The 80km Trilogy Challenge at the Power 99er Cycle Tour is the one that mixes tar, gravel and a proper technical single-track section. Right in the middle of that stretch sits the Klipheuwel technical single track, complete with 14 A-frame crossings. For a lot of riders these become the moment the route stops feeling like a road ride and starts asking for a bit of bike handling. The good news is that they are manageable once you know how to set up for them.
The 99er, organised and hosted by El Shaddai Christian School in Durbanville and held in association with Tygerberg 104FM, has grown into the second-largest cycling event in the Western Cape. Now in its 28th year, it draws nearly 5,000 participants each February to the Durbanville Sports Complex. The mission is simple: the most inclusive cycling event in the region, with distances that suit different levels and a strong sense of community. More than 350 volunteers, many of them parents, staff, pupils and alumni of the school, make race day possible. The Trilogy sits inside that same spirit. It is a proper gravel test through farmlands and vineyard country, yet it still welcomes riders who are willing to prepare for the technical bits.
The A-frames appear after the gravel and jeep-track sections, once you have already dealt with Occultdale Road’s rough surface. They mark the start of the single-track portion near the Adderley Road and Malanshoogte Road intersection. There is a cut-off at this point at 11h00; riders arriving later are stopped and offered the choice to continue or take the sweep vehicle. Planning your pace so you reach that section with time in hand is part of riding the route with confidence.
What the A-frames actually ask of you
These are temporary A-shaped barriers used to define the course and control movement on the single track. They are not massive obstacles, but they do force you to slow down, pick a clean line and keep the bike balanced while you pass through or over the narrow opening. On a technical single track the ground can be loose, cambered or a little rutted, so the combination of the barrier and the surface is what catches people out. The goal is not to attack them at speed. It is to arrive stable, stay upright and keep moving.
Preparation that actually helps
- Spend some time on local single track or jeep tracks in the weeks before the event. Look for any narrow gates, tight turns or places where you have to slow right down. The skill transfers.
- Check your tyre pressures. Slightly lower pressure gives more grip on the loose or washboard surfaces you will meet earlier on the Trilogy (Spes Bona Road is well known for its washboard). Too soft and you risk pinching; too hard and the bike skips.
- Practise the basic body position: elbows slightly bent, weight centred over the bike, eyes looking ahead rather than down at the front wheel. When the barrier appears you want the muscle memory already there.
- Carry a basic multi-tool and a spare tube. The single-track section is not long, but a mechanical there wastes time you may not have before the cut-off.
How to ride them on the day
Approach the first one at a controlled speed, roughly the pace you would use for a tight switchback. Shift into an easier gear a few metres out so you can still pedal if the surface is soft. Spot the clearest line through the A-frame early. Most riders find a slight offset works better than trying to stay perfectly centred if the ground is uneven.
As you get closer, ease off the brakes rather than grabbing them. Hard braking on loose ground can make the rear wheel slide. Keep your weight light on the bars and slightly back so the front wheel can track cleanly. Pedal smoothly through the opening if there is enough room. If the gap feels too tight or the surface is particularly loose, it is perfectly acceptable to unclip one foot and dab, or even step off and walk the bike through. Plenty of strong riders do exactly that. The time lost is small compared with a fall or a broken chain.
After each crossing, get back into a steady rhythm quickly. There are 14 of them, so the mental pattern matters. Treat them as a series of small, deliberate actions rather than one long stressful section. Look through to the next one as soon as you clear the first. The single track itself rewards riders who stay relaxed and keep their eyes up.
A few practical reminders
- Stay left and follow marshal instructions. The rules require riders to remain on the left side of the road and obey officials.
- The Trilogy has hydration points at Vesuvio Estate (around 25 km), Telkom Substation (around 42 km), Malanshoogte field (around 58 km) and Spes Bona (around 74 km). Use them. The technical section comes after the third stop for most riders, so top up there.
- Start time for the Trilogy is listed as 07h20, though individual seeding times are confirmed closer to the event. Both the 80 km Trilogy and the 95 km road route count as official seeding events for the Cape Town Cycle Tour.
- If you are on an e-bike, remember the power assistance cuts out at 25 km/h and you still need the same handling skills for the A-frames.
The A-frames are one of the features that make the Trilogy feel like a genuine mixed-surface adventure rather than just another road loop through the wine valleys. Once you have a clear plan for them, they stop being something to worry about and become part of the reason you chose the route. The rest of the day still offers the rolling hills, vineyard views and community atmosphere that have kept the 99er on the Western Cape calendar for nearly three decades.
If the technical single track appeals, or if you simply want a well-organised day that raises funds for El Shaddai Christian School, entries are open via the official site. Choose the distance that matches your current form, get the basic skills sorted, and arrive ready to ride the A-frames with the same calm you bring to the rest of the route.
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