In this article:
- Watch the awesome new video of the NEEDles for Speed trail at Helderberg Farm.
- Read more about Andrew Neethling, his top trails around the world.
- Get some tips from Andrew on getting into your first trails!
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Helderberg Farm: A New Trail Born Initiative
Shimano Ambassador Andrew Neethling helped design the new Trail Born-supported trail: NEEDles for Speed at Helderberg MTB Farm in Somerset West, South Africa.
Helderberg Farm: A New Trail Born Initiative
Shimano Ambassador Andrew Neethling helped design the new Trail Born-supported trail: NEEDles for Speed at Helderberg MTB Farm in Somerset West, South Africa.
How do you see the importance of trail support in today’s MTB scene?
I see it as vitally important—without trails, there really is no scene or community outside of racing. Trails bring us together to share our passion for MTB. The more we support trails—their construction and, of course, their maintenance—the bigger the scene can grow and the more places we have to ride. I have also seen trails benefit surrounding towns and areas economically as well.
What are your top 5 favorite trails around the world?
I've been lucky enough to travel the world and ride so many trails that I may have forgotten a few—lol! Call me crazy, but our main OG trail at my local Helderberg Trails easily ranks in my top five.
Other favorites include A-Line in Whistler—the original jump line that I could lap all day. Then there’s Schladming, Austria, which was one of the best DH race tracks and is now open for laps. Madeira Island also has countless unique and epic trails—it's awesome to see all the work that has gone into that scene.
To be fair, I just love anything with flow, speed, and some jumps.
How did you get involved with Helderberg Farm bike park?
This very mountain is where I did my first mountain bike race, so I have always ridden here in some capacity. Fast forward 15 years, and one of the landowners—and a family friend—Jan Van Schalkwyk, asked if I would be interested in joining him to properly develop, build, and mark it as a trail park. Since it played such a big part in my riding and the success of my career, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to help build something for the MTB community.
Any tips for riders just getting into riding trails?
I would say take your time and be overly cautious in the beginning. Trail riding is amazing but can be daunting if you're new, and the worst thing you can do is ride beyond your skill level before you're comfortable. It’s best to take a lesson if possible—that way, you’ll develop the necessary skill set and open yourself up to many more trails.
Finally, talk us through your bike setup for this trail, please!
I chose my Scott Ransom for this project and trail. The goal was to create a trail that everyone could have fun on, and this is the perfect bike for the task. It’s equipped with a full SHIMANO XTR Trail groupset—my go-to setup—offering incredible braking power while remaining lightweight. I opted for a mullet wheel setup to make the ride extra playful.
Experience XTR
Want to shred trails like Andrew Neethling? Explore our overview of XTR-equipped bikes today.
