This is the north end of the metropolitan area, where Cape Town runs out into dunes, wetlands and sand-coloured scrub, with the huge Atlantic on the left. Sunset Beach, Table View and Blouberg have sprawling beach suburbs, and the sea wind makes it a favourite spot for kitesurfers.
The land here is flat and sandy, the old floor of the Cape Flats, and beside the road lies a large nature reserve with wetlands that draw flamingos, pelicans and a host of other waterbirds. Further north, on the West Coast Road, the R27, the landscape opens into low scrubland that turns to carpet in spring, when the daisies and other annuals flower in late August and September. The Koeberg nuclear power station, South Africa's only one, sits on the coast a few kilometres north and is a landmark on the skyline.
Riding on the R27 is a different experience from the mountain roads. It is a long, straight, fast road with a view of the sea on the left and the sand dunes beside, and the south-westerly wind can be vicious, so a loaded bike gets pushed around. Traffic is heavy at commuting hours and on weekends. The better riding is on the roads that run inland to Malmesbury and the Swartland, among wheat fields and low hills. Surface quality is good. In spring, the flower season brings crowds, and cars stop suddenly, so ride defensively.
For practicalities, the area has everything, with fuel stations, supermarkets and shopping centres at Table View, and a long line of cafes and restaurants along the beachfront, where seafood and coffee come with a view of the mountain. Parking for bikes is easy. Further north on the coast, Melkbosstrand has a pleasant seafront and small services. The sunset over the Atlantic from here, with the mountain silhouetted across the bay, is one of the best finishes a day can have.