Magoebaskloof/Tzaneen

[Andymann]

I'm off to a wedding this weekend at the Magoebaskloof hotel, and need to fit in a 5hr bike tomorrow morning. How are the roads out that area - safe? Any no-go areas? I remember many years back when I was living in Ellisras we used to do a race up the Magoebaskloof pass which I would love to do again, but I can't for the life of me remember what road it was on!

[Christie]

The pass is on the same road as the hotel.

But rather start out the other way:

Take the R71 to Haenertsburg, turn left onto the George's Valley road.(R528) to Tzaneen.

You can then take the R36 over the dam and then the R71 back to the hotel via the pass, or take the R36 into town and turn right onto the Agatha road, and do a loop up to the Agatha hills as well. That should give about 5 hours, depending on how fast you go.

 

[Andymann]

Thanks! Easy as that!

[Andymann]

The pass is on the same road as the hotel.

But rather start out the other way:

Take the R71 to Haenertsburg, turn left onto the George's Valley road.(R528) to Tzaneen.

You can then take the R36 over the dam and then the R71 back to the hotel via the pass, or take the R36 into town and turn right onto the Agatha road, and do a loop up to the Agatha hills as well. That should give about 5 hours, depending on how fast you go.

And it's safe? Would it be be ok for the TT bikes, or better to just take the MTB's and ride on the road?

[Christie]

The Geoges valley road is relatively quiet, it did not have a lot of traffic on when I last rode it. I would advise to keep the speed in check on a TT bike, you could get up to 60 to 70 km/h, which can be dangerous down a twisty mountain pass, in the drops.

Both the Agatha and Magoebas climbs will be extremely tough on a TT bike, especially if you have a 42 small chainring - you will need a 39x25 if you are a decent climber. The pass is one of the very few in SA that has a gradient that can be compared to Alpine climbs.

[SpOkeD]

I live in Tzaneen and would not recommend riding down or even up the Georges Valley road. There is almost no shoulder and most of the times the grass on the sides is quite overgrown not to mention potholes! Also that road is used heavily by trucks and taxi drivers.

You can rather ride up and down the Magoebaskloof pass and between the Hotel and Haenertsburg.

What I suggest is riding down the pass to Tzaneen then up Agatha to Coach house and then back to the Hotel.

A TT bike is definitely not suitable for those climbs!

 

 

* only saw now that it is today that you would be riding

Edited August 9, 2014 by SpOkeD

[Andymann]

Thanks all - as it turns out, it bloody rained all of Saturday so we took the bikes all the way there for nothing! Lovely wedding though.....

[BarHugger]

Thanks all - as it turns out, it bloody rained all of Saturday so we took the bikes all the way there for nothing! Lovely wedding though.....

 

If you are still interested..........can recommend this event:

 

 

 

http://www.thehubsa....of-mtb-classic/

 

http://swillson.wix....b-classic/c226s