capediver

Tankwa gravel 2025...done an dusted (very much dusted!) I have a ton of footage but I believe the trip can be summarized in just 3 pics!!!!

Tankwa...😎

Tankwa about to be the recipient of the weather gods...

That's my alternate..stays on that side of the river but keen to get over to the other side to check out those rock tables at Die Valle near the River Lodge...

Thanks, looks pretty cool...only minor concern and possible hike a bike is the section after descending Ouberg crossing the Tankwa River just before the Tankwa River Lodge...4 x 4 video from a few weeks back shows wash away...🫣 About here:

Gapping it while the going's good!

SARS can be an issue and you need to make sure your tax guy knows his stuff!

Some Cafe stops: The Loop at Loop Cycle Village c/w fantastic free showers/change rooms/ablutions/parking (read as Ferrari 458 with the top of the range Specialised mounted on suction cup roofracks!!!) Surf House Dubai (Jumeirah Road) if you do the Jumeirah Beach track run At the end of the Jumeirah Beach run near new marina Marsa Al Arab....the Book Hero Cafe On the Juameirah Beach track: SALT on the Main track near Kite Beach "Feels" at Kite Beach near Roda Beach Resort...if you can handle the oozing testosterone from the local crossfit clubs that gather next door SALT Jumeirah 2 on the townside of the canal...quieter than the above SALT The open air cafe at Al Qudra I got mates at the Kite School Dubai in the Yellow Bus on Kite Beach who can show you round the area, speak to Neil, Chris or Arvi! Ja, plenty of distractions where you can burn your poor rondelas in a day!!! There are plenty around, you'll need to hook up with the locals to find them! Edit: shoulda mentioned Prince @ Wolfies...legend!

Yeah, summer can be a b@^%@$ch and very frustrating but with some acclimatization and careful planning, you can ride year round..I live near a dedicated 2-lane cycle route next to the main highway (not part of the road)..about 8k's from work and only have about 200m on tar..(dash between light changes) and I commute year round...in summer it jumps to about 45-48Degs C...as long as you moving, its OK...at its peak, I have a stop halfway in a park which has AC ablutions! In winter, temps can drop to 10Degs C and for a few weeks you'll will need long sleeves and even long tights!

! Some of the best riding tracks in the ME....dedicated cycles paths all over, some excellent, some a bit dodgy....you are allowed to ride on roads expect highways of course...you will soon find out which are the most popular routes, so don't recommend just any road, drivers are still not quite used to having cyclists on the road and traffic is huge most of the time even at 3 in the morning!...officially you need a helmet lights and highvis band...most don't bother with last... Best shop is Wolfies with lotsa Saffers working there....you can get just about any brand bike and most spares...pricey though...there are some Chinese brands out at China Mall at good prices... During summer, not much happens, but through shoulder and winter, there are plenty of races, huge group rides and generally lots going on....the desert tracks in Dubai (Al Qudra) and Abu Dhabi (Al Wathba) are a must especially sunrise/sunset..... MTB...a lot of gnar on Mars-like terrain.. Hatta is the place to go and now even has a camp where you can overnight....about 1.5 hrs out SHOWKA is another MTB area nearby about an hour away Gravel... I haven't purposefully done any but I'm sure there is plenty in the mountain range west of Dubai around Hatta and Showka Go for it!

Done a fair amount of cycling in Dubai and area..fast growing sport and plenty of cycle shops around..most spares available but you will pay premium for most....plenty of vids on my YT channel...https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC47T5KJILgAToUkWpazYzSw

Well done! Let us know the outcome!

You should be able to run it direct via charging port with an external battery without breaking it open... Had a similar setup when I had the 515...battery taped under saddle...maybe just add a blob of silicone at the USB connection for waterproofing... Edit...just read your first report and maybe you already doing this!...LOL

Found this..RTL510...should be same for 515...just translate... DIY at own risk.... https://www.mtbiker.sk/clanky/127801/garmin-varia-rtl-510-vymena-akumulatora.html

