Ou Kaapse Weg: East (Steenberg) side

Location: Ou Kaapse Weg, Constantiaberg east side

Activity: Cycle

Category: climb

Distance: 3,6 km (Ou Kaapse Weg proper) or 6 km from Main Rd, Lakeside

Description: Steady, steep climb with stunning views. Avoid if the wind speed is more than a fresh breeze (more than about 35 km/h, particularly if southeast) and if cloud obscures the top.

Altitude: 6 - 312 metres/74 - 312 metres

Gradient: Average 6,5 on Ou Kaapse Weg proper and >10 in places

Rating: Never less than tough.

A warning: be EXTREMELY vigilant about traffic on this road. The emergency lane may be wide and the road surface may be good, but you'll still find drivers taking up more than their fair share of road. I like to ride in the Yellow, close to the line itself and well out from the verge, so I can be more visible. The speed limit on Ou Kaapse Weg is 90, and as you'll be going quite slowly for long stretches, you're at a serious disadvantage. Everybody on four wheels seems to be in a hurry, cutting corners and overtaking in idiotic (not to say illegal) places - solid lines, blind corners, the lot.

THIS APPLIES GOING DOWN AS WELL.

The plus side on the downhill is that you'll often be going as fast as the motorised traffic - if not faster. Unfortunately, if they're behind you they seem unable to resist trying to pass if there's the remotest opportunity. Far better to take the lane, or if you're not the assertive type, at least ride to the right of the yellow line (assuming you are descending at a reasonable speed and not holding people up). Also keep an eye on oncoming traffic - people will try to overtake on the uphill if they see it's "only" a bicycle coming towards them.

OK, lecture over.

The biggest road climb on the Peninsula mountain chain poses two quite different challenges depending on which side you start.

• The eastern side from Main Road is steep, but shorter... actually, that depends.
• The western side is longer, but not so steep... er, actually, that depends. And we'll leave that for another time.

Topping out at 312 metres above sea level, Ou Kaaps offers some spectacular views across the Cape Flats and False Bay, even while you're getting there. Not that you'd be in a mood to appreciate the scenery with an average gradient of 6,5 %. Of course, that is for Ou Kaapse Weg proper, which starts at Steenberg Road at an altitude of 74 metres. (On the profile graphics shown above you'll see gradients up to 18 %, but I have to regard those as spurious; on Ou Kaaps you're unlikely to have to get out of the saddle, even).

I prefer to regard the climb as starting in Main Road, which lies at 6 m above sea level. That way, it's really a climb of two halves.

From Main Road, a moderate ascent will take you to the bridge over the M3. On the way, it's tempting to ride left of the yellow line because the surface is so much smoother, but beware of broken glass. Traffic starts to become a problem at the bridge over the M3, where you need to do some tricky lane-changing.

The climb up from Westlake curves around and gradually flattens out as you approach Ou Kaapse Weg proper. Be careful when you bear left up the hill as left-turning traffic tends to take this bend fast and sometimes too sharply. About 250 metres up, watch for traffic emerging from a side road on the left. 

The gradient eases off as you curve right up the hill towards the bottom hairpin. However, it kicks up again as you pass around the hairpin. If a southeast is blowing, watch out for some buffeting as you start up the straight that takes you to the top hairpin. If a northwest is blowing, enjoy the push up the hill!

By now the hard work is really done and you can settle into a steady rhythm until a right-left S bend near the top, when the road tilts further up again. Be especially careful on the last right turn at the top, even if it's not blowing. With a wicked crosswind in action, you can be blown off the bike here. But you're nearly there.

Once around the bend and over a little rise immediately after, you're not quite at the top of the climb, but you will be able to see it a couple of hundred metres down the road as it curves to the left.