Constantiaberg Mast Assault

Making the ascent from the Tokai Arboretum to the Constantiaberg Mast is a rite of passage for any mountain biker in Cape Town. The route includes 10km of uphill and 894m of climbing; it’s a concerted effort that will give you a run — or rather cycle — for your money.

Getting there: from Cape Town, take the M3 and head down what I call the Blue Route freeway, taking the Tokai Road exit. Turn right, heading under the freeway, through the traffic circle, past Tokai Forest, and take a left at the T-junction at the end of the road. Follow the road into the parking lot.

Despite its popularity as a training ride, it is not really the best of MTB trails around, and the last few kilometres of climbing are on the tar road leading from the Vlakkenberg Saddle to the Constantiaberg summit.

There is an annual race on this route which sees mountain bikers racing runners to the summit, the Man Against Machine Mast Challenge.