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I'll be in South Africa, staying in the above areas, from next Tuesday for just over a week. Anyone know of any decent rental places and/or routes in these areas?
Looking to get out for one day at least!
Ta
Mark
Go ask on thehub.co.za - locals very friendly. If you need to hire I used irideafrica who will deliver and suggest routes.
Ps best to ride with someone esp on Table Mountain for protection...
Robbo - you mean muggings etc? Thanks for the link
There's a place near stellenbosh that hires out decent mtbs and can point you in the direction of some trails. It will be hot in franschoek!
Yes - that was the advice I got but then I rode at Tokai alone with no issues and met/saw several other lone riders. Did walk near some dodgy characters living in woods near Table mountain though. The forums pretty scary - lots of gun talk - but you have to decide what it feels like there. Never had any issues in Cape Town centre or walking on the mountain.
Cheers both
I know the area well. Spent three weeks over Christmas cycling in Western Cape You can download PDF maps of trails from here http://irideafrica.com/ They rent bikes as well.
Riding on your own in the Western Cape is fairly safe. Majik Forest, Silvermine, Tokai, and Countermanskloof are pretty good. There is also a route around the front of Table Mounatain from Rhodes Memorial that has awesome views of the City.
This is a good site as well http://www.tygerbergmtb.co.za/ and http://www.dirtopia.co.za/ is a little further out of town.
I spent nearly a year in the Cape as a kid...would love to ride round there now!
I did a couple of rides with iRideAfrica while staying just outside Cape Town; they had a few very nice hire bikes (I had a Giant Anthem X that was as good as new) and had a fairly decent list of good riding spots. I'd definitely go with them again if I found myself there again.
I can't wait to get back and do some of these events:
http://www.capepioneer.co.za/
http://www.transbaviaans.co.za/
http://www.karootocoast.com/
Best of all, South African Airways will fly your bike for free!!!
Franschoek will be glorious at the moment; just enough altitude to take the edge off the heat. Watch out for the baboons though, they can be kinda aggressive. My OH got mugged by one...
Oh yes, pepper spray is legal in SA...useful, against dogs and all manner of primates.
Do you want to do mountainbike or also road?
Can get you many road routes as many moons ago I did almost a full road season down there.
I go back from time to time road and MTB.
The hub is your diary, locals def friendly.
Mountainbike:
Camps bay:
Camps bay itself shit to ride its a place for posh people or to sit on the beach.
Main option down there for MTB is Tokai its good and don't worry and quite safe. Bit out of town go to majiek forest a nice passtime but not an all day'er IMO best views from at the mast at the top(jump the fence 🙂
There is not too far away new routes from Tygerberg club around contermanskloof and so apparently worth the visit.
You have Bottelary hills(see the hub)between Majiek and Stellenbosch
I used to love Stellenbosch with Jokershoek though it burnt down a bit not too sure how much has been rebuild since. Also around there eden valley. You have Delvera farm on the outskirts from Stellenbosch. There is a killer climb on the other side of the road called alp D Huez though its private.
More out of Town about an hours drive.
Oak Valley lovely ride
Lebanon forest also around that area.
For road from Camps bay:
Do chapmans peak wonderfull views.
Out of town Franschoek pass is quite a looker the side from Franschhoek is the hardest(watch out for the Baboons the might trow rocks).
Then there is two more wortwhile passes.
Bainskloof pass from Paarl side quite nice but pop over the top its so different on the other side noone ther small windy road as in a remote french mountain.
Du toitskloof easy ride but then at the top coming from Paarl look for about 100m of dirt road and jump the fench then you get a killer climb up to telcom masts.
Hellshoogte is not as special I liked old Hells Hoogte but its no so safe from time to time.
There are some routes in Wellington/bainskloof see on the hub.
Best place to stay IMO is www.nattevalleij.co.za no massive luxury but you pay very little money IMO for a lovely place.
Delvera farm routes will be accros the road. Bottelary routes also on riding distance. Stellenbosch on your doorstep for good food and entertainment. Owned by a cycling mad Family maybe dad will take you up Alpe D'Huez their son is a wine maker. All the good wine farms nearby.
Found some good places and rates on www.fzp.co.za when I had too arrange for my work when we had a project down there last time.
Though general safety note best to ride with others if possible and do not attempt a night ride.
Need to stop writing miss the place too much
Dirtopia was the place I was describing, saw it in post above and remembered!
Edit: which is at delvera farm IIRC, which is in post directly above this
Can thoroughly recommend riding at Tokai, and Silvermine. Rode there about half a dozen times when we were over there. Tokai basically a great climb with multiple singletrack lines back down. Some really techy stuff and borderline downhill stuff. If you like climbing, push on all the way up to the radio mast or go up into Silvermine. Felt really safe in both areas. Lots of baboons too!
http://www.capetowncyclehire.co.za/ are great for hire bikes. I had a Trance off them, and they did Anthems and road bikes too. They drop off and pick up where you're staying.
Have fun (I'm jealous!)
Rich
Headfirst.
Dirtopia is an organisation. Is/used to be a multi day MTB festival as well. The now specialise in trail development event ourganisation. The founder of this organisation owns Delvera Farm and put some trails on it last time around they where good but there is better around(often designed by same chap).
I know the area well. Spent three weeks over Christmas cycling in Western Cape
Likewise - I've got a full ride report drafted up. There's some really great riding though we took our own bikes so can't recommend anywhere for rentals.
Hofnar's advice is pretty good (why didn't any of you respond when i posted last year?). If I could ride just one place it would be Jonkershoek which really needs a guide to get the best out of it. See if you can get iRideAfrica to take you there. Otherwise Tokai is great fun, closer to town but fewer trails.
Cheers guys, I've emailed iRideAfrica to see what their availability is like. I'm over there for a wedding and there are group things arranged so not exactly sure what day I'll be free, and who else wants to join me.
Main goal is to get out on a mountain bike but open to road if anyone else is.