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 W W W. B I C Y C L I N G . C O . Z A / NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2025 / VOLUME 25 / ISSUE 06

26 DREAM MACHINE
Check out Alan Hatherly’s
world champs-winning
Giant Anthem prototype.

28 KIM LE COURT
One-on-one with the
Mauritian superstar.

32 RAD RIDE
Why you should add
go2berg to your wish list.

58 HISTORY
Relive South African
cycling’s greatest rivalry.

70 CREATINE
Should you be taking it?
Our experts weigh in.

86 32-INCH WHEELS
Are they the next ‘big’ thing
in mountain biking?

88 GIFT GUIDE
Take the pain out of
Christmas shopping
with this great gear.

ALL ABOARD THE

DC TRAIN
Image: Tobias Ginsberg / OMW Double Centur y

• Race-day tips from the winning team COVER PHOTO

• 8 things to remember on the route
• All the banter to get you pumped! P.39 By Craig Kolesky
Newly crowned double XCO world
champ Alan Hatherly, carving it up
in his Cape Town backyard.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 03
 What Riders FEEL. What CABAL DELIVERS.

Johann Trotzky – Josh Steytler – Bernike van Dyk –

Team Realty Dynamix South African Colours: Trivium Triathlon Club
Every ride feels personal, it’s Triathlon & Duathlon ;OLTVTLU[0JSPWWLK
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is sharp and responsive, yet 7YLJPZPVUI\PS[[V[LHY [OLWV^LYPZPTTLUZLHUK
smooth, stable and built to [OYV\NO[OLZ[YLL[Z [OLMLLSPUNVU[OLYVHKPZ
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JVYULYMLLSZLɈVY[SLZZHUK Handré Rousseau –
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Cabal is fast and furious,
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Team MadMacs HUKPUJYLKPIS`WV^LYM\S
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 Built to OUTPACE.
Designed to be
EXCEPTIONAL.
 EDITORIAL

editor Jon Minster jon@[Link]

senior designer Mark Arendse
chief sub/managing editor Dave Buchanan
online Kirsten Curtis
scientific editor Prof Ross Tucker

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
(A ND T HING S T H AT IN SP IR E D U S
DURING THE MAKING OF THIS ISSUE )

M AT T H E W K A D E Y, N A M R I TA B R O O K E , T R E V O R R A A B , A . N O N Y M O U S , T O B I A S G I N S B E R G ,
When I get to
D AV I D M O S E L E Y, G E R A L D T H E I D I O T, D AV I D G E O R G E , J A C O V E N T E R , F E L I X R I T Z I N G E R , D A N the coffee stop,
C H A B A N O V, M AT T P H I L L I P S , A L A N H AT H E R LY, M I R I A M VA N R E I J E N , K I M L E C O U R T- P I E N A A R ,
S Z Y M O N G R U C H A L S K I , W A P P O , J A N I M A R I T Z , G A R Y G R E E N , O L D M U T U A L , I L A S T O W, N I C K I order...
W E B B , D E O N D E V I L L I E R S , W A LT E R K L E Y N S C H E L D T, S T E F A N C O E T Z E E , S T E W N O L A N ,
ELLIOT MINS TER, COLIN HOFFMANN, CHRIS WILLEMSE , DARIO BELINGHERI, PARIS GORE , “... an Americano with hot milk.
T I M D E W A E L E , A L A N VA N H E E R D E N , R O B B I E M C I N T O S H , A X E L B R U N S T, Z AY N E B O T H A , I should be daring and order a
F A R H A D S A D E R , E L I Z A B E T H M I L L A R D , C R A I G K O L E S K Y, K R I S T E N W A G N E R , B R I A N D A L E K
cortado one day, but I’m still
working up to it. Baby steps.”
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF / PUBLISHER
– jon minster, editor

Mike Finch mike@[Link] “…a double espresso. The

act of gently stirring a double
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM espresso while in cycling kit,
wearing a casquette, at a
chief sales guy Paul Goddard paul@[Link] | +27 82 650 9231 sidewalk table, is the coolest
advertising executive Tanya Finch tanya@[Link] | +27 82 961 9429 thing ever.”
– mike finch, publisher
A D M I N I S T R AT I O N A N D A C C O U N T S
“...a refreshing glass of
Kim Woolrich hello@[Link] anything besides 'mud' – I have
my reasons...
C O N TA C T U S Iced tea is a favourite.”
– mark arendse, senior designer
[Link]
+27 83 267 7499 “...a double cortado and
Bicycling SA, 147 Main Road, Rondebosch, 7700 banana loaf, no mucking about.
Both keep me charged up for
the return leg home.”
quickbrownfox (pty) ltd director: Michael J Finch
– paul goddard, ad guy
publishers of runner’s world and bicycling, and incorporating
glow media and fox podcasts
“...cappuccino and a muffin.
Call me a creature of habit. One
day I might branch out; but for
published by quickbrownfox (pty) ltd under licence from hearst magazines
international. no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a now, this does the trick.”
retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or – kirsten curtis, online

Trevor Raab
mechanical, without prior permission of the publisher.

PRINTED BY
C TP PRINTERS
DISTRIBUTED BY
hearst magazines
international
President
Jonathan Wright
This publication is a member of the Publisher Research Council. SVP/Global Editorial & Brand Director
All our reader research conforms to best practice.
Kim St. Clair Bodden
Global Editorial & Brand Director
Chloe O’Brien

International Editions
Netherlands / South Africa / US

copyright © 2025 quickbrownfox (pty) ltd.

all rights reserved.
 JOIN THE RIDE

RACE
BUDDIES
ONE OF THE BEST THINGS about working Talking about friendship, the Old Mutual buddies around the braai later. These are your
for Bicycling is that occasionally, I’m invited Wealth Double Century is one of the most people, and you’re privileged to be among them.
to really great events. That was the case in potent bonding events on the calendar. Thank you to the organisers of go2berg and
September, when I jetted to OR Tambo for When you ride 200km in a team – where the DC (is it coincidence that Old Mutual is
Old Mutual go2berg – a seven-day stage race everyone does their pull, where everyone stops the title sponsor of both?) for giving us two of
through the Free State and KZN. to help with mechanical issues, where everyone the most special events on the South African
It’s always a bit daunting, going to a big lifts to and from Swellendam and bunks cycling calendar. You can read about them in
event like this on your ow n. The usual together in often cramped accommodation this issue – and if you’re looking for a challenge
thoughts percolate as you sit and worry on the – you quickly forge deep connections. It’s no that will stimulate your mind and your body,
plane: Have I trained enough? What if I get sick? wonder so many corporates use the DC as their and hopefully get you a gang of new friends,
Did I pack everything? But most importantly: primary team-building event of the year. then put one or both on your wish list for 2026.
I don’t know anyone! Will I find someone to ride If you’re reading this on the stoep of
with? Who will I sit with at dinner? your guest farm cottage with a view of the
Luckily, all of these worries are usually Langeberg, having got over the line earlier, don’t
not worth, er, worrying about. My mind was forget to say cheers and thank you to your race
already eased at the baggage carousel, when
I noticed a few other people standing around
with helmets strapped to their backpacks.
“Are you going to go2berg?” “Ja! You?”
One of those people was Nick Webb from
Bike Hub, every cyclist’s favourite classifieds
website. Nick also had a media entry, and we
soon became race buddies. By Frankfort on
day one, Nick and I had already joined up with
fellow Capetonians Deon de Villiers, Walter
Kleynscheldt and Stefan Coetzee, and our
crew was complete.
If you’ve ever done a multi-day event, you’ll
know how these things work. The people you
end up hanging with are the ones who ride at
(sort of) the same speed as you do. You end
up in the same start batch, and at the lunch
table afterwards. You buy each other beers
and find each other on Strava. You stop when
someone gets a puncture, and you cross the
finish line together at the end. You banter
about previous races and about life in general,
and you marvel at the scenery that is usually
new to all of you.
The race-buddy bond is a special kind of
 E DI T OR JON MIN S T E R ( R IG H T ) W I T H NIC K W E B B
bond, and if you’re really lucky, it’s one that
Image: Stew Nolan

F R OM B IK E HUB , NE X T T O T HE P O OL AT C H A MPA GNE

S P OR T S R E S OR T IN T HE DR A K E N S B E R G – T HE
continues beyond the event. I’m sure many F INI S H V E NUE F OR G O 2 B E R G . NIC K G AV E JON A
readers are still riding with friends they made L E S S ON IN HO W T O R IDE D O W NHIL L S P R OP E R LY,
A ND HO W T O GE T R E A D Y F OR A S TA GE AT T HE
at races in years gone by. I know I am. A B S OL U T E L A S T MINU T E . M A S T E R F UL S T UF F.

08 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 THE FRAME
THE BEAUTY OF THE RIDE

10 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 FAN CLUB
South Africa’s Byron Monton is welcomed by a cacophony
of cheering as he makes his way up the Mur de Kigali during
the men’s road race at the World Championships in the
Rwandan capital. The support of the local residents made the
championships one of the most memorable in recent history.

DARIO BELINGH ERI/GETTY IMAGES

 THIS SIDE UP LOW FLYING
Jaxson Riddle takes best trick prize with a heel-clicker Jaedon Terlouw leads PYGA Euro Steel teammate Michael
backflip at Red Bull Rampage in Utah, USA. The event is Foster across the harsh, dusty terrain that makes up most of
the pinnacle of big-mountain freeride: a contest that tests the route for the five-day Momentum Medical Scheme Cape
creativity, control, and – most importantly – courage. Pioneer. The race was won by the Toyota Imbuko Specialized
ChemChamp team of Travis Stedman and Tristan Nortje.
PARIS GORE/RED BU LL CONTENT POOL
OAK PICS

12 ISSUE 6 | 2025
ISSUE 6 | 2025 13
 GREEN TR AIN
The peloton snakes its way through spectacular gardens
during the season-ending Tour of Guangxi in Nanning, China.
Nanning is often called the ‘Green City’ – an oasis filled with
parks and a unique blend of modern and traditional charm.

TIM DE WAELE/GETTY IMAGES

14 ISSUE 6 | 2025
Zero to 100km/h
faster than you can say “understated
premium Swedish hybrid SUV”

It’s safe to be brave

Test drive Volvo plug-in hybrids today
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THE BEST ROUTES ARE THE ONES YOU HAVEN’T RIDDEN. [Link]
 HOW TO DO IT
FOR EVERY PART OF YOUR RIDE

NEW STUFF

YOUR PLAYLIST,
UNPLUGGED
MIGHT Y 3 MUSIC PL AYER / R3 499 / BEMIGHT [Link].Z A

1 Remember the iPod Shuffle, that songs or podcasts from Spotify or

tiny music player beloved by Amazon Music, and listen offline.
runners and cyclists? If you’ve been Small and lightweight, with a clip, it
mourning its demise, you’re not pairs easily with Bluetooth or wired
alone – many people have been headphones – perfect for long rides
hankering after a simpler way to and walks in the forest.
listen to music, free from a phone The battery is claimed to last up
or internet connection. to eight hours, and it comes in four
Enter the Mighty 3 – a compact colours: blue, red, grey and lavender
little player that works without (to complement your favourite
a phone, screen or internet cycling jersey).
connection (except to download
and sync).
Designed in California and now
available in South Africa, it lets
you download up to a thousand
Image: Mike Finch

ISSUE 6 | 2025 17
H E A LT H

of Norway. “Most importantly: doing

t ho s e 2 5 m i nute s of a c t i v it y w i l l
significantly lower health risks from
sitting, but doing more than that will
provide even more benefits.”

BREAK IT UP
It's also important to note that exercise
should be done over the course of the
day to break up sitting sessions, rather
than only taking a walk at lunch, for
example. Sagelv adds that you should
be consistent in adding more activity to
your routine. The best approach is just
to keep adding minutes.
“Doing exercise sporadically won’t
cut it,” he says. “The key is continuous
engagement, because the body is always
adapting to your demands.”

“ ...25 MINUTES OF
ACTIVITY WILL
SIGNIFICANTLY
LOWER HEALTH
RISKS FROM
THE SYMPTOMS SITTING, BUT
OF SITTING DOING MORE
BY ELIZ ABE TH MILL ARD THAN THAT WILL
PROVIDE EVEN
THE DANGERS OF SITTING ALL DAY
have been well researched. The reality is
and reported health factors such as
cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.
MORE BENEFITS.”
that even for those of us who ride regularly, The good news? The researchers found
it’s all too easy to rack up way too much that just 20 to 25 minutes of daily physical
time at your desk or on the couch. activity might be enough to counter the For t hose who sit for prolonged
Studies link prolonged sitting to risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. periods and don’t get up for breaks
negative health outcomes such as poor Analysis of the tracking data showed regularly, it may take more than just half
cardiovascular function, mood disorders, that being sedentar y for more than an hour daily to get the health benefits.
chronic back and neck pain – and even 12 hours a day was associated with a 38% For example, a 2022 study in the Journal
shorter lifespan. Researchers have also higher risk of death, compared to eight of Science and Medicine looked at how
looked into exactly how much activity you hours of sitting, but only among those who much activity sedentary middle-aged
need to offset these risks, most recently did less than 22 minutes of moderate to adults with metabolic syndrome needed
in a meta-study published in the British vigorous physical activity a day. to reduce the risks of type 2 diabetes
Journal of Sports Medicine. “Basically, the takeaway from our and improve cardiovascular health.
Looking at the data from major lifestyle resea rch is that sit ting is not that Researchers in that study found that an
habit studies in Norway and Sweden, the dangerous, as long as you do regular hour of light exercise, and some standing
study assessed the behaviours of about physical activity,” says lead researcher peppered throughout the day, could lead
Image: iStock

12 000 people over the course of two Prof. Edvard Sagelv from the School to improvements in body composition,
years. Participants wore activity trackers of Sport Sciences at the Arctic University blood pressure and blood glucose levels.

18 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 T H E R E ’ S O N LY

T H E U LT I M AT E R A C E B I K E

ALL-NEW MADONE GEN 8

VISIT [Link]/MADONE
B I K E S E T- U P

Specialized’s Human
Performance Manager,
Todd Carver, shows us a
technique to check for a
too-high saddle:
1. Find a partner
2. Get on your bike and pedal
yourself into position. A trainer
is the best tool to use, but you
could balance in a doorway and
pedal backwards.
3. Once in position, stop
and freeze. Unclip from both
pedals and hang both feet down.
4. Get your partner to swing
one pedal to the bottom of
the stroke and measure the
distance from your heel to the
pedal with locked knees.
5. Repeat on the other side.
6. If the distance from heel to
pedal is greater than one
centimetre, then your saddle
could be too high.

IS YOUR SADDLE
TOO HIGH?
BY MAT T PHILLIPS

SADDLE HEIGHT IS THE FOUNDATION signs of an excessively high saddle.

of a good bike fit. When it’s dialled in, A visual clue that your saddle might be

STUFF YOU
it boosts both power and comfort. But too high is if a rider has to ‘reach’ for the
it’s also surprisingly easy to get wrong. pedal at the bottom of the stroke. If you
The most common guideline suggests drop your hips and rock side to side, or
aiming for about 30° of knee flexion when
your foot reaches the lowest point of
the pedal stroke. However, this is just
pedal with an exaggerated heel-up or toes-
down style, your saddle may be too high.
However, Carver explains that
NEED TO KNOW
a starting point: individual needs vary. rocking hips or toes down doesn’t Despite the media reports, British hill-climb
champ Andrew Feather did not ride faster than
Experts often point to pain behind the always mean the saddle is too high,
Tadej Pogačar in the Pogi Challenge in October.
knee as a sign of a saddle that's too high. because a low saddle height, tight
Images: Trevor Raab; Supplied (Feather)

Feather, along with just over a thousand other

But it’s not limited to knee pain – a high hamstrings or weak core can cause the amateur participants, was given a six-minute head
saddle can also cause discomfort where same things. start on Pogačar up a 9.1km climb in Slovenia, at
a 7% average gradient.
the hamstrings meet the glutes, as well as It is safe to say that if you’re rocking
The world champion caught everyone but
saddle sores, numbness and other issues. your hips and/or pedalling with your toes Feather, who did indeed finish ‘first’ by three
We consulted with Todd Carver, down, you should consult an expert to see minutes. But the reality is that because of the head
Specialized’s Human Performance if you need a fit adjustment, and perhaps start, Pogi rode the climb three minutes faster.
Manager, to get an expert’s advice on a strength and stretching routine.

20 ISSUE 6 | 2025
AVAILABLE AT PREMIUM CYCLING STORES
[Link] | 087 654 1940 | SALES@[Link]
THE SPOKESMAN
By DAVID MOSELEY

Of course it wasn’t, I told him

happily. It belonged to Adri, my much
shorter female friend. Cue another cry
of exasperation, because there I was –
all 6-foot-2 and 85kg – on a medium-size
woman’s bike. What could go wrong?
The first cramps kicked in around
90km. They came and went in waves
until I could take it no more. At the
160km mark, I gladly jumped into the

“HAD I KNOWN WHAT

SWEET TREATS AND
DELICATE DELIGHTS
WERE TO BE FOUND
IN THE CAR, I WOULD
HAVE ‘CRAMPED’ MUCH
EARLIER IN THE DAY.”

air-conditioned back-up vehicle (this

was the good old days, when the team
car could join after the lunch stop),
joining two celebrity riders from our
team who had already called it quits

WHO ATE ALL much earlier into what was a sweltering

day for bike riding.

THE WINE GUMS? Had I known what sweet treats and

delicate delights were to be found in the
car (the snacks, not the ladies), I would
I PARTICIPATED IN ONE DOUBLE Swellendam Showgrounds and onto have ‘cramped’ much earlier in the day.
CENTURY where the rain was so the road for my DC debut in 2012, At some point on our way to the
vicious for 202km that I had to wear the writing was already on the wall: I finish, Mike Finch – the publisher of
sunglasses just to protect my eyes. I couldn’t clip into my pedals. I turned this venerable periodical – tried to jump
couldn’t see anything, but at least my to my teammate, David Bellairs of Cape in with us; but he was awfully sweaty, so
retinas survived a power-wash. Town Cycle Tour fame, and asked – we threw him out. The previous editor
At another DC, a teammate dropped bemused, and somewhat sheepishly – of the magazine, the late Tim Brink,
his CO2 bomb while fixing a flat tyre; “How do these things clip in?” came looking for a Coke; but Liezel,
it bounced off the ground and whizzed I wish I could say that Dave jumped Vanessa and I had to inform him that
past my frontmost part, caressing me off his bike to assist; instead he rolled regrettably, ‘someone’ had finished all
fleetingly like a coy wife on honeymoon. his eyes dramatically and let out a deep the drinks. Then Dave Bellairs arrived;
These are vivid memories from groan: “Oh, lord.” on the hunt for wine gums, which had
South Africa’s most unique cycling It got worse from there. About also mysteriously disappeared.
event (though not as vivid as seeing 10km into the ride, Dave asked me It was my first DC, my worst DC,
an all-women team lined up on the (perhaps taking pity on me, or perhaps but also my most memorable. The
Illustration: Jon Minster

roadside for a group pee). But they wondering if he should just push only downside is that I haven’t been
don’t come close to the disaster that me into a ditch and leave me for the able to eat wine gums since.
was my very first Double Century… vultures – er, sweeps) whether the bike Oh, and Dave has never invited me
As soon as I rolled out of the I was riding was actually mine. back, for some reason.

