Trail Daze | January[/url]’]With daily access to incredible media and stories portraying the world’s best riders in the world’s best locations, we often forget what adventures might be waiting for us just around the corner. It’s all too easy to sit in front of your screen, soaking up someone else’s experience and wishing you lived near better trails, with bigger mountains and better weather. Hopefully this photo series will inspire you to step outside, get on your bike and explore more.
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Those were the words with which we started this photo series – and so it’s been 12 awesome months of experiencing and searching for the best local trails, during which time we hopefully achieved our goal of inspiring you to get out there and shred. As with most things in life, some trails left bigger and longer lasting impressions than others though, and we’ve selected the top 6 to take you back to.
Giveaway:
Be sure to cast your vote in the poll HERE to stand a chance of winning a Camelbak Mule 3L (worth R1,590) and a signed enlargement of your favourite Trail Daze photo. Competition ends on 18 December 2015 at 12pm.
Baby blue, ash grey and iridescent green. Those are the colors of these trails. Grabouw has the ability to create images and memories that are impossible to forget because of the natural colour palette on offer. It is one of my all time favourite places to ride because of the mars-like rock formations and the fact that trail builders are always creating new lines to enjoy.
Daniel Dobinson
Get all the info and the full April photo epic
here.
Arriving in the dark left the imagination running wild until we woke up in the morning to our first view of the Cedarberg – an almost Martian landscape, with wind and rain-eroded rock giving way to trails that shouldn’t have been possible to make, but somehow manage to find their way through the labyrinth. Amazing fast flowy trails, interspersed with techy rock sections kept everyone challenged, the “woops” of joy echoing off the cliffs and blokes’ banter flowing just as fast as the bikes – this is mountain biking at its purest.
Harry Millar
Get all the info and the full May photo epic
here.
Before leaving, I was warned that this next mission was going to be more suited to XC riding and any thoughts of proper Enduro trail should be banished from my prayers. Apart from a couple of long, winding descents, that would be it. Oh ye of little faith. Behold. There are trails in this valley that will make you thank your maker. Epic valley views from 2500m high mountains that stare down upon newly forged descending Enduro MTB trails, became the truth. The mix of fun flowing single track over a variety of different terrain and gradients, made this farm one sizable trail offering. This farm is my new religion.
Rupert von Tutschek
Get all the info and the full June photo epic
here.
Rolling hills, steep valleys and incredibly green landscapes sprinkled with beautiful trails – You’d be forgiven if you thought you were in the England when riding Contermanskloof in the Winter! In complete contrast to the end of Summer, the trails are grippy and the surroundings have a ‘soft’ feel to them. While most of the trails have beautiful flow and an intermediate IMBA rating, some of the steepest and gnarliest rock gardens in the Cape are also found here. The riding experience is made all the better with a great coffee shop, friendly bike store as well as the fact that Tygerberg mtb club members can access another 70+ km of trails from here.
Daniel Dobinson
Get all the info and the full July photo epic
here.
Piketberg is a place I’ve always driven past since I was a kid never imagining what it looked like on top let alone the trails the guys have built there. An amazing quantity of flowing single track that flows along the mountain cliffs and river valleys kept us frothing! It’s amazing to see the progression of the trail building from the earliest trails, they’re all marked with a named carved sign post and build date, to the newest trails that feature some rad natural gaps and super punchy berms! Definitely a good day and can’t wait to ride the rest!
Mark Hopkins
Get all the info and the full August photo epic
here.
Trails don’t build themselves and land advocacy can be tricky at the best of times so when I heard about who was involved with the rebuild of Jonkershoek and about some of the developments planned, I was fizzing with excitement. The red route is a flow trail which is my new favourite trail in SA for sure – not too many man made features, a lot of raw trail with natural gradient, high speeds and some slower techy features too. The double black route is the most technical legal trail in SA IMO, its brutal, requires speed to float over the holes and is going to take skill levels to new heights. What great work has been achieved by Hylton and Bennet and the businesses that support them – these and all trail builders are to be celebrated and cherished, for without them we would all be roadies…. Trails for everyone!
Myles Kelsey
Get all the info and the full October photo epic
here.
Thanks for all the amazing support during the year. 2016 will be bigger and better as we visit other provinces to discover more local trails, so watch this space… #TrailDaze
Shredding all day, braai'ing and beers under the moonlight. Tough life Awesome photo reviews. Take it to the next level - add some video footage.