Full Sus Oct/Nov 2019 by Full Sus #MTB

FREE @ BIKE SHOPS!

#MTB O CTO B E R/ N OV E M B E R 2019 VO L 61

F U L L S U S S A

@ F U L L S U S S A

F U L L S U S S A

DO NO E-VIL “THE TIME HAS COME TO STOP AND THINK BEFORE YOU ROLL OUT THE INEVITABLE INSULT.”

They are here, people, and here to stay. E-bikes – love them or hate them – are getting people pedalling, and that is a good thing. Let’s open this e-issue of Full Sus with an open letter from Burg Wheelers Cycling Club member, BRETT FOURIE .. was prompted to put pen to paper by a picture doing the rounds on social media. A picture which inevitably also found its way onto our various Whatsapp chat groups. Yes, you all know what I’m referring to - yet another dig at e-bikes and why they shouldn’t be part of the cycling landscape. I hear the same thing over and over almost on a daily basis “it’s cheating”, “it’s only for old people”, “they don’t belong on the same trails as the rest of us normal bikers”. The list goes on. Cast your minds back five or six years. Many cyclists, including our very own peers and cycling buddies who rode with us then and still do now, scoffed at the idea of the 29-inch wheel. “Looks stupid,” they said, “will never catch on,” they said, “just another standard created by the cycling industry to make money from us,” they said. With the perfect vision of hindsight, 99% of mountain bikes present at any of our group outrides are in fact 29rs. Might I add in my opinion many amongst us would be better off from a performance and handling perspective on a 27.5 but that’s a discussion better left for another day.

P H OTO : B o s c h e - B i ke Sy s t m s

E-BIKES - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

TOP E-BIKES, RIDDEN

p14

p22

RIDE HERE: ST FRANCIS AWAITS

p29

COVER STORY

P H OTO S : B o s c h e - B i ke Sy s t m s

Back to e-bikes. A few weeks back our store sold one to an elderly gentleman who suffers from Parkinson’s disease. He is no longer able to drive, and battles to walk or even communicate coherently. When this individual however got onto an e-bike he was transformed. After just a few meters on the bike, the uncontrollable shaking had disappeared and he and I could hold a conversation as “normal” as any other. Now I’m no doctor, but I have read articles by experts in the medical profession substantiating claims that cycling and the use of an e-bike in particular has this effect on most patients suffering from Parkinson’s. In my book it’s just outright amazing to have witnessed it with my own eyes! We have medical doctors in our club whom I’m sure could shed further light on the subject. On a personal level I’d like to share my own story. As I’m sure a few of you are aware, I suffer from epilepsy. I have had this condition since 1986 when I was involved in a parachuting accident during my national service. What you may not know is that the accident has also left me with a condition known as right sided hemiparesis. In essence, this means the entire right hand side of my body is 40- 50% weaker than my left, something I have learned to live with and embrace as part and parcel of who I am today. Sport is a huge physical challenge as my body is totally out of sync with itself. Cycling in particular has proven to be a challenge due to the vast difference in symmetry and power output from my left leg as opposed to the right. Nevertheless, I believe I hold my own among you on our various and numerous rides together as club mates. At this juncture might I add that every four years my condition has enabled me to qualify for the Paralympics should I wish to participate. My condition is also all on file and verifiable with our very own Dr Mike Smit. This is not something I’ve spoken about before, but I felt the time was right now due to the availability of e-bikes and how they have impacted

my life. As some of you may know I have had an e-bike of my own since Giant launched them a few years back. I was most privileged to be included in their then fledgling ambassador program. Since I’ve been riding one, notwithstanding the usual” that’s cheating” remarks, my cycling experience has been entirely revolutionised. I am now able to complete a ride without the usual after effects of total fatigue, pain and general discomfort usually experienced when I get home and get off my bike. These amazing machines are enabling me to continue cycling now, and hopefully many more years into the future. Did you know that e-bikes are now being used and ridden by the likes of Nino Schurter, Christoff Sauser and Ariane Lüthi? These elite athletes use

them as training tools to compliment and add to their training regimes. Last year Julian Absalon won the inaugural European e-bike championships. [Alan Hatherly won the inaugural e-bike World Championships just after Brett penned this. – Ed.] The list goes on ... To the naysayers - perhaps the time has come to stop and think for just a split second before you blurt out the inevitable insult about to roll off your tongue the next time you come across a cyclist on an e-bike. Instead, embrace the fact that another individual is able to enjoy this sport we all love and enjoy so much, albeit with a bit of electrical assistance ... Yours in cycling Brett Fourie.

Conquer steep climbs & technical singletrack with confidence aboard the Trance-E+ Pro . The SyncDrive Pro motor gives the Trance E+ Pro a massive 80Nm of torque . 360 percent tunable support, all controlled by RideControl One. 140mm of smooth Maestro suspension travel in the rear, 150mm in the front . this is a whole new way to tackle technical singletrack trails.

photo :JACQUES MARAIS

EDITOR’S LETTER

CONNECT WITH US

@FullSussa FullSussa FullSussa

THE TEAM PUBLISHING EDITOR Shayne Dowling shayne@integratedmedia.co.za EDITOR Tim Brink tim@integratedmedia.co.za ART DIRECTOR Claire Horner studio@integratedmedia.co.za SALES Robin Moore robin@integratedmedia.co.za PR & ADMIN Dee Griffin dee@integratedmedia.co.za REGULARS Jacques Marais, Dr Mike Posthumus & Ben Capostagno, Stefan Garlicki, Adrian Penzhorn and Hendrik Lemmer CONTRIBUTORS Erica Green, Jo Dobinson, Rupert von Tutscheck. ROGUE CONTRIBUTOR David Bristow PHOTOGRAPHY Zoon Cronje, Craig Kolesky and Oakpics.com PRINTING Paarl Coldset (Pty) Ltd P U B L I S H E D BY Head Office | Cape Town Tel: 021 685 0285 Address: Suite WB03, Tannery Park, 23 Belmont Road, Rondebosch, 7700 Postal Address: PO Box 259, Rondebosch 7701 DISCLAIMER The views expressed by the contributors and columnists do not necessarily represent the views of Full Sus or Integrated Media. Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa NPC

A L L I A N C E PA R T N E R S

P H OTO : SAG E L E E VO G E S FO R W W W. Z C M C .CO. Z A

MTB NEWS EDITOR’S LETTER ome of you will remember the advent of the 29er, 12 years or so ago. “It’ll never catch on” they said. Nope, of course not. The same with disc brakes (if you think the roadies are being silly, so were we), clipless pedals, indexed shifting, tubeless tyres ... everything we take for granted today on our mountain bikes was met with resistance, initially. Human nature is to fear change, I guess, and we manifest that in resisting it in the face of all sensible evidence to the contrary. A very few of you will remember the beginning of it all, when the first mountain bikes dropped in South Africa. Bridgestone’s legendary range pioneered it here, closely followed by Cannondale, and then the rest. Guess what? “They’ll never catch on,” cried all and sundry. True story. And so, you find yourself holding an issue with a whole lot of e-bikes in it, and a little bit of explaining how they work, and why. “They’ll never catch on.” We hear that a lot. Fair enough, we heard it about fatbikes, too, and they have kinda faded, as have suspension stems, Shimano’s terrible Dual Control shifters, U-don’t-know-why-U-bought-them brakes and (yes, they are making a comeback) bikes with smaller rear wheels ... E-bikes are different, promise. I say this with my 12-year-old 29er in than garage – and it was my second foray into big hoops. Some trends, you need to ride to work out if they are going to pan out, or not. And ride properly – not just around the shop’s parking lot. Having spent a month dabbling with the four e-steeds you will read about later in this issue, I am a firm believer that we will all be riding e-bikes in the future, in some form or for part of our cycling experience. For average riders they offer a far bigger range for the same fitness level – they get to see more of our spectacular country. Which is a good thing. Newcomers to cycling and novice off-roaders will ride more, if they are not completely broken after each ride. E-bikes still give you a cracking workout, I must stress, they just remove the crippling spikes off-road riding provides, with some assist on silly-steep climbs, and let you get home when you have pushed your fitness too far. Even at the competitive end of the sport, they have a place. For the speed merchants, e-bikes offer a way of actually enjoying recovery rides, keeping the heart rate down but still getting out for a decent soul-soother ride. For the gravity crew – multiple repeats of favourite trails, with the ride back up no longer an issue. Like a ski-lift, but more fun. I rode these bikes a lot, in a particularly big (for an old man) training month. Approaching half of the 1400-odd kilometres (almost exclusively off-road) I covered were e-assisted. Some of the hardest rides I did were powered – you can’t help but chase your own tail, trying to keep ahead of the bike in a warped way. You have been given a governed speed limit, 26 or 32 km/h ( depending on the bike) and you will be damned if you don’t use it. Even if you need to max out your own system to keep up. And, all the time, the smile is on the dial. E-bikes are just plain fun. “They’ll never catch on.”

Ti m To support the Urban Caracal Project log onto www.urbancaracal.org

@FULLSUSSA

FULLSUSSA

THAT’LL DO!

When we heard there would be a World E-Bike Championships, we nearly snorted our cortados. Then, lo and behold, Alan Hatherley went and won the flipping thing, in Mont Saint Anne, Canada, in August. Riding a pimped-out S-Works Levo that was governed to 250w and stopped assisting at 25km/h (his average speed to win would end up being 26km/h, so he certainly got a workout!), he dominated on a brutal lapped course that was no easier than a “normal” XCO course, technically or otherwise. And the field wasn’t completely made up of celebs and former pros – Julien Absalon finished third, Jaroslav Kulhavy was fifth and Christoph Sauser 10th ... that is an awful lot of Olympic and World Championship medallists to ride away from, as he did from the get-go. A rainbow jersey, for the second year in a row, for Alan, although we are not quite sure yet where he can wear it ... the women’s event was won by Nathalie Schneitter, from Switzerland. The most impressive feat on the day, though, might well have been an XCO racer having the upper body strength to lift an e-bike above his head on the finish line. Even if it was a superlight Levo.

