Cyclists.com

Cape Town to Green Point via Chapman's Peak

Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaRoad

Route contributed by Marcus · Created from a ride on Sunday 8th March 2020

108 km
Distance
953 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
Cape Town, South Africa. In the background, Table Mountain and other peaks surrounding the city are highlighted. In addition, some buildings are marked, as well as a Cape fur seal accidentally capture
Photo: Krigore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
953 m
Distance
108 km
050100150200m0 km255075108 km183 m · highest, at 81.9 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Suitable for cyclists prepared for a 108 km ride with nearly 1000 m of climbing.

108 km loop around Cape Town peninsula in Western Cape, South Africa, with 964 m climbing.

Starting in Cape Town, the route passes through several districts within the first 10 km including Bo-Kaap, City Centre, Woodstock, Mowbray, and Claremont. Early climbs include a 3.2 km section gaining 76 m with an average gradient of 2.4%, and a steeper 2.1 km climb gaining 84 m averaging 4% near Claremont. The ride covers a mix of surfaces, with 97% paved road and about 2% gravel or unpaved sections. Mainly the route follows 65 km on main roads, 15 km on motorways and 14 km on paths. Most main roads lack cycle lanes, with 84 km featuring no cycle lane and 23 km on roads with posted limits of 80 km/h or more.

Highlights

  • Chapman's Peak viewpoint
  • Longest descent of 5.1 km dropping 164 m
  • Climb of 2 km at 5.4% avg gradient near km 79
  • Peak near road: Trappies Kop at 240 m

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Woodstock 2.2 km
  2. Salt River 3.3 km
  3. Observatory 4.4 km
  4. Mowbray 5.2 km
  5. Rosebank 5.2 km
  6. Newlands 7.9 km
  7. Claremont 9.9 km
  8. Bishopscourt 10.3 km
  9. Kenilworth 11.1 km
  10. Glen Dirk 12 km
  11. Wynberg 12.9 km
  12. Deurdrif 14.2 km
  13. Meadowridge 15.6 km
  14. Sillery 15.6 km
  15. Fir Grove 16.9 km
  16. Bergvliet 17.5 km
  17. Sweet Valley 17.8 km
  18. Dennendal 18.3 km
  19. Tokai 18.8 km
  20. Kirstenhof 20.2 km
  21. Westlake 20.9 km
  22. Steenberg 21.9 km
  23. Lakeside 22.7 km
  24. Marina Da Gama 24.1 km
  25. Muizenberg 24.9 km
  26. Glencairn Heights 33.4 km
  27. Glencairn 33.8 km
  28. Dido Valley 35 km
  29. Pine Haven 36.4 km
  30. Simon's Town 37.9 km
  31. Seaforth 39.6 km
  32. The Boulders 39.8 km
  33. Froggy Pond 40.6 km
  34. Murdoch Valley 41.2 km
  35. Miller's Point 44 km
  36. Redhill Informal Settlement 57.1 km
  37. Soet Water 65.2 km
  38. Ocean View 66.5 km
  39. Masiphumelele 70.5 km
  40. Capri 71.3 km
  41. Faerie Knowe 71.5 km
  42. Sunnydale 71.7 km
  43. Brakkloof 72.3 km
  44. Risiview 72.3 km
  45. Zilvermyn Village 73.8 km
  46. Silvermine Village 73.8 km
  47. Dassenberg Meadows 74.5 km
  48. Noordhoek 75.4 km
  49. San Michele 75.4 km
  50. Noordhaven 75.4 km
  51. De Goede Hoop 76.4 km
  52. Chapman's Peak 77.3 km
  53. Hillcrest 85.5 km
  54. Hanging Meadow 85.5 km
  55. Baviaanskloof 85.7 km
  56. Scott Estate 86.1 km
  57. Berg-en Dal Estate 86.3 km
  58. Hout Bay 86.6 km
  59. Sea Glade 86.6 km
  60. Hout Bay Heights 87.1 km
  61. Hangberg 87.1 km
  62. The Spinnaker 87.1 km
  63. North Shore 87.4 km
  64. Saint Tropez 87.7 km
  65. White Sands 87.7 km
  66. Kronenzicht 88.4 km
  67. Helgarda 88.6 km
  68. Kronendal Retirement Village 88.6 km
  69. Klein Leeukoppie Estate 89 km
  70. Mandela Park 89.1 km
  71. Riverside 89.6 km
  72. Mount Rhodes 89.7 km
  73. Victorskloof 90 km
  74. Avignon Estate 90 km
  75. Ruyteplaats Private Mountain Estate 90.6 km
  76. Llandudno 91.1 km
  77. Rontree 97.4 km
  78. Bakoven 98.4 km
  79. The Glen 99.3 km
  80. Clifton 101 km
  81. Bantry Bay 102 km
  82. Fresnaye 102.6 km
  83. Sea Point 104 km
  84. Three Anchor Bay 104.9 km
  85. Mouille Point 106 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—0.3 km3.2 km76 m2.4 %4.5 %81 m
—4.8 km1.5 km40 m2.6 %3.3 %79 m
—9.4 km2.1 km84 m4 %7.2 %135 m
—44.8 km4.4 km123 m2.8 %5.5 %143 m
—64.1 km2 km54 m2.8 %4.1 %83 m
—76.8 km1.7 km48 m2.9 %5.7 %83 m
—78.9 km2 km109 m5.4 %11.1 %183 m
—88.4 km2.4 km117 m4.9 %7.2 %153 m

