Loskopdam training

[Underachiever]

Hi Hubbers

 

I'm going to be in the Loskop area over the long weekend

 

Any tips for some training rides?  MTB, Gravel, Road? What works best?

 

Any dangerous areas?

 

Ta

 

 

[PieterJvR]

Hi Hubbers

 

I'm going to be in the Loskop area over the long weekend

 

Any tips for some training rides?  MTB, Gravel, Road? What works best?

 

Any dangerous areas?

 

Ta

 

I haven't been in the area for about 18 months so not to sure about the state of the roads.  However when I was there the last time (and I doubt it has changed) there wasn't really a shoulder on the road so road riding wasn't really an option - or I didn't feel very safe if I had to ride on the road.  I used parts of the road on my mtb when there was no shoulder (like the climb from Kranspoort to Forever resort entrance).  

 

I would suggest gravel bike, below is the gravel part (and a piece of tar with many potholes so it might as well be gravel) of a loop I did - I started from Kranspoort Vakansiedorp and did a section of tar and then the gravel part, and then tar again to do a loop.

 

When I wanted some distance I did not complete the loop, I did one section of tar and then the gravel part there and back and the same tar back to Kranspoort.  It wasn't the most exciting route but I needed training and used what I could.

 

Didn't feel unsafe,and wasn't too many people around - everyone was friendly, but I did give them a wide berth

 

Edit: Added picture and fixed grammar 

Edited September 21, 2020 by PieterJvR

[Zeffer]

Wherer are you staying in the area?

We are bikepacking through there this weekend

[Underachiever]

I haven't been in the area for about 18 months so not to sure about the state of the roads.  However when I was there the last time (and I doubt it has changed) there wasn't really a shoulder on the road so road riding wasn't really an option - or I didn't feel very safe if I had to ride on the road.  I used parts of the road on my mtb when there was no shoulder (like the climb from Kranspoort to Forever resort entrance).  

 

I would suggest gravel bike, below is the gravel part (and a piece of tar with many potholes so it might as well be gravel) of a loop I did - I started from Kranspoort Vakansiedorp and did a section of tar and then the gravel part, and then tar again to do a loop.

 

When I wanted some distance I did not complete the loop, I did one section of tar and then the gravel part there and back and the same tar back to Kranspoort.  It wasn't the most exciting route but I needed training and used what I could.

 

Didn't feel unsafe,and wasn't too many people around - everyone was friendly, but I did give them a wide berth

 

Edit: Added picture and fixed grammar 

Saw the same possible option - or even going East - towards Stoffberg

[Underachiever]

Wherer are you staying in the area?

 

We are bikepacking through there this weekend

At the Resort :-)

[PieterJvR]

Saw the same possible option - or even going East - towards Stoffberg

 

Yes quite a few gravel roads in that area, you can also go towards Selonsrivier, and then to Stoffberg - think it is about 30km from Loskop to Selonsrivier and then another 30 to Stoffberg but it is climbing all the way.

[Underachiever]

I haven't been in the area for about 18 months so not to sure about the state of the roads.  However when I was there the last time (and I doubt it has changed) there wasn't really a shoulder on the road so road riding wasn't really an option - or I didn't feel very safe if I had to ride on the road.  I used parts of the road on my mtb when there was no shoulder (like the climb from Kranspoort to Forever resort entrance).  

 

I would suggest gravel bike, below is the gravel part (and a piece of tar with many potholes so it might as well be gravel) of a loop I did - I started from Kranspoort Vakansiedorp and did a section of tar and then the gravel part, and then tar again to do a loop.

 

When I wanted some distance I did not complete the loop, I did one section of tar and then the gravel part there and back and the same tar back to Kranspoort.  It wasn't the most exciting route but I needed training and used what I could.

 

Didn't feel unsafe,and wasn't too many people around - everyone was friendly, but I did give them a wide berth

 

Edit: Added picture and fixed grammar 

Had a lekker weekend and new tar roads with a shoulder all the way on the N11 - apart from the dam wall towards Groblersdal.  Felt safe, even with the weekend traffic.

 

Did your gravel loop on the MTB - sand, rocks and corrugations.  Was a hard slog in the heat!!

 

Kranskop climb a real tester with the gravel bike. 

 

The best road was the road going towards Groblers, just after the tar/potholed section.  Beautiful tar, and super quiet.

 

So, great suggestions, THANKS!!