XCape offers custom bike tours that are individually tailored to meet your needs, your skills and your pocket. Whether you have one day or a month in and around Cape Town we can show you the best rides available in the region's stunning scenic beauty. Otherwise, see below for examples of rides available. Cross CountryThe Western Cape (the province in which Cape Town is situated) is crisscrossed by trails of almost every imaginable length and type. From mountainous routes giving spectacular views of valleys and oceans (even of whales in season) to forest tracks that keep you in the shade riding soft, pine-needled tracks, technical routes, fast, swooping routes, trails through nature reserves and National Parks where you ride past antelope and other game it's all possible. Some multi-day routes offer stopovers in mountain or beach huts where we will barbecue under the stars with a fine bottle of local wine or South Africa's famous beers after a good day's ride. Examples of ridesThese are merely to illustrate what is possible, but rides can be customised for your requirements. So while, for example you can do a 5 hour ride in one location, you could also do more than one shorter ride, or just take it slower and enjoy the scenery! EXAMPLE RIDE 1 Distance: 50km This mountainous route a few hours outside of Cape Town is crisscrossed with many jeep tracks that meander through the local Fynbos vegetation (low bushes and shrubs unique to the area) and pine forests. The ride takes you up one of the highest peaks in the Cape and provides stunning views towards Cape Point and Table Mountain. EXAMPLE RIDE 2Distance: 20 - 70km Forming part of the Cape Nature Reserve this area has a single jeep track that follows the mountain contour path and takes you up to one of the highest peaks in the Cape Peninsula. You'll pass through Cape Fynbos vegetation and pine forests with stunning views over the Cape Peninsula, Hout Bay and towards Cape Point. If luck is on your side you may even be able to cycle through the troop of Cape baboons that frequent the area and witness the interactions between the members of this well-known pack. The area also has multiple single tracks of varying difficulty leading from different levels of the contour paths. This ride is also extensively used for night riding and frequently owls, porcupines, duiker (small antelope) and lynx can be spotted. EXAMPLE RIDE 3 Distance: 230km This spectacular multi-day route takes you through some very remote areas of a Nature Reserve with stunning rock formations and indigenous fauna and flora. Here you will get to meet the characterful locals and enjoy their hospitality. You'll pass through areas inhabited by buffalo (one of the Big Five animals), before experiencing the adrenaline-rush of the route's fast mountain descents. DownhillThe Western Cape has some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in South Africa, if not the world. Which means an endless variety of downhill runs of varying difficulty ratings, all in beautiful settings. The downhill competition standard in South Africa is high and many of the cross country routes offer downhill tracks with both natural and man made jumps and obstacles. Tracks run through forests, rocky slopes, muddy hills, vineyards and even urban areas so there is no shortage of variety. RoadThe roads in and around Cape Town are spectacular. In fact, some passes have been nominated as some of the most scenic routes in the world. And you can ride just about all of them. Thanks to a variety of routes you can do a full day ride without coming back on the same roads. Whether its for pleasure or training there's a route for every level. EXAMPLE RIDEDistance: 50 - 150km On these routes of varying lengths and difficulty levels you will follow one of the most scenic roads in the world around the Cape Peninsula. You will cycle through troops of baboons and may even see whales (in season) in the shallow water surrounding False Bay, pass through small fishing villages, ride past markets selling African curios and even ride to Cape Point. Races/competitionSouth Africa hosts numerous cycling competitions for just about every discipline. Some of these races are world renowned and feature international riders. XCape is able to secure entry into most of these races (some may require up to a year's notice however) and can arrange a support team for you and your team. Let us know when you will be in South Africa and we can take a look at the race calendar for you, or contact us and tell us the type of race you'd like to enter and we'll do the rest. Night ridesNight rides are an adrenaline rush as you whip down single tracks or through moonlit forests. You'll also get to see many of the nocturnal animals of the region which you won't see in the daytime. Lights can be arranged if required. Dirt jumpingNumerous cycling areas feature both natural and man-made jumps to hone your jumping skills. If you need it, we can provide jump training with one of South Africa's best. Training campsWith its ideal weather and variety of terrain, Cape Town makes the perfect place for training, whether it's for professional races or merely to improve your skills and fitness. These camps are co-hosted by one of South Africa's top DH riders who is also the only South African ever to take part in world champs for DH, BMX, Dual Slalom and XC. |