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Tech

New cycling gear and review articles.

Tech

Bike check: Centurion Numinis Carbon Team.29

Team Meerendal Centurion Vaude finished 8th at the 2015 Cape Epic as well as winning the final stage. We caught up with team rider Jochen Kaess and his Centurion Numinis. Centurion is a German brand with ties to Merida. The Numinis Carbon Team.29 is their flagship cross-country marathon offering. Despite sharing the same name, the […]

Tech

Cycliq Fly6 now available in South Africa

Cycle Factory Shop is excited to announce the launch of the new and improved Fly6 tail-light / HD camera combo. Fly6 is the first HD camera and tail-light combo designed specifically for cyclists. The innovative safety device replaces your existing tail-light and records what happens behind you in real-time. The name Fly6 blends two phrases: […]

Tech

Review: 2015 Silverback Sprada 2

Silverback’s Sprada is in it’s third year and subtle tweaks following feedback from their test riders have seen it mature over the years into the trail 29er it is today. With Jonkershoek and Tokai Forest being it’s testing grounds, it should suit South African conditions to a T. We ride one to find out. The […]

Tech

Bike check: Bulls Wild Edge Team 29

At the end of Stage 3 of this year’s Absa Cape Epic at Oak Valley, I took a brief look at Karl Platt’s Bulls Wild Edge Team 29. Platt’s bike features a Shimano XTR drivetrain. Interestingly, he goes with the electronic Di2 gear shifting components in the rear and sticks to mechanical parts in the […]

Tech

First look: SwiftCarbon Evil Twin

Waiting for riders to make their way back to the finish on Stage 6 of the Absa Cape Epic, I had some time to have a closer look at SwiftCarbon’s Evil Twin short travel, 29er race bike. Dressed in the latest and greatest from SRAM and RockShox this build represents the pinnacle of what’s available […]

Tech

Spotlight: Dirt Apparel

Two and a half years ago, my brother introduced me to cycling. Since then the sport has changed my life for the better in so many ways. One day, while riding the awesome Tygerberg Trails in the Hills of Durbanville, I decided to establish a clothing brand that all my friends and fellow riders could […]

Tech

SRAM announces 2016 Boost (148mm and 110mm hub) components

With revolutionary advancements in bicycle componentry, like SRAM’s XX1, X01 and X1 drivetrains, mountain bike designers have been given almost limitless freedom to focus solely on the performance of the bike. Each advancement demands that the entire package works flawlessly. Aggressive trail and enduro riders have been increasingly enjoying the benefits of larger wheels, but […]

Tech

PowerTap announces new P1 pedal and C1 chainring power meters

PowerTap reasserts its position as market leader with the addition of two new power meters to their portfolio with the P1 pedal and C1 chainring. Through years of observations, testing, development and hard work, PowerTap is committed to providing power measurement products with the accuracy that cyclists deserve. With the introduction of these new products, […]

Tech

Cape Epic Bikes: Investec Songo.info Specialized

On Sunday morning, against the slopes of Table Mountain in Cape Town South Africa, Christoph Sauser and Jaroslav Kulhavy start a prologue at 12:06 local time. They are racing against the clock onboard two custom painted S-Works Epic’s at the start of the Absa Cape Epic, an 8-day test of body, mind and equipment. Over […]

Tech

Hungry Monkey Part 3: The build kit

A custom build is always a rewarding project. Part of this is the agonising process of looking for the perfect fit of design and components. For me, the direction of the build gets locked down once the look, or in this case the colours, has been decided. Once that is done, then the hunt for […]

Tech

Hungry Monkey Part 2: David Mercer on the Hungry Monkey design

One can almost not help but to order a frame from David Mercer. He is as nice as he is enthusiastic and it’s plain for all to see that he is a lover of what he does. Talking to him on the Mercer Bikes stand at the Africa Cycle Fair left me hungry for more […]

Tech

The SahmuraiSword: A new way to carry your tubeless repair kit

The SahmuraiSword (named after creator Stefan ‘Sahmurai’ Sahm) is an easy-to-use, simple-to-store and, most importantly, safe, way of carrying a tubeless plug system on your mountain bike. Built into what are essentially bar-plugs, the system allows you store both the plug and reamer tool inside your handlebars. The SahmuraiSword fits snug and locks fast inside […]