Full Sus - Vol 5 - Aug 2013 by Full Sus #MTB

fullsus

SI Sunnies

WIN! Ocean Eyewear

August 2013

MOUNTAIN BIKE MONTHLY

Young Guns

pg6

Bike Review

pg18

Needles Q&A

pg17

Glove Review

pg21

MTB Going Wrong

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Saffa’s to Watch at the World Champs Yip it’s that time of the year again, says Seamus Allardice but this time we’re hosting it. The end of August sees the top pros from around the world descend on the Cascades MTB Park to compete for the coveted Rainbow Jerseys. Read on to ﬁnd out who will be up on the podium. shortened version of the XCO course and groups of four riders dice it out with the top two progressing on to the next round – think track sprinting at the Olympics. The XCR is a team event with each nation submitting a team of four riders – an elite male, an elite female, an U23 male and a junior male – who each race a lap of the cross country course, the first nation to finish the four laps wins. Trials meanwhile is like something out of the Unbeatable Banzuke, and it’s best left up to the World Champs website to explain how it works: “The objective of this sport is to get over obstacles grouped into sections, without setting foot on the ground or any part of the bicycle (only the wheels) touching the ground as this incurs penalties. After negotiating a series of sections, the rider who has the fewest penalty points is declared the winner.” Those are the events but who are the riders to watch? In the trials 26 class the top three finishers from both the World Cup events thus far are Gilles Coustellier, Guillaume Dunand and Aurelien Fontenoy all

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GAMEPLAN MEDIA

f you can, you have to make your way to Pietermaritzburg from the 26th of August to the 1st of September 2013 because hosting a World Championship is a rarity. Yes you can see Christoph Sauser in the Epic and Gee Atherton in the World Cup event in Maritzburg again next year. But it’s not the same is it? The World Champs are the pinnacle of the annual calendar and the who’s who of mountain biking will be there, trusting that all those hundreds of hours of training this year will have them peaking right when it matters most. As Cycling South Africa’s General Manager Mike Bradley says: “It is the single most important event South Africa has ever had the privilege of hosting. No cycling event this size nor this spectacular has ever taken place here before.” So you’re convinced about its importance but what exactly goes down at the World Champs? Well there are 5 disciplines, most of you will be familiar with the Cross Country (XCO) and Downhill (DHI), but there will also be medals available in the Cross Country Eliminator (XCE), Cross Country Relay (XCR) and Trials. The XCE format is raced over a

Reigning World Champ and PMB local Greg Minnaar in action.

FS Editorial & News

s w editor ne FROM THE

The Race that Measures it all

Winter rolling

o I'm lying in bed feeling sorry for myself and like all man-flu victims the only people who seem to care are complete strangers who I have been emotionally telling how sick I am - sympathy is like antibiotics for us blokes! So just another reason not to get on the bike despite knowing that we are entered into Wine2Whales and that getting ready is going to be a bitch. Winter in the Cape sure makes it easy to find excuses not to ride and frankly some of them are valid. A good friend of mine who has transformed himself from a 102kg average joe (depending of course on your definition of average) into a slim 80kg riding machine, was up and riding the Noordhoek Peak, alone, at 5am with lights and pouring rain when he came to the realisation that "this is crazy!" he thought: "I'm not enjoying this, I'm soaked and its bloody dangerous" his answer - he hung up his bike, put on his walking shoes and chilled. Exactly as David G said in last months article. Those of us that feel we take the sport seriously run the risk of becoming jaded - we don't get paid to do this, we have to get up at odd hours to train in between work and family commitments, watch our diet, drink lite beer - I am starting to see the point David Bristow makes in his article in this issue. We also dont want to go backwards but this is a great time

fullsus MOUNTAIN BIKE MONTHLY

the team

Publishing Editor: Shayne Dowling shayne@integratedmedia.co.za

for a bit of gym work, cross-training and a good excuse to dust off that static trainer lying in the garage. My cycle partner and I have and it's actually been fun - we got hold of a couple of training videos and have been making our way around some interesting sites in California while sweating up a storm. Having a mate to train with also makes things a lot easier, its a lot harder to make up an excuse when your bud/s are outside waiting on the pavement. Prob ably a good time to apologise again to our mad mate Dion who ventured out from the North to tackle Tokai only to be told halfway here that we are not going to be tackling the rain but staying warmly tucked up in bed... D we really thought our bikes would rust! Enjoy this issue of Full Sus, once again Seamus has done a great job putting together some top features, thanks to the guys at ASG for the Pinnarello and to all you guys for all the great feedback. PE and East London you guys are next, we have sorted out distribution for the Eastern Cape so let your buds know Full Sus is coming! See you on the trails!

Cheers

Advertising: Shayne Dowling PR & Promotions: Julia Andrade julia@integratedmedia.co.za

Printing: Paarl Coldset (Pty) Ltd Published by: Integrated Media Disclaimer: The views expressed by the contributors and columnists do not necessarily represent the views of Full Sus or Integrated Media.

Head Office | Cape Town Tel: 021 685 0285 Address: Suite WB03 Tannery Park 23 Belmont Road, Rondebosch, 7700 Postal Address: PO Box 31649, Tokai, 7945

Photography: Julia Andrade, Jacques Marais, Thinkstock.com and Oakpics.com – Fanus Oosthuizen. Regulars: David George, Meurant Botha, Stirling Kotze Snr & Jnr, Alex Blair, Jacques Marais.

SA CHAMPS DARREN GODDARD/CYCHO MEDIA

Contributor: David Bristow.

Content Editor: Seamus Allardice seamus@integratedmedia.co.za Art Director: Megan Knox megan@integratedmedia.co.za

If you’re an avid reader (the signs are promising) and you enjoy MTB (that’s a given) then you should give The race that measures it all a read. It’s an autobiographical account by Neil Fourie of his quest to overcome a life changing injury and conquer the world’s toughest MTB race. It’s a poignantly personal tale written in a conversational tone. Bruce Reyneke said: “I think this book can be recommended to anybody who is doing the Cape Epic for the first time, and also anybody that has suffered from adversity, not just cyclists.” While Kevin Vermaak was honoured by the role the Epic played in Neil’s life saying: “Congratulations on your determination and achievement. I’m humbled by the role that the Epic plays in your amazing life-story.”

Full Sus uses the iON AIR PRO WiFi

n the 20th and 21st of July the SA XCO and DHI championships took place at Hayterdale Trails. Saturday saw the XCO riders ﬁght it out for the right to compete in the SA Champion’s jersey at the World Champ in late August. In the Elite divisions Philip Buys and Samantha Sanders were in a class of their own winning the elite men’s and ladies titles. The U23 men’s race was the most tightly contested of the day with

Rourke Croeser piping James Reid by a wheel, while in the young ladies division Mariske Strauss was in dominant form. The juniors were won by Alan Hatherly and Bianca Haw, while the youth division was won by Julian Jessop and Frankie Du Toit. While on the DHI front Tiaan Odendaal claimed the Elite men’s title with Gina Nixon proving to be the quickest lady down the hill. Congratulations from Full Sus to all the new SA Champs!

PHILLIP BUYS WILL RACE WORLD CHAMPS IN THE SA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS JERSEY

Work on your Photography Skills

News

ull Sus’s photographic partners Oakpics are offering a couple of photographic workshops for beginner and intermediate level photographers. If you’d like to spend either 3 or 5 days at the beautiful Drie Kuilen Private Nature Reserve in the Klein Karoo working on your photography skills then give Fanus a shout at fanus@oakpics.com or 082 3732 830.

The three day workshop is from the 4 - 6 Oct and the ﬁve day, from 1 - 4 Nov 2013. The fees include transport, accommodation, meals and the workshops. All you need is your equipment, enthusiasm and an open mind.

SA’s best trails according to you OAKPICS.COM

o the results of the ‘reader’s favourite trails competition’ are in and leading the way is the Oak Valley trail in the winelands of Elgin. The trails on the Oak Valley wine estate have been used for the Cape Epic, Wine2Whales and the Houw Hoek MTB Tour amongst others, so they’re popular with the race organisers too. Next on the list of reader’s favourite places to ride so far is Jonkershoek, but with the massive MTB contingent in Stellenbosch that’s hardly surprising. There are some great trails which we were surprised didn’t get a mention though, and a few like Welvanspas with far too few votes, so we’re taking to Twitter to get you involved. Tweet @FullSussa with #FavTrail. Let’s hear where you like to ride and even better tweet us a pic too. Best pic gets published in the September issue!

ay and

urr Lionel M

OAKPICS.COM

Ride Safely

ollowing an incident in the Northern San Francisco Bay Area which left Lisa Zeppegno of Oakland in a critical condition Full Sus would like to remind you again to be aware of other trail users. In the case in question 2 young riders – who ﬂed the scene and haven’t been identiﬁed, but who appeared to be between the ages of 10 and 12 – where riding a path where MTB is prohibited in the Indian Tree Open Space Preserve. They startled Zeppegno and her companion, Nicole Devito, who were both thrown from their horses. Zeppegno is currently recovering in hospital from her spinal fractures while Devito also suffered trauma to her spine, but fortunately did not need to be airlifted to hospital as Zeppegno was. The incident has

Richard

Coram

Cycology Service

ounded in December 2012 the premise behind Lionel Murray and Richard Coram’s Freewheel Cycology LBS was the need for a high-end service centre. But the idea soon E NDRAD JULIA A grew into a full on shop specialising in the Cannondale, GT, Trek, Merida, Swift, Fondriest and Titan brands. Another added bonus is their test-ride policy where you can ride-before-you-buy on some of the top end bikes in their shop. Check them out online at www.freewheel.co.za.

