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full sus
June/July 2015, Vol 25
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full stride Yoga Page 20
Bike Review Page 18
Find Full Stride
Qhubeka Page 10
#Trailrunning inside
The GARDE N ROUT E Project
FedHealth MTB Challenge Page 45 Ren floating through a super slow-mo double back flip.
ERIC PALMER | AFREAKIN PHOTOGRAPHY
Monster Energy invited some of the world’s away from the house and went to go it out by torch light… best freeriders out to SA for The Night Harvest, check Our jaws were on the floor as we realised the magnitude of what was but local Monster Energy athlete manager about to happen! Ryan Franklin and the Garden Route Trail Park’s 1 Rob Dormehl had a surprise in store for them too. Day Needless to say we were up early to
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onster Energy team rider Sam ‘Ren’ Reynolds, Matt MacDuff, Danny Pace, Dylan Stone, Blake Samson and I arrived at the Garden Route Trail Park after dark and
Rob guided us up the mountain to the cottage that they would be calling home for the next few days. On the way up we couldn’t help but noticed the massive pile of earth about 500m
get started shaping the mountains of earth into the world’s biggest dirt jump. We still couldn’t quite get over what was unfolding in front of our eyes, the excitement and nerves were at an all-time high.
Matt instantly transformed into site foreman, showing the digger drivers the ropes and teaching them how to build transitions correctly and making sure everything was going according to plan. Once the lip started to take shape, everyone dived in to shape and get the run-in cleaned up. While we were all busy with the dirt, there was a team of guys building the 10 meter tall Steadi Drone roll-in tower, no
turn to page 4
FS Editorial
Winter willies don’t scare us MTBers!
“I
can’t believe how quickly you lose your fitness” lamented my mate Rudy as we puffed our way around a morning ride before our planned meeting. Yip it’s frustrating and the dark and cold doesn’t make it easier to jump on the bike and hit the trails but if you don’t have a radiator, like me, then riding in the cool weather is a blessing. Of course besides the cold it gets wet too so it’s important to have the correct gear; we look at some wet weather jackets in our gear section this issue. Winter riding also means riding in the dark so don’t forget to get a good light (check out FS March Vol22 for our light test.), if you don’t have a copy check it out online at www. issuu.com/fullsussa. There is a lot of good, sensible winter gear out there so pop into your LBS and stock up. This issue sees the first edition of our new Yoga regular feature by our latest contributor Joëlle Sleebos
publish them. Keep warm and your lights charged (they are great for load shedding by the way!) See you on the trails!
SUS the winner Isuzu Trucks PE PLETT Competition Congratulations to: Jerry Wentink, you are the lucky winner of the Isuzu Trucks PE PLETT Competition. You have won a team entry to the 2015 Isuzu Trucks PE PLETT. Entries to the race are still open at www.peplett.co.za if you didn’t win and want to join in the racing.
– welcome Joëlle (the last time I attempted #2 I ended up needing physio for a couple of weeks but hey I’ll keep trying), a great addition to our content – Namaste! To get back to my after morning ride meeting; it’s a great way to get to know a client or colleagues and also to chat a bit of shop but my advice is save the serious business talk until after the ride, nothing worse than a disagreement and watching a potential deal forking off at the trail split. I was lucky enough to take part in two rides since the last issue and really enjoyed both of them – thanks to the Houw Hoek MTB Tour and 7 Passes organisers for looking after me and also putting on two great events. You can read my ride reports in this issue and let me know if you took part and what you thought of them. Please continue to send in your ride or race reports and pics, we love to hear what your experiences are and will try where we can to
Turn to page 33 to sus out the June/July competition brought to you by Fedhealth.
SUS the Editor’s Review
Continental MTB Tyres
Rubber Kings! Richard (my cycle partner) and I have been running Continental MTB Tyres for a couple of months now on various terrain, from tar (yes, I know… but there have been some big fires) and dirt district roads, to rough jeep track and gnarly singletracks. The weather has been mostly dry but we did have a small wet patch which wasn’t a fair trial to be honest. We are running 2.2 Race Kings on the rear and 2.2 X-Kings on the front. The tyres have traditionally performed well in SA conditions with good showing in the Cape Epic – in fact they were used by the winning Topeak Ergon team last year (2014). The sidewall compound feels “plasticy” and is fairly rigid. Their Protektion system ensures that,
SUS The team Publishing Editor: Shayne Dowling shayne@integratedmedia.co.za Content Editor: Seamus Allardice seamus@integratedmedia.co.za Art Director: Megan Merifield megan@integratedmedia.co.za Advertising: Shayne Dowling Sales: Jess Nosworthy jess@integratedmedia.co.za PR & Promotions: Ashley Attwood ash@integratedmedia.co.za Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa NPC
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although not as pliable as some tyres, the sidewalls are strong and I can’t see them shredding easily. I have had a good experience with my tyres, there is very little rolling resistance as one would expect from the Race Kings and the combination with the X-Kings makes for a fast set-up – once I had settled on the right pressures for the various terrains I had more confidence and could let rip. The setup is perfect for the long road, district and jeep track, mildly wet is not a problem at all, but I certainly would want to beef up the set-up for the technical and gnarly stuff – even if just on the front – so I would suggest the Mountain King here. Rich had less fortune on his set with both front and rear picking up
Regulars: Meurant Botha, Stirling Kotze Snr & Jnr, Jacques Marais, Dr Mike Posthumus, Amy Burton, Jeanne-Louise Wiese, Erik Kleinhans, Diana Carolin & Joëlle Sleebos Rogue Contributor: David Bristow Photography: Ashley Attwood, Oakpics.com, Cherie Vale Newsport Media and thinkstock.com. Contributors: Tamara Oberholster, Qhubeka, Ryan Franklin, Neil Bradford and Katja Steenkamp. 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.
a distinct wobble somewhere during the test period – this sometimes happens when you “burp” a tyre and it vanishes with re-seating but no matter how many times we re-seated his tyres we couldn’t get rid of it. Interac Distribution, the guys who distribute Continental in SA, have let us know that there is an “elasticity” sidewall issue and although it doesn’t affect or compromise the safety of the tyre you can feel it, and is quite disconcerting. Continental will replace any such tyres at no cost! The Race Kings are fast and the race snakes will get optimum usage out of them. For us middle of the pack riders and those of us that like the technical stuff I would suggest the larger profile of the Mountain Kings and also consider a wider tread profile for a more confident ride combined with the X-Kings! I have been very happy with my Continentals and will be putting
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them through their paces this winter to see how they handle in the mud. For technical data and tyre options go to: http://www.interacsa.co.za/ continental.htm Sus the fast rolling Race King.
This is the trail orientated X King.
COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS: The Prize/s is as 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 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 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. Competition closing date: 24 July 2015
Dropping down the terrifying Steadi Drone roll-in tower.
Freeride MTB Freeride mountain biking is the big wave surfing of mountain biking, you don’t have to know anything about the sport to appreciate the courage, skill and, often, the borderline stupidity of the athletes involved. ALL PHOTOS BY: ERIC PALMER | AFREAKIN PHOTOGRAPHY
FS The Biggest Step-Up In The World
To find out more scan this QR code to listen to an interview by Dustin Schaad for Behindthepassion.com with Matt MacDuff.
from page 1 corners cut, that thing was built more solidly than most houses in SA!
Day 2
Pure Darkness 2
By the next morning the jump was starting to look like a jump and the run up, roll-in and landing needed a bit of attention. After a hard day’s graft there were some hopes we’d be able to hit the jump that evening, but the sun beat us to it, so we headed down to “Black Snake River” for a swim in the relaxing Coca-Cola coloured river. After the swim it was back to work, with the guys working long into the evening to clear up the run in and landing. Matt wasn’t content to let it wait until the morning though and took a few hard pedalling runs from the bottom of the unfinished roll-in tower to check the angles. He didn’t have nearly enough speed to clear it, and had to make a few spectacular ejects, but… he made it look possible!
against in the afternoon session and started to pull Superman seat grabs, flip whips, flip bars, flat 360 one handers, a frontie, and Sam managed to stick the slowest double flip perfectly.
Day 3
Day 4
Day three at the mound, was business time! After a few last touch ups the boys were ready to throw down! Ren was up first with everyone following suit. The first few trains consisted mainly of some spectacular ejects, while Matt tried to flip on his second go. It didn’t take long for the guys to make friends with this massive beast of a jump and the riding got turned up a notch. The height and airtime was ridiculous! The smiles were some of the biggest I’ve ever seen; despite someone trying to be a carrot and plant themselves into the landing head first every now and again. With the guys boosting 15 meters into the air, the wind soon became an issue as a breeze picked up and forced them off the jump until later in the afternoon. With a few hours to reflect on the jump the guys knew what they were up
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Pure Darkness 2, featuring the massive Garden Route Trail Park dirt jump, dropped in late May. Check it out on www.fullsus.co.za, Pink Bike or like Pure Darkness on Facebook to view more outtakes and some of the massive crashes.
Even pro riders shovel dirt!
The next morning we had to head back to Cape Town for the Night Harvest and the guys were pretty sad to leave.
But we couldn’t stay away long, from the GRPT’s Mound of Doom. We managed to sneak in a full day of riding before having to ferry the guys back to Cape Town and the airport for their flights back to the US, Canada and the UK. The footage was in the bag though and you’ll be able to see it in glorious HD in Pure Darkness 2.
Seriously? Would you? Just climbing the Steadi Drone tower was a feat in itself.
Ryan Franklin is a downhill, freeride and dirt jumping mountain biker. He’s passionate about growing the MTB tourism sector in SA, by showcasing the amazing gravity driven riding available in Mzansi. He’d also like to extend a special thanks to Monster Energy, Steadi Drone SA and Rob Dormehl for making the Garden Route Trail Park Project possible!
© 2015 GIANT BICYCLE INC. PHOTO: @CAMERONBAIRD
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#RIDEWITHOUTLIMITS
s w e n
Full Sus Sponsors Table Mountain Bikers Boards Table Mountain Bikers have taken the decision to offer their members, with valid activity permits, with number boards on a voluntary basis. Full Sus is proud to have been offered the opportunity to support the initiative, and along with Subaru Cape Town we’ll be sponsoring the number boards. We also proudly support Table Mountain Bikers rationale behind the boards. SANParks has agreed to view the Table Mountain Bikers boards as proof of a valid level three activity permit. This and the fact that riders will be able to fill in their emergency details on the back of the board are good reasons
to fix the board to your bike, plus negotiations are underway with other nearby MTB clubs to allow Table Mountain Bikers member to purchase annual access permits, and simply add a sticker to their Table Mountain Bikers board rather than purchase a separate board for each of the other areas. For us though it’s the fact that the boards will help strengthen relationships with our mountain users, as the bikers with boards are easily identifiable, which means they can be held to account for their actions. To join Table Mountain Bikers visit www.tablemountainbikers.co.za.
