I had a few days off last week and what better way to spend it than exploring the Cape for new routes and cycling tours? We’ve wanted to introduce a 3 or 4 day point-to-point mountain bike tour for a long time now, and hopefully we’ll launch it early next year.

The end goal is to have an easy tour that mainly consists of dirt roads and jeep tracks, that allows the cyclist to amble along and really unwind from all the stresses of daily life. Ideally we want different levels of accommodation for each nights stop, namely; camping, basic and luxury.

Of course, we are always on the hunt for singletrack and in a perfect world we’d like to have a few options where more experienced cyclists can veer off the route, onto some winding singletrack, and then join up with the normal route again

I stocked up on a few maps from Surveys and Mapping in Mowbray (where I used to work as a cartographer)

I removed all the seats out of Eric the Stormtrooper (our van) and packed it full of bikes, sleeping bags, food and clothes and set off for the Grabouw region in search of some great routes.

The Grabouw region is packed full of great mountain bike options but there is the problem that a lot of the roads are on private land-this means getting land owners permission, a lot of dead ends and some beautiful finds. Here is one of them!

I came across the Old MacDaddy, which has been newly built and offers superbly quirky upmarket accommodation in the region.

It is also right on the border of MTO forestry so perfectly placed for some good rides. It sounds like they’ve got some big plans for cycling in the region and I hope that iRide Africa can help them out in the near future.

I searched around the Houwhoek area and there are some amazing options to join up with Van der Stels pass which takes you towards Villiersdorp. From here, we hope to link up to Greyton and stay in this lovely village either at the Post House or cycle up the hell hill towards Rusty Gate.

On a rather rainy Saturday I headed up to try and conquer the Groenlandberg. Well, I didn’t quite conquer it but managed to survive to the top! I haven’t used my granny gear like that in a very long time but thankfully by the time I reached the top the weather had cleared (The sun always wins in South Africa!). This is one of the views of the downhill that leads towards Villersdorp/ Nuweberg Forest Station.

The roads are in rather shoddy condition at some parts but nothing that a good trail bike can’t deal with.

I then moved on more up the west coast for some riding in the sun. This route will serve as a backup if the weather isn’t good in the Grabouw area. While the Grabouw area revolves around biking through pine plantations/fynbos and apple orchards, the West cost option revolves around riding through rare Rhenosterbos and beautiful vineyards.

I chanced upon a farm called Silwerfontein which could become one of the best MTB destinations with a bit of work. It’s got mountains, loads of water, a nice pine and gum plantation and a great hiking trail with accommodation options. At the moment, it’s all just gravel roads and jeep tracks but in a stunning setting! This road reminded me of one of my favourite quotes,

“If you come to a fork in the road, take it!”

And this is the jeep track disappearing into the distance-makes you want to ride doesn’t it?

I stayed over in Tulbagh and witnessed yet another great African sunset.

Now its time for us to put all these routes together and come up with some great cycling tours for you!