TREAD
TREAD
M O U N TA I N B I K I N G W I T H S O U L
M O U N TA I N B I K I N G W I T H S O U L
GET YOUR MATES ONTO BIKES
Share the feeling, grow your riding group
ABSA Cape Epic
www.treadmag.co.za
The race that consumes you BIKES TESTED • • • •
Merida One Twenty Ellsworth Epiphany Whyte E120 Trek Top Fuel 9
TRAINING – How to go from schmo to pro TECH – Convert to disc brakes for less than R3000
ISSUE 6 May/June 2010 R36.95 (incl VAT)
ISSUE 6 | MAY/JUNE 2010
EVENTS
• MTN XC/DH National Cup #1 • MTN Sabie Marathon • Subaru Sani2c • MTN Sabie Classic
TOP RIDERS | BEST RACES | SKILLS | TRENDS | GEAR | NUTRITION
Contents
REMARK-ABLE You’re a trouble-making punk. A disruption to the ponderous communion of bipeds and bum-sniffing canines on mountain tracks countrywide. You’re a yahoo maniac. A twerp on fat tyres. You look so happy. Andy Ellis, ‘Stoke’ Page 14 Problem is, with Epic, you need to think. I realised that when I woke up in a sweat at 03h00 the next morning wondering if a lung and leg transplant were possible under medical aid. Adrian Wainwright, ‘My First...’ Page 24 “Armed with a Klippies & Coke and a smoke, I watched a good mate cross the line. I remember the look on his face, the energy of the race, the sheer gravity of it all. I realised that my student days were over but my student eating and drinking habits weren’t. I knew I had to change. And I knew I had to race the Epic.” Andrew Grobler. ‘Race like the pro’s’ Page 36 “Continental Europe has been doing tests here for the past few years and they reckon that not only is our terrain among the harshest in the world, but our UV rays are extremely damaging and this also impacts on tyre wear. The tyre failure rate in South Africa is the highest in the world and that’s road bikes and mountain bikes.” Ray Earl, ‘Industry Leader’ Page 46 “I try and ride the bike at least three times a week combined with at least two spinning sessions and then two gym sessions of 30 minutes each with a personal trainer called Burger van der Merwe. Just gotta love that name, he reminds me of my favourite food!” Clinton Rhodes, ‘My Challenge’ Page 78
MAY/JUNE ’10
CONTENTS
6
4 SOUL PROVIDER Editor’s welcome DROOL Wish you were here…
FEATURE
46 INDUSTRY Leader Continental’s Ray Earl
24 The one race that completely con-
BIKES & GEAR
sumes you - ABSA Cape Epic
14
8 CLUTTER Dept. of Current Affairs STOKE
50 Tested – Merida One-Twenty, Trek Top 28 Get your buddy muddy 36 How you can ride like a pro
59 REVIEWED Cool gear and accessories
16 SKILL Befriend momentum 18 FUEL Phosphate loading to get an edge
INDUSTRY
40
Fun on a budget is still fun
TRAIL
20
Riding with Greyton’s greatest ambassador
2 |
Fuel 9, Ellsworth Epiphany, Whyte E120
44 Who is behind the MTN National Series?
70
68 TRAINING In style TECH Upgrade to disc brakes for under R3000
PEOPLE 74 MY FITNESS Paul Furbank
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Contents
Kevin Evans bombs the singletrack on his way to the National Ultra Marathon Championship in the mountains of Sabie. Photo: ZOON CRONJE
ON THE COVER Capetonians have it pretty good, as Andrew Guess demonstrates here. ‘Manualling’ with Table Mountain as a backdrop... Photo: greg beadle
SUBSCRIBE AND WIN AN ADVENTURE WORTH R42000! Page 38-39
78
76 MY BIKE Nico Pfitzenmeier MY CHALLENGE Clinton Rhodes
EVENTS
80
RACES WITH SOUL MTN Sabie Classic, Subaru Sani2c, MTN XC/
DH National Cup #1
96
93 CALENDAR Races in May and June 2010 BLEND Henry Fagan
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
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Soul Provider
Editor: SEAN BADENHORST sean@treadmag.co.za Deputy Editor: DONOVAN JACKSON donovan@treadmag.co.za Contributing Editors BARRY McCALLUM, ANDY ELLIS Contributing Photographers GREG BEADLE, AUBREY JONSSON, WARREN VAN RENSBURG, RONELLE RUST, DominIc Barnardt, Dion Lloyd, Caroline McClelland, SVEN MARTIN, ZOON CRONJE. Creative Director: NOLENE SAUNDERS nolene@treadmag.co.za Contributors: Donovan Jackson, Adrian wainwright, ANDY ELLIS, BARRY McCALLUM, adele drake, Jason Bronkhorst, Kerryn Krige. Publisher: DONOVAN JACKSON donovan@treadmag.co.za Associate Publisher: JOANNE BADENHORST joanne@treadmag.co.za Brand Manager: Christopher Dutton chris@treadmag.co.za Editorial Address: 12 Insinde Avenue, Weltevreden Park, 1709 For advertising enquiries chris@treadmag.co.za . Subscriptions info@treadmag.co.za or call 0832797797 TREAD magazine is published with passion alternate monthly by Retread Publishing CC. All material is copyright and may not be reproduced or used in any form without written permission from the publishers.
PHOTO: DINO LLOYD
Share the feeling
M
ountain biking is made for great
Mostly, we develop friendships with other
stories. Post-ride banter can go on
mountain bikers because we end up doing
for hours as riding buddies marvel
some rides with them and we share a
at one another’s skills or speed
common suffering, or a common success.
We get some emails from readers with
Usually both.
compliments and criticism. We’re quite
over a certain obstacle or section. Chat about
Tell us what you think
the amazing view from the top of the climb.
What about our longtime friends that
up to dealing with criticism, as long as
Discuss the merits of longer travel over shorter
don’t ride. Sure, we know they’re missing
it’s constructive and helps us improve
travel for that terrain. Work out, through much
out, but they will only know that once
our magazine. We publish TREAD for
deliberation, which is the perfect tyre for the
they’ve done their first ride. They may find
mountain bikers like you. We don’t publish
area. Debate ideal tyre pressures and SRAM vs.
mountain biking intimidating. It can be.