SUS THE FEEDBACK sparked a heated debate about safe trail use in the Bay Area and Full Sus would like to urge you to obey the rules of the trail and respect the rights and personal safety of others on the trails. Accidents happen quickly, but most can be avoided with the use of common sense by both parties. Oh and obviously don’t ride illegal trails.

RESPECT THE PERSONAL SAFETY OF OTHERS ON THE TRAILS

Where to Find Full Sus

Good Day to you. Trust you are well. Please advise where I could possible obtain my dose of Full Sus monthly. I am based in Westrand, Roodepoort, Gauteng. Thanking you kindly. Regards, Belinda Stevens

Shot for the letter Belinda, you can ﬁnd our list of distributers on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FullSussa, in the “Notes”. Also look out for Full Sus in the Eastern Cape bike shops in September. If your bike shop doesn’t stock Full Sus, ask them why…

FS World Champs Preview “IT IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT SOUTH AFRICA HAS EVER HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF HOSTING.” from France. While in the 20 class Abel Garcia, leads the rankings over fellow Spaniard Benito José Ros Charral and Dutchman Rick Koekoek, however Vincent Hermance who finished 3rd in Walbrzych, Poland, shouldn’t be discounted. In the XCR I’d like to think that our local guys and gals will be able to give the podium a shot, but with the massively strong teams from Switzerland and Italy particularly, and a couple of other European nations it’d be a tough nut to crack. Looking at the team that Cycling South Africa has selected it seems likely that the XCR team will be made up of Philip Buys, Yolande Speedy, Rourke Croeser and Alan Hatherly. Going on the World Cup rankings alone the Swiss team could be made up by Nino Schurter, Esther Süss, Reto Indergand and Fabian Strittmatter, but at this stage this is pure speculation. What is clear however is that the European nations have formidable strength in depth when it comes to the cross country disciplines. The XCE and the XCO races will be difficult to pick but local poduim hopes can be pinned with relative confidence on the young shoulders of Mariske Strauss and Rourke Croeser while Yolande Speedy is over her Epic induced injuries and should be in contention too, while Philip Buys and Matthys Beukes will be looking to prove the UCI form books wrong and upset the more favoured international competitors. Our U23 squads in particular are pretty strong, with Croeser saying that he wouldn’t be surprised by “possibly even having four riders finish in the top 20” in the U23 men’s division. If that’s to be the case keep an eye out for James Reid in the men’s race, while Candice Neethling has Olympic experience and is currently sweeping all before her on the local scene from a U23 ladies perspective. On the international front in the elite ladies podium could well be dominated by three of these four names: Tanja Zakelj, Eva Lechner, Alexandra Engen and Julie Bresset from Slovenia, Italy, Sweden and France respectively. While the top ranked elite men thus far this season have been the Swiss duo of Nino Schurter and Lukas Fükiger, followed by Italian Marco Fontana and Frenchman Julien Absalon. It is in the downhill division that South Africa has the best chance of claiming a rainbow jersey. The double world champion - Greg Minnaar is the reigning World Champ having won the title in Leogang, Austria, last year and is currently in 2nd place in the World Cup rankings. Maritzburg is also Greg’s local stomping ground

so look for him to give it horns on the redesigned Cascades downhill course. Also in contention though is fellow Saffa Andrew Neethling (Read more about Needles in our Q & A on page 17), and the internationals led by Gee Atherton – who has been in all conquering form in 2013 – and Needles’s team-mate Danny Hart – who has struggled for form this year but is too quick to ever discount completely.

The Amphitheatre

Sharka’s Playground The Amphitheatre Extension

Kim’s Corner

Shale Climb

Pick Up Sticks Noogies Knoll Treehouse rock Garden Red Face Hill

Rapid Rocks Finish

Courses The cross country course measures 4.9km in length and features a nasty looking profile with riders being asked to either climb at maximum power or descend at break-neck speeds throughout. It’s made up of two loops with the start located at the lowest point of the route. The initial drag race up the first 350m climb could be essential as there will inevitably be a bottle-neck on the left hand corner turning up into Red Face Hill. The start/finish is also located on the most accessible and open part of the course so expect it to be a spectator hot spot for more than just the usual reasons. With riders having to guts it out up the deceptive rise over the last 300m expect on the line drama. The downhill course is 3.02km long and drops nigh on 400m making for a -13.32% gradient (if you’re into that sort of thing). What’s really important though is that course designer Nick Floros has been hard at work resculpting drops and jumps to provide the sternest test the geography of the Cascades will allow. The course can be divided into three sections with the first providing a high speed (up to 80kph) bust over the Haibo road gap to the N3 tabletops, the second is a lung busting 40-second sprint pedal section before the gradient drops again into Airodrome bridge drop before ending with the massive Moneymaker hip, a 15-metre step-down hip designed to wow the crowds.

Spectator Friendly All access is free but for the weekend of the 30th, 31st and 1st so get down to the Cascades to support our guys and gals. The training sessions for the World Champs start on Monday the 26th of August and the full programme is on the event website. I would advise you to book online using ROAG though as the final weekend will get busy. Also because of the limited space spectators have been asked to park their cars at the Settler’s Park which is 1km from the event venue. There will be shuttle buses to transport you to and from this parking.

Halfway Feed/Tech Zones Corkscrew Start

Downhill Course

Master’s World Champs But first… there’s the little matter of the Masters World Champs to handle! The old bullets of the MTB scene (they’re not all that old… the masters event is open to anyone without any UCI points in 2013 over the age of 30) have a chance to strut their stuff. From the 21st to the 25th of August our local rides will be taking on the best amateurs in the world for their chance at MTB glory. So go support them too.

Start Eye Boggler Eish! Cloud 9 Haibo Dr Evil The Gulley N3 Khatala

fullsus

Jugs Big One Bomb Hole Air-O-Drome

AT WORLDS

Full Sus won’t just be represented in words and images at the World Champs, our very own downhilling nutter Kathryn Fourie will be taking part in the Masters World Champs and after a selection which surprised her (but not us) in the Elite Ladies DHI competition too. Go say hi and buy her a good luck beer – I gather they don’t say break a leg in downhill – she’ll have a Label.

Slip n Slide The Moneymaker Finish

Downhill Proﬁle

Follow the Action Live Stay up-to-date with all the action from the 2013 World Championships. Visit the official website at www.mtbworldchamps.co.za. For inside scoops follow: (Explanations only follow the non-self-explanatory) @philbuys @MatthysBeukes @GregMinnaar @andrewneethling @Yolandes (Yolande Speedy) @CherieVale @james_reid01

@RourkeCroeser @StraussMariske @candle_bear (Candice Neethling) @alanhatherly @MountainBikerSA (Mylene Loumeau CSA) @SeamusAllardice And of course @FullSussa FOR THE SOCIALLY ACTIVE: like the official Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ UCIMTBWorldChamps2013 or follow the news on Twitter @MTBWorlds2013

FS MTB Young Guns

SuS the Stars oF THe NeAR FuTuRe Chic

We all want to know who the next South African MTB star will be. So Seamus Allardice caught up with a few young riders who have been making waves in the scene of late.

e Marisukss Stra

t would be difficult to describe Mariske without over using synonyms for a ball of energy. She seems like a perpetual motion device and I got the feeling that she’d be at somewhat of a loss if she wasn’t trying to fit a full time degree into the life of a pro athlete. The 22 year old from Durbanville is from good riding stock, with her old man Bryan having had a successful career on the bike before taking over as the manager of the national MTB team over a decade ago, and her brothers are riders too. She’s been racing for over ten years herself and she’s been pretty successful locally too, so much so that her local team, Contego, rates her as “currently the most promising female mountain biker in South Africa”. That assessment probably had a hand in them letting Mariske sign for the UK based Orange Monkey

Roadie

s Jamee t Tenn n

he 24 year old is the oldest of our group of young guns, but with his road racing current focus and marathon MTB future goals, time is still very much on his side. James Tennent was introduced

team for all UCI events, as the support that a European based team can offer would allow her to focus on the business of riding far more. Not that riding for Orange Monkey means the end of Mariske in the Contego kit. After our chat she was off to Knysna, for the Oyster Festival, where she was crowned the top female cyclist – racing in Contego colours once more, having placed second in the MTB and Road races behind Anriette Schoeman and Candice Neethling respectively. With her first semester’s BSc Sport Science exams behind her, Mariske can now afford to focus on training for the SA Champs in July and the World Champs in August. The varsity holidays means no 3am wake-up calls – so she can put in a 3 hour ride before heading to 8am classes – for a while at least, (or doing pracs until 5 before shooting back to Durbanville for a quick 2 hour training session in the early evening winter darkness). The life of a pro athlete, it’s not all globe-trotting and spraying Champaign on podiums. The training schedule is demanding, the traveling is relentless and the racing competition is by all accounts fiercer than you’d imagine. Apparently waiting at single track bottle necks can be perilous to your calves as pushy riders jump the queue and Mariske has caught a chainring to the leg in one such encounter. Queues aside the ladies racing is pretty agro all round and one of the adjustments

to Full Sus by Diana Carolin (of the Hessequa MTB feature in the July issue fame) and given his exploits in his first MTB race we thought we should find out more. I met up with James in the Tokai Forrest and he was more than happy to talk about his MTB ambitions, but he did make it clear that in the next few years his focus would remain on the road. His Nu Water team were happy to let him switch the slicks for knobblies in the winter months when the road calendar thinned out and it didn’t take much to get James into the competitive MTB scene. The Hessequa was his first MTB race and he managed to place 6th, but topped that with a 3rd in the AmaRider 100 Miler in May, showing that his MTB talent might well lie with

she’s learnt to make is to not fall into the trap of being nice on the course. After a disappointing 2012 she decided to relocate home from the USA and although none of her American uni credits were transferable back to Stellies the change seems to have been for the best all round. With an 8th place in the Albstadt World Cup event and a 6th in

Nove Mesto na Morave to go with her African Champs title, 2013 has been a good year so far for Mariske. 2014 will see her step up into the Elite ladies class and I’m sure she’ll take to the task with her usual high energy aplomb. But for now here’s hoping she adds the U23 XCO World Champion title to her CV in 2013.

