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Race Report: SRAM WC XCO Series, in association with Tygerberg MTB Club Round 3: Slanghoek
Round 3 of the SRAM WC XCO Series, in association with Tygerberg MTB Club took to the mountains of the Slanghoek Valley nestled behind Goudini Spa. Unusually the event took place on a Sunday and shared the limelight with Mother’s day. Despite the clash, the Junior categories were well attended for what was essentially a […]
Gravel Bikes of Tour de Braai
The Tour de Braai is a five-day luxury cycling tour showcasing some of the finest gravel riding on offer in the Western Cape. I was lucky enough to join the May edition this year. Aside from being an incredible bike riding experience (you can read about it here), there were some top-notch gravel bikes on […]
The factors that determine VO2 max
Endurance exercise is a physiological challenge to the human body. Our ability to perform for a prolonged period of time is mostly dependent on four factors: 1. VO2max;2. Cycling economy;3. Maximal sustainable intensity (Threshold);4. Muscle power. In this article, we will provide a brief summary of the factors that determine VO2max. VO2max The most common […]
Gravel gees at Tour de Braai
The Tour de Braai is a five day, luxury gravel ride, organised by South Africa’s braaimaster, Jan Braai. The event is fully supported, including accommodation in guest houses, mechanical support, access to a fleet of Specialized Diverge gravel bikes, backup vehicles, daily massages, and all food and drinks throughout. This includes an ample supply of […]
Bianchi Infinito CV Disc review
Billed as an endurance race bike, the Bianchi Infinito CV Disc blurs the line between a full-on racing bike and endurance bike. While the geometry leans towards endurance riding, a large portion of the bike’s comfort lies in its frame technology. Pioneering Kevlar-infused C2C frames in the early 2000s, Bianchi has continued to develop vibration-reducing […]
Interview: Chris Hilton – The man behind SRAM’s one-by drives
While digging around for a scoop on SRAM’s electronic mountain bike drivetrain at the SCOTT-SRAM MTB Racing Team pits at the Stellenbosch World Cup, we were introduced to the man responsible for creating (and hiding) it. Chris Hilton is a product manager for SRAM working on their drivetrain products in Schweinfurt, Germany. We snapped up […]
Ride Report: Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo
My initial response when hearing about the Swartberg 100 Gran Fondo was a strong “Never!”. 170 kilometres of tar and gravel roads with 3000 metres of climbing, including the monstrous Swartberg pass thrown in at the end. It sounded arduous, and lacking in trail endorphins. But the lure of a challenge is irresistible to me, […]
Bike Check: Theo Erlangsen’s YT Industries TUES
Last month, Theo Erlangsen won the 2018 South African Downhill Championships at Hartbeespoort besting a stacked field of former champions and up and coming hopefuls. When not racing Theo also displays some insane freeride skills on his YT TUES including some huge air at the recent DarkFEST. Take a look at South Africa’s fastest bike […]
Review: Bontrager Circuit MIPS with Blendr mounts
With the seemingly continuous flow of terrible news about cyclists being injured or killed in a collision with other road users, safety is certainly something that is continuously in the back of my mind on every ride. Bontrager appears to be acutely aware of these concerns creating products aimed at helping riders be more visible […]
Review: Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup
Built to win World Cups and Olympic medals, the Scott Spark RC 900 World Cup is a race-oriented 100mm cross-country mountain bike. Decked out in full team livery to match cross-country superstar Nino Schurter’s ride it’s sure to turn heads, but just how does it perform for a mere mortal? The Spark RC (Racing Concept) […]
Stop talking yourself out of a good performance. Self-talk, Part 2
This article is the second in a series on motivational self-talk. Be sure to read last week’s instalment if you haven’t already. One of the most common limiters to our cycling performance is the inner monologue we have with ourselves on the bike. We’ve got to get our nutrition and hydration right for sure but […]
Review: Bell 4Forty and Hela helmet
The Bell 4Forty and Hela offers a mountain bike helmet with extended coverage for those looking for added protection out on the trails. The 4Forty replaces the Stoker as Bell’s do-it-all trail and all-mountain helmet and with a retail price tag just under R1,300, it sits in a sweet spot for many enthusiasts’ budgets. Fit […]