jackievs Posted October 22, 2021 Author Posted October 22, 2021 13 minutes ago, bleedToWin said: Coastal only gets fun after Gordon's Bay. You deal with a lot of traffic and bad road surfaces and things. If you are willing to go all the way to Rooi Els it's worth it. Thank you ... yes GB to Rooi Els is so beautiful .. I rode from Hermanus to the Strand in October last year ... it is one of the most scenic routes I have ever done.. but the road does become narrow through some sections.. I am tempted to go from GB to Rooi Els and back...!
bleedToWin Posted October 22, 2021 Posted October 22, 2021 5 minutes ago, jackievs said: Thank you ... yes GB to Rooi Els is so beautiful .. I rode from Hermanus to the Strand in October last year ... it is one of the most scenic routes I have ever done.. but the road does become narrow through some sections.. I am tempted to go from GB to Rooi Els and back...! Check the wind forecasts carefully. You can have 5km/h in Stellies and it's blowing 30+ along the coast. ????
jackievs Posted October 22, 2021 Author Posted October 22, 2021 27 minutes ago, bleedToWin said: That way also gets windy. If you want to stay mostly flat you could do Polkadraai Zevenwacht Bottelary R304 Slent Vryguns R44. Not sure how long that would be. Once you are out on the R304 there are multiple crossovers to the R44 available to suit your distance needs. Thank you, this is a good option!
jackievs Posted October 22, 2021 Author Posted October 22, 2021 10 minutes ago, bleedToWin said: Check the wind forecasts carefully. You can have 5km/h in Stellies and it's blowing 30+ along the coast. ???? Oh yes I will, the wind is not my friend when I am on the bike!
jackievs Posted October 25, 2021 Author Posted October 25, 2021 On 10/22/2021 at 8:19 AM, bleedToWin said: That way also gets windy. If you want to stay mostly flat you could do Polkadraai Zevenwacht Bottelary R304 Slent Vryguns R44. Not sure how long that would be. Once you are out on the R304 there are multiple crossovers to the R44 available to suit your distance needs. A good option, thank you!
kr_za Posted October 6, 2023 Posted October 6, 2023 Hi there. I will be visiting Somerset West in a couple of weeks and I will be bringing my road bike along too. I'm keen to get in a few rides and was wondering what the riding situation is like there at the moment. Is it advisable to ride alone? And which routes are feasible? In the past I had used the route through Gordons Bay towards Rooi Els, but I hear it could be a bit sketchy now. Of course, I would also be happy to join any locals on their rides if the opportunity comes up 😀. Cheers!
Ibhayirob Posted April 21 Posted April 21 That's interesting so R44 isn't a freeway then Lyen On 8/10/2021 at 11:40 AM, bleedToWin said: R44 is heavily used by cyclists, yes. R310 is fine to ride, but surface not the best. Most prefer to use the parallel Lyndoch / Vlottenburg road. I also prefer to go that way but have wondered about safety when doing it solo as it's rural. The other option is to just stick to Polkadraai (M12) and come down Vlaeberg road back to Annandale. Annandale is smooth with a good shoulder. Going up Devon Vallei road to the top of JC le Roux is also worth it. Group also advised, but I do it solo often... Short gravel section, but nothing a road bike can't handle. Going up to Berg River dam is nice. Doing the Wemmershoek loop to Paarl also good. On 8/10/2021 at 11:09 AM, jackievs said: We are keen to spend a few days riding road bikes in the Stellenbosch - Somerset West - Gordonsbay area. Are cyclists riding on the R44 / Broadway Boulevard ? What about the R310 from Stellenbosch and turn off on Annandale road too narrow ..? We have done the Helshoogte over the hill to Zorgvliet and to Franschhoek before... a great ride! Will appreciate any advice and feedback... thank you ! Lyndoch sounds interesting So R44 isn't a freeway
Ibhayirob Posted April 21 Posted April 21 On 8/10/2021 at 11:40 AM, bleedToWin said: R44 is heavily used by cyclists, yes. R310 is fine to ride, but surface not the best. Most prefer to use the parallel Lyndoch / Vlottenburg road. I also prefer to go that way but have wondered about safety when doing it solo as it's rural. The other option is to just stick to Polkadraai (M12) and come down Vlaeberg road back to Annandale. Annandale is smooth with a good shoulder. Going up Devon Vallei road to the top of JC le Roux is also worth it. Group also advised, but I do it solo often... Short gravel section, but nothing a road bike can't handle. Going up to Berg River dam is nice. Doing the Wemmershoek loop to Paarl also good. You sound like you know this area Talking about safety what's the bike hijack rate like out there In pe I wouldn't ride anywhere alone or without my boerboel
ChrisF Posted April 21 Posted April 21 3 hours ago, Ibhayirob said: That's interesting so R44 isn't a freeway then Lyen Lyndoch sounds interesting So R44 isn't a freeway R44 most certainly not a freeway. Actually very few freeways in the Western Cape: N1 N2 N7 M3 M5 R300 Probably a few more, but these are the obvious ones
Ibhayirob Posted April 21 Posted April 21 Thanks Chris so if I wanted to traverse sw on a bike from Irene Ave you'd say R44 is safe road If it's anything like Irene I'd think twice When I get there I'll check it out
