I Want To Ride My Bicycle

As a new resident in Porterville and an ardent cyclist, of the touring kind, cycling around Porterville has been an exploration of note. A number of routes are worth exploring on a visit to Porterville depending on what you are looking for.

A good road, which can be made as long or short as you like, is the Jakkalsfontein road.(When entering Porterville from Wellington, left just before the little bridge). This is a long and dusty road with undulating hills which can be cycled for 25km to Piketberg (and back) on a good day! It is a good farm road which in summer can be pretty bumpy, so a mountain bike with front shocks are recommended. It is pure meditation with appropriate attention to road texture, of course, and vistas both sides of the road. In July-October it is a portal through greens and yellows of wheat and canola fields as far as the eye can see. No need to take your speedometer as the distances are well marked on the fence so ride as long as you want to or aim for the mileage of your choice. It can be turned into a round trip by keeping left at the turn off around 7,5km in and left again heading back towards the lovely Olifant’s Mountains just before the big farm house. Lots of birds of prey, strange cloud formation and the odd bakkie that passes until you join up with the tar road for around 4 km back into town. A good work out complete with many sites to see.

For the beer lovers and roadies the route to take is the tar road heading back towards Wellington. The road has a wide elbow and while adhering to road rules, is safe. For 17km you will cycle past wheat, grape, sheep and horses until you get to the turn off to Indie Ale where you can grab a half way pizza and beer every Wednesday to Saturday. It is a lovely open expanse of tar road for either mountain bike or racing bike. As a regular route bettering your time each time or just enjoying the sights are equally enjoyable with some good long downhills and equally good long uphills. Do check the wind situation as the outride may be tough if the wind is strong as it usually blows straight into your face.

A lovely winding route for a picnic is cycling to Die Waterval Farm. Turn off right as you

exit Porterville towards Citrusdal. Again the dirt road is usually in good nick, crosses a river with some treacherous sandy spots, so mountain bike should be your preferred weapon for this ride. Wheat fields mixed with yellow Canola fields and inquisitive horses along the way makes for an interesting ride until you get to the T junction where you turn right. The road now runs close to the mountain with indigenous veld to the left and rolling wheat fields to the right. It leads to a small dam on the left where a swim in summer is a good idea and the entrance to Die Waterval camping site is just past the stables and goats. If you take your entrance fee and a bicycle lock you can climb up to the waterfall for a lovely picnic before heading back.