Words and images: Andrew “Average Andrew” Steer. Article from the April 2015 issue of Ride Magazine.
Berm, Baby, Berm
With its prime location and ease of access from many of Joburg’s more affluent suburbs, the PWC Cycle Park (even not in its current guise) has always been an ideal outing for mountain bikers of all shapes and sizes.
The great bike park promise has not always been delivered on – but over the last year or so, a major transformation has begun as the PWC Park heads back towards being a fantastic riding option in the heart of SA’s financial hub.
And just to show how serious they are about doing things 100 per cent right this time, the owners have brought in the services of Hylton Turvey (of Karkloof fame) to add a little of his Midlands magic to the Highveld. Naturally, we were eager to go check it all out…
The riding
With the limited space on offer, the park was never going to be home ground to the endurance junkies, but the available space is put to great use and will still ensure you go home having burnt up your daily dose of calories. The riding is broken up into small sections (none more than 2km) and this allows riders to string them together as they please, as they make their way around the park.
The riding is largely not very technical (the other side of the tunnel, and the specifically marked sections aside), but the faster you attack it, the greater the challenge becomes. It’s mainly made up of singletrack, and with the emphasis always on fun, there are many ways to skin this 13km cat, and many reasons to keep coming back to do it.
Overall experience
For families looking to share the sport of mountain biking together, and for kids in particular, the PWC bike park is simply an exceptional offering. There is just so much for your little ones to do, great facilities to keep everyone entertained, and still enough riding on offer to keep even the most hardcore cyclists pretty happy. Sure, they could do with some extra distance, and the pricing is a little on the steeper side, but for the convenience of such a central location, and the obvious costs involved in running a facility of this nature, it’s hard to argue on the value of it all. Skills tracks, pump track, BMX track, MTB trails, and more still to come… could there be a better way to start or finish that working day?
Other attractions
Trail running, birthday parties, kiddies’ full-package parties, venue hire (boma and sundeck), jungle gym, jumping castle, pump track challenge and scheduled Thursday night rides (until 9pm).
Facilities
Mini bike shop, coffee/cooldrink canteen, gourmet burger grill, sundeck, lush lawns for a picnic/braai, ablutions, bike wash, safe parking and weekend medical assistance.
The Routes
Spaghetti Junction
This winding trail through the forest near the entrance of the park is a great way to kick things off. Snaking around, hitting berms, dodging pine cones – it’s a lekker little warm-up.
Jungle Book and Magic Forest
Aimed more at the kiddies, these simple trips off the perimeter road into the forest are ideal little rides for your youngsters until they are ready to take on some of the longer tracks.
Berm Baby Berm
This berm-riddled ride though forest and grassland is a smile fest all the way. The many new berms, along with the optional intermediate challenge loop (jumps of three heights, a rock garden and three drop-offs of varying height) make this 1.9km of great trail!
Everglades and Amazon
Due to receive the magic Turvey treatment later this year, these fun, winding forest singletrack sections are already whoop- worthy as they take in the slopes north-west of the BMX track. Amazon a more technical challenge, while Everglades is a nice, easy cruise.
Ewok and Inca
Accessed via a tunnel off the perimeter road next to the N1 highway, this is the most challenging, but also the most rewarding riding in the park. Tackled first, Ewok is a bermed switchback heaven that’ll get your heart rate up quite a few notches. From Ewok we head into Inca, an amalgamation of the old Zombie birdhouse and Angle grinder sections. This section will constantly have you on your toes as you dance up and down ridges, hit some amazing berms, and meander along tight contour paths as you zigzag around a lush dense forest seemingly lost to the modern world only metres away.
Perimeter Road
Encircling the whole park and used to link all the sections together, these easy, non-technical trails are suitable for riders of all ages and skill levels.
Pump Track
This newly built floodlit gem is popular with both kiddies and adults. Very smooth, and fun to whip around for hours on end – it’s a must-visit for everyone to the park. Watch out for errant kiddies though, as despite the clear signage, it’s an attraction that appeals to more than just the young at heart. There is currently a monthly ‘Pump track challenge’, so if you’ve got more flow than your average Joe, you had better give it a go…
Kiddies track
A very basic flat track for the real newbies to enjoy pushing and pedalling their bikes around safely while making new friends.
Skills Section
A basic track with a little bit of everything to get new riders and kiddies more in tune with their two-wheeled friends and comfortable over some pretty standard obstacles. Basic bridges of varying widths, small berms and humps, and even some loose sand – it’s a fun and safe way to become more accustomed to riding.
Advanced Skills Section
A big step up from the basic skills section, the advanced track is just that – ideal for those who are looking to push their skills a little further. There is a nice little rock garden to pick your line through and then three dropoffs of progressive heights for riders to test themselves on or off. The sweet little berm at the bottom will whip you back up again for another go! There are plans in place to keep adding to this in the future.
Jump Tracks – Airwolf and Rollercoaster
Initially built to international standards several years ago, the BMX track is popular among all bike park users with its smooth bumps and jumps. For the more adventurous, there is some big air to get over the many humps and tabletops that litter the circuit. Airwolf is aimed at the more serious guys, while Rollercoaster will be perfect for the kids who just want to roll through with their wheels firmly on the ground.
Spaghetti Junction
The owners have “brought in the services of Hylton Turvey to add a little of his Midlands magic to the Highveld
Cycling hours
Monday to Sunday (6am-6pm) Closed only on 25 December
Weather
Like any bike park on the Highveld, thunderstorms can create havoc with erosion, but in general, the park holds up really well to the best of Joburg’s summer offerings. The muddy sections are avoided through pallets, and dozens of small bridges allow for little drainage channels all over the park.
Get there address
1A Libertas St, off Sloane St
Bryanston
Gauteng
Directions
From Randburg:
Travel north along Main Rd towards Lonehill, turn right into Sloane St, turn first left into Libertas, turn left into the PWC Bike Park entrance.
From Kyalami:
Travel along Main Rd towards Randburg, travel over Witkoppen Rd and the N1 highway, turn left into Sloane St, turn first left into Libertas, turn left into the PWC Bike Park entrance.
From N1 William Nicol offramp:
Exit onto William Nicol Dr(R511), turn towards Sandton, turn first left into Sloane St, travel over Main Rd, turn first left into Libertas, turn left into the PWC Bike Park entrance.
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