Unfortunately I don't have many pictures of Reitvlei to share as Michael's phone is broken. It is very beautiful and I wish I had pictures of the forested area. I would really recommend Reitvlei for a hot day as 90 percent of the cycle is in the shade. It is not the easiest to cycle on a wet day as it is extremely slippery.
Reitvlei would have had a 10 for children if it were not for our unpleasant experience. After cycling with us my sister took my niece to ride a pony. When she wanted to pay she was told that she had to pay for picnic as well. My sister then went to the woman she was directed to, to pay. My sister asked that seeing that we were eating at the restaurant and not picnicking could she just pay for the pony ride. Instead of politely explaining that this is not policy the woman was extremely rude to my sister. My sister was still going to pay regardless as my niece desperately wanted to ride the pony. At this point it started raining so my sister took her money back. My sister did phone management but they said they would look into it and did nothing.
On the other hand, I must say that the attendant who takes payment for MTBers was very polite and very accommodating. Overall rating:8.2
Security on trail:7
Traffic Safety:9
Fun: 8
Technicality:8
Scenery: 9
Obstructions: 9
Maintenance: 9
Hill climbing: 7
Variation: 7
The venue:
Children: 9
The children's / beginners trail at Reitvlei is rather dull but it is easy and it is good for a child like my niece with a new bicycle to gain confidence. It is a pity that considering how beautiful the rest of the trail is that the children's / beginners 4km trail is not in a scenic area. The plus is that there are many fun activities for children at this park. As I explained above if it were not for an unpleasant experience Reitvlei would have had a 10 rating for children.
Facilities: 7
Facilities would have had a 10 if it were not for the above explained unpleasant experience and that there was a problem with the ladies toilet behind the Portuguese restaurant. I don't know the place well so I don't know if there are alternative toilets, but because there was only 1 working toilet there was a long queue.
The Portuguese restaurant was wonderful. The food was fabulous and the service was excellent, pricing was also extremely reasonable.
Accessibility: 10
Reitvlei is very easy to access as it is in Alberton.
Cost: 8
Reitvlei is the usual price that we pay for MTB trails. Every separate activity does have an additional charge. We found the Portuguese restaurant to be very reasonably priced.
The trail itself:
Security on trail:9
There was a bike jacking close to Reitvlei, in January 2015. Be alert. I don't know what security measures are used at Reitvlei but I did not spot any security personnel, that might have been because it was raining.
Traffic Safety:9
Most of the trail is single track away from any traffic. There is a small part that does cross over where picnickers and farm personnel drive so be cautious.
Fun: 8
I like the fact that there is a lot of forest with winds and steep short ups and drops. We cycled on a rainy day and I really would not recommend this trail in rain, it is very slippery.
Technicality:8
There are steep short slopes to climb but other than that the green route does not have much to challenge you. To be fair because of the rain we did not try the blue route. When I get a chance to go back and cycle the blue route I will change my rating.
Scenery: 9
Although the first part which is the part the beginners route is on, is a dull flat field, the trail through the forest is lovely.
Obstructions: 9
There were no obstructions to our cycle. Vehicles may get in the way occasionally. At one point you are very close to a shooting range and it motivates you to cycle faster.
Maintenance: 9
Maintenance is very good on this trail.
Hill climbing: 7
I was told there is a climb on the blue route but there was not much climbing on the green route, just short steep slopes.
Variation: 6
Although I really enjoy cycling through forested areas, it started to feel a bit monotonous. The same twists the same steep little slopes up with little drops down. As I didn't try the blue route I cannot say if it has a more varied route.
I am doing this trail rating with the starting point Fratellis, Delta Park. The reason is that I live close by and this is where I start my cycling from. Also I know that Albert's Farm and around Delta Park are not strictly the Spruit trail, but as they are all inter- connected I am doing them all in this post.
1. Fratellis Delta Park to Emmerentia and back.
This is our daily cycle. From our home it is 17km, I think from Fratellis it is 16km.
While most children do not cycle the entire length to Emmerentia and back, they do cycle Delta Park and they do cycle around Emmerentia. Both are smooth easy trails. On weekends the both parks are full of children cycling.
