Bloemfontein

[Eugene]

Spending a weekend in Bloem. There are two things I noticed.

 

1.the number of white Hilux bakkies on the road.

 

2. The number of cyclists training on the N1. Are these guys crazy? Not only is it illegal, but bloody dangerous.

 

By the way, Bloem is a lovely place. Wish we could have spent more time here.

[BSG]

Spending a weekend in Bloem. There are two things I noticed.

 

1.the number of white Hilux bakkies on the road.

 

2. The number of cyclists training on the N1. Are these guys crazy? Not only is it illegal, but bloody dangerous.

 

By the way, Bloem is a lovely place. Wish we could have spent more time here.

I bet you there are more Mahindra bakkies in Bloemfontein than Hilux bakkies.

 

You should have seen what a proper Rose Stad Bloemfontein was 20 + years ago. Studied and worked there. The place was a gem. Been back there a few times and every time Bloemfontein looks worse than the previous visit. Very sorry to see it going backwards but living between Mosselbay and George now and even the people coming down from up country says that we are really very fortunate where we live and with things still working here. Municipal services, local Districts municipality etc.

[JA-Q001]

The N1 is actually one of the safest roads to train on there. It is not Johburg or Capetown. You get a tenth of the vehicles at peak time than you would get at a normal time in the metros. Only a small part of it is deemed as “freeway”.

 

I understand that it is “Illegal”, but traffic control has always been Lenient towards cyclists there, because the cyclist behave themselves on that stretch and in holidays they know to avoid it.

[mecheng89]

The N1 is actually one of the safest roads to train on there. It is not Johburg or Capetown. You get a tenth of the vehicles at peak time than you would get at a normal time in the metros. Only a small part of it is deemed as “freeway”.

 

I understand that it is “Illegal”, but traffic control has always been Lenient towards cyclists there, because the cyclist behave themselves on that stretch and in holidays they know to avoid it.

Joh-burg. Love it. 

[HdB]

Its also one of the few roads that isn't 60% pothole.

[Jase619]

Its also one of the few roads that isn't 60% pothole.

 

This is true.

 

Hows the old Kimberley Road looking? Used to be many cyclists on that road as well in the morning, haven't ridden on it since last year sometime.

[eddy]

This is true.

 

Hows the old Kimberley Road looking? Used to be many cyclists on that road as well in the morning, haven't ridden on it since last year sometime.

 

There is also the road to Doolhof wine estate in Wellington.

 

Nice out and back albeit a bit hot in summer.....

[HdB]

This is true.

 

Hows the old Kimberley Road looking? Used to be many cyclists on that road as well in the morning, haven't ridden on it since last year sometime.

Honestly, my last outside ride was 26Dec, and probably won't be another for a good few months (health issues). So things could have changed.

 

But, the Petrusburg/Kimberley road was great, once you are past Makro. Just the Kloofeind stretch, if you want to make it a loop, that was bad even before the good rains in Jan.

Same with the Dealsville road - great for at least 20km, once out of town. Abrahamskraal road is probably MTB-only by now

[fanievb]

Spending a weekend in Bloem. There are two things I noticed.

 

1.the number of white Hilux bakkies on the road.

 

2. The number of cyclists training on the N1. Are these guys crazy? Not only is it illegal, but bloody dangerous.

 

By the way, Bloem is a lovely place. Wish we could have spent more time here.

 

 

Around here we also use the freeway, it's a lot safer than the alternatives (nice shoulder etc.) 

 

I bet you there are more Mahindra bakkies in Bloemfontein than Hilux bakkies.

 

You should have seen what a proper Rose Stad Bloemfontein was 20 + years ago. Studied and worked there. The place was a gem. Been back there a few times and every time Bloemfontein looks worse than the previous visit. Very sorry to see it going backwards but living between Mosselbay and George now and even the people coming down from up country says that we are really very fortunate where we live and with things still working here. Municipal services, local Districts municipality etc.

 

grew up in Bloem, we visit at least once a year, and the deterioration is shocking and clear everytime we go up

 

Honestly, my last outside ride was 26Dec, and probably won't be another for a good few months (health issues). So things could have changed.

 

But, the Petrusburg/Kimberley road was great, once you are past Makro. Just the Kloofeind stretch, if you want to make it a loop, that was bad even before the good rains in Jan.

Same with the Dealsville road - great for at least 20km, once out of town. Abrahamskraal road is probably MTB-only by now

verduidelik hoekom jou strava so still is, hoop alles is OK 

[RDK]

I know this topic is old but maybe can also just throw in something here, coming back from Centurion to Bloem and I was also very wary of riding on the N1. I was to used too cycling in the Cradle in GP, but as said before it is much more safer to go cycling on the N1 and the cyclist behave on the N1 and yes once peak hits )shool holidays and December holidays) we stay clear of the N1 just too busy then.

The road in Bloem is full of potholes and traffic is a nightmare in town for cyclists, we also often ride on the Petrusburg/Kimberley road. I wish we could get a loop like in The Cradle this side then it would be a real pleasure too go out for a ride.