TREAD for advertisers, or events, or on
Shimano and hydration pack vs. bottles. Laugh
But it doesn’t have to be. Our main feature
behalf of a sponsor. We publish TREAD
out loud about close calls on the descent. And
in this edition is dedicated to helping you
because we want to. Because we love
help patch up one another’s injuries after a
get your buddy or buddies, or partner or
mountain biking as much as you do. Because
fall. But threaded through all of that post-ride
spouse onto a mountain bike. Give them
we believe South African mountain biking is
banter, is an element of fun.
something new to talk about. Something
unique and needs a magazine that reflects
It can’t be anything else, because by
new to get excited about. Something that
that. Keep sending us your feedback and
nature, mountain biking is really fun. There’s
you can share. You know they’re going to
suggestions. We want to ensure our content
so much to mountain bikes and the terrain we
love it. And who knows, maybe like you,
is always relevant and original and fresh. And
ride them on that there’s never a dull moment.
they’ll begin to live it.
your feedback helps us achieve that.
What do swimmers have to talk about after a swim in the pool? See, we’re lucky. But we
Sean Badenhorst
can only really enjoy post-ride banter with a
Editor
buddy. Or a few of them.
4 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
The TREAD Team
SRAM®, RockShox®, Avid® and Truvativ® came together to create something even more powerful: the first ever complete 2x10 MTB group set - XX™. Brakes so powerful - shifting so fast - BB30 cranks so strong to withstand the highest level of World Cup racing - put together as a lightweight but fully featured package for anyone to experience a new level of perfomance under 2300g.
XX information: www.sram.com/xx
© 2009 SRAM, LLC
Distributed, serviced and maintanied by Cape Cycle Systems (Pty) Ltd. est 1987, www.capecycles.co.za
The first 2x10 MTB group set
Drool PHOTO: Greg Beadle
6 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Riding the impossible.. By Greg Beadle
K
arl Platt and Stefan Sahm, defending champions as Team Bulls 1 enjoy the honour of being allowed, with special permission, to ride
on Robben Island with 100 VIPS as a prelude event to the 2010 ABSA Cape Epic presented by Adidas.
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 7
Media
Surf this…
Compiled by Barry McCallum
Read this… I sometimes use the words “holy roller” as a username on Internet forums or customer websites. I took this name from the Maxxis tyres I run on my BMXes, not because I throw fits and roll around on the floor. So I was pleasantly surprised when I came across a bike from Soulcraft Bike called the Holy Roller. Sean Walling started the company 11 years ago with Matt Nyiri, who has since left the company. His ethos is simple: “Passion. Commitment. Value. Heritage. Quality. You hear those words a lot these days but here at Soulcraft they’re not marketing fluff, they are the foundations on which the company was built.” He does tell a little fib in his description of the Holy Roller, “I invented the 29-inch wheel mountain bike in 1975”, before adding “…actually, that’s a lie. I was 5 years old. But I build a really nice one with geometry that takes all that blasphemy you hear about big wheels and throws it in the can. For those looking for further enlightenment, the Holy Roller is available as a singlespeed as well. I don’t preach about which path is best for you, I just counsel. This is the second book we’re recommending
Can I get an ‘Amen’?” Want one? Be prepared to pay and wait. Walling limits his production line
from Frank J Berto, whose Birth of Dirt:
to 85 bikes annually – roughly seven a month – and no amount of begging will rush him. You have
Origins of Mountain Biking was punted in the
to fill out a custom order sheet – he’ll provide advice should this be your first custom rig – and put
launch edition of TREAD. In that history
down a deposit of $500 before Walling will start work on a CAD drawing. When this is received,
he particularly stresses the importance of the
you are assigned a spot on the waiting list. After about four weeks Walling will call – “If you live
introduction of the derailleur to the growth
somewhere like Sweden, then you will be calling me” – to discuss aspect of geometry and fit.
of the sport. The component is obviously
A PDF will then be sent to you for a final sign-off. Don’t get impatient when the build starts – “
a favourite topic of his. Eleven years ago,
‘How’s my frame coming?’ is a common question. A common answer is, ‘It isn’t.’” I want one.
after finding that “publishers felt that there
Read more at http://soulcraftbikes.com/index.asp
would be no market for a $50.00 technical bicycle book with 352 pages, 80,000 words
Listen to this... It’s been a long time coming, but April 13 saw the release of Jeff Beck’s first studio album in more
and 1200 illustrations” he self-published The
than seven years. The guitar great’s Emotion & Commotion, produced by Steve Lipson and Trevor
Dancing Chain: History and Development
Horn, is a collection of original material and covers. Beck teamed up with a 64-piece orchestra to
of the Derailleur Bicycle. Published last
record versions of Puccini’s Nessun Dorma and Somewhere Over the Rainbow from The Wizard of
year, the third edition, says Berto, has
Oz, but the track I’m most looking forward to his take on Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’s classic ‘I Put A
“changed from a derailleur history to a
Spell On You’ with Joss Stone laying on the lyrics. The Grammy-winner also sings on the album’s
genuine encyclopaedia of the bicycle” and
closing track, ‘There’s No Other Me’.
covers everything from bicycle inventor Karl
TREAD’s Classic track: On ‘Victory’, a DVD from MTBcut.tv that follows the 2008 downhill
von Drais’s Laufmaschine right up to 2009
season, The Cult’s ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ provides a backdrop for the
developments and paying special attention
footage from the rain-soaked Bromont World Cup round. The track,
to the relatively recent emergence of SRAM
originally released in 1985, featured on the post-punk band’s second
as a serious player on the market. Staying
album Love. When asked, singer Ian Astbury would simply say “the
true to his roots, Berto says the 11th chapter,
song is about sex”. While not all fans agree with the suggestion that
The Dawn of Mountain Biking: 1975–1984,
the lyrics refer to a relationship with a prostitute, nearly all agree
which runs to 47 pages and contains 311
that they are about a social outcast who, while “the world drags
illustrations, “is my favourite chapter. The
me down”, finds sanctuary in the “burning eyes” of the subject of
real story of Repack and the invention of the
the song.
mountain bike”. Although discounted by R40,
Watch this…
it’s still carries a hefty price tag on www.
The video industry is largely responsible for the growth of extreme sports of all kinds. There are a
kalahari.net. It sells for R566.
number of dedicated and thriving mountain bike film production houses out there. But there are many, many more aspiring filmmakers among the unwashed masses too. www.mtbmovies.com is one
Got a website, book, CD or DVD you
of the biggest websites containing vids from amateur filmmakers around the world wanting to get
think we should check out, drop us a
their work out there. The clips range from shoddy productions to slick bits of filming. It’s free to sign
mail at info@treadmag.co.za and write
up and post videos, but a R180-odd annual fee will get you a Gold Membership, which guarantees
‘Media’ in the subject field.
8 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
your submissions front-page listings. There’s also a monthly competition for the best clip posted.
Clutter CSA gets a shake-up
The top management of Cycling South Africa got a shake-up at the Annual Congress, held in late February. Greg Till was retained at President with William Newman being voted in as Vice President. Two salaried positions were filled: Barry Mocke is the new CSA
CEO and Ciska Austin is CSA Head: Secretariat. Greville Ruddock opted not to stand for re-election as Director of Mountain Biking, with Andrew Nicholson taking over that role. Johan Wykerd and Richard Durrant were named MTB Commissioners.
