Cape Town Bicycle Tour: See The City

A Great Way To See The City

There are many ways to see the City of Cape Town but not all of them are created equal. Some are definitely better than others and cycling around the city is definitely the best way to do it. We are talking about not just riding a bicycle alone but going on a guided tour with someone who truly knows the city. When you take such a tour you will see the city in a way that you could not normally take it all in. It will definitely be the highlight of your trip and you will be able to take many memorable pictures while you are on your tour.

Slow Down And Absorb Everything

Some ways that people typically tour the city is by taking various buses, various tour vans and other vehicles that although they travel relatively slow to other Motor Vehicles; you can’t really take in everything. The ability to ride slow on a bicycle allows you to take in more things than you normally would be able to see. You’ll also get much better pictures as you ride around and have the ability to stop whenever you want to. You could argue that a walking tour would be the same but walking is very tiring and sometimes you just want to coast on a bicycle and let the bicycle do all the work for you.Fresh Air And Light Exercise

It’s also tackles two things that people love about taking a bicycle tour. People love getting fresh air and they love that they are getting very easy exercise. It is so easy to be lazy and to just eat really great food while on vacation but a bicycle tour is a great way to get out in the fresh air and get moving. It is exercising without exercising at all because you’re going to feel so comfortable doing it. It’s a great choice for anyone who wants to see the city in a different way, who wants to their blood flowing while taking in everything and absorbing all that the the city has to offer.

Cape Town Is The Perfect Bicycle City

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We have already established that cycling a is a great way to tour the city but let’s now talk about how Cape Town is the perfect City to ride a bicycle in. Cape Town is a city that is not really hilly and it has a ton of flat areas which make cycling around the town very easy. We have everyone from young children to elderly people on bicycles taking in the city that way. So you don’t have to worry about it being tough, tackling Hills or having to walk your bicycle more than riding it. It is a city that was perfectly made for riding the bicycle.

Sign Up Now You Will Love It

Don’t waste any more time and sign up for the next bicycle tour in Cape Town, you are sure to have a great time.

General Considerations On The Woodstock Cape Town Cycle Lane

Cape Town is a cyclist-friendly city. There are countless cycle lanes and bike friendly venues, so cyclists can commute to and from work without any problems. Nonetheless, there are some challenges that need careful thinking and firm actions, as you are going to see in a moment.

Unfortunately, cycling lanes are sometimes used as kerbside parking by vehicle drivers who don’t care about the community they live in. Motorists are also hogging these lanes, leaving very little space for cyclists to use. Experienced cyclists may be find with that, but beginners are surely challenged whenever they encounter such obstacles on these lanes that were supposed to be used solely for cycling.

A few years ago, the Woodstock Cape Town cycle lane, as well as many others, have been painted in green. This initiative was intended to make the streets safer for the riders. Nonetheless, speeding taxi drivers took over these lanes, turning them into dangerous routes. Moreover, deliver vans appeared to find these green lanes to be the perfect spot to park for quick deliveries. This is how the skid resistant surface meant to offer cyclists increased safety turned out to be a paradise for all drivers who needed to go a bit faster than everybody else or for those who wanted to park their cars for a little. Although clearly marked, all these lanes were overrun by car drivers and motorists, thus becoming a real hazard for riders.

As the Woodstock Cape Town cycle lane can contribute to improving the traffic flow inside the city, it surely deserves a better fate than becoming the fast lane of crazy drivers who can’t waste their time on the road like everyone else. Bicycle riders could report all such incidents and misbehavior, thus helping the police do a better job at finding these drivers and penalizing them. This cycling route deserves to become safer, but this is a hard to reach objective, as the officials are overwhelmed with many other problems that need to be addressed in order to maintain the safety of this city.

Luckily, Cape Town has a fairly large sport cycling scene. In addition, the growing number of biking commuters can contribute to the improvement of the actual situation. The hipster suburb of Woodstock is home to one of the largest cycling enthusiasts communities in the city. These people love their vintage bikes, with their refurbished frames and their classy looks. There’s even a cool workplace and coffee spot where these riders love to hang around. This place is Woodstock Cycle Works, and it is decorated with vintage bike frames and other similar elements. This is the favorite spot of bike lovers. Many of the m gather here for a coffee ride to start their weekend on the right foot.

Woodstock Cycle Works is one one example, but the list could go on, as many other coffee shop and restaurant owners have decided to turn their places into biker-friendly spots. Under these circumstances, the need for safety and for protected bike lanes in more than obvious. Slowly but surely, such initiatives can turn Cape Town into a paradise of cycling commuters. This may entice some drivers to give up their cars and ride their bikes to and from work. It’s enough to think about the fact that back in the 1970s, Amsterdam was a city dominated by cars, to see the potential of Cape Town and of other similar cities. The only requirement for this to happen is to secure the safety of cyclists.

The new cycles lanes are welcome by local communities, as cycling is an inexpensive way of commuting. The design of new cycle lanes such as the ones running from Liesbeeck Parkway to Station Road, Woodstock, is meant to promote safety in traffic for cyclists, as well as a pleasurable ride. This trend is fascinating, as it can be the most effective solution to the global warming problem all countries of this planet have in common. The sooner we understand we have to put an end to this heavy pollution by adopting environment-friendly initiatives, the more chances we have to offer our children a beautiful planet to live on.

