21 Dec The 12 Best Bicycle Tours in Cape Town

Cape Town has some of the most scenic cycle routes you could dream of, from cruising along gorgeous coastlines to meandering through vineyards. And now, to make things a little more interesting/challenging, there are tours that include beer and wine tastings.

BICYCLE HIRES 

1. UPCYCLES – CAMPS BAY, SEA POINT, V&A WATERFRONT, CITY CENTRE 
   This drop-and-go bicycle rental company has stations in four locations on the Atlantic Seaboard. These orange, Dutch-style bikes are hard to miss on the promenade and the well-placed stations ensure visitors can explore the best parts of the city’s coastline with ease. R75 for one hour, R110 for two and R150 for three hours. 

2. &BIKES CAFE AND CYCLE BOUTIQUE – CITY CENTRE
   If there’s one way to get people through your doors it’s to offer something for nothing, and that’s exactly what the &Bikes Cafe has done. Visitors can use one of their city cruiser bikes for free for two hours. If you want it for longer, it’s R150 for a half day or R250 for the full day. This is all subject to availability and no bookings are allowed.

3. AWOL BICYCLE RENTAL – V&A WATERFRONT  
   AWOL supplies a variety of different bicycles to suit various needs from hybrids to electric mountain bikes. Included in the bicycle rental are helmets, locks, pumps, spare inner tubes and puncture kits. Bicycle racks and pannier bags are available on request. Cape Town City cycling maps are also available for sale in English and Afrikaans. R400 – R750 per day.

4. FRANSCHHOEK CYCLES – FRANSCHHOEK 
   Explore the beautiful Franschhoek valley on one of the various bicycle models at Franschhoek Cycles. Their most popular bike is the hybrid bicycle, which is ideal for riding in and about the village, as well as visiting the surrounding wine farms. For the more adventurous, they have mountain bikes equipped with front suspension. Kiddies bikes are also available and adult bikes come in sizes small (16″) to extra large (22″). All rentals include a helmet. R250 for half day, R350 for a full day. 

5. THE VINE CAFE – HOUT BAY
   Visitors can hire e-bikes from this cafe near the bottom of Chapman’s Peak. Two routes are popular, either to tackle the famous Chappies road to Noordhoek or explore Hout Bay, especially the harbour. These high-quality modern bikes can be hired for R405 – R600 for a half day.

6. DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR, ANYWHERE IN CAPE TOWN
   A handful of companies offer special bicycles on delivery. These bikes tend to be for the more serious riders, either on road or mountain. From R105 per day. Check out Trail and Tar, Bicycle Hire and Rent a Bicycle for more.

BICYCLE TOURS 

7. CAPE POINT BICYCLE TOURS
Pedal your way down to the most South-Western Point of Africa on a guided tour that explains the historical and ecological importance of Cape Point. You’ll visit the lighthouse and learn about the numerous wrecks of the ‘Cape of Storms’. Other attractions are the wild ostrich, baboons, bontebok, eland and Cape fur seals. R700 per person excluding transfer.

8. CAPE TOWN BEER & BIKES 
Designed with beer-lovers in mind, this 12-kilometre bicycle tour will introduce you to some of the best brews Cape Town has to offer. Cycling through the Mother City’s vibrant CBD, you’ll visit a lively pub, a traditional brewery and beer garden along the way. R820, afternoon tours only. 

9. CAPE TOWN BITES & BIKES 
Munch on traditional South African fare such as biltong, fish curry and koeksisters while exploring the culinary side of Cape Town by bicycle. This half-day cycle tour takes riders through the colourful streets of the Bo-Kaap, with an optional visit to the legendary Atlas Spices, followed by an exploration of De Waterkant, Green Point and the V&A Waterfront. R720 per person.

10. TOWNSHIP CYCLING EXPERIENCE 
Join Juma on an insider’s tour of Khayelitsha on this popular tour. On the two-hour route you’ll explore the area, visit art projects, have a coffee stop at Siki’s Koffee Kafe and visit the Spinach King restaurant. The full-day tour includes a traditional lunch, visit to a mural painting, garden and nursery school. R400 for the two-hour tour and R1,200 for full day. 

11. CAPE TOWN CITY CYCLE TOUR 
These tours leave the V&A Waterfront Information Centre every day at 10am. Guides share their knowledge of Cape Town’s rich heritage while riding from the vibrant Waterfront to the inner city. From the historic city centre, you’ll cycle into the colourful Bo-Kaap and then make your way towards Green Point before heading back to the Waterfront along the Atlantic Seaboard. Tours last for around five hours and cost R700 per person. 

12. WINELANDS CONSTANTIA CYCLING TOUR 
Explore the oldest wine region of South Africa with a personalised guide on this 20-kilometre morning tour. Guests are transferred to the Constantia Valley and visit the historic Groot Constantia Estate, taste the full array of the wines and learn about the region’s history. You’ll then have an option of cycling on tarred roads through the suburbs to the next wine estate or taking a newly opened entry level mountain biking trail through the Constantia Greenbelt. You’ll visit vineyards like Buitenverwachting, Groot Constantia, Constantia Uitsig and Steenberg. R2,200 per person.