02 IF YOU GO DOWN TO THE WOODS TODAY ... ... you will discover there are none! Tokai Forest is no more, courtesy of the devastating fires of 2015. It is just Tokai, and the TokaiMTB folk have been hard at work rebuilding what was rendered unrideable in the inferno. If you haven’t visited recently, best you get down there – all of the snake trails have been fully rebuilt, taking into account the change in construction needed without a forest to hold it all together, and are running fast and flowy. Cobra is deservedly rated Black, and is for the DH/Enduro crew only, realistically, but the rest has sensible options when the going gets too big-travel, and the newly-reopened Rinkhals section ends the run off on a high. Vasbyt is flowier than ever, My Roots has been totally rebuilt, and is set to open in mid-October, and Fairy Garden remains a solid choice as you enter the precinct. There is also a world-class DH selection (enter with caution and walk them first so you know what is what), and a criss-cross of fire roads that culminate in the glorious ride to the radio mast, 970m above sea level. The best news is that there has been a substantial and successful funding drive, which has made not just the above possible, but also at least one never-ridden-before trail to be developed, which we can’t tell you about quite yet. Watch our social media towards the end of October for a Grand Opening. www.tokaimtb.co.za

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

BIKE TRAVEL MADE SIMPLE

Dakine has been making bike bags since forever, and their latest soft option is arguably their best, yet. The Bike Roller comfortably houses a DH, enduro, trail, fat, 29er, gravel or road bike in a sensibly-padded, lightweight unit that will hopefully keep the baggage handlers at bay – internal wheel bags, a fork bag, top- and downtube wraps, a derailleur bag and a small parts bag keep everything snug, yet separate, minimising scratching, rattling and rubbing. At just 7.2kg, it allows you to carry your bike, plus a bit of kit, without troubling the fierce lady at check in and her scale. Empty, it folds into itself and is no bigger than a golf bag, so you can store it easily while you explore exotic destinations. Handles all round and sturdy wheels make it a breeze to wheel around the airport. Priced at R5 999, a bag worth looking at if you are going to be travelling with your baby.

MUDDY HELL!

The 21st edition of one of the toughest events on the South African MTB calendar proved to be the grittiest yet, with torrential rain, hail and freezing temperatures making the 100km Buco Lions Karoo to Coast one for the record books. The women’s race was dominated by local rider Nicky Giliomee, who finished in 4h10, nearly half an hour faster than second and third-placed Odette Guy and Annerie van Velden. Kayleigh Gultig took home the U23 women’s trophy, in seventh place overall. The men’s category was contested at brutal pace, considering the conditions, with a surprise win from Craig Starke in 3:19. Waylon Woolcock was second, nine minutes behind after Starke attacked halfway through the race to distance him and Craig Boyes, who finished another five minutes back. Freddie Visser took the U23 crown, and 10th place over all. Collectively, they led home 2 849 bedraggled cyclists, all of whom can be proud of finishing this beast.

BRONZE FOR DE GROOT

Sneaking in past the “big” cycling news in September, almost unnoticed, was the outstanding South African performance of 2019; Robyn de Groot claiming a bronze medal at the World Marathon Championships in Switzerland. Finishing a little over two and a half minutes behind the winner, newly-crowned XCO world champ Pauline Ferrand-Prevot of France, de Groot battled within the top 10 all day, before closing strong in the last hour of the 70km, 3 500m race to claim third in four hours, give-or-take. This was a stellar return to form for de Groot, who had been recovering from vascular surgery in the first part of the year. Ariane Luthi finished 15th, and Sarah Hill 26th. The men’s race was won by Hector Leon Paez, with Krystian Hynek second and Samuele Porro third. Matthys Beukes finished 17th, only 10 minutes off the pace in a class 181-rider field, and Philip Buys ended up 30th.

MTB NEWS

06 06

FEDHEALTH MTB CHALLENGE

One of our favourite events, based at the iconic Boschendal, just outside Stellenbosch. The 2019 edition delivered on its promise of fun and top trails for the whole family, albeit in stifling heat that saw temperatures hitting the high 30s away from the shade of the finish. Vineyard trails, farm roads, sublime singletrack and cooling river crossings – all the must-do boxes were ticked for the main routes; 60km, 28km and 15km for the adults, while the littlies had their own bike bonanza with 5km, 1.5km and 500m options. Kids and community are big focuses for the event, away from the cycling, with proceeds and support going to the Aitsa! Aftercare Centre, which looks after the interests of school going kids in the Dwarsrivier and Kylemore areas, close to Boschendal, by providing them with a safe, nurturing environment after school finishes for the day, where they can play sport, improve their literacy and numeracy, and develop into balanced and productive young people. The racing almost seems secondary, but it was enthralling, with Pierre Lloyd and Alisha Myers taking the main races, Christelle Joubert and Adriaan van Zyl the half marathon, and Jeandre Ungerer and Zoe Green triumphant in the 15km funride.

THE WORSTKEPT SECRET IN MTB

After months looking at Trek factory racers like Jolande Neff riding sleeklooking machines with fugly rubber sleeves covering what appeared to be a whole new take on XCO race bikes, the veil was finally lifted on the new Supercaliber in September. Part hardtail, part duallie, it relies on the customised flex in the seat and chainstays, rather than heavy and potentially troublesome linkages, to give up 60mm of damped, tuneable rear-wheel travel through the minimalist shock tucked into the top tube. Replacing the venerable Top Fuel as Trek’s top race dog, the frameset tips the scales at just 1900g, including shock and hardware. Expect it in SA in December, in four model variants. Don’t expect it to be cheap; speed never is.

WWW.EBICYCLE.CO.ZA 021 511 4615

SPUR SCHOOLS

The Spur High Schools Mountain Bike League Inter-schools Final was held in late September at Wagpos High School just outside Brits in the North West Province. Invited schools and riders, having qualified through the various regional Spur series, battled it out to claim titles in the Boys Team, Girls Team and Mixed Team categories as well as the respective national scholar championship in each category. Schools qualify teams based on team performance in a series of qualification events, in all during the 2019 season 18 757 riders competed in 57 events across South Africa. Each rider is allocated points based on their finishing position in each race with the points being assigned to the school that they are registered with. There were 87high schools represented, and Namibia, Zimbabwe and Zambia also made the journey across their borders to add extra flavour to an already exciting weekend. Matteo Damilano and Zandri Strydom were dominant in the junior men’s and women’s races,

winning on both days. In fact, all the categories saw double victories, as Ian Els and Chante Olivier (U16), Veronique Rossouw and Bertie Anderson (U15) and Lilian Baber and Alec Coleske (Sub Junior) all won on both the individual and team outings. On day two, Garsfontein High School walked off with the mixed team trophy logging 730 points. Menlopark High School claimed the girl’s trophy with 450 points and Paul Roos Gimnasium once again secured the boy’s title with 790 points. Second and third positions in the mixed, girls and boys categories went to Drostdy High School (566

points) and Transvalia High School (556 points) followed by Rob Ferreira (411 points) and Midstream College (400 points); Garsfontein High School (740 points) and Outeniqua (465 points) respectively. Two of the Spur Series’ most popular supporters were in attendance, as has become their habit with these finals; newly crowned World E-MTB Champion Alan Hatherley and Swiss legend Ariane Luthi rode with the kids, took part in 30-second max-power competitions and spectated the whole weekend, inspiring our next generation of racers all the way.

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

BORN TO EXPLORE

The all-new Powerfly is stacked with rider-first design features like a ridiculously smart battery interface that takes the hassle out of removal, installation, and charging. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fast and easy, so you can focus on exploring more. Meet the new standard for e-MTB userexperience, on and off the trail. Explore Powerfly at trekbikes.com

EBIKE 101

E-BIKE 101 E-bikes are here to stay. And that is a good thing, no matter how purist your views are on them. We were avowed anti-E-ers until we rode them, in appropriate conditions. WORDS: TIM BRINK

P H OTO : B o s c h e - B i ke Sy s t m s

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

he bike-shop car park is not the place to form an opinion ... but that is true for all bikes, isn’t it? Take a pedal-assist bike out onto familiar trails, and you might surprise yourself with how much fun you allow yourself. Many regular cyclists see the rise of the e-bike as a threat, and this is especially true in South Africa, with our unnatural events- and performance-oriented outlook. This is nonsense, of course: e-bikes aren’t here to rob us of our human-powered way of life. In fact, they may very well enhance it and attract “normal” cyclists who would never have contemplated two-wheeled exercise or exploration. We aren’t the only ones: sales doubled in most markets last year, with America predicting 2019 as a $100-million market, and Europe dwarfing that (e-bikes outsold traditional bikes in the Netherlands in 2018). So, why would you join the e-revolution? Who should? What are the pitfalls, and what is the promise?

THEY MAKE IT EASIER TO RIDE This sounds obvious, but it warrants unpacking. Generally speaking, e-bikes are bicycles with a battery-powered assist that comes through pedalling or, in some cases, a throttle. When you push the pedals, a small motor engages and gives you a boost. The technical name is pedalecs, and they feel just like normal bikes. Some e-bikes come with a throttle that engages the motor with the press of a button. These belong to a separate class of e-bike that, to our mind, doesn’t offer a pure cycling experience the way a pedalec does. Let’s call them motorbikes ... So are they faster? Yes, to a degree. The harder you pedal, the bigger the boost, the faster you’ll ride, but e-bikes are limited to a speed beyond which the motor stops helping. Off-road, this is in the 25-32km/h range, with a handful of road versions governed to 48 km/h, for a truly terrifying experience. For experienced, fit cyclists, these limits can feel frustrating, but for the

P H OTO : B o s c h e - B i ke Sy s t m s

The motors you’ll see on today’s e-bikes come in three basic variants: hub-driven, with motors within the front or rear hub; aftermarket e-bike kits (often friction drives, which use a spinning wheel to contact the rear tire for propulsion) that allow you to pimp a regular bike and mid-drive motors, where you’d normally find the bottom bracket. Most pedal-assisted e-bikes use a speed sensor, which regulates e-assist by detecting the rider’s velocity, or torque sensors, which

SO, WHY WOULD YOU JOIN THE E - REVOLUTION? WHO SHOULD? WHAT ARE THE PITFALLS, AND WHAT IS THE PROMISE? target market, it is perfect. It is important to point out that you still have to pedal, quite hard, to reach these speeds on anything but the flattest route. These are not motorbikes. You will save time on your favourite route, or a commute and enjoy the scenery more than ever. You control how much assist you get, too; most e-bikes come with a switch that lets you toggle in a variety of steps from eco (low) to turbo (high), depending on the terrain, and some allow you to set how much assist each of these settings gives, so you can play with the balance between output and battery life. Riding an e-bike gets riders outdoors far more often than normally-aspirated riding. A recent survey of nearly 1 800 e-bike owners in the USA found that just over half rode daily or weekly. After buying an e-bike, that number rose to 91 percent. It makes sense: Even if you’re fit, you still get tired through your training cycle. If you have an e-bike, you can continue riding while giving your legs a break. You can also go faster and further, which makes cycling more attractive, even when you’re pressed for time. It is in the newcomer category, though, that e-bikes make the biggest impact. Starting out, a 20km ride can seem impossible, but with some assist it is a pleasure, especially as it helps with the hardest bits the most; steep climbs. Riding far, as a beginner, grows confidence and keeps you coming back for more. That same survey found that 94 percent of respondents who identified themselves as non-cyclists also rode daily or weekly after getting an e-bike. Think of riding an e-bike as walking, to “normal” cycling’s running – we don’t look down on beginner runners walking, do we? E-bikes are available in every form imaginable, internationally, but locally, there are three options: basic, MTB and road. The first category covers the rental/commuter market, and involves ridiculously heavy machines that are very good at just about getting from A to B efficiently. They tend to be the most affordable, but the real cost is that they offer a low range, just enough assist and require a crane to hoist them on a bike rack. Pure utility machines. Road bikes belong in our sister publication (which we don’t have, yet). Mountain bikes are where the action is ...

sense how much torque the rider is putting into the pedals. Most are optimised to produce power between cadences of 80 and 90rpm, so gear-mashers will need to learn to spin. It is possible to gyppo the settings on e-bikes, to get more free speed, but this is not clever; the rest of the bike (and your skill set) is not optimised for this, you will struggle with control and braking and you will crash. Very hard.

