Should I take Road or MTB bike to Cape Town

[Anthem24]

7 minutes ago, Ed345 said:

I hadn’t realised that the roads to Cape Point were all paved. 
 

Any idea if the SA discount is for foreign residents, or citizens only?

• South African Citizens must provide proof of South African ID, South African Divers Licence, or South African Passport on arrival. This proof is accepted in original, electronic or certified paper copy.
• Also accepted to claim the South African rate are Foreign passports which have a valid visa/permit from home affairs to be in the country inserted onto one of the pages of the passport: Spousal / Work / Study / Retirement / Volunteer / Diplomatic visa. Also accepted is an electronic or certified paper copy. Alternatively proof of permanent residence as issued by home affairs, or a certified paper or electronic copy of any of above provided it is copy of the page of the passport indicating who you are and the visa.
• All South Africans over 18 years old will be required to provide proof of SA ID to qualify for the local rate.

From: https://www.sanparks.org/travel/book/useful-information/rates-fees

BUT come to think of it, if you're cycling in, you only pay the cycling activity permit as far as I'm aware

Edited 20 hours ago by Anthem24
added link

[Jono]

26 minutes ago, Jono said:

Definitely mountain bike!

From Kalk Bay it’s a short ride to Clovelly which gets you to ou wa pad (next to ou kaapse weg) from there you have noordhoek peaks, Tokai (arguably some of the best trails in SA) the beautiful mast climb. Can connect to newlands/kirstenbosch via the greenbelt trails, Table Mountain loop from there, missing link, back around chappies or on the trail next to constantia nek road.

If you don’t want to take ou wa pad to Tokai, there are loads of riders on main road going towards Tokai.

Also you can ride your Mtb on the road when doing the peninsula loop, Cape Point etc.

Throw in a wine tasting/breakfast for the rest of the family in stellies take the bike with. 

Also want to add that if the wind is blowing like it is today, you aren't exactly going to be loving life riding towards Cape Point, the other direction will be way more appealing. 

[Headshot]

Weird, everyone suggesting a road bike. If you're a roadie then yes, but if you have a MTB then bring that rather. Traffic in CT is still k@k and I'm so happy the CTCT is done and I can return to the mountain.

If you're a typical SA MTB rider, you'll have a marathon bike with fast rolling tyres that you can happily tackle some tar with. I laughed when I read the comment about a 30 minute drive to Tokai. Its an easy 30 minute ride to Tokai - why would you drive? 

[Ed345]

Interesting. I am roadie by nature, and only have a hardtail alloy mtb. I am tempted to take the mtb though, to get me some places that I probably won't otherwise. 

I've seen lots of good things about Tokai, but is it a downhill type place, or is an enthusiastic beginner with a  hardtail going to have fun?

[Stoffel76]

11 minutes ago, Ed345 said:

I've seen lots of good things about Tokai, but is it a downhill type place, or is an enthusiastic beginner with a  hardtail going to have fun?

Both... 😁

There are lots of options/alternatives so you can bypass the rougher stuff...  Although it helps to have someone with you to tell you to take the left or the right fork... 

[El Duderino]

12 minutes ago, Ed345 said:

Interesting. I am roadie by nature, and only have a hardtail alloy mtb. I am tempted to take the mtb though, to get me some places that I probably won't otherwise. 

I've seen lots of good things about Tokai, but is it a downhill type place, or is an enthusiastic beginner with a  hardtail going to have fun?

Tokai has something for everyone. 

Lots of jeep track and some long climbs to on tar/jeep track to Noordhoek Peak and the Mast. There is also some easy singletrack like Vasbyt and some gnarlier stuff like the DH and Enduro trails. 

Can also access the Green Belt trails from Tokai and they are not difficult. 

[guidodg]

6 hours ago, Ed345 said:

Going to Cape Town (staying at Kalk Bay) for 7 day next week. Going with family and in-laws, so looking to get out on the bike as much as possible. 

