Bikes of the Epic: Mirko Pirazzoli’s FRM Anakin Cape Cobra
Kansai Plascon arrived at the 2017 Absa Cape Epic with two teams riding FRM’s Anakin full suspension cross-country race bikes (with the exception of Max Knox who is sponsored by Rocky Mountain). While there were a collection of Anakin’s to feature: Mirko Pirazzoli’s bike was the pick of the bunch with the most exotic technology […]
Race Report: Subaru Cape Town WC XCO MTB Series #3 Bloemendal
The third event in the Subaru Cape Town WC XCO MTB Series took place at Bloemendal wine farm in Durbanville on Saturday. We headed out at the crack of dawn to join in the fun. Darryn Stow on his way to second place in the Sub Vet men’s race. Photo credit: Theo Bruwer. The track […]
Bikes of the Epic: Karl Platt’s BULLS Wild Edge Team
The 2017 Absa Cape Epic is one that Team Bulls will want to forget quickly. The defending champions Karl Platt and Urs Huber had their share of bad luck and the Epic legends finished the race in an unprecedented 12th place overall. In the Cape Epic, Team Bulls ride the BULLS Wild Edge Team 29 […]
First round of Dirtopia Enduro a fun day for top riders
On Sunday 2 April, about 100 technically skilled mountain bikers gathered for the first Dirtopia Enduro at Uitkyk Wine Estate to ride the Simonsberg trails in the Conservancy. Photo credit: Mark Sampson The climb to the top of the Never say Never Ending Again trail brought them close to the start of the first three […]
Tranquilitas Mountain Biking: Do it Right
Ruth and I are standing in the kitchen of the Tranquilitas Farm House, trying to fry falafel. Mike Behr, Ruth’s husband, is not impressed with our apparent lack of skill in this regard. “NO! Just get out of the kitchen and let me do it, you guys are stuffing it up!”. A litre of boiling […]
Giveaway: Win a Scott Centric Plus helmet
Scott Sports Africa are giving away a Scott Centric Plus helmet signed by the whole Scott-SRAM MTB Racing Cape Epic team worth R2,999. All you have to do is answer the questions in the form below and like the Scott Sports Africa Facebook page. The Centric PLUS was designed and developed for our world class […]
Fat Attack: A three day fat bike event staged on pristine Eastern Cape beaches
For those that have never experienced the beautiful Wild Coast, let’s paint a picture… Imagine – no development, just the occasional rondawel. The land is owned by Nature Conservation and it is the most pristinely beautiful coastline in the world. Scattered at 30km intervals along the coast are fantastic beach hotels. Now imagine riding a […]
NEW PRODUCT: Convertible Socks
For decades the sock length debate has infested social media, forums and ride chats. Many have gone back to Rule #27 of the Velominati which states that: “Shorts and socks should be like Goldilocks. Not too long and not too short. No socks is a no-no, as are those ankle-length ones that should only be […]
First Look: Knolly Warden Carbon
The Knolly Warden Carbon frame is the next addition to our long term test fleet. The Warden is a 155mm All Mountain/ Enduro Bike featuring Knolly’s Four by 4 suspension technology and adjustable geometry. Iwan Kemp will be putting it through its paces on the trails around the Western Cape. The Warden we have is […]
Bikes of the Epic: Manuel Fumic’s Cannondale Scalpel-Si
Manuel Fumic and partner Henrique Avancini had a reasonably successful 2017 Absa Cape Epic. The pair piloted their Cannondale Scalpel-Si bikes to two stage wins and wore the leader’s jersey for five days. Manuel Fumic also joined the Amabubesi club this year finishing his third Cape Epic. The new Cannondale Scalpel-Si was launched with much […]
Review: Lapierre XR 729 e:i
The XR 729 is a flamboyant cross country bike from French brand Lapierre. We tested the the e:i model, which comes with Lapierre’s electronically controlled shock. With the curved top tube, black and yellow colour scheme, and skin wall tyres, the XR 729 draws attention wherever it goes. A bike this distinct is bound to […]
Interview: Reuben van Niekerk of Team Driepoot
For most able-bodied bike riders the Absa Cape Epic is an extremely testing eight days, but for Reuben van Niekerk completing an Epic is a bit more difficult. Reuben lost his lower right leg in an accident in 2008. This life-changing incident has not prevented Reuben from getting out and enjoying riding his bicycle. Since […]