Page 2 - Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route )

29-03.-2006, 01:06 AM	#16
HowardSteele Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tokai,CAPE TOWN,SA Posts: 511	Re: Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route ) Howzit, I haven't ventured up the Robinson pass by bike yet and it's been a while since i did it by car so i cant really remember the gradient or at what point you cover the worst bit of the climb, if I come across some details I’ll post it. On browsing the net for info, I think i stumbled on your tour details for Sept. Land in Cape Town, Bus to Knysna, Train trip to George but your first day of riding is Mosselbay to Oudshoorn? If this is your trip, don’t sweat you'll have plenty of back up and the accommodation looks good, there seems to be plenty of time for sightseeing etc, I’m working on a site that has a brief description and some pics of the rides we do here Cape Town, MTB trails that is .It still needs a bit of tweaking and some pics never loaded but have a look and tell me what you think. http://myweb.absa.co.za/jaapster this is the site and the pics are under my name Howard.

30-03.-2006, 06:01 PM	#17
Gearoid Registered User Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 47	Re: Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route ) Hi there, Yeah that sound like the trip im taking. Im just turning up lol. passport in hand cycling gear in the other. The morning are getting brighter so im doing a few extra laps around the Phoenix park So I'm doing about 50 km a day Monday to Friday. Good long run Saturday or Sunday. 80 - 100 km run. So I should be fighting fit for the trip. Your web page has some great pictures. Looks like a good run. Take it the lad in the picture is ur son.? How long does it take you to cover that run. Looks like great fun. Can you tell me wheres good and safe to go out in the evening in Capetown. I know I would have to get a taxi here and there. But what places are good to go. Will be in capwtown 3 days i'm thinking and won't be sitting in the hotel. __________________ Fighting on the internet is like winning the special olympics: even if you win you're still a retard. ...

30-03.-2006, 06:31 PM	#18
HowardSteele Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tokai,CAPE TOWN,SA Posts: 511	Re: Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route ) Cape Town, has plenty of clubbing and night spots, the Waterfront has every thing touristy, shops, resteraunts, movies etc and then the centre of town at night has raves, clubs, massage parlours you name it it's there. Your daily excursions are limitless Shark cage diving, wine routes, sailing.surfing diving, and chilling out on the famous beaches. The best is to head to the Tourist info centre on your arrival, they are a great help and have brochures and info on all the info you need. They will update you on no go areas, areas of high incidence of crime on tourists and then of course we have areas the locals avoid to. The Tokai trail offers various options with over 50 km of trail, the run up to the silvermine gate and back is about 28km and climbs 500m,All nice loose gravely stuff on your way down you can run the the single track, which has some nice technical sections. The youngster is a friend’s son; his mom doesn't ride so he joins us on rides. My son is working on the rigs in Scottland, he phoned last week to complain about the cold and snow. Its A LOVELY 34 d/cel here today with a clear weekend beconing, Scuba dive Saturday morning and a long ride on Sunday

30-03.-2006, 09:49 PM

#19

carvin77

Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2006

Posts: 23

Re: Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route )

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearoid

Been doing some reading and it does seem like alot of people get hurt by baboons because there in wrong place at the right moment. When to males are fighting. it is said they just lash out. the link is very good. doesnt say how much though. well not that i could see. What part of africa you from.I will have lots of sun cream. as for the rain us Irish are water proof. lol rains here all the time. not a good day here with out a head wind ether lol As for cycling in Ireland. Once you get out of the major towns or city, Its great very relaxing the people are friendly. Last summer i cycled fron Dublin to Shannonbridge and back in 2 days round trip of 316km. Did the trip on my own and loved almost every minute of it, lol One of the hottest weeks of our summer that week. had factor 50 on and still got cooked. lol so i know il be needing some a wee bit stronger for Africa. talk to you soon

very sad! isn't there anything to do regarding this?

http://educationdegree.net
http://flighttoeurope.net

31-03.-2006, 12:46 AM

#20

Gearoid

Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2005

Posts: 47

Re: Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route )

Quote:

Originally Posted by carvin77

very sad! isn't there anything to do regarding this?

http://educationdegree.net
http://flighttoeurope.net

May be to you, but there questions I wanted answers for. So whats the harm in asking silly questions. You get silly answers back. All u hear about South Africa is the crime and the poor state of the country. I want to know what the story is from some one from there. And i wont find out unless I ask.

