jackievs Posted September 1, 2020 Share We going to spend some time in the Franschhoek - Helshoogte - Pniel wine-lands during October and look forward to do some cycling.. tired of the hills and dry landscape and wind howling through the Cradle... I scanned the forums but not seen any recent posts of cycling safety on the major roads surrounding Frranschoek... I have noticed the R45 from Paarl to Franschhoek have narrow sections before getting to the T-junction and turn off to Pniel. And yes I am aware that there are major hills in the area... Will greatly appreciate advice from the local roadies on general safety and road conditions ... thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbr Posted September 1, 2020 Share Going there this weekend, still wondering if I'm going to take the MTB or the road bike... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffsVintageBikes Posted September 1, 2020 Share Most of that area is safe and you can enjoy some good riding. Stellenbosch side of Hellshoogte has had a few mugging incidents in the recent past, be carefully there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted September 1, 2020 Share The road riding is as safe or as dangerous as anywhere else. Keep an eye out for suspicious types on the Stellies side of Helshoegte. The booze flows in that area so maybe skip the afternoons.If you ride MTB, perhaps take that instead and ride Banhoek Conservancy and Boschendal. Delarey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickGM Posted September 1, 2020 Share We going to spend some time in the Franschhoek - Helshoogte - Pniel wine-lands during October and look forward to do some cycling.. tired of the hills and dry landscape and wind howling through the Cradle... I scanned the forums but not seen any recent posts of cycling safety on the major roads surrounding Frranschoek... I have noticed the R45 from Paarl to Franschhoek have narrow sections before getting to the T-junction and turn off to Pniel. And yes I am aware that there are major hills in the area... Will greatly appreciate advice from the local roadies on general safety and road conditions ... thanks.The route from Pniel T Junction to Franschoek is a great ride with very little in the way of safety issues. On weekends its pretty busy with cyclists and there have been little or no incidents either with crime of drivers in my experience. A Pro rider was hit by a little old lady a few years back, but that is all I can remember. The only thing that is criminal around there is the headwind into franschoek. But a pastry and a coffee generally sort that out. I would have said "From Stellenbosch to Franschoek" but there's been the odd bikejacking incident coming up helshoogte on the stellenbosch side, I'd say I probably hear of about 1 per year. But there are 100's of people who ride over that hill each day of the weekend... given that amount of traffic, it's not extraordinary by south African standards. Franschoek pass is also beautiful and worth the effort. Again I've never felt unsafe there for any reason, except maybe when I'm carrying a few bananas for a long ride and a troop of baboons are sitting in the road. I'd say cars are a bigger risk than crime there though. Cappi and openmind 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lukelockie Posted September 1, 2020 Share Riding from Franschhoek, up and over the pass, past Theewaterskloof, up Viljoen's Pass, and to Peregrine farm stall is also a winner of a ride. BuffsVintageBikes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackievs Posted September 1, 2020 Share Thank you so much for all your replies!!! Yes, apart from the hills and the pass, the headwind will be a major factor determining the time we ride and direction... thinking of getting dropped off in Villiersdorp in the morning and scale Franschhoek Pass with the southeasterly more from behind... I rode from Wellington over Bainskloof Pass to Ceres and back about 2 years ago and had to fight the wind coming back from Ceres...! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemmerbal Posted September 1, 2020 Share No issues that i am aware of, we rode from Brackenfell over Helshoogte and to the top of Franschhoek pass on Sunday, was busy with cars on the pass with cagers going up to check out the snow. Had a coffee in F’hoek and rode back home. Was a beautiful but very cold morning. Edited September 1, 2020 by gemmerbal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gemmerbal Posted September 1, 2020 Share Top of Franschhoek pass Top of Helshoogte pass Edited September 1, 2020 by gemmerbal Delarey 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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