durbanville to philadelphia

[ChrisF]

6 hours ago, erasmus.merwe@gmail.com said:

Chris, I always wonder why mountain bikers cycle on the tar when, as in your pic, there is perfectly good gravel right next to the road. Just that 1 m to the left will be a lot safer. I know there are some sections on that road where there is no option but to use the tar, but why not diminish the risk and use the verge?

I often do the Koeberg, R304 to Occultdale and then back south. On the R304 I ride on the gravel verge on the side of the road, it is perfectly OK for a mountain bike or gravel bike.

 

Valid question .... one I often ask myself.

 

I have a hardtail with gravel tires, pumped for tar riding.

 

When I know a truck is approaching I do go onto the gravel verge .... safer, but sketchy handling.

 

As @Skubarra said, every so often the verge is unsafe for cycling, near impossible on my setup.   The real scary bit being the drop between the tar and the verge ... limited spots to get safely back onto the tar.

 

 

all that said .... last 1500 m to Philladelphia is just that bit narrower .... I often spend most of this section on the verge.

 

 

 

Ironically .... along the road to Philladelphia most cars are very considerate.  In contrast, the passing speeds along Bottelary is much higher....

 

 

Back to your initial question ....

 

On my MTB I spend most of these rides on the verge, though I typically just do tar to get to the trails.

 

On the HT with very hard gravel tires I adjust to the traffic ....

 

 

EDIT - Just after taking that photo I cycled on the verge, and my buddy on his FS on the tar .... we did have a good chuckle at the idiocy of it ....

Edited November 22, 2022 by ChrisF

[ChrisF]

4 hours ago, erasmus.merwe@gmail.com said:

Yes, it is a risk.

Last Friday morning I got wiped out by a driver in a Golf, I was going south in Koeberg towards the High School when the golf turned left at the circle at Koeberg and Plein street without indicating. I ended on the pavement with a grazed knee, no other damage to body or bike. But it was again a reminder to be wide awake and expect the unexpected.

 

My closest encounter was during a commute ....

 

Mom stopped at the side junction .... with head turned and shouting at the toddlers on the back seat she rolled right in front of me 😵

 

I was drifting that bike at 46 degrees and stopped right next to the drivers door .....

 

I had TWO different strobe lights going on the front .... not sure a siren would have torn her attention from kids though ....