Road · South Africa
Cycling in Grabouw
A single 97.4 km loop links Grabouw with the coastal string of Gordon's Bay, Rooiels, Kleinmond and Betty's Bay, with 706 m of climbing and a high point of just 127 m.
The ride in Grabouw
Cycling guide to Grabouw
Riding from Grabouw means heading for the coast. The one route on file here, the Grabouw – Gordon's Bay loop, runs 97.4 km and takes in Gordon's Bay, Rooiels, Mooiuitsig, Sunny Seas, Kleinmond, Betty's Bay, Silver Sands and Pringle Bay before closing the circuit. It is a full day out in the Western Cape at close to 100 km, and because it is a loop there is no need to arrange a return leg. The climbing is modest for the distance: 706 m of gain spread across 97.4 km, with no single ascent that dominates the day. The biggest is an early one, starting at 5.3 km and running 1.7 km for 75 m of gain at 4.4% on average, topping out at 122 m. After that the elevation rarely gets far above sea level, the highest point on the whole loop being 127 m, so the effort comes from the length and the repeated short rises between the coastal settlements rather than from sustained climbing.
- The loop is recorded in March, with temperatures around 27°C - warm enough to warrant an early start and plenty of water for the full 97.4 km.
- Low-lying and rolling rather than mountainous: 706 m of gain over 97.4 km, a high point of 127 m and a longest climb averaging 4.4% with a maximum of 6.1%. Gradients stay in single figures throughout.
