capediver

Yip did it in Jan....absolutely stunning route..here's mine... https://ridewithgps.com/routes/54223745 Check out the videos on my channel...summary plus a few others... If you going anti clockwise from George...the Prince Alfred Pass is going be hugely!!! Also Simola albeit shorter...but gravel roads are all mostlu6really good...Ja Old Montagu Pass is passable both ways...just one short section that is really rocky... Enjoy!!!! There's some comments here.. PS...from Knysna Lagoon up Simola Hill...keep going to Gouna then cut across Kom Se Pad to Diepwalle..it was the highlight of my ride...time it to get to the Gouna gate by 08h00 to pay the toll fee...R142 IIRC...

Hell of a loop... Day 1...Calitzdorp to Op Die Plaas...60ks...rained almost all the way...light drizzle...annoying...Huis River Pass was good but visibility sucked...Seweweekspoort Pass...the weather opened up...spectacular....long slow incline eventually gets you!!...rain gear tested...new Apidura bags tested...all worked as advertised!! Day 2...Die Leer!!!! Yoh...I don't think there's enough that can be said about this stage...only hats off to those that climb up it!!! 2.5hrs from the start of the ladder into that valley floor..fully loaded and scrambling!!! On my arse a few times but made it down in one piece...massive push out of that bowl over the saddle to Boplaas...only to be told that the causeway at Gamka River is flooded and impassable...so here I sit waiting for floodwaters to subside...luckily there is one guy here, Abraham...went to look at the causeway 4ks away this morning...even this raggedtly old navy diver said...nope.....so its a no go...water is dropping slowly so im here for the next few days!!!hoping it doesn't rain again ...will check again tomorrow morning... PS yes...that's leopard spoor!!! Fresh as well!! Spidey sense activated!!! Just at top of Seweweekspoort...

deep sand.. you learn fast after one OTB..

There's gravel.... And then there's gravel

Yoh light rig for such a long trip!...need to speak to this dude!!😝

Ready to go! Ready for Hell.mp4

Very poor timing....some-one has lost their life pursuing their hobby and you are trying to "get a rise"? Instead of apologizing immediately in your post, you should have deleted it....

Whatever you get make sure its fully waterproof and breathable with vents for airing... Testing the Columbria OutDry Titanium Whistler Peak shell... Underarm venting EXTREME waterproof/breathable fully seam sealed. External seam tape, lots of adjustable drawstrings, waterproof zippers, recycled nylon Hasn't rained hard enough for comments yet😆 but great fit

Have seen the footage of floods! Yoh, hoping it will be all clear soon...I'm delaying a little anyway...spoke with Sean Fraenkel, and yip, prepared for a long haul down and out of the valley!

Memories of that garden path!!!!

Prince Alfred!?

I know Sean, he works out my way in the ME...

Nice light rig...have my eyes on a titanium setup...one day!

been in touch with these guys whom did it with similar rig and they didn't rig down and shuttle... Thule panniers come with shoulder straps and they onboard just in case!

Still in final phase of firming dates but here we go!!! Hell Of A Loop......

Sink is rubber...no problems...

Nice compact rig....just what's that up front on the bars. ...and that rear rack...floating? No uprights from axle for stability?

Noisy chain solved....put original Shimano chain back...quiet as a mouse! And removed that plastic bush inside front derailleur guide.....so no rubbing, chain length just happened to be perfect, a little tight when on dinner plate and smaller chain ring up front but there's still some play in the derailleur cage so we should be all good! Now a gap to ride!!!

Hi, extensively travelled with bike internationally....if you are going with a bike bag: Get one that has removable or at least replaceable wheels....most have fixed rear wheels that have good protection but those exposed trolley wheels in front WILL get ripped off at some point.

OK so first test climb up a short 18% er near me....bike was not fully loaded...ended up not going all the up to the 50 as I was spinning out! and easy climb so yeah, obviously it does work. Some things I did find: B-screw is almost maxed in to give sufficient clearance from the upper pulley when in the 50 Fine tuning the rear GRX has been a mare...(new cable and routing with Jagwire outers) The front derailleur does have some rubbing on the plastic bumpers inside the chain guide when in the 50 and small chain ring, as the chain comes into the front derailleur much higher...the plastic bumper seems to be designed with a thinner section a bit lower for the standard 42 in back....I may thin the bumper a bit but this may affect the front derailleur range? Chain length is an issue.. I cannot shorten the chain as it is fairly tight when on largest gear in back and front ....so when in 11 at back and small front chain ring up front, there is significant slack...and I know, lotsa cross chain so I will be avoiding that combo and go up in front as I go down in back... Cross chain is much more hectic It is not as quiet as standard setup, even when not touching the guides up front and positive cassette changes...it sounds like the pulleys are getting hammered...but that doesn't make sense as they are independent of the size of the cassette rings?...maybe they need to "bed" in with the new chain? The extension piece did rotate out of the best line to the point that the chain was extremely slack until I figured this out and had to really tighten it hard to prevent this...it does not have a "stopper" machined into it to keep it in the perfect angle to get the best extension and can slip if not torqued to the max But all good, I'll run this system in before I give a final verdict...one thing this is obvious though, gonna need mucho RedBull if the bike is able to do major climbing, but the pilot is not!

Legends.... all of you...well done!

Good thing you went yesterday... I heard that its extremely busy today.....

Ja, things don't work that quickly over there!!! Just nose in down the road to the Toll House and it will be instantly obvious...get there early and you'll be in sahde most of the way....BTW there is a halfway "stop" with the usual Mountain Passes signage, just after that there is a quite rocky section where you may have to dismount...about 2-300m long...and then shortly after that when you get to the overhead rail bridges, there's 2... you'll know you are near the top...great spot to catch your breath after the flatout descent to Herold...Moertjiesklip Padstal...

So if you going the same way as I did, clockwise, I assume you will hit the old Montagu pass mid morning, early afternoon...there has been local publicity about the state of the pass and planned repairs about to start, with some warnings...so access may be an issue...so a quick double back to get onto the Outenique pass may be required to get up and over.... Other than that...none really...the first few k's out of Dusseldorf has some corrugations but nothing major... The climb up the N9 from the end of the Kammanassie Road up Potjiesberg Pass has a good shoulder most of the way, try stick to it as much as you can as it is only a single carriage way. Stop on the other side at the Apple Crate Padstall for flipping awesome braaibroedtjies! They also got Original Wilson's toffees including the Colas! but I got too may fillings to take that chance! The climb from the turn at Avontuur to the top and start of the Price Alfred Pass is mostly good and will be over before you know it and from there down its brilliant all the way to De Vlugt There are 2 fairly tough climbs out of De Vlugt and then when to get to Buffelsnek, it's downhill all the way and the Diepwalle Forest starts...make some stops at The Little Fern Forest and the Big Tree for a break, very short diversions... and if you have time, just after the Fern Forest, a divert on the right, up to Spitskop, worth it for the view if you have the time and can climb/push...the downhill back to the road is awesome at full speed! Timings across Kom Se Pad: Gates opens at 8AM and you pay R125 (e-card) at Gouna Side... The Farm, on the left, halfway down Simola Hill serves great food!... Enjoy, this is truly one of the best gravel loops showcasing a wide range of landscape and environments Pictures or it never happened! PS If you have time in Rheenendal, Totties Sunday Market is a big thing...on the main road..and the owners there have also revamped the old petrol station into a great tea room, The Old Road Trading Store, they have a fish evening on Fridays, give then some support! Milkshakes are delicious!

Thanks...