Adventure and Travel

Trail Daze | Hoogekraal

· By BikeHubCoreAdmin · 37 comments

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Timing it perfectly between the year’s first proper grey and rainy winters days, the Trail Daze crew headed out towards Hoogekraal, just a few minutes drive outside Durbanville, to experience some tacky trails, green grass and a herd of curious cattle.

Forming part of the greater Tygerberg MTB trail network, this loop probably won’t keep you busy all day, or even half a day, but what it lacks in distance, it more than makes up for on the fun scale. Likewise on the scenery scale, with luminous green rolling hills in every direction, and on a sunny day as we experienced it, blue skies and puffy clouds.

Celebrating women’s month, this episode sees the first all ladies edition of Trail Daze, featuring three of Cape Town’s (well one of them is imported from Switzerland, and the other from KZN) finest trail riders in the form of Joanna Dobinson, Rika Olivier and Simone Futter.

ccs-38514-0-68191500-1468493383.jpgA quick pedal out from the parking area and you’re surrounded by views stretching all the way to Table Mountain.

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ccs-38514-0-96661300-1468493401.jpgHoogekraal remains a commercially active farm, so expect to encounter some curious locals during your ride. These guys have notoriously bad eye-sight, so don’t be alarmed when they get startled and start running as soon as you get close.

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ccs-38514-0-61054900-1468493418.jpgSome high speed A-frames to indicate the start of the single track. The Hoogekraal loop consists of pretty much 99% pristine, single track, all courtesy of master trail builder, Bennet Nel.

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ccs-38514-0-14875000-1468493441.jpgTrailside banter.

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A late afternoon winter ride at Hoogekraal is special – green landscape, tacky dirt and, if you’re lucky like we were, that winter kind of sunshine. Perfect golden afternoon fun.
Rika Olivier

ccs-38514-0-48083900-1468493467.jpgSimone sending the jump line. This section was added more recently and features a high speed, flow trail with a few big jumps and a drop with an alternative chicken line.

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ccs-38514-0-51824200-1468493485.jpgBlue skies, green grass and some puffy white clouds along with a super fun trail = good times.

ccs-38514-0-56416000-1468493501.jpgAscending the switchbacks towards the top of Hoogekraal.

ccs-38514-0-86970000-1468493507.jpgIn stark contrast to the extremely dried out and dusty summertime conditions, this region transforms into a lush and colourful landscape during winter.

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ccs-38514-0-41340300-1468493697.jpgTiny riders in a sea of green.

ccs-38514-0-44924700-1468493704.jpgMuddy trails… something we haven’t seen much of in the Western Cape for a very long time.

ccs-38514-0-54847500-1468493712.jpgDropping into the Cobra. A fast paced descent, filled with boulders, a few shaley sections and a lot of fun.

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I like Hoogekraal for its rocks, jumps and flow. Though it’s a short trail, there is a lot to play with and the many switchbacks make it a great workout. We scored a great day after heavy rains and were rewarded with super tacky trails. Bombing down the last flowy section left me smiling silly, long after arriving back at the car.
Simone Futter

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ccs-38514-0-09279600-1468493820.jpgWith the Cobra taking you all the way back down the hill, there’s a punchy climb back up to the top of the trail.

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ccs-38514-0-44563200-1468493918.jpgFrom the top of Hoogekraal, you get panoramic views of pretty much the whole peninsula – from Table Mountain, all the way to Stellenbosch.

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Hoogekraal is a trail riders treat! Perfectly groomed swooping berms, big drops, fun table tops and rocks made for a perfect balance of speed, exhilaration and heart pumping action! The fact that I got to ride it with two ladies who inspire me with their riding style and immense skill, made it an afternoon that will never be forgotten! #BigBikes&Baggies
Joanna Dobinson

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ccs-38514-0-55308500-1468493947.jpgSwooping back down towards the parking area on perfectly tacky trails as the last rays of the days start to fade away.

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ccs-38514-0-75351500-1468493962.jpgCheers to all the female mountain bikers out there, having fun and shredding trails ’till the sun sets.

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GPS: 33°47’01.2″S 18°34’53.4″E

Permit: R40 (part of greater

Tygerberg MTB trail network)

All images by Ewald Sadie

instagram:

@ewaldsadie

This project is made possible by:

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Riders : Joanna Dobinson | Rika Olivier | Simone Futter

Stay tuned to Bike Hub for more Trail Daze coming soon…

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Comments

Eddy Gordo

Aug 1, 2016, 7:56 AM

awesome stuff. I always enjoy a late afternoon ride there, and barely do the cobra due to time.

