Cycling & Exploring Weekend
Come and ride the roads of Provence/Gard and explore the local vineyards, fromageries and markets. A unique experience for the seasoned cyclist and a sensory treat for the culture vulture
OVERVIEW
This weekend mixes elements from the Taste of Provence experience to complement some amazing cycling routes that this area of Provence/Gard has to offer. We visit the towns of Uzès and Chateauneuf du Pape and ride past the famous Pont du Gard.
Providing something for both cyclists and non-cyclists. We explore the local culture with markets, vineyard visits and places of local interest .This breathtaking part of France has so much to offer and this is a great introduction to Provence/Gard, its culture, food and landscapes.
DAY 1
A welcome tour of the Chateau.
A short t-shirt ride to stretch your legs or a walk to the top of the hill to see the castle ruins or relax and settle in.
In the evening we have social drinks and meet and greet everyone on the north terrace. A run through of the weekend and a time for some Q&A’s.
THE CHATEAU AND SAINT VICTOR LA COSTE CASTLE RUINS
DAY 2
Ride option - The morning ride will be out to the historical town of Uzès, past the cathedral and then heading down to the Pont du Gard in a loop that incorporates some stunning scenery and little villages.
Approx 4hr / 46 miles / 14mph with some coffee/croissant breaks.
Explore option - In the morning we will head off to discover a beautiful local food market to taste some culinary delights!
Both groups will meet back at the chateau for lunch before heading off to a special vineyard for some wine tasting together.
DAY 3
Ride option - Today cyclist’s will be driven over to Mont Ventoux for a morning of climbing on this iconic mountain or you can join the others at the antique market. We will ride the famous route from Bédoin to the summit.
Ascent approx 3hrs / 13 miles / 8.7mph. We will stop half way up at Chalet Reynard for refreshments.
After lunch we head over to the famous town of Chateauneuf du Pape. We will be in the shadow of Mont ventoux as we loop around passing the old Castle ruins. The ride is a fairly flat and an easy end to the day.
Approx 3hr / 30 miles / 12mph with some stop offs.
Explore option - Head over into town and rummage through an old antique market and find a real treasure to take home. Head back to the Chateau for a loverly lunch with the cyclist’s. We will then head over to a wonderful olive oil plantation to meet the owners and discover their production process. You will have the opportunity to buy some olive oil direct form the source!
DAY 4
Any early starters can join for a short ride, walk up to the castle ruins or relax by the pool.
A beautiful breakfast on the north terrace.
Time to pack the bikes up, collect your antique goodies you bought at the market and au revoir!
There will be one transfer to marseilles airport.
DATES
27th - 30th May 2021
22nd - 25th July 2021
Sept 2021 TBC
7th - 10th October
Travel
The Chateau is situated just outside of Avignon.
30 min drive Avignon TGV Train Station
50 min drive from Nimes Airport
70 min drive Montpellier Airport.
90 min drive from Marseilles Airport
We can offer to transfer you and your luggage to and from the Chateau via Marseilles airport. There will be one transfer on the Thursday and one on the Sunday. This is included in the cost. We will do our best to be flexible so please contact us with your travel arrangements to finalise.
You must also let us know if you will be bringing your bike, shipping your bike ahead or hiring a bike. If you are shipping I can build the bike up for you on its arrival.
Insurance
Safety is priority at all times on this weekend. This is not a race but a challenge to yourself to be shared with others. Be respectful to us and to your fellow team mates. If you want to stomp ahead on the climbs no problem but we will always regroup at the top but why not come back down and give the others some encouragement!!
Please make sure you have adequate bike and personal liability insurance. You will need to provide us with documents to show you are covered for the whole trip. We are not liable if you decide to fall off the mountain or someone decides to push you off!
FAQ
What happens if the weather is bad?
Will we do our best to make alternative arrangements either on or off the bike.
Will I get to see the Sunflower and Lavender fields?
Lavender will be around in the July weekend and Sunflowers can be around until October!
Sometimes they close Mont Ventoux because of high wind.
If the weather is good but too windy to climb to the top we can go as far as possible or use one of the many other amazing routes this area has to offer.
