Lammie Posted June 24 Share I need some advise from fellow cyclist? Me and my wife will be doing a fund raiser ride, on a mtb tandem, for one of the local schools in September We did a 1600km ride last year from Johannesburg to Capetown on a known route but this year it is not a known route and I planned it from scratch. I used "Ride with GPS" and "track 4 Africa" to build our route. So I hope that the roads is actually ride able when we get there We prefer to do gravel and stay of the main roads with trucks and traffic. I am using Ride with gps for navigation and no fancy Garmin /Wahoo devices. Also will be staying in local B&B's If you have any knowledge about the towns we go through, can you confirm if the roads is ride able and do not have too much of traffic if it is on tar We want to start at the school in Eloff (just outside of Delmas) and finish there 9 days later. The route is on the link, I do not know how to attach it https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47059810 The route planned is : (the distance is what I can remember from the top of my head) Day 1 Eloff - Bethal about 135km According to the maps it will be 50 /50 gravel and smaller tar roads and pass at the back of Secunda Day 2 Bethal - Piet Retief about 1700km. This will be our longest day in the saddle Most of this route will follow the railway service road and also pass through Ermelo. This is the part I am not sure if the road is ride able. Day 3 Piet Retief - Ezulwini about 110km I have a friend in Swaziland that helped with the Swaziland part Day 4 Ezulwini - Hlane about 110km Day 5 Hlane to Bulembu 110km Day 6 Bulembu - Kaapsehoop 130km We will go via Barberton and I know the route to Barberton is very scenic and not to busy. From Barberton to Kaapsehoop I hope the road is not to busy Day 7 Kaapsehoop - Dullstroom 130km Not allot of gravel that I found Day 8 Dullstroom - before Bronkhorstspruit 130km Will be following parts of the Tonteldoos race route Day 9 Bronkhorstspruit - Eloff 100km This area I know and have nice gravel roads to use Any advice or route suggestions will be greatly welcome and please feel free to ask if you need more info Edited June 24 by Lammie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi_steve Posted July 2 Share Hi Lammie - sorry can't help with intel on this but looking to ride something like this in August in touring mode, so just jumping in to see if you think it's suitable for a solo rider, and if finding B&Bs is likely to be fairly straightforward ? Cheers Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rowl Posted July 2 Share On 6/24/2024 at 1:12 PM, Lammie said: I need some advise from fellow cyclist? Me and my wife will be doing a fund raiser ride, on a mtb tandem, for one of the local schools in September We did a 1600km ride last year from Johannesburg to Capetown on a known route but this year it is not a known route and I planned it from scratch. I used "Ride with GPS" and "track 4 Africa" to build our route. So I hope that the roads is actually ride able when we get there We prefer to do gravel and stay of the main roads with trucks and traffic. I am using Ride with gps for navigation and no fancy Garmin /Wahoo devices. Also will be staying in local B&B's If you have any knowledge about the towns we go through, can you confirm if the roads is ride able and do not have too much of traffic if it is on tar We want to start at the school in Eloff (just outside of Delmas) and finish there 9 days later. The route is on the link, I do not know how to attach it https://ridewithgps.com/routes/47059810 The route planned is : (the distance is what I can remember from the top of my head) Day 1 Eloff - Bethal about 135km According to the maps it will be 50 /50 gravel and smaller tar roads and pass at the back of Secunda Day 2 Bethal - Piet Retief about 1700km. This will be our longest day in the saddle Most of this route will follow the railway service road and also pass through Ermelo. This is the part I am not sure if the road is ride able. Day 3 Piet Retief - Ezulwini about 110km I have a friend in Swaziland that helped with the Swaziland part Day 4 Ezulwini - Hlane about 110km Day 5 Hlane to Bulembu 110km Day 6 Bulembu - Kaapsehoop 130km We will go via Barberton and I know the route to Barberton is very scenic and not to busy. From Barberton to Kaapsehoop I hope the road is not to busy Day 7 Kaapsehoop - Dullstroom 130km Not allot of gravel that I found Day 8 Dullstroom - before Bronkhorstspruit 130km Will be following parts of the Tonteldoos race route Day 9 Bronkhorstspruit - Eloff 100km This area I know and have nice gravel roads to use Any advice or route suggestions will be greatly welcome and please feel free to ask if you need more info Sent you a PM for someone to possibly help. Lammie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertWhitehead Posted July 3 Share https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26649606 - will this help? I have a book called: "Riding the Dragon's Spine" where they outline and even provide gpx files for most of what you're looking for. They even offer discounts at some of the guesthouses, if you choose the one they stayed at https://bakgatbooks.co.za/product/riding-the-dragons-spine-david-bristow/ Edited July 3 by RobertWhitehead Sommer Lammie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lammie Posted July 3 Share On 7/2/2024 at 6:14 AM, Kiwi_steve said: Hi Lammie - sorry can't help with intel on this but looking to ride something like this in August in touring mode, so just jumping in to see if you think it's suitable for a solo rider, and if finding B&Bs is likely to be fairly straightforward ? Cheers Stephen Hi Stephen I would do it solo, if the silence is your thing. Our country have great dirt roads and scenery and the locals are friendly. The only Concern is trucks and drivers on cellphones As for B&B - if you know what town you plan to stop you can use Lekkerslaap or TravelGround. Most small towns have a bed available We did a tour from JHB to Capetown last year and there was no pedestrians on the road and fewer vehicles. Planned sleeping places before and confirmed the day on our way to that town. Most towns have a take away or Spaza shop that sells Bully beef and noodles, thus food is sorted 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lammie Posted July 3 Share 1 hour ago, RobertWhitehead said: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/26649606 - will this help? I have a book called: "Riding the Dragon's Spine" where they outline and even provide gpx files for most of what you're looking for. They even offer discounts at some of the guesthouses, if you choose the one they stayed at https://bakgatbooks.co.za/product/riding-the-dragons-spine-david-bristow/ That Dragon spine looks like a great adventure even if you only do parts of it. It goes through some of my planned towns, but in the wrong direction. I found a new friend living in Swaziland who helped me with route suggestions there. Just the first 300km to Piet Retief I am still concerned. According to Ride with gps from Bethal to Piet Retief there is a railway service road I can use. 😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwi_steve Posted July 8 Share Thanks Lammie - appreciate the intel. I am getting more relaxed about how to make this work with all the info people are offering. Lammie 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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