TDB Cycling
About TDB Cycling
Posts by TDB Cycling :
Gravel Tour 2023, towards Eroica
We’ve decided to join the Eroica craze, as this year, they have a gravel choice added. Read more about them, and their purpose.
We’ll start in Botrivier, stay in Greyton, then onwards to McGregor, with a few twists and turns, ending in Montagu after five days of mostly gravel riding.
We’ll give you the full route and overnight points, once you’ve paid your deposit of R3000.00.
Tour de Boland 2022
On March 7, ten of us set off from our now-regular starting point, the Krystal Beach Hotel in Gordon’s Bay. We had a few newbies, while the rest were as regular as can be.
Our leisurely start was along Clarence Drive, probably a road equal to Chapman’s Peak in terms of scenery and challenge.
Our first stop was at Coffee on Clarence, whereafter we ambled along to the Hemel en Aarde Brewery for the compulsory pizza and beer.
Our accommodation was again ably provided at Hornbill, in the same precinct as the Brewery, which is also our usual supper spot.
Our second day carried us over the Shaw’s Pass, to Napier, with a quick stop at Van Brakelsstoor. We had everything we ever needed on hand at Stellar Overberg, drinks, snacks, supper and ‘n lekker post-ride swembad-kuier.
And this is how we carried on, all the way to Swellendam, McGregor, with a magic finish at Stettyns Wine Cellars. 500km, and a bit of wind, sun, no rain, and climbing. Everyone went on to the Cape Town Cycle Tour on the Sunday, where it was cold and wet 🙁
Brand-new Gravel Tour ’22
Due to demand, a keenness to explore the Overberg, as well as skirting a bit of the Little Karoo, we’ll be doing a Gravel Tour in mid March 2022, directly after the CT cycle tour.
Format:
“Trip and Trail” means we will ride from A to B, then stay over at B for two nights, before we repeat….typical days will be mornings for riding, and afternoons for long lunches and any other activities you might wish for, such as snoozing, or watching life go by, or, or and or……birdwatching
Time in the saddle:
Will be “short”, and limited to 3-5 hours per day, depending on rider ability. We are really serious about having those afternoons free.
Accommodation:
Our tried and tested partners will be relied on again, and we’ll add a few new ones. Tried and tested by ourselves and many other tourists over the years. Places we are visiting include: Grabouw, Botrivier, Hemel en Aarde, Tesselaarsdal, Stanford, Napier, Elim, Agulhas, Witsand, Suurbraak and Barrydale.
Gourmet:
Yes, we will eat as well as we always do.
Note:
The 2022 Tour de Boland, will be, as always, in March, the week before the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
Finally:
Drop us a message for more info and provisional bookings on any of our 2022 Tours.
October Road Tour Report
Only seven of us rode from the Krystal Beach Hotel in Gordon’s Bay to the entrance to the Hemel en Aarde Valley on Monday 4 October.
Our first and only stop was in Bettiesbaai, for coffee and cake, at Coffee on Clarence. Upon arrival, the local brewery supplied us with drinks, snacks, and supper, while Hornbill provided us with their trusted accommodation. Our staff was treated to a family suite at Hornbill. Excellent value!
On Tuesday, we had an early snack at Hornbill, and headed up the dreaded Hemel climbs till the top of Shaw’s Pass, where Craig waited with a proper roadside brekkie…..from there, we had a lunch-pie at Van Brakel Stoor and breezed (into the headwind, no less) to Napier, where David and his menagerie of animals welcomed us to the Stellar Overberg Farmstay. We were spoilt with a beyond-perfect vegetarian snack table, and drinks, as sustenance till supper-time, with a scrumptious pasta dish, something vegan for Ellen, and local wines.
On day three, Nic snuck out early, as is his wont, while the rest of us stuck into too much breakfast, and struggled the whole day to catch him, which we only managed to do just before arriving in Swellendam. We took all of our ride-victuals roadside, as there are no shops or farmstalls on the beautiful R319. Drinks and beds were provided by Aan de Leisure, and our supper was a late braai. Craig outdid himself.
Day four saw Bennie get his pre-flight covid test, while the early starters cruised over the ‘Three sisters’ to Bonnievale, with the rearguard, led by Janine and Bennie, catching the vanguard at the end of lunch in Robertson. We all jumped in the truck at km110, as we wished to avoid the busy Worcester traffic. Our beds were made, along with supper, at Damas Guest Farm.
With another shitty headwind for Friday, we changed course a bit, and split our ride in two: first from Wolseley to Stettyn Cellar, and then a ride up the iconic Franschhoek Pass, where Ellen showed her turbo-trained mountain legs. Beer-lunch and goodbyes at Hey Joe Brewery.
Then, on Sunday, after the CT Cycle Tour, we braai’d. Of course. This time, at Nic’s, where his mad friends also joined.
New Jersey, the Corona 2021
Welcome to the stay-at-home Tour! Even though Covid 19 was released to the world in 2019 already, we only managed to release our latest design for your wearing pleasure now. A tad late.
The jersey is in commemoration of the fact that we could NOT ride with you, in both 2020 and 2021, and that we would love to see you again – AND it keeps us in business, by a whisker.
However, we will never give up. Even with a strong headwind like we had between Touwsrivier and Ceres in 2019. Please support us by ordering one, or two, at R880.00 per jersey. Worldwide shipping maxed at R500.00 on top of the price of a jersey. Click to size and buy!