NOMMER, ASSEBLIEF Attempting to compare e-bike power ratings is frustrating. That’s because “rated power,” the metric some manufacturers use, doesn’t equal a motor’s actual power output or maximum potential power output. The power rating might indicate how much power you’re getting for a specific amount of time, although there’s no universal standard. It could be 10 seconds or 30 seconds, or it may only be able to get that for 1 to 2 seconds and the long-term power is far lower. Let’s try to work it out: Power measures how quickly work is done. Torque, a

TOP: Bulky external batteries are slowly making way for sleek internal numbers. BOTTOM: Quality e-bikes will have a number of specifically beefed up components to handle the extra weight and rider ambition.

EBIKE 101

P H OTO : B o s c h e - B i ke Sy s t m s

metric listed by some manufacturers, is a rotational measurement of force. To get a motor’s power in watts, you have to know how fast it’s spinning: Torque multiplied by rotational speed equals power. A motor’s power output therefore peaks at a specific number of revolutions per minute. A more powerful motor means faster acceleration, and better climbing on steep hills. The majority of currently available bikes are running 250W motors, but there are some running massive 800W units, which are muc heavier and (arguably) overpowered. What do these numbers mean, really? Riding up a 10% hill at a gentle pace will require around 200 watts, given an average rider/bike weight. If a third of your power, say, is matched by the motor, you can either ride the same speed for just 140 of your own watts, or 25-30% faster for your same 200W. You can go longer, or faster. In 100%-boost mode, you might even be able to match Nino’s 400+ watts on the climbs, but your battery will probably run out before his ... Some bikes run as much as 300% boost, but the reality is that you will never require or justify that much, and your battery will die in minutes. E-bikes use sensors to determine the proper amount of motor output by measuring how much torque you’re applying to the pedals. To go faster, you must pedal harder, although this can get confusing as in this circumstance, harder often means at a higher cadence – mashing a huge gear doesn’t get you anywhere on an e-bike. Torque sensors offer riders more control over the application of e-assist: You don’t want heaps of power all at once, for example, when negotiating a tricky section of trail. The big manufacturers let you adjust these minor metrics through their apps – how power is transferred and when, how much assist for each level, and more.

The final number to look at is the battery capacity. Most decent bikes are coming with a 500Watt-hour battery, which will give a 40100km range, depending on power mode and how much climbing you do. There are 700W/h (and similar) options available, and they make a huge difference – 40% more range means you see a whole lot more countryside. Quality e-bikes will have a decent bar-mounted gizmo that will tell you exactly how far you can still pedal, in the various modes, and they tend to be fairly accurate. There is a sick thrill, though, in seeing whether you can make the last bit home on the final bar of power... the penalty for not doing so is self-powering a 25kg beast, not unlike pushing your car to the petrol station as a student.

B U T I T I S C H E AT I N G ! If anyone tells you they are cheating, they haven’t ridden one beyond the bike shop car park. Even if you’re very fit, you still can get exercise by e-biking. A lot of it. E-bikes do some of the work for you, but not all of it. Even in full turbo mode, they match your input, so if you slack, so does the bike. In reality, some of our hardest rides when the e-bikes were in our test fleet were spent trying to stay ahead of the assist. Many people are not fit enough to ride long enough to get meaningful health and fitness benefits from biking, and an electric bike means they can go out and ride for an hour and get a significant amount of exercise. They have become a stepping-stone for many, not just into our sport but into better health. The biggest plus of the e-bike revolution is that it allows riders to re-ride singletrack sections multiple times in a ride – assisted up the hill, hammer and learn on the downhill, repeat (because you can for a change) as often

TOP: Most e-bikes come with a state-of-the-art barmounted gizmo to tell you exactly how much oomph you are using, and how long you still can. BOTTOM: Removeable batteries mean you can travel with a spare, for extra explore time – just remember you can’t fly with an e-bike if the battery is fitted; you will need to rent or buy when you get there, or ship your battery separately.

“IF ANYONE TELLS YOU THEY ARE CHEATING, THEY HAVEN’T RIDDEN ONE.”

THE QUINTESSENTIAL KIT BAG

EIGH T STORAGE COMPARTMEN TS

CHANGEABLE VELCRO LABELS

PADDED ELECTRONICS BAG

GROUNDSHEET FOR MUDDY SHOES

THE CIOVITA ESSEN TIALS KI T BAG. THE SIMPLEST & BEST WAY TO ORGANISE YOUR RIDE

w w w. c i o v i t a . c o m

EBIKE 101

P H OTO : B o s c h e - B i ke Sy s t m s

ABOVE: E-bikes will take you places you would never have reached without the little bit of help they provide.

as the battery will allow. The gravity gurus are already embracing this. Us normal Joes can, too – that 20-minute climb to get back to the top of the trail, too broken to see straight, becomes an infinitely repeatable 10-minuter, and you get there on a long-travel bike, equipped to get the most out of you and the trail. A great skills-developer, for all.

THE CONS Okay, so they’re not cheap, but they can save you money. We just said that to help the negotiations at home ... realistically, few e-bike-buyers in South Africa will commute on them – yet. You can’t really get a cheap e-bike just now. But if you keep the car in the garage more often, you’ll save cash on maintenance and petrol money, not to mention the added health benefits and potentially fewer sick days from getting more exercise. Prices vary widely, but you should expect to pay at least R25 000 for an entry-level e-bike, and considerably more (R45 000-R150 000) for a quality bike with a motor system from a major manufacturer. These prices drop every year, as volumes increase and tech catches up. The first thing many people do when checking out a new bike is give it a lift to

gauge the weight. You’re in for a shock if you try that with an e-bike. The battery, motor, heavier-duty components and reinforced frame make e-bikes inherently heavier than standard bikes—by at least 10 kilos, more often 15. Modern geometry and engineering help them handle well despite their weight, and obviously the motor-assist makes the extra hef disappear when you start to pedal. But you’ll need more muscle to get them on your bike rack or up stairs.

WITH POWER COMES RESPONSIBILITY E-bikes are different – and kinda scary. Even if you are an experienced cyclist, you need to proceed with caution until you have got the hang of the thing – it will accelerate out of corners on the singletrack, leaving you scrabbling for grip. Braking for corners going uphill will become a thing. Because they’re heavier and faster, your braking becomes a bit of a rollercoaster. That road e-bike is a frightening proposition in traffic, and in a bunch – you are so much faster and beyond the norms of even racing cycling, that you will get into trouble in a heartbeat. Restraint is required, full-time, even on the MTB versions. Brake earlier, think ahead, anticipate.

DON’T BE THAT GUY. We have all heard that funny (because it is based, in part, on brutal truth) sound file of the Jozi China “apologising” to the e-biker he had a rumble with in Tokai Forest. E-bikers remain a subject of controversy in mountain biking circles. So, do many “normal” mountain bikers, to be honest – segment-hunters bullying people on the trails far outnumber the e-bikers. But ... it pays to be sensitive to other users. Shouting for track on the uphills is just going to create kak. There are already problems in the US, where e-bikes have been banned from trails because riders can’t put away their tape measures. Apply the most basic rule of mountain biking; don’t be a doofus.

THE FINAL TEST You can’t ride an e-bike without smiling. True story. And that is, to be honest, the biggest reason to embrace e-bike, and e-bikers. Any way to get new converts to the joy cycling has brought us, should be welcome.

BIKE REVIEW

SUS THE SPECIALIZED TURBO LEVO COMP 2020 RRP R100 000 www.specialized.com

SPECIALIZED TURBO LEVO COMP

Top tube (horiz.)

631mm

Reach

455mm

Standover

781mm

BB height

347.5mm

Chainstays

455mm

Front/centre

781mm

Trail

111mm

Head angle

66.04°

Seat angle

74.48°

Wheelbase

1 235mm

*Size

Large

MORE POWER, CAP’N! The Levo Comp was the first of the 2020 bikes to land in our office, and we were unashamedly keen to swing a leg over the latest iteration of what has the most cutting-edge e-offering in our market for the last few years.

nashamedly fast, the Levo range has always leant on Specialized’s racing pedigree to give us fast, fun bikes, making the most of pedal assist in a performance capacity. That Alan Hatherley won the inaugural World E-Bike Championships in Canada in September is no surprise; if ever there was a race-ready e-bike, the Levo was it. Specialized has made some fundamental changes for 2020, though, with more travel and a trail-bike geometry tweak shifting the Levo focus into much more of an all-rounder. It hasn’t lost any of its speed on the climbs (Strava has separate e-bike segments, some of which may have been damaged in the writing of this review) but there is a marked improvement in how playful the bike feels on the technical, singletrack descents. Where the previous model was point-and-shoot in the gnarly stuff, the new version responds better to rider input; it is still a brute, with the chunky tyres, low centre of gravity, lots of travel and a bit of excess weight, but you find yourself picking lines and trying to descend better, rather than just battering your way through. In fact in the singles of Tokai we found ourselves backing off a bit as the corners came up that much faster and our eyes grew a lot larger at the speed the Levo gathers. Experienced mountain bikers will love this – there is much more feel and finesse available – but Specialized has managed to make it magic without losing the beginnerproof stability the original model did so well with. With 150mm travel, courtesy of the RockShox Lyrik SC up front and a Deluxe Select+ on the rear, there is little on the trail that feels unconquerable, and SRAM’s 200mm, fourpiston Guide RE stoppers are ready for when you do need to slow it all down. SRAM provides the 11-speed shifting, with one-click GX shifting (so you can’t mangle things with the motor), an e-specific KMC chain and X-Fusion’s slick dropper post rounding the spec off. The Comp-level bike we rode features two game-

changers; an all-aluminium M5 frame, and a monster battery. The former adds a bit of weight to the bike (trims cost, you can’t have both), but is wonderfully bulletproof when it comes to day-to-day oopsies. And e-bikes are more susceptible to non-crash trauma; they are bulky and difficult to wrangle, meaning that they fall over on a whim, whether you are propping them up for a photo op, or trying to clear that gnarly rocky climb. Paint chips and a dent or two are traumatic, but far less so than a terminal carbon crack. The battery is a thing of dreams; 700Wh over the standard 500Wh means 40% more range. What does that mean in reality? We managed a couple of 2000m+ ascent rides in our test period – and climbing is what drains the battery fastest. Twice up to the Constantiaberg radio mast, with enough left to rail the singletracks on the way back down each time, and get home into the wind. The mast and Noordhoek peak, in one ride, and still 20+% battery left (Specialized’s on-bike display is a ten-bar number, which we loved – you don’t have to go into the app to see how much trouble you are in with your battery) means this bike is both fast and fun, but also lets you explore further than any e-bike we have ridden. 100km+ of useful juice. And, wonderfully silent. Out in nature’s peace and quiet, this was the quietest we rode. Specialized leads the way, too, with their companion app, which not only lets you see how much battery you have left, but allows you to set the three levels of assist the bar-mounted control gives; we rode on the factory settings, but by playing a little you could comfortably get a five-hour ride in on Eco at 15%, which would overcome the weight of the bike and give you a smidgen more power on the climbs. The Levo really is a bike for exploring our wide-open spaces. Max assist is set at 32km/h, a nice bonus but also a big temptation - you will ride the Levo harder than you want, everywhere, and get fitter and stronger than you thought.