Cycling Routes in Cape Town

Cape Town is a biker’s heaven. It is considered one of the most bike-friendly cities in the world. From scenic mountain routes to wide open spaces surrounded by nature, there are amazing cycling routes that suit all skills and fitness levels. The city’s natural environment is abundant with single tracks, switchbacks, jeep tracks, and tarmac roads to suit everyone from the leisure cyclist to the technical rider. Some of these cycling routes are on the outskirts of the city, while others will take a bit of driving to get to. Here are some of the amazing cycling routes in Cape Town.

Table Mountain

 

The Table Mountain offers some of the best and most accessible cycling and mountain biking trails in the city. The terrain in Table Mountain is often steep and unforgiving. An extensive trail network stretches from the Western Seaboard, via Signal Hill and Table Mountain right to Newlands forest and Constantia Nek. There are several access points and dozens of loops that can keep you busy for hours on end. The trails vary from exposed single track and rock gardens to gentle jeep tracks that take you through the cool shade of indigenous forest Afromontane forests. You can pick up a Table Mountain MTB map from a local bike shop, Cape Town tourism office or the Table Mountain National Park visitor center.

Signal Hill

 

Signal Hill technically falls under Table Mountain National Park. This flat-topped hill situated next to Lion’s Head has a number of mountain biking trails. There are several single and jeep track trails leading to either side of Signal Hill. Most tracks except the Big Easy are Intermediate to Expert. The Big Easy is by far the best and easiest way to access Signal Hill. The tracks are signposted and fairly easy to recognize. A trail map is also available at the gate at the top of the roller-coaster next to the monument.

Sea Point Promenade Meander

 

The Sea Point Promenade is one of Cape Town’s favorite places to cycle, walk and play. This 7-kilometer scenic beach-front route is mostly paved and completely flat and is suitable for all levels of fitness. The Seapoint Promenade runs the length of Sea Point’s beachfront, from Bantry Bay to Mouille Point where it connects to Green Point Urban Park. This cycling route starts at the Up Cycles bicycle rental station and runs along the coastline, passing bustling play parks, fascinating public art, and other recreational activities. We suggest that you go slow when cycling in the early mornings and evenings as this area can be quiet busy.

Tokai Forest

 

Tokai Forest in the city’s southern suburbs is one of the most popular cycling destinations in Cape Town. There are several cycling trails through the dense forest and along exposed jeep tracks that offer something for all skill levels. Whether you are looking for a soft cycle or something more extreme, Tokai forest offers it all. All routes are mostly gravel roads, but you can choose single tracks from a number of different routes depending on your riding ability and confidence. Tokai Forest is not only popular for its amazing cycling trails, it is also popular for bird watching, hiking, and horse riding.

Chapman’s Peak Drive

 

Chapman’s Peak is renowned as one of the most scenic marine drives in the world. It stretches from Hout Bay to Noordhoek. This picturesque 9-kilometer mountain road is winding up and down along the Atlantic Coast with 114 curves. The route can be strenuous with its many twists but it is very scenic and can be enjoyed also by amateur riders. Chapman’s Peak Drive also has numerous vantage points and picnic spots where you can enjoy fantastic views over Hout Bay.

Preparing For The Moonlight Mass Cape Town Ride

If you’re someone that is into cycling and you live in or want to visit Cape Town, you have options. Moonlight Mass Cape Town is something that started as a social media experiment, and now it’s one of the more popular rides in this area!

A ride like this is one where you’re with people and you will get to explore a little with them. It’s more of a social thing than it is a race. A casual night ride is what it’s all about, and it can be a nice way to chill if you’re visiting or if you live in the area. You need to look on their website to find out more in case anything has changed. But, for the most part, it’s a pretty straightforward ride where you start in one place and go to another during a full moon once a month.

Even though this is a casual ride, you don’t want to bring something that is too tiring to ride. There are some really small bikes that are hard to use for something like traveling. Ask around and see what others use in the area, and you may also be able to rent something if what you have won’t work. If all else fails, find a bike you can buy. Maybe you can find one locally so that you can have one to use during every ride you go on like this one!

 

Figure out where the parking area is because you may not want to ride a bike all the way here and then all the way back to where you were. There’s a lot that holds people and you can also park near the end goal if you don’t want to have to go all the way back. It’s up to you, and you may find an option that works better for you if you look around. Just know that you don’t have to spend time biking there if you don’t want to and have a vehicle to use.

Why would you want to try to ride a bike around if you’re not competing? Well, some people like to just go out on a beautiful night and have a relaxing ride. When you have others with you, it’s a very nice way to connect without having to talk. You’ll all be enjoying the ride and you may make some friends when all is said and done. This can also be a good way to be a little more active. It shouldn’t be all you do each month, but it can give you exercise for the days it’s scheduled for.

Do you want to bring something with you so you have a drink. You may also want to bring other things with you, so make sure you have a pack that’s not too heavy. If you’re going to bring your vehicle, you can store items in there as long as you make sure you can lock them up. You can also leave things behind and only bring a drink or whatever is absolutely necessary. Just make sure it all doesn’t interfere with your ability to ride your bike since that can make the trip quite the disaster a lot of the time.

 

Rides will take some energy to get through. While this is a more casual and not a big workout, you should be fine in most cases. But, if you just had surgery or have another reason why you shouldn’t be active, make sure that’s out of the way before you join. If you can get a doctor’s okay if there is something you’re not sure about, that may make you feel better about going on this trip. The people that you’ll be riding with are helpful and if anything goes wrong you’ll be sure to get someone over to help out quickly.

Moonlight Mass Cape Town rides are something that anyone can enjoy. Just make sure you have the right equipment and that you know when it will happen. There are going to be others there so be sure you ask someone if you’re not sure about what the times are and where you’ll be going.