How safe is it to cycle alone on R304 to Stellenbosch

[Reg Lizard]

That section of tar road in the pic is nogal steep- especially in your running big gears on your road bike

[Wannabe]

Stunning little detour, good for the legs.

[Reg Lizard]

One of the most scenic routes in the Cape

[Marchwood1]

Hi, is this route still open, I just moved to Stellenbosch and I am looking for some safe early morning routes,

[Skubarra]

Hi, is this route still open, I just moved to Stellenbosch and I am looking for some safe early morning routes,

 

Yes - I often take this little detour to get from Polkadraai to Bottelary without having to ride through Stellenbosch.

[billygoat0523]

going down R304 is fine.  I've never had an issue at Cloetesville or Kayamandi.

 

There was a stabbing at Camps Bay the other day, another guy got killed for his bike in Fish Hoek, but these are never classed as "danger" areas and you still see people use these routes and no one is told to avoid it.

[Akon]

Polkadraai is closed to cyclists at the moment. Road works.

 

No it isn't?  Are you not thinking of Annandale Road?

 

Edit: Only just saw you posted in 2013 already    I thought it was a "fresh" thread...

[Marchwood1]

Thanks for the info, did it today from the Devon Valley side on my MTB, gate open, but there are guys paving a new road up to the right.

[thisismyotherbike]

Thanks for the info, did it today from the Devon Valley side on my MTB, gate open, but there are guys paving a new road up to the right.

Could one still ride a road bike on that route?

 

I'm looking to make my commute a little safer.

[Marchwood1]

Could one still ride a road bike on that route?

 

I'm looking to make my commute a little safer.

Yes I am so sure, the sand is 200 meters, but hard, then a steep climb on rough tarmac before the T junction at the top before turning right, I am going to have a go on my road bike Tues or Wed 5 am, depending on rain.

[DjCyclist]

Could one still ride a road bike on that route?

 

I'm looking to make my commute a little safer.

Yes you can, if gate is closed there's a side entry that you can use, really nice ride out that side

[thisismyotherbike]

Yes I am so sure, the sand is 200 meters, but hard, then a steep climb on rough tarmac before the T junction at the top before turning right, I am going to have a go on my road bike Tues or Wed 5 am, depending on rain.

 

 

Yes you can, if gate is closed there's a side entry that you can use, really nice ride out that side

 

That's a delight - thanks guys.  

 

This will be the fourth route I've considered.  While I've never had any incidents on R304 past Kayamandi or R44 past Cloetesville, passing huddled groups on the road at the flats by Cloetesville and more regularly the widespread loitering around the R304/R44/Bird Street crossing are both pretty uncomfortable.  I'm passing through during peak times, not at the crack of dawn, so I suppose it's a function of that.  The traffic also isn't great.

 

Then there are the attacks on both routes that we've been hearing about for many years.  It sounds like they mostly occur during quiet times but I think it would be foolish not to avoid the areas if at all possible.

 

The third option is to go down the R304 but turn right onto the dirt road at the Welgevonden traffic lights.  You then cut through to Devon Valley Road.  The problem with this route is that it is mtb only, I think you may be trespassing if you don't have landowner consent and you pass right through the middle of a small informal settlement by sticking to the "main" dirt road.

 

Your route sounds like the best option yet.  If anyone has a .gpx file they are willing to share please pm me.

[Skubarra]

Could one still ride a road bike on that route?

 

I'm looking to make my commute a little safer.

 

Under normal circumstances even that 200 meters of gravel is perfectly rideable on a road bike, never had any issues (might be a bit muddy now with all the rains though...)

[Marchwood1]

I did it both ways on my road bike in the dark, going up the sand was still wet so I walked some of it but coming down no problem.

[thisismyotherbike]

I did it both ways on my road bike in the dark, going up the sand was still wet so I walked some of it but coming down no problem.

 

Thanks, will give it a shot later in the week