02 1 The walk-assist button is a must-have, whether you are conquering W2W, or just getting the bike into your garage. 2 Muted earthy tones with a hint of dayglo and a slinky asymmetric frame; the Levo is gorgeous.

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

01 ENGAGING E-MULLET

MERIDA EONE-FORTY 5000 2020 Loic Bruni dominated the 2019 DH season on a bike with a smaller rear wheel than front; the mullet bike is here to stay, and Merida’s new e-bike is a cracking example.

erida has produced a supermodel with its 2020 e-bike offering. Clean lines, a subtle paintjob and small touches like the cooling vents behind the head tube (Thermo Gate – they even have a name!) are a big step forward, and the resultant ride, is too. Lively and lithe, this is a bike that wants you to give it full gas on the climbs, so that it can get dirty in the really technical stuff. Partly, this is down to the firm’s slightly different take on e-bikes, with a 650B rear wheel and a 29” up front certainly a nod to what is happening in the gravity side of mountain biking. But this is not a gravity bike, with ‘just’ 140mm of travel up front, and 133mm on the rear. Merida has gone with a carbon fibre frame, with an aluminium rear triangle, which helps give the bike a light feel (if an e-bike can feel light), magnifying the low centre of gravity the Shimano Steps E8000 motor gives the bike – the end result being a nimble XC feel that is fun and fast, but still capable on the medium-hit rough stuff. Does the smaller rear wheel make sense? Kinda – if you are active on the descents and enjoy the airborne route as much as the firmly-planted one, then you will love it. If you are a rubber-is-meant-to-be-in-contact rider, then you might find it bogs down a little, after the front has rolled through so smoothly – a terribly small difference, but certainly there. We got used to it very quickly, and learnt to unweight the rear a little more on the rough descents, while enjoying the on-rails feel it does give on bermy, twisty trails. The suspension on the eOne-Forty sees a welcome return of one of the halcyon fork brands; Marzocchi was famed for its buttery-smooth travel in the 90s, but faded a little as the big names swamped

the OEM market. The Bomber Z2 is an e-bike-specific unit that handled everything we threw at it, gloriously, and matched to the Suntour edge rear unit. The biggest compliment we can pay is that we didn’t fiddle at all, once we had set the bike up. The spec on the 5000-level bike continues the light/ fast feel, with Deore shifting, and nice big rotors for when you have Nino-ed yourself in a bit deep – it stops on a tickey. The Steps motor is powered by a 504Wh battery, and we were pleased with the comfortable two-hoursplus we got out of it in full play mode (medium assist on the climbs, minimal on the descents). Control is through a sleek bar-mounted double button unit, which toggles through Steps’ three modes – Eco, Sport and Boost – reliably and easily, even with gloves. The Shimano display is small and unobtrusive, giving you all you need to know, but you will need to make some shade to read it under the African sun. The battery is housed in the downtube, helping keep the weight low, behind a cleverly-designed ‘lid’ that doubles as a bash guard, protecting from frontwheel debris. You don’t need to remove it to charge, but if you are a spare-battery person, it is one of the easiest to swap out we have seen. The wheels and tyres are the only real nod to the smash-‘em capability of this bike: big and bold, with 2.5” Maxxis Minion rubber up front, and 2.6” on the rear, mounted to big, broad rims that will soak up more than enough punishment. The deal is sealed with a Meridabranded dropper post and a gathering of the firm’s fitand-forget finishing componentry, all of which combine into a durable yet light machine.

02 1 Thermo Gate - the cooling ducts behind the headtube double as cable guides, while helping extend battery life. 2 Italian chic - it was a joy to ride Marzocchi again.

SUS THE MERIDA EONEFORTY 5000 RRP R84 999 www.merida-bikes.com

Top tube (horiz.)

602.5mm

Reach

449.5mm

Chainstays

439.5mm

BB drop

24mm

Fork Length

551mm

Head angle

66.5°

Seat angle

76.5°

Wheelbase

1 204mm

*Size

Large

BIKE REVIEW

C O M M E N C A L M E TA P O W E R 2 0 1 9 S I G N AT U R E

DROP LIKE IT’S HOT Commencal has a long history in downhill mountain biking, carrying French legends Nico Vouilloz (10 times world champion) and, more recently, Amaury Pierron to gravity glory across the world. The Andorran firm is unashamedly gravity-focussed, and while our review bike boasts 29-inch wheels (still sacrilege in some gravity circles), there is no doubt it screams to be pointed south.

ur test model was the range-topping Signature model, with a durable all-aluminium frameset and 140/150mm of Kashima loveliness front and rear. Commencal doesn’t do a carbon bike, favouring the ruggedness aluminium offers technical riders, who tend to step off the bike more often as they push boundaries on rockier, steeper terrain. The bike feels long and lazy with a short reach and slack outlook a nod to its descending heritage – it is no slouch on the climbs, though, and you won’t mind one bit getting back to the top of your favourite trail, before heading down for another run. That is mostly thanks to the Shimano Steps e8000 assist, with a 70nm, 250W motor supported by a 504Wh battery promising 100km if you run Eco, carefully. We got a comfortable 60km run in with 1500m of ascent, over plenty of technical descending and climbing, and the Steps display told us we still had one battery bar of five left, so that claim might be well founded. Will you want to ride 100km on it? We aren’t sure – this bike cries to be taken to the trail park, and hammered on repeat, rather than lured out on an all-day explore. Max assist is set at 25km/h. The Steps (Shimano Total Electric Power System) offers three modes: Eco, Trail and Boost. These are toggled through the bar-mounted switch, which is wonderfully compact and does all you need, with the LCD display next to the stem indicating which you have chosen, alongside your choice of distance/speed/battery life type display. The screen is a little difficult in the bright African sun, sometimes requiring the shade of a hand, but that is a minor gripe for an otherwise superbly simple system, where the power delivery is smooth and predictable. Shimano has a companion app too, where you can adjust the amount of assist for each mode.

The spec on the Signature is top-drawer, and really makes this bike a descender’s delight. Fox provides the Kashima-coated range-topping 36 Factory fork and Float X2 Factory rear shock, both of which have been custom-tuned to cope with the added stresses e-bikes put on componentry, with dampers sorted for the changed weight-transfers, riding styles and more aggressive climbing these bikes will endure compared to a similarly-equipped “normal” bike. DT Swiss supplies its E-specific wheels – riders tend to hit stuff harder, either because the e-bike has allowed less-proficient users to hit gnarlier stuff, or the gnarkings are riding harder - and our review bike was shod with 2.5” Maxxis Assegais rather than the factoryspec Schwalbes. The KSV Lev Integra dropper post did its job reliably, as did the GX Eagle 12-speed drivetrain, with the 50-tooth rear sprocket a nod to the more trail-oriented rider likely to ride this machine – e-bikes tend toward tighter cassettes, as a rule. The E-click one-at-a-time shifter is an annoyance (the Specialized has it too) but a must-have on e-bikes, where shifting multiple gears under power can spell disaster. Braking is from Shimano, with XT four-pot callipers gripping – admirably – 200mm Ice-Tech rotors, front and rear. The rest of the spec is pure endure – lovely wide 780mm alloy bars, a stubby 50mm stem and a WTB saddle. This bike will find a happy home among the growing e-assist enduro and DH crowd looking to hit their favourite 500m trail descent as many times as they can in an afternoon, without having to hikea-bike back up each time. With the climbing sorted, fresh arms, legs and minds will love the Pyreneesproven Commencal geometry more often than should be legal.

02 1 The Kashima suspension adds a whole lot to the price, but is worth every cent for its buttery smoothness. 2 We loved the Di2-style mode selector you never struggle to find the right button when there wasn’t time to look down in the gnar.

SUS THE COMMENCAL META POWER 29 SIGNATURE RRP R105 999 www.commencal-store.co.za

Top tube (horiz.)