3 Things… SPORTS …young riders with bright futures: 1. James Reid (Junior Men XCM/XCO) 2. Timothy Bentley (Junior Men DHI) 3. Candice Neethling (Junior Women XCM/XCO) … that recently made us smile: 1. Kevin Evans beating the roadies to win the SA time trial title 2. Burry Stander, riding without the backing of a team, finishing 4th at Emperor’s Classic road race and SA Champs Elite road race 3. Acknowledgement by riders from mountain biking hotbed provinces KZN, Mpumalanga and Western Cape that the Rietvlei Farm XC course in Alberton, Gauteng, is first rate.
>> reduces friction by forming thin protective layer >> Prevents sores, blisters and skin irritation >> Long-lasting, non-greasy, non-sticky barrier >> Protects naturally with Tea Tree oil
| 9
Northern Gauteng sales and product information call Grant: TREAD FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010 0839647929. Also Available at: Dis-Chem , Selected pharmacies, Cycle stores & Sportsman Warehouse
www.bluesteelsports.co.za |
0860 103 571
Clutter
10 |
TREAD FEBRUARY/MARCH 2010
Headsets | Bottom Brackets | Hub Sets
Precision Products | Precision Service
Williams Bike Shop - 021 851 0919 - william@williamsbikeshop.co.za Chris King Precision Components - Cycles Africa - www.cyclesafrica.co.za - 0861 GO BIKE (46 2453)
OFF-CAMBER
Different by design There’s ongoing development in mountain bike design to find the perfect blend of control, efficiency and comfort. Robert Rae has taken MTB design to what most would consider the extreme in his effort to create the perfect full-suspension bike. Rae claims that the design, for which he holds the copyright and patents, eliminates any energy loss through pedalling. Rae explains the thinking behind his design, including 39 advantages over conventional full suspension designs on his website: www.raerdesign.com
Bike Brake Tired of seeing your pride and joy slide down a wall and crash ignominiously to the ground while you sit sipping your latte metres away? That’s what the Bike Brake is for. Leave the little gizmo on your handlebars but when parking, stretch it over the front brake. Even on a properly canted pavement your bike won’t try slither off without permission. Just one thing. When you get going again, do remember to release the elastic or you could be in for some unplanned power training…. Price: R26 at bike stores. Contact: Ballistic Bike Trading, 011 023 4478 TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 11
Clutter
A BEER WITH…
Richard Durrant By Donovan Jackson
Ex-roadies are routinely shocked and impressed at how friendly commissaires, race organisers and marshals are when they first break into the MTB scene. Someone who plays a key role in this is Richard Durrant, frequently seen adjudicating at the big – and small – races, always with a smile and with a wide knowledge of who’s who on the bike. TREAD caught up with Richard and asked him: How’d you wind up as a commissaire? How long have you been doing
has advised recently: ‘Please ensure that each and every member, and
it? And how often are you on duty?
indeed person in your province, who dares to use a whistle in a rugby
I started helping with timekeeping at club races held by Rockhoppers MTB
game, is fully aware of the minimum requirements with regards to first
Club at the old LaFarge Quarry in Honeydew, now the Eagle Canyon Golf
aid services and equipment. And do not start a game without these
Estate. It still makes me sad to think how much fun we used to have on
requirements being met.’ The same applies to mountainbiking!
our mountain bikes in now what is just more suburbia. My son Ryan was a
What do you like about the job?
keen rider in those days, actually he still is, but more (dare I say) on the
The riders, the people and the camaraderie!
road. Back then I took him to one of the nationals in Ficksburg, where a
And what sucks about it?
commissaire course was being run. I attended and the rest is history.
What sucks - how does the saying go “there is always one in every crowd’’
This was ten years ago; I’ve been President of the SA Mountainbiking
– fortunately mountain bikers are by far in the majority nice, decent and
College of Commissaires for about eight years. My initial commissaire
honest people so we don’t have to deal with the difficult people much!
training was under the guidance of Arno Neethling (International UCI
You wear a name badge at the races. Why is that?
Commissaire) and Greville Ruddock (past President of CSA MTB).
You’d be surprised that few riders, even the top competitors, have no
I do duty at least every second weekend and sometimes twice on a
idea what a commissaire is and what their functions are. We need to
single weekend. For the ABSA Cape Epic this year I was away from home
have some form of identification so that when we approach riders or their
for 10 days – I have a very understanding wife who says it is fortunate that
teams, they know who we are, where we are coming from and that we
I don’t also play golf, otherwise she would never see me!
have some status and authority around the event.
What’s your day job?
How can competitors make your life – and no doubt, theirs - easier?
I have my own consulting business specialising in occupational health and
Know the basic rules related to the competition that you are taking part
safety; more specifically, the road transportation of dangerous goods. I
in. Many riders will ride in a competition, transgress the rules and then
was employed by a large transport company up until two years ago when
get upset when they are taken to task for their actions. This applies often
I decided to go out on my own.
to young riders who are just starting out and a DQ or relegation in the race
What do you like about being the boss at the races?
can destroy them for life! Parents can often take some blame for this. You
The commissaire is not the boss, perhaps that what makes us MTB officials
will notice at race briefings for the younger categories, especially at XCO
somewhat different from our peers in the other discipline. We are there
events, we take considerable time to explain the basic and immediate
as independent representatives of the national mountain bike body to
rules to the riders on the line.
ensure primarily the safety and fair competition of the event. We have
MTB isn’t really the sort of sport which attracts cheats…but there
the capacity to stop an event if the required criteria are not in place.
always will be some. What are some of the transgressions you most
Not something that would happen easily, but with new legislation being
commonly encounter?
promulgated around the staging of live events, the responsibility and
Thankfully I cannot answer this question easily. Intentional cheating is
personal liability is becoming onerous. As one of the top rugby referees
very rare in the sport and let’s hope it remains like that.
12 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
I am not just your partner. I am the voice in the back of your head, screaming at you to go faster. I am your surgeon, your mechanic and your coach. In return, you will be mine. Because this monster can only be conquered if we rise and fall as one. I am not just your partner.
I am the other half of you.
We sponsor the world’s most gruelling team mountain bike race because we believe in real partnerships. Absa Business Bank. We’re in it together.
