The St Francis MTB Loop has (at last) been upgraded and extended this year, thanks to generous donations from cyclists of about R120,000.
The work has been carried out by Tyrone Kindness (Custom Bikes), assisted by Greg West (Custom Construction) with support from Nevil Hulett and Lorraine Maree. (Signage is planned to be in place before the season).
The route is a 27km loop, starting and finishing at Custom Bikes, with some urban tar at the start (passing the beach a few times), but overall mainly gravel single track, much of it retained from the old route, and not much sand!
It includes a fabulous new coastal section past Bruce’s (with some boardwalks) as well as more coastline at Otters Landing. It also takes in more of Irma Booysen Nature Reserve, and obviously retains the lighthouse section, then takes you past the Tradewinds coffee shop (in case you need it)
On the way back, the route is from the top of the Irma Booysen “Full Stop” Hill to the Humansdorp Road for about 1km (we plan to take this section off road next year) then right at the Airpark turn off and then left into the Thatch Farm, where Tyrone has built a wonderful new section, before returning via St Francis Drive, where for most of the length there is a single track within 20m of the tar.
Tyrone has plans for many upgrades and extensions next year, pending more donations!
We need more rain and riding to compact the gravel, so we are hoping for both in the coming weeks.
Please consider a donation, preferably at least R300 (which will entitle you to club membership until December 2021, and give you access to the club WhatsApp group if you wish):
St Francis Cycling Club, Standard Bank 186519508
Richard Arderne
Treasurer: St Francis Cycling Club