624mm

Reach

435mm

Standover

743mm

BB drop

17mm

Fork Length

561mm

Head angle

66°

Seat angle

75°

Wheelbase

1 235mm

*Size

Large

NEW BIKES

E-2020 SNEAK PEEK

The new year is almost upon us, and you have just read a mix of 2019 and 2020 bike reviews. Let’s take a quick peek at others you might want to look at; just a snapshot from what is a far wider range for most makers. There are some gaps – simply because we are still a few months away from the new year, and the new toys aren’t quite ready. Keep an eye on our website for the big reveals, as they happen. W O R D S : T I M B R I N K A N D I M A G E S : A L L S U P P L I E D B Y M A N U FA C T U R E R S

GIANT We spent a fair amount of time on Giant’s 650b-shod Anthem E+, and absolutely loved it. For 2020, look no further than one of the funnestlooking e-bikes; the Fathom E+ 3 Power. Yes, it is a hardtail – but not all e-bikers want to be downhill demons and the light alloy frame, 120mm fork and chubby 650b tyres will make it a capable, fun machine in all conditions, a fine addition to their wide range of e-offerings. Price TBC. www.giant-bicycles.com

CANNONDALE Late bloomers in the e-market, Cannondale wades in with its Habit range – the Neo+ mates the Habit’s trail stoke with Bosch motors and big batteries to keep you shredding longer. From R90 000 www.cannondale.com

SCOTT The Spark platform is tried and tested, and the 2020 E-Ride 920 and 910 models come with Shimano power, SRAM shifting, Shimano braking and 120/130mm of travel. From R68 990 www.scott-sports.com

SPECIALIZED We reviewed the speedy Levo earlier, but Specialized has a few other e-tricks up its sleeve, starting with the longer-travel Kenevo Expert, which was launched in October. 180mm of eat-anything suspension make this an e-bike for the everything off the beaten track. We hear rumours of an e-gravel bike to go with the already-launched road bike. The Kenevo Expert will sell for R125 000. www.specialized.com

COMMENCAL The updated version of the bike we reviewed, now with an integrated battery for better looks and weight distribution and a more linear suspension layout. Travel is up to 170mm/160mm. Gravity is in trouble. R109 000 www.commencal-store. co.za

GEAR

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

GARMIN EDGE 530

SKS AIRSSPY SV This 18g attachment (you will need one on each wheel) fits to your valve (Schrader and Presta versions are available) and links to the SKS app or partnered GPS units via Bluetooth or ANT+ to tell you exactly what your current tyre pressure is. You can set it to sound an alarm if a tyre is losing pressure, and acts as an inline digital pressure gauge for your pump when inflating.

www.sks-germany.com

Garmin’s 5-series GPS units offer all the fun of their big brothers, just at a more walletfriendly price. The 530 has a bright touchscreen (good for African sunshine), offers turnby-turn navigation, Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity, training goodymagaftas and all the usual metrics. But the fun doesn’t stop there – it senses when you hit that killer kicker, and you can look back over coffee to see how long you were airborne, how many jumps you hit, and how far you leapt. There is a new Grit rating (how gnarly your ride was, via accelerometers and stuff) and it will even tell you how flowy you are on the trail.

www.garmin.com RRP R5 999

E-GIZMOS Mountain biking may have been slow to move with the electronic stream, but boy have we made up for it with some really droolworthy tech. Some aren’t even available yet, but are worth a leer anyway. Prices correct at time of print

SRAM XX1 AXS EAGLE Shimano has had electronic shifting for mountain bikes for a couple of years now, following on from its road gruppos. SRAM’s road offering brought wireless shifting to the mix, which has finally trickled across to AXS. Not a cable in sight, the AXS componentry is based on the firm’s trusted one-by Eagle systems, with an all-new derailleur that houses a motor to aid shifting, and an electronic clutch that senses bumpier terrain and stiffens and relaxes accordingly to keep the chain aboard. Infinitely tweakable through the SRAM app, AXS is no gimmick. Wireless shifting is the future.

www.sram.com RRP GROUPSET FROM R35 000

ZWIFT Once the domain of closet and notso-closet roadies, Zwift has changed the face of indoor training. No more boredom, with goals and opponents and everything distracting that comes with the gamification trend has made indoor training so much fun, and now Zwift has launched MTB tracks as well. So at least you can feel a little less guilty, and not spin out every time the e-dopers hit a descent.

www.zwift.com RRP $14.99

GEAR

WAHOO KOM BUNDLE You might never leave your dungeon with Wahoo’s combined indoor training setup. Combine their legendary Kickr indoor trainer – remove the rear wheel of your bike and train in your terribly expensively gained perfect bike position – with a wirelessly linked intelligent fan that simulates headwinds, and cools you at the same time, a Kickr Floormat to soak upyour sweat and the crazy-fun Kickr Climb, which rises and falls as you hit the ups and downs of Zwift. 15% gradient in Wattopia? No problem, here come your bars, putting you in the same position as you would be in real life.

www.wahoofitness.co.za RRP FROM R35 999

THE SEMINAL MTB ROUTE WEBSITE Mountain bike route legend Jacques Marais is our longest-standing regular contributor, and for good reason; if he doesn’t know a mountain bike route in South Africa, it probably doesn’t exist. MTBroutes is his online portal, which will steer you to your nearest trail (or one where you are taking your beloved on holiday) with detailed route descriptions, directions and more.

www.MTBroutes.co.za RRP FREE!

QUARK SHOCKWIZ ShockWiz is a suspension tuning system for air-sprung mountain bikes that combines high-tech hardware with an intuitive smartphone app. It automatically records and evaluates suspension performance every time you ride. The ShockWiz app displays straightforward adjustments that unite bike, terrain and riding style. ShockWiz works for all mountain bike riders, regardless of their experience or bike’s intended use. With ShockWiz, you know exactly how your suspension is performing – and how to make it better.

www.sram.com RRP R6 999

AMPED AVID-X 2.0 GARMIN VARIA RTL510 Originally developed in Stellenbosch, where our own Grootlem’s brother was involved, Varia’s car-sensing technology was purchased by Garmin and this secondgeneration rear light will keep you visible on the early-morning ride to the trail head while performing its party tricks; it senses cars approaching from behind, and when paired with your GPS unit (not just Garmin, now) will warn you audibly, visibly or both about how fast they are coming, and how many there are. You still need eyes in the back of your head, but the Varia will add to your self-preservation arsenal.

www.garmin.com RRP R2 999

Travelling with your bike is a whole lot more complicated in the era of phones and GPS units. Amped has a long history supporting riders and events across the country with charging stations, but also produces this 10 000mAh portable unit that will charge most smart phones at least twice, double that for GPS units. Perfect for threeday events, where power is not guaranteed. Keep an eye out for Amped at your next event and e-bike eventers might soon also be in business with Amped charging stations.

www.amped. co.za RRP R695

ROCKSHOX REVERB AXS Dropper posts are here to stay, too, and not even these invaluable descending aids have escaped gizmo-treatment; the Reverb AXS does away with cables, and their niggly routing issues and rattles, by connecting the small bar-mounted remote to the post wirelessly. Ridiculously simple to install, it offers effortless and infinite seat-height adjustment, at the press of a button.

www.SRAM.com RRP FROM R13 990

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

SPECIALIZED ANGI The ANGi sensor calls for help when you can’t; if it detects a crash, it commences a countdown that, if you’re ok, you can stop and keep riding. If, however, ANGi determines that you’re in need of help, it’ll send an alert to your selected contacts with your last known GPS coordinates and a message that you’re in need of help. What about if you’re out of service coverage? ANGi has a plan for that. Just set your estimated ride time before you head out when you know that your ride will take you out of range. All you need is an active data signal when you start your session. And if you haven’t completed your ride within that time frame, ANGi will send a notification to your contacts with your last uploaded location. Will fit most helmets, not just Specialized.

www.specialized.com RRP R750

THULE EASYFOLD 934 XT This is the meneer of bike racks, and it has to be; with an uprated maximum capacity of 60kg, it is specifically designed for carrying e-bikes. It has space to carry three, but I would say two e-bikes are its comfort zone: its burly enough to manage them easily. We know that the folks at Thule are smart; that’s why you pay top dollar, their products last forever but also they are practical and the 934 xt is just that. It folds easily, for FS TESTED SHAYNE storage that leaves some room in DOWLING the garage for bikes, and although it weighs 23kg, the luggage wheels are a great help. Attaching to the towbar is easy, leave the rack folded, hitch, lock on, connect the lights (which also disconnects the reverse park alarm), open the rack and you’re ready to load. It also has a tilt function so no hassle getting into the boot! There is also a loading ramp you can buy separately, which allows you to walk your e-bike onto the rack – I told you these guys are smart. At around R12k the rack is an investment but will last a lifetime and is definitely the way to go if you have an e-bike.

www.thule.co.za RRP R11 999

HUBTIGER CLUB APP We looked at this South African start-up a few issues ago, in particular at their bike service app. This allows you to log the actual mileage and time on all your components, alerting you when to service and/or replace them, including integration with a growing number of shops to seamlessly book your bike in for these. Now, they are dipping a toe in the cycling club market. Simplifying membership payments, club ride announcements (including weather forecasts and a simple RSVP system) and proximity marketing for clubs, to attract more members. No more EFTs, no more noisy WhatsApp groups. Finding ride buddies made easy.

www.hubtiger.co.za RRP FREE!

RIDE HERE

ST FRANCIS, KOUGA REGION

The coastal stretch west of “the world’s perfect wave” in Jeffreys Bay rates as one of SA’s undiscovered mountain biking gems. There’s no huge trail network, but you’ll get to super-charge your soul along a range of sumptuous coastal rides. WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHS: JACQUES MARAIS

HOW TO GET THERE

Traveling on the N2, take the Exit 665 onto the R330 and travel 27km to Cape St Francis.

here’s a little piece of pedal paradise awaiting fat-trackers just west of the glorious swell of Super Tubes ... all you need to do is wend your way up the coast past Aston Bay and Paradise Beach, and you will soon discover St Francis Bay, Cape St Francis and Oyster Bay. These names conjure up visions of pristine beaches, white-walled and thatched homesteads, epic surfing and a whole host of other aqua adventures. But who knew the mountain biking trails here would be a match to rival the ocean stoke? All these scenic coastal towns are highly rated conservation villages, and the locals are renowned for the emphasis they place on preserving the natural environment. As such, it is of key importance to keep this in mind when saddling up along these remote coastal trails and beaches. For more info on where to ride, get in touch with www.stfrancistourism.co.za

KAMARAI Mountain bikers can enjoy safe and extreme cycling at Kamarai; this used to be known as Tim’s Trails, and is situated just off the Oyster Bay Road. Three individual routes cater for all levels of riders, with the easy Yellow Route a perfect starting point for beginners and families with kids; this is non-technical and perfect to introduce novices to off-road cycling. The Green Route is for average mountain bikers, with easier technical sections. A 3.2km lap features flowing singletrack with berms, table-tops and about 70m of climbing. A technical, longer Red Route is for competitive mountain bikers, with testing rock

gardens along a 6.5km lap including steep ascents. Facilities include bathrooms, a kiosk, play area and pet farm - contact Sumare on +27-82 / 550 9606

ST FRANCIS MILK RUN The road brigade would enjoy this 37km route starting in St Francis, with 60% gravel and 40% tar. It is a fast, scenic ride that starts off along the R330 towards Oyster Bay, passing wind farms, crossing the Kromme River and several dairy farms, before returning to St Francis. There is also an Oyster Bay Loop starting from St Francis and heading to Oyster Bay. This 56km loop has 650m of climbing, 85% gravel and 15% tar, with spectacular views as you pass Impofu Dam.

OY S T E R B AY B E A C H R I D E Go rent a fat bike from Oyster Kaya (www. oysterkaya.co.za) in Oyster Bay and cruise the beach at high tide on a 7km ride to Thysbaai. During low tide, you can add an extra 2km to the ride, although there may be some hike-a-bike involved ... it is totally worth the effort. A further 8km ride in a westerly direction along the beach will take to you to Klippenpunt.