21–28 March 2010
Absa Bank Limited, Reg No 1986/004794/06, Authorised Financial Services Provider Registered Credit Provider Reg No NCRCP7
Stoke
All Downhill From Here
turning to raisins with age. I don’t get it. What is slowing me down? I mean, I can ride a bike. Why can’t I just let go and enjoy the ride? It’s as if full-throttle descents have a warrant to take me down. Dead or a barely alive. So wrong. And so naff. Do I score manpoints for all this honesty? I guess not. Truth is, I’ve missed a trick to mountain biking. I got the bloomin’ concept the wrong
By Andy Ellis
way round from the beginning. The point of all this malarkey is to have fun. Not bust a lung. Mountain bikes are at their best on the way down. It wasn’t always like this for me, you know. Oh, back in the day. The majority rode hard tails. Brakes were cantilevered and front suspension was just out of the box. Dual suspension? Only found in American magazines. Our rims squawked in the wet and our bones rattled on the ruts. Frontiersmen were we. As a result the machines of the day didn’t reveal too much of my ineptitude. I sailed merrily. But now people like you, The Dude, have emerged. You make my cross-country mentality look lame. Your bike looks more MTX than MTB. It’s heavy, with no compromise on rubber, travel or stopping
D
power. The saddle is shoved deep into the ear Dude, man on aggro downhill-
your weight, breathe from your diaphragm,
frame. If my beast is a stallion, then yours
bike-type machine. I hear you
keep the front wheel straight and ride the
is a kudu pumped on bovine EPO. You wear
long, long before I see you. Tyres
bloody bike. Easy.
baggy shorts and a t-shirt. Your helmet is a
skipping. Chain clattering. Grit
Yip, in my smorgasbord of biking life I eat
potty affair. And dude, your legs. They’re
chewing through disc brakes. My dog does
the ups. I am a mouth-breathing komodo.
flippin hairy. My dog and I (safely perched
too. You hurt his ears. To be honest, he
A masochistic flagellator whipping away
on a ledge) have watched you doing your
frikkin hates you. Even though he knows I
thoughts of a dishonourable dismount. And
hell-fire runs. You turn at the bottom.
like to ride. He deplores you. He is terrified
then, on the flats and twisty single tracks, I go
Arms outstretched, nose to the gravel, legs
of you. You’re like one those jet skiers on
for the biggest gears and try to spin the world
trailing, you are not ashamed to push-plough
Bay Watch. Jumping, bumping. Gnawing at
off of its axis. Yeah man. And on the downs I
your bike back to the top. It looks hideously
the peace. You’re a trouble-making punk. A
behave like the speeding bullet of my dreams.
painful, and graceful as pigeons mating. But
disruption to the ponderous communion of
Snot glazed to my wind-tunnelled cheeks, I
you don’t appear to care. You’re only in this
bipeds and bum-sniffing canines on mountain
am the rage in the machine. Ha ha. Hoo hoo.
thing for the descent. Are you an oracle of
tracks countrywide. You’re a yahoo maniac. A
Ja. Whatever. Because when switchbacks
the future?
twerp on fat tyres. You look so happy. I want
beckon and cliff faces threaten I’m a quaky
to be you.
bitch sporting brake pads with extra wings.
(
And on the downs I behave like the speeding bullet of my dreams. Snot glazed to my wind-tunnelled cheeks, I am the rage in the machine.
)
At the top you hardly pause to rest, turn and go. You float over the frame as it sponges the ditches. Jumps are candyfloss perfection, wheelie lifts on helium, and obstacle hops rampant. The speed is mesmerising. You’re all calm under pressure, animal disregard of consequence and you have skills. Skills are
My mountain-bike life is all in reverse. I prefer
Yip, I suck on the downs. It’s a fear rooted
what I see. Skills are what I need to cross over
the going up part. I guess it’s because I have
in the discomfort of my emasculated Mexican
to this mad-dog discipline. Which begs the
comfort in the technicalities. The required
cojones. In comparison to downhillers I have
command, Dear Pooch. We need to get you
skill set is concise, simple: know where to put
balls the size of table grapes… that are
home so I can go ride my bike like The Dude.
14 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
For an Epic 2010 For more info on a stockist near you visit www.firstascent.co.za or call: 021 787 9380
Skill
Momentum ‘
Momentum is your friend.’ It’s a bit of a worn-out saying, but that’s probably because it holds true. You simply have to embrace this concept if you are to enjoy your mountain biking and improve your skills, speed and the level of respect you hold among your riding peers. By Sean Badenhorst
16 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
CLIMBS
the descent is very tricky, you may have to
The only way to get up a climb without
moderate your momentum by braking a bit.
dismounting is to pedal like a madman (or
But the reality is that the less you touch your
woman) all the way to the summit. You don’t
brakes on a descent, the better your chances
have to look like you’re desperately clawing
are of reaching the bottom on the bike and
your way up, especially if you started the
not next to it.
climb with a healthy helping of momentum.
MUD/SAND
A climb is usually preceded by a flat
When you’re approaching a long section
section or a downhill. By looking ahead and
of mud or thick sand, you’re way more
anticipating the climb that awaits, you can
likely to get through it if you start it with
get your momentum just right to help carry
a good bit of speed. Hitting it at speed, aka
you onto the climb at first and then up to
momentum, will carry you through the first
the summit.
few metres without you even realising it. And
It’s extremely important to work out the
by continuing to pedal like mad during the
most appropriate gear for the climb BEFORE
mud or sand crossing, you’re going to keep
you start the climb. Usually this will mean
that momentum either all the way through,
shifting to an easier gear on the approach,
or for most of it.
as you’re about to hit the base of the climb.
SUMMARY
That way, you can pedal ‘into’ the gear that’s
You can’t afford not to embrace momentum.
most appropriate to get you to the top.
At first, it may seem scary because it usually
For long, steady climbs momentum
means increasing the speed with which you
isn’t as crucial as on short, steep ascents,
would normally be comfortable. This is
where you should try and power up it
where you need to realise that hundreds and
with minimal gear shifting. So your quads
thousands of hours of design have gone into
may burn and your lungs may scream for
building mountain bikes to be able to summit
mercy, but it’s a temporary discomfort. By
steep climbs, absorb the rough terrain on
powering that same gear from the bottom
descents and power through mud and sand.
to the summit (or maybe shifting one or two
You need to trust this technology to get you
clicks easier during the ascent), make use
over most terrain.
of the momentum you had going into the
Think of it like this: Put a more
climb to your advantage. Any hesitation or
experienced/skilled rider on your bike and
even trying to shift to a smaller chainring
they will use momentum to conquer terrain
could crush your momentum and leave you
challenges that you may struggle with. So it’s
floundering. Which isn’t very attractive.
not a bike limitation but a rider limitation.
