Gravel Bikes of Tour de Braai
The Tour de Braai is a five-day luxury cycling tour showcasing some of the finest gravel riding on offer in the Western Cape. I was lucky enough to join the May edition this year. Aside from being an incredible bike riding experience (you can read about it here), there were some top-notch gravel bikes on […]
Gravel gees at Tour de Braai
The Tour de Braai is a five day, luxury gravel ride, organised by South Africa’s braaimaster, Jan Braai. The event is fully supported, including accommodation in guest houses, mechanical support, access to a fleet of Specialized Diverge gravel bikes, backup vehicles, daily massages, and all food and drinks throughout. This includes an ample supply of […]
Bike Check: Gravel Bikes of Tour de Braai
Last week I had the privilege of tagging along on the Tour de Braai – a five-day cycling tour from George to Swellendam via mostly gravel roads. If you missed the daily reports of our adventures you can have a squizz here or via the related articles below. Now though, it’s time for a quick […]
Climbing heat on day five of Tour de Braai
The final day of Tour de Braai presented another seventy-eight kilometre day from Riversdale to Suurbrak with just over a thousand metres of climbing. Our day was spent riding in a westerly direction along the foothills of the Langeberg mountain range. The harshness of the Karoo had been traded for the comparatively lush farmlands of […]
Moody skies and chicken pies on day four of Tour de Braai
The fourth day of the Tour de Braai followed a seventy-eight kilometre route from Rooiberg to Riversdale via Garcia Pass. Departing from the beautiful Rooiberg Lodge we soon hit some punchy climbs which had me questioning my over zealous approach to the prior evening. In the distance we could see the cloud covered Langeberg Mountains […]
Roosting Rooiberg on day three of Tour de Braai
Day three of Tour de Braai took us on a forty-five kilometre route from Calitzdrop to Rooiberg Lodge via the spectacular Rooiberg Pass. After another evening of incredible food paired with superb local wines and more award winning port at De Krans Wines, we casually set off at the standard 9am start time. Knowing that […]
Testing traction on day two of Tour de Braai
Settling into the swing of the Tour de Braai means striking a healthy balance between bike riding and “kuiering”. It’s a refreshing change from many events where dining halls empty by 9pm and the only drinks shared are recovery shakes. Don’t be too mistaken by the party atmosphere though, the Tour de Braai does still […]
Passes and Pinot Noir on day one of Tour de Braai
It’s not every week you get to spend five days on a bike touring through some of the most scenic parts of the Western Cape. The Tour de Braai is a five day tour by gravel from George to Swellendam. Marketed as “the most relaxed multi-day cycling stage ride in South Africa” it’s all about […]
The Bikes of Tour de Braai
The Tour de Braai is a five-day gravel ride starting in George and ending in Swellendam. The brainchild of Jan Braai, the Tour takes riders through some of the Western Cape’s most beautiful passes. With the growth of gravel riding comes an onslaught of new and interesting bikes and in this regard, the Tour de […]
Inaugural Tour de Braai lights fire for cycle travel
For the past five days, 20 cyclists with a taste for the finer things in life have been riding through the Klein Karoo, making their way from George to Swellendam via the most scenic district roads and mountain passes in the Western Cape. German participant Ralf Stapela conquers the mighty Rooiberg Pass on Day 3 […]