Facilities: 7
As this is a public park facilities are scattered. There are toilets in the centre of Delta Park and you cycle past toilets in Emmerentia. The toilets are normally quite decent considering their location. At the starting point of this trail there is Fratellis to eat at and a few other restaurants. Delta Cafe in Delta Park is lovely.
Accessibility: 10
Being in Blairgowrie this park is very easy to access and there is plenty of free parking.
Cost: 10
As this is an open to the public park it is free.
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 6
It is hard to rate security on this trail. Due to the volume of people on a Saturday and Sunday morning it is completely safe to cycle this trail alone. During the week the Delta Park part and Emmerentia part are relatively safe as there are plenty of people walking dogs, etc, however the fields linking the two can be very deserted. Always best to cycle with friends.
Traffic Safety: 3
Crossing Tana and Linden Road is a nightmare especially late afternoon. Then again crossing Olifants road into Emmerentia Dam is also terrible. The lines for the pedestrian crossing have faded and all motorists ignore it any way. In their defense you cannot even see there is a pedestrian crossing coming around the corner.
Fun: 8
This is my daily cycle and has become a bit tedious from doing it so often. I challenge myself to do it faster and faster. There is plenty of fun on the trail though. Bridges to cross, zig zagging through the trees at Emmerentia.
Technicality: 9
There are various technical challenges, in Delta Park you can try going up or down the steep rock. In Emmerentia there is the hill next to Marks Park, with roots and dips. The middle trail is extremely difficult. The top one is doable but I cannot get over the fear of the height and do dismally. Generally I cross the wide concrete bridge do the loop that comes adjacent to Judith and then I come down cross the concrete bridge and go down along the dog walkers pathway.
Scenery: 8
Delta Park and Emmerentia are both extremely beautiful in summer. Emmerentia is still rather pretty in winter but Delta Park tends to look rather dull in winter.
Obstructions: 4
This is an issue. This park is for everybody. We walk our own dogs in these parks but unlike everybody else, our dogs are on leashes. City by laws clearly state that dogs have to be on leashes. We constantly have dogs running in front of our cycles. We have decided to swerve away from the dogs and try to hit their owners. On weekends and in the afternoons children on cycles can also be very frustrating. I have taught my 8 year old niece that she must always cycle in the left lane. We cycle in single file. She also knows if there is a problem she must move herself off the track. Unfortunately many parents have not mastered this. We constantly have children blocking both lanes. The other day a jogger cursed me when he came jogging in my lane. I doubt he understood that it is not easy to move a mountain bike out of the ruts whereas I jogger can simply move over, besides which he was supposed to be in the left lane. Crossing the roads at peak traffic times can also be extremely frustrating.
Maintenance: 6
City parks do their best but there are times when the trail becomes very overgrown. A bridge in Delta Park was burned down last year and very promptly replaced, I am not sure if this was the work of City Parks or the Urban Assualt people as it was a month before the race. At the moment the trail is extremely over grown at places and getting through the thick grass can be unpleasant.
Hill climbing: 7
There are no killer hills the slope at Emmerentia bordering Marks Park is very steep and the two hills on the way to Emmerentia from Delta are easily manageable.
Variation: 9
There is a little of everything. Steep slopes, bridges, a swirling trail through trees, tree roots, etc. The only thing lacking is difficult climbs.
2. Fratellis around Delta Park and back.
We do this cycle occasionally for hill climbing training. The red indicates our starting route and the purple the way we go back. The route is about 13km long from our home so about 12km from Frattellis.
Security on trail: 8
Traffic Safety:9
Fun: 7
Technicality: 7
Scenery: 8
Obstructions: 7
Maintenance: 7
Hill Climbing: 9
Variation: 8 The venue:
Children: 8
Although this part of the trail is not as child friendly, I give it a high rating because there is so much for children to do in Delta Park.
Facilities: 8
There are public toilets (next to the enviromental centre) and there is the Delta Cafe and Fratellis and a few other restaurants next to Fratellis.
Accessibility: 10
Very easily accessible for anybody who lives in Randburg and plenty of parking.
Cost:10
This is an open to public park so cycling is free.
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 8
This is the most secure part of the trail. I regularly see security vehicles patrolling the top part of Delta Park. There has been a problem with vagrants at the bird park so be alert and do not cycle alone.
Traffic Safety:9
This route does not cut into any roads besides for the very quiet ones in the park itself.
Fun: 7
Michael and I might differ in opinion on the fun factor. This is a route with endless hill climbing. I don't enjoy hill climbing, so besides for the down hills and going up the little cliff next to the primary school, I don't really enjoy this one. What I do enjoy is that we don't have to get into any traffic and I like the little part on the path way past the scout hall as it is very pretty. I also enjoy the fact that I am now able to climb all the hills non stop.
Technicality: 7
There is a lot of hill climbing. The going up the cliff next to the primary school and down it is a bit challenging. The stairs close to the children's play park is another little challenge. There are a few difficult to cross bridges and a few dips over concrete pipes that are bit difficult. Nothing really to difficult to do besides for the bridge close to the fence, which there is an alternative route for.
Scenery: 8
Delta Park is exceptionally pretty in the summer but can look rather bleak in the winter.
Obstructions: 7
Dog walkers who do not use leashes and do not watch their dogs are a big problem here.
Maintenance: 7
The pathways were rather overgrown a week ago. This past week (2nd week in January 2015) mowing has taken place. It seems that the pathway on the cliff by the primary school has been forgotten. It is so overgrown that I kept getting stuck in weeds while cycling on top there.
Hill climbing: 9
This is an excellent place to do hill climbing training. None of the hills are beyond my abilities but they are tough.
Variation: 8
The variation is reasonable even though this is a mainly hill climbing trail. The park is lovely and scenery changes a great deal.
1. Fratellis to Albert's Farm and back.
On the occassional Saturday we cycle to Albert's farm. This route is about 20km long.
Security on trail:5
Traffic Safety:5
Fun:8
Technicality:8
Scenery:9
Obstructions:6
Maintenance:6
Hill climbing:9
Variation:9
Overall rating:
The venue:
Children: 7
Albert's Farm has plenty for children to do but I would not cycle the trail from Fratellis with children.
Facilities: 6
I am not sure if there are toilets at Albert's Farm. There are no restaurants in the park so you can only really eat when you return to Fratellis.
Accessibility: 10
Albert's Farm is easily accessible to residents of Albertsville, Northcliff and the surrounding areas.
Cost:10
This is an open to public park so cycling is free.
The trail itself:
Security on trail:5
Always go in a group there are many dodgy areas that you pass through on the way to Albert's Farm. Also I don't feel very secure at Albert's farm itself.
Traffic Safety:5
This route has the most busy roads to cross.
Fun:8
I find Albert's farm a lot of fun. Features that add to the fun:
The bridge through the swamps.
The steep hill at the top of the park.
The winding trails through the grassy part at the top of the trail.
The dips on the way to Albert's Farm.
Unfortunately our last trip was not as much fun due to the long grass on the trail making cycling very difficult.
Technicality:8
I have not mastered going up the steep hill at the top of Albert's Farm yet. Also a bit unsure about going down the other side through the jagged rocks. Besides for these two tough obstacles there is nothing very challenging.
Scenery:9
Albert's Farm is very beautiful. Especially the bridge through the swamp and that hill with all the jagged rocks.
Obstructions:6
Road traffic on the way to Albert's and back causes quite an obstruction. I have had the occasional dog to swerve for but there are not that many dog walkers on this route.
Maintenance:6
I usually find maintenance to and at Albert's not too bad. The last time we cycled there it was horrible though the grass was so long on the trail we struggled to stay on it.
Hill climbing:9
There is one long hill going to the top of Albert's farm that is quiet exhausting. The killer though is the steep little hill at the top of Albert's Farm. I have not made it to the top yet.
Variation:9
There is plenty of variation in and on the way to Albert's Farm, from a trail and scenery perspective.
1. Fratellis to Paulshof (Sunninghill Keg) and back.
We do this cycle about 3 times a month. It is about 28 km there and back but we cycle a little extra to make it 30km.
Overall rating:7.3
The venue:
Children: 4
Facilities:6
Accessibility:10
Cost:10
The trail itself:
Security on trail:4
Traffic Safety:8
Fun:8
Technicality:9
Scenery:8
Obstructions:5
Maintenance:7
Hill climbing:7
Variation:9
The venue:
Children: 4
There are parents who cycle with their children on this trail but it is a bit too tough for most children. One of the times I cycled this trail there was a 9 year old with his Dad doing all the tough obstacles that I was walking over, but this child was very good. Also bare in mind that security on this trail is a problem.