DESCENTS
And that limitation is a bit like a switch that
The cool thing about momentum on descents
only you have access to.
is that gravity is your ally. Usually a rocky descent is where you need momentum in dollops to assist you to sail over rocks and
So in summary, here’s a list of momentumgaining tips:
•
term in this case because there’s not usually
•
head. You need to picture yourself moving smoothly down to the base of the descent.
• • •
Avoid braking (or braking as much) Have faith in the laws of physics Have faith in the design of your bike
The key is obviously to avoid braking because this scrubs your much-needed
Let gravity dictate your pace on descents
much sailing or gracefulness involved, but that’s the picture you need to have in your
Anticipate and choose your gear early
ruts and roots. ‘Sail over’ is a very loose
•
Pedal like crazy!
momentum. It’s tough at first, but you must put your faith in the laws of physics here.
Want to improve your skills with expert
I’m no physics boffin, but I can guarantee
tuition? Visit www.treadmag.co.za to find
that you’re less likely to crash on a descent
out about the TREAD Skills Clinics.
if you let gravity do its thing. Sometimes, if TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 17
Fuel
Pop this, go faster! By Sean Badenhorst
of tribasic dodecahydrate sodium phosphate or lactose placebo four times daily for six days prior to performing a second time trial under laboratory conditions. Two weeks later, the time trial was completed one last time, with those cyclists having received sodium phosphate initially switching to the placebo for six days and those cyclists having received the placebo switching to sodium phosphate. Compared to the placebo, sodium phosphate improved mean power output during the time trial by 9.8 percent on average and improved time to completion by an average of 3 percent among the six study participants. The results of the study were published in the Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport*.
PHOTO: Greg Beadle
The first attempts at what is now known as phosphate-loading were made during World War 1, when phosphate-enhanced foods and drinks were fed to German soldiers to delay fatigue. This did apparently make a difference, but there were no scientific experiments carried out to prove it.
If racing is your thing then you’ll always want to go faster. Assuming you have good racing condition already, it could be as simple as popping a few tablets in a process known as phosphate-loading.
B
urry Stander phosphate-loads
determine the effect phosphate loading has
before every race. The Under-23
on exercise performance. Overall, research
XC World Champion says that it’s
findings are inconclusive, but some studies
a perfectly legitimate and popular
have shown significant improvements –
performance enhancing technique among the pros.
between 6-12% – in VO2 Max. A 2008 study from Loughborough
What are phosphates? Well, they’re those
University provides the best evidence yet
very common electrolyte elements you see
that sodium phosphate loading is effective.
on nutrition supplementation labels such
Six trained male cyclists took part in the
as calcium, magnesium and sodium. Pretty
study. The subjects completed an initial
straight forward, huh?
16km cycling time trial under laboratory
Many studies have been carried out to
18 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
conditions and then ingested either 1 gram
Other studies have shown no difference in endurance performance via phosphateloading, which is why there’s no conclusive evidence that it works. But of course, as a competitive mountain bike racer, you’ll take any (legal) advantage you can get right? Should you want to give it a try, the suggested dosing schedule is at least 4g of sodium and 4g of calcium and/or potassium phosphate daily in the three days leading up to a race and just before the race. * Sodium phosphate-loading improves laboratory cycling time-trial performance in trained cyclists. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Volume 11, Issue 5, Pages 464-468; J. Folland, R. Stern, G. Brickley
Trail
Finding Greytness in Greyton By: Kerryn Krige
When I first meet Corne Barnard I have the in-grained scepticism of the mountain biker: roadies can’t go offroad. They lack the passion, the skills and the personality to enjoy the life of drop-offs and cliff paths.
20 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
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ee, Corne is a competitive roadie. But a year ago, he ditched
the speed-circuits of Belgium for the hills and mountains of Greyton in the Western Cape. His plans to cycle professionally were scuppered in 2009 when a sponsor, pleading poverty
and recession, pulled out days before SA Champs. Corne shrugged his shoulders and hung up his road bike for village life and a bike with tread and suspension. Since then he’s galvanised the town, setting up Rockhoppers bike shop just outside local restaurant in the centre of the village. It’s a fabulous place –chains and cogs are framed on the wall, the floor is all pebble
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day when it will be un-banished and freed onto tarmac. He’s got the local restaurants to sponsor trails, and has a posse of youngsters who he takes out to help build and test singletrack. “I just want to cycle,” he says effusively. “But there’s just not enough sunlight in my days.” He pauses: “Fancy a night ride?” This is Corne: a compact, wiry bundle of energy and muscle who is either always on his bike or scouting routes. It’s almost impossible to get a photograph of him as he’s constantly on the move. Ian and I are on holiday with trusty hard-tails on which we both learnt to cycle way back when, and which we now keep at a friend’s house in the village. They’ve put us in touch with Corne, who races up the next morning to give us the grand tour. He arrives in a blur of cycle shorts, cleats and a bright top with its arms chaotically torn off. We head out across the bridge and do a ninety degree into the riverside forests. Its pine and wattle – not particularly pretty, but because we’re on river sand it’s thick and technical. Corne is bouncing in the saddle up ahead, pointing out berms and jumps and eagerly asking if they’re OK – what do we think of the camber? Should he shore them up? Should that tree be taken out? His questions are fast, and difficult to pick up as he sprints ahead, a rush of sand and suspension.
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Trail He takes us across the river bed, all loose rocks, and potholes and up into the rolling hills, up dusty jeep track and down single track that has tricky corners and one of those slow motion moments where I think I’m going over my handlebars.
Blazing saddles The next day these hillside trails are a scar running through blackened fynbos after a fire, which has relentlessly been picking its way through the Overberg mountains, races up the slopes. While we’re exchanging riding war stories later that night in the pub, Corne’s trails are acting as mini-firebreaks as firefighters desperately try to control flames which, by all accounts, are out of control. But his enthusiasm as we head back to the river and forest, unaware of the pending damage, is infectious. It is on these trails that the local youngsters are learning to cycle. Jack Collins – who proudly tells us he’s just turned seven – steadily pedals his way through the white sand, crosses the wooden bridges and rolls expertly over jumps. Corne asks the youngster for his opinion of the new trails. After some thought he seriously replies that they are too small. So we build a new one: I’m despatched to collect logs, Ian is put in charge of sand deployment, and Jack manages operations. He is charmed and chuffed and proudly cycles his personal jump for the first time, just holding onto his rear wheel as it tips into the air. He lands, and in that moment, he is the Greg Minnaar of his world. But it is when Corne gives it a go – in his plakkies, on a kiddies bike and with a style and panache that defies gravity, that I am convinced. He may have been a roadie, but there’s too much going on here to hold it against him.
