As long as you have enough puff to cope with the hills, Cape Town is a great city for cycle touring. This has just been recognised with the opening of the first section of the the city's official MyCiTi network of segregate cycle paths. Over 300 commuters turned out to ride the 8km (5 mile) route between Milnerton and the city center, which runs parallel to the R27. Many other cycle routes are now planned as part of the city's integrated transport plans.

Meantime there are plenty of places where you can hire a bike. Downhill Adventures (tel: +27 21 422 0388) rent bikes and run bike tours of the town. If you are feeling rugged, they also run mountain biking trips down Table Mountain, at Cape Point and in the Constantia Winelands. By Bike (tel: 079 551 1207) offer touring bike rentals with several bases on the Cape Peninsula. You are welcome to hire from one and drop off at another. Vamos! Tours (tel: 072 499 7866) is a community project based in Langa Township offering bike-based township tours.

If you want to spend more than one day on two wheels, Cycle the Cape (tel: +27 21 782 7374) offer cycle touring holidays for all levels, with a back-up vehicle to carry your bags if required.

The Bicycle Empowerment Network (tel: +27 21 788 4174) is an imaginative charity scheme that is recycling old bikes from Europe and training locals in their use and maintenance to help provide much needed transport. So far over 14,000 bikes have been distributed and 14 workshops set up.