Cape Town Cycle Tour 2026

[Robbie Stewart]

5 hours ago, Jaco Steyn said:

I would definitely rather not go at all than to go without my awesome wife.👩‍❤️‍👨

But I also acknowledge that the message was typed in italics, which would suggest sarcasm and not to be taken seriously.🙊 

Definitely tongue in cheek 😁

[Tanya Weaver]

21 hours ago, Jaco Steyn said:

I did 12 "Argus" cycle races, and my last one was in 2018. Then I realised that it was becoming just too expensive to go down to Cape Town to do the race.

Fuel, toll fees, entry fees, accommodation, expenses at the expo and meals for the duration needs to be catered for. Fuel and toll fees will be about R4500. Accommodation will be R1000 per day at least, therefore if you make a bit of a holiday to make all the driving worth the while, would come to R7000. Meals and drinks for my wife and I should probably be at least R500 per day. Entry fee is R940. Spending at the expo can also be a few thousand considering my lack of willpower when seeing all the cool cycling goodies.

That would bring the total to ± R18 000 - R20 000 which I just cannot afford on my pensioner's income. But, I would LOVE to do it another few times to reach at least 15 cycle tours. I will be 63 when the next event is due, so another 3 should be doable. (Looking at the generous overdraft facility available and the R0.00 amount on my credit card and fighting off the temptations...😁)

You should try aim for 21!  My Dad at 80 years old completed it this year so you have lots of time.

 

[bleedToWin]

18 minutes ago, Tanya Weaver said:

You should try aim for 21!  My Dad at 80 years old completed it this year so you have lots of time.

This year was my first time riding with a teammate that wasn't yet born when I did my first Argus... 😆

[Wannabe]

Entry done!!

Will be my 21st (and probably last) CTCT.

 

[bleedToWin]

1 hour ago, bleedToWin said:

This year was my first time riding with a teammate that wasn't yet born when I did my first Argus... 😆

Actually the story is more poetic, so let me draw the full picture!

In 2003 I did my first Argus and haven't missed one since. Malcolm Lange took the win that year, and later in the year his son Tyler was born. This year I lined up as Tyler's teammate, and he went on to take the win and break the record! 😁

[The Ouzo]

21 hours ago, Shebeen said:

This why this line of thinking is so much fun to pick apart!

So because of your inflexible no self-catering rule, holidays are too expensive. Therefore you don't go on many holidays. Therefore you stay at home more and your hardworking wife does more cooking anyway. She can't win!

Look I get your point, but your thinking is so obviously flawed. This is not to jump on your specifically, but you're the one juggling this chestnut so it's you in the cross-hairs currently, don't take it personally!

The Argus is not too expensive!

It's less than R1000, and a lot of that money goes to charities!

What you spend beyond that is up to you, not the Argus cycle people. You can do it on the cheap, you can splash out and bells and whistle the crap out of it - that's your call. If it's Cape Town or local travel that has got unaffordable then don't blame the race for it - that's a universal thing.

I've done 30ish Argus and last year the costs basically doubled for me, but will enter again to do it on tandem with laaitie for sure!

 

 

 

 

Affordability is relative. This year I did it as cheap as I could, even my 1 night accommodation was gifted to me, and it still cost a fair bit (flights, ubers and food) based on my income at the time.

I've just spent the last 2 months with zero income, so even the entry fee for the race is out of reach this time around (first time in 27 years that I have not entered).

So you can argue it from different angles, but lets face it, even the R900 entry fee, whilst in theory going to a good cause, is on the steep side.

 

having said the above, should my finances change, I will be making some sort of plan to enter and ride.

[Mamil]

3 hours ago, bleedToWin said:

Actually the story is more poetic, so let me draw the full picture!

In 2003 I did my first Argus and haven't missed one since. Malcolm Lange took the win that year, and later in the year his son Tyler was born. This year I lined up as Tyler's teammate, and he went on to take the win and break the record! 😁

You're getting on a bit old chap

[Jase619]

On 9/29/2025 at 2:09 PM, dexterdent said:

This almost makes it worth it to be a PPA member?

Entry Fees for paid-up PPA Members: 

109 km - R700 
42 km - R500

General Entries will open on Monday, 6 October 2025 at 13h00 : 
109 km - R940 
42 km - R500

R300 PPA member rates, so only a R60 premium which I'll make up somewhere else. Unlikely to regret it I think.

 

and if you have a family membership the total membership is R400, so if split between 2 people it works out at R900 per person for the entries plus PPA membership

[Jaco Steyn]

On 9/29/2025 at 4:19 PM, Shebeen said:

This why this line of thinking is so much fun to pick apart!

So because of your inflexible no self-catering rule, holidays are too expensive. Therefore you don't go on many holidays. Therefore you stay at home more and your hardworking wife does more cooking anyway. She can't win!

