PwC Bike Park
In Bryanston, there is a mammoth of a bike park just waiting for your rubber to smack the devils out of its dirt. The PwC Bike Park is one of the first International Standard mountain biking parks in Gauteng. The park focuses on family and family outings and is equipped with everything from beginners tracks to clubhouse snacks. The advanced and intermediate tracks are all marked off and are sure to give you the challenge you deserve.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6A8NiSxc-ds
Central Park Trails
With four routes ranging from 10 km to 40 km, Central Park Trails has some serious stuff on offer. From wetlands to dry climbs, it's all here. CPT also offers hydration stations, free bike washes and tech support. Just be sure to take a water bottle filled with cold, clean water when you take on the 40 km trail. Grab your fanny pack and puncture kit and peddle to Modderfontein for some action.
Kings Kloof MTB
To the west of Johannesburg lies Krugersdorp and the Kings Kloof MTB Trail. Its open plots of land and rocky terrain makes for the perfect spots to play with an off-road bicycle. The trail distances range from 7 km to 22.5 km. You can expect fast-paced downhills, calf-busting climbs, and an ample amount of rivers and river crossings. The routes are all colour-coded for convenience.
Thaba Trails
Some of the hardest single lane trails can be found just south of Johannesburg. Thaba Trails in Mulbarton boasts riding through a 450 hectare nature reserve which is filled with buck and other friendly animals. The trails are colour-coded in yellow, green, blue and black indicating the ride difficulty. There are running and walking trails as well, marked in orange. Why not challenge yourself by taking on the hardcore course or go for a little fitness ride on one of the less intense trails. Either way, get to Thaba as soon as possible.
Big Red Barn
Close to the Rietvlei Nature Reserve, there's a farm with mountain bike trails that can hold its own against the top tracks in the world. These tracks form part of the Big Red Barn, a farm venue with tons of activities for the whole family. The tracks themselves are labelled to IMBA (International Mountain Bicycling Association) standards: Green for beginner, blue for intermediate and black for advanced. The routes range from 12 km to 24 km in length. Don't expect too many hill climbs – the trails are quite fast.
By Shawn Greyling
