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TRAIL PARK SUMMARY

Country Trail | Gravity Trail

More information:

https://www.like2bike.co.za/asidlale

Trailforks Information:

https://www.trailforks.com/region/northern-farm-diepsloot-nature-reserve/

Security rating:

4/5

Websites:

https://www.like2bike.co.za/asidlale

Nearest City/Town: Johannesburg

Trail type: Country Trail | Gravity Trail

Trails: 1

Total Distance: 33Km

eBikes: Yes

Shuttle-friendly: No

Cost: Day Visitors – R60

Security Rating: 4.5/5

Asidlale Adventure Park, located in Sandton, Gauteng, is one of the best mountain bike trails to experience in SA.

BEST SUITED FOR:

Beginner, Intermediate and Experienced riders.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT IT:

The proximity to Joburg and the flowline! The Joburg trails parks have been rather stagnant in the past couple of years with very little in the way of new features or gravity lines at the established parks. That’s why, even though Asidlale isn’t complete yet, we’re listing it and posting a review summary! (May 2022).

Joburg trails are notoriously low on gradient, which is why Asidlale is such a breath of fresh air! Built on the hillside that’s on the Leeuwkop Prison grounds at the north end of Sunninghill/south end of Kyalami, the Asidlale trail is still a work in progress. But there’s a climb and there are two descents from the summit. The one descent is nothing fancy and the other is a flowline that’s just fantastic!

Asidlale is a Zulu word that’s pronounced ‘us-sid-laa-lee’ and which means ‘Let’s play’.

There’s currently one mountain bike trail that’s marked by red arrows. It’s a 35km trail with over 580 metres of ascent. That’s a decent ride for most people. In fact, it’s a pretty tough ride if you’re not strong and not skilled. The climb is proper! Not many like it in Gauteng really. And the flowline descent starts off quite tight and technical for the first 100 metres of so before it opens up onto a well-made, wide and manicured flowline.

For those that don’t know what a flowline is, it’s a wide, uncomplicated descent that’s been shaped and moulded to offer a fast, fun way down. They have loads of features to add to the stimulation, including berms, table-tops, jumps and bomb-holes. A flowline is made to be ridden by anyone that’s got at least a moderate level of skill (which essentially means, STAND on the descent and look ahead!). Each obstacle is made to be rollable, which means that you should be able to roll over/down/through it safely – as long as you’re standing on your pedals, not sitting on your saddle. The table-tops will usually have a more lippy side (usually the right hand side), which allows skilled riders to get some air and float over the obstacle.

The flowline at Asidlale has all of the above. It’s been built primarily by Neil Evans, the man that’s mostly responsible for the original Braamfontein Spruit trails and the current jump spots (Hurlingham and Scout Hall). Neil understands flow and has done an excellent job with this flowline, maximising the gradient and available terrain. When we rode it, the bottom of the flowline was still not fully compacted yet, but as we said at the start of this review, it’s still a work in progress.

Have you experienced Asidlale Bike Park?

Please tell us what you think by leaving a review of your ride.

ADDITIONAL TRAIL FACTS

SIGNAGE

The signage is good, but you need to pay attention closely if you haven’t ridden there before or else you may miss a sign.

GRADING

The trails aren’t specifically graded, but are predominantly Blue and Black level based on the IMBA standards.

TRAILS

1 trail with a split on descent or shorter cuts.