22 ISSUE 6 | 2025
TA R M A C S L 8

One Bike to
Rule Them All

Nothing is faster than the Tarmac SL8 thanks to a combination of aerodynamics,

lightweight, and ride quality previously thought impossible.

ISSUE 2 • 2022 23
CO FFE E TE A STO P
As told to DAVID MOSELEY

couldn't train. I just went with it! You

can’t let little things upset you. I think
another way of saying it is, “You can’t
have too many expectations about
how each day will go.”

My greatest
exhilaration... is just being a
girl, riding the downhill lines in Tokai
in lycra… haha! Seriously, though – I
do like trying new things. From a
riding point of view, that would be
trying to clear new obstacles. But
I’m not actually too adventurous. It
needs to be within my limits.

My biggest fear... is heights!

Definitely heights. And open roads.
I’m so scared of road riding. I think
it’s the speed you get up to on the
bike, and knowing how many things
could go wrong so easily.

A moment of pure
clarity... comes when I’m on the
bike, riding by myself in the middle

ILA STOW GOES

I take my coffee... In of nowhere.
caffeine tablets! I don’t drink

WITH THE FLOW

coffee. I only drink tea – rooibos When I wake up... I’m
tea. I must be the only cyclist who generally with Remi, then it’s
doesn’t drink coffee. Even Chris ‘good morning’ to Darryn, then I
M O U N TA I N - B I K E S TA G E R A C E R , & J A C K O F A L L T R A D E S
AT T H E B I K E P A R K AT C O N S TA N T I A U I T S I G says, “I’m not sure how I feel jump onto the indoor trainer. It’s
about this.” already set up, ready to go. I have
the Wahoo Kickr fan; but for three
WHEN THE CAPE EPIC made the decision to add media e-bikes to their I’d love to go for a years I’ve been asking my son to
coverage, it changed the way fans experienced the racing. For the ride... all over the world. I love change the setting, because I didn’t
first time, the audience was dropped into the heat of the action the sense of adventure. And realise I could connect it to my
as the e-bike camera crew chased the leaders into tight corners, that’s what cycling brings. I’ve phone and change the setting from
through bumpy singletrack and up never-ending climbs. travelled through Rwanda and there. He was very unhappy when
It’s fair to say that the addition of the e-bike camera has been the Malawi. I did the Malawi trip with he found out he’d been changing
event's most important innovation of recent years – and present right my mom on my 21st birthday; the fan speed for no reason for
from the start was Ila Stow. With a mountain biking pedigree that after that I was sent to Rwanda three years!
stretches back to a childhood full of bikes (her stepfather is former for an auditing job, so I took my
downhill champ Chris Nixon), she was the perfect woman for the job. bike with me. I’ve done a bit of I rage against... not riding
That was then… Stow has since switched her focus back to elite- travelling with the Epic Series… my bike! I become a bad person if
level racing in the UCI Women’s category, at stage races all over and on a few occasions I’ve just I don’t. I also rage against winter.
South Africa and the world. She’s a four-time Epic finisher, and explored after racing overseas. I rage internally. I really don’t like
placed 11th at this year’s event with partner Cherise Willeit. winter. I get grumpy. But I don't rage
She’s also a qualified chartered accountant, and helps Nixon run The secret to too much. I’m quite a calm person.
the impossibly popular Bike Park at Constantia Uitsig in Cape Town. happiness... is going with the
Image: Jon Minster

Keeping it in the family, husband Darryn is a mountain-bike coach, flow. Like this morning: I woke I wish... more people could
and her son Remi spends all his spare time riding the Bike Park trails. up and I was supposed to train, just enjoy riding and not put too
“He’s already better than me,” says Stow. but Remi’s stomach was sore so I much pressure on themselves.

24 ISSUE 6 | 2025
R ACE TECH

ALAN
HATHERLY’S
WORLD
CHAMPS-
WINNING
BIKE
ALAN HATHERLY became only the fifth rider
in the history of the UCI Mountain Bike XCO
World Championships to win two or more titles
when he romped to victory for the second year 2 Tyres Maxxis
Aspen 2.4”,
in a row at Valais in France during September. 170tpi, insert in 2 Rear Shock
Hatherly took the title riding a brand-new bike the rear tyre Fox Float SL
Factory, 120mm
– Giant’s latest version of their iconic Anthem –
due to arrive in South Africa in January 2026. 2 Tyre
Pressures 2 Rear Shock
Eagle-eyed fans might have noticed the main Front 1 bar Settings
difference: the suspension design is completely (14.5psi); Pressure 155psi,
rear 1.05 bar rebound 3 clicks
different to that of the current Anthem. It's
(15.2 psi) from slow
an evolution of Giant's FlexPoint Pro set-up,
but with the shock now mounted horizontally, 2 Wheels Giant
similar to race bikes from competitor brands prototype
such as Specialized and Cannondale.
Images: Supplied

HERE ARE
THE DETAILS…

  
The new Anthem will have a horizontally Local is lekker... and fast. Hatherly uses a Hatherly rides his forks quite hard (95psi)
mounted shock, freeing up space in the main custom cSixx chainring (usually 34T) on the and his front tyre fairly soft (1 bar, or 14.5psi).
triangle for a second bottle cage. latest Shimano XTR cranks, with a power meter. Seems to work for the world champ!

26 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 2 Brakes
Shimano
XTR Trail
2 Bar levers
Contact (M9220),
35mm, with M9200
720mm callipers
2 Saddle wide,
Giant Grit 0° rise, 2 Shifter
SLR 2 Fork
9° back Shimano Fox 34 SL
sweep XTR Di2
2 Dropper Factory,
M9250 IR 120mm
Post Fox 2 Grips ODI shifter
Transfer
(non-SL 2 Front
2 Stem
version), Fork
100mm
110mm Settings
Pressure
95psi,
3 volume
spacers,
rebound 6
clicks from
slow

2 Frame
Giant Anthem
prototype

2 Pedals
Shimano XTR
M9200

2 Power
Meter Yes
2 Rear Mech 2 Chainring
Shimano XTR cSixx 34T
Di2 M9250
long cage 2 Cranks
Shimano
2 Cassette XTR M9200,
9-45T 170mm

ISSUE 6 | 2025 27
TH E I NTE RVI EW
As told to MIKE FINCH

 A L L SMIL E S . K IM
L E C OUR T-P IE N A A R
WA S IN Y E L L O W
F OR F OUR D AY S AT
T HE 2 0 2 5 T OUR DE
F R A NC E F E MME S
AV E C Z W IF T,
B R E A K ING T HE
A F R I C A N R E C OR D .
 COURTING SUCCESS
S O U T H A F R I C A N - B A S E D , M A U R I T I A N - R A I S E D K I M L E C O U R T- P I E N A A R B E C A M E T H E F I R S T
AFRICAN CYCLIST TO WEAR THE YELLOW JERSEY IN THE TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES.
H E R R I S E H A S B E E N S P E C TA C U L A R .

THE STORY OF HOW KIM LE COURT-PIENAAR reached the pinnacle of

women’s cycling is legendary. After spending most of her career racing in South
Africa, the Mauritian-born former Absa Cape Epic champion and four-time Cape
Town Cycle Tour winner finally got a crack at the big time in 2024, after AG
Insurance-Soudal took a chance on her, despite her relatively ‘old’ age of 28.
In 2023, the previous year, her husband Ian had contacted every one of
the pro teams in a last-ditch attempt to get Kim onto a World Tour team.
Eventually, it was Natascha Knaven-den Oude – the team manager at Belgian-
based AG Insurance-Soudal – who saw something in Le Court’s results and
believed in her potential.
Knaven-den Oude's faith has been richly rewarded. With stage wins at the
Giro d’Italia and Tour de France Femmes, along with her historic yellow jersey at
the Tour de France Femmes this year – the first African woman to achieve the
feat – Le Court is now one of the most exciting racers in the women’s peloton.

How crucial is teamwork in an event the yellow jersey for four days.
like the Tour de France Femmes? At the same time, though, it
Honestly, it’s everything. We might showed me what’s possible – not just
not have the biggest budget like some for me, but for African cycling. And
of the other teams, but we make that makes me hungrier for more.
up for it with how close we are as a FAST FACTS
group. At the Tour, every rider played Women’s cycling seems to have Kim Le Court-Pienaar, 29
their role perfectly, whether it was reached a new level of competition
protecting their leaders, covering and support. Do you agree? Residence: Somerset West,
moves, or just making sure I had The sport has changed so much in Cape Town
bottles or ice when I needed them. just the last few years. The races are Nationality: Mauritian
The staff behind the scenes – the harder, there are more of them on Husband: Ian Pienaar
soigneurs, mechanics, coaches, DS's the calendar, the level is higher, and Team: AG Insurance-Soudal
– everyone plays a massive role that the support from fans is incredible.
people don’t always see. What I achieved You really feel the momentum Palmares:
there was only possible because of the building. It’s special to be part of this • First African to wear the
whole team, on and off the bike. generation, which is shaping women’s yellow jersey at the Tour
cycling for the future. de France Femmes
Did you surprise yourself with your • Most consecutive days
Images: Tim de Waele/Getty Images; Tobias Ginsberg

performance at the Tour de France Your team is one of the smaller in yellow by an African
Femmes? women’s pro teams. How do cyclist at the TDF
It went way beyond what I thought you compete against the big- • Giro d’Italia Stage winner
I could do at this point! Wearing budget outfits? • 2025 Liege-Bastogne-
yellow and realising I was the first For us, it’s about racing smart and Liege Femmes winner
African to do it… It was surreal; believing in each other. We don’t • 2023 Absa Cape Epic
something I’ll never forget. And to have the same resources as the super- winner (with Vera Looser)
top it all off, I broke the record by teams, but that actually makes us • Four-time Cape Town
being the first African Rider sharper. We have to take our chances, Cycle Tour winner
(man or woman) to wear be brave, and commit fully when the

ISSUE 6 | 2025 29
TH E I NTE RVI EW

opportunity comes. Sometimes, being things depending on how I’m feeling myself for the GC. We managed to
underestimated can be an advantage. and where we are in the season. It’s check so many of those boxes, with
But to be honest, we might not have not about quantity, it’s about quality. more to aim for next year. Of course,
the biggest budget, but I think we’re I also have great support from the
one of the best teams out there. And Who coaches you? team coaches, but Jeroen is really
we’re only getting started. It's very I’ve been coached by [Cape Town- the foundation of everything I’ve
exciting what the future will bring. based South African] Jeroen Swart achieved so far.
since early 2022. He's changed my life
Tell us a little about your training to as an athlete. When I switched to him, There have been a few references
compete at World Tour level? the first big goal we set was to win the recently, from athletes like Demi
My training is quite structured. Cape Epic in 2023, and we did. Then, Vollering and yourself, around the
Image: Sz ymon Gruchalski/Getty Images

I do a mix of endurance, polarised once I signed for the World Tour, our challenges of being a female athlete
intensity, and specific strength and target was a pro win, which came at in top-class sport – in particular,
sprint work. Altitude has also become the Giro d’Italia in 2024. This year’s around the effects of the menstrual
an important part of my preparation. big goal was Liège-Bastogne-Liège. cycle on performance.
It’s not about endless hours; it’s about Achieving that win was massive. It’s something that still doesn’t
making every session count. I work At the Tour, the plan was a stage get talked about enough, but it’s a
closely with my coach, and we adapt win, wearing yellow, and testing reality for every female athlete. The

30 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 needed to perform at your very best.
“ IT’S SOMETHING Men do it in their sport, so I don’t
THAT STILL think it should be such a big taboo in
women’s cycling. We’re professional
DOESN’T GET athletes, and sometimes that means
TALKED ABOUT making physical changes depending
on the targets we’ve set.
ENOUGH, BUT IT’S The difference is that we do it with
A REALITY FOR the guidance of the best experts in
the business: nutritionists, coaches
EVERY FEMALE and doctors. So, it’s done in a healthy,
ATHLETE. THE controlled way. It’s never about
extremes; it’s about giving yourself
MENSTRUAL the best chance to perform at the right
CYCLE AFFECTS time, while keeping long-term health
in mind.
SO MANY
ASPECTS OF There has been a lot of talk around
consuming high levels of carbs
PERFORMANCE: during races, with some pro riders
 Y E L L O W RE C L A IME D.
L E C OUR T C E L E B R AT E S ENERGY LEVELS, claiming to use well over 120g per
W INNING S TA GE 5 OF T HE hour. What’s your fuelling strategy?
2 0 2 5 T DF F E MME S , B E AT ING
DE MI V OL L E R ING B Y A W HE E L
RECOVERY, Nutrition is a huge part of
IN T HE S P R IN T IN T O GUÉ R E T.
HYDRATION performance. In races, I aim for
around 90g of carbs per hour –
AND EVEN sometimes more, depending on the
CONCENTRATION.” intensity, race duration, weather
conditions and the race goal.
Hydration is just as important,
especially in hot conditions. I make
sure I’m taking electrolytes, not just
water. And I always test my fuelling
in training, so it feels natural on race
menstrual cycle affects so many they’re not alone. If we want true day. That way there are no surprises
aspects of performance: energy equality in sport, this side of when it matters most. I train my gut,
levels, recovery, hydration and female performance must be part so that it’s easy to eat so much on
even concentration. of the discussion. race day.
For me, being aware of my cycle
and tracking it closely has been a After Pauline Ferrand-Prévot won After an amazing year, where to
significant help, as it allows my the TdF, she was criticised by some from here?
coach and me to adapt our training for having lost too much weight. The Tour gave me so much confidence.
or expectations as needed. There are What are your thoughts on the issue? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I
days when you just don’t feel at your There’s always pressure in cycling want to win everything, or at least try
best, and that’s not weakness, it’s when it comes to weight; but for to win everything. I have way too many
just biology. me, health must come first. If I fuel goals and dreams to just settle!
At the Tour, I spoke openly about properly and keep my body strong, the Winning Liège was massive, and
it because I think it’s important to results come. I don’t obsess over the the Classics will always be a big part
normalise these conversations. The scales, I focus on feeling powerful of what I want to achieve. At the same
more open we are, the less stigma and consistent. time, I want to keep building as a GC
there is, and the more it helps younger That said, in some races – or for rider, because I believe there’s still a
riders coming through to realise certain goals – you have to do what’s lot of potential there.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 31
32 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 RAD RIDES WORDS JON MINSTER IMAGES STEW NOLAN

RIDE THE
BELOVED COUNTRY
AS FAR AS STAGE RACES GO, OLD MUTUAL GO2BERG IS ONE OF THE MOST REL A XED – A SEVEN-
DAY CELEBRATION OF THE L ANDSCAPES AND FARMING COMMUNITIES BE T WEEN JOBURG AND THE
DRAK ENSBERG. THINK ING ABOUT ADDING IT TO NEX T YEAR’S WISH LIST ? HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD.

WHEN SOMEONE MENTIONS ‘MOUNTAIN BIKING’ in at the water points, and you get just a small
South Africa, a few places naturally come to taste of the community spirit and can-do
mind. It’s not hard for your brain to conjure attitude that exists in abundance in rural
up Banhoek, near Stellenbosch, for example, South Africa.
or Karkloof in KZN. Maybe you picture a It’s heartwarming stuff, and it’s no wonder
rocky trail in the Overberg, or the hardpack the race attracts a horde of international
red dirt of a Bushveld nature reserve. v isitors. This yea r there were r iders
But I doubt you’d picture this road – from New Zealand, the Czech Republic,
somewhere in the Free State between Switzerland, the UK, Russia, Australia, the
Frankfort and Reitz. US… and from all over South Africa.
(Between… where, and what? Exactly.) I’m not sure what the gravel is like around
It’s definitely not a road I ever imagined Lake Baikal, or Auckland, but this Free State
myself riding on a mountain bike, but it’s stuff is pretty sweet. Suspension locked out,
actually pretty spectacular. The rising sun head down, I chase the storm over the plains
is low behind my left shoulder, lighting up towards a spitbraai at Hoërskool Reitz.
a wall of dark clouds that sift drizzle onto
mielie fields in the distance. A herd of cows MORE THAN A BIKE RACE
look up from their grazing. A spurwing goose 2 We’d rolled into Frankfort the day before,
tracks across the sky. after a fairly challenging logistical feat by
I have nothing to do today but pedal the organisers in getting everyone and their
my bike and look around at a part of the bikes from Joburg to the start line in Villiers.
country I’ve only ever seen at 120km/h, By then it was already clear that this was
behind the windscreen of a car on the N3. going to be a tour, not an eyeball-bleeding
What a privilege. dash to the finish.
We’re on Stage 2 of Old Mutual go2berg, The kids from Villiers Combined School
aptly named ‘Free State of Mind’. If you’re were there to cheer us at the start, even
not familiar with the event, go2berg is a though it was a Saturday, and the 48km
seven-day stage race that starts in Villiers, route along gravel roads and farm tracks was
south of Joburg, and ends at Champagne neutral – i.e. not timed. This was “to get us
Sports Resort in the Drakensberg. into the vibe”, according to organiser Craig
But it’s not really a race. There is racing, Wapnik. (Or ‘Wappo’, to his mates. Which
 TA ILW IND , B A B Y ! for some; but for most, it’s a way to immerse was basically all of us. Even though most of
S TA GE 4 WA S A T HR IL L ING
RIDE A L ONG SIDE GOL DE N yourself completely in an often overlooked us had only just met him.)
G AT E HIGHL A ND S N AT ION A L
PA R K , F R OM C L A R E N S corner of the country. You’re hosted in style While we rode, the Springboks made
T O T HE B A NK S OF T HE by platteland schools, you meet the farmers mincemeat of the All Blacks in Wellington,
S T E R K F ON T E IN D A M .

