Oli Munnik (aka “Pinner”) and Charl Neethling raced this year’s Wines2Whales Pinotage aboard custom painted 2023 Signal PROs. The radical designs were conceptualised and hand sprayed by a celebrated Jo’burg graffiti artist who goes by the tag ‘Bias’.
Oli’s Signal Pro custom-painted by graffiti artist Bias in Urban Camo. Image Zac Zinn
The bikes ridden by Oli and Charl are stock standard Signal PRO models with the addition of 150mm Lyne Contour dropper posts for extra shreddabilty on the Wines2Whales trails. The Signal PRO sports a 1×12 SRAM GX drivetrain, RockShox RECON Silver fork, and 29×2.35″ Maxxis Rekon Race EXO tyres.
Urban Camo
Pinner’s bike was painted “Urban Camo”. According to the artist Bias, the Urban Camo design: “uses a layered effect with holographic spray-in-the-dark elements. I wanted to create something funky and edgy for this off-road excursion”.
Images by Zac Zinn
The Specifications
- Frame: Signal 29er | 6061 Alloy Hydro-Tubing | Internal Cable Routing | Boost
- Stem: Race Face Ride 31.8mm H: 40 | R:6°
- Saddle: WTB Silverado 142x280mm / 293g / Steel Black Rail
- BB: SRAM BB-Dub-BSA-A1
- Hubs: Formula DC-251B – 15mm / DHT-148 / 12mm Boost | Sealed Bearings | 32h
- Fork: RockShox Recon Silver RL Remote 29″ Mxl Lite Boost 15x110mm Axle Solo Air 100mm
- Handlebar: Race Face Ride 31.80 – 720mm 8° Back Sweep
- Shifters: SRAM GX Eagle Lunar – 12spd
- Rear Derailleur: SRAM GX Eagle Lunar 12SPD
- Cassette: SRAM CS PG1210 Eagle 11-50T 12SPD
- Rims: Alex DP-23 / Signal Custom Design | 32h TR Ready
- Headset: Neco -1.5″ | 1-1/8″ Integrated Threadless Headset | Sealed Bearings
- Seatpost: Lyne Contour 31.6 x 150mm Internal Routing
- Brakeset: Shimano M4100 Deore Hydraulic Disc I SM-RT56 – 6bolt F:180/R:160
- Crankset: SRAM GX Eagle B148 Dub Lunar I New
- Chain: SRAM GX Eagle 116 link Power Lock 12 SPD
- Tyres: Maxxis Rekon Race / 29’*2.35′ – 60tpi/ Foldable / EXO-TR
The Lyne Contour dropper post was the only non-factory tweak to the bike. Images by Zac Zinn
Earth, Water, Wind & Fire
Charl piloted “Earth, Water, Wind & Fire”. According to Bias, the design incorporates the four elements because: “In riding, you see many variable landscapes. I wanted to capture this with this Signal PRO frame. Earth is the scorched earth effect you see on the top seat stay (this was done using multiple layers of a special acrylic); Water on the main downward tube; Wind in the leaves blowing on the top tube; and Fire on the chain stay. Fire is almost always done as the typical flames but I wanted it to show some movement and be much simpler”.
Charl’s bike Signal PRO in Earth, Water, Wind & Fire. Images by Zac Zinn
The Action
As the dust settled, after three days dicing at the front end of the W2W Pinotage, Charl and Oli, racing as part of the Ciovita x Sealand squad, finished 2nd overall behind veteran Erik Kleinhans and Johan Cronje, with Johan Badenhorst and Jarrett West rounding out the podium in 3rd.
Oli and Charl piloted their Signals to 2nd place overall in the mid-week event. Images by Zac Zinn
Image by Sam Clarke
Image by Simon Pocock
The sooner people realise you don't need a fancy expensive bike to enjoy cycling, the bubble might actually just burst.