Cycling is an extremely popular sport in Cape Town. The hilly terrain and beautiful scenery make for strenuous cycling but with great reward.
Mountain biking is the fastest growing sport in South Africa, with Cape Town providing the ideal venue. Some of the more popular off road mountain biking trails are the Tokai Mast ride, Noordhoek Peak and Deer Park in front of Table Mountain.
Each year Cape Town plays host to the Argus Cycle Tour. It is the world’s largest cycle tour, attracting entrants from all over the world. The 105.5 km route starts in the city centre and has for the last few years finished at The University of Cape Town. The route winds around the mountains of Cape Town, including Ou Kaapse Weg and Chapman’s Peak drive. It is a spectacular and challenging route. It is either ridden as a hotly contested race or as a slower ride where the achievement of completing the course is satisfaction enough. Thousands of spectators line the route spurring the competitors around the strenuous course.
The Cape Epic, a 3 day endurance, off road race, has become a world wide institution. This mountain bike race, taking place over rugged mountain near Cape Town is an 8 stage team race where each team comprises 2 riders. It is largest, full-service mountain bike stage race, in the world with a new route designed each year, entirely off road.
One can hire bicycles in Cape Town. However due to the hilly terrain one has to be fit to enjoy the experience. Bicycles are great if you restrict yourself to the flatter areas such as the Atlantic Seaboard and from Muizenberg to Simons Town along the seafront.
