SA Bucket List Rides

[eddy]

Oupa Piet, I know exactly where it is. Lovely part of the world

[Underachiever]

Oupa Piet, I know exactly where it is. Lovely part of the world

That is a stunning house!!

 

The best view is having a braai and a beer on the front stoep.

 

Even betterer is hearing the locals sing their drunken songs the weekend before Christmas.

[I FLY]

beer at the top and about 17 minutes to get back down

Been there and done that.

 

Read a story in an early edition of Ride soon after I started cycling and decided that I wanted to ride up Sani Pass. Finally did it 10 years later with my wife

[ChrisF]

We dis the Bojaankop 4x4 trail outside Calitzdorp in 2008.

 

 

Would LOVE to do it on a MTB. Actually went there in January 2019, but ended up getting a cottage far away from the 4x4 trail ....

 

 

It is certainly not a MTB trail, but the views from the top of that koppie is simply fantastic !!

 

 

The other itch I have .... few years back I had the opportunity to cycle on private property along the Orange river ... would LOVE to get that opportunity again ....

[Ispeed_V]

Harrismith to Clarens on R712 via Phuthaditjhaba. Roughly 95Km.

 

Not for the fainthearted and lots of climbing and the wind through Golden Gate adds to the difficulty.

 

Spend the night in Clarens (couple beers at the brewery) and head back the next day

[DJR]

Since many seem to enjoy my favourite part of the world:

 

Prince Albert, up the Swartberg Pass, turn right to The Hell. Stay over in one of Nature Conservation cottages. Rest a day, swim in the river, braai, drink beer. Then ride back to Prince Albert. Only about 60km in and 60 km out, but have climbing legs ready. The first part up the Swartberg Pass in one of the most spectacular mountain passes in the world. The second part into the Hell is as scenic and remote as you can get. The "flight" down the Elands Pass into the Hell is as close as you will get to riding a Mtb at full speed down an elevator shaft.

 

Edit: Thought some pictures were called for!

Edited August 6, 2020 by DJR

[PhilipV]

I think that the road from Kruisrivier back to Calitzdorp is one of the most magical rides one can do.

 

I miss it.

 

Ps.

 

 

 

In 2006 a bunch of us did a holiday trip with the girls in a following bakkie. 5 days from Calitzdorp to Calitzdorp via Hartenbos, Glentana, George, De Rust, De Hoek and Swartberg pass.

On the first day one of the guys broke his wrist on top of Rooiberg pass with a flopped Wheelie, and on the last day on the way to Calitzdorp we may have pedalled a section of that road sans clothes.

 

It was bliss, some of the best gravel road riding I've done in my life. Made some life long friends on that trip.

[PhilipV]

I really want to do a couple of Bikepacking trips.

Cederberg Circuit, but with the onus on riding as many of the trails in Cederberg and Koue Bokkeveld as possible.

Location - Citrusdal, and eventually finish in Citrusdal again.

Discipline -Bikepacking

Distance - 250-300km

Difficulty - well how fast do you want to go?

https://www.capecycleroutes.co.za/route/cederberg-circuit

 

 

Bikepacking trip from Greyton to Gansbaai via Tesselaarsdal, the Haarkapper Trail, the Beloftebos trails and the Lomond trails. Maybe split the trails to do some on the return leg.

[Slowbee]

Bucket list right now - any road outside my front door.

 

The fitness has never been this low and the weight is going up

[Eddy Gordo]

I really want to do a couple of Bikepacking trips.

Cederberg Circuit, but with the onus on riding as many of the trails in Cederberg and Koue Bokkeveld as possible.

Location - Citrusdal, and eventually finish in Citrusdal again.

Discipline -Bikepacking

Distance - 250-300km

Difficulty - well how fast do you want to go?

https://www.capecycleroutes.co.za/route/cederberg-circuit

 

 

Bikepacking trip from Greyton to Gansbaai via Tesselaarsdal, the Haarkapper Trail, the Beloftebos trails and the Lomond trails. Maybe split the trails to do some on the return leg.

Sames here. I reckon its required now as it will def boost the fitness. Problem is getting people thanks gether who want to do it, and fhen my work schedule dont allow for weekends away unless there is a public holiday on a monday.

[Pure Savage]

Just a little 202km loop in Swellendam in November. Bring a car to bring food at two stops. 

[Eddy Gordo]

Just a little 202km loop in Swellendam in November. Bring a car to bring food at two stops. 

Sounds like a painful road ride. No.doubt I will take very long to finish such distance. If its mtb, I will rather give up, as I will def die after 40 or so.km

[lechatnoir]

Something that's always fascinated me is Port Nolloth to Durban... both are very roughly the same latitude, very different climates and over an hour apart in terms of daylight/timezones

[mazambaan]

Sani Pass.  Current "tarring" is only to SA border but that is enough of a mess (and a cost north of R600m I think).  There is a plan to surface the real pass (why I do not know - NDZ type logic) and current cost estimates are around R1bn; ja/nee.

 

I have walked, 4x4 and dirt biked it but never bicycled Sani so it is on the list. As an added test maybe take a jaunt to the Southern African high point (Thabana Ntlenyana); 12km or so away (as Mr Crow flies - it is tar road and a slog otherwise. Much pushing methinks; only done it on a dirt bike. Lots of info etc from AfriSki.

[rudi-h]

one of the best trips ever:

 

Location:  PE - Knysna via Baviaanskloof

Discipline:  MTB

Distance / Time (450km / 5 days)

Difficulty:  Hard(ish)

 

Day 1:  PE to Van Stadens brug via schoenmakerskop

Day 2:  Van Stadens - Kwaggaskloof

Day 3:  Kwaggaskloof - Bo Kloof

Day 4:  Bo Kloof - De Vlugt (via Prins Alfred pas)

Day 5:  De Vlugt - Knysna

Edited August 5, 2020 by rudi-h

[Pure Savage]

Sounds like a painful road ride. No.doubt I will take very long to finish such distance. If its mtb, I will rather give up, as I will def die after 40 or so.km

Its a crazy idea, probably wont be popular.