PAVEMENT IS SO PEDESTRIAN

Plenty of things flash through your mind when you’re pedaling fast down a path that runs along the edge of a cliff, plummets down a kloof in the forest or takes you into the throws of surf along the ocean’s edge. A word of advice, hum a little tune, practice a mental trick to stay relaxed and use those pins to supplement the suspension of your bike.

Plett is arguably one of the best and most exciting areas for mountain biking. Offering trails that require ‘flip flop’ proficiency to those geared towards the serious MTB ‘race snake’, the options are endless. Whether you prefer to lose yourself in the forest or cruise around a vineyard sampling a tipple or three, be sure to pack your best steel, alu or carbon puppy for the trip.

Say the name Diepwalle and the first thing that leaps to the mind of an MTB’er is Petrus-se-Brand. Just a smidge on the upside of moderate, the 22.4kms trail offers lots of single track, a bit of Jeep track and views that will make your heart pump custard. Riders are required to obtain a permit from Sanparks, which is available from local bike shops, Thesen Island office or the Diepwalle Forestry Station. The water in the streams are drinkable, so feel free to fill up your water bottles. The dark colour is due to the tannins and humic acids from the leaves on the forest floor.

Sanparks offer four official routes via the Harkerville Forest MTB Trails. MTB’ers of varied levels of proficiency can enjoy, in ascending order of difficulty, Yellow Route (14kms), Blue Route (12kms), Green Route (15kms) and Red Route (24kms). Permits are essential so do be sure to have them on your person when cycling these routes. The various routes all have unique features, and it is safe to say that you will be more than happy, whichever one you choose to ride.

On a beautiful, sprawling dairy farm, you will find the Cairnbrogie MTB Trail Park. Passionate about providing intermediate skill riding for young riders, the park offers various trail option with varying degrees of difficulty and distance, which are very kid-friendly. For the more experienced rider an 11kms route around the farm takes you towards the coast with its spectacular views along plenty of single track. Riders can choose to cross over into the Cape Pine plantations which will in turn take them through to the wonderful red route, blue route and green route in the Harkerville forest.

There will be time to ride your two-wheel steed at breakneck speed, bleeding through your eyeballs and shattering records. Then there’s time for the sightseeing and chill factor that MTB riders are known to partake of on occasion.  There is no better place to do this kind of meandering through the Plett Winelands and vineyard hopping on a mountain bike is the new black. Several boutique vineyards in and around Plett have opened their gates to the casual day tripper. Cycles in the Forest arranges organized rides through a whole selection of vineyards in and around the greater Plett area. After an amazing, chilled doddle, the riders are spoilt rotten with lunch at a vineyard and get to taste the wines of course.

The Fat Bike and the e-bike are the new kids on the block. Enquire with one of our local shops to find out more about rentals, guides and sales.

Cycle Routes

• MTB Trail Pass (routes, GPX trail files and trail pass information)
• Book your MTB Trail Pass for the Garden Route
• Map My Ride
• ShowMe Plett
• Strava

Cross Cape Cycle Route

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Bike Equipment Sales & Rentals

THE BIKE SHOP

Address: 988 Piesang Valley Road, Plettenberg Bay, 6600
Phone: +27 (0)44 533 1111
Facebook: facebook.com/TheBikeShopPlett/
Website: www.thebikeshop.co.za

SPORTS CENTRE/SPORTS CULTURE

Address: Shop A2, Market Square Shopping Centre Beacon Way
Telephone: +27 (0)44 533 1230
Website:  www.sportculture.co.za

PLETT BIKE

E-Bike Rentals in Plett

Address: 11 Main Street, Plett
Telephone: +27 (0)79 383 5578
Website:  www.plettbike.co.za

SCOOT PLETT

Address: Caltex Lighthouse Centre, 71 Longships Drive, Plett
Telephone: +27 (0)73 871 7639
Website:  www.scootplett.co.za

Cycle-friendly Coffee Shops & Restaurants

Cycle-friendly Accommodation

Cycling Tours and Packages

Cycling Events

• View upcoming cycling events here

Cycling Clubs in Plett

• Club 100
• Kwano Cycling Club

Book with a Tour Operator

Click here to book with a tour operator