Bike Touring. Stormsvlei to Hermanus

[R E CYCLIST]

Hi there

I would like to Bicycle tour on tarred road from N2 Stormsvlei to Napier,Bredasdorp to Hermanus.

My concern is that the Road R317 from Stormsvlei,is it tarred n safe to ride on, traffic etc. Or is there another alternative. 

I will be solo

Many thanks

[Stephan]

Personally I would not do this. I have done two cycle tours that went to these same places using as much gravel as possible and felt very exposed on tar sections. Many sections don’t have a shoulder.

You can probably do the route you want many times and be fine, but you only need one idiot who is drunk, on his phone or not looking and you are a gonner. Not worth the risk. 

[Anthem24]

Both Google Maps and Google Earth show the tarred roads in the area (and some dirt ones) and you can check out the shoulder all the way using streetview. (Click on the little orange man and drag it to the blue lines.)

The R317 does not have a shoulder but is not a hugely busy road so there should be space for cars and trucks to pass you in the opposite lane. However, they are going fast so it is always a risk. You could take the adjacent gravel road for that section, or be prepared to ride on the verge when cars approach. In other words, use gravel tyres.

[R E CYCLIST]

21 hours ago, Stephan said:

Personally I would not do this. I have done two cycle tours that went to these same places using as much gravel as possible and felt very exposed on tar sections. Many sections don’t have a shoulder.

You can probably do the route you want many times and be fine, but you only need one idiot who is drunk, on his phone or not looking and you are a gonner. Not worth the risk. 

Noted

 Many Thanks

[R E CYCLIST]

21 hours ago, Stephan said:

Personally I would not do this. I have done two cycle tours that went to these same places using as much gravel as possible and felt very exposed on tar sections. Many sections don’t have a shoulder.

You can probably do the route you want many times and be fine, but you only need one idiot who is drunk, on his phone or not looking and you are a gonner. Not worth the risk. 

Many Thanks

[Shebeen]

On 10/10/2025 at 5:47 PM, R E CYCLIST said:

Hi there

I would like to Bicycle tour on tarred road from N2 Stormsvlei to Napier,Bredasdorp to Hermanus.

My concern is that the Road R317 from Stormsvlei,is it tarred n safe to ride on, traffic etc. Or is there another alternative. 

I will be solo

Many thanks

That's not a busy road, but the okes travel like diesel is R5/km and the cattle they are about to feed haven't eaten since last week. On a roadbike it's possible, but there's limited shoulder. I'd have some super lumo clothing, maybe a flag that waves and the brightest red flasher you can find.

but it would be a lot more fun on the alternative gravel routes of which there are many like this

https://bicyclesouth.co.za/2022/01/beerpacking-the-overberg/