High point 183 m at 80.9 km; low point 2 m. Passes beneath Trappies Kop.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
61% main road · 14% motorway · 13% path · 5% quiet street
Main roads
84.2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
23 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
1.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
M4 (18 km), M3 (13 km), Victoria Road (11 km), M65 (9 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
20% climbing · 25% descending · 55% flat
Steep sections
3.9 km over 5% · 0.7 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8.2% at 80.4 km
Longest descent
5.1 km from 82 km, dropping 164 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0.1 kmDe Goewerneur · café · 90 m off route
  2. 1.6 kmWoodstock Cycleworks · bike shop · 310 m off route
  3. 17.5 kmDie Oog · spring · 240 m off route
  4. 22.7 kmLakeside Pharmacy · pharmacy · 30 m off route
  5. 28.1 kmArtisan Bakery · bakery · on the route
  6. 30.3 kmShoprite · supermarket · 40 m off route
  7. 36.9 kmSimons Town Station Kiosk · supermarket · on the route
  8. 37.6 kmShell · petrol station · on the route
  9. 38 kmAlpha Pharm · pharmacy · on the route
  10. 60.4 kmSunshine Café · café · 110 m off route
  11. 75.1 kmNoordhoek Deli · café · 70 m off route
  12. 83.5 kmDrinking water · on the route
  13. 85.8 kmVillage Super Store · supermarket · on the route
  14. 87.4 kmChapmans Peak Cycles · bike shop · 90 m off route
  15. 93.9 kmToilets · 120 m off route
  16. 101.1 kmEatery Clifton · café · on the route
  17. 103.8 kmUp Cycles · bike rental · 120 m off route
  18. 105.1 kmToilets · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 0 km — Cape Town (station), 240 m off route
  • 6.4 km — Rondebosch (station), 890 m off route
  • 24.9 km — False Bay (station), 90 m off route
  • 31.7 km — Sunny Cove (station), on the route
  • 105.6 km — The "Blue Train" (station), 430 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 33.2 km — Whale Watch (viewpoint)
  • 37.6 km — Shark Explorers Dive Shop (attraction)
  • 80 km — Chapman's Peak (viewpoint)
  • 101.5 km — Sunset Rock Viewpoint (viewpoint)
  • 105.6 km — Kaskazi Kayaks & Adventure (attraction)

At the start

  • De Goewerneur · café · 150 m
  • Cape Town · station · 240 m
  • Spar · supermarket · 250 m
  • Woolworths Now Now Cafe CTC · café · 310 m
  • KFC · fast food · 250 m

At the finish

  • Nü · café · 280 m
  • Gran's Coffee Shoppe · café · 240 m
  • KwikSpar · supermarket · 290 m
  • Cushty · restaurant · 240 m
  • Clyde Grocers · convenience store · 230 m

Stay after this ride

  • Sleep Easy Hotel · hotel · 90 m from the finish
  • Guesthouse esCape · guest house · 100 m from the finish
  • Check Inn Hotel · hotel · 130 m from the finish
  • ANEW Hotel Green Point · hotel · 180 m from the finish
  • Sunflower Stop Backpackers · hostel · 190 m from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
3½–5 hours riding
Season
March with temperatures around 21 °C.
Best months
Sep to May — daily highs of 18–26 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water is 7.6 km from km 60.4 to 68
  • 84.2 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 23 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
  • 2% of route is gravel or unpaved

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

1 photograph from the road

Photo: Krigore · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons