2026 Karoo to Coast

[bradley.g.theron@gmail.com]

Attempting my first Karoo to Coast and will doing it on a Gravel Bike. Good idea? Any advice from the cyclist who have done a few.

[capediver]

5 hours ago, bradley.g.theron@gmail.com said:

Attempting my first Karoo to Coast and will doing it on a Gravel Bike. Good idea? Any advice from the cyclist who have done a few.

Did the majority of this in January on a fully loaded gravel bike as part of a Garden Route multiday tour.....you should be fine on a gravel bike! It's mostly downhill with a few shortish climbs thrown in for fun!

I have a series of videos of my trip starting here...

 

[michaelbiker]

Did a similar route to @capediver on gravel bikes we went from Uniondale to Knysna. Only bit I’d be wary of on a gravel bike is the off road section from Uniondale to Avontuur. I don’t think the race goes on the R339 (red line) but on the old wapad (blue line)  which looked quite rough going. The rest of the route was in good condition.  

[B20]

Watch your brakemarkers before the turns. With no suspension the gravel bikes tend to bounch over the corrigations, reducing the brake distance significantly. 

The result....you go to hot into a corner and risk hitting a wall or go over the edge.

In 2025 K2C a gravelbiker outbraked himself and smacked a rocky wall 10m in front of me and I had to dodge bits of bike (still connect together via cables) flying accross the racing line. 

Minimum tyres size I would suggest is 50mm.

[Gerlach]

First time doing it, tip, when you think you finish climbing and you come arround the corner, it keeps climbing on and you will see people far in the distance still climbing 😉 

But it is a fun race. Ooooo yes, get some "rekkies" to help keep your water bottles in the water cage because " die wae pad" is supper bumpy and people bottles flying everywhere.  

[capediver]

30 minutes ago, Gerlach said:

First time doing it, tip, when you think you finish climbing and you come arround the corner, it keeps climbing on and you will see people far in the distance still climbing 😉 

But it is a fun race. Ooooo yes, get some "rekkies" to help keep your water bottles in the water cage because " die wae pad" is supper bumpy and people bottles flying everywhere.  

That first part about climbing, seems to apply to almost every gravel adventure I do....😆 despite studying profiles beforehand....!!!!

[Titleist]

I raced it for time on a gravel bike and it wasn't fun. The pass is a tooth-wrecking fest. If you want to have a comfortable day on the bike, just do it on a mtb.

[Ispeed_V]

The pass has taken a hammering from all the rain and the fact that the Keeurbooms is in flood.

Pic taken from De Vlugt

[QBMTB]

Don't be fooled by the 'mainly downhill' comment. It's around 2000m of climbing and yes there is a long downhill stretch (about 16km?) but take the warning of braking & corners seriously. Most serious crashes happen on this section.Lots of climbing beginning with a rough rocky climb at the start up the wapad. It is generally congested and not all cyclists are created equal. Be prepared for a random stop in front of you from someone who thought it was an easy ride! Then there's a long gradual climb before the long long descent. More up and downs and then the kicker - Gouna pass up to Simola. The bends never seem to end. Reminds me of Chappies/Suikerbossie - you think its over but its not. Then prepare for the weather - it gets cold in that part of the world - think 6 degrees. Last one we did was 2019 before the dreaded lurgy locked us indoors and it was cold, it rained and the wind howled. Killed my enthusiasm for afkak rides. Lastly - gravel or mtb? gravel is obviously doable as many riders manage it but the rocky start up the wapad will test you and then there are quite a few sections with hectic corrugations - not easy on your butt. Did first ride on a hard tail and learnt my lesson by then going dual for the others. But it's a GREAT social occasion if you train properly.Good luck.

[Robbie Stewart]

And don't forget about that 14 km climb in the middle from the Keurbooms river to Spitzkop that just never seems to end. I did my last one in 2018 and that climb stands out as a motivation killer 😂.

On a more serious note, those roads have definitely taken a beating with the rains this week in that area. The Kammanassie is in flood with the district entirely cut off from access wherever the river cuts over roads. I know the Eden District isn't slow at repairing damaged roads in the district but this flood and it's associated damage is widespread, so there's a chance some sections could be impassable for a while.

[michaelbiker]

So sad. Those roads were in such good nick a couple of months ago. Including the Prince Alfred pass. They needed the rain but this is next level. Hope the race is not a massive mud fest. 

[Robbie Stewart]

49 minutes ago, michaelbiker said:

So sad. Those roads were in such good nick a couple of months ago. Including the Prince Alfred pass. They needed the rain but this is next level. Hope the race is not a massive mud fest. 

The roads should by dry by the time the race is on, but they might not be in as good condition as before. And if they are repaired, I'm not holding my breath for Kom se Pad and the stretch over Gouna to Simola. That stretch will be atrocious. Knysna has just broken every rain record it held before this week. They've had biblical rain so the forest will actually be dangerous for the next while as trees succumb to the water turning the forest floor to mush. There has been a couple of large trees falling this week already, and one person was sadly killed in Knysna when a large oak tree fell on her car. 

[JohanDiv]

 

On 4/30/2026 at 7:34 PM, bradley.g.theron@gmail.com said:

Attempting my first Karoo to Coast and will doing it on a Gravel Bike. Good idea? Any advice from the cyclist who have done a few.

 

I'm doing it on my gravel bike this year to compensate for my fitness level. The closest I got to a Sub 4 on a MTB was 4:12. Hoping I can get closer to 3:59 on the gravel bike even with a bit less fitness this year.

I'm not bargaining on a comfy ride. Will take it easy until after the Ou Wapad descend, then we gooi! 

I'm running 45mm at the rear and 50mm up front.

[bradley.g.theron@gmail.com]

Cool, thanks for the info. Going to run 50mm both front and back.

[HdB]

Given the bridges washed away and roads damaged, just getting to Uniondale for this year's race could be an adventure already!

Nearly 300mm measured in Uniondale and Diepwalle, even more in some other places, a day ago. And likely that more fell overnight.

Still a few months to go though, so we will see.
I plan on entering, although I don't know if I will actually ride - depends on if I survive the Pioneer that finishes the Saturday. At least the entry fee goes to worthy causes.