ALL PHOTOS BY DARREN GODDARD
FS News
Four Days of Mountain Biking in a WORLD HERITAGE Site The iSimangaliso Wetland Park (a UNESCO Wold Heritage Site) hosts the third iSimangaliso MTB 4 Day powered by Nashua from 20 to 23 August 2015. The event promises four days of pure bliss on your bike, taking in 270km of riding through the coastal plains and lowlands of Lake St Lucia, to the heights of the imposing Lebombo Mountains, as well as spectacular parts of the Phinda Private Game Reserve, the Hluhluwe River floodplain alongside False Bay, and finally the Bonamanzi bushveld. Event organiser Shane Webster says “the route is rugged, challenging, exhilarating and offers loads of singletrack and bush-whacking.” Sounds fun. Find out more at www.isimangaliso-mtb.co.za.
Overberg Touring Our electric bike friends, Easy Motion, have just upped the ante for the less fit rides (and for riders whose cardiovascular issues make increasing their heart-rate dangerous) by introducing full suspension electric mountain bikes to the local market. Like the existing Easy Motion range of bikes the full sus models are designed and built by BH and feature class leading Samsung Lithium Hi-Output batteries and 350 Watt, High Torque, Brushless Bosch motors on the rear wheel. The rear travel is looked after by a single pivot suspension design linked to a Suntour Epicon Lorp 120mm shock. The full suspension Easy Motion bikes come in either Evo Jumper 29er or Evo Jumper 27.5” models and you can find out more at www.easymotion.co.za, where you’ll also find the new Evo Sand/Snow 29er and the 500Watt, 45kph capable Nitro 29er. Sus the Evo Jumper 29er (red) and the Evo Jumper 27.5 (white), Easy Motion’s full sus e-bikes.
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ALL PHOTOS BY JULIE ANN PHOTOGRAPHY
Easy Motion Go Full Sus
We’re often calling for more MTB tours and so here’s one you should strongly consider entering: the Potberg and De Hoop MTB from 7 to 9 August 2015. It’s two or three days (your choice) of riding in the magnificent De Hoop Nature Reserve in the heart of the Overberg, with routes planned by local farmers (and overseen by Pax Mosterd) on the reserve and its neighbouring farms. Day one offers 75km, 50km and 20km options, while day two provides a choice of 53km and 20km routes, and day three heralds a lekker social ride down to the beach for a spot of whale watching. Make it a family weekend and book accommodation with the De Hoop Collection or at one of
the guesthouses outside of the reserve. To sus out the routes and details more closely visit www.gardenrouteevents.co.za.
The Potberg & De Hoop MTB is one of the most chilled and fun events on the calendar.
to page 8
New MTB Challenge for the Winelands
supplied
FS News from page 6
It seems like all the big MTB event organisers are busy adding to their arsenal of events and Stillwater Sports is no different. Their new event is called the Fedhealth MTB Challenge and it offers something for the whole family on 6 September 2015. There’s a 60km main race, a 35km half-marathon, a 15km fun ride and some age group specific kiddies distances. Hosted at Meerendal Wine Estate you can
expect a festival atmosphere to reign supreme, with artisan food stalls, world class wines and an entertainment zone for the kids. Plus there are race entries and Garmin Vivofit activity trackers to be won, thanks to Fedhealth, on page 33 of this issue. To secure your spot in the Cape’s must do event of the spring, get over to: www.stillwatersports.com and enter online.
Join Di Carolin in LESOThO
www.fullsus.co.za and on Twitter. Or go one better and join Di in Lesotho and ride the Lesotho Sky yourself too! We’ve heard so many good things that we might just revoke Di’s entry and use it ourselves… There are still a few last minute entries available. Go to www.lesothosky.com to check out the 2015 route and book your spot today.
Full Sus’s ladies columnist is off to go race the breath-taking Lesotho Sky stage race in the mountain kingdom this September. Di will be sending through daily updates from the race, between the 20th and the 25th of September, and you’ll be able to follow her progress on
Mountain Biking and Golf in One Event
Dryland Events are launching a new race in September, called the Tour of Homewood. It’s a three day MTB stage race, teeing off at Fancourt Golf Estate on the 4th of September. The racing takes in the singletracks of George, Saasveld, the Jonkersberg, and a trip across the mountains into the Little Karoo and back. Each afternoon there’ll be a short golf challenge for the riders keen on experiencing some of Fancourt’s iconic courses. The daily distances are still under tight wraps, but expect around 70km with about 1 500 meters of climbing per day. Various race packages are on offer, providing for various levels of luxury accommodation on the Estate. And in answer to the final question, why Homewood… well it’s the original farm where the fairways of Fancourt were first laid. For more on the packages available go to www.tourofhomewood.co.za.
SariS
Sus the Saris Freedom 2 Bike Rack
Bike racks Launch in Sa
The route this year is the culmination of 5 years of scouting, racing and trial and error. So naturally it is the best yet. Make no mistake, this year is going to be a REal TEST. I think the philosophy of the route will have to be: “with great effort comes great reward” says Event Director, Darol Howes.
Bicycle Power Trading have added to their Powertap hubs and CycleOps offerings with the Saris Bicycle Racks. Each Saris rack is made by the dedicated and cycling fanatical Saris Cycles team in Madison, Wisconsin, and while they’re new to the South African market they’ve been a stalwart of the US market since 1989. Saris believe that bicycles make the world a better place and their racks are designed to make it easier to simply get out and go. They’re also very competitively priced and Full Sus has a couple of models which we’re currently testing, so look out for those reviews in upcoming issues. To find out more visit www.saris.co.za.
Sus the Saris Euro Thelma 3 Bike Rack
FS Qhubeka
Support the #BicyclesChangelives campaign and help put more rural school kids on bikes.
south africa’s education statistics leave a lot of room for improvement, but there is hope. and it travels on two wheels, in the form of the Qhubeka Buffalo Bike.
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any learners in south africa face a dual challenge – they struggle to get to school due to lack of transport – and when they arrive, the quality of education that they receive is often substandard. the World economic forum Global Competitiveness report 2014 – 2015 showed that out of the 144 countries ranked, south africa’s quality of primary education ranked 133rd. the quality of the educational system ranked at 140. according to the south african national household travel survey (2013), 63.4% (11 million) learners walk to their educational institutions and 5.5% of scholars travel more than 60 minutes to their educational institution while 27.5% travel more than 30 minutes. picture it: a 13-year old boy, simphiwe, gets up in the dark. he gets dressed quickly in the cold, does his chores and starts the 5km walk to school. by the time he arrives – 15 minutes late for class because it takes him 45 to walk to school – he’s already feeling a bit tired. by the time school finishes for the day, he’s dreading the long walk home again. after he’s helped out at home, there’s no time for homework. tomorrow, if it rains, he might not even get to class. While it’s not easy to fix the entire education system or provide accessible public transport to every learner, there is a simple, effective way to start addressing some of the problems that learners like simphiwe face: bicycles! In Qhubeka’s bicycle education empowerment programme (beep) in the eastern Cape, the number of children travelling between one and two hours to school dropped from 76% to 26% once learners were riding bicycles to school. the number of children travelling for less than an hour to school increased from 11% to 73%; there was a 36% decrease in children reporting they feel vulnerable
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all photos from Qhubeka | Donovon thorne
BICyCleS foR Education
when travelling to school (41% to 5%) and those reporting they feel ‘safe’ more than doubled (23% to 52%). more than 53 000 bikes have been distributed by Qhubeka since 2005. Qhubeka is an nguni word (Zulu and Xhosa) that means ‘to move forward’ or ‘to progress’. the organisation helps others do that through mobilising people with bicycles. having a bicycle changes lives by increasing the distance people can travel, what they can carry, where they can go and how fast they can get there. this year, team mtn-Qhubeka p/b samsung will make history as the first African-registered team to compete in the tour de france. In celebration, the team has committed to raising funds for 5 000 bicycles to mobilise african
school children through Qhubeka – the team’s official charity partner. this campaign is aptly named #bicyclesChangelives. the bicycles will be distributed through beep to school children in south africa currently walking to school every day, in partnership with World vision sa. Children sign a twoyear contract committing to using the bicycles to improve their school attendance. on completion of the contract, the bicycles then become their property. these bicycles will help them to get to school more quickly and safely, reducing their commute time by up to 75%. each student who receives a Qhubeka buffalo bicycle will also receive a helmet, pump, cable-lock and a small tool for basic maintenance.
to track team mtn-Qhubeka p/b samsung’s progress towards funding 5 000 bicycles or to support Qhubeka by donating towards the #bicyclesChangelives campaign, visit www.bicycleschangelives.com.
The mighty Qhubeka Buffalo Bike.
Qhubeka and the Buffalo Bicycle Qhubeka (qhubeka.org) is World Bicycle Relief’s programme in South Africa. World Bicycle Relief (worldbicyclerelief.org) is a global non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing education, health and economic opportunities by providing simple, sustainable transportation. Since World Bicycle Relief’s founding in 2005, it has delivered more than 225 000 specially designed, locally assembled bicycles to people in need. The Qhubeka Buffalo Bicycle is a robust bicycle engineered specifically for tough terrain and heavy load requirements. It is designed by World Bicycle Relief in Chicago USA, and tested and assembled in South Africa. It’s made to last, with: ◆ Heavy gauge steel tubing frame to ensure durability ◆ Carrier capacity of 100kg (ideal for carrying a passenger or hauling goods to market) ◆ Total bicycle carrying capacity of 250kg ◆ Heavy gauge spokes and steel rims, specified to 150kg per wheel ◆ Compatible with locally available spare parts ◆ Durable weather-proof coaster brake Qhubeka Buffalo Bicycles are sourced from manufacturers in Asia with some components made by fabricators in South Africa who produce each component to Qhubeka’s specifications. The bicycles are built from the highest quality parts. They arrive completely unassembled at Qhubeka facilities in South Africa where local teams put them together, which creates new employment opportunities.
FS Trails
DON'T BE AN ASS
Ride the Richtersveld Donkey Trail
Listen boet, if you’re a mountain biker with the full quota of endorphins pumping through your blood stream, you’ve just got to go ride #DesertKnights up in /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. End of story. Photographs and words by Jacques Marais. Local Buzz: Here’s the recipe, china. You take one moer of a desert, back-light it with a celestial full moon, and liberally mix in large quantities of ice cold draft beer. Chill out a bunch of laid-back mountain bikers during the daylight hours, and then let them loose on an ancient desert landscape as dusk begins to fall. This, in a nut shell, is the multi-day Desert Knights MTB Tour; five days
of mind-expanding cranking along remote back roads, and an exhilarating ‘rest day’ of paddling on the Gariep River. This column, however, is not about the event, but rather about one little stretch of must-ride magic I would never have encountered if it was not for #DK2015. I’m talking the Donkey Trail, set halfway between De Hoop Camp Site and Hakkiesdoring Hiking Camp. This is not perfectly groomed MTB
singletrack, but rather a crooked and meandering path out of an LSD crank dream, populated with ghost gemsbok clattering along rocky outcrops, dervish jackal lurking on the edge of your light beam, and gritty little drops and climbs amidst a profusion of volcanic shale and dolerite. All I can say is, do not bugger around too much with this recipe. It works!
