Moving to Somerset-West

[Stef7]

Good day all, 

 

I am moving to Somerset-west, just want to find out is there is any group rides that can show me the possible loops that i can do.  I am an ex elite so quite keen for hard training. During the week and weekends.  Will like to train with someone. 

 

Thanks 
Stef

[Patchelicious]

Good day all, 

 

I am moving to Somerset-west, just want to find out is there is any group rides that can show me the possible loops that i can do.  I am an ex elite so quite keen for hard training. During the week and weekends.  Will like to train with someone. 

 

Thanks 

Stef

 

Get hold of these guys

 

http://wannabees.co.za

[andreas17777]

Good day all, 

 

I am moving to Somerset-west, just want to find out is there is any group rides that can show me the possible loops that i can do.  I am an ex elite so quite keen for hard training. During the week and weekends.  Will like to train with someone. 

 

Thanks 

Stef

You can try the wannabees, i'm always looking for training partners. Pm me your number then we can arrange some training rides

[Christie]

Mtb or road?

[Stef7]

Mtb or road?

Both but will do more road

[bleedToWin]

I moved here about 9 months ago.

 

>show me the possible loops that i can do
Mostly out-and-back unfortunately unless you include the R102, but I only use that road on Sunday mornings. More often than not I do the trek out towards Stellies before starting a loop.

 

I'm an A-bunch funrider, but over the winter months the only riding I'm doing is weekday commutes to-and-from Stellenbosch. Running and rock climbing are my winter pursuits.

See you on the roads in September perhaps.

[Christie]

Wannabees club have road rides from the Lord Charles hotel on Sat & Sun.

 

Routes are limited to mostly out & backs like b2w said. Lots of options in town for hill repeats.

 

Mtb riding is spectacular - so much so that you can shelve the road bike! Options available here for ever skill level. Trails are much better than Cape town central imo. (But organized group rides are limited.)

[Fausto Coppi]

Hi everyone. I am also looking for safe roads to train on around Somerset West. Have been off the bike for four years after been bike jacked. Really looking forward to getting back on. If you have safe road options you can suggest please send me a inbox will appreciate it. 

[porqui]

Hi everyone. I am also looking for safe roads to train on around Somerset West. Have been off the bike for four years after been bike jacked. Really looking forward to getting back on. If you have safe road options you can suggest please send me a inbox will appreciate it. 

 

Not trying to be otherwise but can one really call any roads "safe roads" nowadays?

 

Every day another safe route gets taken away from us - eisch!!

[Fausto Coppi]

Not trying to be otherwise but can one really call any roads "safe roads" nowadays?

 

Every day another safe route gets taken away from us - eisch!!

All chilled you right no roads seem safe anymore. Was just hoping maybe someone know of one or two.... ( 

[Pure Savage]

All chilled you right no roads seem safe anymore. Was just hoping maybe someone know of one or two.... ( 

For some hill repeats, behind Parel Vallei high school has  a lekker climb, there are a few chilled roads in the burbs. 

 

Most busy roads have a shoulder but more cars, the smaller roads no shoulder but see less traffic.

[Butterbean]

I haven't had very many issues besides a mirror clip earlier this year...

 

My advice:

 

Don't start rides too early on the weekends. The norm here is to go out and get pissed in the evenings, continue drinking and shooting up all through midnight, and then leave for home between 4-7am... So you'll see a lot of very erratic driving early on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

 

I stay right by the mall and find the R44 to stellenbosch and beyond to be pretty good. A nice loop I use is out to stellenbosch on the R44, turn left on to stellenbosch arterial, follow that until the R102, and home. Nice enough climbing, good flats, and a headwind on the way home. Change direction when you feel like it.

 

The other popular route is from SW to Gordon's Bay, and then take the R44 out to bettys Bay and beyond. Lovely riding, but very susceptible to wind and basically zero shoulder. Most drivers are courteous and give loads of room, but there are a few dunces and they, along with the southeaster, keep me off that route... Also the strand section between SW and GB is dodgy....

 

Lastly, join the wannabees. They're very popular here and the club does a great Job. Whether road or MTB. Club rides with vehicle support are every Saturday and most Sundays, and they have access rights to most of the local vineyard offroad tracks... We'll worth it for like 600ish a year..

 

To summarise, go ride wherever these is a shoulder, leave for road rides no earlier than 7am, and leave the dodgiest areas for later in the ride when all the drunkies have crawled home. Join a group for added safety.

[Butterbean]

Also don't forget the very popular route out to franschoek via stellies and hellshoogte.. A couple of robbery incidents over the last years have plagued that route, but it is good with some pretty serious climbing and great coffee when you get to franschoek...

[Fausto Coppi]

For some hill repeats, behind Parel Vallei high school has  a lekker climb, there are a few chilled roads in the burbs. 

 

Most busy roads have a shoulder but more cars, the smaller roads no shoulder but see less traffic.

Thanks guys I have found some good places to do some loops and hill climbs. Much appreciated.