Cycling: the glue that binds It is this involvement – of visitors and locals - that makes Greyton an extra special cycling destination. The scenery is perfect: the high mountains of the Riviersondereinde range loom large over the colonial lookalike town, which is all white houses, green lawns and English sheepdogs. It’s just a two hour drive from Cape Town, and the options seem endless. In the three days of cycling – exploring on our own, and being shown around by Corne – we didn’t get to do half of what we could see we could do. And there’s a lot more hidden riding behind the hills, and on local farms and estates. “That is part of the fun – finding the trails, chatting to the farmers, getting them to open up their land to bikers – involving everyone in the design and build. There is beautiful riding out there and it’s beneficial to everyone if we can open it up,” asserts Corne. The trails that have been built are well marked and somehow manage to be suitable for both kids and hardened mountain bikers who want to test their speed, agility and fear thresholds. The singletrack goes on for kilometres – how many Corne can’t say, but it all links to jeep track making it a practical, easily navigable network.
There’s (trail) gold in them thar hills We have obviously passed some kind of test because the next day we are invited to ride on the other side of the village, leaving the rolling hills, which are now smouldering, for the serious gradients of the mountainside. This is where Corne thrives. The hills are seriously steep, and even though it is jeep track, the gravel is loose and tricky. He is in
22 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Trail
his element: whilst we are bent ninety degree’s over our handlebars pushing hard, he sits waiting at the top; surveying his territory. The views up top are beautiful, reaching Genadendal, one of South
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Machetes at dawn: Corne Barnard opens up a new trail though the brush of Greyton.
Africa’s oldest mission stations, and sweeping across the oak-lined and tin-roofed avenues of Greyton, to the blackened fields of the previous day’s route. Smoke still billows from the fire as it burns fiercely on the other side of the mountain. We’re trying a track that Corne has spotted and never ridden, and we sail down through the fynbos, zigzagging through the scrub until I see Corne tip over his bars and with legs flying, he heads south. It’s funny. But as I get closer I see why: the erosion has left suddenly gaping holes in the path. So we hike-a-bike down and head back onto one of the marked trails, a fabulous descent that has everything – S-bends, loose rocks and hard packed trail that has you grinning from top to bottom. It’s a finale that marks the end of the introduction to what has potential to become a great mountain biking mecca: the ABSA Cape Epic already spends two days in Greyton and the MTB festivals on outlying farms are growing in popularity. Each morning, the tables at the Oak and Vigne restaurant fill with cyclists having a coffee before heading out onto the trails. And later, we see a line of cyclists snaking up the hill at the bottom of the Knietjieshoogte single track. There must be about ten riders, all who have just rocked up at the bike shop calling a ride. And at the front shuttling people up the hills, is a blur of sponsored blue – made more distinctive, because even from a distance, the sleeves are noticeably absent. TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 23
Feature
MY FIRST...
ABSA Cape Epic
The one race that completely consumes you By: Adrian Wainwright
Y
ou can’t quite believe how
Skype video made managing a relationship
it feels. There’s relief. Joy.
and an Epic commitment, dare I say it,
We rounded the clockwise exit circuit and shot
Disbelief. Rapture. Humility.
simpler. And I ate to ride, slept to ride,
out of the school and up the first steep concrete
Pain. Pleasure. Pride. And yes,
worked to ride. It made me a terribly
climb, catching the team ahead just halfway
monotonous dinner guest.
up. As the weaker rider, I rode in front so as not
rugged mountain bikers, there are tears.
Five fingers … four … three … two … one.
I’m not talking about my reaction to JZ’s
I was so focused on Epic that races were
most recent state of the nation speech.
just tough training rides - Crater Cruise, the
I pushed, continued to push, and pushed
I’m talking of course about crossing the
94.7, the Vit-2-Go MTB series and even the
some more, until we reached the Table
line in Lourensford to finish my first Absa
glorious Sani2c passed in a haze of HR data
Mountain cableway road about 400 metres
from my Suunto T6.
above the school about 25 minutes later. My
Cape Epic in 2009. I fell into last year’s race pretty much by accident. I’d only been cycling for 18 months when my good friend Gary scored an entry. “Shall we do it?” he asked over coffee one morning. “Why the hell not?” I replied, without really thinking. Problem is, with the Epic, you need
(
to be consigned to the hurt-box too soon.
Problem is, with the Epic, you need to think. I realised that when I woke up in a sweat at 03h00 the next morning wondering if a lung and leg transplant were possible under medical aid.
)
Yet as Epic drew closer, the nerves
average HR to that point was 182, or 94% of
to think. I realised that when I woke up
started, the training/fitness/form doubts
max. My partner took over the pace, cranking
in a sweat at 03h00 the next morning
raised their ugly heads and the anticipation
a strong TT down that road. He continued
wondering if a lung and leg transplant
mounted. I had no idea exactly what I was
downhill at breakneck speed over the marble-
were possible under medical aid.
nervous of. I just knew I was.
like gravel terrain. I retook the front up the
After realising we’d probably ride
That all changed at 10.36am on Saturday
stairlike-steepness of The Cobra climb. And we
better with others, Gary and I changed
19 March 2009.
partners. He formed a mixed team with
The start of an epic week
tag-teamed each other back to the school.
another friend. And I teamed up with a
As we rolled gently across the closely-cut
A haze of agony and ecstasy
chap I didn’t know all that well at the time,
grass and into the start chute for the 17km
I remember climbing out of Gordon’s Bay up
but someone whose riding and attitude I
prologue in Oranjezicht, my heart rate was
Sir Lowry’s Pass on the morning of stage 1 in
already respected.
135bpm – 68% of max. We were stationary.
the midst of 1200 cyclists, thinking I was the
After the prologue the days kinda blur together.
From October through March, cycling
Teams were leaving at 30 second intervals.
luckiest oke alive --- until 30kms later when
became my life. I rode at 05h00 five or
There was just one team ahead of us.
I’d spent almost two hours in 22 x 30 creeping
six days a week – from 75 minute balls-out
And then even they were gone. I vividly
up the Neuweberg and Groenlandberg. And I
spinning sessions to seven-hour MTB drags
remember people all around, the vague
remember bombing almost 10kms down the
out and around the glorious Groenkloof
realisation that this was the Epic for real,
other side like a poor-man’s Minnaar.
Reserve in Pretoria.
and then the marshal’s hand right in front
My fiancé lived in the UK at the time, so
24 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
of my face.
I remember that stage taking us just over 7 hours. And staring wildly at race briefing that
Feature
PHOTO: SPORTZPICS TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 25
Feature
PHOTO: SPORTZPICS
26 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Feature night, saying to my partner: “If we have
one hell of a view”.
I’ve learnt that while I am in no way a
another day like today, dude, I’m f...ed.”