__________________
Fighting on the internet is like winning the special olympics:
even if you win you're still a retard. ...

31-03.-2006, 01:13 AM

#21

Gearoid

Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2005

Posts: 47

Re: Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route )

Quote:

Originally Posted by HowardSteele

Cape Town, has plenty of clubbing and night spots, the Waterfront has every thing touristy, shops, resteraunts, movies etc and then the centre of town at night has raves, clubs, massage parlours you name it it's there.

Your daily excursions are limitless Shark cage diving, wine routes, sailing.surfing diving, and chilling out on the famous beaches.

The best is to head to the Tourist info centre on your arrival, they are a great help and have brochures and info on all the info you need. They will update you on no go areas, areas of high incidence of crime on tourists and then of course we have areas the locals avoid to.

The Tokai trail offers various options with over 50 km of trail, the run up to the silvermine gate and back is about 28km and climbs 500m,All nice loose gravely stuff on your way down you can run the the single track, which has some nice technical sections.

The youngster is a friend’s son; his mom doesn't ride so he joins us on rides. My son is working on the rigs in Scottland, he phoned last week to complain about the cold and snow. Its A LOVELY 34 d/cel here today with a clear weekend beconing, Scuba dive Saturday morning and a long ride on Sunday

The bike i will be using will be some local hybrid. So it be no good for off road. Tell ur son its all in his head. The cold that is lol. its about 10 d/cel here with lots of rain. Sure there some where to rent a bike if one needs to. Or wants to more to the point. lol 700 km done by the time i get to Capetown. Might not want to see a bike for a wee while. Is crime that bad over there. I know there is a big part of the country that is poor And the papers only report bad things as they make good news. But Good things dont make news. We have parts of Dublin you would not go in2 at night. But for the most part you can come and go as you please. All I keep reading is dont go here , dont ever walk any where after dark. Stay in a large group and the like. Sure you be use to all this. Do you ever get any trouble when out on the trial. Been reading theres been a big increase on robberies on and around table mountain.

__________________
Fighting on the internet is like winning the special olympics:
even if you win you're still a retard. ...

31-03.-2006, 02:40 AM	#22
HowardSteele Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tokai,CAPE TOWN,SA Posts: 511	Re: Tips on cycling in South Africa.(Garden Route ) Well as a tourist like in any country you are seen as an easy mark, cellphones, cameras, travelling money so there have been a few incidents but no more than SA tourists experience in other countries. There a quite a few bicycle hire places, do the tour organisers not provide bikes?Most of the outfit’s I’ve come across do. You will find the Capettonians helpful friendly hosts and you’ll go back to Ireland and correct all the misconceptions that prevail. In the poorer areas, the informal housing settlements and dodgy allyways, Its just plain arrogant walk around flashing expensive items in areas where people are starving, and not expect to be relieved of your fancy camera, jewlery and bucks . Like some of our FLASHY VISITORS do and when they are robbed they scream victim.If you plan to explore the poorer side of town i would sugest a guide,as these areas have gangster elements and gangster protoccol. We that is all the cyclists I know, have never encountered problems THE trails are pretty safe the incidents we have had are the results of a group of homeless people living on the slopes of Table Mountains and then the victims always seem to be women out walking the mountain on their own. The vagrants have been relocated since the attacks. One of the problems with Table Mountain that it is so much part of the scenery, visitors and on a few occasions’ locals forget it’s a large uninhabited area, with crevices cliffs and changing weather. The rescue services, weekly rescue, the unlighted visitor just walking to the top to see the view,like they out for a walk in the park. Hey enough already,you are going to have a great time in our city.probablly go home with a nice tshirt tan but that'll be the worst of it.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode