Best Road Climbs in SA?

[GrumpyOldGuy]

That's a peach.

 

For a real ride, go Sabie, over Long Tom's into Lydenburg, than via Robbers into Pilgrims Rest, then up the bonnet and right back into Sabie.

 

...but thats going DOWN the steepest part of Robbers into Pilgrims isnt it.?

 

I recon if you start in say Sabie ride into Pilgrims and then UP the steep side of Robbers pass to Crystal Springs, down the other side to Ohrigstad or the dam, catch your breath and retrace back the same way.

 

Guaranteed to put you off cycling for a while.!

[dev null]

Van Rhyns pass might be interesting as previously mentioned. But once you are up there it is flat again. I do however love the eastern lowveld. Why don't they have a multi-stage road race there for normal plebs like us. Start at Sudwala caves, over to Sabie, then Lydenberg, then Tzaneen and then go back to Nelspruit via Graskop.

[Mister B]

Ride out from Sabie towards Graskop on to Bourke's luck and back home to Sabie.

[Zac.A]

just what i was going to ask? that is just what i was looking for.

 

If it is i'll head out there whenever I get the chance

[DaLoCo]

I wonder about the climb at the Golden Gate if you enter from Harrismith side towards Clarens. Might not be long but that seemed like Thrombosis hill for sure....

[T-Bob]

If it is i'll head out there whenever I get the chance

 

Don't know the area but there seems to be a fair amount of decent hills there. Can't really gauge the distances but you've got Bains Kloof, Michells Pass, Theronsberg Pass, Gydo Pass and the now infamous Klondyke Cherry Farm Road.

 

Are any of those roads hell busy?

 

Excited to get up there.

[Starvin' Marvin]

Prob abit far away from you. But Nico Malan pass in the EC 14km,virtually now flat sections total climb prob about 1000m more or less. Will be riding it soon.

[SeaBee]

Dude, sorry... but if you're talking about "serious climbs" then don't bother counting Mitchells and Bains... (unless they're right towards the end of a long ride.)

 

That cherry one I don't know. Gydo will always be there - that's more of a climb than I think bains and Mitchells combined. From Ceres you can do a nice loop to Du Toits as well. You'll have to do Mitchells on the way (and back) and if you want to you pick whether you want to descend Du Toits and return up from the other side or do Bains (or Nuwekloof) on the way back.

 

Sorry, I may be wrong, but that's the way I feel. That said, I somehow positively hate Bains from the "other" (Worcester) side.

[TNT1]

I wonder about the climb at the Golden Gate if you enter from Harrismith side towards Clarens. Might not be long but that seemed like Thrombosis hill for sure....

 

Yeah, I've ridden it. But then again I weigh nothing, so they all seem easier to me than most others.

[TNT1]

...but thats going DOWN the steepest part of Robbers into Pilgrims isnt it.?

 

I recon if you start in say Sabie ride into Pilgrims and then UP the steep side of Robbers pass to Crystal Springs, down the other side to Ohrigstad or the dam, catch your breath and retrace back the same way.

 

Guaranteed to put you off cycling for a while.!

 

Yeah, but nothing beats Long Toms from the Sabie side.

[Kranswurm]

That's a peach.

 

For a real ride, go Sabie, over Long Tom's into Lydenburg, than via Robbers into Pilgrims Rest, then up the bonnet and right back into Sabie.

 

Slowly getting fit again then I will go do this

[TNT1]

Slowly getting fit again then I will go do this

 

Long Tom, from Sabie side, over 40km long, and the last section when it ramps up through the Devil's Staircase will kill you. It's awesome.

[GrumpyOldGuy]

Yeah, but nothing beats Long Toms from the Sabie side.

 

Okay, fair enough, I have only done Long Tom on my Cruiser - still awesome though.!

[TNT1]

Okay, fair enough, I have only done Long Tom on my Cruiser - still awesome though.!

 

Yeah, and the steep side of robbers is awesome to ride down, those hairpin bends. When the sign says danger, 30km/h, believe it.

[Kranswurm]

Long Tom, from Sabie side, over 40km long, and the last section when it ramps up through the Devil's Staircase will kill you. It's awesome.

 

Yeah well I dont want to die just yet........

Would actually be lekka to spend a week in Sabie with both the road bike and mtb.Must plan that but in the dry season

[davidl]

The pass to the cherry farm is called Swaarmoed Pass. The road is completely tarred. When the DC was held from Ceres a few years back, it went up there. You can ride out of Ceres towards Touws River over Theronsberg Pass (not too steep and long) and then back and ascent Swaarmoed. There is a false flat after about 11 kms of climbing and then it heads up gradually to the turnaround point . A beautiful ride.