Chapman's Peak

[BBJSportGuy]

Greetings Hubbers....

 

I live in JHB and my training programme fro Fit Track calls for a "Chapman's Peak Simulation". Now that is all well and good, but where in JHB is a Chapman's Peak hill?

 

Please can someone tell me what the average gradient of Chappies is and how long the climb is from the Noordhoek side?

 

Thanks

Jon

[kosmonooit]

Suikerbosrand has some nice long hills, although the gradient there is possibly more challenging

[BBJSportGuy]

Ja, that's the thing. I have some great hills out West where I live but I am worried that they are too tough, but I guess tough hill training will make Chappies seem like a breeze.

 

K-Dorp up to Hillsnax is 3km long at 7% and looking at my Garmin data from last Cycle Tour, Chappies is also only around 3km long but never at 7%.

 

J

[Wannabe]

Ja, that's the thing. I have some great hills out West where I live but I am worried that they are too tough, but I guess tough hill training will make Chappies seem like a breeze.

 

K-Dorp up to Hillsnax is 3km long at 7% and looking at my Garmin data from last Cycle Tour, Chappies is also only around 3km long but never at 7%.

 

J

Chappies can NEVER compare to Hillsnax. Problem is that you hit it after doing 90odd km, with one or two real testers thrown inbetween for good measure.

Do hill repeats up and down Hillsnax, it WILL stand you in good stead come Argus time. Also try and ride it towards the end of a long ride.

[LOUDMAC]

Get hold of any one that has done the Argus with a GPS and you'll have the exact simulation. Post here, I'm pretty sure there is a Hubber that will give you the details.

[DJR]

I understand what & why you want to simulate Chapmans Peak...

 

..BUT...

 

..I cannot help thinking that on an emotional and aesthetic level that is impossible.

 

Just close your eyes and try to see the seven shades of blue and green of the ocean, the swells rolling into Hout Bay from the Southern ocean, the gulls hovering on the Southwesterly breeze, the Centinal guarding the bay entrance, the surfers at Noordhoek corner, the Sharkspotter and his flag, the Arum lilies, the sheer dropoff, smooth tar under your wheels......

 

(Its obviously one of my favorite rides, and I'm getting sentimental, I'll just have to go do it after work!)

[Schwynn]

You could buy a tacx trainer and an Argus CD and do it when ever you please....

Edited December 8, 2011 by Schwynn

[Zula]

Being an ex JHB'er, I think the best hill which comes close to chappies is krugersdorp hill from the casino side.

 

Also suikerbosrand is pretty decent as is the linksfield ridge for some intervals.

[CAAD4]

Just sit on the trainer really close to the fan with the wind blowing you all over the place......

[Nickzta]

There is also that big hill out at Hekpoort? The one near the telkom satelite station...

[DaleE]

Please can someone tell me what the average gradient of Chappies is and how long the climb is from the Noordhoek side?

 

Chappies from Noordhoek (excluding little chappies) is 2.35km, climb of 103m, so average gradient of 4.38% .... lots less than most people think. Remember that its not a constant gradient, steepest bit is 8.1%

 

Suikerbossie is slightly steeper average 6% for 2.1km (from the traffic lights) and is much more constant than Chappies

 

Just remember both of these have short sharp climbs preceding them - Little Chappies and the bit from Hout bay circle up to the start of Suikerbossie.

 

Let me know if you need more info.

Dale

[TimW]

I thought Chappies was not a hill ... my MTB mates in Cape Town say it is merely a pimple and The Mast is a real hill !!!

[Lucky Luke.]

Find a decent size hill of 250m + ascent. Ride up and down 4x and you have just about done the climbing required for the Argus.

 

Do it 6x in one session and you have exceeded what is required for the Argus.

 

Do this twice a week for a couple months and.. well you get where I'm going with this.

[Lucky Luke.]

I thought Chappies was not a hill ... my MTB mates in Cape Town say it is merely a pimple and The Mast is a real hill !!!

 

You can see suikerbossie from 3/4 way up the mast and it looks like a speedbump with dinky toys riding up and down it.

[MTB_Roadie]

I thought Chappies was not a hill ... my MTB mates in Cape Town say it is merely a pimple and The Mast is a real hill !!!

 

The mast? Pfffft....thats not a hill either....if you not so tired the time you arrive there it will be easy....

[Lucky Luke.]

The mast? Pfffft....thats not a hill either....if you not so tired the time you arrive there it will be easy....

 

The mast is comparable to the Col de Peyresourde in all but surface (half dirt) and altitude (starts at sea level). Col de Peyresourde is a Category 1 tour de france climb - so yes it is definitely a hill.

 

http://www.climbbybike.com/climb.asp?qryMountainID=6329