Meiringspoort/Swartberg Pass

[Koos Likkewaan 2]

Hi,

We are planning a week of riding in this area in September. Looking for some advise/suggestions.

Monday - We will be riding Meiringspoort (De Rust - Klaarstroom and back). Is it safe to ride this pass considering traffic ? We will be about 8 cyclists.

Tuesday - De Rust, direction Cango Caves and back (we are staying in De Rust for the first 3 days). Any route suggestions ? +- 50km

Wednesday - either rest, or something easy

Thursday - Purpose of the whole trip. Swartberg Pass from Cango Caves - Prins Albert.

Friday - Outride from Prins Albert. Any suggestions ? +- 30 - 50km (depending on the legs from the previous day)

Thanks for the help !

[Prince Albert Cycles]

Meiringspoort is as safe as the drivers are on the day. I have guided many groups of up to 60 riders through Meiringspoort since 2004 and never had a problem .  Be visible and respectful towards the traffic and you should be OK.

About 8 km out of De Rust direction Oudtshoorn is Oude Muragie road going towards Cango Caves . Very scenic . Stop at Derustica olive farm for coffee and snacks .

Contact me when you get to Prince Albert I will give you pointers as to a nice route partly over private property 

Arno

[dexterdent]

I did a couple of rides in the area a while ago - details here 

Swartberg is an absolute once-in-a-lifetime-level ride, would even suggest doing it both ways.

We only did Meiringspoort with the car and it doesn't have much of a shoulder, so you are a bit at the mercy of the drivers (like many other spots). You'll probably have a good ride, it's a beautiful road.

Seweweekspoort is a bit out of your way, but another highlight if you can fit it in.

 

Otherwise just ask Arno as above.

 

 

[Lynskey]

Unless you are absolutely committed to this why don't you rather start at Rooiberg lodge or Calitzdorp and go that way. As mentioned Meiringspoort is about the drivers on the day. Personally I probably wouldn't do it.

[Skubarra]

40 minutes ago, Koos Likkewaan 2 said:

Hi,

We are planning a week of riding in this area in September. Looking for some advise/suggestions.

Monday - We will be riding Meiringspoort (De Rust - Klaarstroom and back). Is it safe to ride this pass considering traffic ? We will be about 8 cyclists.

Tuesday - De Rust, direction Cango Caves and back (we are staying in De Rust for the first 3 days). Any route suggestions ? +- 50km

Wednesday - either rest, or something easy

Thursday - Purpose of the whole trip. Swartberg Pass from Cango Caves - Prins Albert.

Friday - Outride from Prins Albert. Any suggestions ? +- 30 - 50km (depending on the legs from the previous day)

Thanks for the help !

For your Friday - Weltevrede Road just south-west of Prince Albert is an easy out & back - 50km in total - with some nice scenery, but likely not better than the personalised ride @Prince Albert Cycles can organise you

Then just in general, probably wont fit into your current itinerary, but Kruisrivier (west of Oudtshoorn) down to Calitzdorp past the dam is a great ride  for a bike trip. Full trip from Oudtshoorn to Calitzdorp via Kruisrivier would be about 70km

 

 

[ChrisF]

Arno, @Prince Albert Cycles knows this area best.  So for CURRENT information stay in contact with him.

 

When it rains hard, there is often a bit of damage, which takes a few days to repair.  So check in just before the trip to make sure.

 

I really enjoyed cycling Meiringspoort.

 

Having done Swartberg from Prince Albert side twice, we booked in between Oudtshoorn and the pass.  Then did a day trip over the pass to Prince Albert ... and back  ... 112km, 2229m elevation, September with a drizzle of snow on the mountain .... flippen cold going out, very hot on he way back.  MEMORABLE ride !!!

 

From Prince Albert I enjoyde the ride out and back on Weltevrede road.

[Scalpel]

@Spinnekop and I did some rides there last week! Speak to Arno as others suggest. The route partially over private property is very scenic! Oude Muragie road is stunning but challenging.

[Koos Likkewaan 2]

Thanks for all the feedback so far ! Keep it coming.

@Lynskey, the group are kinda set on Meiringspoort, and I must say, so am I. 😁. Even planning to stop for a swim at the waterfall.

Plan has always been to get in contact with Arno. @Prince Albert Cycles, might even need to talk about a rental for the Friday ride, as my bike might be on its way to Cape Town that morning.

The offer for the Friday outride sound like a plan. Will get in touch.

Will summarize all suggestions and review with the group.

Nothing set in stone yet, except for Swartberg Pass on the Thursday.

Accommodation already booked.

[Spinnekop]

2 hours ago, Koos Likkewaan 2 said:

Hi,

We are planning a week of riding in this area in September. Looking for some advise/suggestions.

Monday - We will be riding Meiringspoort (De Rust - Klaarstroom and back). Is it safe to ride this pass considering traffic ? We will be about 8 cyclists.

Tuesday - De Rust, direction Cango Caves and back (we are staying in De Rust for the first 3 days). Any route suggestions ? +- 50km

Wednesday - either rest, or something easy

Thursday - Purpose of the whole trip. Swartberg Pass from Cango Caves - Prins Albert.

Friday - Outride from Prins Albert. Any suggestions ? +- 30 - 50km (depending on the legs from the previous day)

Thanks for the help !

We did the big loop on Thursday last week as a warm up for the August in March.
https://www.strava.com/activities/13808129758

What a day out on the bike!
We were only two cyclist but nowhere on the route was motor vehicles an issue.

Do yourself a BIG favour and try ride this littel part of the route.  All gravel and so so stunning piece of earth with dams and mountain and farmland.
 

Edited 11 hours ago by Spinnekop

[Prince Albert Cycles]

2 hours ago, Spinnekop said:

We did the big loop on Thursday last week as a warm up for the August in March.
https://www.strava.com/activities/13808129758

What a day out on the bike!
We were only two cyclist but nowhere on the route was motor vehicles an issue.

Do yourself a BIG favour and try ride this littel part of the route.  All gravel and so so stunning piece of earth with dams and mountain and farmland.
 

Nou weet ek wie Spinnekop is 😜