GOOD
NEWS NEWS Go places with GoBike Hermanus
W
ith the wind in my hair and the sound of morning birdsong I took to the open road with an electric bike. Not having cycled in the past ten years except for the occasional encounter on a stationary bike in the gym I was not well prepared. Yet, I was reassured that the assistance provided by the small battery at the back of the e-bike would work miracles. It did. My adventure started on meeting the energetic Zunette Mulder of GoBike Hermanus. Zunette and her partner Dean Gillatt wanted to escape the stress of city life in Cape Town and ventured on a few scouting trips in search of a new home. As with so many others, it did not take much to convince them that Hermanus was where work and home can be combined successfully. Dean changed the wheels of his previous business and geared down. Almost literally. An Englishman from Yorkshire who settled in Cape Town in 1990, Dean owned and managed a classic, highpowered motor rental shop, Cape Cobra Hire, in the Mother City. This business paid homage to his days in the motor racing industry when he worked with Eddie Jordan and the Jordan Racing team. When it was time for a change the couple that are
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14 February 2017
Frieda’s Footprints
Tourism News by Frieda Lloyd
Above are Emilia Knight and Frieda Lloyd on their ebike outing to the country market. On the right is Zunette Mulder of GoBike Hermanus in front of the shop.
“mad for cycling” chose Hermanus. Hermanus was ready for them and their business.
automatic lock, stand, front basket to carry shopping and some added power when yours runs low.
They opened the doors of GoBike in October 2016 and are pleased by the traffic they’ve had at the shop. Their store (next to Savannah Café and opposite Woolworths) is filled with fat bikes, e-bikes and mountain bikes to rent, for half days or full days, at reasonable rates. It offers a new and interesting way of exploring Hermanus and surrounds. Among the many options, the e-bike is certainly my preferred choice as it comes all-inclusive with an
I headed out from the GoBike store with friend and fellow adventurer Emilia Knight on a recent test ride. As it was Saturday, a trip to Hermanus Country Market was essential and a few nervous peddles later we were on our way. All the attention that our accessories received at the market was incentive to venture further to Dutchies on Grotto Beach. Which also made me think of how cool it would be if our town became as cycle-friendly as Dutch
cities and towns. Not only for visitors and tourists, but also for the locals – just imagine all the traffic and parking problems that could be solved this way! At a mild level of fitness I not only managed the ride but rather loved the experience. It was easy to work the gears and there was no problem whatsoever in parking or locking the bike. Thanks to the cycling lane down Main Road to Voëlklip, I felt safe and not worried about the passing traffic. With the Absa Cape Epic happening in Hermanus on
20 & 21 March, I am all for experiencing a glimpse into the adventure of cycling. In anticipation of the riders and spectators joining us soon, why not try a ride out on a GoBike ebike? You might enjoy it so much that you decide to take one home. GoBike does that too. They sell these beauties from their shop, along with an extensive range that includes fat bikes
and normal city bikes and ebikes imported from Sweden. They will assist you in finding your cycling match made in heaven. The rate for a half day electronic city bike rental is R350 per person and for a full day R480. Find them at 32 Mitchell Street, Hermanus. Tel: 028 312 2548. www.gobikehermanus.com