Trail Low-Down: Not everyone can get to ride the actual #DesertKnights event, even though this arguably rates as one of the best value for money multi-day MTB Tours out there. But every manjack with an MTB can get their asses to the /Ai/Ais-Richtersveld in order to pedal all these back roads to their heart’s content.
There is a good few hundred kms worth of mountain biking on both the SA and Namibian sides of the river, but for the sake of this ride, it’s best to base yourself at either De Hoop or one of the other river camp sites close by. (The Richtersveld is a true mountain desert, and for around 10 months of the year, you will suffer if there’s no cool-down option). If you want to enjoy the full day six section, crank off from De Hoop along a gentle ascent till you reach the first jeep-track to your left (R5 - 7km). Continue onwards in the direction of Maerpoort Pass (12km) and take time to soak up the utterly breathtaking panorama which unfolds from the apex, then pin your ears back as you hit the corrugated downhill. Keep left until just before you hit R6, where a small sign indicates
SUS the Richtersveld Donkey Trail: Grading: Intermediate (sand and corrugations) Duration: 3-5hrs Configuration: Point-to-Point: 38km Start Point: De Hoop camp site Terrain: Reserve roads, jeep-track and donkey trail Post-Ride Beer: Seriously dude, you forgot to pack beers? Shame.
Must-Do Event: Desert Knights MTB Tour www.desertknights-mtb.com
Access: Only paying park visitors allowed Cell Reception: Smoke signals are your only link to the outside world
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Accommodation: Full list of accommodation options at
www.sanparks.org
Local Contact: Nic de Goede +27 (27) 831 1506 GPS: DE Hoop 28.175533 / 17.177811 & Hakkiesdoring 28.393988 S / 17.169516
Jacques Marais is the South African trail guru. If he’s not scouting a new MTB trail he’s trail running a new route in the Drakensberg. His new book More Top MTB Trails has just hit the shelves of all good book shops and you can purchase a copy for R250. Follow him on Twitter @ JacqMaraisPhoto
Trails
FS
"This is not perfectly groomed MTB singletrack, but rather a crooked and meandering path out of an LSD crank dream." Get your timing right and you’ll enjoy a famous Namibian sunset on your ride too.
the penultimate ascent are sure to push a few buttons, but man up till you turn right at R17 to pedal the final few kays to the hikers’ camp at Hakkiesdoring (38km). Accommodation here needs to be arranged in good time, so check availability with parks management before going off half-cocked.
Getting there:
IA
Oranjemund
◆ Richtersveld National Park
Springbok
ICA
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld National Park is filled with rugged kloofs, high mountains and dramatic landscapes. It’s jointly managed by the local Nama people and SANParks, straddling the border between South Africa and Namibia. Much of the vast mountain desert’s moisture is gleaned from an early morning fog off the cold Atlantic Ocean, which is called Ihuries’ or ‘Malmokkies’ by the local people.
IB
FR
Where are we?
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From Springbok (pretty much the centre of the known universe in these parts), head via Steinkopf to Port Nolloth (Café Vespetti is a pretty good stop here). It will take at least a couple more hours to navigate the 80km gravel to Sendelingsdrift; allow two to three hours more to get to De Hoop (access to the park is limited to 4x4 vehicles).
NA
the Donkey Trail, and turn right here (16km). Make sure you ride this section in the dark if you can, preferably on a full moon night in order to experience the full hallucinogenic effect, which is way better than pretty much any recreational drug I can think of. For the next 8km, you’re in for a jol of note in a space where moon shadows and desert jinns play upon the periphery of your subconscious. Enjoy this trippy little trail as it side-winds like a horned desert adder along rocky kopjes till you eventually reach the main drag again (24km). Keep right here, and securely limpet your butt onto the saddle as you’re about to hit deep pockets of sand at speed for the next 4km or so. Lots of corrugations and sandy stretches along
SOUTH A
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On the start line of the Dr Evil Classic you line up where you feel appropriate.
Looking forward to
DR EVI L The Pennypinchers Dr Evil Classic is a three day MTB stage race, organised by Dr Evil himself and, despite the doctor’s fearsome reputation, Neil Bradford is keen to return for his second go at the race.
T
he idea of the event organisers, Leon Evans and Zandile Meneses, from its inception has been to keep the numbers down and to make it a small and personal event, with the field limited to 350 riders. So many other events have it as their main aim to grow in numbers each year, but the Dr Evil Classic stays personal and this is probably one of its main draw cards. The relaxed atmosphere surrounding the event, along with the really friendly and personal vibe, makes it so enjoyable for the racing snakes and the social riders. The start each day is evident to this as rider’s line up on the start line in the order they feel appropriate. If a social rider would like to line up next to the likes of Kevin Evans, and here that is perfectly alright. The stages are also all very manageable distances with no stage being longer that 80km, all taking place in the beautiful Knysna forest and surrounding areas. The altitude gain per day is also kept reasonable making this race a perfect starting block for the novice rider wanting to do their first multi-day stage race. Do not however for a minute think that it does not cater for an experienced stage racer. Once the customary neutral zone out of Wittedrift is over and the flag drops, the racing up front is as fierce as ever. With Wittedrift town being only
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a few minutes’ drive out of Plett, it is also a fantastic race to take the whole family along. There is plenty of amazing accommodation options available in Plett and also lots for the rest of the family to do in the mornings, while you will be pedalling your bicycle. The race village also caters for the supporters with snacks available for sale and a beer garden in which to sit back and relax. Then on Sunday the 20th of September it’s the ever popular Pennypinchers Lions Karoo to Coast, one of South Africa’s most popular single day races. And for those riders who wish to add another day to the Dr Evil Classic, can make it four days of mountain biking, and take advantage of the discounted entry fee offered for the Karoo to Coast for Dr Evil Classic entrants. So, no matter what your level of expertise is on your mountain bike, the Pennypinchers Dr Evil Classic caters for you, with a personal and relaxed atmosphere which is sure to be enjoyed by all.
"The Dr Evil Classic stays personal and this is probably one of its main draw cards."
There are chilled vibes and laughs all round in the race village.
ALL PHOTOS HAVE BEEN SUPPLIED
FS Pre-Race Review
SUS the Pennypinchers Dr Evil Classic Date: 17 to 19 September 2015 Venue: Wittedrift School, Wittedrift, near Plettenberg Bay Distances: 70km, 80km and 50km Website: www.drevilclassic.com Entries: R3 450 Solo or R6 900 per team Twitter: @DrEvilClassic
Above: Plus there’s always the Garden Route scenery to draw you in. Left: Last year’s winners Michelle Lombardi and, Plett MTB royalty, Kevin Evans.
Neil Bradford represented South Africa for XC and DH at the 1993 MTB World Champs. Despite doing triathlons, canoeing, trail running and adventure racing, his heart still lies with mountain biking. Still very competitive, he holds numerous SA sub-vet and vet XC titles and placed 3rd in the masters and 18th overall in the 2013 ABSA Cape Epic. He is also a business owner, husband and father of two.
FS Coaching
Ask Dr Mike
In this issue Dr Mike Posthumus answers readers training related questions regarding indoor trainers and strength training.
D
ear Dr Mike I’ve committed to a rigorous Science to Sport training program to prepare me for the 2015 Cape Pioneer Trek. I train early mornings and have already started having difficulty training due to dark and wet mornings. I will need to do more indoor training sessions. Which indoor trainer would be best suited? Regards, Trevor Dear Trevor Yes indoor training is often a great solution during the winter months. It
allows you to train without interruption in bad weather. It is also an extremely time efficient way to train. My friends and social media followers will know that I do a lot of training indoors in my “man cave” during winter. Since there are so many indoor trainer options, budget has to be considered. At the lower end of the budget spectrum, a simple fluid trainer does a great job at allowing you to do most structured workouts. Fluid trainers have an inherent progressive nature, i.e. the harder you pedal the harder the resistance becomes. Due to this progressive
FS Conservation
BEN EFITS of biking to work This month JeanneLouise Wiese delves into the research and provides you with some of the stats and findings which prove why commuting to work on your bike is such a great idea.
FS Healthful Amy
nature, fluid trainers also tend to better mimic the road-like feel. On the other end of the spectrum, top end trainers are excellent and extremely versatile. The Wahoo Kickr is among the best and allows for setting of resistance via either: power, slope or resistance level. The Kickr also contains a stain gauge powermeter so power readings are accurate and reliable. The ability to perform structured sessions according to pre-programmed power levels in the ergometer mode is a huge benefit and a feature not many trainers have. My recommendation would therefore be one of the two mentioned above.
Dear Dr Mike We are reading more and more about top riders doing strength training. I have always avoided strength training due to my fear of gaining too much weight and
thereby becoming slower on climbs. Does the power you gain from strength training outweigh (excuse the pun) the muscle weight gain. Regards, Darren Dear Darren This is an excellent question as many cyclists are desperately trying to lose weight. Therefore strengthtraining is often seen as an “evil”. However, strength-training programs for cyclists are not developed to gain muscle. Power on the bike is a function of strength (Torque) and speed (cadence). By improving your strength, you are able to produce more power at a given leg speed. Resistance training should therefore be designed to improve strength, and not muscle mass. This is generally achieved through using either very high loads and low repetitions, or low loads and explosive movements. This
People biking to work… ◆ Have reduced tiredness and less difficulty sleeping ◆ Have higher levels of well-being, self-confidence, and stress tolerance ◆ Report greater feelings of freedom, relaxation and excitement than car commuters ◆ Believe their health has improved since they started commuting by bike ◆ Have better blood pressure, insulin levels and triglyceride levels. 50 kg 68 kg 90 kg 113 kg 136 kg
661 kilojoules 899 kilojoules 1192 kilojoules 1506 kilojoules 1799 kilojoules
Riding a bike burns calories… Depending on your weight you can burn a lot of energy during a 30 minute bike ride*… *Based on a 16km/h pace (average commuter pace). The actual calories you burn depend on your weight, fitness level, speed, number of hills, etc
Rand
3000
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15000
21000
27000
33000
36000
Coffee/Pecan Power truffles Looking for something you can make yourself to provide a burst of power to conquer a tough climb or a never-ending road? Try Amy Burton’s recipe for Coffee and Pecan Power Truffles.
