Whether you’re cycling the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, supporting on the side of the road or stuck at home for the day, don’t face the day without our handy survival guide!

The Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, taking place on Sunday 10 March 2013, is the world’s largest timed cycle race and takes cyclists on a route of nearly 109 km around the Cape Peninsula. It’s certainly a spectacle to behold and one Cape Town is immensely proud of. But it also means the city pretty much shuts down for the day, so if you’re not cycling in the Argus Cycle tour or on the side of the road supporting, you’re mostly stuck at home - which kinda sucks - but don’t worry, we’ve got some ideas on what to do.

But first, let’s talk about what’s going to affect everybody in Cape Town on the 9th and 10th of March..

Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour Road Closures

Yep, there are going to be plenty of them! And if you’re a firm believer in Murphy’s Law, most of them are going to be around your home.

Seriously though, some roads in the Cape Town CBD and Green Point will already be closed for the Cape Argus Cycle Tour on Saturday and people always seem to forget that Chapman’s Peak also gets closed the day before the race – and that’s a big detour once you’re already at the Noordhoek Farm Village or outside the Chapman’s Peak Hotel! For a blow-by-blow guide to all road closures for the weekend of the Cycle Tour check out this link.

The swell folk over at the MyCiti bus will be running a revised schedule on the 10th, so if you make use of their services, check out how you will be impacted here

If you’re cycling in the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour

Firstly, we’re in awe – driving over Chapman’s Peak is hard enough, let alone cycle! All the best. We hope it’s a memorable and amazing event for you – but before you start the race, have you checked out this important info about starting and finishing the cycle tour?

While cycling the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, it’s pretty important that you stay hydrated throughout the race. Refreshment stations will be located outside the St James Train Station, down Kommetjie Road towards Ou Kaapse Weg and on Chapmans Peak down the road to the lookout point.  Check out this nifty link for a route map, route profile and those dreaded cut-off times.  

If you’re going to be a supporter at the Cape Argus Pick n pay Cycle Tour

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to your chosen vantage point – there’s bound to be some traffic jams due to the road closures. Depending on where you stay there are some lovely venues to support the cyclists from, our favourites being the top of Suikerbossie in Hout Bay, the Main Rd through St James and Kalk Bay and of course the finish line.

If your support stop is not going to be close to home, make sure that you pack ample provisions, lots of suntan lotion, a hat and foldup chair… and know where the nearest loo is!

If you’re going to be stuck at home for the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour

Eat that frog… Well, not literally, of course. But since you’re going to be trapped at home for the day make the most of it – and take care of that project that you’ve been procrastinating about – be it cleaning out the garage, giving the spare room a fresh lick of paint or getting ahead of all your filing… haven’t we just finished another tax year?

Remember to do all your shopping beforehand – and preferably before Saturday because the rest of Cape Town will also be stocking up. If the weather is nice a braai is always a good option. Check out our weekend weather guide before making a call on that one.  

If you don’t have dstv, it’s pretty slim pickings on the SABC channels on a Sunday, so make sure to book your movies early at your nearest dvd store… and pick them up on Saturday.
Or… Avoid Cape Argus cabin fever all together and make a break for it. There are stunning places for a weekend escape two or three hours out of Cape Town… Paarl, Franschhoek, Ceres, Hermanus. The list is endless…

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