Normally I would take my road bike, but should I take MTB instead? I’d be looking to ride out directly from Kalk Bay, so not really into driving an hour to then ride. 

road bike...it is really nice riding to Cape Point and inside the reserve as well...wind depending:)

[Headshot]

55 minutes ago, Ed345 said:

Interesting. I am roadie by nature, and only have a hardtail alloy mtb. I am tempted to take the mtb though, to get me some places that I probably won't otherwise. 

I've seen lots of good things about Tokai, but is it a downhill type place, or is an enthusiastic beginner with a  hardtail going to have fun?

Tokai is  a bit of a beast on a hardtail. I sometimes do it on one but its harsh and many of the climbs are quite rough these days. If you're from gauteng or Kzn you might find the rocks down here pretty violent. 

[Jono]

52 minutes ago, Headshot said:

Tokai is  a bit of a beast on a hardtail. I sometimes do it on one but its harsh and many of the climbs are quite rough these days. If you're from gauteng or Kzn you might find the rocks down here pretty violent. 

If you are hammering it down the dh trails, sure. Riding everything else is fine on a hard tail. Would be my preferred weapon of choice for mast or noordhoek peak.

I get what you're saying about the perceived rockiness for up country folk. 

[guidodg]

I would rather do road in Cape Point than Tokai on an alu hardtail any day...

[Duane_Bosch]

7 hours ago, Anthem24 said:

Hout Bay is a concern along Main Road past Imizamo Yethu, but you can take Valley Road instead.

I live in HB so can confirm. 26th Dec 2023 I helped a a cyclist who'd been liberated of her bike by a guy who hit her on the back of her head with a steel pipe.

You DO NOT want to be riding past IY on a bicycle. Apart from the ever present risk of taking a steel pipe to the back of your head there's also an almost permanent river of poo flowing down the road.

@Ed345 Kalk bay is a great spot to do some road riding from. Just keep an eye on windy/windguru coz Kalk Bay is very protected and just around the corner in fishhoek it can be blowing a gale.

[Bro Derek]

Long term prediction is blowing a gale until Thursday Night, moderate to brisk SE Friday and then dead and eerily windless for 8 days on the trot

I'd bring the MTB. 

You can ride the nice road bits on it and still hit the mountain. You will struggle to hit the mountain on a road bike. 

It gives you more options in terms of where you ride and also when. One really needs to get their road riding done early to avoid the incessant traffic and poo show that is the deep south road system, while the MTB gives you the option of riding any time of the day with little interaction with the traffic

[eddy]

3 hours ago, guidodg said:

road bike...it is really nice riding to Cape Point and inside the reserve as well...wind depending:)

Just be aware that even if you have a Sanparks Wildcard which gives you free entry into the reserve, you have to pay around R110 to take your bike in.

[Ed345]

1 hour ago, Bro Derek said:

 

I'd bring the MTB. 

You can ride the nice road bits on it and still hit the mountain. You will struggle to hit the mountain on a road bike. 

Given that I’m not training, and just looking for some nice rides, this might be the determining argument 

[MORNE]

7 hours ago, Headshot said:

Weird, everyone suggesting a road bike. If you're a roadie then yes, but if you have a MTB then bring that rather. Traffic in CT is still k@k and I'm so happy the CTCT is done and I can return to the mountain.

If you're a typical SA MTB rider, you'll have a marathon bike with fast rolling tyres that you can happily tackle some tar with. I laughed when I read the comment about a 30 minute drive to Tokai. Its an easy 30 minute ride to Tokai - why would you drive? 

This. a MTB is a road bike too, albeit a slower one, but a way more comfy one. But it’s a bike that can ride any road.

A road bike is a road bike. And on some roads a road bike is pretty crap😁. 
 

OP, the answer is clearly then to buy a gravel bike…

Edited 11 hours ago by MORNE

[capediver]

Easy answer...not sure why everyone's missed it....bring a gravel bike!!!