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e all have moments in our training or during races where we need an emergency energy shot, and only the mighty stimulant caffeine will do the trick. It’s no secret that Athletes love their coffee, I have yet to meet one who doesn’t start their day with a strong cup of percolated goodness. So what better way to get your
jolt of java than in the form of a tasty and nutritious energy truffle, which can be snaffled pre/post/ during exercise for an instant and long-lasting hit of energy. I package these truffles in little Ziploc bag when I cycle, and pop one down the gullet in times of need. They’re easy to make, and super versatile, all you need in terms of equipment is a food processor and you’re good to go!
topic was covered in further detail in the May 2014 edition of Full Sus. But here are some of the basics: 1. Strength training may provide an additional gain in performance to elite athletes or competitive athletes who are already training to their full potential – when correctly performed and incorporated into their training. 2. A strength training session should never be added on top of your normal training. When including strength training ensure you decrease your training on the bike. 3. Ensure adequate recovery after your strength training session and only include intensity training on the bike once your legs have fully recovered. 4. Include a combination of both heavy low repetition based strength training and low resistance explosive strength training in a periodised manner (i.e. align the objectives in the gym with your
objectives of your specific period of training on the bike). 5. Do not be put off very heavy weights. Very heavy weight training with low repetitions may be used to gain strength without gaining too much muscle bulk. 6. Include exercises, which mimic the muscle patterns used when cycling. For example, a weighted single leg step up is a good exercise for cyclists to perform as similar muscle groups and joint range of motions are used. 7. To avoid injury, always ensure that you are performing all exercises with correct technique. Consult a personal trainer, biokineticist or other expert to ensure your technique is correct.
Questions for Dr Mike: Ask Dr Mike your coaching related questions by emailing them to sussed@fullsus.co.za.
Coaching
Weight training can help you produce more power at a given leg speed.
Dr. Mike Posthumus is an accomplished academic with UCT’s Exercise Science and Sports Medicine faculty and a coach with Science 2 Sport. He was a provincial rugby player before switching togs for cleats and taking up competitive mountain biking. He has an exceptional knowledge of training periodisation and scientific training principles. Find out more at www.sciencetosport.com
Biking to work saves money… The average annual operating cost of a bicycle is about R3 000, versus an average of R36 000 for a medium sized car.
Have reduced tiredness and less difficulty sleeping
Have better blood pressure, insulin levels and triglyceride levels.
Believe their health has improved since they started commuting by bike
Ingredients:
125 grams pitted dates 100 grams pecans 100 grams almonds 1 heaped tablespoon good quality roasted and ground espresso beans 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 2 teaspoons coconut oil Large pinch of salt (To taste, I like a lot of salt to balance the sweetness of dates) 1 tablespoon flaxseeds 3 heaped tablespoons coconut flour/ground coconut
Method: Warm dates in the microwave for 30 seconds. Place them in your food processor with the pecans, almonds, coconut oil, vanilla essence and blitz until it forms a fine, crumbly texture. Add the coffee, salt, flaxseeds (I dry roast my flaxseeds in a pan to really reap their Omega benefits) and pulse gently until well combined. Lastly add your coconut flour and
Biking to work saves the environment… Have higher levels of well-being, selfconfidence, and stress tolerance
Report greater feelings of freedom, relaxation and excitement than car commuters
pulse again. Now have a squeeze of your mixture, if it holds its own in a ball, you’re good to go, but if it is too crumbly, add another teaspoon of coconut oil and pulse once more. There is now the option to squeeze the mixture into a big ball, and place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes to set a bit. Alternatively go right ahead and roll the mixture into Ping-Pong sized balls. Roll them in cacao nibs and coconut. You can store them in the fridge to keep them nice and firm, or in a glass jar in the pantry.
"What better way to get your jolt of java than in the form of a tasty and nutritious energy truffle."
FS
I have calculated the amount of carbon emissions that my car would emit into the atmosphere each month by using a number of online carbon footprint calculators. For a medium sized petrol car my emissions amounted to around 75kg of CO2 per month and would result in the saving of around 900kg of CO2 per year should I choose to commute with my bicycle to work and back every work day. This is considering that I now live only 6km from my office. So for you guys out there who commute over longer distances, you reduce your carbon footprint with every extra kilometre you peddle. This is just one of many ways you can reduce
Conservation
FS
Jeanne-Louise Wiese is a Senior Environmental Practitioner for engineering, management and specialist technical services giant Aurecon. As an avid MTBer she has the good fortune of consulting on the Provincial Department of Transport to upgrade and maintenance programme for gravel roads, so she gets to visit secluded areas and take her bike along. your footprint and leave some space for those little feet that are going to follow us in the next generations.
"...you reduce your carbon footprint with every extra kilometre you peddle."
Healthful Amy
FS
Amy Burton is a mountain biker, trail runner, graphic designer and foodie. She’s in the process of opening a Rawfood and Superfood smoothie bar at Trail and Tar with Sean Fraenkel and is off to race the 1Zambia MTB Stage Race in June with Renay Groustra. In between all of that she posts amazing recipes and photos on Instagram, so follow her at @healthful_amy.
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FS Bike Review
NatioNal aNthem
The Giant Anthem was at one at a point one of the go-to choices for marathon and stage races, but it’s spent the last couple of years drifting from our collective consciousness – no more says Seamus Allardice. Photos by Ashlee Attwood.
Sus the impressively priced and specced Giant Anthem X Advanced.
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hile Giant is internationally more focused on the 27.5 wheel size, having stopped by Giant Durbanville, the day before I picked up the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er, I’d found out that the Anthem X 29ers and the XtC 29ers are still the most popular Giant mountain bikes in the local market. Their 29ers have seemingly been forgotten by all but Giant SA – and rumour has it our local guys have fought for the 29er revival at Giant’s global HQ, with something exciting now said to be on its way, but I digress… The Anthem X Advanced 29er is currently the top-end model with the big hoops, it features a carbon front triangle, an aluminium rear triangle (Gert Stander of Giant SA explains that to get it to the rigidity Giant need aluminium works out lighter than carbon), Shimano XT throughout and 100mm of FOX Float CTD Factory Kashima travel front and rear. The wheels are Giant’s P-XCR 1 29er aluminium models (solid, but for the money you save on the Anthem compared to a similarly speced alternative could be well spent towards a set of carbon wheels, which will put your Anthem in a truly different class) and likewise the bar, stem, grips, seatpost, and saddle are all from Giant’s in-house component line. The one let-down on the bike as it comes out of the box is the Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29x2.25” EVO tyres. For my liking they’re just not aggressive enough and I’d happily sacrifice rolling resistance for some added confidence in the corners. They’re also not particularly hardy, with sidewalls soft enough to manipulate on and off the rims without the use of tyre leavers – I should know I fixed four punctures in two days after taking on the amazing but thorn laden !Khwa ttu MTB trails, with a test bike that hadn’t been converted to tubeless. That being said the Anthem X Advanced is tubeless ready out of the box, so I should
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have just converted them quickly myself. Ridewise the Anthem blew me away. Initially the stem was raised by three spacers and in the positive rise position. This made the bike feel twitchy but not particularly accurate when climbing technical singletracks. So I flipped the stem and removed two of the spacers. On my second test ride up to the blockhouse from the Full Sus offices I beat my personal best, which I’d set on the Specialized World Cup Edition Epic Expert Carbon (Tested for the March 2015 Full Sus). Coming down its no slouch either, I managed to clock PB’s for the new singletrack and down the horrifically steep Plum Pudding jeep track. Though the latter might have more to do with the massive confidence the XT brakes inspire. Under force, with the CTD switched to climb mode, the bike feels stiff and agile. And after my minor adjustments I felt super confident on all but the loosest of corners (tyres again) coming downhill
while going up it’s easy to redirect with perfect control, when negotiating tricky steep rocky sections where line choice is vital. Where the Anthem X Advanced really surprised me however was on faster flowing trails, it handled
The Anthem X Advanced feature a carbon front triangle.
more like a trail bike and when taking to the air the Maestro suspension linkages and Fox shock combined to provide what felt like more than just 100mm of travel. The combination is unbelievably plush, but at the
Bike Review FS SUS the Giant Anthem X The geomeTry AS liSTed below iS for A medium frAmed bike (17.3”) And All meASuremenTS Are in millimeTreS or degreeS. head Angle ..................................71.0 Seat Angle ..................................73.0 Top Tube ........................................594 head Tube .................................... 104 Chain Stay ...................................462 wheel base ................................ 1 105 Standover height ..................... 770 AnThem X (full Alu) r28 995 AnThem X AdvAnCed 29er (AS TeSTed) r45 550.
Fox’s Float CTD Factory Kashima keeps the rear end under control. same time at the flip of the switch as efficient as the much touted Brain system on the Epic when going uphill – or so my Strava stats tell me (I know someone will moan about that comment). One problem with the Maestro
suspension is the CTD switch though, and along with new tyres a remote lock-out lever for the shock would make the riding experience more pleasurable. Reaching down to your ankles to flip into descend mode is anything
but easy especially if you’re already on the descent. For serious racers, a remote lock-out lever is probably a must. The litmus test of any bike for me is the question of whether or not I’d purchase it myself. And with the Giant Anthem X Advanced 29er the answer is
a resounding yes! If you can only afford one bike, and you want something to race and something to shred fun trails on, it really is the way to go. And that’s purely on performance. When you add the very reasonable price into the mix you’d be a fool not to very strongly consider it.
Sus out Giant’s OverDrive Tapered Steerer head tube.
Shimano XT brakes ensure ample stopping power. 19
Crisp shifting is ensured with a Shimano XT, Shadow+ rear derailleur.
FS Yoga & Pilates
Sun Salutations “Yoga is for hippies, for flexible people and for women only.” Or that’s what Joëlle Sleebos thought when she was first introduced to it in Australia in 2007, now she’s writing for Full Sus to tell you how it can improve your cycling too.
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’ve been combining two careers since starting university; one as an economist and the other in the fitness industry. As a personal trainer I knew that a balanced training schedule should include the following three elements: cardio, strength/weight, and flexibility/mobility training. I used to stretch a bit after each training session and figured that was enough. Looking at those yogi’s; sitting deadstill with their eyes closed, their hands
in prayer position or even lying on the floor, I did not see the benefit of that kind of ‘exercise’. Exercise should be hard-core, you should push yourself, get out of your comfort zone and suffer! So there I was, working out over lunch in the gym across from my office. On Tuesday’s they only offered a yoga class, so I figured it was better to do the class, instead of eating a sandwich in front of my desk. After a couple of weeks, I started to feel
different during my Wednesday trainings. I used to feel fatigued and have ‘heavy’ muscles, but now suddenly something had changed. My body felt ‘reset’, it felt like my batteries had been completely recharged. My overall performance improved and the only thing that had changed was the fact that I was doing yoga… As they say, the rest is history… That was 8 years ago and if I had to explain everything that yoga has done for me, not only physically and mentally but how it helped me get to know myself and make major life-changing decisions, all the upcoming columns would definitely not be enough. Simply,
yoga has become my main form of exercise and it has made me a stronger, more confident, more flexible, healthier, and a more balanced person all round. I hope the yoga exercises I will share with you might make you feel better in the morning when you wake up stiff from a night’s sleep. They might make you just as fanatic a yoga practitioner as me, or maybe they just give you a nice stretch after a long ride on your bike. I will try to keep things simple, understandable and accessible and I really hope you will enjoy it. Why not try? Put on some nice chilled music and go for it!
