Trail Daze - Paarl, South Africa
There's something truly special about riding unknown trails and new terrain. Whether you've traveled across the globe to get there, or it's a local trail that you've overlooked or not had the chance to ride yet, it's that feeling that reminds us why we do this. The uncertainty of how long this climb actually is, or what lies around the next bend, keeps you fully focused in that moment, and removed from the rest of the world.
With daily access to incredible media and stories portraying the world's best riders in the world's best locations, we often forget what adventures might be waiting for us just around the corner. It's all too easy to sit in front of your screen, soaking up someone else's experience and wishing you lived near better trails, with bigger mountains and better weather. Hopefully this photo series will inspire you to step outside, get on your bike and explore more.
About 60km from Cape Town lies the historic town of Paarl. Part of the winelands region of South Africa, it features a landscape ideal for mountain biking and hosts a long list of trails, suited to all grades of riding. Guarded on the one side by the majestic Paarl Rock granite mountain, and on the other by the Klein-Drakenstein and Du Toitskloof Mountains, Paarl truly is a place of scenic beauty with endless riding options. Despite the blistering summers heat, dry and dusty trails, we made our way out there to see what it has to offer.
Riders: Matthieu Hamel and Daniel Dobinson
Experience your own Trail Daze with iRideAfrica.
MENTIONS @irideafrica
With daily access to incredible media and stories portraying the world's best riders in the world's best locations, we often forget what adventures might be waiting for us just around the corner. It's all too easy to sit in front of your screen, soaking up someone else's experience and wishing you lived near better trails, with bigger mountains and better weather. Hopefully this photo series will inspire you to step outside, get on your bike and explore more.
About 60km from Cape Town lies the historic town of Paarl. Part of the winelands region of South Africa, it features a landscape ideal for mountain biking and hosts a long list of trails, suited to all grades of riding. Guarded on the one side by the majestic Paarl Rock granite mountain, and on the other by the Klein-Drakenstein and Du Toitskloof Mountains, Paarl truly is a place of scenic beauty with endless riding options. Despite the blistering summers heat, dry and dusty trails, we made our way out there to see what it has to offer.
 | The area around the town of Paarl is fast becoming a playground that iRideAfrica visits regularly on our guided trips. The massive granite domes are encircled by trails that can cater towards every type of rider, not to mention the multitude of great venues for great lunches and beer or wine tasting. The Paarl mountain reserve has beautiful sweeping dirt roads and sweeping vistas of the vineyards towards Table Mountain and now we have these great trails in Rhebokskloof that are easy enough for beginners but still fun for those with more skill. Even as an owner and guide for a company that takes people riding all year, I am still so excited to ride new trails where I can get an opportunity to experience what our guests must feel like when I am showing them our trail network. - Daniel Dobinson - iRideAfrica |
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 On our way through the historic town of Paarl |
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| The van showing the signs of many epic trips - as it should. |
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| Rookie mistake #1 - Don't ride tubes. |
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| Some A-grade singletrack leading up from the valley, traversing the hills. |
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| The trails here are littered with fast, technical and elbow-scraping-tight shaded sections, with a couple of granite boulders thrown in to keep you on your toes. Get it wrong and you will break yourself or your bike, or both. |
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| Exploring a bit of virgin trail usually requires some hike-a-bike action. Keep in mind that this is snake territory and they are out when the sun is out. |
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| Daniel popping a cold brew to go with the views. |
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| Chasing the last rays of the day on some sublime singletrack. Heaven. |
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| Post ride beer as evening sets. Probably the number 1 incentive to make it back. |
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| It's been real Paarl, see you again soon. |
Riders: Matthieu Hamel and Daniel Dobinson
Experience your own Trail Daze with iRideAfrica.
MENTIONS @irideafrica
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Just got back from a 3 month trip to Cape Town a couple of days ago. I've traveled a lot before, and Cape Town was by far the most beautiful place I have ever been.
But I disliked the mountainbiking possiblities coming there as an outsider. Since it is too dangerous to ride the mountains alone or with only a couple of people, and it was nearly impossible to find people to ride with. So my only options were to pay for expensive tours or not to ride any trails. The tours might be nice, but since they are so expensive, it just doesn't give you the freedom of riding outside every week, since that is not affordable.
Mountainbiking in the Cape Town area must be perfect when you're a local who's part of a big group of riders who meet up regularly. But coming as an outsider it is very hard to get into this and you have pretty much no possibilities to ride when you come alone.
Not even speaking that if you don't own a car there is no possible way to get to any of the trails. Trains are too dangerous, and so is riding to the trails alone (since you always have to go through sketchy areas). Even if it's just 20-25km away like Tokai and Contermanskloof.
Even though my trip to Cape Town was probably my most amazing trip, I'm really happy to be back in Europe and have my safety again.
Been reading the SA website/forum "TheHubSA" and talking to some local riders, and heard muggings happen quite often to riders who ride alone.
Didn't quite help though that I had bad luck in the Long Street area twice during daytime with attempted muggings. Especially the guy lifting his shirt showing me he has a gun left a bit of an impact and has possibly made me a bit too careful afterwards.
Still I really recommend going there and one day I would like to go back for a holiday. Just wouldn't ride alone and wouldn't go into the touristic area at Long Street and the markets over there again (that place is too touristy anyways, and is nowhere near as beautiful as many other parts of the city).
But I think it is great that you guys organize these rides, and again, I really recommend going on one of these rides if you're going to visit Cape Town. A guide will take you to the best places and you're 100% safe in a bigger group.
I absolutely agree with @Mattin, South Africa, especially the Cape have amazing trails, but as a tourist, SA is not accessible as we would want it to be. No real public transport, safety is sketchy and frankly you need to be street smart(Which only SA folk have developed over long years of transitioning in the way we live today).
Frankly I would spend the extra dough and get a tour to take you around. You wont stress as much and will enjoy the trails even more. Next time you go, try out Knysna, George, Plettenburg bay... Magical rides and even better scenery!! LOCAL IS LEKKER
Lol, can you still ride the Constantia green belt? that's where my love for cycling begun.
But hey Norcal rocks, so can't complain.
Michelins "Protek-Max" might be the best option for that kind of trips.