Legend has it that in the days of mail trains Old Hermon pedalled the dusty gravel roads between Wellington and Riebeek West.
He alerted the local residents to the weekly mail delivery, with his trusty bugle, at the end of the train track in the hamlet then known as Hermon. For years he fulfilled this role, until one day Old Hermon simply disappeared; riding the Cape’s expanding network of gravel roads into the sunset.
Now the legend of Old Hermon has been revived by celebrating the rural dirt tracks he used to cycle on. Starting and finishing at the historic Welbedacht Wine Estate the 60-, 40- and 20 km routes take in some of the region’s best gravel roads. Roads once ridden by Old Hermon himself.
In keeping with Old Hermon’s inclusive approach to cycling there is something for everyone at the Old Hermon gravel ride.
There are races for the fit and competitive as well as social riders.
Entries to the inaugural race, which takes place on 27 August at Welbedacht Wine Estate are open for the 20 km (R180), 40 km (R250) and the 60 km (R350).
Online entries are available at online.entries.co.za or from the race website, www.capetowncycletour.com/old-hermon-gravel-ride. Entries close at midnight on 14 August.