ISSUE 6 | 2025 33
R AD RI D E S

and when we arrived at our overnight camp on the the horizon once more. Sandstone buttresses, sighing  A MI S T Y S UNR I S E O V E R
T HE F R E E S TAT E P L A IN S
fields of Hoërskool Wilgerivier, there was definitely a grassland, destroyed legs… NE A R R E I T Z ON S TA GE 3 .
GO2BERG IS A RACE, BUT
vibe. Braai smoke swirled, grinning farmers handed (Thanks for that, Wappo – that was also a vibe, just I T ' S A L S O A C E L E B R AT ION
out springbokkie shooters, and the kids were there a different kind of vibe.) OF T HE L A ND S C A P E S A ND
P E OP L E OF S OU T H A F R IC A' S
again – to help with bike-washing and bag-carrying. In Clarens, we got a break from the tents and A GR IC ULT UR A L HE A R T L A ND .
It was the same story at Hoërskool Reitz the next bunked down in hotels and guesthouses around town,
night. The spitbraai dinner in the school hall, prepared gathering that night in the hall at Clarens Primary.
entirely by volunteer parents, was the stuff of legend; And if there was anywhere along the route where
as was the bag-carrying ability of some of the biggest the spirit of go2berg flared most brightly, it was there,
grade sevens I’ve ever met. (The rumours about Free around those beautifully decorated tables. The school
State rugby players are true.) choir performed, and principal Peter Mokoena told us
Stage 3 – the 109km ‘Boss Stage’ – saw the end about the school’s relationship with the race, which
of the flat part of the Free State, as we pedalled to goes back many years.
Clarens. There was an audible sigh of relief from Clarens Primary is a critically underfunded
certain Capetonians when mountains punctuated government school. But thanks to their partnership

34 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 I’ve ridden plenty of great roads in my life, but this  S C HOOL K ID S F R OM
C L A R E N S P R IM A R Y W E L C OME
experience – on Stage 4, from Clarens to the banks T HE R IDE R S HOME AT T HE E ND
OF S TA GE 3 . T HE E V E N T I S A N
of Sterkfontein Dam – was out of the top drawer. We IMP OR TA N T F UND -R A I S E R F OR
barely had to pedal as we raced along next to Golden M A N Y S C HOOL S A L ONG T HE
R OU T E , A ND T HE HO S P I TA L I T Y
Gate Highlands National Park, under a bluebird sky AT E V E R Y S T OP I S INC R E DIB L E .
and surrounded by sandstone cliffs.
The main bump on the route is called Mount
Paul – we climbed its flank and rocketed down cow
paths on the other side towards the dam, which was
flecked with whitecaps like an inland sea. Vultures
circled, the wind howled, and the supremely talented
mom-bakers from Harriston School in Harrismith
were waiting with the most next-level table of home
bakes any of us had ever seen.
The wind died down that afternoon, around the
time I went back for my fourth helping of mini milk
tarts, sausage rolls, cupcakes and quiches; and just
with go2berg, and the passionate support of the before Nicole Heard kneaded my legs back into shape
entire Clarens community, there are infrastructure, on the massage table. (Nicole also happens to be a
feeding and teaching initiatives in place that make talented baker.)
a real difference to every single learner who walks That night, Harriston headmaster Peter Huntley
through the doors in the morning. reiterated what Peter Mokoena had told us in Clarens
“This is what change looks like,” Wappo said, – go2berg’s partnership with the various schools on
thanking Mr Mokoena. “This is what South Africa the route makes a tangible difference, not just to the
can do.” schools themselves but to the entire community in
Dry eyes? Not many. these small towns.
“We can’t thank you enough,” he said.
THE DROP No, it’s us who can’t thank you enough, Mr
2 Do you enjoy riding your mountain bike? Here’s Huntley. I don’t think I’ve ever experienced
my wish for you: may you one day get the chance to as hospitable a race village as that one next to
ride a point-to-point stage on empty roads, with a Sterkfontein Dam – and it was all thanks to the kind
belting tailwind behind you. The. Whole. Day. people of Harrismith.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 35
R AD RI D E S

36 ISSUE 6 | 2025
  CLOCKWISE FROM
OP P O S I T E PA GE : T HE
DE S C E N T OF F T HE
E S C A R P ME N T F R OM T HE
F R E E S TAT E IN T O K Z N ,
V I A B E Z UIDE NHOU T ' S
PA S S . M A N Y OF T HE
T R A IL S PA S S T HR OUGH
C AT T L E FA R M S . R UDI
JOUBE R T, A MP U T E E
C Y C L I S T A ND OL D
MU T U A L A MB A S S A D OR ,
HE L P S E X-B OK BRE Y T ON
PA UL S E F I X A P UNC T UR E .
A B R ID GE O V E R T HE
T UGE L A RI V E R , NOR T H OF
W IN T E R T ON .

ANYONE WITH A VAGUE RECOLLECTION of high-school Inventive farmers had built dipping troughs for the
geography will know that South Africa is ringed by bikes, which we had to use occasionally; but besides
mountains that hold up a high central plateau. We that, the potentially devastating epidemic hardly
were on the edge of that plateau, and go2berg was impacted the race. Yet another example of the farming
about to get real. community pulling together to give our travelling
Stage 5 – ‘The Big Drop’ – took us from Sterkfontein circus the best South African experience possible.
to the edge of the escarpment, and then down,
down, down, via a white-knuckle 4x4 track called SPIOENKOP 2.0
Bezuidenhout’s Pass. 2 Home base for two nights near the tail-end of the
This part of KZN is Berg & Bush territory; and race was Em’seni camp, on the banks of the Tugela
Gary Green, the founder of that race, is also closely River, which is also home base for Berg & Bush. The
involved with go2berg. There’s another way down the highlight of Berg & Bush is probably the best part
escarpment, along a vertiginous trail called ‘Great of go2berg, too – at least from a pure mountain-
Wall, My China’, but there had been various foot- biking perspective…
and-mouth outbreaks on the cattle farms in the area, Stage 6 – ‘Super Singletrack’ – looped from the
which made certain areas off limits. As a cattle farmer Tugela towards Spioenkop, the mountain made famous
himself, Green was acutely aware of the reluctance of by the massacre on its summit in 1900 during the
landowners to have hundreds of potentially infected Anglo-Boer War, when Boer forces ambushed British
bike tyres crossing their farms. soldiers in the trenches that became their graves.
It wasn’t just on Stage 5, where Green rerouted us We rode up the northern side of the mountain –
down Bezuidenhout’s Pass; every stage seemingly roughly along the route the Boers had taken – on a
needed a last-minute diversion, which he and his team purpose-built trail, featuring more hairpins than we
handled with good humour and professionalism. It could count. But it’s our descent off the summit that
might have been causing stress on the back end, but the I still dream of: 15km of flowing downhill bliss, first
changes were so seamless that the riders hardly noticed. along the spine of the mountain and then looping

ISSUE 6 | 2025 37
  G O 2 B E R G F OUNDE R
NEW FOR 2026!
C R A IG ' WA P P O ' WA P NIK
DE MONS T R AT E S HO W 1 BACK TO THE SEA... Next year,
T O ' C R O S S ' T HE F INI S H go2berg becomes go2sea. It's not a new
L INE AT C H A MPA GNE event in terms of ethos and community
S P O R T S R E S O R T.
spirit; it's simply a new route, with plenty
of exciting new singletrack.
across its southern face, all the way to a well-earned
mug of homemade chocolate milk at the finish. 1 CLARENS KICK-OFF
The new route starts in Clarens and
Describing the Spioenkop descent is an exercise in follows a similar route to that described
1 HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
avoiding clichés, so I won’t even try. I’ll just say this: here – until Em'seni. Then it's off to
go2sea will be in the same ballpark
go and ride it one day – on Berg & Bush, or go2berg Nottingham Road in the KZN Midlands,
as the 2025 go2berg (about R25 900
followed by a singletrack feast through
– because it will stay with you forever. for a solo entry). The rate includes
Karkloof Nature Reserve and a stunning
accommodation and food in the
finale through the valleys of Zululand,
various race villages, full medical
THE END along the Holla Trails network and onto
support, luggage transport and some
2 It’s been a week since you set off from Villiers. Your the beach in Ballito.
cool kit items and other surprises.
life has been distilled into a simple, elegant routine:
eat, sleep, ride your bike. Your days are filled with
sunshine, smiling farmers, and endless roads you
might never ride again. Your legs are feeling strong,
and your lungs have forgotten the tang of city smog.
There’s only one problem: this is the last day.
It’s easy to imagine doing this forever: pedalling the
expanses that South Africa is blessed with, from one
district to the next; never too long in a single place;
just smile and wave, and crest the next hill towards 1 WHAT ABOUT LOGISTICS?
who knows where. There will be shuttles from major
centres, and bike transport through
But the truth is that it takes an army of organisers,
All In Events ([Link]) – they
sponsors and volunteers to give you the deep sense collect your bike from a bike shop near
of peace you’re experiencing right now, as you climb your home, and send it back there after
your way towards the granite wall of the Drakensberg. the race. Contact them for rates. 1 THE 2026 ROUTE
The fact that you have to remind yourself about this is Prologue: Clarens singletrack
Stage 1: Clarens to Sterkfontein Dam
testament to just how good Wappo and Green – and Stage 2: Sterkfontein Dam to Em'seni
the whole go2berg team – are at their jobs. Stage 3: Em'seni super singletrack
It’s so refreshing to do a stage race that you don’t Stage 4: Em'seni to Nottingham Road
Stage 5: Nottingham Road to Karkloof
have to stress about; where you can ride yourself fit
Stage 6: Karkloof to Harburg
and not have to keep looking over your shoulder for Stage 7: Harburg to Ballito
the sweep vehicle; where everyone gathers in the
evenings to celebrate the day’s riding, the delicious 1 MORE INFO
Visit [Link] for all the details.
food, and the people who have made it all possible.
Thank you to title sponsor Old Mutual for hosting Bicycling at go2berg.

38 ISSUE 6 | 2025
THE OLD MUTUAL WEALTH DOUBLE
CENTURY IS A UNIQUE AND ICONIC
RACE ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN CYCLING
CALENDAR – A DAY OF TEAMWORK,
SUFFERING AND GLORY.
WE CELEBRATE THE 2025 EDITION
WITH EXPERT ADVICE FROM LAST
YEAR’S WINNERS, DO’S AND DON’TS ON
THE DAY, AND ALL THE BANTER TO GET
YOU PSYCHED FOR THE START LINE!

40 SNAP
The best shots
from last year's DC.

46 HOW TO WIN
Lessons from the
fast guys on how to
pace your race.

50 ETIQUETTE
The unwritten
rules of the
Double Century.

53 EXCLUSIVE!
At great personal
risk, our anony-
mous source shares
all the juicy gossip
about the battle

DOUBLE OR
for the top step of
the podium.

NOTHINGISSUE 6 | 2025 39
 Cogmanskloof Pass between
Montagu and Ashton is one of the
prettiest parts of the DC route.
Flying through the rock tunnel in full
team formation is always a rush.

40 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 DOU B LE C E NTU RY

There are always helping hands nearby

for a push up Tradouw Pass, early in the
race; or later, outside Swellendam, when
the Three Sisters show their faces...

Images: Tobias Ginsberg (this spread); Zayne Botha (previous page) / OMW Double Centur y

Warren Robertson from Team ECC gets a

dousing in the neutral zone . There are two of
these mandatory stops along the route, where
the timing is paused and riders can refuel and
enjoy a brief respite from the heat.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 41
DOU B LE C E NTU RY

A resident of the historical village of

Suurbraak, at the foot of Tradouw Pass,
watches the passing parade.

Zayne Botha / OMW Double Centur y

After bouncing around a bit in the early

years, in 2002 the Double Century
found a home in Swellendam, and has
been held there ever since.

42 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 Images: Tobias Ginsberg / OMW Double Centur y

Sunrise on the N2, as cyclists whizz out of town

towards the mountains. The DC is unique in
that the slower teams start first and the faster
teams start later, allowing everyone to gather
together in the beer tent at the end.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 43
FURTHER TOGETHER
FOR OLD MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGING DIRECTOR FARHAD SADER, THE
DOUBLE CENTURY IS MORE THAN JUST A CYCLING EVENT – IT’S A METAPHOR
FOR THE JOURNEY THE COMPANY TAKES WITH ITS CLIENTS.

WHAT GETS YOU UP IN THE MORNING? endeavour in life is to collectively raise each other up. People
I’m lucky to live a blessed life – my energy comes from gratitude should realise that life is actually short – we have to make the most
for being surrounded by a wonderful family, good health, and a job of the time we have!
that I absolutely love.
WHY DOES OLD MUTUAL WEALTH SPONSOR THE DOUBLE
WHAT INSPIRES YOU? CENTURY?
‘Ordinary people’ doing extraordinary things; people who have It’s about the principle of ‘Further Together’. Much like at Old
been dealt a tough hand in life and yet live far more meaningfully Mutual Wealth and how we work with our clients, it’s all about
than those who have been luckier. The inspiration comes from thoughtful partnerships and working together in a synchronous
their attitude and resilience. It’s what I aspire to be. fashion, using each other’s strengths to achieve a desired
outcome. This teamwork brings out a camaraderie between riders,
HOW DO YOU STAY ACTIVE? encouraging each other throughout the journey, and pedalling and
I’ve always played sports, so it’s a mix of things. At the moment, it’s persevering through challenging conditions together, making it an
soccer, gym and cycling. Regular sauna sessions also help with sweating! unforgettable experience.
By sponsoring this event, we look forward to making lasting
IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT THE WORLD, connections with fellow riders, the Cycle Tour Trust, and the
WHAT WOULD IT BE? residents of Swellendam. It’s also an opportunity to provide an
To see our humanity and kindness shine through in everything that experience that exceeds expectations, through a sport that continues
we do; to realise that we’re all one, and that the most worthwhile to evolve; and to make a difference in the Overberg community.
 PARTNER CONTENT

WHAT DOES OLD MUTUAL WEALTH HAVE TO DO

WITH ENDURANCE CYCLING?
If you’re old enough, you might remember that Old Mutual’s
involvement in endurance sports started many decades ago, with
the Old Mutual World of Endurance TV show! Sport is an incredible
way for businesses to connect with communities, and to motivate,
encourage and inspire. The theme of the event – especially because
it’s a team race, focused on sustained effort – also mirrors the
journey we ‘ride’ with our clients and their wealth.

WHAT DOES OLD MUTUAL WEALTH DO AS A COMPANY? Farhad Sader, 43

Wealth management, which is what we provide, is like having Managing Director Old
Mutual Wealth, six-time
a pro cycling team looking after your money. You’re the rider, Old Mutual Wealth
chasing big goals; but behind you is a squad keeping the pace, Double Century Finisher
drafting you out of headwinds, tuning the bike and setting the Residence: Cape Town
smartest line through every climb and descent. Our financial Born: KZN
advisers are your coaches, mapping the route; the portfolio
managers are the mechanics who fine-tune performance; and
risk protection is your helmet, keeping you safe if things go FARHAD SADER Farhad is an experienced executive in the
wrong. The result? You get to ride further, faster and with more financial services industry – specifically wealth management,
control – because wealth management turns the grind of money asset management and insurance. Starting out 15 years ago with a
into a smooth, strategic race towards the life that you want. tech background and ambitions to build disruptive technologies,
he is relishing transforming an industry that is ripe for change.
HOW DOES SOMEONE ACCESS THE EXPERTISE AT The choice to do it from inside a large, traditional corporate
OLD MUTUAL WEALTH? underscores his desire for taking on the seemingly impossible.
You can access our offerings through your preferred financial Not an actuary or an accountant, but still capable of interpreting
adviser (we work very closely with independent financial financial statements, Farhad holds a Master’s degree and is an
advisers), or by contacting us directly if you don’t have one. alumnus of the Harvard Business School. Outside of what used to
be called ‘the office’, you will find him spending quality time with
Contact us for all your Wealth Management solutions: his wife and raising their three daughters, riding his bicycle, or
[Link]/wealth 0860 999 199 service@[Link] travelling the world in pursuit of the best espresso.
WINNING TIPS
TO ACE
YOUR RACE
W
SOME TEAMS GO TO THE OLD MUTUAL WHAT MAKES THE DOUBLE CENTURY
WEALTH DOUBLE CENTURY TO WIN; SOME UNIQUE? A few things, actually. To start
GO FOR FUN. OTHERS GO TO GET 12 RIDERS with, it’s 202km long – that’s a heck of a long
OVER THE LINE. WHATEVER YOUR REASONS distance, whether you’re an amateur, a pro, or
FOR RIDING, THE NAME OF THE GAME FOR one of those middle-aged ‘semi-pro’ okes in between. The race
A SUCCESSFUL 202KM DC SATURDAY IS takes place outside a major centre, so travel logistics play a part in
TACTICS. ARRIVE WITH A GAME PLAN, AND your prep and planning. The 12-person team format is a restriction
YOU’LL LEAVE WITH A RESULT. in that you're unlikely to find 12 committed teammates who can
all train and ride at the same level. And you stop for a lunch break
BY DAVID MOSELEY

46 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 DOU B LE C E NTU RY

With six determined

riders remaining,
Team RH77-Factory
steamrolls past
Bonnievale.

around halfway, then get back on your bike for another hard pulls. Get a double paceline going, get to the front, pull
100km of riding. Add all of that up – plus the fact that for a few seconds, and immediately drop down; and let the
the race takes place just after winter, when riders are not next rider pull up as you slowly make your way to the back.
always in peak shape – and you have a recipe for perhaps Historically, this strategy has always worked well at the DC.”
the most unique road cycling event in South Africa. Small Venter concurs: “The stronger riders can maybe do
wonder it sells out every year. longer pulls on the front, but they must keep the surges to
As popular and fun as it is, though, you can’t simply rock a minimum so they don't hurt the rider who just pulled off
up and ride. You need to prepare. You need to train. You and who’s now on his way to the back again.”
need to have your tactics aligned…
And that’s what this article is all about. COMMUNICATE!
1 “The DC is not about the strongest rider,” says Felix
THE CLUE IS IN THE FORMAT: ‘TEAM’ TIME TRIAL Ritzinger, also a member of 2024’s winning RH77-Factory
1 David George, a member of the winning team last year team. “It’s about pacing smartly, maintaining that pace,
(RH77-Factory), says the aspect of the race that he enjoys and looking after your teammates on the road.
most is the team format, and the mixed ability of the riders “It all comes down to communication. If you’re the
in each team. “You’re never going to get 12 riders together strongest guy, that doesn’t mean you have to make it hard for
who have the same ability or fitness, so it always makes for everyone. You need to work with the strengths of the team, and
interesting racing. communicate the strategy while moving through the bunch.”
“People also enter and then get ill; and each member has Venter agrees that communication is critical. “Tactics
different riding strengths. That’s what makes the DC unique are so important on the day. You need to communicate
– all the characters in a team figuring out how to use their constantly to make sure everyone is on the same
skills. Every rider brings something different to the table, so wavelength,” he says.
that ultimately you end up with a decent balance.” “For example, with the 30-minute neutral zones, it's
Former winner Jaco Venter agrees with the balance part. an option to burn riders close to those stops so that some
“For me, the most important thing for DC success
is having a group of riders who are as equal in
strength as possible,” he says. “It doesn't help if
you only have a handful of strong riders, and they
destroy the rest of the group.”
So, yes, teamwork is crucial to the outcome of
your race. But what does that actually look like?