My flight is delayed!
We will do our best to collect you on time
Rapha, Mallorca
Cycling with Rapha Mallorca.
Rapha Mallorca is located at Plaça del Rosari, 1, 07001 Palma, Illes Balears, Spain.
Located in the heart of the charming old town of Palma, Rapha Mallorca offers a wide selection of Rapha products and serving fine food and drink, you can expect a packed agenda of rides, special events, and live race coverage.
They organise weekly rides every Tuesday - Thursday - Saturday. Rides are led by local guides going through the beautiful landscapes of Mallorca.
More info in the RCC App or at rapha.cc calendars.
I was there for a weekend break and joined in on a club ride from the Rapha shop to the top of the Col De Soller. It was part of a Strava challenge for that month to see how many times you could climb it. They were climbing twice that day but I only went the once as had arranged to meet the wife for lunch! Coll de Soller is a famous category 2 climb. Over 400m of elevation. The road has many, many hairpin turns and is almost traffic free. Lovely!
The other side leading down to Soller is more sheltered from the sun and again is full of twists and turns. Be weary descending this side as it can have more debris from the trees and sometimes be slippery.
At the summit you will find café Ca'n Topa which has been there since 1880 under various guises. Food and service is good, the couple running it speak a number of languages and are knowledgeable about the climb and the area.
I stayed in Palma at Hotel Cort . As you can imagine most hotels are bike friendly but it’s always best to call ahead and check. I was able to keep my bike and bike box in the room with me and used the small lift to bring the bike up and down.
The food here was very good and lots of choice in the morning to fuel up before the ride. They also served good coffee! You can sit inside or out in the famous square Plaza de Cort which is known for it’s olive tree called Olivera de Cort – which is around 600 years old and is a popular tourist attraction. I went out of season and the room was a good price but as it’s very central and will book up quickly in the summer!
There are lots of great restaurants in Palma and I recommend going to visit El Camino for amazing Tapas and La Rosa Vermutería which is an old-fashioned Local that serves the best patatas bravas in Palma!
If you looking for some pre ridden routes to follow and download to your GPS then you can use either Komoot or Strava. The Strava blog has a good piece on climbs in Mallorca here and you can download the climbing segments. Cycling locations website have some great epic rides to look at and are downloadable here.
Enjoy!
Itinerary
Getting to City Airport, within London, it’s best to shop around for Taxi prices. The airport has its own stop on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), which takes you to Tube interchange stations such as Canning Town, Stratford and Bank. If your driving look here.
Flying British Airways from City airport to Palma is a dream! This is because it is a small and quick airport but also I live nearby!
BA offer to take your bike box on as your hold luggage as well as a carry on case and laptop bag. The bike box must be max 190cm and 23 kg (51lbs) Find more info here. They ask not to pack extra items in the box but I always add my helmet, shoes and tools with no problems yet. They ask on the info page to call ahead but I have never done this and I just add the bike whilst booking online.
When arriving at Palma airport you will need to collect your bike box at the last carousel, number 17 and wait for it to come through. There will be many bike boxes and it’s best to start taking them off and lining them up as the carousel will stop moving if there are too many on there.
It’s easy to get a large Taxi the other side but always make sure it’s from a Taxi rank.
I stayed at the Hotel Cort on Plaça de Cort, 1107001 Palma de Mallorca.
There are also plenty of bike shops for your needs. Hire, pick up spares or get your’s fixed here.
If you like Tapas you must visit El Camino. You cannot book so arrive early. It is a bar seating arrangement where you can watch the chef’s prepare your food! La Rosa Vermutería has a great local feel to it. I advise booking and ordering the patatas bravas.
If you’r going out on your own make sure you tell someone where you’r going, pack the correct spares for your bike and always check the weather. It can get windy and some routes are pretty tough!
To see and download the Rapha route you will need an account with Komoot or follow me on Strava.
Tokyo Cycling
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Bike shops to help you enjoy your riding in Tokyo.
