Review PWC cycle park

PWC gets a good overall rating mainly because it has the best children's track and security,  but please look what I have to say about their general maintenance and cost.

Overall rating: 7.8

The venue: 

Children: 10

Facilities: 7

Accessibility: 10

Cost: 5

The trail itself:


Security on trail: 10

Traffic Safety: 10

Fun: 7

Technicality:9

Scenery: 8

Obstructions: 8

Maintenance: 6

Hill climbing: 4

Variation: 8

The venue: 

Children: 10
I would rate PWC the best track to take children to.  The children's cycle track is the best I have seen. Also children can do the easy circuit on the main track without going onto single tracks.

Facilities: 7
The facilities are decent but the coffee shop serves no food at all.

Accessibility: 10
In the heart of Bryanston going to PWC is convenient and easy to find.

Cost: 4
This is the most expensive cycle trail to cycle currently (December 2014) they charge R60.  Most places charge R30.

The trail itself:


Security on trail: 10
Because it is a closed in cycle track I feel very secure here.  Still always be alert.  If anybody has had security issues at PWC please let me know.

Traffic Safety: 10
There is no traffic to worry about as this is a closed in track.

Fun: 7
PWC has quite a few fun challenges, sharply sloped dips and bridges etc.  I give it a lower score for fun though because it is so quick and you have gone through all the possible single tracks.  Remember this is from a beginner perspective.  There is a lot more available to you if you dare to do the black route.

Technicality:9
I have seen some of the black route and I think there is a bit of everything to challenge you technically.

Scenery: 8
PWC is very pretty.  I especially like the part over the bridge to the other side of the highway and the wetlands.  However you can see the highway at times which takes away from the general scenery.

Obstructions: 8
The cycle park can get very busy so the only thing that really obstructs your cycle is other cyclists.

Maintenance: 6
I last went to PWC in October 2014.  I went over a very dodgy, very high bridge that was coming apart.  I was shocked that this bridge in the Wetlands was even open to the public.  Many of the other bridges in the Wetlands were in ill repair.  PWC did at the time let the public know that much of the track was under repair.  My friend went to cycle there in November and was very angry because she was told that all trails were open, however many were still under repair.  I feel that PWC could at least reduce their charges while doing their maintenance.

Hill climbing: 4
The cycle park is small and there is not much hill climbing.  One steep slope and one hill.

Variation: 8
PWC does have a good variation.  Slopes, bridges, cliffs (for the daring black route cyclists).

Review Groenkloof Pretoria

Groenkloof is one of the trails I enjoy the most. Unfortunately it is probably the least safe trail to ride as bicycle jackings are a common occurrence.  Get a map at the gate.  It is easy to get very lost.

Overall rating:8.1

The venue: 

Children: 9

Facilities: 8

Accessibility: 9

Cost: 8

The trail itself:


Security on trail: 3

Traffic Safety: 8

Fun: 10

Technicality:9

Scenery: 9

Obstructions:  8

Maintenance: 8

Hill climbing: 7

Variation: 10

The venue:

Children: 9

Lovely little bmx type track and plenty of easy trails for children to enjoy.  Children can also take part in horse riding.

Facilities: 8

I am unsure what is available to day visitors as I stayed in the overnight hut.

Accessibility: 9

Very easy to find.

Cost: 8

Very reasonable R35 per adult.  Extremely cheap to stay over in the hut.





The trail itself:


Security on trail: 3

Even though quads patrol this trail, there is a big danger of having your bicycle jacked. Never cycle this trail alone.

Traffic Safety: 8

While there are no busy roads to cross be aware of the fact that the main routes are also for 4x4 vehicles.  

Fun: 10

There is a main track around and many small tracks that veer off from the main track.   Every track has something different.  Some tracks are extremely difficult some are very easy. The steps down on tracks 7 and 8 ( I think)  have fun stairs and you feel as if you are going down a rollercoaster.

Technicality:9

All of your technical skills can be tested at Groenkloof with a variation of step climbing, bridges, steep slopes, logs and hills with loose rocks.  I have not encountered any berms but then I have not been on all the trails.  

Scenery: 9

Groenkloof is stunning and it is hard to believe that you are in the heart of Pretoria.  There is a variation of wild life at Groenkloof.   People who do any activity are reminded that this is the animal's environment and to stay 50 m away from them.  This is a bit hard when you come around a sharp corner and almost cycle straight into a wildebeest.  You only remember where you are when you get close to the fence and see the busy road next to it.

Obstructions:  8
Beware of the wild animals and the 4 x 4 vehicles but I never found either to be an extreme problem.

Maintenance: 8

In general the track and bridges are in good condition and well maintained there was a spot or two which I am unsure whether they were left to be difficult on purpose or if there was a maintenance issue.