Look I get your point, but your thinking is so obviously flawed. This is not to jump on your specifically, but you're the one juggling this chestnut so it's you in the cross-hairs currently, don't take it personally!

The Argus is not too expensive!

It's less than R1000, and a lot of that money goes to charities!

What you spend beyond that is up to you, not the Argus cycle people. You can do it on the cheap, you can splash out and bells and whistle the crap out of it - that's your call. If it's Cape Town or local travel that has got unaffordable then don't blame the race for it - that's a universal thing.

I've done 30ish Argus and last year the costs basically doubled for me, but will enter again to do it on tandem with laaitie for sure!

 

 

 

 

OK, let me rephrase. The entire Argus experience is expensive, especially for us having to drive almost 3000km down to CT and back. I do not have the luxury of staying with family while down in CT, so accommodation and meals must be paid for. You can go cheap, but I have burnt my fingers in the past trying to go that route. 

It will be difficult to justify spending ±R18 000- 20 000 on a couple of days to do the CTCT, which amounts to about 50% of my monthly pension. 

 

Having said that, I will plan a next holiday down in the Cape to coincide with the CTCT, and properly budget for it accordingly. 

[Bro Derek]

The internet sometimes

'I can't afford it/It is expensive for me'

People proceed to tell them they are wrong with no knowledge of their financial standing or situation

Also, with no real understanding of what the Argus means to that person and how it differs to what it means to them.
 

I do it most years but if I miss it I also don't care. It's not high on my list of important things, but it is a fun day to be a part of. No one should feel belittled or pressured because they feel that one race on the calendar in a faraway city isn't a comfortable trip

It happens every year. 

Some people need to get over themselves.

Jaco, feel vindicated in your decision. You have to justify your peace of mind to nobody

 

[Spinnekop]

14 hours ago, Bro Derek said:

The internet sometimes

'I can't afford it/It is expensive for me'

People proceed to tell them they are wrong with no knowledge of their financial standing or situation

Also, with no real understanding of what the Argus means to that person and how it differs to what it means to them.
 

I do it most years but if I miss it I also don't care. It's not high on my list of important things, but it is a fun day to be a part of. No one should feel belittled or pressured because they feel that one race on the calendar in a faraway city isn't a comfortable trip

It happens every year. 

Some people need to get over themselves.

Jaco, feel vindicated in your decision. You have to justify your peace of mind to nobody

 

Jaco mentioned R20k.  To him that is expensive.  To most people its VERY expensive.  We all agree.
What "the internet" then told him was that you can definitely do it cheaper.
Good point I would think.

Jaco can now choose to partake with the new information or stick to his old information and not partake.
He mentioned that he doesn't want to do it cheaper.  And that is his choice.
"The internet" moved on
No one is belittled or damaged.
Each to their own.  

[Bro Derek]

1 minute ago, Spinnekop said:

Jaco mentioned R20k.  To him that is expensive.  To most people its VERY expensive.  We all agree.
What "the internet" then told him was that you can definitely do it cheaper.
Good point I would think.

Jaco can now choose to partake with the new information or stick to his old information and not partake.
He mentioned that he doesn't want to do it cheaper.  And that is his choice.
"The internet" moved on
No one is belittled or damaged.
Each to their own.  

'This why this line of thinking is so much fun to pick apart!' - proceeds to go into detail over 2 posts why Jaco is wrong and what CTCT means to him and how he feels/does things

So yes and no

Perspective, comfort and life decisions are often not something people can understand of their own family, never mind those of people they have never met on a Forum.

My point was also a lot about the perceived value of the Argus

It isn't as valuable to some as it is to others. Shebeen lives in Cape Town, it has been part of his life his entire life. He paid for his son to enter on a tandem last year so the price doubled from his entry fee to both entry fees. That might be a 100% price hike for him but it is pitiful compared to those who travel for it.

I'm 100% sure there are many races up country he would love to do but land up costing too much for a single day of road closure or fun and, well, meh, it's just a short race.
 

Anyway, I stand by what I said. I still find the internet, especially parts of Bikehub and 3 or 4 of it's glorified members quite funny.

'I've done it this way' - 'well you can't' - insert all knowing oracle reasons on all subjects

There are 3 or 4 members on here who MUST be the smartest, most all knowing people in the world who are never wrong and must be obeyed 🤣

[HdB]

36 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

There are 3 or 4 members on here who MUST be the smartest, most all knowing people in the world who are never wrong and must be obeyed 🤣

To me it feels like part of the whole "listening to respond VS listening to understand" thing. Or in this case, to pick apart and tell them their thinking is flawed. Oh but don't be offended.

Not every statement is a problem that needs to be solved.
You don't just start pushing the rider going slowly up the climb, you first check if they are ok and ask if help is needed. If not, you wish them well and go on with your ride.