SHARE THE LOAD

1 A major failing of many DC teams is leaving one
or two riders to do all the work, while the rest
sit in the bunch the whole day. Fast, medium and
slow teams are all guilty of this. Yet the only way
to survive the Double Century is for every rider
to do his or her part. This also speaks to the team
dynamic of the event: keep the team involved right
to the end, and you have more chance of success.
Images: Tobias Ginsberg / OMW Double Centur y

“Over the years, I’ve found that if everyone is given

a role, then the team is happy. If the team’s happy, then
the ride goes well,” says George.
His advice for snappy team A full complement
racing is for each rider to do of white helmets
quick, short turns at the front. for Team Valor
Femmes as they
“I’ve always been a fan of approach the
doing this, as opposed to long, finish.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 47
DOU B LE C E NTU RY

team members can take it easy while the others work; then if not there, on Op de Tradouw.” Team RH77-
Factory pops
later in the race, the riders who rolled through at a slower George says the tactic of short stints the champagne
pace have the legs to attack near the end. But this only at the front of the paceline not only helps at the 2024 DC.
works if there’s clear communication.” to ensure you don’t lose riders on the
George adds: “If one or two riders are simply sitting at first climb of the day; you’re also able to
the front, they have no idea what’s going on behind them, establish a hierarchy within the team for the rest of the race.
Image: Tobias Ginsberg / OMW Double Centur y

and that’s when your plans can go awry.” “By riding slightly conservatively at the start, you can work
out the team strengths.”
DON’T GO TILL YOU BLOW Venter notes that it’s easy to fall into the trap of flying
1 The DC is a long day out, even for the winning teams. “It out of Swellendam when everyone’s feeling strong, but
doesn’t matter who you are,” says George, “202km is far – that’s a tactic that always comes back to haunt you later in
even the top teams are in the saddle for around five hours. the race. “The second half is crucial,” he says. “It’s in that
That’s a tough day of riding. You can’t go flat out from the final sector that you know whether you’re going to win or
start, because you’ll lose half your team on Tradouw Pass; and you’re going to blow up.

48 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 “That’s why it’s important to take it DON’T BE A FOOL. FUEL!
relatively easy on those early climbs. When 1 In this day and age, there’s no excuse
you get to 40km to go, and you’ve gone too for making nutrition or fuelling errors at
hard at the start, you can lose minutes very endurance events. Yet it’s something that
quickly on the final, steep climbs.” riders still manage to overlook, either by

5 WAYS Managing your effort on the climbs is make-

or-break at the DC. “This is a race that hurts
planning poorly or through getting caught
up in the moment. Bottom line: if your

TO WIN
from start to finish,” says George. “You’re not nutrition strategy is faulty, your ride is
going to win it in the first 100km. Your team going to falter.
can’t be down to six on that first climb already, “Not managing your fuelling can ruin
Felix Ritzinger, a so everyone has to get over it together. Thinning your race,” says George. “It’s much easier
member of 2024’s of the group too early is a common mistake. now than it was in the past, thanks to
winning RH77- After Op de Tradouw, you can regroup and go new products and better knowledge; and I
Factory team, breaks
harder, after losing a few minutes on the climb.” think people are more aware of their fuel
down the tactics for
a top ride. Venter adds that it’s important not to requirements… And yet riders still get it
take the event lightly. “It’s a race in which it wrong sometimes.”

1 The first part of the race doesn't matter how strong you are. You‘re George adds: “Very simply, buy the best
is about figuring each always on your limit – because if you’re products you can afford, and train your gut
other out. Ride at a pace that
everyone can keep up with.
Don’t try to kill each other.

“THE SECOND HALF IS CRUCIAL. IT’S IN

2 There will always be
stronger riders in the
THAT FINAL SECTOR THAT YOU KNOW
team. If you’re that stronger
rider, use your strength to
WHETHER YOU’RE GOING TO WIN OR
help the team, not to ride
harder than everyone else.
YOU’RE GOING TO BLOW UP.”

3 The 202km route is a

long day out. Whether
you go hard or not, you’ll face
strong, you work harder; if you’re not as
strong, you fight to do as much as you can
to accept them at high capacity.”
The most common error seems to be
a lot of challenges on the road: without dropping or letting the group down. not using your chosen product on training
weather, wind, punctures,
riders not feeling well… Don’t It's a tough day out for everyone.” rides, or changing your nutrition just before
assume everything is going to a race. “If you can absorb carbohydrates
go smoothly. USE YOUR TEAM WISELY efficiently, you’ll perform at a higher level
1 There are 12 riders in a Double Century on race day,” George says. “It’s totally

4
team. Winners seldom finish with all 12 something you can train for.
Pace yourself in the first
half of the race; hold a together, opting rather to cross the line “The problems come when you start
little back. The last 40km is with only six – the minimum number eating gel after gel on race day, and you
very tough for every rider, required to finish officially. This means you expect your gut to be acclimatised to the
so whatever you might gain
have six spare riders at your disposal, so high carb load. You might not get sick, but
from a fast start, you’ll lose
at the end. to speak, to do with as you please over the you’re not going to be effective.”
course of 202km. To get your gut ‘in shape’, make sure
“The RH77 strategy last year was you’ve done some five-hour rides – big, hard

5 Tactics! So important.
Go into the race with a
game plan. The top teams have
simple," George says. “Get six people and
maybe one or two spares to the middle feed
rides – well-fuelled, at 90g of carbs per hour.
“Everyone should be at 90g per hour on a
a game plan, but the middle and zone, then get six people to the end. With 200km ride,” George says. “Even if you’re
back teams should also know that strategy, we needed to go through going slowly, you should be doing that.
where to go slower, where to
halfway as best we could, and then really “Fuel early and taper, rather than
go faster, when to fuel… All of
this will make your day better. attack after the stop. fuelling late. If you’re well-fuelled, you
“But you still don’t know how it will play don’t need to worry about cramping either,
out! In the second half of the race, after because cramping is a result of incorrect
we’d dropped six riders, I realised that I fuelling, and not enough electrolytes.
was now the sixth rider in the team; so I Cramping and bonking shouldn’t be a thing
had to hang on with a bit of pressure…” anymore.” 1

ISSUE 6 | 2025 49
THE 8 RULES
OF THE DC
L
THE OLD MUTUAL WEALTH DOUBLE LIKE MANY BIG CYCLING EVENTS, the Old Mutual
CENTURY IS NOT AN EVENT TO BE Wealth Double Century attracts a mix of seasoned
TAKEN LIGHTLY. DEDICATED TRAINING campaigners and total newbies. This creates a
IS JUST ONE REQUIREMENT TO RACE concentration of cyclists in Swellendam who know either
THIS UNIQUE TEAM TIME TRIAL; TO nothing or everything about cycling. As is the case with modern
GET MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT FROM THE politics, there is no centre.
DAY, RIDERS ALSO NEED A DEEPER If you’re a lucky DC beginner, then you might have a few old hands
UNDERSTANDING OF RACE ETIQUETTE… in your race-day squad to offer guidance. But even if you’re a veteran of
multiple races, there’s always something that’s been left off the checklist
BY DAVID MOSELEY

50 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 DOU B LE C E NTU RY

Smiley socks, a derailleur? Gerald forgot to charge his

good. Coordinated derailleur last night.” (As you can tell,
smiley socks
across an entire Gerald is a bit of an idiot.)
team, even better! When you pack for the DC, pack the
night before you leave. Check everything.
Wake up and check everything again. If you’re still unsure, just
take your second helmet anyway.

2
THE SHOE FITS –
FOR A REASON
Actually, you can probably get away with leaving most
things at home; some good cycle-Samaritan will have a spare on
race day. (We’re always astonished when those start-line requests
go out and people are actually able to assist!)
But you simply can’t forget your shoes. With shoes, size
matters. And even if someone has the right (or right-ish) size,
borrowing another cyclist’s shoes is the same as asking if you can
have a quick roll in the hay with their life partner. Technically,
it’s doable and you should fit, but it’s just Not On.
And remember: once you’re at the DC, you’re not actually
at the DC until the race starts. Because due to its increased
popularity, many teams stay outside Swellendam, and drive to
the start. Triple-checking your wardrobe is crucial here. There’s
nothing worse than driving painfully slowly through Bontebok
National Park at 4am, only for a teammate to pipe up sheepishly
that he’s left his shoes back at the chalet.

3
ALARMS…
Whether you’re the first team to start on the day or
the last, Saturday morning at the Double Century
demands an early start. Thanks to the team dynamic of the
event, you’ll probably find yourself sharing a chalet, room, tent
or [checks own race history] bed with a teammate.
Alarm consistency is crucial. If you’re
an early riser by necessity (that is, you Rise and shine!
Getting the whole
need four morning ablutions before even
team to the start
thinking about slapping on the bibshorts), with all their gear is
then don’t set your 3am alarm at full blast. half the battle won.

as the excitement builds for the start gun.

Fear not: we have you covered, with this thorough,
exhaustive and entirely serious etiquette guide…

1
Images: Tobias Ginsberg / OMW Double Centur y

PACK IT, CHECK IT, CHECK IT AGAIN

Even the most experienced cyclist can fall prey to
a momentary lapse of memory.
Admit it – you’ve one-hundred-percent been on a
start line before and heard the race announcer send out
a last-minute plea: “Does anyone have a spare helmet?
Gerald left his helmet at home.”
Or, increasingly: “Does anyone have a spare battery for

ISSUE 6 | 2025 51
 Kit is key. Make sure you
have everything you need
DOU B LE C E NTU RY at the start, so you can
disrobe with abandon at
the finish.

Ideally, your team should put in a few shifts

together ahead of race day.
The reality, of course, is that getting 12
cyclists together every weekend is not always
feasible. That doesn’t mean you should skip
training altogether; if you commit to the
race, commit to the training. If you’re getting
pushed up Op de Tradouw, then (rightly) you
shouldn’t be invited back.
If you’re reading this now – by which
I mean very, very close to race day – it’s
too late to train. So if you haven’t trained…
quietly send your team captain a DM, offer
your humblest apologies for being a deadbeat
cyclist, and head to the nearest abandoned
meat-packing warehouse to take up Hyrox.

5
BIKES DON’T RUIN
RACES, PEOPLE DO
If you sign up to a team, be a team
player. Don’t arrive on race day with your
clunker that you last rode at Cycle Tour 2010.
You can’t race (or ride) 202km on flat pedals
and wearing takkies.
Get your bike serviced ahead of the big day.
Check your spares. In short, be considerate
Similarly, if the team needs to be up by 5am, but you prefer of your teammates. This isn’t a solo ride – it’s a team event, for
Images: Tobias Ginsberg / OMW Double Centur y

a gradual rise rather than a sudden explosion from slumber to team players. Be one.
total alertness, don’t hit the snooze button 18 times. (Obviously, uh, if you’re a machine and you ride a clunker to show
Starting the day in sync is central to a healthy and happy what a machine you are, then by all means: go for your badge.)

6
team performance.

4
PACE, DON’T PULL
NO PAIN IF YOU’VE TRAINED If you’re the strongest rider in your team, that’s great.
That’s… a lie. On a 202km road race, there’s always You’re the best. A champion among chumpions!
going to be pain. And this is particularly true of the But this is a team time trial, not a chance to race into your midlife
Old Mutual Wealth Double Century; don’t underestimate it. crisis. You might think you’re being a hero, sitting at the front and

52 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 PSA: Get your bike
Some teams have outright admitted serviced before the
“DON’T DRAFT. UNLESS that they’ve done it to beat their DC. If your tyres and
tubes are worn out,
YOU WANT TO. OR UNLESS hometown rivals, while winning teams
have said that sometimes it’s just an
replace them.

YOU CAN’T HELP IT. BUT inevitable part of the race format.
DON’T DO IT. UNLESS YOU So, don’t draft. Unless you want to. Or unless you can’t help
it. But don’t do it. Unless you can’t help it.
CAN’T HELP IT.”

8
SOCK, HORROR
It shouldn’t be happening in this day and age. You would
taking all the wind, rain, hail and pollen that the route throws think that by now, we’d have moved to a higher plane
up, but you’re actually destroying morale at the back – and you’re of existence. But sadly, it does. Some riders refuse to move on.
not riding the DC in the spirit of the event. We’re talking, of course, about people who wear secret socks
Get everyone in the team to take turns at the front. The front when riding their bicycles. It’s shameful. It’s horrific. Like adding
rider drops to the back, the second rider moves up to the front, and water to your whiskey, it’s a sin.
so on. This is a far more efficient way to ride, and it lets everyone If you’ve won an Ironman in the last 18 months, you may wear
in the team bask in hero status throughout the day. secret socks. But only if you spend the entire race regaling your

7
DC teammates with your Ironman-winning exploits.
DON’T BE DRAFT Otherwise, do yourself a favour: visit any civilised sporting
Drafting is illegal at the DC. But then again, jumping apparel store, and Purchase. Real. Socks. Better yet, let the team
red lights is illegal in South Africa, and how often do captain choose the socks when the team kit is designed. Any
you see motorists flouting that rule? rider failing to follow kit instructions can then be ostracised
Bottom line, you’re not supposed to draft at the DC. and mocked for eternity. 1

ISSUE 6 | 2025 53
DOU B LE C E NTU RY

IN BETWEEN STOCKING HIS MUSETTE WITH GLUTEN-

FREE RACE FUEL, OUR EMBEDDED ‘PRO’ (WHO MUST
REMAIN NAMELESS, FOR HIS OWN SAFETY) TAKES US
TO THE MEAN STREETS OF CAPE TOWN, WHERE THREE
TEAMS ARE BATTLING IT OUT FOR THE CROWN OF
KINGS OF THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD. AND KINGS OF THE
DOUBLE CENTURY, BUT THAT’S A MINOR DETAIL…
BY ANONYMOUS

I
I’M WRITING THIS FROM A
MUGG & BEAN – the only place
safe from the prying eyes of Cape
Town’s elite cyclists, who would
never drink their cortados at a coffee chain.
There are a handful of protagonists in
the race to become Kings of the Atlantic for Kings of the Atlantic Seaboard honours
Seaboard – the official title, coined by an – besides the various Strava segments at
anonymous Instagram account in late stake – is the annual showdown at the DC.
2023, and a far greater accolade than But once again, let me be quite clear: rides, improve each week, move up the club
making it onto the top step at the Old this is not about winning the Double rankings and hopefully make the DC team’
Mutual Wealth Double Century. Century. The goal is to be Kings of the – and went straight to inviting top riders to
The major players are Pure Savage Atlantic Seaboard. race. They ended up with some EuroSteel
(Cape Town’s most insufferable cycling riders in their team that year; but they
group), Mother Amateur Bicycling Club TO THE ‘CHEATERS’ went out too hard, and completely blew.
(media-savvy hipsters with moustaches) GO THE SPOILS Last year they tried to game the
and La Perla Classic (also known as LPC, 1 Mother ‘won’ in 2024. But did they really? system again, persuading guys like
and made up of elite Cape citizens on the No, they cheated – end of story. In fact, they Marc Pritzen to join them. In fact, it’s
wrong side of 45). In recent years, new even proudly declared their wrongdoing! a bit embarrassing that ‘Pure’ Savage
players such as East City Cycles (just a And cheating is precisely what they – even with riders like Pritzen, Gustav
bike shop, really) and Café Racers (Corner did again at last’s year’s DC: they sat in Basson, Felix Stehli and Kyle Mitchell
Shop Racers, more like) have tried to the slip of ASAP Cycling-Team EuroSteel in their midst – didn’t win the Kings of
throw down the gauntlet; but I wouldn’t – in clear contravention of DC rules – and the Atlantic Seaboard in ’24. They had
class them up there with the Big Three. hung on for dear life until the end. (I know big ambitions for the 2024 DC; but on
Savage, Mother and LPC all ride the this because I was right there with them, the day, they just couldn’t beat Mother’s
Image: Tobias Ginsberg / OMW Double Centur y

same training route on the Atlantic having dropped off the back of my team…) ‘superior tactics’.
Seaboard, on the same day; but at ever-so- But Savage, too, are not above some Savage really go all out to win – it’s
slightly different times, so they don’t have dabbling in the dark arts. In 2023, they life or death, for some of their riders. I
to ride together. And the ultimate decider were so hellbent on winning that they went know of a few who only train for the DC,
on a massive ‘signing spree’. expend all their physical and emotional
I call this their Import Era. They threw
out their entire club ethos – ‘show up for

54 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 are not even taking milk with their coffee uploaded in November 2024…
in order to shed a few kilograms. I heard But while not exactly tech-savvy, LPC
the programme is called ‘Project 25’. It’s do have deep pockets, and they’ve also
pretty focused! been known to employ some underhand
tactics when it comes to rider recruitment.
WILL THEY, WON’T THEY? They once enticed top cycling coach Reece
1 Apparently, the Mother guys aren’t McDonald to race for them (bringing
riding DC this year. Well, their spokesman, the club’s average age down by about 10
Jared Kieser, has said they’re not riding; years); but their best scam was recruiting
but I think that’s… bullshit, quite honestly. Jasper Stuyven – yes, the winner of the
2021 Milan-San Remo! (It didn’t help –

“THEIR BEST SCAM they still couldn’t win.)

