Ride Routes: Hors Catégorie.

[Bike Hub Features]

South Africa has some pretty amazing climbs but when it comes to Hors catégorie climbs, they are unfortunately few and far between. For those that don’t know, Hors catégorie is a French term used in stage bicycle races to designate a climb that is "beyond categorisation".

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[Mamil]

It's a monster climb alright and I walked up that last straight bit to the tower - but when we rode it, we rode from Cape Town to Jonaskop and back ... #justsaying

[MVDP fan]

That’s a hectic climb!! Had to zig zag up the climb with the front wheel popping up off the ground. Tough bastard of a climb 😅😅😅

[christovdw]

Epic route! I can see the towers from my driveway - but havn’t been up there in more than a year. It’s TOUGH!

You can get some pretty decent snow up there in winter though…

[Mamil]

53 minutes ago, MVDP fan said:

That’s a hectic climb!! Had to zig zag up the climb with the front wheel popping up off the ground. Tough bastard of a climb 😅😅😅

The only one of our group who rode the bugger - just remembered it was from Franschoek we rode - I fell over in the car park. 

[lechatnoir]

1 minute ago, Mamil said:

The only one of our group who rode the bugger - just remembered it was from Franschoek we rode - I fell over in the car park. 

another little 'lie down'? thought it was just me that did that!

[christovdw]

You’re not alone 🤣🤣

[RaeTrewBrowne]

1 hour ago, Mamil said:

It's a monster climb alright and I walked up that last straight bit to the tower - but when we rode it, we rode from Cape Town to Jonaskop and back ... #justsaying

Wow 🤩 that’s a proper ride mate!! 

[samson99]

A mate and i did this climb but we rode from Durbanville on our roadbikes. we didnt know about the gravel sections so that was interesting but we finally made the top. Climb is hectic on a roadbike. Road surface is very rough and the downhill was crazy. Had to stop 3 times to stretch back and neck. Eventually though we called for a lift from Villiersdorp after 180km and 3200m. I cannot wait to attemp the climb again but on a mtb. Definitely a climb to do and tick off the bucket list.

[Sid the Sloth]

I AM FROTHING to head out and do this climb... Thinking mid December. I think I will take my gravel bike though as the ratios are a lot nicer for climbing a beast like this... 38 front 42 rear on gravel or 39 front and 28 rear on road... But paying a 2.5kg weight penalty and the rolling resistance for the gravel bike (I will exclude aero as I don't think that will have much effect on this beast)

[Jbr]

3 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said:

I AM FROTHING to head out and do this climb... Thinking mid December. I think I will take my gravel bike though as the ratios are a lot nicer for climbing a beast like this... 38 front 42 rear on gravel or 39 front and 28 rear on road... But paying a 2.5kg weight penalty and the rolling resistance for the gravel bike (I will exclude aero as I don't think that will have much effect on this beast)

I'll do it with a friend between xmas and new years. Either we go from franschoek on the MTBs or we park at the gate and do it twice on the skinnies

Edited December 7, 2021 by Jbr

[Jbr]

12 minutes ago, samson99 said:

A mate and i did this climb but we rode from Durbanville on our roadbikes. we didnt know about the gravel sections so that was interesting but we finally made the top. Climb is hectic on a roadbike. Road surface is very rough and the downhill was crazy. Had to stop 3 times to stretch back and neck. Eventually though we called for a lift from Villiersdorp after 180km and 3200m. I cannot wait to attemp the climb again but on a mtb. Definitely a climb to do and tick off the bucket list.

mmmh okay thanks for the input

[Sid the Sloth]

4 minutes ago, Jbr said:

I'll do it with a friend between xmas and new years. Either we go from franschoek on the MTBs or we park at the gate and do it twice on the skinnies

Your ride bike has disc brakes so it is basically a gravel bike. I have the 10-36 cassette waiting for you... 

[Pure Savage]

18 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said:

Your ride bike has disc brakes so it is basically a gravel bike. I have the 10-36 cassette waiting for you... 

thought i would find you here

[Sid the Sloth]

Just now, Pure Savage said:

thought i would find you here

The WAGS can drop us off nearby, and we can tackle this bad boy and ride back to Robertson. Lekker. 

[NickGM]

59 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said:

The WAGS can drop us off nearby, and we can tackle this bad boy and ride back to Robertson. Lekker. 

living the dream