[Shebeen]

55 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

'This why this line of thinking is so much fun to pick apart!' - proceeds to go into detail over 2 posts why Jaco is wrong and what CTCT means to him and how he feels/does things

So yes and no

Perspective, comfort and life decisions are often not something people can understand of their own family, never mind those of people they have never met on a Forum.

My point was also a lot about the perceived value of the Argus

It isn't as valuable to some as it is to others. Shebeen lives in Cape Town, it has been part of his life his entire life. He paid for his son to enter on a tandem last year so the price doubled from his entry fee to both entry fees. That might be a 100% price hike for him but it is pitiful compared to those who travel for it.

I'm 100% sure there are many races up country he would love to do but land up costing too much for a single day of road closure or fun and, well, meh, it's just a short race.
 

Anyway, I stand by what I said. I still find the internet, especially parts of Bikehub and 3 or 4 of it's glorified members quite funny.

'I've done it this way' - 'well you can't' - insert all knowing oracle reasons on all subjects

There are 3 or 4 members on here who MUST be the smartest, most all knowing people in the world who are never wrong and must be obeyed 🤣

Happy to engage since I put it out there. Love the way you tell me to not assume other people's perspectives and then proceed to do the same for my own wants and desires!

The point of affordability comes up every frikken year - (even when they didn't increase the entry fee), and the response might seem like total mansplaining, but it's the same every year. Apologies for the repetition, but Jaco finally got it - it's not the entry fee that's expensive - it's the entire experience (and how you do it).

There were years (mid 2000s/early 10s) when the Gauteng contingent at a sold out Argus was equal to WC - that's buying power, the want to travel to do this race AND - kulula/1time/mango somehow offering return flights cheap cheap if you were smart. Those days are gone and people are voting with their wallets (and telling us about it here).

anywhooo, I have flown to do that fun run from pmb<=>durbs for the past two years. Once with the wife as supporter, this year solo. You can do that on the ridiculous cheap or 5star (even get a travel company to do everything for you). When it is a red date calendar event lined up months in advance it becomes an item of the whole experience, but hey maybe you know more than me anyway.

ps. all this talk and I actually haven't entered yet!

 

 

 

 

[Shebeen]

19 hours ago, Jaco Steyn said:

OK, let me rephrase. The entire Argus experience is expensive, especially for us having to drive almost 3000km down to CT and back. I do not have the luxury of staying with family while down in CT, so accommodation and meals must be paid for. You can go cheap, but I have burnt my fingers in the past trying to go that route. 

It will be difficult to justify spending ±R18 000- 20 000 on a couple of days to do the CTCT, which amounts to about 50% of my monthly pension. 

 

Having said that, I will plan a next holiday down in the Cape to coincide with the CTCT, and properly budget for it accordingly. 

@Jaco Steyn I think we've gone far enough down this road already - if it would be a dealbreaker you can come stay with me in Fish hoek for a few days - payment would be in biltong.

Edited October 2, 2025 by Shebeen

[Bro Derek]

2 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

Happy to engage since I put it out there. Love the way you tell me to not assume other people's perspectives and then proceed to do the same for my own wants and desires!

The point of affordability comes up every frikken year - (even when they didn't increase the entry fee), and the response might seem like total mansplaining, but it's the same every year. Apologies for the repetition, but Jaco finally got it - it's not the entry fee that's expensive - it's the entire experience (and how you do it).

There were years (mid 2000s/early 10s) when the Gauteng contingent at a sold out Argus was equal to WC - that's buying power, the want to travel to do this race AND - kulula/1time/mango somehow offering return flights cheap cheap if you were smart. Those days are gone and people are voting with their wallets (and telling us about it here).

anywhooo, I have flown to do that fun run from pmb<=>durbs for the past two years. Once with the wife as supporter, this year solo. You can do that on the ridiculous cheap or 5star (even get a travel company to do everything for you). When it is a red date calendar event lined up months in advance it becomes an item of the whole experience, but hey maybe you know more than me anyway.

ps. all this talk and I actually haven't entered yet!

 

 

 

 

So for me, R900 is not expensive, but it is a lot for a 109km bike ride which doesn't mean much to me in.

If I had to pay R1200 I simply wouldn't do it, despite that R1200 being my only expense as I would ride to and from the start/finish.

So by saying 'you could do it cheaper', yes, but not less than 5000 or 6000 zar, which is at least 5 or 6 times more than I would be willing to spend on riding a bike for the morning

The stoke/novelty/specialness of the day simply isn't there to justify the cost outlay, which makes it too expensive to justify, no matter how much you can 'save' by doing it 'cheaper'

Cheaper than 20k but more than 6k is still a heck of a lot more expensive than 0k and a 'oh, missed another CTCT, I'll get over it'