CoNTeGo, RATeS HeR AS “CuRReNTlY THe MoST pRoMISING FeMAle MouNTAIN BIkeR IN SouTH AFRICA”.

Race face: Mariske focusing all that energy OrAnge MOnkey PrO TeAM

the long fast rides. Given his roadie be a winter break bit of fun, though background it’s not surprising that that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t at this point of his MTB development put a wager on the name Tennent that James favours the less technical should it crop up in a MTB race line gravel road dominated races, but up in the next 24 months or so. technical skills are something he’s keen to work on. James recons that James Tennent he’ll be moving into going into the red the competitive MTB on the AmaRider scene full time, in a few 100 Miler years’ time (once he’s made a good fist of the roadie career and worked on his single track skills). And when he does commit we suspect he’ll prove to be a force to be reckoned with – given how far he’s come so quickly. But for now it’ll WWW.OAkPicS.cOM

MTB Young Guns

Dude

James Reid

ames Reid does not come across as 20. And while the word he repeated most often in our chat was “sustainability,” if I was pressed to pick a word it would be intelligent. From discussing his current approach to training to dealing with the emotional peaks and troughs as a professional athlete; and talking about his big plans for the future to the fallout from David George’s positive test which left him a privateer in 2013. He expresses himself with quiet conﬁdence and seems to give not only his riding, but also the peripheral issues that go hand in hand with being an elite rider, a great deal of thought. On the bike 2013 has been a mixed year for James, he’s been successful locally – most notably in the place he least expected it winning the SA Marathon Champs – but internationally he’s failed to reach his 2012 levels. When we spoke the national XCO champs were just over a week away, and he was not eager to oversell his chances. After having it widely reported that “he would win nationals” in a previous year, he was understandably reticent to be brash about his prospects. I got the feeling though that while the Worlds are a major goal (he said top 5, but I suspect he’s aiming higher) he’s more of a long term planner. Under 23, he says is about learning the skills and honing your

racing rather than just focusing purely on results. And to that effect he’s been trying out a new training programme in 2013 too. With the 360Life team dissolving in late 2012 James felt the time was right to make the change, saying that he’d tried the distance based approach favoured by his then senior team mates and he’s now trying a more intensity based approach. It’s perhaps surprising then that his big result of the year came in a longer race, but these things take time and James still has plenty of that with 2014 being his last year in U23, and Rio 2016 as his current mid-term goal. In the short term there’s the SA XCO Championships, the UCI World Cup event 4 in Andorra, and the Illovo Eston MTB Marathon (the ﬁrst two will be well over before Full Sus makes it to your hands – so check how James

Junior Women Bianca Haw Marie-Christin Kempf Marne Botha Catherine Colyn Michelle Benson Jessica Alcock Hazel Magill Junior Men Alan Hatherly Dylan Rebello Sybrand Strauss Nicol Carstens Carlo Marzoppi Ivan Venter Louw Kriel

Get involved in XCO Cross country isn’t really big on the local scene despite being the Olympic discipline. With DH not on the Olympic radar at this stage and our nation’s love for MTB, Full Sus would love to see more youngsters competing at the XCO discipline. The technical skills honed on the XCO courses will also stand you in good stead should you make the switch to stage racing later in your career.

Sponsors Pro athletes, and young ones in particular, would be nowhere without their sponsors and so from the James’s and Mariske, Full Sus would like to extend a massive thank-you to Nu Water, Contego and Orange Monkey. But special words of praise must go to 360Life, despite pulling their team sponsorship in the wake of David George’s positive test they have continued to honour their agreement with James Reid, paying his monthly retainer until the contract’s completion after World’s. In a time of decreased corporate expenditure and narrow focus on the bottom line, it’s great to see a massive company show compassion for a young athlete who could otherwise have easily fallen by the wayside of SA MTB.

ACTION PHOTO

3DF

w Elbo Guard

k tion Backpac ydra H 4 H

leatt® 118-13

3DF

did) before the once in a lifetime opportunity of a home World Champs. While I’d put money on James placing well in both the SA and World XCO Champs I’d suggest that James Reid is a name to watch for the long term, rather than just a World Champs flavour of the month. If Mariske is our best young female MTB prospect James is our best young MTB representative. On and off the bike James Reid is a name to watch.

South African juniors selected to take part in the World Champs, and if I were pressed to pick just one to watch I’d suggest you keep an eye on the young Bianca Haw.

Knee Guard 3DF Leatt®

UNDER 23, HE SAYS IS ABOUT LEARNING THE SKILLS AND HONING YOUR RACING RATHER THAN JUST FOCUSING PURELY ON RESULTS.

Looking even further to the future Here are the

James Reid on his way to victory in the SA XCM Champs

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FS What’s wrong with MTB

how numbers and Sh*t Are Stuffing up Mountain Biking David Bristow knows he’s not alone in thinking that the local MTB scene isn’t what it used to be. And he’s not scared to voice his opinions either… Photo by Oakpics.com

learned mountain biking with my mate Mad Dog Maddock who insisted we “ride the trail, don’t make the trail rideable”. I didn’t even have front shocks in those days, but we rode the single tracks like browndirt cowboys. Everything was cool, the trails were rugged and mostly empty, and we just rode as we liked. Then, I guess it was around the time of the first Cape Epic back in 2004 that things started to change. Suddenly everyone wanted to be like a pro racer, smoothing out the single tracks so they could go faster. You had to ride a race every weekend and you just had to buy all the latest sh*t to blend in with the pack. To keep up you had to get a heart-rate monitor and consume small fortunes of energy supplements and recovery drinks. When people ask me about my heart rate numbers, I say I use a colour-coded system: when I’m

breathing easy it’s green; when I’m gasping it’s orange; when my heart starts breaking ribs to get out it’s red. How simple is that, and it didn’t cost a cent. Energy drinks? I drink Coke, it’s cheap and actually tastes nice. If I feel like a savory treat I mix up a bottle of Mate (the energy drink of gauchos and all South American soccer players). Even trail guru, AmaRider Meurant, shakes his head and agrees: local mountain bikers are event bevok. Overseas you race for the fun and maybe a beer and let the real pros contest the races. Among the most cynical of industries is the pharmaceutical supplement business. Real scientist know they are worth sh*t, and pretty much the same goes for sports supplements as well as all the recovery junk. Sure, you need recovery calories, but you can buy what you need off any restaurant menu or supermarket sweet shelf.

The guy rIDIng pAST AcTuAlly ShouTeD AT her: “FAll To The leFT”

Me? I use a tried and tested formula refined by Doctor Castle, along with a medically formulated cheeseburger. But no, South African mountain bikers these days seem to think they’ll all Olympians who can use only expensive sh*t from the snake-oil salespeople of the sporting world. Riding in Tokai on Sundays used to be a social event, a light-hearted pleasure outing (with the aroma of baboon cabbage often permeating the dank forest). Nowadays it’s a friggin race and piss of out the way when I’m coming down. Riding one day along the single track with a female friend, she hit something and went down. The guy riding past actually shouted at her: “Fall to the left!” Then there’s all the sh*t. We all like nice bikes with frictionless gears and lots of ratios to discuss over naff milky lattés with our helmets on. The biking industry reads us like they’ve got crystal balls. We LOVE stuff, we love new stuff best. Now we all have to have 29ers, don’t we? In fact the jury is still out. The only time there is a calculable advantage with a 29er is on open roads. That people, is valley cycling, not mountain biking. If you don’t believe me ask the Brits, who have not bought the new craze wholesale. Admit it, if you bought a 29er it was because you love new sh*t, and you don’t want to be left behind by the crowd. And all this time I thought mountain biking was about being a maverick, not a sheep. Clearly I was wrong.

In a past issue of Full Sus a female rider (and I’m sure she’s a lovely person) actually admitted she had not started riding single track until very recently. Well then, that ain’t mountain biking, is it ma’m! In the school where I learned, if you did not even try riding a downhill trail where there was one, you were not the grapes on a mountain biker’s bum. Now many of the people I know are getting up in the dark a few times a week, not to ride their bikes, oh no, but to go to the gym to do cadence training. “Trying to be the new Lance Armstrong. I’d rather just take the drugs,” I say. They all talk about their cadence numbers, and their wattage numbers, like they’re riding the frigging Olympics. Me? I get up at around sunrise and actually go mountain biking. When people ask me what my numbers are I say “083-762-0000 – give me a call and maybe we can actually go riding.” So I ride my bike, anyhow, anywhere, any time. And afterwards I tuck into a medically approved frosty and a snakeoil fried cheeseburger. As for numbers, I leave them to the accountants. David Bristow has buckets of MTB experience having ridden and written the Spine of the Dragon. He’s also the webmaster of www.dragontrax.co.za, a site which aims to be the countries go-to, free, repository of the mountain biking GPS tracks.

Tweet your views on #Valleycycling

Do you have a bone to pick?

