Bicycle Cape Town - road cycling tour information
These South Africa cycling tours are aimed at road cyclists who are looking for great rides, sunshine and incredible scenery.
Let our friendly pro riders cycle with you around the beautiful Cape as you put in those ‘sneaky’ base miles! Your accommodation will be a cosy and comfortable guesthouse based in the heart of Stellenbosch – perfectly situated to access all the best bicycle rides in the area.
Tour Duration:
1-10 days
Level:
Intermediate to advanced fitness. The distances of the rides range from 50km to 170km. These involve some passes with tight hairpin turns but all roads are in good condition. Of course, if you don’t feel like riding on a particular day we can recommend many other options!
DAY 1
Hello Sunny South Africa!
We’ll meet you at the airport/hotel and help you and your precious bikes into our air conditioned vehicle and drive you to your comfortable B&B.; Once settled into your gorgeous surroundings, you can meet the other riders on the tour and assemble your bikes with an ice cold drink in your hand! There is a pool on the property so you can catch your first rays of sun and get into holiday mode!
Our Swedish tour guide will take you through introductions, chat about details of the bicycle Cape Town tour and answer any questions over drinks and lovely local snacks.
DAY 2
Holiday mode sets in
Your guide will help ease your legs into turning over during an easy 2-hour cycle around the vineyards and town of Stellenbosch. This ride serves as an excellent orientation to the area and we can point out various passes and areas where you will be riding in the next few days on your South Africa cycling tour.
The afternoon can be spent as you please. There are many options but we recommend just going for a quiet stroll through the ‘dorp; (small town) with its oak lined streets, quaint coffee shops and entertaining students.
DAY 3
4 passes - 130km
After a scrumptious breakfast we will head out for a tough but stunning ride that will work your legs for about 5 hours. We dance on the pedals over four lovely mountain passes but don’t worry! - We stop for coffee and a short break in Franschoek. This small Huguenot inspired village is nestled in the mountains surrounded by lavender fields and vineyards. Very French!
DAY 4
Easy ride and some tourism
After yesterdays magnificent passes, we give our legs a break with a easy 3 hour ride past some really good wine farms. Take note of their names in case you want to take excellent wine back home with you!
In the afternoon we visit Deane, who lives in a township called Khayamandi. He will show us around this vibrant community and give us an insight into township life and culture.
DAY 5
Rest day
We will transport you out to world renown wine farms and you can participate in the Capes most loved activity- wine tasting! This will include informative discussions on wine making, walks around the vineyards and visits into the cellars. Of course, a few glasses of wine are enjoyed during the process!
DAY 6
Hill intervals day!
Our professional cyclist will ride out with you to her favourite hill, where you get to test your physical and mental strength while racing uphill and resting on the downs.
Today’s session is optional but we encourage you to try it out if you have never done hill intervals. It is a great way to get stronger and the only pressure is the pressure you put on yourself.
If you would like to get away by yourself, we can supply you with GPS and maps/routes for a variety of different rides depending on your mood.
We will round off this exhausting day with a traditional Afrikaans braai (BBQ) in the evening, sitting around the pool, enjoying good company and good food.
DAY 7
The longest ride of the week
We cruise out on a 170km route of which 50km is on a heavenly smooth winding road with an incredible rugged coast line to your right and imposing mountains on your left- bring your cameras as it is probably one of the most beautiful South Africa cycling trips we have to offer! This scenic ride will take us approximately 6-7 hours but last nights huge supper will provide you with plenty of energy.
DAY 8
A long and beautiful day on your bike
We spin out to Bainskloof, a 12km long mountain pass overlooking a steep drop into a cascading ravine below. By the time we get to the peak we usually go for a dip in the fresh pools by the roadside so costumes are a good idea! This grueling ride will take about 5 hours and we see some different vistas as we head out into the farmlands of the Cape.
Upon our return home, our masseuse will be waiting and can ease your aching muscles by the poolside before enjoying another magnificent African sunset and meal.
DAY 9
Free training or rest day
Depending on your energy levels you could book a sightseeing trip through us or go for a ride using our maps and GPS. This is a great opportunity to visit a game reserve an hour and a half away from Stellenbosch and try to spot the “Big Five” (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino)
DAY 10
Packing Day
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.” -Albert Einstein
www.iRideAfrica.com
Tel: +27 83 457 5662
Email: info@irideafrica.com
