Weekend cycling all around the Western Cape!
How fortunate are we? Yip, three days and three stunning venues for weekend cycling. From the Cape to the winelands to the beach. these are some of the examples of why you should come to South Africa and experience what we have to offer o a bicycle.
Cycling over CHAPMAN’S PEAK
Thursday morning
Weekend cycling in the fairest of all Capes. Got to CPT super early as usual and hung around Bootleggers Camps Bay Bakoven while having an R29 early morning coffee and reading obligatory BIKE RUN TRI and MTB magazines from Paul Ingpen’s pen as this is his local shop. He arrived promptly at 7am, ready to ride, and we set off towards Houtbaai. Such an awesome route and every time I cycle there I think that I should do it more often. Of all the places you could ride anywhere in the world, where would it be? Right here! Right now. As we did. Over Chapman’s peak and back through Camps Bay to that same start. Also spotted a smiling Percy Montgomery and swimmers Ram Barkai and Sam Whelpton at the table next door afterwards. And had a quick post ride coffee with BRAM Peereboom from Bicycle Rentals fame after his ride with Sofie from the UK and before her stint up Table Mountain on the Cable car later that morning.
Cycling to the JONKERSHOEK gate
Friday morning
Weekend cycling in the winelands. Did so with mini-me the week before. Natasha saw this and made a comment. And then we set a date to do the same this weekend. Early morning to Jonkershoek for a coffee when they open is always a great start to the day. I picked the MTB and she was on a road bike, which apparently hasn’t seen much action in this last year. But Natasha was super strong for someone who hasn’t done this recently and also very comfortable on the road bike – sitting upright and taking off a jacket without the slightest hesitation and with perfect balance. Well done indeed. The familiar route up the Lanzerac interval and underneath the trees took us to the Jonkershoek gate for an early morning coffee (so we could find our BALANCE) and then the same route back to the start at the Valerida center opposite the Paul Roos. Now this was brilliant weekend cycling in Stellenbosch.
Cycling in AGULHAS
Sunday morning
Weekend cycling in Struisbaai and Agulhas. Solo sprint around Agulhas on a family weekend. Familiar route from the house in Struisbaai along the beach and taking every possible detour, as close as possible to the ocean and then along Agulhas and to the point below the lighthouse. Crossing inland at the southernmost point as not to upset the tourists taking pictures (and hopefully enjoying the moment, not just through the camera lens). Then to the shipwreck and along the cobbles in progress to Suiderstrand. Notice the effortless outbound leg means a tailwind and promises some good exercise on the return trip home. Then up into the Agulhas National Park and along the ascent to the radio tower at the top. Not very high, but a climb nonetheless, and a quick and jarring descent. Same way back! Saw gravel female gravel bikes of team Chemchamp at the coffee shop afterwards. Pure bliss. Now for table tennis with mini-me. And that was that for the southernmost weekend cycling.
Where is your next weekend cycling?