If you feel strongly about David’s opinions, get involved on in the Facebook debate at www.facebook.com/fullsussa. Is MTB in South Africa losing touch with its roots or is the change for the better? Maybe you’re not sold on either polar view, and want to act as the voice of reason?

www.OAkPicS.cOM

Ride Reports

Namib QUESTING

On the 19th of June a select group of riders gathered at the Windhoek Country Club for the 3rd Windhoek Lager Namib Quest and this is what went down as they road to Swakopmund.

n the 6 day adventure through the Khomas Hochland and the Namib Desert riders enjoyed rustic race villages every evening with all the best home comforts laid on as an added bonus – like hot showers, massages, three course meals and bike maintenance service – all surrounded by the unspoilt African bush. The 40 riders were treated to a bit of clay pigeon shooting, something to add to the bush and Namibian experience, on day one. And every evening the talented PD Stoman strummed out tunes on his guitar around the campfire for entertain the multinational group featuring riders from SA, Namibia, Angola and Zimbabwe. The eventual winners were Heinrich Krohne and Costa Seibeb, while the first ladies team were Charmaine Shannon and Elke Jagau. Full Sus’s Jacques Marais and his ride partner Johan Fourie finished in 3rd overall. Check it out: If you’re keen to find out more about the Namib Quest or to view all the spectacular photos from the 2013 event go to www.africanextremepromotions.com.

ters, daugh ht), is h h it ika (rig Glen w Farmer (left) and Tam Bianca vid le Roux and Da

Navigating the DUSI David le Roux had the privilege of riding the inaugural Dusi2c, a 2 day mountain bike race following the Dusi Canoe Marathon route and had a lot of preconceived ideas on what the route would be like: district roads, with a few portages and maybe a goat trail. How wrong he was… Riders and a tributary snaking along the valley

If you want to ﬁnd out more about Farmer Glen’s latest race and to book your place for 2014 (you know how quickly his events ﬁll up) check out www.dusi2c.co.za.

Beautiful midlands mornings on the Msunduzi

evlin Fogg from D.U.C.T along with Glen and his “2c” team had been working ﬂat out on the route, cutting in loads of ﬂowing single track, and constructing a brilliant race village out of Mfula Store. I was blown away by the quality and quantity of single track on stage one, which contained nearly no district road at all. Stage 2 had a little less track, but the section along the Inanda dam was spectacular. The highlight of the race though was the concept of GPS Navigation, no

signs or markers on the route at all - only the odd marshal for safety. I don’t own a GPS myself, and my dad carelessly let a truck smash his, but I was lucky enough to be able to ride with Tamika Haw, who turned out to be a magnificent navigator. Tamika Columbus I will call her from now on. The GPS navigation added a great dimension to the ride - you always had to keep one eye on the map otherwise you would soon find yourself turning back to find the turn off you missed.

We had a little race going on with Dusi canoe champ Lance Kime and Owen Gandar – it was tough racing and we had two minutes to make up on the short 2nd stage, but Lance punctured near the end and we managed to sneak in a win. Train harder next year lads! As a ﬁnal thought, I think that the Dusi2c is a great entry into stage racing for anyone looking to move up from single day classics, and the GPS navigation is the way of the future. Great event Farmer Glen!

FS Trails

Bergplaas Garden Route R’nR

Here goes if you’re keen on some proper, off-the-beaten track Garden Route R’nR … Book in at the 7 Passes Tented Camp and get ready to explore (or Jacques Marais says, get lost within) the vast Bergplaas plantations near Hoekwil. Photography by Jacques Marais Local Buzz: The 7 Passes Tented Camp on the Mandalay Road makes for a perfect base if you’re keen to ride some of the Garden Route’s lesserknown routes. Although most of the fat-trackers in the region gravitate towards the well-known Knysna trails, the recently laid-out trails in Farleigh Forest and the endless forestry roads of Bergplaas make for a superb endurance session on the

bike. Once back at the tented camp, you can chillax on your wooden decks overlooking the dam, indulge in some bass ﬁshing, check out the resident ﬁsh eagles, or head on down to Timberlake Village for one of the best cups of java on Planet Earth.

Trail Low-Down: Sho boet, I’m not sure where to start, hey… With all the riding options along the 7 Passes Road,

the best is probably to concentrate on just one option, so let’s make it Bergplaas. This section of Cape Pine plantation stretches along the Outeniqua ranges to the north of Karatara, Woodville and Hoekwil. (And if you don’t know where this is, think around 15km or so inland from Sedgeﬁeld and Wilderness.) Access to the plantations and the Bergplaas State Forest is blissfully easy from 7 Passes Camp. Saddle

up and turn left out of the parking lot for a quick 1.3km crank to the main tarmac track, and nudge right along the shoulder from here for 500m. On your left, you will notice the Woodville General Dealer and a gravel road heading into the hills through farmland… this is where you’re going. You’ll reach the Cape Pine signs after a further 1.5km; keep left into the indigenous forest and ignore the road to Woodville to your right. A few dips and climbs later you’ll be able to check out a kick-ass panorama over the farmlands below the forest as you ess-bend to the summit of your first big climb (6km). Forestry gates to the left and tight allow you to explore off the main drag, but keep

SUS THE STATS

Jacques Marais is the author of Top MTB Trails, and will be keeping you up to speed with the best rides in SA. You can ﬁnd out more at www.jacquesmarais.co.za

Grading: Easy to Intermediate (steep climbing) Duration: 1 - 7hrs Conﬁguration: Circular/Return Options – 18/80km Start Point: 7 Passes Tented Camp Terrain: Forestry tracks, 4x4 routes, secret single-track Post-Ride Beer: Zucchini’s at Timberlake Village - www.timberlake.co.za Must-Do-Event: Kingﬁsher MTB Challenge - www.hoekwilprimary.co.za Access: Open access along 7 Passes Road; permit may be required for Bergplaas Cell Reception: Good Accommodation: All options covered at www.7passes.co.za Local Contact: MTB Guide Jan van der Westhuizen +(82) 959 8767 GPS: 33° 57’ 01.48” S / 22° 39’ 42.65” E

Trails

Tented luxury, what more can you ask for?

A room with a view.

“SHO BOET, I’M NOT SURE WHERE TO START, HEY, WITH ALL THE RIDING OPTIONS ALONG THE 7 PASSES ROAD…” an eye out for access control signs warning you of areas where treefelling may be happening. The second gate to your right takes you past the fire lookout point, with a nice little bomb along a dippy forest track which loops anti-clockwise to take you back to the main gravel stretch (10km). If you keep right, you’ll drop down towards the river past the original Bergplaas homestead, with literally hours of riding pleasure awaiting

you across the valley. There you go, buddy, and don’t miss the Diek’s Brew Blonde at Timberlake!

Getting there: Take the Hoekwil turn-off off the N2 at Wilderness Caltex garage, and continue up this (7 Passes) tar road for 15km. Pass through Hoekwil and the Woodville Big Tree, and then look out for a Mandalay sign indicating a right turn. The tented camp is 1.3km down this gravel road.

n i w

Nina Swiegelaar (Stellenbosch) and Jorg Knorrwere (Plumstead) are our lucky winners of a pair of Ocean Eyewear SJ840 sunnies each for their quirky responses in July, and now you have another chance to win. Let us know who you think is going to be the highest placed Saffa at the world champs and stand a chance of winning one of two pairs of Ocean Eyewear SI’s. DOU

BLE your chanc es by lik ing Faceb us on oo www .faceb k at o /fulls ok.com ussa

Ocean Eyewear sunglasses are available in all Sportmans Warehouse Retail outlets. THE PRIZE: Ocean Eyewear, celebrating 25 years in South Africa. Best known for their rugged by stylish sunglasses which are designed to withstand the elements – made with corrosive resistant materials and scratch resistant lenses – Ocean Eyewear sunnies will keep your eyes protected from UV glare with their UV 400 lenses. Enter Full Sus’s “Top Saffa at the World Champs” competition and stand a chance to win 1 of 2 pairs of Ocean Eyewear’s, top of the range, SI sunglasses. The SI range feature exchangeable lenses, meaning you’ll be able to select light

enhancing lenses for those low light winter afternoon rides, or a nice dark shade if you’re lucky enough to be able to slip out for a ride while the sun is shining. Check them out at www.oceaneyewear.co.za or grab a pair at your nearest Sportsman’s Warehouse. HOW TO WIN: Drop us an email by the 20th of August, with the subject: “Top Saffa” to comp@fullsus.co.za and give us your view on who’ll be the highest placed South African at the World Champs. Remember to include your full name, ID number, physical address and a contact number.

COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS Competition submissions should reach us no later than 20 August 2013. The Prize/s is that indicated, no alternatives or cash will be provided. The decision of Integrated Media will be ﬁnal and no correspondence will be entered into. Under no circumstances shall Integrated Media, Tri Ocean Trading or its appointed representatives and the prize donors be liable to anyone who enters these Prize Draws for an indirect or consequential loss howsoever arising which may be suffered in relation to the Prize Draws. By entering these competitions you make yourself subject to receiving promotional information. Entrants are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions. Prize Draw Rules: The prize draw is only open to residents in South Africa. Employees of Integrated Media and adidas and their respective advertising, media and PR agencies, as well as the family members, consultants, directors, associates and trading partners of such organisations and persons are ineligible for the draw. Prize style and colour may vary.

rtr dps advert.pdf

2013/06/27

1:14 PM

o n i h R e R 20 BE h EM PT SE t 29 – 27 Ride What is the Renosterveld? The Race

The Resolution Health and Zurreal Ride the Rhino mountain bike event is aimed at raising much needed funds in answer to the plight of the rhino and to curb the disappearance of the endangered Renosterveld region in the Western Cape.

The Renosterveld is a disappearing habitat and poses a dire threat to the survival of the 9 600 species who call it home, 12 of which are either classified as endangered or already extinct. This includes the Black Rhino, Cape Lion, Ghost Frog and Dwarf Chameleon. Over the past years the Renosterveld has shrunk by a staggering 96% due to its endangered state.