Rapha
3 Chome-1-6 Sendagaya, Shibuya City, Tokyo 151-0051, Japan
A little out the way but a great place to stop for a coffee before you set out and buy any kit you forgot to bring out with you. Join the local organised rides or sit in and watch some live racing. Friendly staff but can get busy!
Nalsima Frend
This is a popular racing bike shop very near Shinjuku. They have a good range of top end frames and accessories, a bike fit jig and innersole moulding capabilities. Prices are good for Japan and service is excellent. It can get crowded at weekends.
Address: 2-2-4 Sendagaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0051
Tel: 03-3405-9614
Hours: 1200 - 1930 (closed Wed. and Thu).
Flame Bike
A very busy and nicely decorated shop with lots of shiny mini velo bikes. Offer repairs and spare parts but more specialist than most.
Address: 1 Chome-9-11 Jinnan, Shibuya City, Tokyo 150-0041, Japan
Business hours: 11: 00-20: 00 / Regular holiday: Third Thursday of every month
TEL: 03-6416-9444
Coffee & Cycle
Bridgestone's stylish cafe gallery featuring original & build-your-own road bikes, workshop and events..
Coffee & Cycle is a shop in a shop. Located within Ratio & C., Onibus shares the space with a Bridgestone bicycle store. The layout is expertly designed and allows the customer to easily browse the bicycle accessories, bikes, and books while still having ample seating. There are cafe tables or benches in nearly every corner and along each wall, and the biking goods are highlighted in the center of the store.
Ay Up! it's the UCI Worlds in Yorkshire.
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The 2019 UCI Road World Championships was the 92nd edition for road bicycle racing. It took place between 21 and 29 September 2019 in the historic county of Yorkshire, the fourth to be held in the United Kingdom.
Watching the very wet worlds on TV did not fill me with much hope of a sunny ride up north to take part in the excitement of the UCI worlds coming to the UK.
I traveled from London on the 28th to join up with Rapha and ride part of the course and watch the racing live at a pop up cafe they had arranged in town. The sun was out when I arrived to watch the women’s race which was won by Annemiek van Vleuten of the Netherlands.
It was predicted to rain the next day and rain very hard like it had done earlier in the week. And on this prediction the Rapha ride was canceled and the routes was shortened for the professionals. I decided to get the next train home and watch it from the dry comfort of my living room.
I changed my ticket no problem but was told the bike reservation was full. This did not make sense as I was leaving early evening and most people I predicted would have stayed to watch the racing anyway. I risked it and mine was the only bike on board!
You can find more info and results here
Itinerary:
Travelling with your bike on the trains can be painful. Try to be prepared as much as possible and phone ahead to confirm that there is space and that the route you have chosen accepts bike travel. Some local trains may not.
LNER train from Kings X to Leeds. Journey time 1h 44m. Bookable for bikes. Best bet is to phone them and book to confirm that there is space and get a reservation number.
Northern Rail train from Leeds to Harrogate. Journey time 35m. Bikes cannot be reserved on this train but the do provide space.
I stayed in a very nice Airbnb near the centre if town. Expect prices to be high for this event. Book as early as you can.
The Little Ale House on Cheltenham Crescent did a great Ale and pork Pie.
It was easy to change my train ticket with LNER to get home early but I was told the bike spaces were full. They were not and I am glad I risked it to avoid the weather!
Le Tour de France 2019
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Stages 16 and 17 of the Tour De France 2019.
I was able to be in France to see stages 16 and 17 of the TDF. Stage 16 started and finished in Niemes.
My plan was to head them off at the Pont du Gard then cycle down back towards Niemes to see them again. It was going to be a super hot day and I did a recce the day before but there was not much in the way of shade on the route.I found my soot they gave me a view of them approaching the Pont Du Gard and then a view of them as they crossed over it. The actual viaduct was closed off to spectators.I imagined it to be super busy with people on the day so arrived very early and to my surprise the place was pretty empty. I cycled over from Saint Victor le cost partly on some of the route passing fans in mobile homes getting their banners and bbq’s ready.
I had chosen my spot I was happy with where I was. I them decided to have a look from the other side just to make sure. As I was on the other side confirming I had initiualy made the right decision they closed off going back to the other side as the peleton was approaching. I was stuck. I was too close to the riders for a good shot and now too far away from the shot I wanted on the Pont Du Gard. Lesson learnt!
