Absolutely the Toughest Handcycle Tour on the Planet!

13th to 18th February 2011

 

 The tagline says it all - "Beautifully Tough!" This tour takes you through some of the most spectacular scenery in South Africa. Declared too tough for the average handcyclist, we have relented and added an extra day to make the tour more enjoyable. Yes that’s right – it is 6 days and 515km long (7 days and 557km if you include the 42km OCC street race the day after the tour finishes). This event promises to be the ultimate handcycle tour. You will ride over at least 3 well known mountain passes and plenty of other good climbs as well.

 The tour is not a timed event, it’s more like a long, fully supported training ride. The average distance you ride per day is 85km, and we will have designated rest stops each day where you can rest, get off your handcycle for a while and refill water-bottles etc. Please note that you need to come to the tour fully prepared to ride an average of 85km per day - good preparation is essential if you want to enjoy the tour. Note, 85km is the average distance, the actual distances vary between 101km and 34km (on the last day). Whilst this may not sound like a tough challenge, believe me it is so tough that we had to split the last day into two days of 85km and 34km to make it more enjoyable and to help you rest up a bit for the OCC street race on 19th February.

 

How the Tour is Structured

There is no official start time and no cut-off time – you ride at your own pace and enjoy the scenery. The Toer de Kaap is a fully supported tour, so your kit bag and wheelchair will be transported for you en route. The tour provides 2 meals a day, so all your needs are catered for – just bring along some money to cover incidentals and lunch each day. On most days we stop at restaurants for lunch, however, lunch on the third day is provided as we stop at a remote farmhouse in the middle of nowhere, courtesy of the farmer. (Note: all drinks and alcoholic beverages are for your own account); all you have to worry about is riding your bike! We stay mostly in 3-star, shared accommodation in B&Bs and guest lodges along the way. Some of the overnight stops offer laundry facilities, and most of them have swimming pools – be sure to bring a swimming costume and towel. 

You will need to bring along your own spares and tools required to maintain your handcycle en route - the region we ride through is remote from civilisation, so unless you ride a "dikwiel" please be self-sufficient. Bring along spare batteries for your lights, torches etc and enough energy bars/supplements to last the duration of the tour.  Also bring any chargers you need for your personal devices - cellphones, garmins etc.

 If there are 10 or more handcyclists riding, there will be some trophies up for grabs for the first time on the tour. More information on these trophies - the Boomslang Trophy, the Prickly Pear Trophy and the Siraaj Jacobs Trophy will be in the Rider Route document, available once you have paid the entry/participation fee.

 

What to do if you are interested in joining us

For more information, follow this link to the Expression of Interest Form, download it, complete it and send it back to info@ghrc.co.za Please be aware that space is limited, so the first 10 entry forms and 50% deposits (R2000.00) received will guarantee you a place on the tour.  NB. A maximum of 10 permanent wheelchair users  can be catered for due to the shortage of accessible rooms, so its most important for wheelers to be early  with paying their deposit to ensure a place on the tour.

NB. This tour is so tough that we require a doctor’s certificate of competence for first-time participants!

Hey, I dont mean to scare you or anything, remember some guys have ridden all three previous tours and are lined up already to participate in 2011 again. Just make sure that you are there too!