There’s been a new trail at Jonkershoek for a while now but it has eluded us here at iRide Africa. As far as we know, the Ace of Spades trail crew built it and it is one fantastic trail! Be warned though, you want to be an advanced rider if you ride this trail i.e. you are able to ride tight, steep switchbacks, and are comfortable with a fair amount of exposure.
We’ve updated our (very outdated) Jonkershoek mountain bike trail map to show where the trail starts, but if you can’t be bothered with directions, what you want to do is head for the Fire Hut. That’s the little dot you see high on the ridge when you look on the right hand side of Jonkershoek valley when you’re standing at the entrance gate.
The trail starts with a tight uphill switchback and doesn’t get any easier from there!
Steep switchback uphill to start
A few of the singlespeeders in our bunch battled to make it up to the top of the trail without pushing. Even with gears, only the fit and technical riders will get up here without dabbing or pushing (a challenge to you all!).
Singletrack up to the fire hut.
Once the top is reached you are treated to a magnificent 2km of narrow, contoured length of singletrack.
Taking a breather at the top.
The views are mind blowing and there are some very technical little rock gardens to clear in the valleys. This section of trail also has a few really nice alternate lines over some of the larger boulders (but just check first to make sure that it’s been built up to clear properly!)
Beautiful contour singletrack along the side of the mountain, with amazing views!
After a while you cruise into the pine trees and the trees are your warning to watch out for the insane switchback that drops to the right soon after! It is one of the most exposed corners I have seen but quite nicely built up-if you overshoot it though, you will be tumbling down a cliff for a while, so be warned!
After the crazy switchback there are a few more manageable ones to contend with between some very nice medium/slow paced singletrack before it spits you out onto the gravel road just below the quarry.
Fast, beautifully flowing singletrack on the way back down.
The trail that follows this is going to be a favourite in Jonkershoek for sure! The pace speeds up considerably and the trail has been built with terrific flow to it with a few nice rock drops and small bump/jumps. The speed you get up to on the trail means that the fun doesn’t last for long but you’ll want to go back and do it again and again….and again.(Unfortunately it was too fun to stop and take photos on, but here’s a video to check out (Thanks Malcolm!)
From here, you travel right on the dirt road and link up with the super fun switchback trail (anyone know the real name of this trail?) before enjoying a beer at the trailhead.
Relaxing with a cold beer after an amazing ride - life doesn’t get better!
All in all, I believe it to be one of Jonkershoeks ‘signature trails’, though for advanced riders only. Anyone without the skills just won’t enjoy it and will put himself or herself at risk of severe injury by attempting it.
Great job to all involved in this fine piece of mountain bike trail!
This trail is epic, was build by Bennert from ACE of spades with help from Gerhard and his 12tree landscaping team. I would say this is the track of 2010. So nice and flowing, saying that it was may to be pedalled up not down, :)
Jors, I have to agree with you on that one and thanks to Bennet and Gerhard and their teams for making it happen!
The link to the map does not work?. The one time I was up at that hut the wind almost blew me away!
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/236...
video of me being followed by my mate justin down the fire trail...
The link is to a pdf Adobe download? just tried and works for me?