Caleb Ewan sprints to victory, Alaphilippe keeps yellow. The 16th stage of the Tour was a predominantly flat out-and-back race in Nîmes.
Matteo Trentin deservedly won a relatively mundane stage 17 as Julian Alaphilippe retained the yellow jersey, with the leaders keeping their powder dry.
Itinerary
I travelled from London Gatwick to Nîmes on RyanAir with my Bike Box Alan. I stayed in St Victor la Coste near Avignon at an Airbnb. This was close to the Pont du Gard for stage 17 and a 40km ride into Nîmes for stage 16 start and finish.
RyanAir charge £60 each way for a bike box at a weight of 30kg. The cost is £75 if booked on the phone or at the airport. You are not supposed to pack anything other than the bike within the box but I add shoes, tools and my helmet. More info here
You could also get a Eurostar to Avignon. Taking a bike box on the Eurostar brings it’s own difficulties as there are size restrictions to the bike box you can take. To travel with your bike, you need to book a space separately to your train ticket. To make sure it travels on the same train as you, book in advance from £30. More info here.
From Marseilles I rented a car with Europcar. They are a little more expensive but it is worth the extra for the ease of pick up and no hidden charges. Always look out for deals and sometimes you can get a discount booking with the airline. EasyJet offer this . NEVER book with GOLDCAR!
Airbnb was at Chateau St Victor La Coste. There are a number of rooms to choose from here and they have a pool and local amenities.
Les Cycles D’uzes bike shop in Uzes caters for all needs including energy bars and a workshop.
Rapha, Miami
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Cycling with Rapha Miami.
Rapha Miami is located at 3911 NE 1st Ave #106, Miami, FL 33137.
I was in town for some sun after Christmas and took part in the annual RAPHA#FESTIVE500 event. This is 500 kilometers in eight days! I haven’t managed it yet!
You can hire bikes from Rapha but you need to be a RCC member. When I went they had problems with delivery of the Canyon bikes but usually offer bikes through the website.
It was a good mixed crowd that turned up and these rides are a no drop social affair. We headed out to the Key of Biscayne with some great views and a quick coffee stop at Starbucks, of course, in Palmetto Bay.
One thing about riding in Miami is that it is FLAT, very FLAT. The only uphill I encountered was the ride over the Rickenbacker causeway. The roads are well maintained and there is usually a cycle path for you to ride in.
Itinerary
Getting to Heathrow, within London, it’s best to shop around for Taxi prices or get a Taxi to the nearest station to access the Heathrow express.
Flying British Airways from London Heathrow T5 to Miami International Airport.
BA offer to take your bike box on as your hold luggage as well as a carry on case and laptop bag. The bike box must be max 190cm and 23 kg (51lbs) Find more info here. They ask not to pack extra items in the box but I always add my helmet, shoes and tools with no problem yet. They ask on the info page to call ahead but I have never done this and I just add the bike whilst booking online.
It’s easy to get a large Taxi the other side but always make sure it’s from a Taxi rank.
I stayed at a friend’s place on Collins Avenue, next to the beach, but there are plenty of Airbnb’s in Miami.
There are also plenty of bike shops for your needs. Hire, pick up spares or get your’s fixed here.
If you like sushi I recommend Blue Ribbon on Park Ave and 21st.
To see and download the route you will need an account with Komoot or follow me on Strava.
The Pyrenees
The Pyrenees mountain range separates the Iberian Peninsula from the rest of Europe, stretching more than 430km between Spain and France and rising higher than 3,400m in elevation. Hiking trails traverse the entire length of the range and national parks offer shorter trails, while dozens of ski resorts can be found on both sides of the Pyrenees. Andorra is a tiny sovereign state in the heart of the chain.
