Giveaway: Win a two night stay at Boschendal Farm Estate
Boschendal Farm Estate is giving away two-nights accommodation at TROUT Cottage, tucked on the slopes of the Simonsberg mountains. The prize Two nights accommodation at the TROUT Cottage on Boschendal Farm Estate. The cottage sleeps, four adults and two children. The prize includes a braai basket for one of the two nights. The prize will […]
Review: Fox Proframe helmet
Fox launched the Proframe hybrid full face helmet in March and aimed it at All Mountain, Enduro and trail riders looking for better protection without sacrificing too much in terms of all day or long ride comfort. It is their lightest and most breathable full face helmet to date. With an actual weight of 785g […]
Review: Specialized Fast Trak GRID 2Bliss Ready
As the name suggests, Fast Traks are fast-rolling cross country tyres from Specialized. They have recently undergone a tread redesign which has seen the addition of more consistent shoulder blocks, to maintain cornering traction and eliminate “dead spots” in the grip, as well as tweaks to the block spacing to improve mud shedding. Having spent […]
Review: Lyne Pulse crankset
Lyne Components first came to our attention with their well-price Contour dropper seatpost. Since then the Cape Town based company has continued to expand their range of cycling components, to include the Pulse crankset and chainring. The Pulse crankset is forged aluminium designed for the demands of XC and trail riding. To save weight the […]
First Look: Juliana Furtado CC
Our long term test fleet is pretty impressive, and it’s hard to beat some of the bikes on the list. Excluded from sharing this treasure trove of two-wheeled toys with the boys, by being inconveniently differently sized, I had resigned myself to rolling my eyes as they bemoaned the trauma of choosing which bike to […]
Explore: Boschendal Farm Estate
Founded in 1685 Boschendal Farm Estate is one of the oldest farms in South Africa. It is set in the Banhoek Valley surrounded by the Drakenstein and Simonsberg mountains, and lush gardens and vineyards. The original farmstead complex is now a national monument with a rich history of more than 300 years. We spent a […]
Building D-Spot
We all say we’re going to do it. But Stephen Wiggill sacrificed his garden, so his son could have somewhere to ride. When you are young and don’t know the price of anything, there are projects you just cannot believe are unfeasible for the family backyard. My personal department of private works project was to […]
Pottie’s How To: Bunny Hop
The bunny hop jump is a crucial skill to make the most out of any trail. The bunny hop can also help you avoid crashes when unexpected obstacles lie in wait. In this video, downhill mountain bike racer Johann Potgieter shows us how to bunny hop.
Three months with the YT Jeffsy CF Comp 1
We had a YT Jeffsy on review earlier this year and they have been kind enough to give us one for our long-term fleet to see how it will stand up to a full year’s use. For those who are not familiar with the Jeffsy 29, it is a 140mm trail bike designed around 29-inch […]
Greg Minnaar: The definition of legend
Many know his name. Few understand his importance. But we’ll all benefit from the legacy. Marcelo Gutierrez, Jack Moir, Greg Minnaar, Aaron Gwin, and Remi Thirion stand on the podium at UCI DH World Cup in Fort William, Scotland on June 4th, 2017. Photo credit: Bartek Wolinski/Red Bull Content Pool. It is not so much […]
Review: Bontrager XR Team Issue Tyres
Bontrager’s range of tubeless ready mountain bike tyres spans from the ultra-fast rolling, cross country race oriented XR1 to the more aggressive, trail focussed XR4. I put the all-rounder XR3 and XR2 Team Issue tyres to the test. XR3 Team Issue TLR Specifications Size: 29″ x 2.3TPI: 120Durometer: 62a/60aBead: AramidColour: BlackWeight: 705gPrice R799 XR2 Team […]
Democratising the dropper seatpost
XCO racing is doing what downhill never could, embracing the dropper seatpost. And the consequences could be significant. In the beginning, there was no XCO or stage racing. It was all downhill, without helmets, on awfully unsophisticated rigid bikes. The Mount Tamalpais Repack race, held during the 1970s near San Francisco, was the first timed […]