Mr Legs

Start of Hemel & Aarde Valley, view towards Sandbaai and Onrus, Kleinmond mountains on the far right. Came up on the fire road.

I plotted the route on Google Earth and it will be about 57 km.

I am organising an informal social group ride to help Hubbers to familiarise themselves with the Leeuwendans - Eensaamheid route. Saturday 15 May from the parking lot of the Cape Garden Centre at Joostenberg vlakte. Time of departure :08h00. The route I suggest is from CGC via Joostenberg to Fisantekraal (gravel), then a bit of tar (+- 10k's) on Klipheuwel rd, over the Stellenbosch- Malmesbury Rd, then it is gravel via Leeuwendans and Otterkuil, then about 1,5km tar to Eensaamheid, then gravel to the area north of Klapmuts and tar past the zoo back to the Garden Centre. No major hills, mostly farm roads, you dont need a full susser, in fact you can do it single speed without any suspension. We wait for back markers. Ave speed for the trip will be about 22-23km/h. Distance will be about 60 k's. I will calculate it on Google Earth and post the info. Who is in?

Maybe we should arrange an informal non official Hub group ride, what about the weekend of 15 May? The route from Cape Garden centre will be about 60k's max, no major hills, it will be cross country farm or gravel roads with a few sections of tar. I am fairly fit, but no racing snake by any means, we can sort things out on the day, if the fitness levels are too diverse we form two groups. Let me know if you are interested.

Maggi Will send a pm with an google image.

Maggi I will try to plot a route, will let you know if I manage.

Hermanus, above Vo?lklip. I took the Rotary Drive and simply carried on east. Just be careful not to venture on to Vogelsang Private Nature Reserve (there is a sign and a rusty fence). They are full of nonsense. But it is a great ride, first a nice (tarred) uphill, then a few k's gravel rd, then tweespoor, then a washed out track, fantastic views, beautiful fynbos.

Here is a piccie taken in the mountains above Hermanus:

We often do the following loop from Durbanville: Klipheuwel R 302 (you can include Spes Bona and Occultdale) Straight over the Stellenbosch Rd R 304 past the 3 wind generators Right at the Leeuwendans sign, Through Leeuwendans and past Otterkuil, then about 1.5km on the R 312 west . Then left at Eensaamheid to the gravel rd just north of the N1. Then back with that rd, past the zoo to Joostenbergvlakte Gravel rd north to Fisantekraal township and back home on Klipheuwel. Around trip of just less than 80k's from my house.

Yip, that was me. Couldn't miss you, with that impressive set of lights, biggest and brightest I 've ever seen on a bike. At first I thought it was a motorcycle. What make and model is it? What does it weigh, cause it sure looked big! How often do you ride, distance and ave speed?

I passed a group of about 10 cyclists last night on Adderley road, just north of Spes Bona Road, opposite the dairy farm at about 18h40 - 18h45, you were pedalling up the hill and against the south easter and I was soloing down hill and down wind. Who are you, do you do regular night rides, distance and ave speed?

I snapped the full moon setting on Spes Bona Road, check out the horse on the left as well.

I was there exactly one year ago, paid R 30.

Andrew I am not aware of MTB specific routes near Clanwilliam, but there is a gravel rd leading past the dam (on the eastern side) towards Algeria, a forestry station in the Cederberg. The section of road leading past Algeria was paved in June & July last year, but it is a still good MTB terrain, past Algeria it becomes gravel again and then you can test your legs up the famous Uitkyk Pass (Uitkyk=Lookout). If you feel strong you can cycle much further, it is rugged terrain and you need to be self supporting iro water and cycle maintaince. There are many other gravel roads in the area, just speak to the locals. I am off to the Cederberg this weekend. Similarly you will find many gravel roads in the Napier area, I have cycled on the one leading west out of the town, this rd is just below the main road and goes over rolling hills through the wheat fields. More cross country style riding than technical MTB.

CJ Constantia Nek to top of the mountain is very do able, but I seem to recall a sign at one stage, specifically prohibiting MTB's from going further, we choose to ignore it as it was very misty and cold and raining with no hikers around, we went up to the waterworks museum. Remember going to the top is illegal and not advised. Tokai to Silvermine with the loop at Silvermine is another option, not very far, but good views and a few good hills to climb.

Was there as well, leaders looked good up that first hill, how about team 257 having tire problems 10m past the starting shute? Another piccie of the leaders going up the first hill: from left Evans, Sauser, the two Rabobankers, Burry in white helmet just beneath the Adidas sign and the two Bulls Platt and Sahm on the right. Mr Legs2010-03-22 04:29:28

He was referring to LA's career, too many he's and his'ses in one sentence fooled you.Mr Legs2010-03-16 09:41:33

Arnie Please take the matter up with the authorities and also radio stations such as Cape Talk to keep the pressure on them to fully investigate the matter.

Windfinder says: Local dateSunday, Mar 07Monday, Mar 08Local time02h05h08h11h14h17h20h23h02h05h08h11h14h17h20h23hWind direction Wind speed (Knots)8 7 5 2 8 10 8 7 7 6 5 5 11 9 5 4 Cloud cover Precipitation (mm/3h)0000000000000000Pressure sealevel (hPa)968967968968966966967968966964964963962962963963Air temperature (?C)21212436373325222221243637322321 Local date Mr Legs2010-03-03 02:29:20

There is another shortcut from the top of Odendaals through the vineyards in the direction of the robot at the top of Tygervalley Rd. Take the rd on the right at the top of Odendaal, this way you can do Odendaal on a regular basis!

Hillcrest is a farm just outside Durbanville in the Cape. http://www.tygerbergmtb.co.za/HillCrest.html it is now linked to the Contermanskloof Trail as well.

Brad Your advice is sound, but the problem (challenge) with this path is that the surface is covered with loose, round, fist sized rocks, you cannot power you way up in a big gear, your only option in my view is to spin in granny in order get over each rock with the minimum of friction or pressure on it. As soon as your back wheel starts spinning, it's goodnight baby.

CJ About 8 or 9 years ago it was still possible to cycle up the straight route to the top without losing traction and grounding your feet, but the surface has since deteriorated to such an extent that I haven't been able to pedal up there for many a year. Not that I haven't tried. At some stage it was so smooth that I could get up on a set of slicks, but those days are gone. I also struggle (read : push) up the short steep incline on the other route. The section next to the electrified fence is doable, provided you select a smooth line and keep momentum, but every now and then you will touch the fence, just hope that the owner (I know him as "Kubaan" from 'varsity days) has neglected to switch on the current. But the challenge is not to get to the top, it is to keep on trying to get there...

I use www.windfinder.com/ , lots of information.