It’s not disputed that the road riding around the Cape Peninsula is spectacular. We teamed up with Mercedes-Benz to showcase some of the best of our backyard with the help of their V-Class Special Edition on a big day out.
No lap of the peninsula would be complete without catching sunrise on the Sea Point promenade. We kitted up parked beside the ocean and took an easy spin towards Suikerbossie waiting for the morning chill to soften.
On Chapman’s Peak, we finally caught the sun and stopped to take in the iconic view of Hout Bay and the Sentinel from the spectacular Chappies lookout point.
After a swooping descent into Noordhoek, it was time for coffee and a pastry at the The Roost. It’s no secret that most of us ride for the coffee and the banter. If you spend thirty minutes at the Village Roast on a Sunday you will see this clearly illustrated, as riders stream in and out, and some park themselves for hours stretching out their coffee break.
With much more to still explore, we headed out through Sun Valley and Kommetjie to tackle the Slangkop climb. This is one of the more underrated pieces of road and is often left out of a peninsula loop because of the slight detour it adds. It’s totally worth the effort for the views it offers of the Kommetjie lighthouse and the Atlantic Ocean extending to a scenic ocean-side run-in through Misty Cliffs and Scarborough.
A gentle drag out of Scarborough leads to a tough choice: those looking for a longer loop take the right hand fork towards Cape Point gate and Smitswinkel Bay. This route is slightly flatter, but longer, and gives you plenty of time to appreciate the views of False Bay.
We opted to go over Red Hill to enjoy the twisting switchback descent and unparalleled views of Simon’s Town harbour.
We were treated to windless conditions, sparkling oceans, and mostly quiet roads. There is simply no better way to spend a crisp, sunny winter’s day.
A flat drag through Fish Hoek and Kalk Bay took us into the leafy, golden vineyards of Constantia. Where we pulled in for a snack at Chardonnay Deli.
The beauty of the Cape Peninsula is that there are plenty of route variations for all types of riders. It is possible to add climbs for the fit and frothy or bypass them for those who’ve been taking their winter hibernation too seriously. There are no shortage of coffee stops on this route too. A real challenge lies in choosing the right watering hole for the particular day and group and resisting stopping every thirty minutes. With the V-Class as our backup vehicle, needing a bail-out was never a concern.
Our route home took us over Constantia Nek and into Hout Bay. We returned over Suikerbossie and back to our starting point in Sea Point in time to catch the last of the afternoon sun over a cold beer.
You can view our route on STRAVA here. Be aware that for safety reasons it is not advisable to ride through Ocean View alone. In addition, the road surfaces may change, so always take care and be vigilant.
About the Mercedes-Benz V-Class Special EDITION
Aside from being devastatingly good-looking, the Mercedes-Benz V-Class Special EDITION had the following stand-out features that made it the ideal vehicle for moving bikes and the team in absolute style and comfort.
- Ample space and seating: The V-Class can seat up to seven occupants. The versatile seating arrangement can be customised to your needs.
- Agility Control: The V-Class is equipped with an agility control system, which enhances stability and ride comfort by adjusting the suspension based on road conditions, meaning the handling is smooth and controlled no matter where you take it.
- Parking Assistance with 360° Camera: Parking sensors and an automated parking system take away the stress of parking a sizeable vehicle. It’s a game-changer!
- Blind Spot Assistance: The V-Class is equipped with blind spot assist technology which acts as an extra set of eyes to warn you about vehicles lurking in your blind spots.
- Interior Comfort: Features like ergonomic seating, climate control, a fridge for water-bottles, and connectivity options for entertainment and convenience mean the hard part of the journey is getting out of the car.
To learn more about the V-Class check it out here.