Made famous at the Tour de France and with over 500 passes at over 1000m there is a lot to choose from in the Pyrenees
The Pyrenees are one of the world’s best cycling destinations. They’ve got huge cycling heritage, with legendary climbs that have been lighting up the Tour de France since 1910 and wild, untouched landscapes that won’t fail to leave their mark on you. The one thing I noticed the most from the region I was cycling in is that is was super quiet. Hardly any road users apart from cows and other cyclists. Many of the passes are routes that have been used by shepherds, traders and livestock for thousands of years, the stereotypical goat tracks covered by tarmac. Often cutting through dense, deciduous woodland, there is something other-worldly about them.
The start of Col du Pradel
I have yet to ride the classic climbs but this part of the pyrenees was quiet with some great climbs to be had.
Misty on the Col de Pailleres
I wasn’t so lucky with the weather and the top of the climbs were pretty foggy. Always be prepared for a quick change of climate and temperature when in the mountains. When it was clear there were some stunning views and from the top of col du Pradel was one of the longest descent I have done! Over 10 miles with a little kick in the middle back down to Puivert near were we were staying.
Here is a link to my Strava ride.
The Pyrenees has a lot to offer and I intend to go back as much as possible and discover these famous roads.
Overview
The main airport which serves the central Pyrenees is Toulouse. The budget airlines such as Easyjet, RyanAir and also British Airways have regular year round flights into Toulouse from airports all over the UK.
Although getting to the Pyrenees by train is a long journey (between 11 and 12 hours fron London) it is the most environmentally friendly option. It’s also the most relaxing way to travel. You can just kick back and relax as the train takes the strain. The modern trains in France have excellent facilities including quiet coaches in which mobile phones are banned and free WiFi throughout. The food on board is varied and surprisingly good value too
We stayed in an Airbnb just outside Puivert there are plenty to choose from here.
There are some great walks here also including up to Puivert Castle.
An interesting Afghan restaurant was in town with some interesting dishes which also serves Pizza!! here
There is also B D Q / Taproom & Kitchen which served up some good quality strong cycling inspired beer here.
Make sure you have good fitness and some climbing legs before you go as the climbs are tough.
Always double check the weather with a good app like Dark Sky or WeatherPro
Make sure you have the right spares and tools as you may be a long way from help.
Take warm and waterproof clothing with you. The weather can turn!
Komoot is a great app to help you plan rides and see where people have been.
Mont Ventoux
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CHALLENGE: MONT VENTOUX 3 ASCENTS
DATE: 25 AUGUST 2018
DISTANCE: 84.54m
MOVING TIME: 7:43:10
ELAPSED TIME: 9:44:05
ELEVATION: 14,629ft
AVERAGE SPEED: 11mi/hr
I had ridden Mont Ventoux a few times before I found out about the Club de Cingles. This involves ascending 3 times in one day. It is a long slog to the top and the weather can change pretty quick but I thought I could do it. On long distance challenges like this I prefer riding on my own for pace and not having to wait for people to pee. I read a few articles on the challenge, a good one in the now defucnt Cycling Active magazine. September Issue 2016. share advice
You can ascend from 3 sides. Bedoin being the most famous and arguably the hardest. 8% over 20 km. Then Malaucene being the second hardest 7% over 21 km. Finally the assent from Salut. A steady 5% for the first half until you join the last 6 km of the Bedoin side. An early breakfast of a croissant, of course! to start the climb. Collecting my stamp from the Tabac next door. It was colder than I anticipated and wish the I had brought my toe thingy's but I pushed on through he lush green forest that sits at the bottom of the climb until you reach the lunar landscape near the tip and get your first glimpse of the summit tower. This never seems to get any closer as you twist up the mountain. The gradient seems to be slightly less in this part as through the forest 6% seemd like a rest period to the near 11% stretches.
There is a left hand bend at the top befor the last stretch will remind you why they called it the windy mountain. This and the very last and very steep right hand corner to the summit. It is windy and instantly cold at the the top as I pose for my first photograph. Straight on with the gillet and a descend to Malaucéne. The view from this side is also stunning. Not so luna but just as impressive.
