Road Cycling & Mountain Biking In Mauritius

Cycling has always been part of the local culture for decades. You may remember your grandparent’s old black Phoenix bicycle, which we called “Bisiklet corbo”. That bicycle was made with steel, had a big chainring as a drivetrain, and no gears at all. Imagine the pain of riding that uphill by carrying woods, grass for animals, etc. Since the introduction of bicycles with gears in the 1980s, Mauritians have upgraded their bicycles to advanced ones.

A Growing Interest In Mauritius

In many countries around the world, there has been a growing passion for people to cycle in their daily lives. Due to the immense campaign against global warming, more and more people are opting for cycling as a mode of transport. Few countries, such as the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark or China, are famous for having the largest number of bicycles in the world among their inhabitants. In Mauritius, cycling has also become increasingly popular.

There is a growing popularity for both road cycling and mountain biking for leisure rides or as a sport. We live on an island with sugarcane fields almost everywhere, which presents the opportunity for mountain bikers to enjoy off-road riding, which is thought to be less dangerous than on the roads, so accidents are less likely to occur. As more and more vehicles are on our roads, there are risks and hazards that can lead to accidents. However, this has not discouraged road cyclists from pursuing their passion for cycling. Cycling is loved and passionate not just among young people, but also among the elderly.

Mauritius hosts several biking competitions every year, for both disciplines, road and off-road. Bike shops are growing like mushrooms, and many popular bicycle brands are now available locally.

Next to the forest, was the Daruty sugar mill, owned by Jean Rose Daruty. The sugar mill was built at the early 1800s, and ceased to operate in 1865. Now, the chimney is in a private residential area. Additionally, there were the Mon Loisir Rouillard sugar estates, further away from the forest. The ruins of those sugar mills still exist today. From them, we can conclude that the whole forest area was basically surrounded by sugar mills and the agriculture sector was the main center of development. Apparently, there was also a laborers camp nearby. However, this information needs to be verified. As stated earlier, many sugar mills were present around.

Top Biking Routes To Ride In Mauritius

Mauritius still has some nice riding tracks. Unfortunately, with the increase in infrastructural development everywhere, the space to enjoy your rides is gradually shrinking. However, we still have some pleasant places left, including:

Other Cycling Tracks To Try

Climbing the Verdun Motorway (ROAD) – An endurance ride. You can start from the North, particularly Arsenal, and climb the uphill of Verdun’s motorway to the Central Plateau or to the South of Mauritius. This is done passing by Ripailles, Phoenix, Curepipe, Nouvelle France and Plaine Magnien.

Case Noyale, Chamarel to Baie du Cap (ROAD) – Climb the Chamarel uphill from Case Noyale to Baie du Cap, another challenging uphill. You can continue the climb to Alexandra Falls, and descend via Bassin Blanc to Baie du Cap.

Climbing La Nicolière (ROAD) – This track is for beginners who want to try a decent road uphill, starting anywhere from the North, climbing La Nicolière Hill, to end either to Ripailles or to Brisée Verdière.

Bon Accueil to Constance surroundings (OFF-ROAD) – A fantastic off-road run through Beau Bois in the sugarcane fields, Cascade Crésson, and ends in Constance or Petite Retraite.

Labourdonnais to Azuri (OFF-ROAD) – A popular off-track, particularly a large part, is included in the IBL On The Move event. Start from Labourdonnais, climb the Mon Loisir Hill, passing Rivière du Rempart, Roches-Noires to end at Azuri.

There are so many other cycling routes to ride in Mauritius, we cannot list all of them here. It is up to you to explore, create your own routes, join others to discover, and enjoy cycling immensely.

DISCLAIMER: It is worthwhile to note that some of the biking routes listed above may pass through private property. For example, sugarcane fields are private property, and owned by sugar estates.

Le Bike, The Ideal Bike Shop To Get Your Bike & Equipment In Mauritius

For mountain biking enthusiasts on a budget, the Scott Aspect is a good option to make use of off-roads such as sugarcane fields and gravel. Depending on the models, they come with 18 or 20 speeds, an aluminum/alloy frame, hydraulic brakes, and a 100 mm SR Suntour fork. Moreover, if you want a mid-range mountain bike, the Scott Scale series is a great choice. A famous cross-country bike, in 29-inch wheels, aluminum/alloy frame, equipped with SRAM 12 speed drivetrain, and a FOX 32 fork, you will not regret riding on rocky tracks or in mud.

For those who want an advanced bike, the Scott Spark RC 900 and RC Ultimate will fly on tracks. A super light carbon frame, 12 speed gears, integrated suspension technology, a FOX 34 fork, well, this full suspension bike will dominate off-road tracks easily.

For roadies, Le Bike recommends Scott Speedster and Addict models. There are no problems riding either of them on our tarmac roads. The former comes with 9 speed, alloy frame, carbon fork, best for those who are just beginning road cycling. For those who are looking to enter the world of professional road cycling, the Addict series comes with carbon forks, a better aerodynamic exposure, and a more advanced drivetrain with more gears.

