Guidance needed PLEASE

[dylankeyter]

Hi all

 

Are the any Hubbers here from East London? I am asking because I am looking to train in East London for about a month and would like to be shown some decent routes and guided where to go and where no to. After spending the weekend in Swellendam, I cant bare the idea of training in Cape Town (big, busy, dirty city) and wish to get some healthy and focussed training done in a quieter area. Safety wise too, hearing about the accident in Fishoek yesterday, has really freaked me out. Any suggestions?

 

Thank you

 

[Azonic]

Come to PE and I'll show you the local routes.

[dylankeyter]

thanks but East London is the only place i have accomadation, granny!  

[Azonic]

I've got a buddy in EL that might be able to give you an idea of where to ride. PM me your cell number and I'll pass it on to him. He might call, might not, he also works during the day.

[Buff]

Hi Dylan, I'm originally from EL and know the area well. You're pretty limited with safe training routes but you'll certainly get strong frrom riding there because it's either up or down. They breed hills in the E.Cape.

 

The best route is through Beacon Bay and out on the road to Stutterhein. That road has a broad shoulder and good surface as is the most popular training route for local riders. Other choices are the N2 either side of EL, but I would recommend that or the road out to King Williams Town. You could also give the EL Grand Prix circuit a go as well, that's a lot of fun.

 

Watch the local paper (Dialy Dispatch) as well, you might find a funride over the Xmas period.

 

The local bike shop in Beacon Bay is HQ Cycles, go chat to them about joining a group in the mornings.

 

NB... Beware of TAXI's

Buff2007-11-25 12:49:34

[dylankeyter]

thanks very much Buff!  glad to hear about the hills, i think my gran stays in Nahoon. is that a good place to start? Im not sure exactly how to say it, but is it near the border of EL so i can get out of the city quickly? my other option might be kimberley, I would like to do altitude training.... but am not sure if Kimberley is that high?

[Buff]

No worries.

 

Nahoon is the perfect spot and HQ Cycles is actually in Nahoon (which borders on Beacon Bay). You will finish every day having to climb a nasty little hill to get home. Take plenty fluid with on the rides, it's very humid up there this time of the year.

[dylankeyter]

thanks very much buff, much appreciated!

[linnega]

Dylan - everything is near the border of East London as it is not a very big city.  Like Buff says your options are pretty limited.  The N2 route is popular but illegal - ie bicycles are not allowed on the freeway.  The road out to Stutterheim is also popular and a decent ride.  Personal favourite is the route from Amalinda down Buffalo Pass and up the other side.  You pass through a few small settlements but I have ridden it often on my own with no problems.  This route allows you to get through to the coastal road without dealing with town and the semi-industrial area between town and the airport.  For a long ride, keep on the coastal road past all the resort towns (Kidd's Beach, Christmas Rock etc) through a pass with a difficult to spell name and then onto Keiskamma Pass.  This gives you about 2.5km of climbing each side.  Return ride distance is probably in the region of 130km from Nahoon.  Speak to the guys at HQ though as they will know of rides out that way.  There are usually weekend rides from Erik's (across the road from HQ) that go out to Keiskamma and back.