36One - Looking for some climbs to ride

[ATMan777]

Hi there. 

I live in Blouberg and hope to do my first 36One this year.  I’m no super athlete. 
 

I have done a few 7h sessions with around 1400m elevation.  In my next few long rides I’d love to ride a few more long gravel type climbs compared to tygerberg trails that are loaded with micro recoveries etc. 

any suggestions?

Are there perhaps a few groups doing training rides together?

Thanks,

Adrian

 

 

[Murrob]

Come to Paarl, Wellington. Paarl mountain has gravel roads where you can do a good bit of climbing. Then of course you have du toits kloof and Bains close by, tar, but great climbing!

[JohanDiv]

11 minutes ago, Murrob said:

Come to Paarl, Wellington. Paarl mountain has gravel roads where you can do a good bit of climbing. Then of course you have du toits kloof and Bains close by, tar, but great climbing!

That is literally all I rode in preparation of last year's 36One. Plus once or twice gravel roads around the mountain to Gouda, Bains back to Wellington to get some longer hours in the saddle. Got me a solid Sub 19 on the day still feeling RELATIVELY fresh over the line. You can get fit for any race by just riding in Paarl Mountain.

[RossTopher]

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Edited Wednesday at 08:50 PM by RossTopher
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[Mamil]

Ride to Tokai, ride up to the mast or up to lookout point above Silvermine. Trails back down for some fun ....

[Underachiever]

11 hours ago, ATMan777 said:

Hi there. 

I live in Blouberg and hope to do my first 36One this year.  I’m no super athlete. 
 

I have done a few 7h sessions with around 1400m elevation.  In my next few long rides I’d love to ride a few more long gravel type climbs compared to tygerberg trails that are loaded with micro recoveries etc. 

any suggestions?

Are there perhaps a few groups doing training rides together?

Thanks,

Adrian

 

 

If you want to ride on the road, Tiekiedraai, Contermans and Visserhok is on your doorstep.  Mixing these up in loops will prepare you well.

[Hamstring]

tigers claw on Conties trails, Epic did it this year.

[milky4130]

15 hours ago, Hamstring said:

tigers claw on Conties trails, Epic did it this year.

he wants to ride a climb not walk next to his bike.

[fanievb]

my2c

the secret to survive this event is the ability to climb with LOADS of fatigue in your legs.

so you shouldn't be only doing hill repeats, you should be doing hills repeat during and after a long ride.

[Mamil]

2 minutes ago, fanievb said:

my2c

the secret to survive this event is the ability to climb with LOADS of fatigue in your legs.

so you shouldn't be only doing hill repeats, you should be doing hills repeat during and after a long ride.

JA - those two spikes at the end are what I've heard people refer to as "rollers" and which other people have said, usually while toiling on them "die is nie v#kken rollers".

The year when it was so muddy I walked the steepest sections and overtook people who were trying to ride them. 

[fanievb]

7 minutes ago, Mamil said:

JA - those two spikes at the end are what I've heard people refer to as "rollers" and which other people have said, usually while toiling on them "die is nie v#kken rollers".

The year when it was so muddy I walked the steepest sections and overtook people who were trying to ride them. 

the longest 80km I've ever cycled

['Kaze Pete]

I've only done the half (wet 2023), but the terrain from Calitzdorp to the last waterpoint was way more hilly than what was before. Rooiberg, sure 6.65km at 7% is tough, but you just get into a rhythm and ride it out. Those 'rollers' after Calitzdorp, they are tough. The hills mostly disappear after the last waterpoint 😀
From the last waterpoint to the finish is more of a mental thing than physical and you must just soldier on (ok, I was cold and wet..)

As suggested by @fanievb, go tire out your legs and THEN do a few hill repeats! and keep smiling!!! (It hides the grimacing!)

[Underachiever]

4 hours ago, fanievb said:

my2c

the secret to survive this event is the ability to climb with LOADS of fatigue in your legs.

so you shouldn't be only doing hill repeats, you should be doing hills repeat during and after a long ride.

I'm in that area every December and those "rollers" I know very well.. They're proper, even when I am fresh. 

Can't think to do them after about 300km in the legs.

[DieselnDust]

5 hours ago, fanievb said:

my2c

the secret to survive this event is the ability to climb with LOADS of fatigue in your legs.

so you shouldn't be only doing hill repeats, you should be doing hills repeat during and after a long ride.

yip,

you wantto be doing a 5hr ride with 2 20min hill repeats per hr.

 

[ATMan777]

On 3/24/2025 at 9:14 PM, Murrob said:

Come to Paarl, Wellington. Paarl mountain has gravel roads where you can do a good bit of climbing. Then of course you have du toits kloof and Bains close by, tar, but great climbing!

Thank you.  Re Paarl mountain, do you have any routes you could share for safe gravel roads with climbs?  And to I need a permit for this please?

Many thanks 

Adrian

[ATMan777]

1 hour ago, DieselnDust said:

yip,

you wantto be doing a 5hr ride with 2 20min hill repeats per hr.

 

Thanks!