R O U N D T H E M O U N TA I N

A 104km route with 1529m of climbing (85% gravel and 15% tar) starts off from St Francis towards Oyster Bay, before turning right to Humansdorp. Pass through town and cross the N2 on the R330, continuing to the mountains. Turn left on the R332 to loop and descends back to St Francis, offering clear coastal views of Jeffreys Bay and St Francis. This is not a ride to be tackled lightly, with heat and wind playing a large role at certain times of the year.

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

S T F R A N C I S S I N G L E T R A C K L O O P This breath-taking 20km trail meanders along 70% singletrac (with the occasional stretch of gravel or tar as connection) between SFB and CSF (yes, I’m sure you can figure this out) ... Start in St Francis Bay and head to the harbour along Otters Landing, then turn into the Cape St Francis Nature Reserve. Pass the legendary Cape St Francis Resort and head right into the Irma Booysen Flora Reserve in the direction of Seal Point (ask any surfer and they’ll point the way). Join the designated singletrack past the lighthouse from here, continuing back into the Flora Reserve before joining onto the R330. Finally, turn right via St Francis Airfield on a new singletrack section that will bomb you back into town.

OPPOSITE: No coastal ride in South Africa is complete without a lighthouse. RIGHT: The trails take you along the crashing ocean edge, a salty treat for eyes, ears and taste buds.

JACQUES MARAIS is a GIANT (RSA) Ambassador and SA’s MTB Trail Guru, with six mountain biking trail guides and the www.mtbroutes.co.za to his name. If he’s not on his bike, chances are he’s out trail running or surfing in some wild corner of the country... His latest book, ‘A Guide to More MOER & GONE Places’, will be on shelf later this year. Follow him on Twitter @JacqMaraisPhoto or www.jacquesmarais.co.za

ST FRANCIS SINGLE TRACK LOOP

FAST FACTS

GRADING: Easy / Intermediate DURATION: 3-4 hours CONFIGURATION: Various TERRAIN: Singletrack, tar, gravel MAP: Check www.mtbroutes.co.za ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Public Trail; Entry Fee at Kamarai FACILITIES: Various CELL RECEPTION: Yes BEWARE OF: Coastal traffic MORE INFORMATION: Tyrone Kindness (Custom Bikes): weekend and daily rides www.facebook.com/custombikesstfrancis / +27-42 / 294 0349 ++ BIKE RENTAL: Bikes can be rented at Oyster Kaya – www.oysterkaya.co.za ++ POST RIDE BEER: Cape St Francis Brew Company – www.stfrancisbrewing.co.za ++ WHERE TO STAY: Cape St Francis Resort has accommodation options for all types and is a sporting paradise with surfing, kite-surfing, surf ski and canoe paddling – www.capestfrancis.co.za ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++ ++

RIDE REPORT

irst off let me cop to the fact that this was the first stage race I have ever done on an e-bike. Yes, yes get over it, I visited the “other side” - note visited! But I have to admit riding the e-bike is a complete game-changer: the Giant eTrance literally made the difference between me taking part in the ride or not. I had signed up for my first Ride2Nowhere in Macgregor and after being man-down with bronchitis for four weeks prior to the race,vI was in no shape to tackle the event. After a quick chat to the organisers who confirmed that e-bikes were allowed on the event and thanks to a demo from the friendly folk at Giant, I was in! Lining up with the rest of the long riders (60km each for the first two, and 50 on the last day) in the chute, which was next to the imposing NG Church in the sleepy hollow of McGregor, my angst was completely different to my mates – we had all seen the profile, we had been warned about how the devastating drought had made the route loose and gnarly and the temperature was rising by the minute – all I was worried about was ifmy battery would last. I got no sympathy from anyone, including the guys on the PA who let me know how much of a woos I was – easy for them to say sitting on their ample posteriors with a cold one. (You know who you are [Smiley]). Off we went! Memories of Day 1 are completely over-shadowed by Le Big Mac; a monster of a climb that is littered with loose stones and rocks, has a nasty gradient and seems to go on forever. Both the short and long routes tackle the Big Mac and it is undoubtedly the iconic, must conquer challenge of the R2N. The reward is incredible – not only do you traverse an amazing valley at the top of the mountain but you get to hold on for kilometres of flowing downhill pleasure. Don’t be fooled, the Ride2Nowhere is a seriously tough ride. Day 2 brings this home with a never-ending singletrack climb that is a challenge to both rider and machine. If you haven’t been to this part of the world you will be absolutely blown away, not only by the amazing locals but also by the amazing scenery. Yes it’s tough but the organisers have managed to find the most insane routes that are as rewarding as they are challenging. The technical, gnarly downs are such fun that it is easy to see why this event has been bringing mountain bikers back every year for the last seven years. Day 3 is shorter but no less tough or fun. The last single track climb to the back of McGregor hurts after two tough days on the legs; it was also 36°C at 10am, so not too easy, but after traversing what looks like a lunar landscape and having reached the viewpoint looking down at the town, you get to catch your breath and reflect on what an amazing event the R2N is – of course it becomes even more amazing knowing you have another lekker downhill singletrack ride taking you home. The routes are superbly marked and even though there has been a drought here that have left a lot of the jeep tracks worn out, which to be honest are essentially single tracks as they are really only ridden by mountain bikers, all the potential hazards are clearly marked so that you have ample time to avoid them. I don’t know how they find some of these routes but it is an absolute privilege to be able to reach kloofs and ride hidden valleys that only the local farmers whose land you traverse may have ever seen – or the guys that put up electricity pylons – geez those guys must see some proper special places! It is spectacularly rugged and where the green has soldiered on through the strangling dryness it is hauntingly beautiful. For all the talk about the loose climbs one of the lasting memories of the race is the insane downhill tracks. Fast, always challenging, at times really technical and definitely ridden by few! There are not many races that have this amount of singletrack descents and that are this much fun. It is without a doubt a reason to come back year after year! Slightly chunkier tyres were a bonus and frankly I don’t see the point of racing such amazing trails – take your time to get to the top and then leave a gap between you and the person in front, open your shocks – and have a jol! The race village and the village are essentially the same thing – it is a community race and being a cloverleaf route you get to know the locals well as they are the volunteers, the chefs, the marshals, the enthusiastic crowds and the spectacularly friendly folks that take care of you for the weekend. It is a sleepy hollow but it shows off all its splendour at the Ride2Nowhere. Riding to Nowhere is definitely a route worth following and Full Sus will surely be there following it again!

RIDE2 NOWHERE Start: McGregor (Western Cape) Nowhere – you have to do the ride to find out where that is Hard but absolutely worth it! W O R D S A N D I M A G E S : S H AY N E D O W L I N G

R RAI DC EE R R EE P PO OR RTT

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

DE HOOP VLEI MTB MAGIC

Full Sus planning meetings are famed for heading South, so it wasn’t a difficult sell to get SHAYNE DOWLING to pack the family into the car and head to De Hoop Nature Reserve ... I M A G E S : O A K P I C S

e Hoop Nature Reserve is a Cape Nature Conservancy that is in close proximity to Cape Agulhas, the most southerly point of the African continent. It is a beautiful hostile environment that has so much to offer from game viewing to what is considered one of the best land based whale viewing sites globally. It is certainly not somewhere you would normally consider going to ride your bike – well you would be missing out big time! Along with the De Hoop Collection, a lovely enclave of various cottages and accommodation options perched on the edge of a massive kloof looking down on the De Hoop Vlei and estuary. The organiser, Anneke Jacobs, supported by that mal chick Suzie Hüsselman of blue hair fame, have put together a first class event on this remote tip of SA. Yes there is a lot of jeep track connecting the fun bits, but they aren’t by any means free miles and are remote and on some tough terrain. A great plus of the event is that there is no sand – it is hard packed, some indigenous grass sections that have been flattened on the ride line and aren’t too bad at all and for the rest it’s pretty much hard pack along with the jewel of the first day, the singles up (and down) Flat Rock. Johan Kriegler of W2W’s fame has worked his magic on the singletrack and they are fantastic. The ground is pretty much a local granite-like rock that is pretty smooth which creates a roadlike feel with gnarly bits throughout the climb – it’s 4kms long but a really lekker climb! The rest of the route is a constant 1-3° gradient besides the flat single track around the vlei – which sadly was completely dry due to the drought in the area – but still beautiful with massive cave structures looming over you as you leave the vlei area heading to the furthest point before turning around. The constant gradient is a leg tester but not unpleasantly so. Although it was a nice cool morning and we appreciated the brisk and gusty wind at our backs when we turned for home things got nasty! The combined constant gradient along with the now howling head wind

made for some testing riding. The constantly changing terrain from the stark bush and veld to the well-kept farmlands made up for the hurting legs, not to mention the local farmers who manned the water stations – serving lekker braaied boerie at the last table with a good dose of geselligheid – and lots of advice for the pending mother climb of the day: Dennis the Menace. “It’s the last climb and then downhill all the way home.” How many times have you heard that? So Dennis is a hiking path that looks like it followed an old stream bed. It is hard packed rock with step-ups that have been filled with concrete by a most considerate trail builder – it is about 3km long and is steep. The challenge is to make it without stopping but most folk fail as its tough with some hectic rocky steps to navigate. I probably walked 30% of the path and it was really a brilliant piece of route – tough but so rewarding at the top with great views all around. Then we started to descend, meeting up with the route we followed out and getting back to the Windpomp where some serious decisions had to be made – left onto the road and the easy route home or right and climb back up to the Flat Rock to hit the singles on the down. No choice really, vasbyt bene and head right. And man, was it worth it – the track is gnarly, slate type hard ground, slippery and fast! Don’t stop concentrating here, head up but not too far because the track snakes and the turns come up fast and are tight at speed. What a jol! It really made the haul through the wind and Dennis the Menace well worth it. Somehow after the joy of the singles the wind seemed to turn a little and gave you a “push” back to the finish

line at the fabulous De Hoop Collection reception and restaurant area. One thing you cannot arrange is the weather and I’m starting to think I may be a drought breaker as the wind started to get steadily stronger after Day 1 and was howling proper by the time Thor decided it was time to show off. The early morning served up a huge light show, massive claps of thunder, the heavens opened and man, did it rain. Despite a move to a later 9am start the organisers wisely made the call to cancel Day 2. Sad as it was to miss the whale spotting coastal trails, the lightning, wind and heavy rain just never made it an option. Their decision was vindicated when just after 10am the roads entering the reserve became impassable due to flash flooding of local rivers, some of which hadn’t flowed in 15 years. It was a real adventure. So there we were huddled in the reception and restaurant, some of the guys enjoying the World Cup game, steaming cups of coffee and rusks and waiting for the rivers to subside. Three hours later we were able to get across and head for home. The De Hoop really did prove to be an adventure and a mountain bike ride that I now have unfinished business with. The

event takes place in the school holidays and offers a great, safe family getaway there is no cell phone signal, so no screen time! Lots of things to do for the kids though – cycle, tennis, walks and animal and whale spotting. The total package! I highly recommend the De Hoop Vlei MTB Experience. Plan your holiday and road trip around it – I’ll definitely be back!