The thing with LPC, though, is that
WAS RECRUITING they’re always… simmering. They pretend

JASPER STUYVEN they’re not interested, but they’re always

out there, training hard. They train hard,
– YES, THE WINNER and they ride hard. I think that’s why they

OF THE 2021 MILAN- always blow; because really, they have only
one riding and racing philosophy – they
SAN REMO! IT just murder each other.
Still, no matter what happens, they
DIDN’T HELP – always have their honour. They go balls
THEY STILL to the wall, and never make excuses; for
aloof, larney okes, they’re not too bad.
COULDN’T WIN.
WIN.” After the DC last year, a lot of teams
were out partying in Swellendam.
They’re either assembling the most badass Some guys sent the LPC team a tray of
team ever, or they’re going to lean into that tequilas, along with a page of their team’s
ride-for-vibes thing (the racing equivalent autographs. LPC sent back a serviette with
of oat milk) and bring a 12-person crew a message, asking if that team was able
to get some lame Charles Milner award. to afford the drinks. So LPC are not like
energy on the event, then want to give up See, the Mother guys may be the Mother, who are so Capetonian they only
cycling completely afterwards. Another unofficial Kings of the Atlantic Seaboard, socialise with each other.
of their riders – admittedly a beast – but they’re the official kings of banter. At
does crazy diets a week before race day, the moment, they’re peddling a nonsense TOO CLOSE TO CALL
cutting out carbs or eating only fats; and message – something about ‘quitting while 1 It’s impossible to call a winner this year.
then totally blows at the DC. This race we’re at the top’ – which the rest of us find We’re uncertain of Mother’s
makes guys do weird things. hard to believe. To me, they’re a bit like a participation. Café Racers – pretenders
There was also the infamous ‘dossier Guy Ritchie movie – you never know what’s at the best of times – won’t feature. I stand
leak’ that showed how seriously Savage going to happen next. by ECC being a bike shop rather than an
takes the race. They created a confidential It’s hard to gauge what LPC is up to actual team; I don’t recognise their claims
PDF for their DC group (‘Red Team this year – they’re too old to figure out to legitimacy.
Empties the Tank’) that broke the race how WhatsApp works, so you never get Savage? Anything could happen. From
down into sectors and segments, with any leaks from the group. my intel, they’re behind the fitness curve.
individual tactics for when certain riders They like to think they’ve modernised, When it comes to accommodation, they
should attack or go flat out. Cape Town but they’re just too far behind the pack also have the worst race prep of all the
being the size of a fishbowl, the PDF was when it comes to tech. I was talking to teams. One year, their riders slept on
leaked immediately, bringing much joy to one of their riders recently, and he happily the floor of a barn, an hour’s drive from
the other teams. showed me that the team does have a the start!
Rumour has it that this year, the Savage WhatsApp group – I didn’t have the heart LPC look solid right now. Plus, they’ll
riders received calendar invites for training to tell him he was showing me a note on roll off their yachts and straight to the
rides and training camps. Special tips were iMessage. And their Instagram account start in their tour bus. They might be the
sent to certain riders looking a bit past has a whopping four posts, the last one bookies' favourite… 1
their prime… Allegedly they have a helmet
sponsor on board, and some of the riders

ISSUE 6 | 2025 55
 VAN HEERD
VS. EN
MCINTOSH

During the 1980s and ’90s, the

Rapport Tour was one of South Africa’s
most prestigious cycling events –
attracting the best local talent, and later
some of the best riders in the rest of the
world too. But for most of it, the rivalry
between two riders dominated the
roads and headlines…

58 ISSUE 6 | 2025
The Rapport Tour
was the backdrop as
Alan van Heerden
(above) and
Robbie McIntosh
(right) battled like
gladiators.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 59
LAPPE LAUBSCHER, NOTORIOUS EX-RAPPORT
JOURNALIST, said after Robbie McIntosh’s first victory
in 1977 in the Rapport Tour that the Natal rider had been
lucky to win.
He based his argument on the fact that no Portuguese
team participated in that 1977 event. But he had to
swallow his words several years later when McIntosh won
again in 1981, 1983 and 1986, proving himself a strategist
par excellence and the most successful rider the event
ever produced.
McIntosh was also an excellent leader and team man,
and he was instrumental to proceedings when two of his
teammates – Ertjies Bezuidenhout in 1984, and Lourens
Smith in 1989 – also occupied the top step of the podium.
With that first victory at the age of 24, he showed that he
had the necessary qualities to ensure that through hard
work, he could reap the rewards in the end.
In his preparation for the Rapport Tour he was often
found on the hilly roads around his home town of
Pietermaritzburg, training hard, as late as 11pm; with only
a faint light powered by a dynamo on the front wheel
for company. The next morning, at 6am, he would be
back at his post in the workshop where he practised his
profession as a diesel mechanic, only venturing onto the
roads again after 5pm. The Idol
There was never any shortage of drive and 2 On the other side of the spectrum, Alan van Heerden – McIntosh’s contemporary,
perseverance with McIntosh, and due to a speech and the crown prince of South African cycling – had to wait a long time before he
impediment, he chose to let his bike do the talking. He achieved his first victory in the Rapport Tour, in 1982.
was a strong devil, tough as nails, and he made himself Until that point, he’d had to be satisfied with the consolation prize, as the winner
known specifically on difficult stages. Wind and rain of the points division. But he was also victorious in 1987. Van Heerden was always
didn’t bother him; and at the start of a stage, while his in the limelight; and with his direct approach and quick temper, he played right into
opponents were still thinking about taking it easy when the hands of the under-the-radar McIntosh.
the weather didn’t cooperate, he would go on the attack – Though Van Heerden played the media, it was McIntosh who impressed with his
much to the annoyance of those opponents. When things strategies, and with the cool way he summed up races when it mattered. But like
started to get tough, he always had a plan. Willie Engelbrecht in later years, Van Heerden had everything a top cyclist needed.
McIntosh wasn’t the best sprinter, but his ability as Both of them had ‘big engines’, and could climb with the best. They were best in
an individual time-trial rider, and his tenacity in the sprints, most of the time, and time trials did not deter them in any way. They had
mountains and under difficult conditions, gave him an no shortage of versatility.
edge that was especially advantageous in multi-day races. Even on the track, both Van Heerden and Engelbrecht asserted themselves

60 ISSUE 6 | 2025
thoroughly. However, Van Heerden had one major the wheel, picked it up – and promptly threw it further into the bushes, before
shortcoming: his individualism. He was well known for not walking back to the service vehicle. In the end, Van Heerden had to collect the
taking criticism particularly well, and his hot temper caused wheel himself, before King would assist him!
problems within his teams. It was no wonder that he had to On another occasion, an altercation between him and Portuguese rider Antonio
wait so long for a first victory in the Rapport Tour. Fernandes set tongues wagging. During a stage of a race, on the way to Welkom,
‘The Idol’, as he was widely known, also did not hesitate tensions developed between the two. Fingers were pointed in both directions, on
to throw his toys around in the heat of battle; and this and off the bike.
sometimes cost him dearly. For example, with Eddie King Fernandes never made a secret of the fact that he considered himself competent
as his manager for the Solly Kramer team, Van Heerden enough to challenge Van Heerden in a sprint. And so it was, in the sprint to the
lost his cool during a long stage through the Karoo after he mining town that day.
suffered a flat tyre. The service vehicle took too long to get As the stage neared its end, the jostling for position among the sprint teams and
to him with a spare wheel; and with the bunch riding off riders was intense; Van Heerden and Fernandes often found themselves fighting for
into the distance, a fuming Van Heerden grabbed the front the same position. As the stage finished, Van Heerden jumped off – almost before
wheel and hurled it into the bushes. his bike had even stopped – and charged at Fernandes, before bystanders managed
King calmly got out of the service vehicle, walked to to pull the two rivals apart.
The late Willie
Engelbrecht was one of
McIntosh's victims in the
1989 Rapport Tour.

The break between the two great spirits was

unavoidable; but overall, it was beneficial for South
African cycling. Each of the pair took over their own
team in the years that followed, contributing a lot to the
sport’s rapid development. Many a rider wanted to be in a
team with one or the other of them, which brought about
healthy competition.

No Christmas Cards
2 In the early years, with McIntosh and Van Heerden
within earshot of each other, there was quite a bit
of tension between the two. There were certainly no
Christmas cards exchanged, at first. But things cooled
down as the years went on.
In 1989, in the twilight of their respective careers, they
teamed up to help Lourens Smith secure his victory in the
Rapport Tour against a rampant Italian team, who threw
everything into the battle to win and ‘steal’ the last stage.
Traditionally, the last stage is seen as just a
‘procession’ for the GC contenders, while still a chance
for the sprinters to get a final turn in the limelight. With
just a few seconds separating Smith from the best-placed
Italian on the stage – and quite a few bonus seconds at
stake, in the last bonus primes – McIntosh, along with
Andrew McLean, attacked the foreigners, trying to block
them from adding bonus seconds.
Van Heerden controlled things in the bunch and
took Smith under his wing. There was even talk of some
hot slaps being handed out (everything was denied,
of course!), but the long-standing battle axe between
Van Heerden and McIntosh had clearly been buried.
Ironically, Smith took his victory with the smallest of
As a cyclist, however, Van Heerden was extremely neat and particular. Most gaps: just eight seconds.
cyclists would blow their noses like rugby players on a field, but Van Heerden
always had a handkerchief handy. When the necessary had to be done, he moved
to the back of the bunch, took his handkerchief out of his pocket, did the deed and Attack after attack
then put his handkerchief back in his pocket. 2 Despite their sometimes strained relationship, there
With two such strong personalities in one team, it was inevitable that things was mutual respect between McIntosh and Van Heerden.
would start to go haywire one way or another. And that’s precisely what happened Certain subjects could be referred to mockingly during
in 1981, when McIntosh and Van Heerden lined up for the Aticon Construction team a stage or a race, but they both knew when to keep quiet.
at the Rapport Tour. The result was a first place for McIntosh, and a second place – McIntosh had been teased a lot about his stutter, but it
along with another points jersey – for Van Heerden. was one thing he never bothered himself about. No one
But that coveted yellow jersey of the overall leader at the end of the tour kept could imitate his razor-sharp summaries of situations on
eluding ‘The Idol’, while McIntosh (‘Rambo’, or ‘The Animal’) already boasted two the road; and his reputation as a team player was one of
titles to his name. his strongest attributes.
 After McIntosh was crowned king of the Rapport Tour for the third time, in 1983, the left side of the road and literally fell off his bike, in
he made no secret of his desire to defend the title in 1984. He knew it would be a tears. His tour was over. The yellow jersey of the overall
daunting task, because the previous year’s winner is always marked closely. leader had found a new boss, and Engelbrecht had to wait
With the first week’s stages behind them, McIntosh and his Realtime Computers another year before he could finally be crowned the king
team came up with a strategy on Monday morning, on the stage between Durban of the Rapport Tour.
and Greytown. On quite a few climbs, McIntosh would occasionally launch an And McIntosh? True to his nature, his first words –
attack, but each was soon neutralised by some of the other contenders. Everyone spoken with a wry smile, as he finished the stage – were:
was nervous, and didn’t give him any space. However, he continued; and slowly “I killed the bastard!”
drained his opponents’ strength. The next day he went back into service for tour rookie
A final solid attack had the desired effect: he tore the pack to shreds. And with Smith, who went on to take the overall win.
the other contenders looking resigned to McIntosh’s continued pressure, the next
part of the plan was put into action: Bezuidenhout launched his attack. McIntosh
was still playing around on the right-hand side of the road; so Bezuidenhout moved Argus glory
from his shadow, and struck hard on the left. No one had the strength to go along, 2 In summary: the rivalry between Van Heerden and
and he rode himself into the yellow jersey more than four minutes ahead on the GC. McIntosh, especially in the Rapport Tour, produced
McIntosh still had enough strength to neutralise any attacks after Bezuidenhout’s several highlights every year. As soon as the tours started
surge, but the attack had hurt Bezuidenhout – something that became clear on to get longer, McIntosh proved to be an excellent rider.
the road to Ladysmith the next day. With Van Heerden (who won the stage) in His ability to accurately assess race situations and help
combative mood, it soon became clear that Bezuidenhout was in trouble, and the his teammates win the GC in stage races made him a
yellow jersey beckoned for Van Heerden. great asset to any team.
McIntosh wanted nothing to do with it. In difficult weather conditions, he grabbed Van Heerden’s individualism probably counted against
Bezuidenhout’s bike by the saddle and pushed the exhausted Bezuidenhout the last him in multi-day races; but he and Engelbrecht were both
20km into town. The effort ensured that the yellow jersey remained with McIntosh’s formidable one-day riders. Van Heerden won more than a
team, and was successfully worn all the way to the finish in Johannesburg. thousand individual races in his career, as did Engelbrecht.
Of these, Van Heerden achieved 66 stage victories in
the Rapport Tour alone. He even won the climber’s
Ruthless competition, despite not being built for inclines…
2 Willie Engelbrecht’s dramatic collapse on the penultimate stage in 1989, when Interestingly, however, Van Heerden could never win
Lourens Smith took the yellow jersey, was a clear example of McIntosh's ruthless what was then the Argus Cycle Tour (now the Cape Town
instinct to destroy his opponents even if it meant giving up the win himself. Cycle Tour) – a race that should have suited his abilities.
Engelbrecht had always struggled with his chest and his breathing in bad weather; Engelbrecht achieved the most victories there, with five,
and the weather did not cooperate that particular cold and wet Friday morning. while McIntosh won twice. The first time was in 1983; and
With a newspaper pressed to the front of his chest, along with a rain jacket and in 1991 he set a new course record, when he completed
gloves, Engelbrecht was in a difficult position from the start of the Worcester stage. the 105km in 2:28.46.
It soon became evident that McIntosh had taken note of Engelbrecht’s discomfort Engelbrecht improved the record three years later,
as the bunch rolled out of the Boland town… before the Swede Micheal Andersson broke it the
By contrast, ‘Rambo’ McIntosh looked like he was on a Sunday afternoon outing. following year, in 2:22.56. Only Andersson, Engelbrecht
Wearing nothing more than his standard cycling kit, with torn-off sleeves, he was and then Robert Hunter in 2008 – South Africa’s first
full of beans. Both he and Smith were well-placed to finish first overall; but Smith winner of a Tour de France stage, in 2007 – have recorded
was second, and closer in time to the overall leader's jersey. faster times than McIntosh.
McIntosh took it upon himself to do the softening work, with Smith also taking
a stab now and then. And Engelbrecht had to chase – every time. Eventually, Alan van Heerden died on 15 December 2009 at the age of 56,
Engelbrecht just couldn’t plug all the holes anymore. His teammates were also after a car accident. Robbie McIntosh is still actively involved
unable to assist; they’d spent days neutralising one attack after another. in cycling and coaching.
The yellow jersey weighed heavily, and with each revolution of the pedals, that
weight became more and more oppressive. Eventually, Engelbrecht had to defend
the jersey on his own – the other teams wouldn’t help. This is an edited excerpt from
A Brief Look Into The History
McIntosh was like a predator on the hunt. When Engelbrecht’s rain jacket came
of South African Cycling by
off, it was clear he was getting closer to the abyss. When the gloves came off, pieces Colin Hoffmann and Chris
of newspaper and plastic appeared out of nowhere and were thrown to the side of the Willemse. To order a copy (R395
road. It was inevitable: one of the most dramatic moments in Rapport Tour history plus R70 courier fee), contact
Colin (colin@haveabreak.
was about to unfold. [Link]; 063 984 9874) or Chris
Engelbrecht dug deep, but couldn’t sustain the effort. Eventually he wobbled to (chrissnr@[Link];
083 640 4823).

ISSUE 6 | 2025 63
 RIDING FASTER IS NOT JUST ABOUT FITNESS
AND STRENGTH. MASTERING THE ART OF
PEDALLING, CORNERING AND CLIMBING CAN
MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE TO YOUR SPEED.
B Y BICYCL ING EDI T ORS

64 ISSUE 6 | 2025
  P E D A L L ING
FA S T I S ONE T HING ,
B U T L E A R NING T O
C OR NE R A ND DE S C E ND
E F F IC IE N T LY I S JU S T
A S IMP OR TA N T.
Trevor Raab

ISSUE 6 | 2025 65
 You may look at riders next to you and feel like
 E V E R Y ONE ' S IDE A L you’re pedalling too slowly or too fast, but the
C A DE NC E I S D I F F E RE N T.
F IND Y OUR S , T HE N truth is, your ideal cadence is personal to you.
M A X IMI S E I T. The first step is learning to be aware of
your current cadence, so that you can practise
maximising it in order to reach your ideal cadence.
Achieving ideal cadence will help you sidestep
fatigue and control your power output, so that you
can hit the cycling speeds you dream about.
Jen Whalen, pro cyclist and host of Bicycling
US’s ‘How to Ride Faster’ programme, is
here to walk you through it so you can ride
with confidence.

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR CADENCE

 You can use a bike computer, or you can
calculate your cadence yourself by finding
your RPM:
Set your timer or stopwatch to 30 seconds,
and count the number of times one leg pushes
down on the pedal.
Then, multiply that number by two. For
example, if you push down 35 times in 30
seconds, that’s 70rpm.
Alternatively, you can do the same exercise

DIAL IN
for 10 seconds and multiply that number by six.
Once you know your RPMs, you can figure out
your ideal cadence.

YOUR PEDAL REVS

WHAT’S THE IDEAL CADENCE?
 According to research, most riders should
aim for 80-90rpm. But once you’ve calculated
your cadence, you can get specific about your
individual cadence goals. What you decide all
MASTER CADENCE, AND YOU’LL BE depends on your fitness and muscle type.
Fast-twitch muscle fibres are responsible for

A SPEEDIER CYCLIST. faster, more powerful movements like sprints;

while slow-twitch muscle fibres are responsible
for slower, sustained movements like long rides.
BY KRISTEN WAGNER We all have fast-twitch and slow-twitch
muscle fibres, but understanding which you have
more of will help you find where you thrive in
terms of cadence and speed. Slow-twitch riders
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT BOOSTING YOUR SPEED usually do well at higher cadences, whereas fast-
on the bike, cadence is probably one of the first twitch riders might prefer lower ranges.
things that comes to mind. And that’s a good
thing; because while it’s not the only factor, it’s a WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CADENCE
key component. TRAINING?  By lowering your muscular
Cadence refers to the rate at which you pedal, fatigue and working the cardiovascular system,
and is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). higher cadence work increases your efficiency on

66 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 the bike and helps you ride longer.
“It’s not mashing the pedals. It’s learning
how to pedal efficiently,” says David Lipscomb,
founder and head coach of CIS Training
Systems LLC, with over 30 years of performance
and coaching expertise. “So, utilise force
development training as a critical step to get
faster on the bike, as it relates to speed and
orange-zone training.”

SIX THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND  Before you

dive headfirst into cadence work, there are a few
things to be aware of:

2 If you stay in one gear all the time,

consider shifting to an easier gear.
Make your practice a little easier!
 IN T E G R AT E
C A DE NC E W OR K IN T O
2 One high-cadence workout per Y OUR NORM A L RIDING
week is plenty when you’re looking R OU T INE . D O T HE
DR IL L S A S A WA R M-UP,
to improve your cadence. Simply OR ON C L IMB S .
swap an easier endurance ride for
a cadence workout, keeping your
power/heart rate in the endurance
zone as you speed up your pedalling.

2 Cadence work doesn’t have to

be your entire ride. It’s easy to add
cadence drills to any longer ride. Or,
cadence drills can be your warm-up.
To practise low-cadence work, simply
drop your cadence during the climbs
on your endurance rides. THE DRILL  Here’s one of Bicycling’s most
popular cadence drills. The goal of this drill is to
2 Most importantly, don’t expect develop cadence transitions, leading to a smooth
changes overnight. As with any pedal stroke, and to maintain the same resistance
progression, you should focus on at different cadences.
incremental changes over practice • Find the gear you need to be in to get to 65%
sessions. of your maximum heart rate, or an RPE (rate of
perceived exertion) of about 6 out of 10. Don’t
2 Remember: the goal is to pedal change your resistance during this drill.
faster while maintaining the same • Warm up with 1 minute at 85rpm, followed by
power/speed output. 30 seconds at 95rpm, then back to 30 seconds
at 85rpm.
2 Focus on your form while doing • Repeat the 30-second intervals a total of
these drills. Over time, things will 5 times.
Images: Trevor Raab

smooth out with your pedal stroke • Do 1 minute at 95rpm, followed by 30 seconds
and how you feel overall. at 105rpm, then back to 30 seconds at 95rpm.
• Repeat these 30-second intervals a total of
5 times.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 67
 MASTER YOUR
WHEN IT COMES TO RIDING FASTER, it’s easy to
think the smartest way to get there is to ride
hard all the time by doing endless speed ses-

TECHNIQUE
sions. That will help; but it will only get you so
far, if you don’t have the basics dialled in with
your riding technique.
Because what’s the benefit in gaining speed if
you have to slow down on every sharp turn? Or

EXPERT TIPS ON CORNERING & CLIMBING if every technical mountain-bike descent brings
you dread? Or you’re left in the dust on the group

(AND DESCENDING) THAT MAKE YOU A gravel ride at the base of the first significant hill?

