Safe(r) road routes: East London, Beacon Bay, Gonubie, Jikileza...

[MudLark]

Hi guys,

 

Does anyone have any info on what roads /routes for road bikes are preferred for long(er) rides in the referenced areas or surrounding areas?

 

Any help or input gratefully received....

 

 

[fanievb]

Hi guys,

 

Does anyone have any info on what roads /routes for road bikes are preferred for long(er) rides in the referenced areas or surrounding areas?

 

Any help or input gratefully received....

Check out Tribal Triathlon on Facebook they do twice weekly semi supported rides.

 

AFAIK there's also a group leaving from the corner of Beach and Old Transkei in the mornings, not sure about times though.

 

Otherwise loops of Gonubie and the cycle path or the N6 out to about kei road

 

Jikileza is out, no shoulder and the potholes are terrible

[captain morgan]

N6

[MudLark]

Thanks guys - very much appreciated. Looks like I will become quite familiar with the N6 then. Will probably leave my car outside Virgin Active Beacon Bay and then ride from there up the N6. Looking at the maps, I could then probably also do some loops through Nahoon, Beaconhurst, Bonza Bay etc.

 

Is the R72 any good for cycling from say after the airport? I see the R346 running out to Chalumna makes a neat loop too.

 

Hogsback is on my MTB list too. Will see if I get there.

[fanievb]

Thanks guys - very much appreciated. Looks like I will become quite familiar with the N6 then. Will probably leave my car outside Virgin Active Beacon Bay and then ride from there up the N6. Looking at the maps, I could then probably also do some loops through Nahoon, Beaconhurst, Bonza Bay etc.

 

Is the R72 any good for cycling from say after the airport? I see the R346 running out to Chalumna makes a neat loop too.

 

Hogsback is on my MTB list too. Will see if I get there.

 

R72 has roadworks and is crazy busy and not very safe to go out alone.

 

That loop I think is the mount coke loop, also road is in bad condition and not safe to go alone

 

if you have a MTB the choices are endless and a lot safer

 

this popped onto my facebook this morning.

 

[Kenty]

Pity you on a road bike...coz in our area...Slummies that is..we have trails to DIE for... ..

 

As Fanie says....ENDLESS!!!

Edited December 13, 2018 by Kenty

[MudLark]

Thank you guys. I really appreciate the time and advice.

 

I'm bringing at least one - maybe two - of my MTBs as well and am hoping tp find some nice tracks to ride. I've heard of 3 Silos and Hillview, so will check them out. But I do also like to train on the roadbike. I have a very long way to go in building FTP and reducing weight and I find the roadbike is good for long slow continuous rides (4 hours +). So, really love a great MTB ride but also need to work hard on the road aspect when possible... Am a semi-resident in the Jikileza area but never cycled in the E Cape before. Only started riding in Feb but have done some of the longer and harder races (both road and MTB) already and enjoyed them very much.

 

I will avoid the R72 and stick to the N3 then in light of the advice. Thank you. You may have saved my life with the advice.

[MudLark]

Oh, thanks for the suffer fest flyer! Good chance I'm there for 3 of those - 19th, 29th and 12th. Something to look forward to!

[fanievb]

Thank you guys. I really appreciate the time and advice.

 

I'm bringing at least one - maybe two - of my MTBs as well and am hoping tp find some nice tracks to ride. I've heard of 3 Silos and Hillview, so will check them out. But I do also like to train on the roadbike. I have a very long way to go in building FTP and reducing weight and I find the roadbike is good for long slow continuous rides (4 hours +). So, really love a great MTB ride but also need to work hard on the road aspect when possible... Am a semi-resident in the Jikileza area but never cycled in the E Cape before. Only started riding in Feb but have done some of the longer and harder races (both road and MTB) already and enjoyed them very much.

 

I will avoid the R72 and stick to the N3 then in light of the advice. Thank you. You may have saved my life with the advice.

 

N6

 

you can check my plotaroute for some gravel grinding routes

https://www.plotaroute.com/routes/all/latest/1?MappedBy=108008

 

 

[MudLark]

Sorry Fanie - yes, N6.

 

Thank you for the plotaroute link - That's really great info!

[mikeking]

Hi MudLark, there are a number of gravel routes(not single track) from the Cintsa east turn-off. We normaly start at Cefani near Cintsa, ride the tar up the hill to the t-junction, turn right, and then either left for a sixty km loop past Mandela village which comes out at the Haga Haga turn-off, or we carry on a bit on the tar and then take the Tainton turn-off which is a long grind up to the N2, but great fun coming back. That is a 42 km ride.

[2 X 2]

Hi MudLark, there are a number of gravel routes(not single track) from the Cintsa east turn-off. We normaly start at Cefani near Cintsa, ride the tar up the hill to the t-junction, turn right, and then either left for a sixty km loop past Mandela village which comes out at the Haga Haga turn-off, or we carry on a bit on the tar and then take the Tainton turn-off which is a long grind up to the N2, but great fun coming back. That is a 42 km ride.

 

Would love to ride the two routes that you describe here.  Sent you a PM

[MudLark]

Thank you so much Mike. Is it reasonably safe driving along the N2? The cars seem to go like the clappers

[deanbean]

Thank you so much Mike. Is it reasonably safe driving along the N2? The cars seem to go like the clappers

I don't even like driving on that section of the N2, I'd definitely not ride it.

[mikeking]

There is a very short section of the N2 from the Haga turn-off to the Tainton turn-off where we ride in the concrete gutter. Alternatively you can take the the Haga road for approximately 2km, and then turn right towards the Police station. This road also takes you back to Tainton. The rest of those routes are not on the N2

[MudLark]

Thank you Mike. Will check it out.