Riding the land of the big birds
Text: Jazz Kuschke. Article from the August 2014 issue of Ride Magazine.
There’s a lot more to Oudtshoorn than ostriches and the KKNK. With the expert input of unofficial mayor Matthys Beukes, Jazz Kuschke highlights the best options for both skinny-wheel and big-tread excursions to the capital of the Klein Karoo.
MTB Trail – Cango MTB
They take their riding pretty seriously in the Klein Karoo, and few more so than two-time Absa Cape Epic African special-jersey winner Matthys Beukes. While he’s better known for his marathon and stage-racing performances, Matthys is a true trail rider at heart, and it reflects in his handiwork at Cango MTB Trails, 8km outside Oudtshoorn, on the R328 to Cango Caves.
Matthys first started building trails on his family’s property near Oudtshoorn when he was selected for the South African XC team to go to the UCI MTB world champs back in 2005. “I had to teach myself about trail-building, but since then I’ve learnt a lot – done a lot of research.” The bike park (and accommodation) idea came to him in 2008, which is when he really started investing time in the build. He’s also had the privilege of riding some of the best trails and parks in the USA, and it shows in the quality of track at Cango MTB.
There is about 20km of handcut singletrack at Cango MTB, ranging from a kiddies’ trail (Ostrich) to an advanced red route which includes runs called Cool Runnings, Magic Factory, 6 Shooters, Game Range and Need for Speed, which forms part of the Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek’s prologue route.
Matthys is a true trail rider at heart, and it reflects in his handiwork
The trails are edge-cut and tidy but by no means groomed and packed, which lends them a natural, rather than park-like, feel. It also means you have to be sharp with your skills – the surface is mostly loose-over-hard, with fist-sized Klein Karoo rocks scrunching under your tyres on the descents and keeping you honest on the climbs. The climbs are technical in a XCO sort of way, with short, steep inclines followed by tight switchbacks and some longer, more gradual sections. Many of the descent corners are beautifully bermed, and you can properly let rip on the way down.
Being a Klein Karoo boy, Matthys is pretty relaxed, which means entry is free and you can ride day or night. He likes to know who’s coming and going,though, so do give him a call if you plan to ride there.
All the routes are clearly marked, but he’s not going to mind if you stitch together your own route from the available trails. Etiquette applies to this relaxed kind of vibe, so leave it the way you’d like to find it.
“While you could easily spend hours playing (and training) on the singletrack, you can go a distance and time by picking your way through beautiful farmlands on quiet dirt roads,” says Matthys.
He recommends the 30km 50/50 dirt-and-tar Schoemanshoek loop for a long, scenic ride with very little climbing and road.
For longer rides, he takes his Scott on a four- to five-hour cruise through the Red Stone hills on the Vergelegen road. “I go through the settlement of Dysselsdorp on my way around the back of De Rust for a nice lunch break. From there it’s big hills up and down back along the Lategansvlei valley road,” he says. The final 15km is an easy pedal on tarred road down the Schoemanspoort passage.
Challenging Road Ride – Matjies River Out-and-Back, 100km/1 600m
Matthys’s favourite road ride is the route to the Matjies River and back. “It’s about 100km, with a decent amount of climbing and amazing scenery of the Swartberg ranges and valleys,” he says. Head straight out on the R328 – this takes you through the Schoemanshoek farms and Schoemanspoort on your way to the Cango Caves. Going through Schoemanspoort, you meander along the Grobbelaars River, tracing it upstream to the foot of the Swartberg mountains.
Just past Wilgewandel restaurant (look out for the camels – you can’t miss it), about 25km in, swing left into the Matjies River Valley.
“Here the road starts kicking upwards as you climb in a westerly direction along the majestic Swartberg mountains,” Matthys explains. “You reach the highest point of the ride at the 40km mark and take another left away from the Swartberg Pass road.”
The turnaround point is where the quiet tarred road fades into even quieter dirt road. Make a U-turn and slog your way up to the highest point again. Once you’ve reached the top at 60km, the rest is downhill.
Etiquette applies to this relaxed kind of vibe, so leave it the way you’d like to find it
Stop at Wilgewandel on the way back for a coffee and home-baked cake.
Intermediate Road Ride – Volmoed Loop, 60km/550m
For a challenging but less intense ride, head out on the Volmoed loop. Ride out of town on the R62 towards Calitzdorp for 10 pan-flat kilometres while soaking up “real” Klein Karoo scenery before swinging left to Volmoed. “Here you traverse one of the Klein Karoo’s narrowest parts, with your back to the Swartberg and your face in the cool sea breeze to the Outeniqua mountains,” says Matthys. “You’ll shoot straight through the little settlement of Volmoed (meaning “high hopes”) while barely blinking. But don’t get your hopes up – the climbing is just about to start. “This road cuts through and over three rolling hills for the next 13km on your way to linking up with the Mossel Bay road (R328). You will be unlucky to see more than three cars on this section, so enjoy the freedom!”
Once you get to the Mossel Bay T-junction, take the left for a high-speed flight back to Oudtshoorn.
Best of…
Coffee
Café Brûlé, on the main street underneath the Queen’s Hotel, www.bit. ly/1uAJ6EG, 044-279-2412
Restaurant
Bello Cibo, on Baron van Reede Street (which becomes the R328) has great pastas and pizzas at proper prices. www.bellocibo.co.za, 044-272-3245
Accommodation
Africa Inn. From there you can ride your bike right into Cango MTB trails or onto the R328. It offers amazing views and a relaxing atmosphere. Self-catering is from about R500 per chalet, www.africa-inn.co.za, 044-272-5110
For further information as well as a trail map:
call 044-272-5110, email info@cangomtb.com, or visit www.cangomountainbiking.com.
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