FASTER RIDER, WHETHER YOU’RE ON A KEY CORNERING TECHNIQUES

Cornering isn’t just turning – it’s an important
skill requiring good use of body position, braking

ROAD BIKE OR A MOUNTAIN BIKE. control, line choice and terrain awareness,
whether you’re riding on the road or the trail.
The more you practise, the more confident you’ll
BY BRIAN DALEK be. Mastering this skill will make each ride more
enjoyable, and safer overall.

 L E A R N T O A P P LY
GE N T L E P R E S S UR E ON
T HE OU T S IDE F OO T A S
Y OU C OR NE R , F OR
E X T R A T R A C T ION .

68 ISSUE 6 | 2025
  Y OUR B IK E F OL L O W S
Y OUR E Y E S . D ON ' T L O OK
AT Y OUR F R ON T W HE E L ,
L O OK AT A P OIN T A
L I T T L E F UR T HE R D O W N
T HE R O A D OR T R A IL .
BRAKE BEFORE THE TURN  On the road,
braking mid-turn increases the risk of skidding
and crashing. Use both front and rear brakes
before entering the corner, especially on
descents or wet surfaces. Practice feathering the
brakes (light, quick taps) instead of squeezing
them hard.

LOOK WHERE YOU WANT TO GO

 Your bike naturally follows your eyes. Direct
your gaze through the turn, not down at your
wheel. This is especially critical on technical
climbs with switchbacks. If you’re riding a
mountain bike, focusing on a point two to three
metres ahead of your front wheel will help give
you time to find the right line. Practise moving
your gaze up and down the path ahead. Your
body will follow.

SHIFT YOUR WEIGHT AND LEAN THE BIKE

 On the road, heading into a corner on a
descent, get into the drops for better front-wheel
pressure. Bend your elbows, keep the inside ped-
al up and the outside pedal down. Tilt the bike, TECHNIQUES FOR BETTER CLIMBING
not your body, and counter-steer by gently push- Very few cyclists are great at pedalling fast uphill
ing with the inside hand. Press into the outside from the jump. But developing this skill will defi-
foot and hand to maintain traction on the tar. nitely provide better pacing, less fatigue and less
On the mountain bike, similar principles apply. strain. The more you seek out different elevation
But instead of being in the drops, bend your arms profiles, the better. You can use apps or local club
to keep your centre of gravity low. This will help suggestions to vary your climbing terrain.
keep you stable and planted.
HANDLEBAR POSITION AND BREATHING
AIM YOUR LINE FOR THE INSIDE OF THE  On the road, stay on the hoods or the tops
TURN  On the road, follow an ‘outside-in- of your handlebar. If you climb in the drops, you
side-outside’ line. This is essential for reducing restrict your breathing. Also, keep your upper
your turning radius and preserving speed. body relaxed, as any extra tension will lead to
Enter the turn wide, go into the apex tight, and wasted energy.
exit wide (without crossing the centre line).
STAY SEATED WHEN POSSIBLE
 Climbing while seated is more efficient,

“WHAT’S THE BENEFIT

especially on long or moderate ascents.

MASTER YOUR PACING  Break the climb

IN GAINING SPEED into thirds for more consistent power and better
Images: A xel Brunst / Unsplash; Trevor Raab

finishes. (Most modern GPS head units have a

IF YOU HAVE TO SLOW DOWN

function that shows the climb on the screen, for
easy reference.)
Go easy for the first third, moderate for the

ON EVERY SHARP TURN?” second third, and hard for the final third. This
will prevent you overcooking the initial ascent and
fading near the end of the climb.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 69
 CREATINE HAS RECEIVED LOTS OF AT TENTION AS A MUSCLE-
BUILDING AID, BUT IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO CYCLISTS?
H E R E ’ S E V E R Y T H I N G Y O U N E E D T O K N O W.
70 ISSUE 6 | 2025
  Research
suggests that
using a creatine
supplement,
in conjuction
with specific
weight-bearing
training, can
improve your
speed during
high-intensity
efforts.

BY M AT T H E W K A D E Y, S P O R T S D I E T I T I A N
R E V I E W E D BY N A M R I TA B R O O K E , P H D ,
DIETITIAN & NUTRITION ADVISOR
Trevor Raab

ISSUE 6 | 2025 71
 misinformation. Will it give you chiselled you do brief, high-intensity exercise (less
abs? Is it safe to use every day? than 10 seconds), or explosive exercise
Here’s everything you need to know like weightlifting, the energy demand is
about the benefits of creatine supplements immediate and PCr serves as a source
(and the downsides), to help you figure out of energy in the form of adenosine
if it’s the right supplement for you. triphosphate (ATP). ATP is the fuel for fast,
high-intensity muscle force generation.
During this kind of exercise, your muscles
CREATINE, DEFINED remove phosphate from ATP to form
Our bodies make the substance known as adenosine diphosphate (ADP). ADP offers
Wanting to ride faster and stronger is pretty creatine from three amino acids: L-arginine, no energy, so your body uses PCr to supply
much a universal phenomenon among glycine, and L-methionine. It’s primarily a phosphate molecule to rapidly regenerate
cyclists, and nutrition is a vital part of produced in the liver, and to a lesser extent ATP from ADP, to once again be used as a
accomplishing that. The conversation around in the pancreas and kidneys. On the whole, source of power for a high-intensity effort.
this often involves nutritional supplements; most humans will naturally produce about Put simply, if you increase the supply of
which of them are actually worth taking, 1 gram of creatine per day. creatine via supplementation, theoretically
and which are a waste of time and money? On top of this, you can also get creatine you should have more PCr available to
There's no shortage of dubious marketing from your diet when you consume animal- convert ADP to ATP, and thus have more
claims about various supplements out there, based foods like red meat, poultry or energy to do more repeated, high-intensity
many of which aren’t regulated. In some seafood. (Herring seems to be the creatine efforts. One research review in the journal
cases, research is still in the early stages heavyweight!) Plant-based foods like grains Nutrients confirmed this – creatine use can
and a particular supplement hasn’t been and beans are largely devoid of creatine. help increase muscle mass via resistance
thoroughly studied yet. Note that most creatine supplements are training, by giving you more energy to
Creatine doesn’t fall into that category vegan – surprisingly – because they’re squeeze out a few more reps and therefore
– it's been widely studied as a potential typically made using synthetic ingredients. build more muscle.
performance enhancer. In 2023, an article Once you produce it or eat it at dinner, The flip side is also true: simply taking
published in the Journal of the International creatine is mostly stored in skeletal creatine will do nothing for your muscles
Society of Sports Nutrition found that there’s muscles, with small amounts stashed away unless you also train at a vigorous effort.
a growing body of research that supports in organs like the liver, kidneys and brain. It’s worth noting that some creatine
the use of creatine supplementation to research is focusing on the potential benefits
improve endurance. As such, it’s a popular (in combination with resistance training) for
supplement choice among professional HOW CREATINE WORKS IN THE BODY helping older adults slow down the muscle
athletes and weekend warriors alike, Creatine is primarily stored as phospho- loss that accompanies aging. Creatine is also
yet it’s surrounded by confusion and creatine (PCr) in skeletal muscles. When believed to help buffer the build-up of acid

72 ISSUE 6 | 2025
  Creatine supplements
abound. To be on the safe
side, choose one that has
been verified by a trusted
third party. Read the
label, and don't just buy
on price.

sprints. While creatine didn’t improve their

overall time, it did manage to boost their
in muscle cells, because the breakdown of PCr – including cyclists – to experience “key power in the final sprint efforts.
uses up a hydrogen atom. This can certainly also race-defining moments”, where a little What’s more: taking creatine along with
improve exercise tolerance during all-out efforts. extra creatine at their disposal could carbohydrates seems to enhance glycogen
make a difference for intense efforts storage in the muscles, which is the primary
like surges, hill climbs and sprints at the energy source for high-intensity aerobic
WHAT ABOUT CYCLING? finish. The study determined that creatine exercise, and another way that the supplement
As for outside the weight room, a research supplementation (along with electrolytes) could give cyclists a boost.
review published in the Journal of the improved anaerobic sprint performance (15- There’s also a little bit of evidence from
International Society of Sports Nutrition second max-effort sprints followed by two- another study to suggest that creatine use
says it’s time for endurance athletes to minute recovery periods) in recreational before a big endurance workout – in this
consider making room for creatine in their male athletes. case a half-Ironman – can reduce exercise-
supplement routine, too. Meanwhile, a 2018 Australian study put induced muscle damage via a subdued
Getty Images

The paper’s authors argue that it’s fit cyclists through a 120km time trial that inflammatory response, thereby allowing for
not uncommon for endurance athletes was peppered with a series of 1km and 4km quicker recovery. Sounds good; but we need

ISSUE 6 | 2025 73
more research to be done in this
particular area. “ IF YOUR TRAINING PROGRAMME OR THE
With all that said, we also need
more research conducted on RACES YOU ENTER INVOLVE SOME FORM
endurance athletes in real-world
settings in general before we can OF EXPLOSIVE EXERCISE, IT’S A WORTHY
SUPPLEMENT TO CONSIDER...”
conclude that creatine is indeed
helpful in improving certain
performance metrics – and in exactly
what scenarios cyclists would find the
most benefit.
Also, using data from the National As for the potential health benefits for
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey bone strength, heart disease, inflammation
OTHER BENEFITS OF CREATINE (NHANES) in the USA, which involved and more, there just isn't anything close to
Although research has mostly focused on more than 22 000 people, researchers were definite research to support creatine use
its use in exercise and sports performance, able to examine a possible relationship for these purposes.
creatine may have additional health between creatine and depression in an
benefits; it might be good for your brain! adult cohort. The data showed that people
Research is still emerging – and we need with lower reported intakes of creatine WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS?
much more of it before drawing strong were more likely to suffer from depression There are some, but thankfully they’re
conclusions – but a few small studies show – something that seemed to be more relatively minor. Decades of research has
that creatine supplementation may be useful prevalent in women than men. But again, shown that creatine monohydrate (the full
for improving memory, particularly in older there’s a dearth of data to show that taking name of the supplement) is safe for most
individuals, and during the healing process creatine can noticeably boost your mood, people to use. The International Society of
after a brain injury like a concussion. so take this with a pinch of salt for now. Sports Nutrition says intake levels of up to

for a specific event or race. basic version, creatine to take creatine close to Creatine Monohydrate has a
HOW MUCH Once your creatine levels monohydrate. your workout (right before very solid reputation if you can

SHOULD I TAKE?
You can quickly max out your
are up to saturation, if you
stop taking it, it will take about
Creatine monohydrate
is a tasteless powder that
or after). But generally, you
can just take it at a time that
find it locally; otherwise check
out Biogen’s ‘Pure Creatine’
a month for your body to drift can easily be mixed into works best for you. As long and Nutritech’s ‘ProSport
creatine levels in about a week, back down to your baseline water, juice and smoothies. as you take it regularly, you Creatine Monohydrate’.
by taking 20g per day (split level. That means, in theory, (The rise in popularity stand a better chance of
into 5g four times a day) for that you can ‘cycle’ your of creatine has caused a reaping the rewards. Creatine is not on the
about five to seven days. supplement use depending on spike in creatine prices, so Always choose a World Anti-Doping Agency’s
After that, switch to a your training or racing goals. it’s no longer the bargain supplement tested by a Prohibited List and is treated as
‘maintenance load phase’ of (Disclaimer: this practice could supplement it used to be.) trusted third party, like a legal nutritional supplement.
3–5g per day. You can also skip use some more research to Beware of so-called ‘pre- NSF Certified for Sport, or For athletes under 18, SAIDS
the loading phase outright show its effectiveness.) workout’ mixes that advertise listed on the Informed Sport (the South African Institute for
and just do the 3–5g dose, in creatine as an ingredient. database – you can normally Drug-Free Sport) recommends
which case it will take about HOW DO I TAKE IT – A number of these may find details on the packaging. caution – the safety of the
four weeks to reach peak AND WHEN? not contain the minimum This way you have more supplement when used by
saturation in your muscles. Creatine supplements effective amount (3–5g). Also confidence that you’re getting children and adolescents is less
Think of your muscles as come in various forms, remember that creatine is a quality product. well established.
a sponge and creatine like including capsules, powders, only useful if taken regularly. Remember, supplements Always consult a health
water; you can saturate the chewables, gummies and So, if you just use a pre- like creatine have less professional before you embark
sponge by running water from beverages. Powders are the workout mix every now and oversight than foods, so it’s on a supplement regime.
the tap quickly or slowly, but most popular option because then before a big effort, the important to seek out options
over time the end result is they’re the most well-studied, creatine in that mix is likely from reliable brands. Thorne
still the same. The loading most widely available, and to be of little use.
phase just gets you to the the easiest to control when it Ideally, you want to aim
same place a bit quicker. The comes to dosage.
slower approach may be less There are plenty of creatine
likely to cause digestive side- variants on the market, yet
effects, but it requires some none to date have been
forethought if you’re using shown to outperform the
creatine to give you a boost least expensive and most

74 ISSUE 6 | 2025
  Creatine
monohydrate
is a tasteless it’s safe for pregnant or breastfeeding women,
powder that can for example, and it’s not a wise supplement to
easily be added
to your bidon.
use for anyone with kidney disease.
Another concern is that if you take it as a
supplement, your body will stop producing
it naturally. But again, there’s no evidence
to support this.

THE BOTTOM LINE

It would be very difficult to consume enough
creatine from foods alone to give you the
performance benefit shown in the research
papers. Even among meat-eaters, creatine
stores in your muscles are typically only
around 60-80% of saturation at any given
moment. Taking a supplement, however, can
boost those stores by up to 20%.
Regarding the primary benefit of creatine
for cyclists – fuelling an intense effort like
sprinting up a punchy climb – it’s certainly
intriguing. But whether it’s worth pursuing
depends entirely on your cycling goals. Taking
creatine will only help you to become a fitter
athlete if you pair it with certain forms of
exercise – namely short, intense bursts of
activity. So, if your training programme or
the races you enter involve some form of
explosive exercise, it’s a worthy supplement
to consider, and might give you more than
just marginal gains.
However, if you mostly do long, Zone 2
rides and very little gym work, you could
give creatine a miss without being at a
disadvantage.
As with all nutrition and supplementation,
there’s plenty of variation when it comes to
the results achieved. There’s a modicum of
evidence that women have about 10% higher
baseline intramuscular creatine levels, and
thus get less performance benefit from taking
30g per day for up to five years run very little water weight is detrimental to performance. it as a supplement; and because creatine is
safety risk. It’s advisable to avoid taking more Interestingly, the extra water retention may mostly found in animal-based foods, there’s a
than this amount, however, as the safety of actually help performance in hot conditions by call for more research to determine if vegan
creatine above this threshold is not known. improving thermoregulation. or vegetarian athletes may benefit the most
According to one review, weight gain is the Some people experience bloating and from taking it as a supplement.
most commonly reported side effect of using nausea when using creatine, which occurs And finally, it’s important to note
creatine, which is understandably of concern more often when higher amounts are taken that the benefits of supplements such as
to riders who want to improve their power- at once, or when the body is still getting creatine will be marginal compared to
Getty Images

to-weight ratio. On top of any muscle mass used to the supplement. These symptoms what you experience by nailing the basics:
that creatine has helped you pack on, if you’re should subside fairly quickly. your nutrition, training and sleep habits in
lifting hard, the extra weight is also the result Although generally considered safe, general. In the end, creatine alone won’t get
of intramuscular water retention. However, creatine may not be right for everyone. There you onto the podium; it’s just one small part
there’s little evidence to suggest that his minor isn’t enough scientific evidence to prove that of the overall jigsaw puzzle.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 75
 Filling your bottles
with plain water is
fine on shorter rides,
or if you also plan to
eat a bar or gel. For
longer rides, use a
sports drink mix that
contains minerals
and electrolytes.

HYDRATION
IS A SKILL YOU
CAN LEARN
 in which the concentration of sodium in
EVERYONE ALWAYS GOES ON ABOUT THE the body falls too low because of excessive
IMPORTANCE OF DRINKING BEFORE YOU RIDE, water intake. The risks of over-drinking are
WHILE YOU RIDE, AFTER YOU RIDE… BUT HOW actually greater than those of drinking too
little! Hyponatraemia causes your cells to
MUCH FLUID DO YOU REALLY NEED? swell; if this happens in the brain, it can
BY M I R I A M VA N R E I J E N lead to coma and even death.

A LITTLE DEHYDRATION
IS NOT A PROBLEM
It’s not a big deal if you take in slightly less
fluid than you actually lose. The key is to
replace your fluid (and weight) loss after
training by a factor of 1.5. For example, if
HOW MUCH SHOULD A you’ve ridden for three hours, lost 2 400ml of
CYCLIST DRINK? To be fluid and drunk only 1 500ml, you should aim
frank, we don’t know. The to drink around 2 100ml more in the hours
amount of fluid you lose after your ride. (2 400 × 1.5 = 3 600ml)
depends greatly on your If you know how much fluid you typically
fitness level, how well you’re accustomed lose, and how much you can carry with you,
to riding in the heat, and simply on your you can start hydrating before your training
individual rate of fluid loss. It’s a highly session. That 1.5x guideline refers to total
personal thing. fluid intake around your ride: a generous
One cyclist might sweat as little as 200ml glass before you set off, one or two bottles
per hour, while there are reports of athletes on the road, and another big glass as soon
sweating more than 1.4 litres per hour! Plus, as you get home.
the concentration of sodium in the sweat As a general rule, you shouldn’t lose
we lose also varies enormously from person more than 2% of your body weight in fluid.
to person. The rule of thumb is to assume If you lose more without replacing it, your
an average of around 1 000mg per litre, but performance will decline. Here’s why: when
it can range from half of that to more than you lose a lot of fluid, the volume of blood
3 000mg per litre. plasma in your body drops and your blood
effectively becomes thicker. To deliver
HYDRATION AND WEIGHT LOSS enough oxygen and energy to your muscles,
You’ve probably learnt that you weigh less your heart has to work harder and the effort
after exercise because of the fluid lost feels heavier. This is yet another reason to
through sweating. If you’re 2kg lighter keep drinking. Adequate fluid intake after
after a training ride, you might assume training also supports recovery.
you’ve lost 2 litres of body fluid. But recent
research shows that this isn’t entirely NOT JUST WATER
correct. The carbohydrates, proteins and Just as important as how much you drink
Getty Images

fats in our bodies bind to water. When is what you drink. Plain water is fine for
these nutrients are burned for energy rides of up to about 90 minutes. But if you
during exercise, that bound water is also plan to cycle for longer – especially if you’re
released. Your body can then use this fluid a heavy sweater – it’s better to use a sports
during the activity, effectively adding to drink or water with added electrolytes.
your total body water. This means you These help you replace sodium, potassium
don’t need to drink quite as much to stay and magnesium, all of which are lost when
hydrated, and it also means that a 2% drop you sweat heavily.
in body weight doesn’t necessarily equal a If you drink only large amounts of
2% loss of body fluid. plain water during a long ride, you also
Drinking too much, and finishing an risk hyponatraemia. This is when the
event at the same weight you started, blood plasma becomes diluted and the
increases the risk of hyperhydration and concentration of key minerals such as sodium
hyponatraemia – a dangerous condition and potassium drops too low.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 77
 HOW TO HYDRATE
PROPERLY
As we've said, the amount you need to drink is extremely personal; but for most cyclists it’s
between 500 and 1 000ml per hour. If you know roughly how much fluid you lose, then you also know
how much you need to drink per hour. That might sound like a lot to take in! These tips can help.