jackievs Posted April 21 Author Posted April 21 On 8/10/2021 at 1:39 PM, jackievs said: We are keen to spend a few days riding road bikes in the Stellenbosch - Somerset West - Gordonsbay area. Are cyclists riding on the R44 / Broadway Boulevard ? What about the R310 from Stellenbosch and turn off on Annandale road too narrow ..? We have done the Helshoogte over the hill to Zorgvliet and to Franschhoek before... a great ride! Will appreciate any advice and feedback... thank you ! Hello... apologies for my delayed reply... I rode the R44 ... started in Hermanus on the R43 and turned left onto the R44... Past Arabella and the coastal towns, Kleinmond, Betties Bay, Pringle Bay ...Rooi Els... With the south easter blowing over my left shoulder..! It's a great ride with a wide shoulder on the road until you reach Rooi Els. The road then narrows with the embankment on the left ... But it's the most spectacular ride I have ever done! But a few things to be aware ...the road is narrow from Rooi Els and the south easter can sweep you across the road when it comes through the valleys and gorges ... expect a few challenging climbs ...starts as soon as you cross the Rooi Els River with a serious climb past Kogel Bay... Although the road is narrow l found motorists to behave well...I think largely due to the fact that the road is narrow and twisting. I rode through Gordon's bay and Strand ...a few challenging sections as the traffic picks up in town. Turned right on the M9, first road after the bridge over the N2....,Then left onto the M68 and went to Vergelegen wine estate...a very beautiful sight! But in stead of turning right onto the M9 you can continue all the way to Stellenbosch.. the climb from bridge over the N2 will test the legs...and it can be real challenge if you started in Hermanus about 100km ago... My recommendations...plan your ride with south easter from behind ...in other words from Hermanus towards Rooi Els and, Gordons Bay... Get an early start, it's my experience that the south easter starts to howl as the morning gets on... Make provision for many photo stops, it's an unbelievably beautiful route... Select and plan your distance, depending on your level of fitness...I rode this 4 years ago at the age of 66 and made the Strand without getting into trouble ... continuing onwards to Stellenbosch will be a real challenge... Don't start fast, there are plenty of ups and downs until you cruise over the last hill and past Bikini Beach... Most of all enjoy, this is truly a spectacular ride! And be safe 🙏
jackievs Posted April 21 Author Posted April 21 1 hour ago, ChrisF said: R44 most certainly not a freeway. Actually very few freeways in the Western Cape: N1 N2 N7 M3 M5 R300 Probably a few more, but these are the obvious ones I rode Annandale Road ... Rough surface and little shoulder most of the way...
jackievs Posted April 21 Author Posted April 21 2 minutes ago, jackievs said: I rode Annandale Road ... Rough surface and little shoulder most of the way... The R310 through Ida's Valley up Helshoogte pass is a great challenge...hold on for dear life once you scaled the summit, it's a fast down hill past Zorgvliet and Boschendal ...turn right at the T junction and head to Franschoek on the R45.. a beautiful road with a broad shoulder...no challenging climbs.... On 8/10/2021 at 1:39 PM, jackievs said: We are keen to spend a few days riding road bikes in the Stellenbosch - Somerset West - Gordonsbay area. Are cyclists riding on the R44 / Broadway Boulevard ? What about the R310 from Stellenbosch and turn off on Annandale road too narrow ..? We have done the Helshoogte over the hill to Zorgvliet and to Franschhoek before... a great ride! Will appreciate any advice and feedback... thank you ! Hello... apologies for my delayed reply... I rode the R44 ... started in Hermanus on the R43 and turned left onto the R44... Past Arabella and the coastal towns, Kleinmond, Betties Bay, Pringle Bay ...Rooi Els... With the south easter blowing over my left shoulder..! It's a great ride with a wide shoulder on the road until you reach Rooi Els. The road then narrows with the embankment on the left ... But it's the most spectacular ride I have ever done! But a few things to be aware ...the road is narrow from Rooi Els and the south easter can sweep you across the road when it comes through the valleys and gorges ... expect a few challenging climbs ...starts as soon as you cross the Rooi Els River with a serious climb past Kogel Bay... Although the road is narrow l found motorists to behave well...I think largely due to the fact that the road is narrow and twisting. I rode through Gordon's bay and Strand ...a few challenging sections as the traffic picks up in town. Turned right on the M9, first road after the bridge over the N2....,Then left onto the M68 and went to Vergelegen wine estate...a very beautiful sight! But in stead of turning right onto the M9 you can continue all the way to Stellenbosch.. the climb from bridge over the N2 will test the legs...and it can be real challenge if you started in Hermanus about 100km ago... My recommendations...plan your ride with south easter from behind ...in other words from Hermanus towards Rooi Els and, Gordons Bay... Get an early start, it's my experience that the south easter starts to howl as the morning gets on... Make provision for many photo stops, it's an unbelievably beautiful route... Select and plan your distance, depending on your level of fitness...I rode this 4 years ago at the age of 66 and made the Strand without getting into trouble ... continuing onwards to Stellenbosch will be a real challenge... Don't start fast, there are plenty of ups and downs until you cruise over the last hill and past Bikini Beach... Most of all enjoy, this is truly a spectacular ride! And be safe 🙏 ChrisF 1
bleedToWin Posted April 22 Posted April 22 16 hours ago, Ibhayirob said: Thanks Chris so if I wanted to traverse sw on a bike from Irene Ave you'd say R44 is safe road If it's anything like Irene I'd think twice When I get there I'll check it out Do you find Irene unsafe due to traffic? It's steep, but that's about the only reason cyclists avoid it. R44 is safe RE hijacking as per your initial question. Akon 1
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