Facilities:6
There are no facilities on the trail itself. We cycle to the Sunninghill Keg and eat a light meal and cycle back. There is a restaurant in Paulshof that gives free coffee to cyclists. Their advert is on the trail.
Accessibility:10
The trail is easy to access.
Cost:10
It is free to ride.
The trail itself:
Security on trail:4
This is probably one of the riskier trails to cycle and never cycle it alone. We have never had any problems. There are many vagrants living under the bridges and in the bushes along this trail. Often when we cycle here we are the only people on the trail so you can be very isolated.
Traffic Safety:8
There is only one road that needs to be crossed and it is usually very quiet. For the most part on this trail you are going under the bridges.
Fun:8
I enjoy this trail the only thing that dampens my fun is going under William Nicol edging along the narrow concrete block hoping that the stuff coming out of the walls is not human excrement. I do like that going this way I don't have busy roads to cross.
Technicality:9
There is a rocky stream that I get off and push at. I have fallen twice trying to cross it. Straight after that there is a steep decent between rocks which I manage but coming back I have not managed to get up it yet. There is another bridge which is concrete but most of the concrete has washed away. I used to be able to cross it but I don't manage anymore. Michael saw a guy cycle the narrow ledge under William Nicol. The second spruit crossing(where we used to jump from rock to rock) has concrete on it now making it possible for the expert to cycle over. There are plenty of challenges for the expert. Don't be put of if you are a beginner. All the difficult obstacles can be walked over.
Scenery:8
There are times such as under William Nicol or under the high way, that the surroundings are very ugly. There is a great deal of litter. There are many spots that are breathtakingly beautiful on this trail though. The other day we saw a blue crane a few times while cycling the trail. In December the daisies are in bloom and the fields of yellow are stunning.
Obstructions:5
There are many points where I have to get off and walk or carry my bicycle over. There are occasional dog walkers on part of this trail but they are not generally a problem. The physical barriers that I cannot cycle over are numerous.
Maintenance:7
The Juma Urban race helped us a great deal as a lot of maintenance was done to this route before the race. There are points that are becoming very run down again and I hope that the next Urban will run the same trails so that these spots will get a bit of maintenance.
Hill climbing:7
There is one hill that you climb on the way to Sunninghill, it is not a difficult hill. Coming back is uphill but it is hardly noticable as it is mostly flat. There are 3 short steep climbs on the way back. The second one is difficult as you have to navigate between rocks.
Variation:9
There are bridges to cross, steep slopes, rivers to cross so the trail itself provides quite a variation. The scenery also varies a great deal.
I ventured South this weekend. We decided to cycle at Thaba trails because I was told that there is quite a bit of construction work at Reitvlei currently. When we go south again I will give Reitvlei a try as well.
I liked that Thaba trails starts in a forested area. Most of the trails I have cycled seem to have their most boring part at the beginning.
Overall rating: 8.5 The venue:
Children: 5
Facilities: 8
Accessibility: 10
Cost: 9
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 7
Traffic Safety: 9
Fun: 9
Technicality: 9
Scenery: 8
Obstructions: 9
Maintenance: 10
Hill climbing:10
Variation: 8
The venue:
Children: 5
Thaba trails has a beginners route, the yellow route. We cycled on part of it at the end of the trail. It was extremely muddy, and at parts, difficult for us to navigate. Perhaps in the dryer season it is more child friendly, but at this stage I wouldn't take a child for a cycle there unless the child is an experienced cyclist.
Facilities: 8
The facilities are good the toilets have showers. Although rustic in appearance (the toilets are in crates) everything was clean. There is a shop that sells all types of spares. Although there is no restaurant, there are restaurants close by.
Accessibility: 10
This trail is in Alberton and very easy for it's locals to access.
Cost: 9
Entry is only R30 and for what the trail has to offer it is good value for money.
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 7
As we went for a midday cycle, we were the only people cycling. We didn't see another human being the entire time we were cycling. This trail would be very easy to access though, and in light of there being a few bike jackings recently, I would suggest caution. Do not cycle alone.
Traffic Safety: 10
I am not sure if there are other vehicles on the trail ever. We did not encounter any.
