Cross Cape Cycle Route launched - Plett to Stellenbosch

[DuPs]

Hi All, can't seem to find the route yet, but this looks great!  Can't wait to go and ride it, or parts of it at least....

 

 

NATIONAL NEWS - The Cross Cape cycle route, which travels through some of the most scenic small towns across the Western Cape, is expected to deliver a significant economic impact to the province’s rural economy.

Alan Winde, Minister of Economic Opportunities, is this week leading the inaugural ride of the Cross Cape route – from Plettenberg Bay to Stellenbosch. Minister Winde outlined the province’s cycling initiatives at a media event in Stellenbosch today (11 May 2017), ahead of the inaugural ride which kicks off tomorrow (12 May 2017) at 8am at Mellville’s Corner Shopping Mall in Plettenberg Bay.

An initiative of the Western Cape Government, the route is supported by Wesgro, our economic agency responsible for tourism marketing, municipalities and tourism offices across the province, as well as the private sector. 

At the media launch this morning, Minister Winde said the 742km route would drive tourists to towns across the province, creating jobs and growth along its length.

“The route starts in Plett, and there will be a permanent marker to indicate the starting point in that town. From here, you travel along mainly gravel roads and forest tracks through Knysna, Rheenendal and George. The route then crosses over the Montague Pass into the spectacular Klein Karoo, touching Herold, Oudsthoorn, Calitzdorp and Van Wyksdorp, before heading back into Riversdale, Suurbraak and Swellendam. The last leg takes riders through Riviersonderend, Greyton and into Stellenbosch. 

Rural villages along the route now form part of the Cross Cape, a cycling attraction marketed to tourists across the world.
 

“Cross Cape is an initiative under Project Khulisa, which has the target of adding up to 100 000 jobs to the tourism sector. With this route, we are seeking to increase tourist flow to towns off the beaten track. We are eager for residents in those towns to start packaging offerings around the route, including hospitality services. We’ve seen that a route like this can unlock economic opportunities for residents who cater for riders as they move through. Riders might want to camp along the route, or need a service which ports their baggage from one town to the next.

 

Local entrepreneurs in these towns now have access to an international market. Additionally, in the months to come, we’ll be facilitating a globally-recognised bike mechanic training programme. The Western Cape Government will support a select number of locals to take part in this training, as part of Project Khulisa.

“New Zealand’s cycle network now generates over 1.3 million trail users per year, of which 100 000 were international visitors, and an annual economic impact of R350 million. Through a concerted marketing effort, and due to the natural beauty of our province and its people, we believe our cycle network could generate similar results in due course. We’ll be adding two more routes in the year to come to grow our offering.”

Minister Winde invited locals from small towns to join the group as they passed through. At each departure point, Minister Winde will highlight unique tourism trends and visitor attractions for that specific region. Town mayors will also attend the send-off in each town.

“The Cross Cape Route is the first route from Cape Cycle Routes, a network of routes planned for the Western Cape, which will be launched over the next two years,” said Minister Winde. 

Tim Harris, Wesgro CEO, said: “As the Western Cape's official tourism, trade and investment promotion agency, Wesgro is an incredibly proud Cape Cycle Route partner and excited by the its launch today. The Route promises to provide cyclists in the Western Cape unforgettable new sights and niche experiences. It will also incentivise them and other people visiting the Cape to travel throughout its multifaceted regions, reinvigorating a number of towns across the province in the process and helping them ward off the approaching winter season slow.”

Stellenbosch Mayor, Gesie van Deventer, said: “The Cross Cape Cycle Route will create new opportunities for residents to become more directly involved in the tourism industry, expanding on the wonderful offerings for visitors to region. I am so excited for Stellenbosch to be included as an arrival/departure point on the first route as it highlights the status we enjoy within the cycling community and creates new opportunities for jobs and economic growth in key areas in our town."

Speaking at this morning’s event, Shameeg Salie, road cyclist, said growing up in Grassy Park cycling was not viewed as a popular sport, but had grown steadily over the years.

Last year, Salie was part of Dimension Data for Qhubeka team, travelling to Lucca, Italy for the team's European program. Salie said the Cross Cape route would expose more people to the "beauty of the Western Cape".

"For me it is my passport to so many opportunities. I can't wait to see where it will take me next," said Salie.

During the last leg of the Cross Cape ride, Minister Winde will ride in tandem with a visually impaired cyclist, Cindy Jacobsz, who works for the Western Cape Government.
 

“I chose to ride the route because I love cycling and to raise awareness on visually impaired cycling, to experience the beauty of the Western Cape. We can also enjoy the nature through other séances and with the assistance of my “pilot” (the person steering the tandem) see new places and have fun in a healthy way,” said Jacobsz.

 

'We bring you the latest Garden Route, Klein Karoo, Hessequa news'

[rpedro]

So who else is planning on doing the route and when? I'm looking at taking the bus to Plett. I also want to double up some of the stages so that I spend less time away. Ideally I would like to avoid some of the bigger cities like George, Oudtshoorn and Swellendam.

[dexterdent]

https://www.capecycleroutes.co.za/route/cross-cape-route

[Bos]

Very Noice!



I'd be keen for sure! Nice that one can just ride.. If you have a good day, just ride the whole thing, or take it town by town. 

[Bos]

perfect for one of these..

 

 

 

[milky4130]

Over 4 days this is what I came up with, thoughts?

