Winter Gear Guide: Lights
Next up in our winter gear guide series: lights. The days are getting shorter: its time to toughen up, and face those cold, dark, and sometimes damp, mornings. We have compiled a list of a few of the illumination options available locally, to make sure you can see the road or trail clearly, and keep […]
Ride report: The Cross Cape Cycle Route
What better way to experience the beauty of South Africa than on a 742 km mountain bike route that takes you off the beaten track and into the heart of the Western Cape. Thamar Houliston spent a week riding the newly unveiled Cross Cape Cycle Route. Here’s the lowdown… The Cross Cape Cycle Route from […]
Review: Specialized Expert XC MTB Shoes
The Expert XC mountain bike shoe is packed with enough features and comfort to satisfy even the most ambitious racer. The Expert XC retails for R3,290 putting it in the upper end of the mid-price range (and notably R2,300 less than the S-Works model). The claimed weight is 350 grams for a size 42 shoe. […]
Bike Check: Martin Zietsman’s Knolly Warden
Stellenbosch local Martin Zietsman packed up his life and moved to the UK at the beginning of 2017 to pursue his goal of competing overseas. He is currently recovering from a broken arm, but you can learn more about his plans here. We took a closer look at the Knolly Warden carbon he will be […]
The secret ‘cheat’ for muddy stage races
At this year’s sani2c, a very cheap bit of kit could have made everyone a lot more recognisable in their event photos. It’s deeply embarrassing when one is required to unclip, and push one’s single-speed. Especially in Stellenbosch, where you are more likely to be passed by a pro mountain biker than almost anywhere else […]
Review: Specialized Airnet helmet
The Airnet fits in the middle of Specialized’s range of road helmets, offering good comfort with an aerodynamic shape and plenty of vents for cooling. Aerodynamics with style The shape of the Airnet is low but rounded. The design of the Airnet pays homage to vintage hairnet helmets with its vented lines. The Airnet offers […]
Podcast: Q&A with the Coaches – Episode 3
In our new podcast series Q&A with the Coaches, you can ask the experts from Science2Sport your cycling training and racing related questions. The team at Science2Sport, which includes leading sports scientists, Dr Jeroen Swart, Dr Mike Posthumus, and Benoit Capostagno, will be addressing the answers to your cycling related queries, along with local mountain […]
Winter Gear Guide: Seven jackets to keep you warm and dry
Winter has come. To help you prepare, we have done a spot of armchair research and compiled a list of winter jacket options to keep you warm and dry while riding, at any price point. We’ve looked at three price ranges, and considered a couple of options within these categories. We focused on items that […]
Winter training: The science of indoor trainers and cross training
“Winter is coming” A phrase often used to project fear in an episode of Games of Thrones. Luckily in South Africa, it doesn’t hold the same spine-chilling effect and we as cyclists and athletes are still able to go out and train, keep fit and enjoy the sport we have all grown to love thanks […]
Pottie’s How To: Manual
The manual is a fundamental mountain bike skill. A correctly timed manual can help you get over obstacles and through tough terrain. A good manual technique will also improve your jumping and bunny hops. In this video, downhill mountain bike racer Johann Potgieter shows us how to learn to manual.
The Bikes of Tour de Braai
The Tour de Braai is a five-day gravel ride starting in George and ending in Swellendam. The brainchild of Jan Braai, the Tour takes riders through some of the Western Cape’s most beautiful passes. With the growth of gravel riding comes an onslaught of new and interesting bikes and in this regard, the Tour de […]
Build Project: Momsen VIPA Trail
I have been fortunate enough to have been riding a Momsen VIPA Trail prototype frame for the last couple of years. When it was first let loose on trails, 142 mm rear axle sizing was still the place to be and “long, low, and slack” were reserved for Mondraker, the Enduro crowd mad scientists. This […]