In the same way, Le Bike also provides LaPierre and BMC bikes. Two widely known European brands. Please, check their showroom for more information and guidance on the spot.

Finally, Le Bike offers top-notch brand accessories such as Oakley, Tactic, and others. If you need biking shoes, cycling jerseys, sunglasses to protect your eyes under the scorching sun of Mauritius, Le Bike has all the awesome stuff for you. Nutrition is essential for long rides. Le Bike collaborates with popular nutritional brands such as Tailwind, Hammer or Meltonic. Get your bike and equipment at Le Bike and contact them for more information.

Yemaya Adventures: The Best In Biking Tours Organizer In Mauritius

Are you looking for a biking tour organizer to enjoy Mauritius’ magnificent riding trails in the sunshine? Yemaya Adventures is your solution! Created by Patrick Haberland in 2000, Yemaya Adventures aims to make you explore Mauritius, discovering the beauties of our nature through mountain biking tours. Yemaya Adventures also provides other services, such as kayaking, hiking, outdoor activities, and more.

When we speak of Yemaya Adventures, we also discuss professionalism. Patrick’s team will supply spare tubes, water bottles, bicycle pumps and helmets. You do not need to carry extra weight with you, but you can use your own equipment. Did I mention he provides bicycles? Yes! The Yemaya Adventures team will provide a variety of mountain bikes for your rides, including e-bikes, if you do not own a bicycle yourself. His bikes are from renowned brands such as Giant, Cannondale, Orbea, and others. Everything is set up, gear adjusted, tires pumped, chain lubricated, and voilà, just take and ride. All you need to bring is a towel, your cycling clothes, and biking shoes. You may encounter mosquitoes along the tracks, so it is imperative to bring mosquito repellent. Yemaya Adventures provides refreshments, snacks, energy bars, and even coffee in winter season. A backup truck follows in every trip.

Furthermore, Yemaya Adventures rent bikes. Tourists, expats, locals, or foreigners with no bikes can rent them from Yemaya Adventures at an affordable rate. There are a number of famous brands available. The rental price varies depending on the bike model and specs.

Patrick is a professional guide, with extensive knowledge of biking trails in Mauritius. His services are full of positive reviews thanks to his expertise. There is a reason why his company is named after the African sea goddess! He can also organize customized biking tours. So, what are you waiting for? Book a biking tour or rent a bike at Yemaya Adventures now. See below for contact details.

ZC Cycleworks, Bike Repairs & Maintenance

Investing in a bike means investing in bike repairs and maintenance. A pleasant ride needs a bicycle that is in good condition, and for that, servicing is required on a periodic basis. Sometimes, things do not run as planned, such as a breakdown or bicycle parts failure. All parts on a bicycle need to be serviced occasionally to avoid long-term mechanical issues, which lead to repairs. There are many professional bike mechanics around the island, and one of them is ZC Cycleworks.

If you are considering upgrading a bike part, you can count on ZC Cycleworks for any related task. The most common upgrades we do are changing the chain, converting to tubeless tires, upgrading the drivetrain, and adding a dropper post to the suspension fork.

We need to encourage more people like Zainudeen, who contributes massively to cycling. A youngster with high determination, passion, needs encouragement. Do you want a bike mechanic? Contact ZC Cycleworks as follows.

Some Safety Cycling Tips In Mauritius

Safety is crucial, and while cycling, it must be a priority to protect yourself, be careful and vigilant. Some cycling tips to keep in mind, especially for leisure rides, are as follows:

• Wear a certified cycling helmet.
• Wear a pair of gloves if possible. It can be either full-finger or fingerless. The purpose is to protect your palm in case of falling off the bike.
• Install a rear light. This will make you visible to drivers at night or in foggy weather. A front light is necessary while riding at night.
• Wear clothing with fluorescent add-ons.
• Wear an appropriate pair of shoes.

Apart from these safety tips, make sure your bicycle is in good working order, that your brakes are working properly, that your gears are shifting smoothly, and that there are no loose parts on the bike.

Conclusion

Cycling is gaining popularity all over the world, and even in Mauritius. Bicycles will become an increasingly significant part of our society in light of huge traffic jams. But, this can be a reality if Mauritians change their travel mindset. Many tasks do not require motorcycles or cars. It is true that Mauritius’ roads are dangerous. Particularly with the high number of accidents occurring, some people are afraid to cycle. There are some recent main roads with cycling paths. This is a start. We have a long way to go. Another key aspect to note is the loss of off-roads due to infrastructural developments, and fencing in many sugarcane fields. The mountain biking discipline will be greatly affected if this trend continues. Like Singapore, we will have only bike parks. Today, we have professional athletes who win medals locally, but also abroad in cycling. Thus, the authorities, private organizers, must always value this sport. To conclude, as a cyclist myself, I sincerely hope more people will ride after reading this article!