TOP: Views for miles and the chance of spotting a whale. BELOW: JK’s Flat Rock shale single tracks are simply sublime.

T R A IR L AACNEGR EE LP S ODRATI R I E S

RIDERS ON THE STORM Looking to do your first stage race without the stress of all the training? CRAIG KOLESKY almost always is, and has found a nugget in the Glacier Storms River Traverse. IMAGES: ZOON CRONJE he Glacier Traverse is the perfect weekend of riding for a newbie. The weekend’s riding consists of three stages that take you through the beautiful and mostly untouched Tsitsikamma forest – the last remaining stretches of an indigenous wonderland that used to stretch all the way to Knysna. This is pure mountain bike adventure that exposes you to all the ins and outs of a stage race as a newcomer, without the desperate rush at the betterknown events that ruins the experience for many. In typical Dryland Events style, the riding is just a small part of what makes it such a must-do ride – delicious meals and oodles of comfort are all included in the ‘race’ package; lunch and dinner are provided daily from Thursday’s supper to Sunday’s post-ride lunch. You will leave wondering whether this cycling thing actually does help with weight loss ... The rider chill zone is at the Storms River Village and is festive all weekend.With lots of accommodation available in the area the race also is family friendly, with plenty of activities (leisurely and dare-devil) on offer in the area. The stages are set for any rider to enjoy, so if you are racing or just riding to feel out your first stage race, this race is highly recommended. The Glacier Traverse is also e-bike friendly, allowing more riders to experience riding.

T H E T H R E E D AY S L O O K L I K E T H I S : Stage 1 70km with 950m ascent Stage 2 43km with 670m ascent Stage 3 51km with 830m ascent I was invited to ride (race) with Oli Munnik, we have worked for almost 10 years together but had never done a race as a team. With Supermodel Oli weighing in at 50kg or less, and me at 90kg, we were a perfect match to set a blistering pace. Or not. We had heard some horror stories about the weather from previous years’ races, but we seemed to dodge all of that; the sun was out for us, although the mornings were still fresh with starting temperatures hovering around zero. The routes take you through a lot of district roads and jeep track along some of the biggest forests around and via ocean cliffs that will make you weak at the knees. Both Oli and myself were always blown away by the views

“YOU WILL LEAVE WONDERING WHETHER THIS CYCLING THING ACTUALLY DOES HELP WITH WEIGHT LOSS.” as we came around every corner – we have done a lot of events around South Africa and are still amazed by new natural glory when we find it. Although the routes sound easy on paper, for the unprepared Dryland obviously have thrown in a sting or two in the tail – we aren’t going to tell you where, you will have to come and find out for yourself. The rewards are plentiful, including their famous water points with ostrich steak and beer. The next Glacier Traverse will take place on the 8 -10 August 2020, for more info check out www. stormsrivertraverse.co.za

NOT THE LATEST BUT BRAND NEW LIM

TO ED S

A T DE P DE

L CLEARANCE DEAL!

Trek X-Caliber 7 - 2017

Scott - Contessa Spark 700 - 2016

R30, 999.00

R37, 500.00

R12, 999.00

R9, 999.00

EVERY DAY IS BLACK FRIDAY AT THE DEP T LAD

IES

ETD IEMPI T

ELS

DSEI ZA

Cannondale Synapse Tiagra 6C

Trek 1.1C - 2017

R14, 499.00 KID

Thule Proride 598 R3, 399.00 R3, 199.00

R8, 699.00

KILLER DEAL!

IKE

Titan Racing - Rogue Nova

R5, 499.00

YOU CLICK ATTENTION RETAILERS: List your clearance stock for FREE.

GIR

Giro - Synthe

R3, 000.00

Trek Precaliber 24 girls 7sp

R4, 199.00

WE DELIVER! EMAIL: support@cycledepot.co.za to create your retail profile.

COACH

FITNESS

STRENGTH AND

CONDITIONING FOR CYCLING

TRAINING WITH A HEART RATE MONITOR Monitoring your training load is a great way to keep track of what you have been doing and identify what has worked for you and what hasn’t. reviously, weekly distance studies have shown that training with (kilometres covered in individualised training zones results in training) and hours spent superior training adaptations compared training have been used to to training at percentages of a (predicted) quantify training. However, both of maximal heart rate (1, 2). Training these training load metrics (distance according to specific training zones, which and duration) ignore training intensity. are based on your metabolic thresholds, Training intensity is a major component will improve both the specificity and of training load and failing to monitor it quality of your training. You can’t exercise could reduce the quality of your training below, at or above your specific threshold programme. The most direct measure intensity if you don’t know at which heart of cycling intensity is power output. It rate range it occurs. is not influenced by external factors and It is important to remember that cycling is one of only a handful of sports heart rate can be influenced by external where power output can be measured factors when training. Fatigue will during both training and racing. Power typically result in a suppressed heart meters have become increasingly more rate and this will manifest as a slow affordable, but may still be out of reach rise in heart rate despite an increase in for most cyclists. effort. Environmental temperatures will Heart rate has been used to monitor also influence heart rate. As our body training intensity since the 1980s and the temperatures rise, we send more blood to affordable nature of heart rate monitors the skin to help cool our bodies down. The has made them common training tools. skin and muscles are now both competing Ensuring that you are training a the for blood flow, so the heart beats faster correct exercise intensity will play a to match the increased demands. Finally, major role in your favourable response it is CRITICAL to remember that your to a training programme. One common heart rate will be elevated during a race method used to devise heart rate based when compared to similar intensities training zones is simply to train at (power outputs) in training, so you should relative percentages on your maximal never use your heart rate to pace yourself heart rate. These percentages are often during a race. It will most likely result based off an age-predicted maximal in an over-conservative approach and a heart rate (220 – age = maximal HR). poor performance. These factors do affect Predicting your maximal heart rate using heart rate data, but heart rate is still a this equation may be accurate for some, very effective tool for monitoring training but for others, it could greatly under- or intensity. over-estimate their maximal heart rates. REFERENCES In addition, using relative percentages 1.Weatherwax, RM, Harris, NK, Kilding, AE, and of your maximal heart rate to set your Dalleck, LC. Incidence of V O2max Responders to Personalized versus Standardized Exercise training zones does not take into account Prescription. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 51: 681-691, individual metabolic differences between 2019. cyclists. When you or your coach are 2.Wolpern, AE, Burgos, DJ, Janot, JM, and Dalleck, LC. Is a threshold-based model a superior method designing a training programme, you to the relative percent concept for establishing will aim to target certain energy systems individual exercise intensity? a randomized (oxidative vs glycolytic metabolism controlled trial. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil 7: as examples) during specific training 16, 2015. sessions. It is hard to target these energy systems if BENOIT CAPOSTAGNO you do not know at what currently works for Science intensity (heart rate range) to Sport in Cape Town. He is currently completing his they occur. PhD at the University of It is recommended that Cape Town and is you perform a maximal investigating training incremental exercise test at adaptation and fatigue in a recognised facility to help cyclists. For more info: determine your personal www.sciencetosport.com training zones. Two recent

If you want to improve on your riding, be it on the road or the mountain, you need to do more than just ride your bike. any cyclists enlist the assistance of a cycling coach, who designs the athlete’s riding schedule specifically for the races or type of cycling they are doing. This is also structured to meet the athlete’s abilities by using information such as your FTP or VO2 max and heart rate to tell you what zones you need to train in. In addition to properly structuring an athlete’s riding,there are other areas that can be modified to improve performance such as bike set-up, racing strategies, nutrition and gym work or resistance training. The concept of resistance training may be an intimidating one for riders who may not have previous experience in the gym, due to the fact that there are so many options and differing opinions out there. Working out in the gym should be no different from the way you would structure your training on a bike. A gym programme should be a well-structured and planned process that follows the same principles of periodisation that you would follow on the bike to improve on strength, power and overall endurance. There is no need to get involved in complex workouts, initially, and pricey equipment, especially when starting out. The ultimate goal should be that the gym is there to supplement and improve your riding and general wellbeing. This is supported by research that has shown there is an improvement in short and long term endurance as well as a positive effect on lactate threshold. In addition to the performance benefits, resistance training could assist in reducing the risk of injury when falling off the bike by strengthening the soft tissues that support the joints as well as building bone density. Cycling specific resistance training should always start with the basics. If you are not familiar with the gym it is vitally important for you to teach your body how to perform the correct movements to ensure that the correct muscles are activated and thus the goal of the exercises is achieved. A novice in the gym should stay away from the weights to begin with, and do exercises that do not demand as much load on the skeletal structure, but rather require you to concentrate on creating the right movement pattern using body weight resistance or resistance bands. The programme should always ensure adequate progression building on the movement patterns that had been worked on previously.

HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A BASIC EXERCISE: Peterson step up

1 Start with a small step that may come to the height of halfway up you shin. 2 Place one foot on the step and one foot off the step while keeping your hips even. 3 Slowly lower the non-weight bearing foot down to the ground while keeping the heel of the weight bearing foot on the step at all times. 4 As you go down you should get the sensation that you are sitting on a chair behind you, this means that your hips will be traveling backwards and that your weight is over your heels. 5 Make sure that the contact made between the ground and the foot that is not on the step is very light. Once you have made contact you can start moving up again, straightening the weight baring knee. 6 It should take three seconds to go down and two seconds to come up. References: Vicmoen.O, .Rønnestad.B.R, Ellefsen.S, Raastad.T.Heavy strength training improves running and cycling performance following prolonged submaximal work in well trained female athletes.2017.

Step up 1

Step up 2

WARWICK CROSS (Bsc(Med) (Hons) Exercise Science (Biokinetics) ) is a a high-performance biokineticist at the Sports Science Institute of South Africa who works with elite level and amateur cyclists.