It was. Not of the Cape winelands from
seasoned rider, with clear goals, structured
I remember us finishing in the top 80
a mountain high above. But of the stadium
training and a complete commitment to
on stage 5, dehydration and a gash down
set up at Lourensford wine estate for
leaving nothing on the trail, you can crank
to my right patella notwithstanding. And
thousands of Absa Cape Epic supporters
out a ride that will take your breath away. But
sitting in the audience that night listening
and spectators.
you have to be super-committed. I’ve learnt
to Christoph Sauser’s “forget the politics,
We crossed the line in 102nd position
that your greatest limitation is your mind, not
let the legs to the talking” speech, which
overall and 72nd in the men’s category in
your body. I would berate myself at times on
put an end to the soap opera debacle of he
a time of 38 hours and 54 minutes – two
the bike. Yet that 10km climb couldn’t care
and Burry Stander’s time penalties.
positions (and 59 seconds) outside our
less. So hunker down, quieten down, let the
I remember Stage 6 passing in a five-hour
top 100 goal. It may sound odd but at the
legs silence the mind.
blur of water points, GU’s and Armin van
time, I was broken.
Buuren’s A State of Trance at almost-max
And I’ve learnt that while I was not riding
“Fifty-nine seconds when we’ve been
this year’s Epic, my heart and my imagination
riding for almost 39 hours? You gotta be
were on very little else from 21-28 March this
And I really, clearly remember the
kidding?!?” Yet once perspective was
year. All 1200 of you who started… you have
frustration of the final stage, when my
gained (approximately five seconds into
my respect and admiration.
heart and mind wanted to mash my BB
our first post-race beer) I realised that
to dust but my legs were connected to
nothing but finishing mattered, given we’d
the pedals by two pipe cleaners and
emptied everything we had as a team into
an apology. With 5kms to go, I was still
the trail.
stuffing chopped apples and gels into my
What comes after
mouth in a vain attempt to put power into
Finishing an Epic is almost harder than
the pins.
training for it, starting it or riding it.
iPod volume.
My partner just laughed. “Dude, just relax, enjoy the ride --- this is going to be
You’re left with a new tangible challenge: ‘what now’?
The 2010 Absa Cape Epic covered 722 kilometres in 8 stages over 8 days. The field covered 14635 metres of vertical ascent before reaching the finish at Lourensford Wine Estate.
Feature
28 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Feature
M
ost of them just don’t get it. My buddies can’t understand why I love doing something that involves physical effort, occasional injury and costs a fortune. Why ride a mountain bike? The open spaces, the sights, nature, the thrills, the camaraderie, the beer. “OK, that sounds good,” some say, “I reckon I’ll give it a bash…” Compiled by Barry McCallum and Sean Badenhorst PhotoS: DINO LLOYD
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 29
Feature
T
HE BEGINNER
in traffic, Claudia was irked after she went
“Dad, she did everything,” he said.
Claudia Schaft often joins
to the wrong entrance and then did a tour
While we took a lunch break and waited
me for a post-work beer at
of the area before finding her way – okay, I
for picman Dino to pitch, I told Claudia
Grapes, my local pub. She also
forgot to tell her that you have to use the
something I believe to be true: “You need to
often joins me for coffee at the Wiesenhof
Fountains entrance on weekdays – and the
use your front brakes more than the rear.”
downstairs at the Glynnwood Hospital
two eventual no-shows weren’t answering
Well, if nothing else, she listens to advice,
during my all too-frequent visits there.
their phones. Not really being in the mood
almost to her detriment. On the rocky
She’ll tut at the tales of my latest injury
by this stage, we agreed to do a short
section down by the fence after the rickety
or cycling-induced malady. She’ll tell me,
loop of jeep track and then tuck into the
bridge, she grabbed a handful of front brake,
despite my protestations, that the sport is
cooler box. But being in the saddle lifted
and the back end jacked up. Up, up, over?
dangerous by nature; that I need to look
our spirits, as it usually does, and we did a
Nope…she collected it and rode calmly out
after myself better. She will, however,
second loop, before cracking a cold one.
of the singletrack, but did have some choice words for me at the end. This one ain’t going
never cringe at the painful details. Claudia,
Claudia’s first impressions? “I thought
you see, is in the business of hurting people.
I would have forgotten how to ride, but
She is a physio-terrorist. Don’t be fooled
I’m Dutch, right? I was most probably
The recent rains had left some crater-
by her charming smile and approachable
conceived on a bike,” she laughed as the
sized puddles on the trails. Conor wiping
nature. She’s dangerous. Even the dudes
sun started to set. She’s a regular at gym,
out into one forced Claudia to dismount and
who wield the scalpels at the Glynnwood
so she wasn’t taxed physically, but the
walk around it. “I’d have made it through if
Hospital don’t mess with her.
seating arrangements were a problem:
Conor hadn’t crashed in front of me,” she
down easy, I thought.
So, when she expressed an interest in
the narrow Specialized saddle on the ‘Dale
confidently claimed. “Then go back and do
getting into mountain biking, I thought:
wasn’t designed with a woman in mind.
it,” I challenged.
here’s an opportunity to seek revenge on
“Er, it wasn’t comfortable, you know, down
SPLASH!
behalf of all the patients she’s twisted and
there,” she said. I’m not a doctor, but, er,
I was just ahead of her so I missed the
contorted in the wards. It didn’t work.
nevermind… “So, when are we doing it
impact, but from Conor’s shrieks, it must
After more than year of talking about it,
again?” she asked.
have been a classic off. There she stood,
we finally set a date to get her on a bike
The second ride
ankle-deep in it, shaking mud off her hands,
on a Friday afternoon towards the end of
We arranged to hook up again the following
and forcing a grin. Much to her chagrin, Dino
January at Groenkloof Nature Reserve,
weekend at the same venue. I’d bring my
managed to whip out the Nikon and snapped
Pretoria.
sons Conor and Breandan. Throw ‘em in
off a few frames of her. She was unhurt.
“You won’t take me on hard stuff that
at the deep end, right? Whereas the last
Okay maybe she suffered a slightly bruised
I’ll fall on?” she asked. “No, of course,
time we stuck to the wide stuff, this time,
ego, but over drinks in the parking lot later,
not,” I replied, fingers nixed.
without warning, I led Claudia in to the first
Claudia admitted that she was hooked after
Claudia owns a mountain bike, which
section of singletrack off the tar road. The
just two rides.
she’d used to ride on the road when she
protruding rocks on the short uphills can
“I knew I would be. I love the outdoors,
stayed on a farm near Warmbaths almost
interrupt the unwary rider’s flow, but apart
the bush, and this is a lekker new way to
10 years ago. She’d tried to describe
from a brief slipped pedal, she cleaned the
enjoy what I already love,” she said. She
it to me to see if it was suitable for her
section, even managing the steepish roll-
attributed her confidence on the trails to her
maiden off-road foray. She could tell me
down back to the tar. Damn, why wouldn’t
gym work. “I have a strong core, and that
the colour, that it had those “gear thingies,
she falter?
helped me feel balanced on the bike. The suspension made for a comfortable ride.”
but no springy thingy at the front, and has
The next bit of narrow stuff was slightly
a computer thingie, but I don’t know if
more challenging, and I was craning my
We would have made it three riding
it works”. I’d later find out that it was a
neck in the hope of seeing her struggle.
weekends in a row if I hadn’t been admitted
suspension-less Raleigh M700 shod with
No such luck, nor in the next two sections.
to Glynnwood Hospital for an emergency
slicks.
