Durban to Umhlanga
From Blue Lagoon Engen (intersection of NMR Avenue/ Northway and Athlone Drive) go East (towards the sea) on Athlone Rd until you get to the M4 on ramp. Go onto the M4, across the mighty Umngeni & off at the very next off ramp. Bear right into Waterkant Road, past the Hypermarket and along Waterkant Rd until it turns left to T junction with Milldene Place (over the road from Crusaders). Right & immediately right again into Broadway, over the M4 and left into Fairway. Follow to Virginia Circle (left into Hilton Grove when you get to Virginia Airport, under the M4). Follow the circle around until Kentucky Drive, the last road off the circle before you go all the way around. Follow Kentucky until it changes its name to Potomac and swerves left to a T junction with Marion Ave. Left into Marion and up the hill past Glenashley Primary. Right at the stop into Aubrey Drive and first left into David, down the notorious Genashely esses (Inca Drive) and under the M4 (again). Left into Ypsilanti, right into Ann Arbour, left into Forest Drive & follow the road to Umhlanga. DO NOT male the mistake of turning left at the Melkhout Place circle – the “high road” is narrow, full of holes and much harder than the smooth wide delights of the “bottom road” – officially still called Forest Drive, until it changes its name to Marine Drive. Up the little nasty bump into Umhlanga then left and up the short, steep Ocean Way. Right into Ridge Road, left into McCausland, over the M4 and right at the on ramp onto the M4.
Umhlanga to Fairbreeze Hotel, Tongaat
Follow the M4 through Sibaya Circle, past Umhloti, past (or along) the smooth road (officially CALLED South Beach Road), past Desainager (I also can’t say it) and, eventually, left up the Watson Highway at “Tongaat circle”, also know in cycling circles as the first circle. Up the hill, over the N2 and down into Tongaat.
Down the hill into Tongaat, straight on at the first traffic lights and right at the second, into Main Road (R102). Follow out of Tongaat, through Maidstone & up the nasty climb past Fairbreaze Hotel.
The Gheoghan Loop (reverse Gheoghan – years ago the SA champs was held here, going the other way around -apparently reverse is easier)
Left at the traffic lights just after Fairbridge Hotel, on the Noodsberg Rd or R614 (sign says Wewe). Follw the R614 out of town and, eventually (about 5km) up the long hill. About 11km from the turn, and not quite 3km from the top of the climb, turn right at the Shakaskraal turn. Do not miss this turn. Up the slight incline , then wind your way gently to the top of “the wall”. You’ll know it when you go down it. Take the first tar turn to the right after the wall (actually it’s the only tar right turn on the road) and plummet back down to the R102 (Main Road). Left and first right (Ballitto Drive), and you’re ready to pop over the N2 and cruise home through Ballitto on the M4; or you can go right & back the way you came through Tongaat. 140km loop if you go to Sun Coast for breakfast.
Big Gheoghan
Left at the traffic lights just after Fairbridge Hotel, on the Noodsberg Rd or R614 (sign says Wewe). Follw the R614 out of town and, eventually (about 5km) up the long hill. About 11km from the turn, and not quite 3km from the top of the climb, turn right at the Shakaskraal turn. Do not miss this turn. Up the slight incline , then wind your way gently to the top of “the wall”. You’ll know it when you go down it. Do not turn right after the wall but keep going 13,5km from the Shakaskraal turn, until you reach a T junction. Right and follow the road to the R102 intersection. There are a number of options form the intersection, but just go left and home through Shakaskraal and then by following the R102 to Balitto if you have ridden from Durban – this is the easiest way and Big Gheoghan from Durbs is a propper 160km test.