Fun: 9
We cycled the 17km green route, which was described to me as intermediate. For the first 10 km there was a great deal of hill climbing but nothing challenging and I was starting to wonder if the route should not have been described as beginner. The fun began after 10km and I realised the route deserved it's intermediate rating. I liked that this route starts in a forest. There are many hellish climbs but there are fun fast down hills. There are dips and challenging rocky descents. The wild life added to the fun. At one stage it looked like a wildebeest wanted to storm us and this made me cycle faster even though I was exhausted.
Technicality: 9
Thaba trails has a 30km blue route which is described as very tough. We cycled the 14km green route which was described to us as intermediate. There was a variation in technical challenges with hill climbing being the focus. What I liked on the green route was that parts were difficult but I could still do them. There are some very steep climbs which I did not make but I know I could if I went back. The only obstacle, we both struggled with, was a steep climb which had a passage through rocks we both could not get up and through Michael went into a tree and I was stopped by a stubborn rock. There is a drop over large rocks which the YouTube clip above does not do justice to. (I was being like a fisherman after the cycle spreading my arms wide and telling my friends the rocks were really this big.) I was very proud of myself, making it down there. At the end you join up with the yellow route (beginners). Parts are quite challenging because it is a very water logged area with lots of mud. This part is obviously very easy in the dry season. There are a variation of technical challenges with an emphasis on hill climbing.
Scenery: 8
The trail is very beautiful. Unfortunately there are housing developments that slightly mar the beauty of this lovely reserve. We saw wildebeest, springbok and zebra.
Obstructions: 9
There were no other people on the trail, so we had no obstructions. I am not sure what this trail is like at peak times. As there is wild life you do need to respect their territory and keep a safe distance. We were a bit nervous of a very angry looking wildebeest. It was probably a good thing though, because for a while I cycled much faster.
Maintenance: 10
Maintenance on the trail was good. The end part of the trail is rather swampy and they have been struggling with drainage. A lot of effort has been put in to avoid cyclists getting too stuck.
Hill climbing:10
Thaba trails has a LOT of hill climbing. Granny gear was used a great deal! What I liked about the green trail was that unlike the hill climbing at Mount Grace and the red route at Hero, the climbs though tough on Thaba's green route are within my capabilities. I do like a challenge but it is also good to have tough hill climbing that is not completely out of a beginner's ability. The blue route will be beyond my abilities.
Variation: 8
Although the emphasis of this trail is hill climbing, the variation is good from cycling a windy trail through forested areas, cycling up extremely steep short climbs and some steep drops. The scenery also varies from forest to open fields to rocky hills to swampy grasslands. On the green route there were no challenging bridges and there was only one berm on a uphill. Obviously this berm is for the fit as I was going so slow, I had no need for it.
Northern Farms is one of my favourite cycling places. It is hard to believe that it is right next to Diepsloot. This is in my opinion the best place for a beginner to cycle as the green route and blue route have no technical bits.
The venue:
Children: 10
Facilities: 8
Accessibility: 7
Cost: 7
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 8
Traffic Safety: 9
Fun: 10
Technicality:10
Scenery: 9
Obstructions: 8
Maintenance: 9
Hill climbing: 8
Variation: 10
The Venue:
Children: 10
There is a kiddies play area at the entrance and the pink route is for children.
Facilities: 9
There is a little takeaway with cooldrinks. It is not always open, I am not sure about the hours. There is also a bicycle wash and you can buy basic spares. The toilets have showers.
Accessibility: 7
The sign on the main road has gone missing with road construction. Turn off the road as you see Diepsloot. As it is a working farm it is only open on public holidays and weekends. The lost bit of road is under construction so it is not a pleasant drive to Northern Farms currently.
Cost: 7
It is R40 per person, R10 more than most trails. Bare in mind that the funds go to a very good cause. Northern Farms has a development program for young moutain bikers from Diepsloot.
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 8
I always feel safe at Northern's but bare in mind that it is right next to a very poor community. Don't cycle alone.
Traffic Safety: 9
There are some farm vehicles.
Fun: 10
For a fun challenge the red route is great. You go on a circuit route that keeps veering off to single track trails. The black route is probably a lot of fun to the more experienced MTB cyclist.
