during the week or in the afternoon when you have the forest pretty much all to yourself. You will need to buy a day permit at the office or an annual Wild Card.
l For more information go to www.sanparks.org
Table Mountain –Rhodes Memorial
One of the new world wonders has become a mountain biking wander. Table Mountain is home to at least three mountain bike groups – the Bastards, the Table Mountain Bikers and the much-feared hairy-legged Legends of Plum Pudding (Lopp). Riders can attack the slopes of the mountain at various access points, from Rhodes Memorial, Tafelberg Road, which goes past the cable car, and Deer Park.
It’s mostly gravel jeep track but there is a tough but rideable stretch of single-track at the bottom of Rhodes Memorial. From Rhodes Memorial you can climb the single track, and head up Plum Pudding. Take a selfie at the top and then head down a steep and gnarly descent to the contour path that takes you to the Blockhouse – it’s about 10km from the Rhodes Memorial parking lot – or turn right towards Tafelberg Road. Be careful of bike-jackers (ride in groups) and a rough hillbilly Lopp member called Iceman, who plays skittles with other mountain bikers.
l Go to the Table Mountain Bikers website to become a member (or download maps of the trails): www.tablemountainbikers.co.za
l On the website you will find information about The Goat, a 10.2km challenge to find each month’s fastest mountain biker. You could be The Goat.
Oak Valley (Grabouw)
Oak Valley is the ideal place for people finding their mountain biking skills – the trails are smooth, flowing and easy to navigate. It’s not only great for new mountain bikers it’s also perfect for those wanting to shrug away the stress of a 9-to-5-yes-sir-no-sir job.
There’s a 14km green route for beginners; a 24km red route for stronger riders; and a 32km black route for more experienced riders, but all the tracks are rideable.
The trails consist of bridges over farm fences and streams, taking you through forests of ancient oak trees, vineyards and orchards set against Groenlandberg Mountain.
Watch out for the A-frame bridges (remember, momentum is your friend) and the odd rogue cow, who may just decide to give you horns, boet.
The fee is R30 which you can pay at the entrance to the estate.
l For more information go to www.oakvalleywines.com/mountain-bike-trail; You can choose from four trails – 7km, 10km, 17km and 23km – at Lebanon which will take you through orchards, forested pine plantations and fynbos with views over the Elgin valley. But don’t look at the view for too long because you’ll need to get over some narrow bridges, roots and rocky sections as you whoop your way down the single-track. Visit: lebanonmtbtrails.co.za/
Welvanpas (Wellington)
Do yourself a favour and get there. Do it. Now.
Don’t finish reading this – just get on your bike and go. Okay, go tomorrow then.
There’s some climbing but as the website boasts, the reward for your effort is fast, technical single-track with breathtaking views! So, if the climbing doesn’t take your breath away, the view will.
According to the website: “The route starts and ends at Welvanpas farm which is nestled between the Hawekwa and Groenberg mountain ranges. It is mainly single track and winds through orchard, vineyard, waterfalls and pristine fynbos”.
It takes you up high unto Groenberg, before a descending steep, technical section down to the Kromme River.”
l For more information go to www.welvanpas.co.za/index.php/leisure-activities/mountain-biking
Rhebokskloof Wine Estate (Paarl)
Rhebokskloof Wine Estate recently launched dedicated single-track routes in the vineyards and slopes on either side of the farm. There’s a route of 15km on the farm, of which about 12km is single-track. Riders wanting more saddle time can do a 20km loop into the adjacent Paarl Mountain reserve.
l For more information go to www.paarlmtb.com/rhebokskloof
Jonkershoek (Stellenbosch)
If you want to boast that you’ve cycled with a world champ then ride in Jonkershoek.
This is where you might bump into mountain bike ace Christoph Sauser. You will find three levels of fantastic single-track (the Canary single-track is a firm crowd pleaser) and some twisty and fast descents. There are also some edge-of-your-seat switchbacks and a few cool jumps.
l See www.easterncapemountain biking.co.za/index.php?page_name=route&route_id=17
Majik Forest (Tygerberg)
Majik Forest is the stomping ground of the Tygerberg Mountain Bike Club, who describe their haunt as “a nice combination of tough climbs to make those leg muscles burn, and single-track… with everything in between.
“Distances vary depending on the route you take, and range from 2km to 15km. There is a black section at the top of Majik, with ascents that offer serious heart-rate numbers and rocky drop-offs to test your mettle and bike control.”
There is no entrance fee, but the trails are maintained by the club so contributions are welcome or you can do them – and yourself – a favour and join the club.
l Visit www.tygerbergmtb.co.za/ trails/majik-forest.html