DHI COLUMN

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

KRAG-LAG Dertig jaar is ’n baie lang tyd in fietsry, vandat ons in 1989, 1990 rond begin cross countries jaag met oversize rame, undersize wiele waarvan die bande te hard gepomp was, geen voor of agter suspensie. WORDS: HENDRIK LEMMER

Tot nou, die laaste week van Augustus 2019, waar wat 30 jaar gelede onmoontlik was, ons ’n Wêreldkampioen op ’n e-bike het. Ek het in my koffie verstik, maar gelukkig het my vrou my kalmeer en verduidelik dat ek nou uiteindelik dalk ook aan Wêreldkampioenskappe sal kan deelneem. Soos Lance nie geseg het nie, “it’s all about the bicycle”. As ek bicycle Google in die Engelse taal kry ek onder andere die volgende: “The legal definition of a bicycle is a muscle-propelled two wheeled vehicle.” Sonder EPO, steroids, masjiene, batterye of enige ander eksterne hulp. Julle moet my verskoon, ek is nou ook meer as dubbel die ouderdom wat ek was toe ons met mountain biking begin het, en julle weet hoe is ou mense. Vol stront! As julle oor nog 30 jaar met remotes vanuit jul woonkamer teen Valverde in die Tour de France race, sal van julle dieselfde voel. Toe ek dus laas maand sien dat ons ’n e-bike wêreldkampioen het, met die amptelike Rainbow Jersey van die UCI wat jou lewenslank sal skors as hulle jou vang met een in die Tour de France, het ek negatief daarop reageer op my @grootlem twitter. Ek het ’n paar mense gekry wat my aangevat het. Ek het toe, soos gewoonlik, ’n bottel wyn oopgemaak en bietjie gaan dink en probeer verstaan wat in die wêreld van fietsry aangaan. Ek is absoluut geensins teen e-bikes nie, ek dink dis wonderlik dat lui mense, ou mense, siek mense, vet mense, mense wat Stravas wil wen, mense wat werk toe ry met die fiets, maar daar is ’n moerse bult, mense wat wêreldkamp ... (ok ek stop liewer) op ’n fiets is in plaas van voor die TV sit of in ’n kar is. En die ergste van alles is as hulle Strava Koning van die Berge steel op hulle e-bikes. Daai ouens behoort eintlik in die Buffalo-kategorie. Dis erger as EPO. Ek verstaan ook dat pro ryers dit kan gebruik vir oefening (jy kan dieselfde downhills meer oefen sonder om jou in jou moer te ry teen opdraandes), ek verstaan ook dat mensewat in daai vorige kategorieë val dalk ’n tawwe event of so wil doen. Daar kan dan ’n aparte kategorie vir daai mense wees. Apart, nè, nie soos my slegte stage race ervaring onlangs waar ’n e-bike-span ’n ander span help nie! Soos ek nou hier sit, ’n paar weke voor julle die storie lees, is ek amper op pad lughawe toe, ek en my ander gelyke helfte vlieg Spanje toe, Bilbao om meer spesifiek te wees. Ons kry daar huurfietse met panniers en die plan is om so 600km aan die noorde van Spanje te ry, so al op een van die Camino-roetes en hopelik op ’n kol paaie te kruis met die Toer van Spanje waar ek vir ons vie manne Willie, Louis, Nicholas en Jaco gaan cheer. Die deel waar ons gaan ry het baie bulte en berge, en die fietse gaan seker 30kg swaar wees met die bagasie. Al wat ek wil hê as ek weer op so ’n toer gaan is ’n e-bike asseblief!

JUST LIKE

HENDRIK ‘GROOT LEM’ LEMMER is ‘n fietsry-kommentator en ‘n eiendoms-agent. Hy bly nog steeds in die tuiste van bergfietsry in Suid-Afrika, Stellenbosch, en as jy nie omgee oor ‘n Twitteroorlog of twee nie kan jy hom volg: @GrootLem

RIDING A BIKE

Well I’m back in Germany and back on the bike. I actually can’t believe it. Just three months after my injury I am riding again. WORDS AND IMAGES: STEF GARLICKI

t’s been an extremely rough road, but I am over the moon to be back on two wheels and back to doing what I love. Getting injured the second time was a lot tougher than the first time, due to how soon it happened again and that I wasn’t fully rebuilt mentally when it happened the second time. This in turn knocked me down even further than the first injury. The biggest thing for me was that I wanted to come back so quickly from the first injury and be back at the level I was at. In hindsight, it was a little bit unrealistic. I actually went to see a sports psychologist at Sports Science in Cape Town, which helped so much. He really helped me to understand my situation and also put things into perspective. It’s a common thing that athletes want to be back where they were immediately which is just not realistic. It’s a process coming back from an injury, even if you feel good physically and mentally; it’s about combining that and putting it all together again. If you do it too quickly it opens you up for further risk of injury and crashes because you start pushing too hard, too soon. That’s when mistakes happen, because you are not at one with your bike and the track. I put way too much pressure on myself the first time around but this time I need to take things very slowly even if I’m feeling good physically. I underestimated how much the mental side effects are and I need to build slowly back up to where I was and just have fun with it again. It can feel like a job sometimes which I guess it is in a way, but at the same time it’s got to be fun, otherwise what’s the point I flew over to Germany for a month to sort things out and see my girlfriend, who took care of me after the accident. I will bring my bike home with me so that I can finally do some riding back in SA. My girlfriend had planned a riding trip to Austria and it ended up being in Leogang, which was funny as that was where I crashed.

They were all wanting me ride, too, but I actually didn’t know if I could ride. I hadn’t even been on a bike on the road yet so for me it was a little bit nerve-wracking. I had no idea how my body would respond as I’ve had lots of issues with my sciatic nerve ince the injury. It got bruised and that’s been the biggest hurdle as the leg has a lot of weakness due to this. I decided to give it a go. First run was very scary and I felt quite weak but amazingly it’s almost like my body retrained itself as I rode. The more I rode the better and stronger I felt. Each day I felt stronger on the bike and more confident which was really bizarre but I didn’t push it. I made sure that I didn’t ride too much but still had a blast. I was over the moon and couldn’t believe I could ride again just three months later. Last year it took me six months to get back on a bike. That said, it’s still a long way to go until I’m strong again but this is a great step in the right direction. My family was horrified that I wanted to keep riding after what I’ve been through but it’s not easy to just stop. It’s tough to explain, but riding gives you a feeling and freedom like nothing else and honestly like my first ride back gave me such a big smile on my face. I haven’t experienced that for so long. It’s like a drug, it really is and you can only understand it if you feel it. I don’t want to cause them any more pain but at the same time I really want to do what I love and riding bikes is what I love doing at the moment. I’m going to do everything I can to come back safely and as confidently as I can. I want to say a huge thanks to everyone that stood behind me, especially my sponsors. I had a lot of new sponsors and I feel like I let them down because I wasn’t able to deliver. But at the same time these things happen and it means a lot to me that they understood that and are still behind me 100%. I know that things will turn around and I’m really looking forward to the next chapter and getting back out there. Until next time

P H OTO : J a c q u e s M a r a i s ( R i d e H e re )

CALENDAR

Rock the trails in the golden hours in one of these cracking off-road events.

OCTOBER

KZN

16-24

Julia Colvin

WESTERN CAPE

EASTERN CAPE

The Cape Duo Challenge

Night Series at Spice Route Paarl

Eselfontein 3 Day Charity Festival

Java MTB Challenge

STBB4GOOD MTB Challenge

4 SAMIL Karoo Cycling Challenge The main race is a very scenic, fairly technical race over 80km’s. The route travels through areas of Karoo Veld, dry river beds, high altitude terrain and rocky sections. A large variety of fauna and flora could be found on the route including a section through a very well-known and established private nature reserve. The race is a challenge for serious riders yet manageable for the stronger weekend racers.

The STBB4GOOD MTB Challenge and Family Day will be taking place on Saturday 12 October 2019 at Overgaauw Wine Estate in Stellenbosch over the Bottelary Hills MTB Trails and Conservancy. The aim of this event is to raise funds for the Miles for Smiles Foundation. The MTB race has become known as one of the “must-do” events on the MTB calendar. Our routes are enjoyable, challenging and well marked, our marshals are on the ball, we have the top water tables in the industry, and we are told that ours is one of the best organised MTB races in South Africa. Loads of unbelievable prizes from our generous sponsors to be won. After the race, chill out in Bedouin tents, eat, relax and take in the view. Enjoy the food market, artisan beers and wine tasting, plus arts and crafts and a jumping castle for the kids.

Distances:

60km | 45km | 30km | 12km | 5km 12

SEEFF Tour de Plett

18-19

The U – MTB Stage Race

18-20

Sijnn Cycle Tour 2019

The Durbie Dash

Trail Girl

25-27

Wines2Whales Chardonnay

29-31

Wines2Whales Pinotage

Thomas River MTB Challenge

GAUTENG

Langebaan Country Estate MTB Funride

16-17

Sanlam MTB International

30-01

Origin of Trails

KZN 13-17

Trappist Ways Cycle Tour

E A S T E R N C A P E 23

Express Petroleum Kwelera 2 Kei 2019

M P U M A L A N G A 2

ALZU Tour de Farm

L I M P O P O 29-01

December Sondela Family 3 Day Stage Race

Challenge 4 Hope

N O R T H W E S T

Ezemvelo MTB Challenge

USN MTB Cup

SouthxSoutheast

Carnival City Macsteel MTB Race

NOVEMBER WESTERN CAPE

ATKV Buffelspoort MTB Race

DECEMBER WESTERN CAPE 6

Night Series, Spice Route, Paarl

Windpomp Sjerrie Challenge

Hartenbos MTB Race

1-3

Wines2Whales Shiraz

GAUTENG

Night Series, Rhebokskloof, Paarl

rinder MTB Challenge Get ready for the G toughest battle on the Bottelary Hills inStellenbosch. This is a race that will challenge you. But it is enjoyable and the views are spectacular. The route is carefully planned to make this race a true, but achievable challenge of both fitness and mountain biking technical skills. This is an event with a PURPOSE. A portion of the funds go to charity. After your ride and run, relax, have something cold to drink and grab a bite to eat.

Serengeti MTB and Trail Race

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT IN FULL SUS AND WE WILL SEND YOU COPIES OF THE PAPER FOR YOUR GOODIE BAGS OR REGISTRATION TABLE. CALL DEE ON 021 685 0285/6 GET YOUR EVENT LISTED HERE FOR FREE! EMAIL ALL YOUR 2017 EVENT DATES AND DETAILS TO SUSSED@FULLSUS.CO.ZA TO MAKE SURE YOU DON’T MISS OUT ON THE COVERAGE.

O C T/ N O V 2 0 1 9 V O L 6 1

CLASSIFIEDS

For Fast, Focused, Sharp, mountain biking events photography call Oakpics.

www.oakpics.com | 021 854 8723 Oakpics

ADVERTISE IN SAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S LARGEST CIRCULATING MTB PUBLICATION Contact Robin Moore on 021 685 0285 or robin@integratedmedia.co.za to book.

Imported by National Cycles

Email: cycles@nationalcycles.co.za Instagram: @national_cycles