Garmin F8 satellite and LTE coverage maps do not include South Africa right now.... https://www.garmin.com/en-US/connectivity/fenix8pro/coverage/ Its uses LTE-M (mobile)...not available in SA The satellites used are geostationary as opposed to low orbit ones that are used by the inReach Messenger type devices... So it looks like for now, this version is not much use for Saffers or anyone want coming to Souf Afrika!...I may be wrong but that's from their coverage page.... All much like the iPhone with satellite feature...not available in SA

Got one of these: https://www.powerology.me/shop/p25cmapbk-powerology-super-compact-tire-inflator-black-3430#attribute_values=2724,3161,2313,3162 Bought for Powerology's battery tech...mmmm!? Nice piece of kit with auto cutoff, LED readout... and does work, small package, light, convenient...BUT Only 2 (just) inflations to 4bar of Panaracer 38....tubeless... Gets real hot towards the end... Loud... You have to use the separate hose extension, with is Schrader so it needs Presta convertor DO not use if you have those TBU tubes...it'll melt at the valve patch

Closer to home...in 2014 Backtracker came out with a radar for bicycles, developed by radar specialist, Ikubu, in Stellies, they launched their device, and were bought out by Garmin in 2015 and now its known as the Garmin Varia...lekka piece of kit!

A bog standard steel tubular rear rack can be fitted to almost any bike, steel, titanium or carbon. Obviously it helps if your bike has mounting points on the seat stays or mounts directly via rear axle like the Tailfin, but if there are none, you can get temporary mounts or the rack has mounts that fit directly to the seat stays...eg Thule The Tailfin racks are awesome, and they also have a new Bar Cage which I recently got....(beware said import duties!!! I never got offered any refunds on that!) Their older rear rack system is OK but the one with the fixed bag (Aeropack) is a bit odd as you have to take the whole rack off the bike to secure the bag at night...or empty the bag! So if you do have the bucks, get the latest "Rack" which allows you to remove the bag and leave the rack mounted ...the only issue here is that you get tied into their systems...the raw Rack can only really be used with their bags and if you want to fit other brand side pannier bags, you'll need to get their adaptors.. Here is an el-cheapo ally tubular rack like that Topeak above (Giant rack) fully loaded with Thule panniers...you can't even see the rack! Bike has mounting points....No mechanicals...I did lose a mount bolt at the right axle side and only noticed after 5 days of gravel...the rack never twisted or buckled at all! just some minor scuffing at the mount point and easily secured with duct tape and cable ties!!!

Don't know the routes but understand about lack of alternatives and now even these getting dangerous...but uninformed cyclists are still using the known dangerous routes...so until the situation can be safely resolved, why can the COCT not erect big road side signs warning of the dangers before you get there? I suppose they would then be too busy having to keep up with the shifting patterns of crime!?

It is a tragedy that we are dealing with the wanton murder of anyone, from this community or any other... I don't cycle anywhere near this area, (by logistics and from reading this thread!) and from what I have read on this forum, it does appear that the authorities don't seem to be doing anything meaningful to address the situation in any real way... This forum is full of reports and warnings to stay away from the area but as we know, not all cyclists are on the Hub...so not everyone gets the message in time... So my question is: Are there not road side warning signs in the these hotspots that warn cyclists to stay away...is this not the least the "authorities" can do? We get warned of potential rockfalls, slippery when wet etc etc, why not Personal Safety warnings?

Didn't I see this in another thread...answered there...but basically, yip, should be good...just Rhodes Memorial area..be vigilant...if by safety, this is what you meant...the other safety....well keep off the tar as much as possible!

Gardening....

Very possible and I've done it a few times.....up Houtbay Road from Constantia Nek round about, rather ride the gravel trail on the left side than on the road! Keep a wary eye near the Rhodes Monument section.....that trail above the CBD appears to be the old Tafelberg Road...it is an abandoned tar road until the cement barriers but still very rideable...never seen anything funny except the odd suspects meeting inflagrante delico in their cars on the remaining road after the barriers!!! ...And at the top of Suikerbossie, you can take a turn up the embankment on the left then down to the gate of the Ruyterplaas estate there...the guards will let you thru, ask for the right turning and you'll go along the public access road of what used to be the Old Victorskloof road, they will remotely open a gate at the other end and you drop down to World of Birds in Valley Road... very lekker ride with some challenging climbs Some of it in reverse