Cape Town’s roads and trails hand cyclists some of the most varied terrain in the world and knowing where to ride makes all the difference, writes Angelica Rhoda.
Benjamin le Roux/Unsplash
The city offers everything from flat coastal promenades to lung-busting mountain climbs, all set against one of the most visually arresting backdrops anywhere on the planet. The Peninsula alone gives riders access to ocean views on two sides within a single outing, a combination that few cities can match.
False Bay coastal stretch: Muizenberg to Simon’s Town
Difficulty: Easy to moderate | Distance: 26 km one way | Time: 1.5 to 2 hours
- Start: Muizenberg Beach car park, Beach Road
- End: Boulders Beach, Simon’s Town
The False Bay run is the route most Cape Town cyclists return to again and again. Starting at Muizenberg, riders head towards Simon’s Town along the Cape Peninsula, passing through Fish Hoek and the wetlands at Glencairn before reaching the penguin colony at Boulders Beach. The road is largely flat with a few rolling climbs, and the morning light on the bay makes the early start entirely worth it. Kalk Bay, with its harbour and coffee shops, provides a natural midpoint rest stop. Allow extra time for the return leg if the southerly wind picks up.
- Best time: Early morning, Tuesday to Sunday, March to May for calm winds and mild temperatures
Tafelberg Road: gravel and views above the city
Difficulty: Moderate | Distance: 10 km | Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Start: Rhodes Memorial, De Waal Drive, Rondebosch
- End: King’s Blockhouse, Devil’s Peak
Tafelberg Road offers a 10 km gravel route climbing from Rhodes Memorial to King’s Blockhouse, with views of both Table Bay and False Bay rewarding riders at the top. The road undulates back along the northern face of Table Mountain before descending onto Signal Hill Road. It suits intermediate riders looking for elevation gain without the full commitment of a mountain stage.
- Best time: Weekday mornings between 6am and 8am, or early Saturday before trail runners and hikers arrive. Avoid peak summer months when the southeaster makes the exposed sections uncomfortable.
Tip: Start the Tafelberg Road route before 8am on weekends to avoid foot traffic from hikers and to catch the best light over the city bowl. Wind picks up significantly by mid-morning.
Chapman’s Peak: the climb every Cape Town cyclist must do
Difficulty: Hard | Distance: 9 km (climb) | Time: 45 minutes to 1.5 hours depending on fitness
- Start: Noordhoek Beach car park, Chapman’s Peak Drive
- End: Hout Bay Harbour, Hout Bay
For riders with stronger legs and a higher tolerance for gradient, Chapman’s Peak Drive remains the route that every Cape Town cyclist eventually has to tackle. Curving along the Atlantic seaboard, the road snakes through towering cliffs and offers uninterrupted views of the ocean and Hout Bay below.
The climb tests endurance, though most riders agree the scenery more than compensates for the effort. ‘There is genuinely nothing like it,’ says Cape Town-based road cyclist Lara Meintjes, who rides the Peak at least twice a month. ‘You reach the top absolutely wrecked and then you look out and forget all of it immediately.’
The ascent begins with the short but steep Little Chappies section, followed by the longer, more gradual main climb before a fast descent into Hout Bay. Post-ride, the harbour restaurants make for an easy and well-earned lunch stop. Most riders approach from Noordhoek and combine the climb with a broader Hout Bay loop, adding roughly 30 km to the total outing.
- Best time: Saturday or Sunday mornings between 7am and 9am, April to August. The road is quieter in winter, the air is cooler and the Atlantic sits a deep, clear blue on calm days. Check the Chapman’s Peak Drive website before heading out as the road closes periodically due to rockfall risk.
Sea Point Promenade: flat, easy and always buzzing
Difficulty: Easy | Distance: 5 km (promenade stretch) | Time: 20 to 30 minutes
- Start: Graaff’s Pool, Beach Road, Sea Point
- End: Mouille Point Lighthouse, Marine Drive
Not every ride needs to be a sufferfest. The Sea Point Promenade gives leisure riders, families and anyone on a hire bike a flat, largely traffic-free stretch along the Atlantic.
The route carries the rare feeling of coastal road reserved entirely for non-motorised users, with the ocean on one side and the mountain on the other. It connects naturally into the V&A Waterfront and Mouille Point, making it a practical and scenic option at any time of day. Extend the ride towards Green Point or loop back along Beach Road for an effortless hour on the bike.
- Best time: Year-round. Weekday mornings between 6am and 8am are quietest. Weekend mornings draw a lively mix of cyclists, runners and dog walkers, which adds atmosphere but requires patience at the busier stretches near the tidal pools.
Cape Town’s cycling scene continues to grow, with more riders discovering that the city’s geography is, in itself, the route worth riding. The infrastructure is improving, the community is active and the roads, on a clear autumn morning, are as good as anywhere in the world.
Article by Angelica Rhoda for Cape ETC
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