Technicality:10
There is a variation of technical challenges. Steep slopes, bridges, winding through a forest. The red route is supposed to be technical without being bone breaking. There is one of the single tracks which starts with a very steep slope downhill which I would not advise the beginner to take. I am too scared to do it. There is also a big rock on the one track that I walked over.
Scenery: 9
Northern farms is very beautiful but there are spots that are not as pretty due to power lines.
Obstructions: 8
Because of the size of Northern Farms you are not obstructed much by other cyclists but you often have to stop for a herd of cattle.
Maintenance: 9
Maintenance is really good at Northern Farms. On the red route some markers have how ever gone missing. We followed the route that had the wheel tracks on them. At one section there is a silly little ditch not much of an obstacle. Big warnings are up and you are advised to go left for red route and straight for black route. Around the corner there is a massive rock. This rock should really only be for black route.
Hill climbing: 8
There are two hills that are long and difficult but they did not defeat me.
Variation: 10
This trails go over bridges, past beautiful dams, through farm lands. There is a lot of variety in scenery and trail choices.
Mount Grace is the new kid on the block. They opened their trail to the public for the first time December 2014. To attract visitors they made the trail free for December 2014. They only opened one trail for beginners but there are more to come. Gavin Pelser, the man who is developing the trails, is going to give skills training courses in 2015.
Although it is a beginners course I would not have been able to do this course when I first started mountain biking. If you do not know yet how to distribute your weight on steep downhills first learn how to do that before attempting this course.
Overall rating: 8.8 The venue:
Children: 5
Facilities: 10
Accessibility: 7
Cost: 9
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 10
Traffic Safety: 8
Fun: 8
Technicality: 8
Scenery: 10
Obstructions: 9
Maintenance: 10
Hill climbing: 10
Variation: 7
The venue:
Children: 5
At this stage there is no easy track for the young ones. The trail is for beginners but will be a bit too challenging for young children. Mount Grace is hosting numerous MTB children's races so I cannot say that they are not catering for children at all.
Facilities: 10
The club house is lovely. I am a cheap skate and I love that even though it is at one of the fanciest hotels the food at
the club house is very cheap. There are showers at the club house.
Accessibility: 7
Mount Grace is easy to find but it is very far out so I give it a lower score on accessibility.
Cost: 9
Mount Grace was free for December 2014 but they are going to charge soon. I do not know what the rate is going to be.
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 10
This trail is really in the middle of no where, so I felt completely safe. I would not worry about doing this trail on my own. Perhaps there are dangers that I am unaware of so rather cycle with a friend.
Traffic Safety: 8
There are a few farm vehicles that use the main road be on the lookout.
Fun: 8
Mount Grace's trail saves the fun for the end. Close to the end you hit two steep dips that cross bridges. Although steep, they are not dangerous, as they are wide and straight.
Technicality: 7
The trail that is open to the public is a beginners trail. The technical difficulty is timing the steep switch backs on the hills. They were beyond my capability. I will have to go back many times to try and master them. I am hoping to go to the skills training in the new year.
Scenery: 10
Michael voted this trail the most beautiful. The reason being that you do not see any tar roads or civilization. You feel as if you are completely in the wild.
Obstructions: 9
At the beginning and end of the trail you are warned that the trail runs both ways. Also be on the look out for vehicles on the ground road part of the trail.
Maintenance: 10
This is the widest single track trail I have been on. As it is new maintenance is excellent.
Hill climbing: 10
These were the absolute worst/ best hills I ever tried to climb. Going up the one section, I felt that I was definitely going to die. The hill has killer steep switch backs. I pushed my bicycle mostly.
Variation: 7
There is not that much variation yet. They decided to start with the beginners course. The hills with the switch backs are a challenge. The lovely steep dips at the end are a lot of fun. The scenery is majestic.
Make sure you stock up on water before attempting the Red Route.
Above video clips are of us attempting to cross the floating bridge.
Overall rating: 9.3 The venue:
Children: 9
Facilities: 10
Accessibility: 9
Cost: 8
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 10
Traffic Safety: 9
Fun: 10
Technicality:10
Scenery: 10
Obstructions: 8
Maintenance: 8
Hill climbing: 10
Variation: 10
The venue:
Children: 9
Hero Adventure Park caters very well for children. The MTB cycle track for children is an easier part of the main track. There is a play park and a swimming pool.
