Follow the action at the 2017 UCI MTB World Championships in Cairns
The 2017 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships will be taking place in Cairns, Australia this weekend and South African riders will be representing in both XCO and DH disciplines. Here’s how you can follow the action and support our riders. The one to watch: Greg Minnaar will be hoping to put the disappointment of losing […]
Course Preview: Claudio slides down the Vallnord track
Claudio and Brook Macdonald take on a slippery and steep Vallnord course that has them on their limit. Watch the World Cup course preview here. Following the fun of downhill races at the Crankworx events in Les Gets and Innsbruck these past few weeks we’re back to the serious business of World Cup racing here […]
29er downhill bikes will help us all
The advent of 29er downhill bikes has a resonance way beyond the start gate. Two weeks ago, one of our own did the unconscionable. After much teasing of bits and pieces on social media, the greatest mountain biker South Africa has – and likely ever will – produce did what many considered impossible. He introduced […]
Rider Photos: SA DH Champs 2016
This past weekend saw SA Downhill Champs taking place in Pietermaritzburg. In between the practice and race runs we caught a few of the riders and their rigs up on the mountain. And in case you missed it Stefan Garlicki was fastest down the mountain in the Mens and Sabine Thies claimed the Womens title. […]
Review: Spank Spike pedals
When Spank set out to create the Spike flat pedals, they aimed to create a thin, lightweight platform pedal that could still withstand the kind of abuse dished out by amateurs and pros alike, week after week in all weather conditions. The Spike design incorporates a total of 20 pins (10 per side) of which […]
A very wet and slippery Round 3 of WP DH in Paarl
The day started off pretty bleak with the sun only managing to get a few rays past the clouds, but in the end, 40 riders came out and braved the conditions for the third round of the Western Province Downhill in Paarl. Glorious looking, but the sun didn’t do much to sway the rain With […]
Gwin goes fastest in Downhill qualifying
Specialized Racing Downhill team star Aaron Gwin produced the quickest time in the men’s downhill qualifying at the 2014 UCI MTB World Cup, presented by Shimano, as he finished two and a half seconds ahead of Santa Cruz Syndicate duo of Josh Bryceland and Pietermaritzburg’s own world champion Greg Minnaar after the final round of […]
PMB World Cup: First day of practice
First day of practice at the Pietermaritzburg MTB World Cup, and the downhill guys are getting warmed up. The course isn’t as forgiving as some might have thought and the additions are catching some riders out. Josh ‘Ratboy’ Bryceland still deciding to run the full Santa Cruz V10 DH rig over the new Nomad [/caption] […]
PMB World Cup: Sam Hill bike check and Nigel Page interview
Ryan Franklin from Monster Energy caught up with Nigel Page, manager of Team CRC/Nukeproof to see what they were running for the Pietermaritzburg DH course. Turns out it’s something very special. https://soundcloud.com/thehubsa/20140409-180949 Team CRC/Nukeproof have opted to go the full custom route for this year’s PMB World Cup. The course being significantly more pedally than […]
Video of the week – Stefan Garlicki – Moving Up
Impressing and certainly making the wintering side of the world jealous, Stefan Garlicki shows some great style in the sunny Cape, while most of the Northern Hemisphere settles in for the cold or straps on the skis. http://www.pinkbike.com/video/348029 To find out more about one of SA’s best downhill talents check out his blog.
Video of the Week – GoPro: Combing Valparaiso’s Hills
Top freeride and DH riders explore the hills in Valparaiso, Chile. The hills are steep, the speeds are epic, and the cojones aren’t lacking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN-YTcSnE6c For those of you who don’t know, there’s the Urban Assault DH race on Signal Hill this weekend. Looking to participate myself on my trusty Nukeproof Snap. Yes, hardtail. Though […]
Maritzburg Young Turks step up to the plate
The core of the South African downhill team for the UCI MTB and Trials World Championships that start on 26 August has three distinctive characteristics – youthfulness, a strong Pietermaritzburg flavour, and the guiding hand of world champion Greg Minnaar. World Champ Greg Minnaar (back) spends time with the six Pietermaritzburg friends preparing for the […]