Northern Suburbs Gravel Routes Sanity-check

[Shebeen]

On 6/1/2022 at 12:02 PM, MongooseMan said:

I realise there are a few similar (older) threads on this topic, but thought it might be useful to post some actual routes, in the hope of getting some local feedback (and hopefully serve as a useful resource for routes for others with similar questions).

Doing some training for Around the Pot, and need a few Saturday rides that'll give me time in the saddle as well as a decent amount of gravel (without spending a weekend in the Overberg/Ceres). The thinking is to drive to Durbanville, park there, ride (hopefully about 80-90km, as much gravel as possible).

With that said, how do these 2 routes stack up in terms of:

• Access (I don't have any MTB permits, are any of the roads off limits?)
• Gravel quality (I have a gravel bike, so no mountain biking hopefully)
• Safety (I'll likely not do these solo, but any particular dodgy areas on route?)

 

I tried to piece together as many nice looking gravel sections as I could find using a combination of Strava heatmap, Google earth, and streetview, and this is what I came up with:

1. https://www.strava.com/routes/2964141783499639926
2. https://www.strava.com/routes/2966731124999153446

 

Thoughts? Any better suggestions? 

after the SJN debacle I'm sure all of this is rather straightforward

[MongooseMan]

48 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

after the SJN debacle I'm sure all of this is rather straightforward

That took me a while 😂

[milky4130]

11 hours ago, MongooseMan said:

I'll pop you a message when I'm planning on doing a ride. 

Which ATP are you doing? 

Entered for 200miler but there is no chance I'll be doing that.

[MORNE]

2 hours ago, Shebeen said:

after the SJN debacle I'm sure all of this is rather straightforward

 

2 hours ago, MongooseMan said:

That took me a while 😂

Hahaha, sneaky. 
 

Ps. theres a  e.etzabeth ( from stellies) on here too lol. 

[Skubarra]

22 hours ago, MongooseMan said:

So thanks to some great suggestions from @realjhk and @milky4130 I've put together a collection of routes, which will hopefully be useful to people with similar questions:
https://ridewithgps.com/collections/48725?privacy_code=oYJanzrK2rfGhxCz

 

There are a nice range of distances, from 40k to 210k, so something for everyone.

Nothing new to add here really - but just to mention most of the routes around Durbanville would involve at least some tar - not really possible to just do gravel. 

The one route I like doing is similar to the "SxSW Hustle_CT with Andreas and Doron" route you loaded in the link - where you ride the Porseleinberg road (some tough rollers), do coffee/snacks at the farmstall near Hermon, and then from Hermon back to Wellington via the gravel backroads east of the R44 (there are a few detours you haven't marked that give you extra kilos). Probably the route in the area that gives you the most continuous gravel km's

Then just to mention one can make more of the Paarlberg Nature reserve, you can add a loop within the reserve (no cost for access) which will add a lot of climbing - a help when preparing for races where there are more climbs.

 

[milky4130]

4 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

The one route I like doing is similar to the "SxSW Hustle_CT with Andreas and Doron" route you loaded in the link - where you ride the Porseleinberg road (some tough rollers), do coffee/snacks at the farmstall near Hermon, and then from Hermon back to Wellington via the gravel backroads east of the R44 (there are a few detours you haven't marked that give you extra kilos). Probably the route in the area that gives you the most continuous gravel km's

 

so basically just in reverse then, same loop can be done both ways

[MongooseMan]

11 minutes ago, Skubarra said:

Nothing new to add here really - but just to mention most of the routes around Durbanville would involve at least some tar - not really possible to just do gravel. 

The one route I like doing is similar to the "SxSW Hustle_CT with Andreas and Doron" route you loaded in the link - where you ride the Porseleinberg road (some tough rollers), do coffee/snacks at the farmstall near Hermon, and then from Hermon back to Wellington via the gravel backroads east of the R44 (there are a few detours you haven't marked that give you extra kilos). Probably the route in the area that gives you the most continuous gravel km's

Then just to mention one can make more of the Paarlberg Nature reserve, you can add a loop within the reserve (no cost for access) which will add a lot of climbing - a help when preparing for races where there are more climbs.

 

Cool, thanks.

Yeah, it seems that if I shift my start position to Joostenberg or Spice Route then the gravel % increases nicely, so will likely do that.

[MongooseMan]

Update: did a fairly short (55k) route from joostenberg this morning. About 65% gravel. Wow, so good.

https://strava.app.link/KhKmkL2mAqb

Edited June 4, 2022 by MongooseMan

[Jewbacca]

On 6/2/2022 at 6:32 PM, milky4130 said:

Entered for 200miler but there is no chance I'll be doing that.

Why not?

I'm thinking of giving it a bash

[milky4130]

21 hours ago, Jewbacca said:

Why not?

I'm thinking of giving it a bash

well the 100miler was 6:20 racing it full gas. 200miler is going to be double that plus some more. Heel Dag Weg. I dont have that sort of luxury these days. Do your race and get back home the same day preferably the same day.

[Jewbacca]

1 minute ago, milky4130 said:

well the 100miler was 6:20 racing it full gas. 200miler is going to be double that plus some more. Heel Dag Weg. I dont have that sort of luxury these days. Do your race and get back home the same day preferably the same day.

Yeah, I hear you. I will be calling in a favour from 'gran' to do an extra shift so I can get the time away.

I have some leeway as I was meant to be doing a 4 and a half day non stop run in July, but it was postponed due to not enough idiots committing to the start line. 

This has bought me a few days of expected time away, otherwise I would have been in a similar position. 

Hopefully see you there somewhere on the route or at prize giving!

[milky4130]

16 minutes ago, Jewbacca said:

Yeah, I hear you. I will be calling in a favour from 'gran' to do an extra shift so I can get the time away.

I have some leeway as I was meant to be doing a 4 and a half day non stop run in July, but it was postponed due to not enough idiots committing to the start line. 

This has bought me a few days of expected time away, otherwise I would have been in a similar position. 

Hopefully see you there somewhere on the route or at prize giving!

also I just notice now that the 100 & 200 only have the same starts & the Malgas crossing, so the chances of a bunch ride to catch some slip is slim to non-existent, it's going to be a lonely lonely +-16hours, but with all your adventure racing under the belt it will not be foreign to you.

[Jewbacca]

28 minutes ago, milky4130 said:

also I just notice now that the 100 & 200 only have the same starts & the Malgas crossing, so the chances of a bunch ride to catch some slip is slim to non-existent, it's going to be a lonely lonely +-16hours, but with all your adventure racing under the belt it will not be foreign to you.

I also looked at that. I'm definitely packing a treat or two that will mentally 'pick me up' when I eat/drink it/them. 

That alone time can be testing on the mental fortitude, especially if the weather is sub optimal. 

I'm looking forward to it