The first few km were pretty sketchy and I descended with caution as the wind was catching my wheels. It was approaching mid morning and the road was getting busier with cyclists grimacing on their way up to the summit. You can get up to some pretty good speeds with some long stretches and sweeping bends. Arriving in Malaucéne I stopped at the nearest cafe to refuel and collect my second stamp. I had 2 coffee's and 3 pastries. In hindsight I eat too much too quickly and on my ascent was feeling rather bloated and uncomfortable. I didn't take my own advice which is to always eat and drink little and often!!
The ascent is well protected by the winds and has some tough sections at 12%. But there is also some respite after the cafe nearing the top where I even shifted into the big ring for a little while. It is now getting very windy at the top as I had my second photograph taken by a fellow climber. Straight on with the gillett wishing I had brought a jacket! (I recommend this whatever the forecast!) Again caution on the decent with the wind gusting quite high now. Onto Salut! I was cold, my teeth were chattering i could barely feel my fingers and toes. The decent was fast and flowing eventually opening out to lavender fields i passed only to find a little kicker of a climb into Salut. I was a bit behind on my timing so a quick stop with a coke and a Mars bar before the last climb.
The lower part to the final ascent is a nice low gradient passing through the open fields up into the woods again. My legs were feeling good and i was making good progress. I passed Chalet Reynard I could see the clouds closing in and feel the wind starting to pick up. It started to rain the head wind was strong with powerful gusts. I was so close but yet very far from the top. I pushed through to the top quickly found someone willing to take my last photograph put on my gilet and descended for the last time. My whole bike shaking from my shivering body as the winds wiped my face. Half way down i could not feel my hands or feet which made this very unenjoyable last descent. I finally reached the bottom and began to feel warm again. A well deserved beer and a long look at my fully stamped card made it all worth while!
I had done it and it was hard. Would I do it again> probably.!
I highly recommend you do this challenge!
Itinerary
Accommodation
I stayed close by in Paradou (great place for groups to stay and some good rides from here that I have featured on the site) then drove to Bedoine and stayed at an airbnb here. If you do stay in this Airbnb, which was fine for the night, the place is on the right as you approach Bedoine, opposite the large carpark. The GPS will take you into town on narrow lanes to a dead end!
Travel
I flew EasyJet to Marseilles. I take my own bike using a Bike Box Alan. It cost £35 each way when booked online. Info here. BA offer you to take the BikeBox as normal hold luggage which for a short trip you can your add some other items in. I hired a car from Europe car. Hire in advance as much as possible. Going for the cheaper companies always works out more expensive!! Do not use Goldcar!!
DO’S AND DONT’S
.
Start early
Take a jacket
Use sunscreen
Eat little and often
Do some long hill climbing training
Apply early for your stamp card from
HotChillee Cape Rouleur
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HotChillee event format
HotChillee is a cycling club that has specialised in organising endurance cycling holidays since 2004. These are professional events for amateurs. It is based in west London and regularly meets for rides hosted totally free and is a great introduction to the HotChillee experience. Find them here.
The Cape Rouleur, South Africa, here, is a multi stage endurance road cycling event consisting of flagged race sections with tempo riding in between. Riders are seeded based on their times for the prologue, so that you end up riding in seeded groups of commensurate ability. The format allows for ample racing in the race groups, social tempo riding and interaction between the flagged sections with the “Ride” level groups more focused on completing the endurance nature of the event. The flagged race sections cover sprinting, climbing and over all time (general classification).
Cape Town Cycle Tour
The Cape Town Cycle Tour is an annual cycle race hosted in Cape Town, usually 109 km (68 mi) long. It is the first event outside Europe to be included in the Union Cycliste Internationale's Golden Bike Series. This Race is the end highlight to the Hotchillee event and is part of Lifecycle Week, an eight-day celebration of all things cycling. There is also an expo held at the Cape Town Stadium to look at all the latest bikes and gadgets.
Cycling for charity is the cornerstone of the Cape Town Cycle Tour, with the bulk of your entry fee heading straight into Rotary and PPA coffers. You can choose to do even more with your miles, though, by joining a charity group, or kickstarting your own charity drive. You can find more information here.
overview
This was a great experience that I would recommend for everyone to try. You will need to have some good fitness and get some training in before the event but it is open to all different abilities. The team are super friendly and helpful and the rides are highly organised. Everyone pushed hard in the prologue to get their spaces on the fast group and a lot, including me, found this super hard and dropped down the following day.