Facilities: 10
There are plenty of toilets. There is a restaurant which does a buffet breakfast and a buffet lunch on a Sunday.
Accessibility: 9
Hero is easy to find as it is well marked. It is a bit out of Muldersdrift.
Cost: 9
Hero charges the average price R 30. You pay R50 and when you give your tag bag after the cycle you get R20 back. The reason I give it a 9, is because for the price there is so much to offer.
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 10
I feel very secure at Hero, bare in mind it is in the Muldersdrift area which has been plagued by crime, always be alert and avoid cycling alone.
Traffic Safety: 9
There is a ground road crossing. Be on the lookout for vehicles. There are also people driving around the resort be aware.
Fun: 10
Hero has a bit of everything. You have to try the floating bridge! We took a cheap bicycle with as we did not want to risk damaging our good bicycles.
The berms on the blue route are a extremely fun. The wooden bridge ramp on the blue route is probably fun but I am not brave enough to try it yet. Michael says beware coming down it as there are loose rocks at the bottom of it. The one on the red route is for crazy people.
Technicality:10
There is a variation of difficult technical parts. Bridges, ramps, floating bridge, berms, steep drops, steep climbs. The blue route has a few difficult parts. I just get off and push. The red route has extremely difficult climbs and very scary steep drops. I pushed quite a bit. The red route also goes through a few house ruins.
Scenery: 9
Heia is gorgeous. The first part of the Blue route is not that pretty but it becomes very scenic once you are down at the floating bridge and enter the forest. The entire area of the red route is very scenic. I have not been on the yellow route. When we were there (December 2014), the giraffes and zebra's had offspring, very cute.
Obstructions: 8
Beware of the wildlife and of vehicles travelling on parts of the route.
Maintenance: 8
Hero is well maintained. There were a few issues. The floating bridge had a few crates missing making it harder than usual. I am sure that Hero does maintain it all the time but these crates can slip out easily. There was a bridge on the red route that needed repair. Trail marking is excellent.
Hill climbing: 10
If you are into hill climbing torture go on the red route. Feels like more ups hills than down hills.
My friends all enjoy cycling at the Cradle. My personal ratings are low. I really did not enjoy it. There is 18km of single track MTB trail. Then it seems to stop. The only way back, we were told is by road. I am not a road cyclist and I find road cycling very boring. I took up MTB because I enjoy being on trails. Perhaps the information I have is wrong and there is a bit more MTB trail. I would appreciate feedback. In my opinion the Cradle is great for road cyclists but not great for MTB.
Overall rating: 5.7 The venue:
Children: 0
Facilities: 4
Accessibility: 6
Cost: 10
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 6
Traffic Safety: 8
Fun: 4
Technicality:3
Scenery: 7
Obstructions: 7
Maintenance: 8
Hill climbing: 10
Variation: 2
The venue:
Children: 0
Cycling on the MTB track at the Cradle does not at all cater for children.
Facilities: 4
There are some restaurants where people park. The one we started from Something Country, does not seem to be open much. There are no toilets for the public.
Accessibility: 6
The Cradle is out Muldersdrift way so quite a drive.
Cost: 10
This is a free track.
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 6
This is out in the country and in an area where there have been many security issues, be alert at all times. Rather do not cycle this alone.
Traffic Safety: 8
There are times when the track crosses the road, be alert when crossing. These are quiet roads so the road crossings are not frustrating.
Fun: 4
There was little variation on the MTB track. There were few challenges. Only one steep climb close to the top of the mountain which I struggled with slightly.
Technicality:3
There are no difficult parts except one steep climb.
Scenery: 7
The Cradle is beautiful but most of the track is close to the tar road which detracts from the scenery.
Obstructions: 7
You have to cross the road a couple of times and look out for vehicles. This is a single track one way so there may be mountain bikers coming back on it as there no track for return. (Perhaps I was wrongly informed)
Maintenance: 8
The track is surprisingly, as it is in the middle of nowhere and free, well maintained.
Hill climbing: 10
The hills are nasty and if you want to challenge yourself to endless hills climbing this track is for you.
Variation: 2
There is little variation. There are a few dips and winds for a small little section but it is rather a boring trail.
