Groundcover MTB Circuit

OVERVIEW

In addition to the rides described below, Howick has some spectacular downhill singletracks made by the locals, so you need to hook up with the resident riders to experience them. Without their guidance, you will certainly get lost.

This ride is right in the heart of the Midlands Meander and you could start at any venue along the way. A mixture of quiet tarred roads and well-maintained dirt roads completes a 40 km round trip. This ride has been featured for the benefit of recreational cyclists who have a penchant for rambling all day, stopping off anywhere that takes their fancy. Fast forward cyclists will whip around this circuit in about two hours with no stopping. However, cyclists who like to hit the pause button should work on around five hours. Bear in mind that October to April is very hot and rainy, while this area is freezing cold in winter due to its close proximity to the Drakensberg Mountains.

On your bike

This ride option starts right at the top, at Groundcover Leather Company. From the Groundcover parking area turn left onto the main road from Howick towards Curry’s Post, passing Mulberry Hill and a variety of attractive country houses along the way. At Curry’s Post do stop for some refreshments at the general dealer, tucked away behind a hedge on the right. It is run and managed by several generations of the friendly, helpful, Desai family. Here you can still buy everything from bicycle crank sets to fishhooks, tinned food, dress patterns and candles all in one little shop, bursting at the seams. It truly is a nostalgic reminder of a sense of community we have forgotten.

Another kilometer or so and the road turns onto dirt. Keep left where you will rewarded with a fantastic view over the valley below and a fast but smooth downhill, where you can let it all hang out around the nicely cambered corners. It’s tough to hit the brakes and interrupt any downhill but a visit to “Kingdom Weavers” to admire hand-woven carpets, rugs, tapestries and tableware is worth slowing down for.

Carry on downhill across the busy N3 highway where oblivious motorists speed between Johannesburg and Durban while you are enjoying the flowers, forests, bird song and fresh country air. A long, gradual climb will take you over the next set of hills. This is a tough climb, but take the time to look back at the ever-unfolding scenery. On the inevitable fast, winding downhill your speed will sneak up to 70 km/h so remember to keep it under control and go left across the bridge to “Gunters” where you can have an ice cold draft with delicious homemade German and Swiss sausages. Spinning on from Gunters you will ride over a beautiful old arched bridge at “Caversham Mill” where the water cascades over staggered, rectangular rocks like a jigsaw puzzle.

Don’t overdo it, because after this bridge you will be cranking up a long hill with a perfect downhill that will deposit you onto the R103 road. This road is the major arterial of the Meander and it can get rather busy during peak season so don’t relax your vigilance. The next stop is “out of the Blue Trading” – a psychedelic feast for the eyes with a veritable riot of handmade merchandise. With heads still spinning, ride out along the tar road past a pre-Second World War iron bridge; yet another monument to KwaZulu-Natal’s past as a British colonial outpost.

At the sign indicating “Lion’s River Trading Post” you turn left along a road that is partially tar and dirt winding through a pastoral setting. Crossing under the N3 highway again at the Curry’s Post/Lions River interchange, you face a hard 3 km climb back up a pass to the tar road out of Howick. All the way up, if you know where to look, you can see Groundcover tantalizing you from the top. A left turn at the T-junction will have you breathless and back at Groundcover. After some food and rest you will be ready to explore the rest of the meander by bike, depending on your dedication.

Off the bike

The famous Midlands Meander in KwaZulu-Natal is a unique mix of more than 400 places to eat, drink, sleep, shop, play and generally have fun. Started many years ago as a voluntary collection of crafters who sought to entice visitors off the beaten track and into their studios and galleries, the Midlands Meander has grown into an eclectic and fascinating mix of arts and crafts, world-class restaurants and homely comforts, with a wide range of sorting, environmental and historical pursuits thrown in too. Physical, culinary and cerebral, there is no limit to the experiences you’ll find here.

CONTACT:

Route information: Amanda McCarthy, Groundcover Leather Company

Address: PO Box 329, Howick, 3290

Telephone: (033) 330 6092

Email: info@groundcover.co.za

Website: www.groundcover.co.za

GPS: S29° 23′ 18.6″ E30° 10′ 32.3″

Weather: {weather Howick, South Africa}