1
DRINK PLENTY
5
MAKE SURE YOU
BEFORE YOU START HAVE GOOD BOTTLES
Starting your ride well hydrated is very This may sound like a strange tip, but
important, especially when it’s hot – you some bottle are just plain awkward

3
need to make sure your body stays well to use. It comes down to personal
hydrated throughout the day. Drink 500– preference, but try to find a bottle that
750ml of water or sports drink in the hour works for you, or choose a hydration
before you set off. This way, you begin with pack for off-road rides. Make it as easy as
a good fluid balance. possible to drink, so that the barrier to
staying hydrated is as low as possible.
DRINK IN COMBINATION
WITH EATING
Train yourself to take a few large sips of
water every time you eat something. In
that case, a sports drink isn't necessary, as
you’re already taking in sugars and minerals
in another way. If you have a bar or gel
while riding, then follow it immediately
with a drink from your bottle of water.
This also helps with the absorption of the
carbohydrates you’ve just eaten, ensuring

2
you maintain enough energy.

DRINK EVERY 15 MINUTES

Drink regularly, not just when you feel
thirsty. As a guideline, it’s useful to take
4
PLAN YOUR LONG 6 Trevor Raab

a few large sips every 15–20 minutes. RIDES CAREFULLY

Research has shown that it’s better to drink If you’re going on a long ride, make EXTRA FLUID
a slightly larger amount a few times than to sure you know where you can refill THROUGH FOOD
take very small sips more frequently. your bottles. This can be particularly If you’re one of those struggle-to-drink-
Do you forget to drink? Make sure your challenging in new areas or on unfamiliar enough people, take a look at the food
cycling computer displays the time, so you routes. In addition, take a sachet of items on the following page. They all
can remind yourself to drink at the right sports drink or an electrolyte tablet with contain a lot of fluid – meaning you can
moments. Some computers will even alert you, so that you don’t have only water in get more than a third of the daily fluid you
you when it's time to drink or eat. the second part of your ride. need just from your diet.

78 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 H Y D R AT I O N

HIGH-FLUID
FOODS
BANANAS SOUP ORANGES
Bananas are about 74% water. In Bit of a no-brainer – soup is 90% water, Oranges are also full of vitamin C, but
addition, they contain important and if yours also contains vegetables did you know they’re 88% water and
electrolytes like potassium and and protein, it becomes a good recovery contain anti-inflammatory compounds?
magnesium, which help maintain a good meal. The sodium in soup also helps your At many races, orange segments are
fluid balance. Make a delicious smoothie body absorb the fluid more effectively. offered along the route – munch a few
with (frozen) banana, yoghurt and Our favourite: cold beetroot soup for instant energy.
peanut butter: the ideal combination of with a scoop of cottage cheese. The
protein, fluid, carbohydrates and a little combination of beetroot and cottage
healthy fat. cheese is excellent for muscle recovery. COURGETTE
If you eat 150g of courgettes, you’ll
have taken in about 35% of your daily
WATERMELON SPINACH recommended dose of vitamin C, along
Eating low-fibre vegetables and fruit with a good amount of fibre and plenty
Good hydration depends on electrolytes.
with a high water content during your of fluid. Courgettes are another winning
Spinach is one of the best sources of
training is often more effective than ingredient in a post-ride smoothie; or
magnesium, a mineral involved in more
drinking plain water. Watermelon is you can make a light version of spaghetti
than 300 chemical reactions in the by spiralling the vegetable and serving it
one of the best choices: it’s made up
body. On top of that, spinach is over with your favourite pasta sauce.
of no less than 92% water, and is full
92% water, making it ideal as part of a
of natural sugars – the perfect snack
after an intense session. recovery meal. Serve it with baked fish
and roast potatoes, or add a handful to
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your smoothie.

RADISHES
Bet you didn’t think of this one!
Radishes are not only refreshing
because of their crisp taste; they’re
also 95% water – perfect for a
summer salad. Also important
for cyclists: these small red
bulbs are packed with vitamin C,
which is essential for
muscle recovery.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 79
 80 CHECKPOINT ALR
The alloy version of Trek's
do-it-all gravel bike is
heavy on features and light
on your wallet.

84 1X ON THE ROAD
Seven good reasons to
consider dropping the
front derailleur on your
road bike.

86 32-INCH MTB
Are even bigger wheels
the next big thing in
mountain biking?

88 GIFT GUIDE
Yup, Christmas is coming.
Here's our pick of the best
goodies for the cyclist in
your life.

80 ISSUE 6 | 2025
Images Supplied

The Trek Checkpoint ALR is

a versatile, upgrade-friendly
gravel bike that offers premium
features at an attainable price.
Words DAN CHABANOV
Photography TREVOR RAAB

THE TREK CHECKPOINT ALR gets a lot right – far

more than it gets wrong.
Yes, you can nitpick the stock wheels and
tyres, or wish for the SL’s downtube storage
and IsoSpeed decoupler, but those trade-offs
help keep the price in check while preserving
what matters: confident handling, generous
tyre clearance, real-world durability, and an
upgrade-friendly platform.
The result is a thoroughly well-thought-
out aluminium gravel bike that feels ready
for anything from weekday groad rides to
loaded weekend overnighters, or even that
gravel race that’s on your bucket list.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 81
WHY IT’S COOL spacer towers or flipped stems. The carbon reach, shorter front-centre, lower trail)
1 Well, it brings plenty of gravel-bike fork from the SL trickles down – to save place the rider in a confident, upright
capability, and makes that capability weight, and to add some welcome vibration position without dulling the handling. It’s
available to more riders. Tyre clearance damping. It also features the useful three- stable when fast, manageable when slow,
has been increased to 50mm; there are pack mounts on each fork leg for bottles and ready for everything from singletrack
abundant mounts; it’s compatible with a or cargo. to Karoo gravel.
dropper post and suspension… You can There are standard mounts all over the The front end feels notably more
commute, ride for fun or gear up for a frame, clean hybrid cable routing for easier cooperative at low speeds, especially on
bikepacking trip, all on one platform. service, and space for large 750ml bottles steep or technical climbs. The reduced trail
The geometry is more accessible, with a (even with a half-frame bag) on every size. and shorter front-centre cut down on front-
higher stack and reduced reach, which will Modern standards keep it future- wheel ‘flop’, making tight switchbacks and
help more riders get comfortable without friendly, too. UDH facilitates easy hanger chunky climbs easier to navigate.
replacement, or an upgrade to SRAM My local gravel loop consists of a few
 OP P O S I T E PA GE : T HE C HE C K P OIN T Transmission. The T47 BB is quiet, mellow gravel roads, a steep cobblestone
ALR 5 HAS A SRAM APEX XPLR 1 X12
DR I V E T R A IN , NE AT C A B L E R OU T ING durable and compatible with all crank climb, and a heap of singletrack. A bit
A ND MUC H MOR E C L E A R A NC E T H A N spindle standards. of everything you can throw at a gravel
T HE S T O C K 4 2 MM T Y R E S S UG G E S T.
bike. The Checkpoint ALR exceeded my
 I T MIG H T NO T H AV E A N I S O S P E E D HOW DOES IT RIDE? expectations for it all.
DE C OUP L E R L IK E I T S C A R B ON 1 On dirt roads and smooth trails, the On steep and loose jeep-track climbs,
C OU S IN , B U T T HE C HE C K P OIN T
A L R F R A ME H A S JU S T A S M A N Y Checkpoint ALR is composed and versatile. the front end stayed calm and predictable,
MOUN T ING A ND B O T T L E B O S S E S . The geometry tweaks (more stack, less with none of the wandering that can
plague long, slack gravel bikes. On fast
gravel roads, the bike also felt planted and
easy to course-correct – even with a light
crosswind and some corrugations. I never
felt like I was fighting the bike to get it
to do what I wanted. And it’s that blend
– manageable at a crawl, composed at
speed – that defines the ALR’s personality.
Overall comfort is about what you’d
expect from an aluminium gravel bike with
42(ish)mm tyres. That’s to say, totally fine.
It’s certainly not the most comfortable
bike I’ve ever ridden, but I wouldn’t say it’s
particularly harsh either.
For riders seeking enhanced comfort,
upgrading to a wider set of tyres would
provide significantly more real-world
compliance and speed, compared to
upgrading to a carbon frame.

THOUGHTS ON LONG-
TERM DURABILITY AND
SERVICEABILITY?
1 The 300 Series Alpha Aluminium frame,
threaded T47 BB, and UDH give me
confidence that the Checkpoint ALR is a
frame that riders will be able to use, service
and upgrade for many years. The stock build
kit is solid and easily upgradable, too.
The only thing that gives me pause
regarding long-term maintenance is the
combination of mechanical shifting and
through-headset cable routing.
Bikes with similar routing often

82 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 THE TEST ZONE

face more rapid deterioration in shift BEST THING ABOUT THE Because there are no proprietary parts,
performance, compared to bikes where CHECKPOINT ALR? upgrading and swapping things like the
things are routed externally, due to the 1 The value sweet spot: modern geometry handlebar, stem and seat post is super-easy.
tight bends the derailleur housing must and a feature set borrowed from the SL,
make to fit into the space. It also makes delivered in a durable alloy package with THE WORST?
replacing cables and housing a major smart mounts and standards – all at a 1 My biggest gripe with the Checkpoint ALR
headache, and it’s costly if you’re not starting price that leaves room in the budget concerns the tyres that come as stock on the
doing it yourself. for meaningful upgrades. bike. The Bontrager Girona Pros aren’t bad
tyres; but at 42mm wide (closer to 41mm,
measured using my callipers), they’re too
narrow for a bike with 50mm of clearance.

WHICH MODEL FOR ME? I would have preferred something in the

45-48mm range.
We tested the Checkpoint ALR 5 Gen 3, but the bike is also available locally in two other
models: the ALR 4 and ALR 3. They all share the same frame, fork and wheels, but with
different drivetrain and paint options. See the full range at [Link] WHO’S IT FOR?
1 Riders who want a single, durable
gravel platform for mixed use: tarmac,
gravel roads, light singletrack detours
and weekend bikepacking. It will also suit
endurance road riders seeking a higher bar
position, and it’s a great choice for anyone
looking to get into gravel.
It rides like the pricier Checkpoint SL in
the ways that matter most. If you’re torn
Checkpoint ALR 3 Gen 3 Checkpoint ALR 4 Gen 3 Checkpoint ALR 5 Gen 3 between this and the Checkpoint SL 5 with
• R26 000 • R33 500 • R40 000 electronic shifting, consider the ALR, and
• About 10.4kg • About 10.4kg • About 9.9kg
• Shimano CUES 6000 • Shimano CUES 8000 • SRAM Apex XPLR rather put your savings towards a wheelset
1x10-speed 1x11-speed 1x12-speed and tyre upgrade.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 83
 THE ALL-IN-ONE CLIMBING/AERO BIKE was
probably the biggest gear story of the 2025
Tour de France, but there were many other
interesting equipment choices.
If you looked closely, you might have
noticed some riders had skipped a front
derailleur, using a 1x drivetrain. And
not just on flat stages: 1x drivetrains
were used even on the toughest
climbing days.
Non-pro riders like us should be
cautious about making equipment
choices based solely on what the pros
are using – we’re not as fast as they
are, and we don’t have a convoy of cars
following us to handle the issues that
might crop up. But still, you might be
wondering: why would someone choose
1x on a road bike? Do I want that?
These questions become even
more relevant when you consider that
the latest race bikes from big brands
like Cervélo and Trek come with 1x
drivetrains. Others are likely to follow.
It might not be for everyone, but 1x
on a road machine is also less crazy than
Ditching the front derailleur is gaining popularity among road you might think. Here’s why:

cyclists. Here’s what you need to know about the 1x drivetrain 1. SIMPLICITY
trend – and whether it’s right for your next upgrade. One of the best things about 1x is its
simplicity. There’s only one shifter to
By MATT PHILLIPS deal with, and one derailleur. Shift one
direction and pedalling gets harder; shift

84 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 THE TEST ZONE

the other way and pedalling gets easier. road drivetrain is that compared to 2x,
A 1x drivetrain is easier to ride, easier to it has bigger jumps between gears. In
set up, and easier to maintain. And you my experience, this feeling isn’t always
don’t have to worry about cross-chaining. present; but when it arises, it can be
quite annoying. But the annoyance does
2. MORE RELIABLE SHIFTING fade the more you ride with a 1x system
Because of the size difference between and get used to the jumps.
the large and small chainrings, a front The gear jumps are definitely
derailleur must move the chain across a getting better with the latest 13x
far greater vertical distance than a rear. cassettes, but a 1x system still can’t
Also, a front derailleur shift is initiated match the incremental jumps of 2x,
on the high-tension, top run of the chain, which allow you to keep your cadence
while a rear shift starts on the lower run and torque as consistent as possible.
of the chain, where tension is less. Today, most road bikes are still
Given these factors, if you’re going sold with 2x, and sticking with that is
to have an issue with your drivetrain, easiest for many riders. But if you’re
it will most likely be up front. Two of willing to accept the slightly bigger gear
the most common issues are sluggish jumps, today’s 1x options allow riders
or inconsistent shifting, and routinely to puzzle together a drivetrain that has
dropping your chain. Ditching the front  1 X C A N ' T OF F E R E X A C T LY T HE S A ME the same range and ratio of a 2x set-up,
R A NG E A S 2 X , B U T A 1 3 X C A S S E T T E
derailleur eliminates these issues. W IL L G E T Y OU P R E T T Y C L O S E .
but simpler, more reliable, slightly more
aerodynamic, and potentially lighter.
3. CHAIN RETENTION seeking to maximise your marginal Both set-ups are highly tuneable to a
Speaking about (not) dropping your gains, it’s another area to exploit. rider’s needs, with multiple cassette and
chain… Most 1x road drivetrains borrow chainring options available. And with
chain-retention technology from 6. WEIGHT (MAYBE) wireless electronic shifting, it’s relatively
mountain bikes. The result is greater 1x might be lighter than 2x, but not in easy to remove or add a front derailleur,
chain stability and security. Shifting all circumstances. It depends on how or change the rear derailleur between
is better on bumpy roads, and you’re the bike is set up. All else being equal, 1x-specific and 2x-compatible options.
unlikely ever to drop your chain. If you removing the front derailleur and one (Disclaimer: swapping and ‘tuning’
need even more security, you can easily front chainring will make a bike lighter; might be easy, but it’s expensive.)
add a chain keeper or chain guide. but you’ll need a wide-range cassette, Frankly, one of the biggest
which can be quite heavy, plus a long- considerations is whether your bike
4. FRAME IMPROVEMENTS cage rear derailleur to accommodate it. has a Shimano or SRAM drivetrain.
Removing the need to accommodate a SRAM has taken bold steps to build
front derailleur gives engineers more 7. SIMILAR GEAR RATIOS 1x-compatibility into its road drivetrains
design freedom in a challenging part Without trying to cover every possible – they offer a wide selection of cassette
of the structure. Without the front 1x and 2x gearing combination, I’ll and chainring options so riders can get
derailleur to consider, there are fewer simply say that a modern 1x drivetrain the gearing they need. Shimano’s road
holes in the frame and more potential can offer a similar range to a 2x system. groupsets, on the other hand, are not
to create a stiffer design. A front Here’s an example: a 1x SRAM AXS (yet) designed with 1x in mind. That
derailleur can also limit tyre clearance, XPLR 13-speed drivetrain with a 10-46t doesn’t mean it’s impossible to run a
and it provides a place for mud and cassette and 48t chainring has a 460% 1x system using Shimano parts, but the
debris to gather in mucky conditions. range. That’s close to the 494% range of options are more limited.
And although it’s not a functional a SRAM AXS 2x drivetrain with a 10-36 And for the lucky few who get to ride
improvement, 1x bikes just look better: cassette and 48/35 chainrings. Campagnolo… their new Super Record
faster, sleeker and cleaner. In this example, the easiest and 13 groupset offers 1x and 2x options.
hardest ratios of both drivetrains are The 2x chainring set-up has all but
5. AERODYNAMICS also very similar, which means they have disappeared in mountain biking, and it’s
This is not a major transformation, about the same climbing gear and they a rare sight on a gravel bike. There are
but removing the front derailleur spin out at about the same speed. still tangible benefits to riding 2x on a
does make the bike a bit more road bike; but 1x technology is catching
Images: Trevor Raab

aerodynamic. We’re only talking SO, SHOULD I UPGRADE? up, and the days of the front derailleur
about a few watts, but if you’re One of the main drawbacks to a 1x might be limited. Watch this space…

ISSUE 6 | 2025 85
 Just as 29-inch wheels
shook up mountain
biking in the 2000s,
even bigger 32-inch
wheels are doing it
again. Major brands
and custom builders
alike are betting on
the new standard,
signalling ‘big’ changes
in bike performance

Image: Trevor Raab

and design.
By MATT PHILLIPS

WHACKY 1 Mini Velo (1990s)

Typically built with
WHEELS 20-inch wheels for

THROUGH urban commuting, and

for storing in small
THE AGES spaces. A mini velo
is compact but still
A HISTORY OF QUIRKY
efficient for city riding.
WHEELS, FROM MOST
PRACTICAL TO... LEAST.

