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What bike to take to Sedgefield?


andreas17777

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Hi, I’m heading to Sedgefield for the weekend. Would you take your mtb or gravel bike. Looking at cycling directly from home, so not keen on traveling to parks. I’ve heard there is a great passes road, or is the mtb trails in Knysna worth it?

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GRTP is a bit of a drive from Sedgefield, so if you don't want to do that, then take.the gravel bikes a d ride the many gravel roads. One of which will probably take you past GRTP.

 

 

But to be honest, the 23km drive from Sedgefield is worth it, and GRTP is one of the best trail destinations in the country.

 

Ride the trails when you can, they may not be there tomorrow.

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If you looking at rolling from your home I think the road bike is only option unless you planning some big miles. Ride out to knysna and back is lekker.

There is a lekker climb in wilderness (hoekwil) too, if you planning some efforts.

 

The trip from Sedgefield to GRTP is a lot quicker than it may seem. Bang for bunk this may be the best option IMO.

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To leave sedgefield you need to go on the N2 - and then climb - everyone does it but I find it scary

Take your car and drive to the garden route trail park, it’s awesome

 

If you really want to ride from home, gravel bike covers you best. Head towards Knysna on the N2 and take the first left leading up to 7 passes/karatara - once off the N2 it’s gravel paradise

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Not really Sedgefield so I apologise for straying off topic but it brings to mind when we stayed in Plet one Christmas and I was training for Sani, about the third one ever and when it was in Feb.  I had done one or two long gravel road rides inland but wanted single track so strolled into the local bike shop and was directed to an older guy working on a bike and asked him.  Well he barked one word "Harkerville", hardly looking up. I retreated, worked out where Harkerville trails was and had a magical ride.

 

I subsequently assumed that the grumpy mechanic was Evans snr (he wasn't Dr Evil yet).  Despite his later shenanigans, I found Kevin much more approachable and pleasant.

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You can ride a gravel road anywhere in SA. They're a dime a dozen and all the same apart from the scenery.

If one is within an hour or two's drive from GRTP, one makes the effort to go ride there. One does NOT merely skip it in favour of doing something you could do every other Sunday? That would be high treason, just about the same as foregoing a Jonkershoek session to rather go ride on the Seapoint Promenade.

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To leave sedgefield you need to go on the N2 - and then climb - everyone does it but I find it scary

Take your car and drive to the garden route trail park, it’s awesome

 

If you really want to ride from home, gravel bike covers you best. Head towards Knysna on the N2 and take the first left leading up to 7 passes/karatara - once off the N2 it’s gravel paradise

This man knows his stuff, reason I took my gravel bike. 

 

Would have been nice to actually ride it though!

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Honestly, skip GRTP and just go ride in George around Witfontein. There is about a 5/10min difference in the drive, but the trails are by FAR and away superior :)

So, IMO, MTB

Edited by Thermophage
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Hi, I’m heading to Sedgefield for the weekend. Would you take your mtb or gravel bike. Looking at cycling directly from home, so not keen on traveling to parks. I’ve heard there is a great passes road, or is the mtb trails in Knysna worth it?

 

I hear you on not travelling to parks, but in this case, travelling to GRTP is wholly recommended. You could ultimately ride there with your MTB, but honestly, go with the car and spend more time in the park - the trails are some of the best in SA. Full stop.

 

If you're really not keen on parks take your gravel bike, then head out due E on the N2 and then due N toward Karatara, from there you've got the whole of the seven passes to explore.

 

Alternatively, head due W from Sedgefield and take a N close to Wilderness, hit T-shirt climb and ultimately head E on the 7 passes road until Karatara or even further. 

 

If in doubt, use the heatmaps function on either Garmin, Strava or similar platform.

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Hi, I’m heading to Sedgefield for the weekend. Would you take your mtb or gravel bike. Looking at cycling directly from home, so not keen on traveling to parks. I’ve heard there is a great passes road, or is the mtb trails in Knysna worth it?

I see you also live in Somerset West.

I yiu like riding Helderberg, go ride the Witfontein trails in George.

If you like flow trails like G-spot, go ride the trail park.

If you like klapping the gravel roads on Wannabees, go ride the gravel roads in the Garden Route.

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You can ride a gravel road anywhere in SA. They're a dime a dozen and all the same apart from the scenery.

 

I

I'll take the Garden Route (Suid Kaap ook) gravel roads above Overberg, Karoo and Swartland gravel roads every day of the year.

 

Sorry, they're not even close.

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I'll take the Garden Route (Suid Kaap ook) gravel roads above Overberg, Karoo and Swartland gravel roads every day of the year.

 

Sorry, they're not even close.

 

I lived in George all my life until 2013 when I relocated to Cape Town. I know the gravel roads in the area are good to ride, but I'd much rather go spend a day riding either GRTP or Witfontein as Thermophage points out (although, Witfontein is much more technical than GRTP - and Thermo has been known to favour tech over berms any day of the week) 

 

But ja, what I am saying is meant somewhat tongue in cheek - ride whatever you want, where you want. Just ride!

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I lived in George all my life until 2013 when I relocated to Cape Town. I know the gravel roads in the area are good to ride, but I'd much rather go spend a day riding either GRTP or Witfontein as Thermophage points out (although, Witfontein is much more technical than GRTP - and Thermo has been known to favour tech over berms any day of the week) 

 

But ja, what I am saying is meant somewhat tongue in cheek - ride whatever you want, where you want. Just ride!

Favour the strategic use of berms mos :) There are PLENTY berms in Witfontein. People just don't make a berm for every piece of trail that might need a corner like they do here  :lol:

The trails at WF are ungraded too and that appears to make a massive difference to the local's riding. You'll see almost complete noobs heading down trails people would just ride past in CT because of their "official" grading. Sure they may walk a section or two, but who doesn't and they have the biggest damn smiles doing it :)

Edited by Thermophage
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I make the point to drive from Plett to GRTP when I'm there.

 

Do we not have a local hubber who lives in Sedgefield as well?

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