CMY

Taking place over the September school holidays from 27 to 29 September in the Western Cape – the race serves as a unique family outing in support of a very worthy cause. Family points are scattered throughout each stage of the race to provide spouses, children and friends with a bird’s eye view of certain race sections.

The Route The race will kick off at 08:00 and the route is the first of its kind on the West Coast. Cyclists can expect unsurpassed views, breath-taking scenery and close encounters with the area’s fauna and flora as they wind through the panoramic Darling and Malmesbury to their final destination of Durbanville. The route offers some of the best terrain available from Mother Nature, ranging between rough back roads and jeep tracks to koppies and mountains.

3 1 0 2 r e b m e t p e S 9 2 7 2

013

Ride for a Rhino With a total of 668 rhinos poached across South Africa in 2012 each Ride the Rhino participant will receive a plastic rhino horn that can be attached to their bicycles. The horn will serve as a personal, symbolic tribute to the individual rhino they will be racing in memory of.

About our Sponsors

Resolution Health and Zurreal are the proud partners of the Resolution Ride the Rhino cycling event. As part of their new strategy they believe in the drive to conserve our natural vegetation for generations to come. They believe that conservation plays an important part in the overall preservation of our environment and ultimately our health and are dedicated to increasing awareness of the plight of the Renosterveld through events such as the Resolution Health Ride the Rhino. The Resolution Health Ride the Rhino encompasses the core principles of the medical scheme which are to preserve the environment, educate members and encourage participation in meaningful healthy entertainment in order to promote a healthier tomorrow. As a leader in the medical schemes industry they are committed to the holistic health of their members and communities at large. In conjunction with their Wellness and Loyalty partner Zurreal, they provide you with access to benefits that will assist you in living the life you want, starting today!

in o n i h R the e c a R r s fo r u e n b i o m j e s t Plu Sep 1 2 n o g Gauten to enter .za

Vis

o.co n i h r e h ridet . w w w it

FS Nutrition

Are you getting enough protein in your diet? The misguided theory is that if you eat a lot of protein, you will build more muscle. Alex Blair debunks this and reveals the real truth in her last column for Full Sus.

xcess protein will be used as a primary fuel source or be stored as fat if it is not burnt off. All proteins are made up of amino acids that your body needs to help build tissue. Your body can make some amino acids, but needs to get the rest from food. The average protein intake for male endurance athletes should be between 1.2 - 2 g per kg of body weight, females 1.1 – 1.8 g per kg per day. For example, if you are a male weighing 70 kg, you would require between 84 g to 140 g per day. Prolonged daily training will increase your need for protein; therefore use the higher value of 2 g/kg per day. High protein intakes (over 2.8 g/kg per day) can accelerate the progression of pre-existing kidney disease as well as increase the amount of calcium excreted in the urine therefore putting you at risk for

kidney stones. But if you don’t eat adequate amounts of protein and you train for prolonged periods, your body will break down your muscle so that there is a continual supply of amino acids. This further causes loss of strength and can compromise your performance. If you are not sure whether you are getting your daily amount of protein, consume 2 cups of low fat milk/yoghurt per day plus three protein-rich meals. Vegetarians need to make sure that their daily diet consists of tofu, beans, chickpeas, peanut butter, egg, nuts, cheese, yoghurt and soy milk.

Protein Supplements Whey protein supplements can also help to reach your protein goal for the day. Drink a quick shake after your training session in order to help repair muscles. Aim for an

PROTEIN IN COMMON FOODS: Food source

Alex Blair is a registered dietician, working out of the 360 Specialized Training Gym in Woodstock. She specialises in Sports’ Nutrition, Diabetes, Hypertension, High Cholesterol and Weight Loss. Find her on Facebook at Alex Blair Dietician or email nutrition@fullsus.co.za.

Serving size

Grams per serving

IF YOU ARE A MALE WEIGHING 70 KG, YOU WOULD REQUIRE BETWEEN 84g TO 140g PER DAY intake of 10-25 grams of protein for your post-exercise meal. The effect of post-exercise protein is best seen when protein is combined with carbohydrates. Carbohydrates stimulate the muscle to take up the amino acids which in turn stops the breakdown of protein. A bowl of high ﬁbre cereal and skim milk instead of the protein shake can also help with muscle building and recovery. Remember, chocolate milk is also a great recovery drink! Keep a food journal in order to keep track of the amount of protein

you are having daily. Make sure your diet consists of a healthy balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats in order to give your body the best fuel for optimal performance.

Egg

1 large

Low fat cottage cheese

½ cup

Skim milk

1 cup / 250 ml

Fish/Chicken/Red meat

120 g

Yoghurt

1 cup

Peanut butter

1 tablespoon

4.5

Kidney beans

½ cup

FAREWELL TO Miss Blair

Hummus

½ cup

Full Sus would like to thank Alex Blair for her excellent contributions to

Tofu

110 g

Baked beans

1 cup

Almonds

12 nuts

Cheddar cheese

30 g

the ﬁrst 5 issues of the publication. She’s unfortunately found running her own business to be all consuming and so this will be her last monthly column. Please keep her in mind should you need to consult a dietician in preparation for your upcoming stage race. Thanks again from all of us at Full Sus and good luck with your future endeavours!

Rule #3

Amarider

control your Bicycle

Many riders ask Meurant Botha why AmaRider doesn’t build more technical trails, especially in the higher frequented trail sites as well as the most popular races. His answer is simple… oAkpiCS.CoM

Meurant Botha is the founder and director of AmaRider. AmaRider is a South African non-profit company with the aim of improving MTB opportunities on the African continent. Contact them at 021 8844547 or info@amarider.co.za or visit the website at www.amarider.co.za

ost riders simply do not stay within the limits of their skills set, or that of their equipment. But invariably we get blamed for ‘dumbing down’ the trails and not catering for the advanced riding community. If riders could be left to ‘selfgovern’ and look after themselves we would not be having this discussion. Unfortunately, Medi-Clinics around the country are doing a roaring trade thanks to riders running out of talent. To ‘control your bicycle’ means that you are able to react to any given situation appropriately and with the least consequence should any external factor cause you to change direction or hit the eject button. Obviously, the level of control is directly related to your skill level and advanced riders like Greg Minnaar and Andrew Neethling are proof that you can go extremely fast on a trail and still maintain a high level of control. Of course they do this in a controlled environment and not the local arboretum. And they have 15+ years of experience. It is interesting to note that even the top DH riders have conceded that the Enduro riders like Jerome Clementz are able to read lines and adjust/react quicker and this is clearly evident in the results from the current Enduro World Series. It also proves that reaction to trail variables is an important skill that can certainly be improved through practice.

Take a quick look at the BMX and dirt jumping fraternity and you’ll realize that these riders rarely get injured despite the level of difficulty involved in the stunts they are attempting as they are experienced in falling off, bailing, ejecting etc. Knowing how to crash is probably the most important skill in your riding arsenal and yet we find that some of the worst wrist and ankle injuries occur when riders fail at something basic as unclipping from the pedals. It is important to note that the consequence from an expected incident (trying a tailwhip) is generally much less severe than that from an unexpected event like a fallen tree or other ‘sniper’. With experience, a rider can judge what level of vigilance is required in any given situation. Generally, one can expect that a well-managed and designed trail system would have less unforeseen hazards than perhaps that first ride down an obscure Wild Coast cattle path. Similarly, most event routes run by reputable organizers would be well

cleared of stick traps and bamboo whips. (Don’t quote me...) Being in control means nothing, if your equipment cannot back up your skill set. There has been much debate around the fact that many riders have ‘bought speed’ thanks to long travel bikes and the super stopping devices mounted on them nowadays. That said, in terms of control, having better components that actually work is preferable to carrying too much speed with inferior equipment. Ensuring that your equipment is maintained and in proper working order is critical, not only for your own safety but for the others who share the trail with you too. Of course, being in control of the bike makes you a more considerate trail user as your lack of judgement can of course cause a loss for another trail user. And yes, they can and probably will sue if they deem their loss as sufficiently unacceptable and directly related to your delinquency. Don’t be the rider who rode across the dog’s leash. Yes. It happened. And yes, the owner had the dog on the leash and the leash in her hand...