 

Cross Cape -779KM over long weekend of the 21st -25th September 2017

 

Day 1 - 241km

PLETTENBERG BAY TO KNYSNA: TOTAL 79KM

KNYSNA TO GEORGE: TOTAL 79KM

GEORGE TO OUDTSHOORN: TOTAL 83KM

 

Day 2 - 192km

OUDTSHOORN TO CALITZDORP: TOTAL 77KM

CALITZDORP TO RIVERSDALE: TOTAL 115KM

 

Day3 - 204km

RIVERSDALE TO SWELLENDAM: TOTAL 93KM

SWELLENDAM TO GREYTON: TOTAL 111KM

 

Day 4 - 142KM

GREYTON TO STELLENBOSCH: TOTAL 107KM

STELLENBOSCH TO CY(BELLVILLE\GOODWOOD) 35KM

Edited May 30, 2017 by milky4130

[Ispeed_V]

Am I correct in saying (those in the know) that the Knysna to George route follows the old Outenique Choo Choo line?

[milky4130]

Am I correct in saying (those in the know) that the Knysna to George route follows the old Outenique Choo Choo line?

 

Sounds like we head inland?

 

Edited May 30, 2017 by milky4130

[Shebeen]

Am I correct in saying (those in the know) that the Knysna to George route follows the old Outenique Choo Choo line?

don't think so. that is being run by a new concession hoping to get it back up and running as a steam route again

 

https://www.facebook.com/classicrailgardenroute/

 

edit: new reply added, so no it follows seven passes route inland

Edited May 30, 2017 by hikerbiker

[Skubarra]

Am I correct in saying (those in the know) that the Knysna to George route follows the old Outenique Choo Choo line?

 

Doesn't look like it - seems 7 passes road will be used (will be a challenging route for a social cyclist - lots of climbing!) 

[PhilipV]

Am I correct in saying (those in the know) that the Knysna to George route follows the old Outenique Choo Choo line?

Nope, it takes the 7 Passes road.

[Shebeen]

okee dokee, signed up and got all the route downloads. it's a kmz/pdf whatever you want!

 

https://www.capecycleroutes.co.za/route/cross-cape-route

[thisismyotherbike]

 

Over 4 days this is what I came up with, thoughts?

 

Cross Cape -779KM over long weekend of the 21st -25th September 2017

 

Day 1 - 241km

PLETTENBERG BAY TO KNYSNA: TOTAL 79KM

KNYSNA TO GEORGE: TOTAL 79KM

GEORGE TO OUDTSHOORN: TOTAL 83KM

 

Day 2 - 192km

OUDTSHOORN TO CALITZDORP: TOTAL 77KM

CALITZDORP TO RIVERSDALE: TOTAL 115KM

 

Day3 - 204km

RIVERSDALE TO SWELLENDAM: TOTAL 93KM

SWELLENDAM TO GREYTON: TOTAL 111KM

 

Day 4 - 142KM

GREYTON TO STELLENBOSCH: TOTAL 107KM

STELLENBOSCH TO CY(BELLVILLE\GOODWOOD) 35KM

 

 

That's for a power rider!  I think it would work if you had a support vehicle so you could ride lite.

 

A group on Strava did it recently, they used the suggested schedule other than stages 4 - 6, where they basically drove right through Calitzdorp, slept at Rooiberg Lodge then rode right through Riversdal to Swellendam.  So basically 1.5 stages on those two days. 

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/982749149

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/984300702

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/985871546

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/987621584

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/989622156

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/992358179

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/994204282

[dirtypot]

I've been looking at this extensively with an eye to go from Stellies to Plett in five days and then back to Stellies in two solid days via an alternative route that sort of skirts the N2 along dirt roads until Swellendam where it heads inland via Bonnievale, Worcester, Paarl.  

 

I've mapped everything out already:

Stage 1 - Stellies to Riviersonderend - 146km & 1689m climbing

Stage 2 - Riviersonderend to Riversdale - 166km & 1996m climbing

Stage 3 - Riversdale to Calitzdorp - 115km & 1930m climbing

Stage 4 - Calitzdorp to Wilderness - 185km & 2297m climbing

Stage 5 - Wilderness to Plett - 142km & 2434m climbing

Stage 6 - Plett to Stellies - 570km & 6338m climbing (over two days)

 

Should be a lekka trip!  No backup, and will carry tents and gear to sleep either in campsites (on the way to Plett) or out in the middle of nowhere (on the way back).

 

 

[milky4130]

That's for a power rider!  I think it would work if you had a support vehicle so you could ride lite.

 

A group on Strava did it recently, they used the suggested schedule other than stages 4 - 6, where they basically drove right through Calitzdorp, slept at Rooiberg Lodge then rode right through Riversdal to Swellendam.  So basically 1.5 stages on those two days. 

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/982749149

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/984300702

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/985871546

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/987621584

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/989622156

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/992358179

 

https://www.strava.com/activities/994204282

Unfortunately no backup, the idea is to travel light, saddle touring bag or panniers if possible plus handlebar bag. toiletries for the night & some light clothes that could be rolled up for the dinner table. will be doing it on MonsterCross Bikes.

Edited May 30, 2017 by milky4130

[eddy]

Unfortunately no backup, the idea is to travel light, saddle touring bag or panniers if possible plus handlebar bag. toiletries for the night & some light clothes that could be rolled up for the dinner table. will be doing it on MonsterCross Bikes.

 

 

Those are big days if you are carrying a pack,  but I suspect that you are stronger than me