'Dale

Aug 1, 2016, 8:12 AM

Was there yesterday

Beautiful piece of riding heaven

Garethley

Aug 1, 2016, 9:18 AM

Stunning photos....

popcorn_skollie

Aug 1, 2016, 9:35 AM

Always a pleasure chatting to the locals there. They get me. Always willing to listen. Ophelia, Beatrice, Charlotte. Thank you. Not everyone sees the wisdom behind your blank stares and all the grass you chew. But I do.

popcorn_skollie

Aug 1, 2016, 9:38 AM

awesome stuff. I always enjoy a late afternoon ride there, and barely do the cobra due to time.

 

That's like the best part! You did it with me the last time though. See. You shouldn't ride without me. Although the new stuff is pretty awesome too. Got big love for that drop that leads into all those jumps.

Super_mil

Aug 1, 2016, 9:44 AM

Very cool!

Eddy Gordo

Aug 1, 2016, 1:17 PM

That's like the best part! You did it with me the last time though. See. You shouldn't ride without me. Although the new stuff is pretty awesome too. Got big love for that drop that leads into all those jumps.

Yeah, you need to ride more afternoons as well.

Sarel See Monster

Aug 1, 2016, 3:24 PM

Woman riding bikes and drinking beers. Amazing. 

JonoZA

Aug 1, 2016, 6:01 PM

One of my favorite trails!!

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

MTBeer

Aug 2, 2016, 12:21 PM

Woman riding bikes and drinking beers. Amazing. 

ja, is nothing sacred anymore?

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Aug 2, 2016, 12:24 PM

Woman riding bikes and drinking beers. Amazing.

Can guarantee that those "woman" (sic) will klap you 6-0 on the trails

DoomedUser

Aug 2, 2016, 1:12 PM

Bliksem! these photies always makes me want to go ride!

Flowspeed

Aug 5, 2016, 7:38 AM

Kudos to the photographer !

Stunning pics

Piston ZA

Aug 5, 2016, 7:44 AM

Looks very cool. Going to be in Table View this weekend, so I think I will head to Hoogekraal for ride.

Brett

Aug 15, 2016, 6:17 PM

Why are none of the riders using a Camelbak if the project is sponsored by Camelbak?

A_du_Plessis

Aug 17, 2016, 2:44 PM

Sitting at work busy with 70 day Shutdown, not even 30 days in, and then I read (re-read) article today!!!!!

 

Articles like these makes me miss cycling even more! been to Hoogekraal once, and I've been looking forward to going there every day!

 

Beautiful trail...

billygoat0523

Aug 20, 2016, 10:11 PM

how much practice do i need for that dropoff?

'Dale

Aug 21, 2016, 5:46 AM

The coolest part is that view...

 

????????

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Aug 21, 2016, 6:16 AM

how much practice do i need for that dropoff?

Which one? There's one on the way back down that is about half a metre high but super easy

'Dale

Aug 21, 2016, 7:32 AM

Which one? There's one on the way back down that is about half a metre high but super easy

I guess the one by The Gorge that sweeps to the left ????

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Aug 21, 2016, 7:36 AM

I guess the one by The Gorge that sweeps to the left ????

Oh, the roller drop. Gotta make sure you either take it slow and roll it, or pre jump it so you land on the back side. It's not difficult, it's just very steep.

 

I do the former, but try to do the latter and fail. Lol

 

If you just drop it, you'll flat land straight into the corner, from what I'm able to surmise

billygoat0523

Aug 22, 2016, 6:41 PM

Oh, the roller drop. Gotta make sure you either take it slow and roll it, or pre jump it so you land on the back side. It's not difficult, it's just very steep.

 

I do the former, but try to do the latter and fail. Lol

 

If you just drop it, you'll flat land straight into the corner, from what I'm able to surmise

that one, yes.  i haven't been out that way yet, didn't know there were more drops.  i'll give it a go tomorrow.

billygoat0523

Aug 23, 2016, 1:10 PM

chickened out the first time, then did another lap.  stopped to have a look first and rolled it slowly.  was good!

Captain Fastbastard Mayhem

Aug 23, 2016, 1:13 PM

chickened out the first time, then did another lap.  stopped to have a look first and rolled it slowly.  was good!

good stuff!

 

And yeah, the blind lip is offputting unless you roll up to it very slowly the first time. 

 

And you see what I mean about treating it like a drop? You'll flat-land it into the berm. Not nice... So best is to sorta pre-jump it so you get rid of the potential over-rotation from the rear wheel.

 

Like approaching the jump section at Bloemendal... that first slope into the trough, you need to hop into it otherwise your back tyre will want to pitch up just when your front is on the way down... 

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