Franschhoek is our base and we have 3 big cycle days here and then the festival ride to Cape Town. I stayed at the Protea Hotel which was where the main HQ was. A really nice Hotel with good restaurants and clean big rooms. There are a few choices of hotels that they offer and are all in close vicinity to each other and the main town of Franschhoek.
Franschhoek is a town in South Africa’s Western Cape with centuries-old vineyards and Cape Dutch architecture. Trails wind through flowers and wildlife at Mont Rochelle Nature Reserve to views over Franschhoek Valley. The Huguenot Memorial Museum and neighbouring monument honour the area’s French settlers, who arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Franschhoek Pass, looking down to Franschhoek
The rides from Franschhoek take in some amazing climbs and views. We visit Stellenbosch, Theewaterskloof Dam and the Nelson Mandella statue at the Groot Drakenstein Prison. The days range between 100 – 150km per day and you’ll be done by mid-afternoon leaving plenty of time for recovery by the pool and fine dining in the evening. We then transfer to Cape Town on the Festival ride stopping off at Velokhaya Life Cycling Academy to see some of the charity work the HotChillee do. This is the largest townships in South Africa. Our luggage and bike boxes and moved for us. This ride takes in the stunning views on the
Stellenbosch, Western Cape
Hout Bay, Western Cape,
The outstanding part of the event for me was the feeling of being part of a pro race. We had rolling road closures, motorbike outriders, traffic police, lead cars, mechanical support and medical vehicles. This means no changing your own punchers and no stopping at red lights! The HotChillee Ride Captains are in radio contact with the support vehicles to help ensure the safety of each group at all times.
On the last day we have seeded entry in to the famous Argos ride, now called the Cape Town Cycle Tour. This is the best cycle sportive I have ever done and the views as we ride up the west coast towards Cape Town are stunning inc the famous Chapmans Peak underpass.
Once you have signed up and chosen your hotel Hotchillee give you a very detailed event pack that covers all you need to know and more about how to ride in groups what to bring and the best bit is that they will look after you from start to finish. If you do stay for the sportive you will need to find a place to stay in Cape Town. They recommend the Southern Sun Cullinan hotel but this is expensive. I stayed in an AirBnB.
This is some of the best cycling I have done with a highly organised rides the feeling of cycling like a pro amazing scenery food and a real camaraderie with the other cyclists. Make sure this event is on your bucket list.
Francis Cade was on this ride with us and you can have a look here. Also Magnus Bäckstedt is part of the HotChillee Development Rider Programme and he also rode with us.
As you are in South Africa you should try and find time to see some of the amazing animals that live there. I went to the Aquila Private Game reserve here. Make sure you choose your booking partner wisely as I ended up waiting nearly 2 hours to be collected from my airbnb to get to the park which wasn’t great. But seeing the animals in the wild was a unique experience.
Get out and Ride!
Table Mountain National park looking into Cape Town
Itinerary
I flew with British Airways as BA offer to take your bike box on as your hold luggage as well as a carry on case and laptop bag. The bike box must be max 190cm and 23 kg (51lbs) Find more info here. They ask not to pack extra items in the box but I always add my helmet, shoes and tools with no problems yet. They ask on the info page to call ahead but I have never done this and I just add the bike whilst booking online.
Always shop around for taxi prices and make sure you tell them you have a bike box. You will be taken care of the other end.
Hotchillee will send you a selection of hotels to stay in the rider pack. I stayed at the Protea Hotel here. It was were the HQ was and a lot of the riders stay so is a good atmosphere and chance to relax and talk with others about the ride.
You must sign up for there Cape Town Cycle tour if you want to attend and make sure you have accommodation in Cape Town. I just used Airbnb.
Regarded as South Africa's culinary capital, visitors to the Franschhoek Wine Valley are spoilt for choice here.
The best part of this event is that they will look after you and you gear from start to finish so you can focus on the cycling and relaxing by the pool with a cool beer or cocktail!