Suryanamaskara A (Surya: Sun | Namaskar: greeting) This is the first of two types of sun salutations to warm up the body. Each move is performed in coordination with the breath. Below you find an overview of what you should do. The breath is ideally in through the nose and out through the nose.
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1
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Exhale. Adho Mukha Svanasana (downwards facing dog)
Inhale. Look forward, lift chest halfway with a straight spine
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"... suddenly something had changed. My body felt 'reset', it felt like my batteries had been completely recharged"
Inhale. Reach your arms up
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Exhale. Step or jump backwards, come to Chaturanga Dandasana (plank)
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5
Exhale. Bend your body forward
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5. Inhale. Urdhva Mukha Svanasana (upwards facing dog)
Inhale. Step or jump between your hands and look forward, lift your chest with a straight spine simultaneously.
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Exhale. Bend your body forward
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Inhale Come all the way up and reach out your arms. Exhale Samasthitih Scan the QR code to download the printable plan or visit: www.fullsus.co.za/ sun-salutations for some easier options. Joëlle Sleebos has 16 years of experience in the fitness industry as a group fitness instructor and became a personal trainer in 2012. She’s been teaching yoga since 2010, when it also became her main form of exercise. Follow Joëlle on Twitter at @JoelleSleebos or on Facebook: Joelle Sleebos – Getting Personal.
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FS Ride Report - 7 Passes
Bains Beauty! in april Shayne Dowling went off to George to try the latest addition to Garden route events’ calendar, the inaugural susan Deacon 7 passes Mtb.
all photos by lisa GreylinG
Melumzi Gagela and Masoxole Thembani looking stoked at the start of the inaugural Susan Deacon 7 Passes MTB.
The 7 Passes road is best enjoyed from a bicycle.
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hen you here the name thomas bain one normally thinks of beautiful winding passes over seemingly impossible terrain, stunning roads that have been meticulously carved out of cliffs, kloofs, valleys and passes. of course nowadays you may be forgiven for thinking of bains Cape Mountain Whisky and quite frankly the dram is just as beautiful but that’s a discussion for another time. of course with beautiful winding passes come inevitable climbs and this is what i was concerned about. Despite having driven from George to Knysna many times i had never taken the infamous 7 passes road and i was going to do it on a bicycle… okay… so quick history lesson: the pass was built by bains and his brother-inlaw – they were having a tiff so started at opposite ends – between 1867 and 1882. think about that for a second – 15 years to build a road, completed 133 years ago and still in use today – incredible! the road is spectacular! it traverses stunning terrain that is rugged and wild still today to rolling farmlands and finally spilling out on the beautiful Knysna lagoon. there are always hiccups to be had on a first time event and the lovely folks from Garden route events weren’t exempt, although for good reason, the response to the first 7 passes Mtb race was far better than expected and so the start had to be hastily moved to the outskirts of town which Woodifield Farm graciously allowed at the last minute. some 300 keen MTBers lined-up and set-off behind a local traffic car in a neutral zone start that took us down the
first controlled descent, once the vehicle pulled over the race snakes vanished up the first pass and we started our first “vasbyt”. To be honest the climbing was reasonably steep on some of the passes but never too hectic, the gravel or tar roads helped of course and the views, well they just made it so worth it! the vibe was fantastic with a lot of chirping going on, a few keen ladies showing off their climbing skills (after pancakes nogal…) and the local herbalife rep insisting their stamina was as a result of prolong… we had a good few laughs. to say the road is beautiful is an understatement, it is a road that you have to cycle to really appreciate, the passes are all very do-able but also provide a challenge for all. the route is definitely a great training ride. If you are looking for gnarly singletracks, manicured berms and lots of “stof” then this is not for you. the race can be a fast one but i really do prefer the tour vibe. no pressure, good workout, lots of fun and in this vein it is sure to grow. The first day from George to Knysna is a timed event with the return leg voluntary and also offering more altitude gain. a lot of folk chose not to do this and it seriously detracted from the vibe – i believe there should not be a choice – you do both days! there will have to be some thought behind this but I firmly believe that the event suffers from the choice of the second day (of course you can make it a one day event and perhaps switch the route around each year?). there are lots of plans afoot to improve the 7 passes – i for one will definitely be back!
"To say the road is beautiful is an understatement, it is a road that you have to cycle to really appreciate" 22
Could pancakes provide the perfect MTB padkos? Tania Venter and Jenny Johnson tuck in at one of the friendly water tables, where coffee was also on offer.
The podium places on day one were filled by Vernon Moos (2nd) Vickus Boshoff (1st) and Iniel Hattingh (3rd), seen here with race director Pax Mosterd.
Steep passes and rolling hills punctuated by fantastic scenery is the signature of 7 Passes ride!
The leading ladies, Maryke Deacon (1st) and Marzanne Kriel (2nd).
IT’S TIME TO FLY Racing hur ts. Winning makes the pain go away. Trek Factory Racing makes the pain go away aboard the Superfly every chance they get.
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FS Ry verslag - Houwhoek
Bo: Mistige toestande het die bergfietsryers begroet op die Houwhoek MTB Toer.
Die Houwhoek is sonder twyfel die gewildste MTB toer in die Kaap. PiErrE SMiT PHoToGrAPHy
Die Regte Resep Soos Shayne Dowling se goeie pel Emile Joubert sê: “As jy Mosbolletjies gaan bak gebruik mos, nie druiwesap nie!” met ander woorde, om die resep reg te maak moet jy die regte bestanddele hê.
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ohan en Gerda Kriegler het sonder kwessie al die regte bestanddele en as ’n gevolg het hulle die perfekte resep in die Houwhoek MTB Toer gebruik. Die Toer is basies die laaste twee dae van W2W sonder ’n klompie kilo’s en ’n paar steil bulte wat vir ’n moerse klomp pret sorg. Niks te moeilik en glad nie te maklik nie, veral die eerste dag, bied die Houwhoek iets vir almal – sonder
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twyfel die gewildste MTB toer in die Kaap. Die twee dae byeenkoms is vir meeste die eerste multi-dag bergfiets “stage” wedloop waaraan hulle deelneem. Daar is geen amptelike tyd geneem en jy ry teen die spoed waarmee jy gelukkig voel. Almal word met dieselfde professionele diens hanteer – daar is geen hulle (die spoedvarke) en ons (die diesels) nie – almal ondergaan dieselfde ervaring, dieselfde roete en dieselfde
Die Full Sus span geniet ‘n glas wyn by die Hamilton Russell uitkykpunt.
fantastiese geselligheid en gevoel van deel wees. om te sê die Elginvallei bied van die beste singletracks, roetes en pragtige omgewing om MTB-fiets in die Kaap te ry sal nie baie teenstand kry nie. Veral die ongelooflike singletracks en fietspark wat Paul Cluver aanbied. Beter sal jy nie kry nie! Die tweede dag begin weer by Houw Hoek inn en dadelik jaag jy die Botrivier wapad af. ’n Kans om die dapperheid en durf van die Voortrekkers te waardeer, om Bains se padkuns te ervaar (sonder teer) en om jou tweede dag van fietsry te begin met ’n groot glimlag en ’n gelukkige hart. oor privaat grond met singles wat JK en sy span heel jaar handhaaf. Selfs nie die jaar se groot vure en die groot skade wat die landskap opgedoen het kon die geesdrif demp nie en voor jy die
sweet uit jou oë kon vee was jy in die pragtige Hemel-en-Aarde vallei. Hierdie jaar vir die eerste keer het jy die pad na Hamilton russell vroeg verlaat en die boonste reeks van die Hermanus MTB-roetes vasgevat, die lekkergoed voor die groot keuse – vat jy Hamilton russell se steil wit pad aan of neem jy die maklike roete (op die stunning Hermanus MTB- roete) na die eindpunt toe. Eintlik is daar geen keuse – wit pad op! Kort en steil met ’n groot beloning bo – behalwe ’n yskoue glasie Newton Johnson Sauvignon is jy heel bo Hermanus en die uitsig onderstreep hoekom ons die pragtige sport doen! Die Houwhoek Toer is ’n gesinsaffêre, met van die beste roetes en van die beste organisering van enige byeenkoms waaraan jy sal deelneem. Die een MTB toer wat ek nooit sal mis nie. Sien jou volgende jaar!
‘n mens kan nog lekker speel op ‘n ‘long travel’ 26er in die Houwhoek.
Race winner Jean Biermans on his way to a new record time of 14 hours 03 minutes and 57 seconds.
360km of Karoo MTB
JAZZ KUSCHKE PIERRE STEENKAMP
FS Ride Report - 36One Challenge
Katja catching 40 winks at CP 3.
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am still trying to understand how I managed to arrive at the finish line. It’s all a bit blurry. I was sure I was going to bail, at least twice, but somehow ended up on my bike again continuing my long way to the finish. Well, here’s how the race unfolded. It all began with the usual high paced start as if the finish was just a couple kilometres ahead. I was determined to hang on and find a suitable group to ride with, as I wasn’t keen for a lonely 11 hours night ride in the Karoo. At about 8pm and 2 hours into the race temperatures started to drop to 9 deg. I didn’t feel it at first as my heart rate was still going in high zones and I was wearing four layers, including a windbreaker. Once we all got into a more maintainable rhythm I sensed on the first couple downhills that we are in for a chilly night. I didn’t wear leg warmers during the first stage which was a big mistake. I could feel how my muscle contractions slowed down and as a result struggled to maintain my pace. The first stage was much harder than I expected and it was then that I realized that this event is all about reaching the finish, not the podium. 80km and 4 hours later I arrived at the first check point (CP). The rider support crews were allowed only at this point, and at two more later in the route. Pierre (Ed: Katja’s husband) made sure my Garmin and cell phone were charged, light batteries were fine, and that my bottles and nutrition were refilled and restocked. Pierre was keen on keeping my cell phone battery topped up because he’d insisted on loading a tracking app to my phone for him to know at any time where I was. My iPhone drained quickly and hence needed a recharge it at every check point. After a 30 minute stop at the first CP I continued with the next leg of the event. 103km lay ahead in the darkness of the Karoo. I was motivated, refreshed,
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and feeling much warmer wearing leg warmers. I brought my iPod along, loaded with old trance and electro classics, and had a great party the next 4 hours while riding through the pitch dark. At the 80km mark I hooked up with a lady named Naomi and the two of us rode together in the cold for the next 2 hours. I was tired and pretty close to hyperthermia. Sitting by the fire place, I was seriously contemplating stopping the race right there. After 180km and 2400m climbing I convinced myself that this was a decent workout. No need to continue. Pierre simply ignored my talk of quitting and continued prepping my bike as per usual. He handed me some fresh riding pants, asked me to get dressed and continue. Some words of encouragement along these lines “No worries, sun is coming up in 2 hours. It will get warmer and much easier. You’ll see.”
