Cape Town - He was a national cycling champion, having won a gold in his age-group at the South African national track champs in 2011.
But Koos Roux, 59, wasn’t racing on Sunday - just taking in the breathtaking autumn weather with his son, Kobus, 19.
“We didn’t really have a plan - maybe we would have ridden to Stellenbosch, maybe up to Helshoogte,” said Kobus, an electrical engineering student.
But the father and son, of Bloemendal near Durbanville, didn’t get near the Winelands town.
Instead, as they rode together along Bottelary Road, east of Brackenfell, they were hit from behind by a white bakkie. The bakkie did not stop.
Kobus said: “I was in the air … then on the ground. I got up and looked at my dad, he was not moving. I called the ambulance immediately.”
Koos Roux was taken to Louis Leipoldt Hospital, but he was declared dead on arrival. The son spoke of his and his father’s love of cycling.
“I began track riding, and my dad followed. But he had some research work he wanted to do this year, and I have my studies. So we scaled down this year - although we still rode on the weekends.”
His father’s first love, though, had been nature. “He loved hiking, and he especially loved forests.”
Kobus said his father had loved ferns, and was curator of the Compton herbarium at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Gardens.
“We spent a lot of time outdoors as a family,” said Kobus, who was discharged from hospital with only minor cuts and bruises - and acknowledged he was lucky to be alive.
A leading figure in South African cycling has called for a ban on “yellow-line” driving.
Chris Willemse, who owns a chain of cycling stores and is a former cycling champion, called for an immediate ban on vehicles driving within the yellow line, which has become commonplace on South African roads.
The legislation, at present, reads: … no person shall drive a motor vehicle on the shoulder of a public road… (but) may, during the period between sunrise and sunset, drive on the shoulder of a road which is designated for one lane of traffic in each direction:
* While such motor vehicle is being overtaken by another vehicle.
* If he or she can do so without endangering himself or herself, other traffic, pedestrians or property.
* If persons and vehicles are clearly discernible at a distance of at least 150m.
Abdul David, vice-chairman of the Bellville Cycling Club, said: “There’s a wide yellow line on both sides of that road, and we take it for granted that if we ride inside the yellow line then we’ll be safe. Cyclists look at that lane as a cycling lane, a ‘safety net’. But it’s clearly not that anymore.”
At the time of going to press last night, no arrests had been made.
Provincial police spokesman Andre Traut said the bakkie that hit the Rouxs had been occupied by two men.
Cape Argus