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
Accessibility: 7
Cost: 9
The trail itself:
Security on trail: 10
Traffic Safety: 8
Technicality: 8
Obstructions: 9
Hill climbing: 10
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Where is mount grace situated if I may ask?
ReplyDeleteAt Mount Grace Hotel Magaliesberg.
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