"I must have fallen asleep, just for a second, but enough to land in a bush" Ahead lay another 100km with two long climbs and as Naomi had left the CP 20 minutes earlier, I was alone again. The music in my ears dragged me along and it helped that we immediately climbed to keep warm. The biggest challenge during this stage was the sleepiness. I must have fallen asleep many times, just for a second, but enough to land in a bush once and sway left and right on the road many times. Pierre surprised me at the water point at the 256km mark and seeing him and a good dose of caffeine pepped me up again. But by that time the 180km guys began passing us. These fresh legged guys made me feel like a snail. It
PIERRE STEENKAMP
“Flip, this was tough. Toughest thing I’ve done so far. Insane race! But highly recommendable, says Katja Steenkamp of the 36One Challenge.
36One challenge completed!
was nice seeing Caren Henschel along the way though, she offered some encouraging words my way and went on to finish 2nd in the 180km race. After Rooiberg it was downhill to CP3, where I spotted this amazingly comfortable looking bench. It took 1, 2, 3 seconds and I passed out. I woke up 25 minutes later, rejuvenated and ready for the last 80km stretch. It was about 11 am and the sun had warmed up to a perfect 19 degrees. I started with a bunch of Joburgers and we rode together for the first hour. The company of human life around me was very welcome! One of the guys had done the Ironman two weeks earlier and didn’t feel too good, so they dropped back and took it easy while I continued at my own pace. I started counting the kilometres down: 50km, 49km, 48km, 48km, 48km, 48km… it just didn’t want to end. Corrugated roads, headwinds, and being passed by cars, leaving me covered in dust, made the last stretch a bit unpleasant. Every muscle group in my body was aching and every single dent and bump in the road made my body scream to stop the torture. I finished in just under 23 hours, of which about 20 hours and 30 minutes were spent riding. 250 riders started in the Solo category and 160 finished. 12 ladies out of 18 finished. The 36One is an amazing experience and shows you the power of mind over body. But would I do it again? Hmm, maybe, but certainly not Solo. A team entry is the way to go!
Katja’s Thanks I need to dedicate an additional note to my incredible husband. He drove over 700km in total to meet up with me at the different check points and made sure to meet me half way during each stage to see that I was fine. I was pampered all the way and the effort reminded me of the Formula 1 pit stops, lots of people fiddling on the car to get ready for the next round. Pierre did all of the fiddling so I could rest!
Katja Steenkamp grew up on a bicycle in Dresden, Germany. But she gave up the commuter bike for the mountain bike when she moved to Cape Town nine years ago. Her next big adventure is the 2016 Tour d’Afrique, follow her on Twitter at @KatjaSteenkamp.
14 & 15 November 2015
FS Di’s Ladies’ Column
SKILLS:
Part II
If you relax and gradually up the difficulty, soon even the highest, narrowest bridge will be as easy as this one.
CHERIE VALE | NEWSPORT MEDIA
F
irst though I’d like to share a major fear that I had when I starting out and how I overcame it. Bridges and heights were, and to some extent still are, a bone-chilling fear for me. My heart rate tripled and I started to shake every time I approached a high bridge on a ride. There was a particular railway bridge near Oak Valley in Grabouw that absolutely terrified me and the other was the Cobra in Oak Valley. The way I got over the first one was to keep doing it until I was no longer afraid. I always looked past the end of the bridge and just kept going steadily until it was over and eventually around the third time I went over it without incident I started to feel more confident. I always had friends there in support too. This makes a big difference. The Cobra Bridge on the old Wines2Whales route was a whole other kettle of fish as it has a corner almost immediately and it’s on an angle like a berm! Just to make it worse it’s really long and goes uphill at the end! The way I got over that one was firstly to watch other riders successfully get along it. This helped me mentally to see that it was rideable. Then I followed a guy who rode it really well. Followed his lines and his speed and focussed on him rather than falling off and it worked! I let out a whoop of relief and joy at getting through that one safely. Seeing him ride it confidently in front of me and concentrating
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on following him helped me focus less on falling and failing. It gave me a huge boost of confidence. That is the major key to riding technical obstacles ladies! CONFIDENCE! Your head must be right or you will be fighting a losing battle. You can know all the techniques but if your head isn’t right...
So how do you get your head right? ◆ Start small – begin with a small and easy version of what scares you and keep doing it repeatedly until you feel really comfortable. (Examples - Bridges: Pick a low short bridge that is wide and stable. Steep rocky descents/drop offs: Pick a short not too rocky descent and ride it until you are totally comfortable and then progress to something a little steeper. Likewise with a drop off, start small and then move on to something slightly bigger and so on.) ◆ Ride with someone who is more skilled and confident than you are. Watch how they ride the obstacle and see that it is possible. Your mind will know logically that it can be done and if someone else can do it so can you! ◆ Give yourself time and become dedicated to overcoming your fear. The more effort you put in the better the result you will get. ◆ Don’t be too hard on yourself! Even experienced pro’s make mistakes and get things wrong. When you get it right take a moment to bask in that feeling of glory! You did it!
CHERIE VALE | NEWSPORT MEDIA
This month, ladies, Diana Carolin will take a deeper look into your riding skills, your biggest obstacle, and hopefully she can help with a few tips she’s picked up along the way.
Look ahead, off the end of the bridge, and let your momentum carry your across. You’ll go where your eyes are focusing.
Give yourself a good old “pat on the back”! Well Done! Make sure you remember that feeling! It will help for the next time you face a challenge. ◆ Don’t over face yourself! Never let anyone bully you into doing something you don’t feel safe doing. All you will do is get scared and set yourself back. ◆ If you are afraid of losing skin on your elbows and knees wear guards on them. No they aren’t pretty but they will make you feel less afraid of hurting yourself and free you up to push the boundaries a bit. ◆ Relax! Take a deep breath, clear your mind and relax. You need to be loose, relaxed and have a clear mind on the bike in order for things to flow. I often listen to music and that’s when I ride the best. It shuts up that voice in your head that keeps nagging at you. ◆ Ladies if you have a fall or get something wrong please don’t give up. Brush yourself off and try again. Perhaps on something smaller or easier. Put your mistakes behind you and move forward! ◆ Last but not least practice,
practice, practice! To create a habit you have to do the same thing over and over. Just make sure that you have it right and create a good habit. Go on those skill courses! Ladies please never be afraid to ask for help. Mountain bikers are a wonderful bunch and are always keen to help impart what knowledge they have. Be kind to yourselves and take credit where it is due. This is not a sport for the feint hearted and you are already a star for getting onto a mountain bike. Keep it up and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Happy Riding.
Diana Carolin has been a long time contributor to Full Sus, submitting race reports and articles on sports massage therapy, but now we’ve focused her talents on everything that is ladies specific in mountain biking. If you have any questions drop her a mail at dicarolin7@gmail.com and follow her on Twitter at @di_carolin.
, be here per, s i ter oo Win Timo C st of it! like the mo e mak
FS
photo of the month
Oakpics 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. Call them on 021 854 8723 or visit www.oakpics.com.
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FS Kleinhans Muesli
All PHotoS by MARk SAMPSon | @MARkSAMPSonCt | www.PHotoSPoRt.Co.zA
Erik moes albei die Hannekom broers klop om die Arabella Challenge te wen
Wyn, Buffet, Golfkarretjies en Trap by die ArABellA ChAllenGe Gelukkig is Erik Kleinhans se bergfiets nie elektries nie, of miskien moes Arabella eerder vir hom en Evert Ferreira ‘n trapkargolfkarretjie gegee het...
D
it was dalk nie super ideaal toe my en Evert se golfkarretjie op die derde putjie met ’n pap battery gaan staan na ’n volle oggend op die fiets nie! My fietsryskouers is nie besonders geskik vir die swaar golfsak nie, maar Evert, bemarker bestuurder van Mizuno-skoene, het gelukkig breed geglimlag dat hulle hom toegelaat het om met sy
Bo op die podium na twee lekker dae van bergfietsry.
hardloopskoene op die vyf-ster baan te mag speel. Die verligting was groot ’n paar putjies later toe ’n nuwe karretjie afgelewer word! Elke naweek in elke provinsie is daar is so baie skofwedrenne regoor Suid-Afrika, en jaar na jaar is daar net nog so paar nuwes wat te voorskyn kom op die kalender en dit laat mens nogal wonder wanneer die aanbod te
veel gaan raak vir die aanvraag. Maar ons as bergfietsryers kla definitief nie, natuurlik is daar die bekendes wat net eenvoudig goed werk met honderde, selfs duisende, deelnemers elke jaar wat die geharde fietsryers jaar-na-jaar aanpak, maar dit is al die nuwe en kleiner skofwedrenne wat baie keer vir mens daardie ekstra bietjie plesier verskaf, ’n roete nog nooit vantevore gery, ’n area nog nooit vantevore erken, en nuwe mense om te ontmoet. Dit was die derde weergawe van die Arabella Challenge die jaar, die tweede keer vir my, en elke keer as ek deur die ingang langs die perfekte groen gras, tuine en fairways na die hotel ry, besef ek hoe bevoorreg ons is om op sulke plekke te kan kom deelneem! Die “Hospitality Property Fund” is ’n vennoot van ons RECM-span wat help om rondom SA in van die beste hotelle te kan bly, waarvan die Arabella een is. So die doel van hierdie uitstappie was nie noodwendig net om resies te
jaag nie, maar eerder om saam met vriende/vennote te kom sosialiseer en ons ondersteuning te kom wys vir hulle wedren. Daar word baie gepraat dat fietsry die nuwe golf is, ironies genoeg sien mens dit baie duidelik by hierdie wedren wat basies op ’n golfbaan begin. Die hotel is vol gesinne, maar nie almal ry fiets nie. Terwyl die een helfte van die familie fietsry, ontspan die ander helfte by die swembad of in die spa en in die namiddag geniet almal ’n skemerdrankie en ete saam. Die Arabella-bestuur is nogal skerp en aanvaar die geleentheid. Buiten die bergfietswedren vat hulle dit nog ’n stappie verder om selfs hulle eie fietsrypaadjies te bou en te merk. Die wedren mag dalk nooit groei soos ’n Wines2Whales of Sani2c nie, maar dit het sy eie karakter, sy eie pretfaktore en daar sal volgens my altyd ’n mark wees indien dit met passie en kwaliteit georganiseer word.