Knowing how to crAsh is proBABly the Most iMportAnt sKill in your riding ArsenAl 15

FS Stirling Revolution

buy your bike buy your store As a local bike shop owner, Stirling Senior might be a little biased on this matter, but as Full Sus heartily agrees with his sentiments so we’d like you to know why you should be supporting your LBS.

ng StiRliioR n Se

Stirling Kotze, aka Stirling Senior Years in the saddle: 27 Favourite ride/trail: Table Mountain, Cape Town Recurring MTB nightmare: Dirty, worn chains

if you have any questions for the Stirlings send an email to sussed@fullsus.co.za and we’ll get them to answer on the full Sus facebook page www.facebook.com/fullsussa.

fullsus ’s advice to lbS owners to be a true lbS you have to be part of the hood’s cycling culture. So get involved, organise weekly rides, make an effort to educate your clients and generally keep in touch, or you just might lose a valued customer to a rival shop who really is embracing the role of lbS.

uying a new bike today can happen in many ways. You can buy it overseas because it was cheaper there than at home. You could buy it on-line. You could have a 'connection' at one of the importersdistributors (a few importers still do this but shouldn't). You can buy it from a discount store that buys up old/ distressed/overstocked bike models. Finally, you could buy it at your Local Bicycle Shop (LBS). When you buy your bicycle you should also "buy" the shop. In other words, your choice of shop and bike brand should be by assisting that shop's investment in cycling in your 'hood'. So, you must at least like the guys at your LBS, chat over a complimentary coffee and join them for beer on Friday afternoon. Visit your shop for no reason at all even if it's just to shoot the bicycling breeze! Most importantly the shop will look after your bicycle and keep it running as well as it can. So find out if the service charges are affordable? Is the service check-in procedure professional? Is the turnaround time good? Is the workshop properly "tooled" and are the mechanics happy, friendly and experienced? Do you have access to the workshop (or is your beloved bike whisked off to closed-

door surgery)? Do you know what you're paying for when you select your service option? Will they fast-track your bike for an emergency or your impending stage race? Does the owner (or manager) of the shop also get involved with you, your bike, your needs and your riding stories? The salesperson who sold you the bike should establish your needs and let you do some of the talking! When you buy a bike for under R10 000 you should feel just as important as the guy who bought a R50K highend carbon bicycle. Does the shop have a good and varied selection of product for your on-going cycling needs: tires, tools, lights, gloves, bar-ends, tubes, pumps - especially technical stuff like spokes, hubs, bearings, bottom brackets and chains to repair your bike quickly and efficiently? Are their prices reasonable? Will they, unsolicited, give you a surprise "regular-customer" discount when you're paying for your goodies? Will they order stuff for you, follow up and keep you updated on your special request and, on bigger ticket items, give you a special price for your special order? Will they put product aside for your pay-day? You will spend a lot more time at your bike store than at the dealer

You’ll debate and diScuSS eveRYthing fRom doping, touRS and mtb Stage RaceS to YouR favouRite RideRS, pRefeRRed tiRe choice and dReam bicYcle. where you bought that big-ticket motor vehicle. You will ask for more advice. You'll debate and discuss everything from doping, tours and MTB stage races to your favourite riders, preferred tire choice and dream bicycle. You will especially share your thrills and spills and your on-ride technical issues. Having read this article so far you will understand there is a 'but'. This relationship requires you to become part of the process - understanding that bike shops are also 'human' and they will sometimes make a mistake or forget to return a call. Tell them; remind them that you need an answer. A good bike shop will always try to resolve an issue.

As you become familiar with the store you will get to understand its character and its way of doing things. As a regular you will expect special service but you will also be more patient when the staff are busy with other customers (often where new relationships are being built). As an established customer you will have become a friend and ambassador of the store. And they in turn will respect you and love your bike. Wherever you are you WILL find a passionate, friendly and knowledgeable LBS. But, you have to look carefully to find one in this hurried, wired and wacky world! And when you do, nurture the relationship; it is, after all, a two-way affair. Just like family...

Xxxxxxxx Q&A on the Fly FS

Q & A The Needles Interview Andrew Neethling is a difficult oke to pin down, if he’s not bombing downhill at top speed he’s on a plane to somewhere with big hills with a narrow trail carved into them. With an eye on the World Champs Full Sus managed to get him to answer a few questions on the life of a DH globe trotter.

Q So how the ribs? (Andrew

Unfortunately not. We need to try start helping way earlier. The World Cups now have a junior category. This is a great opportunity to get the Juniors some early international experience. The Aussie federation brought over a squad to the ﬁrst 2 World Cup rounds. It is a pity that downhill does not get the same support as road and XC. It’s a shame when Greg Minnaar gave the continent, if I am not mistaken, its ﬁrst World Championship gold medal back in 2003 and showed what downhillers can achieve.

swan-dived down a rocky drop a couple of weeks before we caught up with him.)

I guess you can say so. I do well with holding and carrying speed. I also work very hard on my ﬁtness, so the pedalling should not be a problem.

Q Who’s going to be the main Q What does the future beyond

They are doing a ton better thanks. Luckily nothing was fractured. There was a bit of a displacement of a joint, and muscle damage. Recovery has been good, and I have managed to get back to most of my training.

Q How’s the prep for the

World Champs coming along after the crash at Val Di Sole?

A Prep is coming along as

planned, as I didn't lose much time, which was lucky. I should be back to full health for the next few rounds of the World Cups.

Q What you looking forward to most about competing at home?

The fans are really great at home. They get behind us and it helps up my game.

Q Will the Maritzburg course suit your style?

competition?

The usual suspects will on the PMB course will be up there. Minnaar, Gwin, Gee, Stevie, Hannah. I really have to try to just focus on my race. I know that if I can ride as I know I can, I should do well.

World Champs hold for you?

Q Any SA kids knocking

Racing, Bikes, Travelling, Fun much the same as now. I am working hard, enjoying it as much as I can, which is key. I still have racing goals to achieve. I would like to stay in the industry, and give back after racing though. I enjoy testing and feel I can help younger riders.

gravity bike in and switch it for a cross country machine and take on stage racing?

on the door of the World Cup DH series that we should be keeping an eye out for?

I would love to say yes, but I think we’re a few years off as far as the youngsters go. Don't get me wrong. We have some great talent, and the SA riders ride so well at home. The problem is the experience, and the nature of the courses overseas. It takes time to adapt to them. Johan Potgieter, my brother Jonty have put in some good rides overseas, so I think they will continue to improve.

Q Are we doing enough to cultivate DH talent in SA?

JACOB GIBBONS

Haha. Competitive XC is a bit out of reach but Enduro seems like a logical step. Enduro is, I guess, mini stage racing for downhill. You race couple DH/XC type stages over a weekend on a smaller bike.

Q Any tips for would be DH

riders coming to the sport at an older age or DH skill tips for the average rider?

Stay within your limits in the beginning. DH Bikes are very capable, but you need to learn how capable, if you know what I mean. Quick pointers: Remember to drop those heels for added stability when descending. Try look far enough ahead in the trail to make provision for what is coming up. Andrew Neethling, the Somerset Local rides for the Giant Factory Off-Road Team. You can follow his exploits on facebook.com/ andrewneethling00 or on Twitter @ andrewneethling.

Q Will you ever pack the

World Champs Downhill Check Andrew and co. in action at the Cascades MTB Park as they race for the title of 2013 World Champion.

Date

Time

Event

28 Aug 29 Aug 30 Aug 31 Aug 31 Aug 1 Sep 1 Sep

13:00 - 15:00 08:30 - 11:30 12:00 - 15:00 07:45 - 08:15 08:30 - 10:30 13:00 - 13:30 15:00

On Foot Course Inspection Official Training Official Training Official Training Official Timed Session Official Training Downhill World Championships

FS Bike test

e h t r e v o g n i 9 l . o 9 dro MA XC G O D

Bike Test

An interesting fact that Richard Pieterse was not aware of is that new Pinarello Dogma XC 29er in not Pinarello’s ﬁrst step onto the mountain bike scene. They have in fact made mountain bikes in the past, although this is their ﬁrst 29er.

Pinarello explain their Technology

(Pardon the Italian English…)

PINAFIT with Forkstopper™ On DOGMA XC and DOGMA XM we use the front system PINAFIT with Forkstopper™ to enable you to exploit the full power of the perfect front triangle, a system that today none except us can be proud of. All MTB manufacturers build their own frames on the assumption that the front fork should rotate 360°. This forces them to stretch the main triangle inevitably compromising its own natural stiffness, contrarily to that of road frames. With PINAFIT pushing on the pedals, you have the unbeatable feeling of riding a road bike, the front triangle has indeed overwhelming lateral stiffness because it is a perfect triangle. The traditional frames have the rear stays directly connected to the top tube, this means that every vibration coming from the rear triangle is directly transferred to the top tube and often to the handlebar, thus compromising comfort and handling. We have divided the two main triangles, moving the rear triangle higher. This solution is associated with the asymmetric bifurcated rear stays, drastically reducing the shock from the rear for improved handling and stability. This is the meaning of ONDA XC Twin Arms Asymmetric.

Find out more

Go to www.pinarello.com for all the info or scan this QR Code to watch the Pinarello video highlighting the technological features.

’m sure, like me, most of you recognize or rather associate the name with their stunning ‘drool’ factor road bikes, whether you consider yourself a roadie or not. The good news is that Pinarello has released, in my view, a mountain bike that equals their road bikes not only in the wow factor and the “must have one” stakes but also in the ride quality and innovations. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to test ride the new Dogma XC 9.9 because my cycling partner, the Full Sus publisher, was sent a test bike that was too small for him, a bugger for him but an absolute pleasure for me. The bike itself is pretty light, a little over 10kg although with a wheel upgrade I would guess you could get it sub 10. From a ride handling perspective the Pinarello Dogma XC is quick, in fact, super quick. This was very evident due to the amount a moaning I got from my cycling partner in his attempt to try to keep up with me, bearing in mind that the two of us are not the quickest on the trails. What this would mean for someone who is not as “well rounded” as me is that this bike will ‘fly’. Besides being quick this bike is really responsive and has fantastic handling. This was the one point that surprised me coming off my dual suspension Pivot Mach 429 especially when bombing down one of the tracks on my local trail. The bike provided an unbelievably smooth and controlled ride over terrain that I would normally approach with caution. The other factor that was superb was the shifting and braking quality provided by the XTR group set, not to

mention how awesome the cranks looks on the bike. As for the set-up the bike came with 2x10 (26/38) chain set up-front with the 10 speed 11-36 cassette on the back providing an ample gear spread. The other notable bits and bobs were the Crank Brothers accessories in the carbon seat post, stem and carbon bars the DT Swiss Spline 1450 wheel set with Schwable Racing Ralph TLR tires. The bike came with the Fox Factory 32 Float 29 FIT-CTD Remote fork. The CTD system (climb, trial, descend) provides one with simplified suspension tuning. This plus the easy-to-use three-position lever on the bars allows one to easily switch the fork’s compression to ideal settings for the task at hand. The one small gripe I had with the bike is the cable knocking that was evident when riding over rocky sections on the trail. That said this could be due to the way the internal cable routing was installed on this particular bike and most probably is something that can be corrected without too much hassle. The bike itself has some really cool innovations like their solution to how they address fork impact on the frame’s down tube with the fork stopper, to how they have reduce vibration from the rear wheel directly to the top tube and their very unusual seat post clamp design. These innovations plus the name definitely make you feel like you are riding a high performance bike. As one would expect from a bike of this pedigree and spec is that it is not going to be cheap. To own one of the new Pinarello Dogma XC 9.9 one should expect to fork out around R75 000. This is definitely not small change for the majority of us but if you have the money it will provide you with one sweet ride.

