Best route from Cape Town to Grabouw on a road bike

[AJG]

@andrewgowans is this the route you mean: looks like there are ca 1000m of climbing more than the Betty Bay route, same distance. Maybe tri bike with massive gears not such a good idea? i'll be alone, no support vehicle.

 

I did it on a tri bike when I was training for Kona. Really it's no problem. Just leave early, start slowly and enjoy the day. Stop for a coffee at Delux in Franshoek. It's a much better route then the coast + N2 which I have also done. 

[Dicky DQ]

We did a DC training ride last year over the 4 passes. Was told that we need a permit to travel on the N2. Contacted the traffic department the following Monday after the ride and was informed that we need to apply at least 3 weeks in advance. We also had to contact Caledon traffic department as Grabouw falls under them. So as I understand it we needed to contact Cape town, Strand and Caledon traffic departments for permission. The officer also told me that we could be fined R15.

But as they say Africa is a tough country with tooooo many rules and half the guys in charge(goverment) dont know them at all. Just be safe out there.

PS, Dick you dont care about rules any ways.

Not I do care about rules, but why worry about trying to get something approved that is not on the statutes. THAT IS JUST ASKING FOR DELAYS. It is different if you are wanting to have an organized event.

 

Question is, what is an organized event?

 

Remember they want to make  money as well. Last time I  looked it was about ZAR 10k per traffic light

[WillemJM]

I commute daily between Somerset West and Cape Town.

From the city use the bike lane to Milnerton or Voortrekker through Maitland

I use Hilton and then Frans Conradie

Then Van Riebeeck through Kuilsriver and onto the R102

In Somerset West you can then get onto the N2 over Sir Lowry

 

Checkout the strava link below

Enjoy

 

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/294015191

[circo]

I commute daily between Somerset West and Cape Town.

From the city use the bike lane to Milnerton or Voortrekker through Maitland

I use Hilton and then Frans Conradie

Then Van Riebeeck through Kuilsriver and onto the R102

In Somerset West you can then get onto the N2 over Sir Lowry

 

Checkout the strava link below

Enjoy

 

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/294015191

@maplotter - this is super useful. I need a big favour - was trying to create a strava route out of your ride, but since we don't follow each other on strava and your rides are private, it won't allow me to convert it into a route. Any chance you could export the TXC or GPX file and send it to me? or convert it into a public route and share that? Thanks a lot! 

[Guest Frail4Life]

Thanks everyone for the advice. So if I read the various responses well:

3. Straight over the pass seems to be a really bad idea - both because of traffic and risk of mugging - would these be issues early morning sunday, btw?

 

Thanks all, will let everyone know on monday

Get yourself to Somerset West. If you come in from Stellies, you are turning left into Somerset West.

Carry on through town, heading towards the mountain, road is Sir Lowrys village.

Quiet town, no worries.

Once through village, you cross the railway line.

Carry on past the rubbish, local dumping.

Arrive onto the N2 on the second bend.

Yes there is a yellow line all the way to the top.

I have traveled through there plenty.

I only get a permit when I like get exposure for a project.

[circo]

Hey everyone, so I ended up doing this ride yesterday.

I pretty much followed @MaplotterWJM 's route from CT through Belleville chasing Dump Trucks all the way to the crossing with R44. Except that I got lost about 8 times through those suburbs but eventually made it. I got there quite early so i decided to head south around gordon's bay and came in from the east on N2 to grabouw. I was there in time for lunch.  

 

Here it is on strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/302036131

 

Thanks again for the advice everyone. 

[avatar]

did you enjoy the wind... I rode from somerset west to Napier (past caledon) headwind all the way! extreme suffering

[circo]

Yah the headwind was insane. All the way, basically. My powermeter died 15mins into the ride unfortunately so I don't have the numbers, but it felt like I was working hard all the time, although the average speed was pretty low. The cherry on top? I stopped somewhere in Rooi-Else, dying for a coffee and a bite. I sat down, I ordered, 2 mins later the lady came and said, Load shedding basically. No coffee. No toast. 

[Amberdrake]

I have done N2 early week day morning going to work in grabouw. Ride from medi clinic old pass road straight up till you hit new road. Its a crap road to ride with traffic.

 

I did it early so did not have issues but its sucky and even tho I have never had a issue anywhere in the village or roads/mountains there about I wouldn't do it again on a bike I want to keep.  The new part of N2 is fine early morning up till grabouw where settlement starts.

 

Rooi-els is a nice road and not busy but its a long way further!

 

4 Passes is fun but not for faint of heart ( I did it once and I was not ready) 

The bridge at Teewaterskloof requires a bunnyhop or a walk over the connecters either side these can potentialy damage rim ( I made it fine without the hop but I did not enjoy it)

[DJR]

..........4 Passes is fun but not for faint of heart .............

You talking about Sir Lowrys Pass, Franschoek Pass, Du Toits Kloof Pass, Bains Kloof Pass and then through Stellenbosch back to the start? Sure isn't something you want to tackle without a proper cup of coffee!

[Dicky DQ]

No, the tradition 4 passes is (Depending on direction) Helshoogte, Franschoek Pass, Viljoens Pass, Sir Lowrys pass or the other way.

 

From Brackenfell it is 170km, or of you take the scenic route via botriver, kleinmond and the strand it is 230km.

[circo]

No, the tradition 4 passes is (Depending on direction) Helshoogte, Franschoek Pass, Viljoens Pass, Sir Lowrys pass or the other way.

 

From Brackenfell it is 170km, or of you take the scenic route via botriver, kleinmond and the strand it is 230km.

all of this sounds very interesting. Anyone has maps/ routes that they care to share?