20 Years of Bike Hub
In August* 2024, Bike Hub celebrated its 20th anniversary, and we’re taking a nostalgic look back at how far we’ve come. * We’re not entirely sure of the exact month, but it was around this time. 2004: How it all started What began in 2004 as thehubsa.co.za was initially a simple discussion forum for cycling […]
Review: Tacx Neo 2T
The relentless cape winter is the perfect time to get acquainted with an indoor trainer, and Garmin sent a Tacx Neo 2T our way at just the right time. The top of the range smart trainer from Garmin, the Tacx Neo 2T offers these stand out features: Here’s what we liked about it: Quick and […]
First Look: Titan Racing Valerian Carbon Pro
The Titan Racing Valerian launched back in 2022, and we had the Valerian Carbon Empire in for review shortly thereafter. With the launch of the MY26 range from Titan Racing we jumped at the chance for a long term test of the Valerian Carbon Pro. Titan Racing are well-known for offering exceptional bang for buck, […]
Review: Trek Madone Gen 8
Trek unveiled the new Madone 8 in June. A much anticipated answer to the call from racers for a one bike to do-it-all, and importantly, do it well. Combining the lightweight design of the Émonda with the efficient speed of the Madone, the new Madone Gen 8 provides a ‘best of both worlds’ solution. The […]
Greyton Gravel with the Mercedes-Benz GLA
The Cape winter is perfect for a weekend getaway, particularly one that involves a gravel adventure. With the Mercedes-Benz GLA 200d as our weapon of choice we planned an overnight trip to Greyton and a gravel ride back to Franschhoek via the magnificent Franschhoek Pass. We kicked the trip off with a coffee at Franschhoek […]
Quarter Turn: Bike Hub Q2 2024 Report
After the first quarter of 2024 we dug into the data to determine how a widespread oversupply crisis in the cycling industry was impacting our marketplace. We saw that it wasn’t all doom and gloom, but noted that we’d need to see consistently stable demand in order to draw meaningful conclusions. Here’s what we found […]
Revisiting the Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race
When you hear people talk about the Tankwa Karoo, some things that might spring to mind are vast expanses, the institutional Tankwa Padstal, the infamous tyre-munching R355, and of course Afrikaburn. Gravel bike racing is almost certainly not top of mind. Now in its 4th year, the Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race has set itself firmly […]
Quarter Turn: Bike Hub Q1 2024 Report
We’ve all heard the rumblings of a global crisis in the bike industry. Full warehouses. Company-wide layoffs. Cut-price sales. Business closures. We were curious to know how this is playing out on Bike Hub. Is it truly all doom and gloom? How are the community of buyers and sellers on Bike Hub being impacted? Will […]
Bike Check: Matt Beer’s Cape Epic Winning S-Works Epic
Just over week ago Matt Beer’s stood on top of the Absa Cape Epic podium alongside partner Howard Grotts, claiming his third overall title. Here we take a closer look at his race-winning S-Works Epic 8: Bike Specifications Finally: Matt’s brake pads replaced three times, while his suspension damper seals replaced every second day – […]
First Look: Specialized Epic 8 EVO
With the launch of a more capable Epic 8, the Epic 8 EVO moves deeper into ‘downcountry’ territory than it’s predecessor. The update sees a return to a shared chassis with the Epic, with the travel increasing from 120mm to 130mm front, and 110mm to 120mm on the rear, along with geometry updates, and burlier […]
First Look: Specialized Epic 8
The Specialized Epic has been a mainstay of World Cup XCO tracks, and the marathon stage racing scene here in South Africa since it was launched in 2006. Having spent many a happy hour in the saddle of both the Epic and Epic EVO, there was no way I was passing up the chance to […]
First Look: Specialized Propero 4
Here at Bike Hub we love nothing better than the value offering that comes with trickle-down technology, and so jumped at the opportunity to get up close and personal with the latest mid-range helmet offering from Specialized: the Propero 4. Featuring the aero advantages of the S-Works Evade 3 together with the ventilation of the […]