A mountain biking flow trail at Plaisir de Merle wine estate is on its way to becoming one of the longest flow trails in South Africa after a recent extension.
A drone shot showing the extension of the mountain biking flow trail at the Plaisir de Merle wine estate. PHOTO: Instagram/@thetrailscrew
This was according to Justin Novella, one of the lead trail builders at the Trails Crew, the company that is constructing the flow trail. The construction of the extension, which began on 17 July, added 1.7 kilometres to the existing 1.3 kilometre trail, according to Novella.
“The trail is not yet fully completed, but once it is, it will be possibly the longest, and definitely the best quality, flow trail in the country. It now sits at approximately 3 kilometres,” said Novella.
The trail is being built in sections, and will eventually connect to the trail centre at the bottom of the wine estate, according to Novella. The first section of the trail was completed in May, after which adjustments were made to the drainage system, he said.
The mountain biking flow trail at Plaisir de Merle wine estate is now approximately 3 kilometres long, according to Justin Novella, one of the lead trail builders at the Trails Crew.“It is always cool to have a blank canvas to work on and create new features,” said Novella. PHOTO: Instagram/@thetrailscrew
“It was always the plan to make a flow trail go all the way down to the trail centre,” said Novella. “We have been building section by section, and now the bottom of this section links in better with the existing trail.”
The first section of the trail is a fast-paced ride that includes features rideable for both beginner and advanced mountain bikers, according to Frankie du Toit, manager of Hellsend Bike Compound, and a national multiple-discipline title rider. The new extension includes more advanced features, but still caters to all riders, she added.
“It’s got some features for more skilled riders to have fun on, but it is still rideable for everyone,” said Du Toit. “It will make it more fun. It is by far the longest flow trail of its kind in the Western Province. It provides more opportunity for riders to enjoy their bikes.”
The extension of the mountain biking flow trail at the Plaisir de Merle wine estate did not come without its challenges. “It’s a big task – the weather was also quite tough during the build period (lots of rain) which made it more challenging,” said Frankie du Toit, manager of Hellsend Bike Compound. PHOTO: Instagram/@thetrailscrew
Novella told MatieMedia that the Trails Crew were able to build the extension according to their fellow riders’ suggestions by reaching out to their followers on Instagram. The new section includes a variety of features, and bigger jumps that are “slightly more advanced but all still rollable”, according to Duran van Eeden, one of the trail builders that contributed to the extension.
“We added some shark fins, a whale tail [contemporary mountain bike features] and bigger jumps to create some progression – inspiring features to challenge beginner, intermediate and advanced riders,” said Novella.
The mountain biking flow trail at Plaisir de Merle wine estate will eventually connect to the trail centre at the bottom of the wine estate, according to Justin Novella, one of the lead trail builders at the Trails Crew. PHOTO: Instagram/@thtrailscrew