Explore Cape Town on Two Wheels: BreakAway Rides Hosts Workshops, Kids’ Programmes, Day Trip Adventures and More!

BreakAway Rides is one of the Western Cape’s most established mountain biking and cycling operations, offering rentals, tours, skills coaching, and event support across the greater Cape Town region. From the city centre and Southern Suburbs to Tokai, Kirstenbosch, Tygerberg and Stellenbosch, their instructors help riders of all ages discover the best of the Cape’s mountain and trail networks. Known for their professional guidance and community-minded approach, they’ve become a familiar presence at local cycling events and trail networks across the Cape year-round.

Mountain Biking for Kids

Breakaway places a strong emphasis on youth development through after-school programmes, holiday clubs, and birthday party rides. Weekly Skills Rides, holiday workshops, and birthday sessions are designed to build confidence, fitness, and technical ability in a supportive outdoor environment.

Weekly sessions run Monday to Saturday in multiple locations, including Tokai, Deer Park, Tygerberg, and Stellenbosch. Children are grouped by age and skill, from Mini-Nippers (5–7) to Youth (13–17), with a 6:1 coach-to-rider ratio. Sessions combine structured drills with trail rides to keep learning fun and engaging.

Holiday clubs introduce kids to new trails and skills through multi-day workshops. Each day focuses on progression, from balance and braking to wheel lifts, jumps, and technical trail riding, with small groups ensuring safety and personal attention. Birthday party rides follow a similar structure, pairing games and skill drills with trail rides, all hosted at kid-friendly venues across the Cape.

Cycling across the Cape

The company’s core offering includes high-quality bike rentals, guided rides, and coaching sessions tailored to each rider’s ability and goals. Their fleet covers road, gravel, mountain, and e-bikes, all maintained to competition standard. Riders can arrange for delivery directly to accommodation, race venues, or trailheads, with optional mechanical support available on request. Guided rides range from gentle family outings and city explorations to advanced singletrack sessions in technical terrain.

Guided Day Trip Adventures

Breakaway Rides’ day trip adventures offer cyclists the chance to explore some of the Western Cape’s most iconic trails with expert guidance, local knowledge, and full logistical support. Whether you’re after technical mountain singletrack, flowy forest paths, gravel routes, or a mix of all three, their adventures are designed to suit all beginners, intermediate riders, and pros with intensity ranging from recreational to active.

Across the region, riders can choose from a number of curated day trips:

Table Mountain Trails – Pedal to new heights on Table Mountain, where panoramic views of Cape Town and the Atlantic Ocean meet challenging trails. Adventures here can cover up to 30 km of gravel roads and 20 km of singletrack, taking cyclists through rocky technical sections, smooth flowy paths, and diverse landscapes including fynbos, forests, and rugged cliffs. Each ride includes a guide, water, snacks, a day permit, and optional bike rental or transport.

Jonkershoek Valley – In the heart of the Cape Winelands, Jonkershoek offers lush forests, sparkling streams, and dramatic mountain scenery. Riders of all levels can enjoy cross-country, trail, or gravel rides spanning similar distances to Table Mountain, with opportunities for skill development and exploration. A guided day adventure here includes snacks, water, a guide, and optional bike rentals or transport.

Paarl Mountain Trails – For a mix of technical climbs, flowy sections, and breathtaking views over vineyards and the Drakenstein Mountains, Paarl Mountain is a highlight of the Winelands. Routes can be tailored to skill and stamina, offering up to 30 km of gravel and 20 km of singletrack. Rides include guides, refreshments, photos, day permits, and optional bike rentals or transport.

Each adventure is flexible, allowing riders to focus on scenic exploration, skill-building, or adrenaline-fueled challenges, with guides providing on-trail instruction and safety support. Optional e-bike rentals make longer or more technical rides accessible, though most rides focus on traditional mountain and gravel bikes to develop endurance, handling, and confidence.

Building Skills and Confidence on Every Trail

BreakAway Rides’ workshops are designed to help riders of all levels ride faster, feel safer, and gain complete control on their favorite trails. Mountain biking is a skill-based sport, and success on technical terrain comes from understanding specific cues and mastering foundational techniques, not just experience. Each workshop combines targeted drills with practical trail application, ensuring riders develop both the mental and physical tools needed for confident riding.

Foundation Workshops – Ideal for beginners or returning riders, Foundation Workshops cover essential skills like bike handling, braking, balance, weight distribution, and basic cornering. Eventually, riders build up to small drops, more challenging obstacles, and advanced cornering. Held in Bloemendal, Tokai, and Polkadraai, sessions run around three hours and maintain a 1:6 coach-to-rider ratio, giving participants personalised attention and structured progression.

Intermediate-Advanced Workshops – Rocks, Drops, and Corners workshops teach riders to tackle technical terrain confidently. Separate sessions focus on cornering, drops, and rock/jump techniques, combining drills with trail application. Jump and Flow Workshops further develop aerial skills and momentum management, progressing riders from smaller tabletops to medium-sized jumps.

E-Bike Workshops (Foundational-Intermediate) – Tailored for e-bike riders, these workshops cover bike handling, braking, gear selection, obstacle negotiation, and cornering, maintaining the same small group coaching to ensure effective learning.

What’s included – All workshops feature BICP-certified instructors, 1:6 coach-to-rider ratios, guided drills and trail practice, photos and videos of progress, and structured skill development to help riders advance safely and confidently.

Trail passes are not included, and sessions may shift depending on weather. Optional extras such as bike rentals and transport are available to ensure riders can participate without any logistical stress.

Supporting Local Cycling Culture

Breakaway Rides is deeply involved in Cape Town’s cycling ecosystem. They assist with the organisation, logistics, and on-site support for local races, fun rides, and charity events. Their partnerships with trail networks across Tokai, Tygerberg, City Bowl, and Stellenbosch reflect an ongoing commitment to responsible trail management and community engagement, helping grow participation and maintain the region’s cycling infrastructure.

Exploring Cape Town on Two Wheels

Through their guided rides, day adventures, youth programmes and coaching sessions, Breakaway Rides offers a complete cycling experience across the Cape. Whether introducing children to mountain biking, supporting adults on technical singletrack, or guiding visitors through city routes and scenic trails, their services encourage fitness, adventure, and connection with nature. Across forests, vineyards, and coastal trails, Breakaway Rides provides Cape Town residents and visitors alike with the opportunity to enjoy the region’s cycling culture safely, skillfully, and with expert guidance.

How to book for the workshop or adventure rides

Bookings must be made via email [email protected] or call 082 795 5878. The team will confirm the process and run over any questions you have regarding the workshops or clinic