The POINT2POINT Challenge
- NEW! The Experience
- The Challenge
- Rules & Getting Started
- En Route
- WALL of FAME
- …
- NEW! The Experience
- The Challenge
- Rules & Getting Started
- En Route
- WALL of FAME
The POINT2POINT Challenge
- NEW! The Experience
- The Challenge
- Rules & Getting Started
- En Route
- WALL of FAME
- …
- NEW! The Experience
- The Challenge
- Rules & Getting Started
- En Route
- WALL of FAME
The Rules
Regardless of which POINT2POINT Challenge you you are setting out to complete, these are the Rules:
- Adhere to South African rules of the road at all times.
- Adhere to South African National Parks rules and regulations, including having the required activity permits for each section of TMNP, at all times.
- Share the trail. Give way to fellow TMNP trail users, people, horses and dogs. It's a Challenge, not a race.
- There is no time limit on completion of any of the routes, but you need to complete any of the challenges before sunset unless you are adequately prepared for night riding.
- If you want to share your route additions, that's great but its all about completing the POINT2POINT Challenge routes while having fun riding safely across the Cape Peninsula with your mates.
- Look after yourself and your mates. On the Challenge, you are as fast as your slowest mate. Carry what you think you may need in an emergency including enough water, particularly in preparation the section from Ou Wapad to Tokai as there are no reliable water sources and it gets hot out there. Listen to your body. Ride safe. Don't be a chop.
Getting started
How you prepare to get started will depend on which POINT2POINT Challenge you are setting out to complete.
Parts of the Cape Peninsula, and more specifically riding on Table Mountain, can experience 'four seasons in a day' so you'll need to make sure that you carry cold/wet weather gear with you and be prepared for any eventuality.
Parts of MTB route are somewhat 'remote' and you/your group will need carry some essential spares to effect repairs should the need arise. There are bike shops on each of the routes but depending on which day you choose, these may not be open. For more check out En route Bike Pitstops but we suggest you be as self sufficient as possible.
Here is a checklist of gear we think you'll need, in no particular order, to help you make your Challenge attempt a success:
The Original POINT2POINT Challenge MTB
- A fit for purpose, recently serviced bike (which could be a mountain bike, ebike or gravel bike). A full suspension bike is ideal but not essential.
- Suitable cycling gear for + 6 hrs minimum in the saddle (depending on which mode of bike you ride and how fast you'll ride!) including:
- Helmet
- Gloves (preferably finger'ed)
- Suitable cycling shoes
- Wet weather jacket
- Water bottles/hydro pack (so you carry sufficient water and have space for necessary spares, nutrition etc.)
- Spares including:
- Spare tube
- Pump or Co2 bombs
- Spare Chain link
- Tools
- A tire repair kit/plugs for tubeless tires.
- A chain breaker to replace chain link
- A multitool including Allen keys
- Nutrition - whatever nutrition you would use on a stage ride/race but you will be able to buy additional snacks en route. Check out En route Coffee/Lunch Pitstops
- TMNP Level 3 Activity Card
- Mobile phone, fully charged (with a back up battery and charging cable in case)
- Mask/buff to comply with COVID regulations at pitstops
- GPS cyclometer/watch with POINT2POINT Challenge MTB route loaded on it.
- First aid kit (including a space blanket)
- Sun protection
- Chafe cream
The POINT2POINT Challenge ROAD & The POINT2POINT Challenge LITE
- A fit for purpose, recently serviced bike. (Can be a road bike, gravel bike, mountain bike, with or without road tyres, e bike, tandem, BMX or unicycle!)
- Suitable cycling gear to support 4+ hrs minimum in the saddle (depending on which mode of bike you ride and how fast you'll ride!) including:
- Helmet
- Gloves
- Waterproof jacket
- Water bottles/hydropack
- Spares
- Spare tube
- Pump/Co2 bombs
- Tools
- Tire repair kit/plugs
- any tools necessary to change a tire
- Nutrition - whatever nutrition you would use on a 80+ km ride. You will be able to buy additional snacks on route. Check out En route Coffee/Lunch Pitstops.
- TMNP Level 3 Activity Card or Day Pass for Cape Point section of Table Mountain National Park (bought at the gate for R 97)
- Mobile phone, fully charged (with a back up battery and charging cable in case) to take pics and for emergency calls
- Mask/buff to comply with COVID regulations at pitstops
- GPS cyclometer/watch with POINT2POINT Challenge ROAD / POINT2POINT Challenge LITE route on it.
- First aid kit (should you feel it necessary).
- Sun protection
- Chafe cream
Safety tips
- We suggest that regardless of which route you attempt, you always ride with a partner. If you are planning the POINT2POINT Challenge MTB, we suggest that you plan to ride in a group of 4, minimum.
- Let someone (other than those riding with you!) know which Challenge you are planning to attempt and your expected finish time.
- Use a tracking app on your phone.
- Keep in mind where possible exit points off of the mountain are should you get into trouble.
- Have fun out there but remember it's a significant challenge - look after yourself and listen to your body. When tired, rest.
- On any roads, please comply to South African road regulations.
- On any section of Table Mountain National Park, please adhere to South African National Parks rules and regulations.
- Please note that the Tim Willard, the POINT2POINT Challenge (POINT2POINT Challenge MTB, POINT2POINT Challenge ROAD and POINT2POINT Challenge LITE Routes, any of its sponsors and /or associates cannot be held liable for your personal safety during the Challenge, and your participation in any/all of the Challenge routes is entirely at your own risk.
- Have the Table Mountain National Park emergency number on your phone - 021 480 7700.
- Have Wilderness Search and Rescue Number in your phone - 021 937 0300
- IMPORTANT Although you will be able to get water along the route, please take sufficient water to last you for at least 3 hours riding - we'd recommend at least 3 litres... On the MTB Challenge there is no water as you ascend the Ou Wapad. You may find river water in a few of the rivers on the Kirstenbosch section, but in summer most of these will be dry.
Useful information
- The gate to the Cape Point section of TMNP officially opens at 07h00 in summer and 08h00 in winter. (It's possible that in the gate may open randomly earlier, but don't bank on this....)
Plan to be at the gate as close as possible to opening time as you will still need to travel 13 kms (at 40kph = 20 mins) in the park to the Start. - On the MTB Challenge a good mid morning coffee pitstop is Sun Valley (Longbeach) (36 kms) Noordhoek (39 kms) Tokai (60 kms) or Constantia (65 kms) and High Constantia (66kms)
- On the ROAD Challenge a good mid morning stops are from Steenberg Village (48kms), Tokai (50 kms) Constantia Uitsig (54 kms) High Constantia (56 kms) or Constantia Nek (59 kms)
- And on the LITE Challenge, the best stop is Noordhoek (41 kms) and/or Hout Bay (52kms)
- We've added Coffee/Lunch Pitstops, Bike Pitstops and a photo gallery in the En Route section.
- If there is anything that you feel that we have missed, please drop us an email or WhatsApp and we'll make sure to add it. Thanks!
#capetownsmostbeautifulcyclingchallenge
You up for the Challenge?
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