86 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 THE TEST ZONE

AT MADE THIS YEAR – THE HAND-BUILT WHY 32-INCH? be made until one of the major brands
and custom bicycle trade show in the US 1 For the same benefits that were touted when commits to a large order.
– several mountain bikes were built around 29-inch wheels showed up as an alternative Word on the street is that brands
the emerging 32-inch wheel standard. to 26-inch wheels: bigger wheels roll more like Trek, Specialized, Cannondale and
The custom bike to your left, for smoothly (and therefore faster) over bumps; Scott – essentially any brand with a
example, made by Cameron Falconer, they offer more traction for climbing, braking major presence at the top level of cross-
was displayed at the Astral wheels booth. and cornering; and stability is improved. country racing – are all testing bikes with
It’s a stunning example of the trend, There are some drawbacks: more material, 32-inch wheels. BMC broke the internet
outfitted with a suspension fork (and so almost all 32-specific parts are heavier; with their ‘Fahrenheit Project’ 32-inch
brakes) from German company Intend anything longer and larger is usually less prototype at the Andorra World Cup XC
Bicycle Components. The Falconer stiff; there are (currently) fewer equipment race in July, which Titouan Carod used on
was at the Astral booth to showcase choices; there are frame geometry challenges a few practice laps. We know it’s coming.
prototypes of their 32-inch Outback alloy that have yet to be overcome; and adopting a So far, there’s only one high-quality
MTB rims. So-called ‘32ers’ were also major new standard is always disruptive. tyre available in the 32-inch size: the
seen at the BTCHN and Neuhaus booths. As for the best use of the new, bigger XC-focused Maxxis Aspen. Maxxis should
A show like MADE often telegraphs wheels, it seems that they’re most suited to be able to add more tread options more
trends that will soon go mainstream. And cross-country (XC) racing. Creating longer- easily than most, but the challenge
it looks like we’re at the beginning of the travel bikes with such large wheels is a for them and other tyre brands is that
next big wheel shake-up. geometry headache and calls for even longer existing moulding machines are too small
We’ve been through this before. As front centres, even longer chain stays, and to produce a 32-inch tyre. New, bigger
a grizzled old gear guy, I was testing steeper seat tube angles. It also seems as if machines will be required to enable mass
MTBs for Bicycling in the late 1990s and 32-inch wheels will benefit taller riders on XL production of the new standard.
early 2000s, when 29-inch wheels first and XXL frames. A bike with bigger wheels With those stumbling blocks in mind,
appeared. Based on that experience, I obviously has a higher stand-over height and a it will probably take several years before
have a good idea how the transition to taller minimum handlebar height. mature products fully support the new
32-inch wheels might unfold… Playing devil’s advocate, we said the same wheel size; but this timeline depends
However, there’s a notable difference things about 29-inch wheels back when we entirely on how widespread the demand is.
that will make adopting the 32-inch were all riding 26-inch bikes. You can find Until then, any custom builder worth
standard different from adopting the plenty of 29-inch wheels on enduro and his or her torch can build a bike that will
29-inch standard: back when the 29er downhill bikes, not just XC bikes; and pint- accommodate 32-inch wheels; and smaller,
trend started, 29 was new to mountain sized Sina Frei – who is only 1.51m tall – races more nimble brands will probably do
bikes, but it wasn’t new to the bike World Cup cross country on a 29er… limited runs of stock big-wheel bikes.
industry. 29-inch was just the common On steeper terrain, the issue of butt At MADE, for example, I learnt that
700c wheel, by another name. So, even clearance with larger wheels also comes into Neuhaus is working on a 32-inch version of
though there were major growing pains play. This is already an issue with 29-inch their Taiwanese-made Hummingbird Core.
to bring the performance of 29-inch wheels, leading many riders who tackle The 29er Hummingbird frame costs about
mountain bikes to where they are today, demanding terrain to opt for a 27.5-inch rear R20k and features modular sliding dropouts
it wasn’t like the industry was starting wheel to gain better clearance. Will we see that support single-speed and geared set-
from scratch. nü-mullet bikes with a 32-inch front wheel ups. The 32-inch version will probably have
With 32-inch wheels, they are and a 29-inch rear? Maybe. many of the same features, but will only be
essentially starting from scratch. But I available in medium, large and extra-large.
think that the knowledge gained during HOW PRACTICAL IS IT? As with any new tech in cycling,
the 26-to-29 transition will help make 1 A new mountain bike wheel size won’t 32-inch wheels will attract early adopters,
the transition to 32-inch wheels much – can’t – take off until there are multiple enthusiasts and sceptics, and outright
‘smoother’, should the demand for and widely available suspension forks and haters. It will take time to develop
bigger wheels necessitate the shift. tyre offerings. And those things won’t geometry that maximises the advantages
of the larger wheel. The bikes will
be heavy initially, but the weight
1 Fat Bike (1980s) 1 Safety Bicycle (1890s) 1 Penny-farthing (1870s) 1 Clown Bike
Usually a 26-inch wheel The forerunner of the The front wheel of this (1960s) of the components will decrease
with a massive, four- to modern bicycle, this design contraption could be A tiny bike with as brands adapt. If demand proves
six-inch tyre – for snow, allowed for much smaller as big as 60 inches! It six- to eight- to be strong, brands will improve
sand and adventure wheels and replaced the offered speed before inch wheels.
and refine 32-inch bikes and
riding. Handles extreme need for the large, directly- gears existed, but it was For circus
terrain where normal pedalled front wheel of the extremely dangerous and tricks only… accessories, reducing drawbacks so
MTBs fail. penny-farthing. impractical. the benefits become clear.
Trust me: it’s happened before.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 87
 LOOKING FOR
FESTIVE-SEASON SPOILS
FOR THE CYCLIST IN
YOUR LIFE? WE’VE GOT
YOU COVERED. HERE ARE
20 CYCLE-TASTIC GIFTS
GUARANTEED TO BRING
MILES OF SMILES.

88 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 EDITOR'S
Huawei GT 6 Pro
CH OICE FROM R6 999 | [Link]
1 And the award for the best-value smartwatch
goes to… yes, Huawei has upped the game with
their new GT 6 Pro.
It looks tremendous on your wrist, with a
titanium case and scratch-proof sapphire glass
housing a 1.47-inch AMOLED display that’s easy
to read in sunlight. And it’s absolutely crammed
with features for cyclists, including the headline-
grabbing Virtual Cycling Power, which estimates
your watt output using speed, gradient, rider/bike
weight and incline data – all without needing an
external power meter.
The GT 6 Pro also supports FTP tracking and
virtual cadence measurement, and it has dual-
band GPS. Despite all these power-hungry features,
battery life is also impressive – up to 21 days of light
use, or up to 40 hours of continuous tracking.
There are also plenty of other health features,
and more than a hundred workout and sport modes
for other activities, including running, open-water
swimming, hiking… even kite flying!

Images: Supplied

226ers the right feeding strategy becomes. Get

High-Fructose this eight-pack of gels for the race snake
Gel 8-Pack in the family – each one is formulated
with maltodextrin and fructose in a ratio
R509 | [Link] of 10:8, providing a high carbohydrate
1 Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition… The content of 30g per 44g gel. They contain
more we learn about the body’s ability to sodium, they’re vegan-friendly, and they
absorb carbohydrates, the more crucial come in six flavours. Winning.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 89
GIFT GUIDE

 M A K E I T A FA MILY
A F FA IR ! T HE R E ' S E V E N
A K ID S ' B OK T OP, IN
S I Z E S 7– 8 , 9 –1 0 A ND
1 1–1 2 ( R 5 9 9 ) .

Ciovita Springbok Jersey

ADULT JERSEYS FROM R1 299 | [Link]
1 Early ride on game day? Show your support for the Boks with
this stylish, officially licensed green-and-gold jersey. It’s available
in two cuts – race fit and sport fit – in men’s, women’s and junior
versions. You can also go full bokkie with a range of other accessories
Images: Jon Minster & Supplied

including tube scarfs, ear warmers, arm warmers and a Springbok

casquette. Lekker.

90 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 THE TEST ZONE

 IF Y OU ' R E A R A C E
S N A K E , C HE C K OU T
T HE E NDUR A NC E 4 . 0 –
A S L IGH T LY L IGH T E R ,
MORE V E N T E D
V E R S ION ( R 3 4 9 9 ) .

Leatt
Endurance 3.0 Thule Rail 2l
Helmet Hip Pack
R2 699 | [Link] R1 799 | [Link]
1 Known more for their range of gravity- 1 Unless you’re Alan Hatherly, mountain
focused helmets, the Endurance is Leatt’s biking and skin-tight lycra don’t go nicely
very well-priced solution for XC race together; when you’re out riding berms in
protection. The 3.0 version weighs only the forest, you’d rather be in something
350g and features the brand's 360° Turbine looser-fitting. But that kind of trail tee
Technology, which – like MIPS – reduces often doesn’t have pockets, which means
rotational acceleration and impact forces you have nowhere to store your stuff.
to the head and brain during an impact. Enter the two-litre Rail hip pack – it’s
There are plenty of strategically placed the perfect size to hold your essentials,
vents and extended rear coverage for some with internal organisation including tool
added protection. Also available in black, loops, a key clip and a phone pocket.
‘lime’, ‘lava’ and ‘pistachio’. The breathable, perforated back panel
and adjustable belt ensure a secure and
comfortable fit, and there’s even space
for two water bottles on the sides if you’re
planning a longer ride.

Oakley Drops 2.0 Gloves

R890 | [Link]
1 These stylish roadie gloves offer a snug, comfortable fit with
a stretch nylon upper and breathable mesh between the fingers.
Images: Supplied

Padded areas on the palm reduce road vibration, and there’s a

microsuede thumb for wiping sweat before it drips onto your
Oakley shades. They’re on the pricey end of the scale, but they’re
well-made and should last many seasons.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 91
GIFT GUIDE

Ryder
Electronic
Tyre Pump
R999 | [Link]
1 We were sceptical about these
newfangled rechargeable pumps – until
we saw one in action. They work! Small
enough to fit in your jersey pocket, less
volatile than a CO2 cartridge, easier to use
than a normal pump… What’s not to like?
This one from local brand Ryder has
an easy-to-read display and a 400mAh
batter y that gives the pump the
equivalent capacity of more than three
bombs. Fully charged, you can pump
as many as five road tyres or four MTB
tyres from flat. It’s not the fastest, so
it’s not a race tool; but it’s fantastic for
weekend missions and everyday riding.

Images: Jon Minster & Supplied

 S E T T HE P R E S S UR E ,
AT TA C H T O T HE VA LV E ,
P R E S S T HE B U T T ON
A ND OF F Y OU G O .

92 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 THE TEST ZONE

Lezyne
Pocket
Torque
Drive
R890 | [Link]
1 You don’t want to
take chances with over-
or under-tightening
critical components
– like anything that
attaches to a carbon
handlebar, or your stem
bolts. That’s where
this little torque driver comes aluminium, with six hardened
into play: it’s the perfect tool for steel bits (2.5 to 5mm hex and
travelling, or if space is limited in T20/T25 Torx) and a key for extra
your home workshop. leverage. The whole bang shoot
First Ascent Enduro It’s adjustable between 2 to packs away neatly in a case that
Hydration Pack 6Nm in 0.5Nm increments, and will fit into your toolbox, or even
made from lightweight machined your back pocket if required.
R1 299 | [Link]
1 Hydration packs are enjoying a renaissance – they’re
popular again, especially in marathon and gravel-racing
circles. This is largely thanks to new low-profile designs Trek Foray Trek Foray gets this balance right.
that stop the pack from bouncing around on your back. The MTB shoes The embedded nylon plate is stiff
locally-designed Enduro has a great harness system (yes, enough for efficient pedalling,
R4 000 | [Link]
it also reminds us of a well-known Swedish brand…) plus but flexible enough in case you
a two-litre TPU bladder and a removable exterior pocket 1 What do you want from a pair need to hike-a-bike. The outsole
where you can stash snacks and a jacket. It’s well-priced of mountain-bike shoes? Well, is designed for that, too; and the
Images: Mike Finch / Supplied

and practical – you can’t go wrong. you want them to be suitably toe box area has Trek’s ‘METNET’
stiff, so you don’t waste energy stretch technology that conforms
pedalling, but you also want to to your foot for extra comfort on
be able to walk in them without longer rides. They’re available in
feeling like you have metal black, but we love this white and
sheeting strapped to gum colourway. Also great for
your feet. The gravel riding.

EDITOR'S
CHOI CE

ISSUE 6 | 2025 93
GIFT GUIDE

 A S TA ND M A K E S
B A S IC B IK E
M A IN T E N A NC E AT
HOME MUC H E A SIE R .
S E R V IC ING Y OUR O W N
B IK E W IL L S AV E Y OU
P L E N T Y OF MONE Y IN
T HE L ONG T E R M , A ND
I T ' S F UN!

Park Tool PCS 10.3 Stand

The steel ‘teardrop’ tubing
R4 795 | [Link]
and wide, triangular base resist
1 Every serious home workshop tipping, even under heavy bikes,
needs a serious bike stand – and and height adjusts from about
this is one of the best. It’s robust, 99 to 1 45cm. There’s a lso a
and offers excellent stability and thoughtful spring-button that
flexibility. The micro-adjustable prevents leg collapse – a fix over
cam clamp securely grips tubes earlier models. Plus, it just looks
from 22 to 76 mm in diameter, and pro to have this thing standing in
it rotates 360° for full access. your garage.

RideNow
TPU Tubes
R120 | [Link]
1 Yes, we’ve listed Temu as a
stockist because that’s where
they’re cheapest, but many local
bike shops stock these ultra-
lightweight tubes, made from
thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)
instead of standard butyl. They
retain air better and roll faster, but
they’re more difficult to patch and
require some care when installing.
Use them for your race rig, or pack
one as a spare if you’re running
Images: Supplied

tubeless or standard tubes – they

weigh only 36g, and take up hardly
any space in your saddle bag.

94 ISSUE 6 | 2025
  BL ACK IS
P R A C T IC A L , B U T
T HE S E GR IP S A R E
A L S O AVA IL A B L E IN
A R A NGE OF O T HE R
C OL OUR S .

Csixx
Magnetic
Quick Link
Top Cap
ESI Ribbed
Chunky Grips R425 | [Link]
hands in wet and dry conditions. 1 This is such a cool upgrade for your
R550 | [Link]
They’re thicker than standard grips mountain bike. Available in various
1 There are plenty of cheaper silicone for better cushioning, and the ribbed designs, and even custom colours, this
grips out there, but not many are as texture adds even more traction. Best top cap mounts flush and snaps closed
good as these from ESI, the OG of all, they still weigh next to nothing thanks to powerful magnets. Inside, you
lightweight grip brand. They’re made (60g for the pair), so you get all the can stash a pair of quick links – out of
from 100% silicone (latex- and rubber- comfort without adding unnecessary sight and out of mind, until that one ride
free), which makes them gentle on bulk to your cockpit. where you really need them…

Muc-Off 8-in-1
Bike Cleaning Kit
R1 190 | [Link]
1 Riding bikes is only half the fun. If you’re prone to a bit of
OCD, you’ll know that washing your bike after the ride can
be equally satisfying. This kit includes a litre of Muc-Off’s
acclaimed ‘Nano Tech Bike Cleaner’, which apparently has
tiny particles that get into all the places normal detergent
doesn’t, plus multiple brushes (soft, detail, claw, two-prong),
a sponge, protective frame spray and a tub that doubles as a
parts-washing station.
The brushes are great, and the frame spray does a good job
of stopping grit from clinging to your clean bike. It’s a bit pricey
for what you get, and some tools overlap with easily sourced
alternatives; but it’s a nice all-in-one kit that saves the neat
freak in your family from having to hunt for individual parts.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 95
GEAR GUIDE

 E V E R Y ONE
NE E D S A GR E AT,
E V E R Y D AY C A P –
T HIS ONE F R OM Killat Trail Cap
K IL L AT I S T HE
B U S INE S S . R450 | [Link]
1 Okay, fine – this is a trail-running cap.
But it’s a great one. Locally designed
and made in Cape Town, in a funky
colourway, it’s the perfect cap to throw
into your post-race bag to protect your
face from the sun when you’re hanging
in the beer tent, or to take with you on
a bikepacking mission. (It’s also good if
you decide to take up that other funny
sport in the mountains…)

Trek Aeolus Elite saddle

R2 000 | [Link]
all day – in other words, roadies,
1 This new saddle from Trek is gravel grinders and XC mountain
aimed at riders who want to get bikers. With a short nose and full
into an aggressive, forward-facing cut-out, it’s available in three sizes
position, but still ride in comfort and designed for men and women.

Images: Supplied

96 ISSUE 6 | 2025
 THE TEST ZONE

Garmin
Edge MTB
R7 999 | [Link]
1 The Edge MTB is the most rugged
unit Garmin has produced, designed
specifically for mountain biking. It’s
compact, weighing around 56g, with a
full-colour 2.1-inch Gorilla Glass display
D’Arcs them in gloomy conditions, or and physical buttons that you can use in
Vantage when it’s raining, to give your eyes the mud and rain, with gloves on.
Sunglasses maximum protection. Besides all the usual Garmin features,
They tend to be pricey, though, there are also trail-specific ones like
R1 399 | [Link]
which is why these from D’Arcs downhill and enduro profi les, something
1 If you regularly ride in the early are special – they don’t cost the called ‘Forksight’ for upcoming trail info,
morning, before sun-up, you need a earth, but the lenses are quality, and timing gates for when you’re trying
good pair of photochromic glasses. the glasses fit brilliantly with an to break your Strava records down the
The lenses stay clear when it’s dark adjustable nosepiece, and the snake trails in Tokai. The feature set is
and tint automatically as you ride overall build quality is excellent, actually fairly overwhelming, especially
into the dawn. You can also use designed to last many years. for new users; it pays to take some time
to get to know the device and customise
it properly to your needs.

Restrap
Coffee Dripper
R300 | [Link]
1 Wa nt to ma ke you r favou r ite
bikepacker very happy? Get them this
inspired piece of kit, designed to make
a proper cup of coffee on the road.
Weighing less than 50g, it’s made of
three snap-together pieces that form
a tidy stand for a widely available V60
coffee fi lter, before collapsing flat into a
textured nylon pouch that you can slip
into just about any pouch or pocket.

ISSUE 6 | 2025 97
CULTURE

THE
COFFEE
PERSONALITY
GUIDE
COF F EE IS T HE M Y ERS -BRIGGS T ES T FOR C Y CL IS T S .
HERE ’ S W H AT Y OUR CHOSEN BRE W S AY S A BOU T Y OU .

Double espresso Flat white

After racing everyone up Chapman’s You take photos of your coffee for
Peak, you’re now stamping your Strava, and you let someone else
foot, impatient to go again. You call pay for it. Your preference is to
it a doppio because it sounds more sit third wheel in the group. When
Euro-pro. Also, because singolo is for someone asks, “What route are we
cyclists who wear hydration packs on riding?” you say, “I’m easy.” You
road rides. Deep down, you believe have to be home by 10am.
that the extra caffeine is aero. Your Respect rating:
tongue does not feel pain.
Respect rating:

Oat-milk latte
You believe that the two-minute
Cold brew rule doesn’t apply to you and you’re
Your gravel bike has a name and its always late, which is why you have
own Instagram profile. You believe that an e-bike that you can put into
a 0.2-degree change to the head angle boost mode to catch up with the
actually affects how a bike handles. group. You believe that oat milk
Your dog is called ‘Girona’ and you makes you edgy. It doesn’t. It makes
probably have a Campagnolo tattoo. you lactose intolerant.
Respect rating: Respect rating:
Words: Jon Minster Images: Getty; Canva

Americano Tea
You’re practical, and don’t like fuss. Who are you? When did you join
You ride endurance miles and secretly this group ride? What have you
dream of bikepacking, but haven’t yet. done with Kevin?
You make lowball offers for bike parts Respect rating:
on Facebook Marketplace. You never
ride in the afternoon.
Respect rating:

98 ISSUE 6 | 2025
EDGE® 550 | 850
GPS CYCLING COMPUTERS
WITH VIVID COLOUR DISPLAYS