SUS the geometry Medium Frame Size = 18.3 inch Frame weight = 1 050g (measurements in mm or °) Seat Tube ................. 465 Top Tube ....................593 Head tube angle .....70° Seat tube angle ..... 73° Wheelbase ............ 1092 Chain Stay length ..436 Head tube length ......92

Richard Pieterse is a qualiﬁed Mechanical Engineer and is a solution architect at Dimension Data - he has been mountain biking for 8 years.

FS SUS the Test Rides

Sunnies and Light TESTS Shayne Dowling got out on the trails of Tokai and tested the latest offerings from Ocean Eyewear and Extreme Lights and this is what he found… My big orange Ocean – RRP R400 www.oceaneyewear.co.za As I had recently donated my evil eyes to the mountain lost property box, I was pretty stoked when my orange Oceans arrived (plus they matched the big orange Santa). The first thing I noticed about the Oceans were that they were nice and light, the arms were flexible and strong, they look as if they are going to be hardy and last. I have yet to find a pair of sunnies that don’t mist up - despite all claims, particularly when climbing and the temp is down - these were no exception - but I am used to tucking them into my helmet and putting them on for the flats and descents. There was only one glaring negative and that is that the ‘clear’ lenses has a tinge that I found really disturbing and as a result I only used them once. While still on the subject of lenses though, the 440uv, orange lenses are exceptional they are great all-rounders and come into their own at dawn and dusk, you will take them off and not believe how dark it actually is. I am not sure what other lenses Ocean eyewear offer, but as they’re available from all Sportman’s Warehouse outlets

you’ll be able to grab a variety of lenses very easily. The interchangeable lens hinge system is extremely simple, quick and the biggest plus for these glasses! The Oceans SJ840’s are exceptionally well-priced and are pretty cool to look at, if you’re in the market for a new pair, deﬁnitely give Ocean Eyewear a try.

Extreme 2400 – RRP R1 395 Check out the special on www.extremelights.co.za This light was the “groot meneer” of the test bunch and with 5 (yes 5) LED’s in the fitting the light promised to be superb. The first thing I noticed was the size of the light - a lot larger, but still with a sleek and sturdy design, this is definitely a handlebar light. My first ride with it immediately showed the inefficiency of the o-ring system with this light - it is too heavy and will either dip or point skywards under rough riding - the 2400 must be used with the clamp or quick release system. The light is really efficient with a great, full light that gives great coverage. I would also recommend the bigger battery pack,

Ocean SJ840’s

minimum 6cell. The battery packs are small, light and supplied in neat and easy to attach canvas/ neoprene pouches.

Extreme 1200

Extreme 1200 – RRP R695 www.extremelights.co.za A single LED is all you get here but hey that’s all I have ever used to date and again the adage of “if it aint broken” springs to mind. This light is what it is and it just grafts. Solid, compact and light. It works for ages on the 4cell battery and the beam is excellent - bright, more than wide enough and a really ‘white’ light. The 1200 also works easily and effectively with the o-ring system. Both lights came with head straps but the 1200 is the one to wear on your pip if this is your want. I personally always use a bar AND headlight when on the mountain, there is a very apparent dark spot when you turn your bars.

Extreme 2400

SUS Shayne’s Tip

If the way up isn’t too gnarly don’t use the beam on full power, you are going slowly so won’t need it - save the battery and use full brights bombing down!

photo of the month This ride is why – w like for sce e n t Sew his, in es ewe eksp the oort . Oak Pics is a Strand based photographic company. They shoot a vast array of events, covering everything from wild horses to weddings. But it’s in MTB that they’ve carved out a niche as one of the leaders in the ﬁeld. If you spot them on the trails, usually when you’re picking yourself up after an unexpected brush with the ground, you can purchase the photos directly from their website. Or book them to shoot your event. Contact them at www.oakpics.com or 021 854 8723

Long-ﬁngers SUSSED OUT

In our first full review of a range of products Full Sus grabbed a bunch of long-finger gloves and tried them out. This is what we found: GIRO REMEDY – RRP R530 Comfort/fit  Padding/protection  Ventilation/Breathability  Design/looks  The Remedy is an all MTB glove, rugged and with hardy leather strategically placed on the heel and around the side of the hand. A supple suede makes up most of the glove and although ventilated it’s somewhat sacrificed for more protection. The glove fits snugly and if you don’t like the tight fit you should look at going one size up. The glove is not one you are going to wear on a long XC ride but it’s great for gnarly singletracks, rugged trail riding and bombing downhill. A good looking glove, with great features and it looks to be really durable.

CRAFT BIKE CONTROL GLOVE – RRP R299.00

Gear

First things first: Always try them on before you buy. Most gloves seem to be a lot smaller than us Saffers are used to, despite none of us having massive hands some of the Large sizes were just a little too short in the fingers. Why long-fingers: They’re not only warmer but also provide great protection when you hit the dirt. WHAT WE LOOKED FOR: Comfort/fit: How the glove feels, on and off the bike. Are the fingers fitting snugly? Is there any bunching? Does the gusset fit snugly into your thumb/forefinger space – on and off the bike? Padding/protection: Does the glove offer padding, normally a gel type substance? Do the gloves offer protection when falling or hitting branches etc. Ventilation/Breathability: Do the gloves breathe and keep your hands cool or warm? Design/looks: Do the gloves look cool? Are they gloves you’d only use for night riding? The gloves were rated out of 5 in each of these critera.

GIRO BRAVO LF GEL – RRP R450

Comfort/ﬁt  Padding/protection  Ventilation/Breathability  Design/looks  The Craft gloves really ﬁt well. They are thin and really breathable with mesh and holes providing maximum ventilation. This is a great glove for summer riding and particularly XC rides. As there is no padding to speak of the gloves aren’t really suitable for gnarly tracks and DH riding, that said the thin material gives great feel and awesome control - you just need a really comfortable set of grips.

Comfort/fit  Padding/protection  Ventilation/Breathability  Design/looks  A great all-round glove. Good fit with gel padding on the palms and base of fingers (palm side of knuckles). The palm leather/ suede is soft and light with holes for ventilation, including the fingers. The back(top) of the glove is a moisture-wicking material that breathes well, is cool in hot weather and warm if not too cold.

FIRST ASCENT VENTOUX – RRP R499 Comfort/fit  Padding/protection  Ventilation/Breathability  Design/looks  A glove designed by the SA firm for our climate and conditions, the glove shows a great balance between protection, ventilation and comfort. The use of, Pittards leather, a soft and “grippy” suede in the palm with a breathable, well ventilated spandex on the back, has made for a really comfortable glove. The Ventoux is a larger fit and in contrast to other brands consider one size smaller than you would normally – the bunching in the palm was our only gripe but this was more a sizing issue in our opinion. The Ventoux looks great and works great.

AVALANCHE BICYCLE CO - RRP R190.00 Comfort/fit  Padding/protection  Ventilation/Breathability  Design/looks  The Avalanche was definitely the surprise package, as it’s a cost effective glove that performed really well. The fit was really good, comfortable and offered a nice mix between being warm and excellent breathability, thanks to the well ventilated spandex material on the back of the glove. The palm offered a generous pad on the heel, all synthetic leather that is soft and supple. Grip is good and the feel isn’t bad. The glove only comes in one colour, a very bright lumo green with a very interesting pattern on the palm. Not everyone’s cup of tea but it actually grows on you and those not intimidated by a bit of bling will love them! Durability is questionable but hey at this price you can afford to just get a new pair.

FS The David George E XP ERIE N CE

Spring is in the air

If having watched the Tour de France in July hasn’t inspired you to get out and ride nothing will, says David George! With the end of winter nearing and a sniff of spring it’s time to dust off the cobwebs and get going again. Cape Pioneer Trek, Wines to Whales and the early races are just around the corner.

often get asked how much and when should I start my base training? The term “base” isn’t really explicative enough for what I prefer to call the “general preparation” phase. The period where we prepare our bodies for the stress and harder workloads needed to reach peak condition later on in the season. When to start basically depends on when you aim to be at your best. Sorry that can’t be on every ride!

Here are my 3 areas of focus: Endurance is pretty simple, easy hours on the bike but always progressive. Start with short easy rides and always progress to the next level. Most professional athletes train in blocks of two or three days for example 1hour day one, 2hrs day two and 3hrs on day three followed by a recovery day. Rule of thumb with endurance is always progress to your longest day last. As you can imagine if you go out and do a 4hr ride off pat, chances are you won’t have the freshness to complete the next day’s work out. I always prefer to do endurance rides alone or with a partner that is in a similar phase of preparation, there is nothing worse than heading out with a crew full of testosterone to

turn an endurance ride into a threshold session. It takes discipline to hold yourself back but it will pay dividends later when your body is ready to up the load. Some of the biggest performance and physiological gains are derived for just long easy hours on the bike.

