TRAVERSE 43
One of the best rides in Cape Town is undoubtedly the scenic road through the Cape Winelands and up into the Cedarberg mountains . It is one of my personal favourites . Now let me assure you that this choice was not made lightly . There is a smorgasbord of excellent day and overnight rides in all corners of the Western Cape province of South Africa and to be honest , riders here are often spoilt for choice . I know that I am lucky to call Cape Town home .
This particular spin is the perfect distance to be enjoyed over a weekend . Many wannabe adventure riders do not have the luxury of escaping their 9-5 lives for months on end , so the perfect weekend ride can offer thrill seekers the opportunity to quench their adventurous spirit . This route allows for many enjoyable miles in the saddle , riding on both dirt and tar . You will see mountains , wine farms , bird life and if you like , get to eat the best spare ribs you have ever tasted . With a little luck and some skillful riding , your spare tire will remain untouched .
Leaving the Cape Town ( known by locals as the ‘ Mother City ’) is not easy . With its towering Table mountain shrinking in your rear view mirrors you will need to endure a short ride on the freeway , more often than not accompanied by heavy traffic . The N1 is the road that , if followed for long enough , will take you all the way to Johannesburg . Don ’ t fret though , you won ’ t have to dodge trucks and buses for very long . After about twenty to thirty minutes , the route veers off to the left onto a much more rural road .
The sign board will direct you to a small farming town called Wellington . As you near the town make sure to turn into the CBD you will meander past the old church building . It is there that you must remember to turn left into the main street . Many bikers bypass this town and travel via the village of Tulbagh , but then you end up missing the best part of the ride . Make sure you check your map or GPS and don ’ t end up going around the pass rather than cutting up and over it . The middle of the town can be pretty busy on a late afternoon , but this stretch is only a couple of kilometres long . The streets are lined by old Cape Dutch style buildings , it is certainly worth passing through . The bustle is over before you know it and then the real fun starts .
Just moments after leaving the chaos of the town centre behind you , the road is transformed into a spaghetti bowl of twists and turns . This is the beginning of the first pass , so hold on tight . A height restriction board warns heavy trucks of the dangerous route ahead . Lapping at both road shoulders are forests of tall trees interspersed with fynbos . Fynbos is a rough shrub that is common around the Western Cape . Literally translated , it means fine bush , but there is not much fine about this shrub . Its branches twist and curl the way a grape vine does . If you are lucky , you will see the bushes in full bloom . They flower with spectacular beautiful blooms in many colours that are often said to be alien like . Bright pink and orange flowers look out of place growing on the rough , rugged , rocky slopes . It will be hard to ride by without stopping to try capture that perfect close-up photo .
Bain ’ s Kloof pass is one of the Western Cape ’ s masterpieces . It was designed and constructed by the revered Scotsman , Andrew Geddes Bain . Opened in 1854 , this 18 kilometre engineering marvel provided access to the hinterland beyond the mountains and was known as the ‘ Gateway to the North ’. Long before riders leaned into the twists and curves of the road with
TRAVERSE 43