"Maar dit is al die nuwe en kleiner skofwedrenne wat baie keer vir mens daardie ekstra bietjie plesier verskaf."
Ariane die dames wedloop ook gewen.
Scan this QR code to read the article in English on www.fullsus.co.za
Erik het die kans gekry om 'n ronde gholf met Evert Ferreira van Mizuno-skoene gespeel.
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Ariane op pad om dit 'n RECM dubbel te maak.
RECM se Erik Kleinhans is een van SuidAfrika se gewildste bergfietsjaers. Hy is nou die eienaar en kaptein van die RECM bergfiets span, en moet net so hard werk op die span admin as op sy oefening. Volg hom op Twitter by @erikkleinhans.
on Bikes!
The Spur Schools MTB League is Amarider’s flagship programme geared not only to get youngsters on mountain bikes but also to develop offroad cycling facilities on school grounds and on community properties, explains Meurant Botha.
N
ow in its seventh year, the League is gearing up to attract over 10 000 entries in nearly 60 races nationwide, and in our neighbouring countries of Zimbabwe, Namibia and Lesotho. The success of the League lies in the strong network of regional coordinators who take care of local events. Not only is this a much more cost effective solution but the value of developing local administrative
participating in the sport from as young as 7, probably has the industry pretty excited. It certainly should! Of particular importance is the fact the number of female riders at League events are steadily improving. Most of us have experienced how difficult it is for a 35+ lady to learn the basic skills of riding singletrack. Now that these trail skills are instilled at a much younger age, it can only bode well for the general competence of trail users going forward. Of course the programme would not be near the level it is today without the passionate support of Spur Steak Ranches, who have just signed for a further three year term ensuring that school mountain biking will remain in great shape up until and including the 2017 season.
SUS the Spur Schools MTB League Website: www.spurmtbleague.co.za Contact Number: (021) 884 4547
Event Calendar: http://www.amarider.co.za/Spur/ siteEvents.php
Reigning Champion Schools: Grey College Bloemfontein (Boys) and Menlopark Hoërskool (girls).
Amarider
FS
SINEAD WANNENBURG
KIDS
capacity cannot be overstated. It is these local coordinators who become the local ‘go-to’ people if one wants to champion anything mountain bike related, anywhere in Southern Africa. A natural progression of the development of the League has been the creation of South African Schools Cycling (SASC) as national governing body of the sport. Apart from regional structure development, the major drive for SASC is to achieve Department of Education status as an official school sport. AmaRider’s role is one of facilitator and we make sure the local events are supplied with the equipment required to ensure a smooth race. And we pay a lot of bills too! One of the major developments of the League has been the shift to racing on school properties. In 2009 less than 10% of the events took place on school grounds. In 2015 that ratio will be more than 50%. Developing these tracks at schools not only brings the racing to the kids, but more importantly places the sport right in the middle of the traditional and mainstream field/court sports. This gives mountain biking greater exposure, relevance and credibility. The exciting part of this explosion in youth participation can only bode well for the continued growth of the sport in general. Considering that past growth have come primarily from the 35-45 year old male demographic entering marathon events, the fact that kids are now
The Spur Schools MTB League is helping develop competitive young mountain bikers in SA.
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 websie at: www.amarider.co.za.
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FS Gear
First Ascent Apple Jacket
GEAR Winter Warmers JACKETS With a host of options out there, from thermal over-layer jackets to fully waterproof shells we decided to focus our test on the ones we all use the most, lightweight water resistant jackets you can roll up and store in your back pocket. Specialized Comp Windjacket
Specialized put a heck of a lot of effort into R&D and it shows. The Comp Windjacket is definitely one of the lightest in the test fleet, with only the Santini beating it on that front. But Specialized haven’t compromised lightweight for water resistance, it was one of the top performers in our spraydown test, with only the heavier jackets (not shown here) beating it. It is also semi-form fitting so it doesn’t flap like you’re wearing a plastic bag on the bike. Little features like the full length water resistant strip behind the full length zipper and the reflective trim help boost its appeal in our eyes. It probably won’t keep your dry if the heavens properly open up, but for a light shower it’s the best of the lightweight lot. It’s not the most well ventilated however, but that’s the compromise – you can have vents or water resistance, not really both. RRP R879 www.specialized.com
First Ascent’s Apple Jacket is practically a staple of the South African outdoors enthusiast’s wardrobe. And the new model is even lighter than ever (by 5g). It’s competitively priced, readily available almost anywhere in SA and packs up into a tiny pouch. But it’s not without its problems. In our water resistance testing it performed on par with the Santini Kines, allowing a bit of water to seep through the fabric, though you shouldn’t be put off as the Apple Jacket definitely has its uses. For commuters in particular the high visibility neon yellow is a great option for misty winter mornings or overcast evening rides. While on the mountain the more subtle blue colour way will provide you with warmth and keep the worst of the water off should you be caught in a light shower. At the price you might want to consider an Apple Jacket for overcast conditions and getting a heavier fully waterproof jacket for when it’s properly raining. RRP R649 www.firstascent.co.za
Northwave Breeze Jacket
Northwave is probably most well-known for their cycling shoes and cheeky ad campaigns. Born in Italy it goes without saying that style is a given. The jacket is good to look at, cut superbly to fit comfortably and functional. My initial reservation was the shiny black material but it’s offset by white panels which saves it. The jacket folds down into a separate pouch that can be attached to the bike or put into your back pocket it is light and ventilates adequately via covered back slits. The jacket is 100% polyester and is essentially water resistant but with the zip not having an inside panel, a small amount of moisture passes through there. All in all a good jacket that looks cool and delivers well. RRP R1 100 www.northwave.com
Best: Water Resistance
Santini Kines Jacket
A winner in the looks department, though you might want to go for the black version if you plan on riding on the mountain rather than the road. It is super lightweight, body hugging (get a size bigger than usual as the medium we have for testing is likely only a comfortable fit for a male rider of Darren Lill’s stature – sorry Darren), and features two back pockets – which are somewhat of a rarity in the lightweight jacket division. It is very well ventilated, at the expense of water resistance and we’d suggest it would be better suited for misty morning rides rather than in the case of a light rain shower. It is windproof however, so it works well as an over-layer to keep the icy wind from biting through your fleecy undergarments. The highlight of the Kines Jacket is the tiny size it packs away in to its incorporated bag. RRP R2 100 www.nsquared.co.za
Craft Performance Jackets
Simply put, Craft make good products. Their gear is normally well thought-out, well tested and as a result fits superbly and perform exceptionally. We tested two lightweight jackets, the Ventair Performance Rain Jacket (white) and the Performance Bike Featherlight Jacket (blue). The Featherlight jacket is for race snakes. It’s really light, folds down to a tiny ball in the back pocket that has an elasticised toggle. The ventilation on this jacket is excellent – the sacrifice is that it isn’t as water resistant. The Ventair Performance jacket is a much more complete offering. It has just the right amount of ventilation and will keep you really dry. It is light, scrunches down really small and frankly is one of the nicest looking jackets we tested. It also came out near the top, of the jackets we tested, for water resistance. It’s Shayne’s choice for the best balance between ventilation and water resistance. Craft Ventair Performance Rain Jacket RRP R1 599 Craft Performance Bike Featherlight Jacket RRP R1 100 www.craft.se
Craft Performance Bike Featherlight Jacket
Northwave
FOX Dawn Patrol Performance Jacket
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Craft Ventair
Fox
Santini ASHLEE ATTWOOD
FOX is a name that has always been synonymous with MotoCross. The dark colour is very practical for the mountain and the cut is great for us larger built South Africans (Shayne’s an XL and the XL FOX Dawn Patrol fit him perfectly) The jacket performed well in our water resistance test, except for one major issue… it features a large zipper, without a water resistant strip behind it (like many of the other jackets). The fabric around the zipper got soaking wet with the zip itself allowing water to seep through. It’s a real pity because in all other areas the Dawn Patrol is an excellent bit of kit, complete with adjustable Velcro, elasticised cuffs, zippered pockets and a vented back panel (covered by a water resistant panel). Despite being one of the bulkier jackets it folds up just as small as the rest. RRP R1 189 www.foxhead.com
e’s Shayn e ic o h C
Craft Ventair Performance Rain Jacket
Craft Featherlight
First Ascent
Specialized
Competition FS
Goal one: line up for FREE at n i the Fedhealth MTB Challenge!
w
Just answer one easy question and you could win free entries into the Fedhealth MTB challenge… as well as a Garmin Vivofit which tracks your activity level and targets. THE PRIZE: Imagine yourself at Meerendal Wine Estate on 5th and 6th September. The Winelands and mountains around you, your mountain bike underneath you; life just couldn’t get any better. You could sink your teeth (and your treads) into any trail you choose – from the 20km beginners, the 35km intermediate, or the tough but still scenic 60km race. Then, you could enjoy a well-earned massage, and delicious Cape wines and food – all while the kids engage in loads of fun activities. Plus, you could win a Garmin vivofit wellness band, which records your effort levels and helps you set goals. As a first goal, answer this easy question: Where is the Fedhealth MTB Challenge to be held?
HOW TO WIN: To enter, just send an email with your answer, ID number and daytime contact number to comp@fullsus.co.za. Two lucky Full Sus readers will each win 2 entries to a Fedhealth MTB Challenge race of their choosing and 1 Garmin vivofit wellness band. Entries close on 24 July 2015.
Winter is here…
Winter is a great time of year to ride your bike if you are brave enough to risk some bad weather, says SJ Kotze. There are some really great races all around the country during the cold months and a bit of moisture on the trails can do wonders for your grip and confidence.
W
e call it hero dirt when you are able to go around a corner with your tyres seemingly glued to the loamy soil. But add a bit more rain and this can turn into bicycle killing mud, slosh and grit. It’ll clog your drivetrain, strip the lube off your chain, grind up your bearings, and eat your suspension stanchions and seals. This time of year can be rough on your bicycle so it is important to keep it clean (no power washing though!), lubed and serviced by your local bike shop. Here are eight top tips for maintaining your bicycle this winter. Regardless of whether you use a wet lube or dry lube, apply lube to a clean and dry chain regularly at least half an hour before you ride. The night before is good too. And try to always carry a small chain lube in your tubby bag or hydration pack for a mid-ride top up. Check your brake pads regularly
throughout winter. Mud eats all brake pads and worn brake pads will make a noise, destroy your rotors and won’t stop you when you desperately need them to. If your drivetrain is a bit worn out, unless you have a big race, try keep riding it through the winter and replace it when the weather begins to brighten. Nobody wants to unnecessarily put a new drivetrain through the ringer during winter. Popular 1x10 and 1x11 systems tend to wear out their individual front chain ring quicker than the chain and cassette so when those NarrowWide chain rings begin to have teeth that are hooked and sharper than a samurai sword, it may be time to replace it. Or the regular dropped chain might get irritating. Keep the stanchions on your front suspension fork, rear shock and your dropper-post clean. A mud guard will keep the mud out of your face, and off your bike and front suspension.
Stirling Revolution FS
Check that all your bolts are tight, especially your rear derailleur fitting and rear suspension pivots. We have noticed that rear derailleurs with clutches have a tendency to loosen over time. Must be all the extra tension. But… if you have a dropper post, make sure that you don’t overtighten your seat-post clamp as it can negatively affect the tension on the internal collets and shims stiffening the action of the post and potentially damaging it in the long term. And finally, if the weather is forecasted to be really bad for a week, this is a great time to get major work done on your bike such as the pivot and suspension services without losing valuable ride time. These services should be performed yearly in any case.
anywhere near it will result in a dead unrepairable rim. Vehicles with high exhausts that protrude directly out the rear are the biggest culprits and common examples are Toyota Fortuners, Range Rovers, BMX X5’s and X6’s, and Porsche Cayennes. The solution is to fit a deflector to your exhaust and/or your bicycle rack to deflect this hot air away from your wheels. Don’t despair if you have ruined a carbon rim, if you purchased the wheels/bike brand new then most reputable rim manufacturers offer a no-questions-asked crash replacement policy where you can buy a replacement rim for half price.
“Killer Carbon or Carbon Killer” Carbon rims are stiffer and lighter than aluminium rims and due to the damping effect of carbon the improvement in the ride quality is also immediately noticeable. Carbon MTB rims will cost you anything from R5000 upwards each so they are certainly not cheap and looking after them is critical. They are very strong and even the biggest rock strikes are unlikely to damage the good branded rims but there is a Carbon Rim Killer out there that all of us own but few of us realize how deadly it can be. The murderer is your exhaust pipe and exposure of your carbon rim
The Stirling Revolution column is penned by the father and son, LBS owning, pair of Stirling “Senior” and Stirling James (SJ) “Junior” Kotze. With years of industry insider knowledge they’re your, and our, link to the retail side of the bicycle trade – and while they might upset the odd sensitive reader their insights prove invaluable time and time again.
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CALENDAR
Advertise your event in Full Sus and we will send you copies of the paper for your goodie bags or registration table. Call Jess on 021 685 0285/6
SUS THE BEST OF July GAUTENG 11 TLC Ladies MTB Day 2015 11 Action Man Duathlon with a Twist 11 Nissan TrailSeeker Series #2 Lionman 25 Spur Schools MTB League GP #2 WESTERN CAPE 4 Momentum Weekend Argus Knysna Cycle Tour MTB Races 9 Totalsports XTERRA Pezula 12 Dirtopia All Mountain Enduro 18 SA XCO Championships 18 MTB Adventure Race 19 SA DHI Championships 25 Spur Schools MTB League S’ Cape #2 25 Spur Schools MTB League WC #2 28 Cape Country Tour 30 Nostalgepic 4 11 12 12 18 27 5 11 11 11 12 18 19 25 25 26 26
EASTERN CAPE ECC XCO #5 Spur Schools MTB League EC #2 Pennypinchers Grahamstown to Sea Spur Schools MTB League EC #3 JBay Winter Fest MTB Imana Wild Ride KZN Burry Stander Sardine Classic Giba Gravity Enduro Weston Agri College Old Boys Invitational Aloe Festival MTB Durban Stars MTB Race Gooderson Drakensberg Gardens MTB & Trail Running Challenge Bell Big 5 Series #3 Kwambo Lion iMfolozi MTB Challenge Spur KZN Schools Series #7 Ashburton Investments National MTB Series #5 Ballito Ingeli Forest MTB Ride
MPUMALANGA Mankele Avalanche Das Auto MTB Series #3 Growthpoint Corporate MTB Challenge Spur Schools MTB League MP #6 Badplaas Forever Resort Bestmed MTB Challenge 2015 25 ClemenGold Wildevy MTB 4 11 12 25 25
LIMPOPO 25 Spur Schools MTB League Limpopo #1 OUT IN AFRICA 3 Zambezi Cycle Challenge (Zambia) 4 Spur Schools MTB League Zim #6 (Zim) 7 Laikipia XC (Kenya) 11 Ngwenya Glass MTB Challenge 2015 (SWZ)
17 Vic Falls MTB Challenge (Zimbabwe) 18 Spur Schools MTB League Zim #7 Final (Zimbabwe) 20 Namib Desert Challenge (Namibia) 25 2015 Challenge 4 A Cause (Namibia)
August RACE CALENDAR GAUTENG 1 Tuine Trap MTB Challenge 15 Spur Schools League Gauteng #3 16 Spring MTB Sponsored by Clotan Steel 16 Babba’s Lodge MTB Super Series #8 22 Varsity College Trailblazer 22 Action Man Duatholon with a Twist – Medal 22 Edition 22 Jozi2Kozi 29 Nissan TrailSeeker Series #3 Down & Dirty 7 16 28 29 30
NORTH WEST PROVINCE Genesis Quest at Konka Bestmed Lost City MTB Ladies Stage MTB Challenge Spur Schools League North West #2 Kgaswane MTB Ride
WESTERN CAPE 1 Die Burger MTB 9 Potberg & De Hoop MTB 22 Spur Schools League S’ Cape #3 22 Eden XCO Series #3 29 Jakhals Prettrap 29 Thys du Toit Memorial MTB Challenge 29 Spur Schools League W’ Cape #3 29 Namaqua Daisy Challenge 29 Greyton Tour 1 2 7 15
EASTERN CAPE The Foolish Frenzy Spur Schools League East London #3 Storms River Traverse Spur Schools League PE #3
KZN 1 000 Hills Expeditions #1 – Dam Dash Illovo Eston MTB Challenge Scottburgh MTB Race Meatmaster Mountain Challenge Ride4Rhino 1 000 Hills Expeditions #2 – Downstream Dash 16 Dargle Trail Festival 16 Grantleigh MTB Challenge 29 1000 Hills Expeditions #3 – Big 29 Daddy Dash 16 Halfway Toyota Illovo Sugar Challenge 16 Hill2Hill Pre-ride #2 20 iSimangaliso MTB 4 Day 22 aQuelle Harburg Tour de Kranz 23 Classic Enduro 28 Rhino Adventure Ride 29 Mandela Day MTB Marathon 30 Howick Highlander 1 2 9 15 15 15
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FREE STATE 1 Spur School League Free State #3 1 Anatomic Dirtmax MTB Series #3 29 Spur Schools League Free State #4 1 1 8 15 22 29
MPUMALANGA The Gorge MTB Spur School League Mpumalanga #6 Spar Das Auto MTB Series #4 Krokodilpoort MTB Spur Schools League MP #7 Nkomazi MTB Challenge
LIMPOPO 7 Ashburton Investments National MTB Series #6 Rooiberg 14 Tour of Legends 15 Spur Schools League Limpopo #2 29 Cara Cara MTB OUT IN AFRICA 8 Inyatsi Nkonyeni G2G MTB (SWZ) 29 Otjihavera Xperience Namibia (Nam) OUT OF AFRICA 8 Red Island Ride (Madagascar)
JUNE Must do events ■ 6 June: Ashburton
Investments National MTB #4 & SA XCM Champs
The fourth race of the Ashburton Investments National MTB Series takes place on the trails of the Van Gaalen Cheese Farm and boasts the extra honour of being the South African Marathon Championships too. The excitement of seeing the national champion crowned is reason alone to head out to Hartbeespoort. Then you add to the mix the fact that the venue has been hosting National MTB Series races for six years, so Advendurance have got the routes dialled in. There is the ultra-marathon, marathon, half marathon, 20km and 10km race distances and entries are open online now, or at the Van Gaalen Cheese Farm at registration on the 5th of June or on race day. Find out more at www.nationalmtbseries.com.
■ 6 June: Olympic Cycles
Knock-Out CX Eliminator
Now for something completely different: a cyclocross eliminator! If you don’t have a cyclocross bike, don’t stress it there are MTB classes to enter too, with various age and gender categories, plus the main event of proper cyclocross racing in an eliminator format. It sounds like an event that’s going to be as much fun to watch as it will be to race, so dust off that old road bike and see what the widest diameter tyres you can fit on it is. Or just race with the old 20mm tyres it’s had on since you bought the bike in the 80’s… Seriously mountain bikes are welcome, as are the whole family, but you might want to plan to catch an Uber XL home because the organisers have promised free beer! For real, free beer. Find out more at www.onemovement.co.za.
■ 7 June: SAPPI Howick MTB Classic
Billed as raw and unplugged mountain biking at its best, the SAPPI Howick MTB Classic, the organisers claim, is the
Provides optimal conditions for the best performance. It maintains damper joints and adjustment screws and keeps knobs running smoothly. It cleans and seals crowns, dip and standing pipes. Apply a few squirts after cleaning, which will keep out the dirt and ensure optimal performance. After BRUNOX® Deo application gently push down the fork 3 times.
oldest MTB event in SA. While we can’t verify their claims, it does sound like a whole lot of fun, so the age verification hardly matters. Organised by Howick Mountain Biking it’s the highlight of the local cycling calendar. There are 40km (R150), 20km (R100) and a 10km kiddies race (price not supplied) race options. But you should be warned, the 40km is much tougher than the distance suggests! There are also late entries available on the day, with a R30 surcharge. Racing gets going at a sensible winter morning time of 08:30. Find out more at www. howickmountainbiking.co.za or enter online at www.roag.co.za.
■ 27 June: Nissan TrailSeeker Western Cape #2 Grabouw
It’s fair to say that the first Western Cape Nissan TrailSeeker race was not a great success, route markers were moved and the race leaders were rerouted all over the show in the ensuing chaos. But that was race one, starting in an area not best known for its mountain bike races, for race two Advendurance is making use of the well-trodden trails of Grabouw and that alone virtually guarantees the success of the event. With the racing starting and finishing at the Grabouw Country Club, there will be plenty on offer for the non-racers, while for those of you riding, the epic trails of Grabouw will certainly get your blood racing and have you finishing the day with a massive grin on your face. There are 70km, 40km, 20km and 10km route options to choose from. It promises to be a great day out for the whole family so check out all the info at www.trailseekerseries.co.za.
CALENDAR KEY Mpumalanga
Free State
Limpopo
Western Cape
Northern Cape
KZN
Gauteng
North West
Eastern Cape
Out in Africa
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Come Experience a floating bridge on a dam! • 50km • 35km • 10km races When: 6th September 2015 • Where: Dalpark Ext 1, Van Dyke Dam Contact: Athol on 082 857 5747
online entries www.cycleevents.co.za
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