Strength training in my experience is always best done on the bike. Strength is such a fundamental aspect of the preparation phase and so easily achieved. Find yourself a steady climb, not too steep as you might find it too hard to focus on the workout when you are just trying to get to the top. Each repetition should last no longer than about 6min, select a big enough gear so that you can pedal between 50-60rpm, but really focusing on muscle tension throughout the whole pedal stroke. This is not a high heart rate work out and requires focus on form and function rather than getting to the top in your personal best time. Maximum 75% of threshold heart rate and strength sessions should always be done at the beginning of a training block on fresh legs. Aim to get at least 2 sessions in a week to stress the body enough to make the required adaption. Gym work

will strengthen muscles that we don’t use during the season but it is very difficult to convert muscle built in the gym to strength on the bike. Obviously the more explosive biking disciplines on the track and BMX are an entirely different kettle. If you enjoy your gym workouts by all means carry on doing them but the only way to get faster on a bike is to ride your bike so time in gym could be better spent out on the bike!

Skills are about repetitive exercises that will increase efficiency and economy on the bike. My favourite, and the most overlooked aspect of training are cadence drills. For years I’ve been pedalling fierce revolutions on the rollers and have seen this as a simple and easy to achieve skill training challenge to improve your performances radically. Get yourself a set of track rollers it will be the best investment you can make to improve your cycling. The Holy Grail of bike

David George made his name as a roadie and since switching his slicks for knobblies he has clocked up many miles at the sharp end of the racing pack. He’ll be sharing his extensive biking knowledge with Full Sus readers in his monthly column.

performance is pedal harder, pedal faster! We happily beat ourselves into a pulp trying to pedal harder and neglect the simple cadence skill workouts that will have just as dramatic an effect for even less effort! Half an hour in the morning or at the end of a workday will give great performance gains. If you can’t afford new rollers or find some old school rollers, find a nice stretch of road that you can do some high cadence drills on. If you only own a MTB get down to your local store and get a set of slick or road tires fitted to your MTB wheels. Most, but not all, 29er rims will take a 700c regular road tire but get some advice before you attempt this as some rims aren’t built to take the high pressures of a road tire. Give yourself at least 6 weeks of general preparation before you even attempt to get stuck into the interval and pre-season builds. Remember that form is like baking a cake, be patient. And most of all have fun!

“RemembeR THaT foRm IS lIke bakInG a cake, So bE PatIENt”

Classifieds

fullsus Classifieds Cape Town Cycles

Come check out our exciting range of cycles and accessories. We re committed to outstanding quality and customer service. Bring your bike in for a service and you ll see, we strive to exceed your expectations. Visit us at our shop Uitzicht Centre, Vatican Street, Uitzicht, Durbanville. Tel: 021 975 9255 www.capetowncycles.co.za

Authorised dealer for: Momsen, Morewood & GT

AdvertiSe in the classified section of full sus and reach over 24 000 MTB readers through a circulation of over 12 500 newspapers distributed countrywide through +140 bike shops and selected events every month! The 60 x 112.5mm size is bigger than the traditional classified at a great price. and if you’re a local Bike shop that great price is even further reduced! The classifieds offers you the opportunity to

Authorised dealer: Cannondale, Trek, Merida, Fondriest, GT SERVICE! SERVICE! SERVICE! Ride before you buy Freewheel Cycology

@freewheelza

www.freewheel.co.za, Tel: 021 762 4472, Email: info@freewheel.co.za, Address: 317 Main Road, Kenilworth, Cape Town.

broadcast your specials, highlight the unique products you stock and attract new customers. To advertise in the full sus classifieds give Julia a call on 021 685 0285/6 or drop her an email at julia@integratedmedia.co.za.

fullsus

ere h e S i t r e v l to Ad drop her an emai or 021 685 0285/6 on lia Ju ct ta on C edmedia.co.za at julia@integrat

aUGUsT Must do events 10 August: Vori-Berg MTB Series #4 With 15, 35 and 70km options this ride along the northern slopes of the Magaliesberg mountain range starts in Brits, a mere 20km from Pretoria central and hour or so from Joburg. The 35km features a manageable 400m of climbing while the full 70km option doubles that, and both feature some great single track too. Entry for the 70km will set you back R130 and you can entre online until the 8th of August on www.eventry.co.za.

10 August: Meerendal MTB If you’re in the Mother City area why not pop out to Meerendal in the Durbanville Hills for their MTB race. There are 28km and 15km MTB along with 10km and 5km trail runs. It’s billed as a day out for the family and if that’s not enough, the excellent trails of the Meerendal estate should lure you there. You can as usual enter online at www.rawpromo.co.za/ events or check out the farm itself at www.meerendal.co.za.

17 & 18 August: The CANSA Lost City Cycling Weekend Here’s one to do for charity. Head out to the gem of the North West Province, Sun City and help CANSA South Africa raise funds to assist their work in the North West and Limpopo provinces. There is a selection of MTB events (60, 25 & 1km – the latter is only for the kiddies) on Saturday the 17th and two road races (115 and 66km) on Sunday the 18th. Go find out more at www.cansalostcity.co.za.

25 August: Howick Highlander MTB Challenge With 4 MTB distances (2km – 35km) and 3 trail run options (5km – 20km), a lucky draw for a Merida Titan and a family orientated vibe this is a definite must for any keen outdoor enthusiast in KZN. The race philosophy is based on the fact that the Cubs and Scouts believe that MTB events are becoming too expensive and so they cut out all the extras. It’s not intended as a race, it’s all untimed and the idea is to provide you and your family with a fun filled day of cycling without the cost. Enter online on the event website www.howickhighlander.co.za.

CALENDAR SUS the best of SEPTEMBER MPUMALANGA 7 Das Auto 4 14 Mpumalanga Spur School Series # 4 GAUTENG 1 The Vlei 24 hour 7 High School Series Final Tour de Plaas 7 The Pennypinchers Silverstar MTB Challenge 8 Silver Oaks Cycling Challenge 8 Eqstra Spring Classic 14 Nissan Trailseeker #3 15 Redstone MTB Race #5 28 Babbas Lodge MTB Super Series 2 NORTHERN CAPE 21 Kgalagadi Desert Classic 1 7 8 13 14 17 19 21 22 27 29

WESTERN CAPE Greyton Tour Renosterbos MTB Challenge Staalwater MTB Challenge Ride2Nowhere Piket-Bo-Berg MTB Challenge Coast 2 Karoo Dr Evil Classic Arabella Adventure Karoo to Coast Resolution Health Ride the Rhino Spur Lourensford MTB Classic

Advertise your event in Full Sus and we will send you copies of the paper for your goodie bags or registration table. Call Julia on 021 685 0285/6

EASTERN CAPE 14 PE>>Plett 15 Sole Destroyer 21 Wild Coast Chain Re-Action Mountain Bike Challenge 27 The Rhodes Extreme MTB Race 7 8 14 15 21 22 28 29

KZN Kamberg MTB Weekend Lynford Clover Super Classic MPATI Mountain Race Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill 2 Hill MTB Marathon Spur High School MTB Finals Sugar Rush Corporate Challenge Old Boys Challenge Invitational Stage Race Kwambo Lion Classic

NORTH WEST 28 Bosrumoer MTB Race OUT IN AFRICA 21 Swazi Trac 3 Reserves MTB Classic (Swaziland) 27 Mauritius Coast to Coast (Mauritius)

October Race Calendar MPUMALANGA 4 Isuzu 3 Towers Stage Race & Challenge 19 Exxaro Middelburg MTB Race 26 Sabie Shenanigan MTB Rally

2 3 5 9 12 16 19 23 6 27 30

GAUTENG Moonlight MTB Series 40 ASG Night Rider Series # 9 Nissan TrailSeeker series #4 Moonlight mtb Series 41 Bryton Vori-Berg MTB Series #5 Moonlight MTB Series 42 Beast of the East MTB Challenge Moonlight MTB Series 43 Xtrail MTB Series # 10 Babba’s Lodge MTB # 10 Moonlight MTB Series 44

WWW.OAKPICS.COM

5 11 15 19 19 27

LIMPOPO 26 3rd Mooketsi MTB Challenge EASTERN CAPE 6 Fat Tracks Steeltek Enduro in Loerie 19 The Amazing Karoo Cycling Bazaar 26 Langkloof MTB Challenge

KZN Homeward Bound FedGroup Berg & Bush Descent FedGroup Berg & Bush Great Trek FedGroup Berg & Bush 2 Day Over The Edge & Back Pam Golding Properties Sani Transfrontier Epic Gears for Ears

NORTH WEST 5 Magalies Adventure Stage Race

FREE STATE 12 MTN National Marathon Series # 8 26 Rhino River Run Mountain Biking WESTERN CAPE 5 Cipla Cancer Buddies Walk of Hope 12 Ladismith Cheese 7 Weekspoort MTB Challenge 20 Bridge Cape Pioneer Trek 25 Enduren Eselfontein MTB Festival 26 9th Botrivier Van Der Stel Pass Challenge 6 Merrell Eden Duo – Multisport event

OUT IN AFRICA 9 The LOGICO Swazi Frontier (Swaziland) 12 The Namibian Pick n Pay Cycle Classic MTB Race (Namibia)

Mpumalanga

Free State

Limpopo

Western Cape

Northern Cape

KZN

Gauteng

North West

Eastern Cape

Out in Africa

SCALPEL 29’ER. SURGICALLY PRECISE. GET READY TO OPERATE.

The lightest 29’er dually on the planet slashes through long-haul courses and effortlessly dissects serpentine switchbacks. Our ultra precise Lefty fork and responsive 29’er Race Geometry blend unstoppable 29’er momentum with the quickness and agility of a 26’er. Scalpel 29’er: just the edge you need.