Hill climbing: 7

I did not encounter any killer hill climbing besides for the occasional hills that were hard to climb due to loose rocks.

Variation: 10

There is a bit of everything on the different trails at Groenkloof.  The inexperienced can keep to the main track which does a circuit.  Every little trail that veers off the main track has a different surprise in store for the mountain biker.

Review of Avianto MTB trail Muldersdrift

Kindly note the following opinions are my own.  I am only reflecting what I personally like or dislike in a course.

I was last at Avianto in July 2014, so things may have changed.  When I go to it again I will update my ratings.

10 is good 1 is bad

Overall rating 6.6

The venue: 

Children: 6

Facilities: 8

Accessibility: 7

Cost: 8

The trail itself:

Security on trail: 7

Traffic Safety: 10

Fun: 3

Technicality: 6

Scenery:3

Obstructions 10

Maintenance: 9

Hill climbing: 6

Variation: 3

The venue: 

Children:  6

There is a children's play area and short route for children to cycle.  The reason I give it a 6 though is the children's route at the time of going there was very boring.  It was simply a shorter version of the Green and Blue routes.

Facilities: 8

Very clean and lovely showers.  There is a tap to wash bicycles.  I am unsure about whether food can be ordered or not.  

Accessibility: 7

Close to Johannesburg no rough roads all paved.  Slightly difficult to find the first time going as Avianto club is off a different road to the actual resort.

Cost: 8

Only R30 per person to cycle here.

The trail itself:

Security on trail:  7

I felt safe and did not feel threatened at any time.  I do however know that Muldersdrift has had serious problems so it is still better not to take this route alone.  

Traffic Safety: 10

At no time do you have to cross a busy road.  There are one or two roads which might have the occasional farm vehicle but you can spot them well in advance.  

Fun: 3  

I am sorry to say but I had the least fun at Avianto.  The start of the trail is incredibly boring.  You start out with a winding trail, going up and down, up and down, up and down, up and down.   Finally you go into farm lands and it is more interesting.  When you are very tired the trail becomes more interesting but too technical for a beginner.  I had to push most of the time because most of the end of the trail is filled with large loose rocks.  

Technicality: 6

I am sure that experienced mountain bikers will enjoy the trail much more than I did.   The blue route was too difficult for me in the last few kilo meters because the hills had a large amount of loose rocks and I pushed most of the time. This is probably be fun for the experienced mountain biker.  I have not tried the green route.  The reason I give technicality a 6 is because the technical difficulty in my opinion was all the same loose rocks.  There was little variation in the challenge.  

Scenery:3

This was the ugliest trail I have ever been on.  To be fair I have only been in mid winter.  The up and down winding at the beginning of the course is on a field with only grass.  You break off to the farm lands eventually which is more scenic but in no ways breath taking.  Finally you get to the rocky tough hills.  These are probably beautiful in summer but all I could see was rocks and more rocks.  The end bit is rather pretty and you go through a house ruin.  

Obstructions: 8

I did not encounter any obstructions.  The trail was very quiet when we cycled and I did not come across any other cyclists, pedestrians or vehicles.  There is the odd farm vehicle but we were not obstructed by any.

Maintenance: 9

The trail seems well maintained. 

Hill climbing:6

There is a lot of  difficult hill climbing at the end.  The hills would be easily manageable if it is was not for the loose rocks.  I give it a 6 as the hill climbing is all the same on the blue route.

Variation:  3

This is the most boring route that I have encountered.  Perhaps if I was an experienced mountain biker I would love the black route but this is an amateur opinion.  The winding up and down on the same hill at the beginning is boring to the extreme.  I don't remember any berms, bridges too cross or any other interesting obstacle besides the house foundation.

Trail Rating - an amateur's perspective

I am going to rate trails mainly around Gauteng because I live in Johannesburg.  I am an amateur so I am going to do this rating from my perspective at times giving my intermediate husband, Michael's feedback as well.

Ratings will be from 1-10.  1 being low and 10 being excellent.

The following will be criteria:

The venue:
Children:  I have a 8 year old niece, she cycles with us regularly so I will be also rating on what is available for children.
Facilities:  Toilets, showers, place to eat.
Accessibility:  How easy or difficult is it to get to the trail.
Cost:  Is your pocket being emptied going to this trail?

The trail itself:
Safety:  How secure do I feel on this trail?
Traffic Safety:  Are there any dangerous roads to cross?
Fun:
Technicality:
Scenery:
Obstacles:  Such as pedestrians, dogs and cattle.
Maintenance:
Hill climbing:
Variation:

Have I left anything out?  I would appreciate feedback.