Maybe a loop of Fountains would catch her
operation on the Friday. After the relatively
She was spoiled for her first real
out? Halfway through, a puncture forced
minor procedure, I met her for coffee and a
mountain bike ride. I dug out an old
Breandan and I to return to the parking
muffin in the Wiesenhof.
Cannondale F900SX, wrenched on a pair
lot.
Claudia tutted, shook her head and said: “I really hope you get better soon…you have
of flat pedals, and met her and another
“Take her on all the rough stuff,” I
cycling buddy, Amanda Corbitt (see
whispered in Conor’s ear. He got that evil
separate story), at Groenies. We were
look in his eyes… But, half-an-hour later,
She smiled. Then frowned.
all a tad stressed that afternoon. It was
a beaming Claudia arrived back in the
“But can you please change that
Pretoria-sticky-hot, Amanda had got stuck
parking lot with a sheepish Conor in tow.
30 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
to take me riding again.”
saddle?”
Feature
32 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Feature What to expect So, having helped out some people over the years, here are some things I’ve learnt. If you’re known as a MTB nut, to your new biking buddies you are no longer just a friend… add mentor, advisor, mechanic and bicycle broker:
•
Expect lots of really silly questions involving phrases like “those stickyout thingies on the bars on so-and so’s bike”, “that jobbie I read about in the mag”, etc. You must know everything.
•
Expect to be called upon to do all sorts of pre-ride and trailside repairs, because your mates are too lazy to take their bikes to the shop to be fixed. Try get them to bring their bikes over a day or two before any planned ride.
•
You may be expected to source everything for them. Oblige, but gradually get them educated to be able to do their own sourcing.
•
Don’t rely on other riding buddies to pitch with the stuff they’ve promised to lend your newbie friend. There is nothing worse than sitting in the park for their first ride, lacking a promised loaner bike, helmet, etc.
•
Expect to have your patience tested. Try to show compassion and sympathy and understanding. Listen lots and patiently offer advice in a non-condescending tone. Remember, this may be your thousandth ride, but it is their first…
S
TARTING AGAIN There
were
three
things
motion, first fell onto her side, then slid off
still blonde, still cute and still drinks beer,
the bridge, making contact with the river
but here’s hoping neither of us needs any
sand about two metres below, first with her
further medical attention.
head, neck then shoulder.
What to ride
Amanda isn’t a mate I got into the sport;
Whether it’s their own bike, or a borrowed
she’s a mate I made while helping her
bike, the most important elements that
get back into the sport. Her introduction
need to be present for a newcomer to want
to mountain biking wasn’t the greatest.
to ride a mountain bike again, are comfort
Inspired by seeing a Cycle Mashatu group
and control.
head off during a trip to Botswana, she got
Comfort is reliant on:
kitted out at Fritz Pienaar Cycles, and rode
•
Bike size
about three rides with that shop’s group,
•
Bike set-up
before a catastrophic fail on the paved
•
Type of saddle
roads of her residential complex resulted in
•
Appropriate shorts
a broken ankle.
•
Gloves
She’d just gotten back into cycling when
Control is reliant on:
we met, and was slowly building up her
•
Good brakes
confidence when the Cycle Park incident
•
Appropriately set suspension
occurred. Although she insisted it wasn’t
•
Correctly angled brake levers and gear shifters
my fault, I felt a wee bit guilty about the crash, and fretted that I’d put paid to her
•
Good tyres with correct pressure
brief cycling career. So, imagine my surprise
•
Properly-set gears
when, weeks later, Amanda contacted me
Make time to get all of the above right for
to say the physio course to mend her upper
your buddy. He or she needs to feel as much
body and damaged ribs was going well and
a part of the bike as possible in order to get
she could get riding again. And she was
maximum enjoyment from their ride.
prepared to ride with me again. Brave girl.
Any mountain bike will do for a first
“I was determined to get back on the
ride, but usually, the simpler, the better.
bike,” says Amanda. “I was starting to enjoy
A hardtail with an efficient front shock,
it and couldn’t allow a crash to put me
sharp brakes and smooth shifting are the
off.”
minimum requirement. Try ensure it’s a
The first outing, back at the Cycle Park
mountain bike that’s available at a specialist
was, thankfully, incident-free, although
bike shop. Bikes that cost under R2000 are
Amanda had developed a phobia for bridges.
usually from a mass store and carry very
Her skills grew and her confidence was
low-specced parts that can make a ride
restored as we expanded her repertoire with
more challenging.
visits to Rietvlei and Van Gaalen (she lists
Where to ride
the singletrack there as her favourite), and
It’s no good taking your buddy on terrain
regular sorties to Groenkloof.
that’s going to intimidate him or her. Just
I
Amanda’s come a long way in a year.
because you can ride drop-offs and rocky
immediately liked about Amanda
She gets out gets out every weekend, rides
ascents, doesn’t mean they can. Start with
Corbitt when I met her. She was
with assurance and is keen to take on new
the most predictable terrain you can find,
challenges.
preferably with minimal gradient changes.
blonde, cute and drank beer. That took my mind off the pain of the three ribs I’d just broken at Groenies. The second time we met, she was the one needing medical attention…
“I’m loving it,” she says, “I look forward
Dirt roads, jeep track and some
to every weekend. I have had some good
straightforward singletrack are usually best
people help my riding, and am looking
for introducing someone to the sport.
forward to learning more and more.”
Where there are marked trails, obviously
On the ramp to the bridge on the northern
While Amanda’s raising the bar, I’m
start with the most basic (usually marked
side of the Toyota MTN Cycle Park, she
propping it up. I haven’t ridden with her
as green). Don’t be afraid to repeat trails
suddenly lost momentum despite spinning
as much as I’d have liked to so far in 2010,
and rides that they enjoyed. This will help
the cranks for all she was worth. I watched
having suffered a spate of stupid injuries
them build confidence and an affection for
– helpless and horrified – as she, in slow
from talent-challenged lie-downs. She’s
mountain biking.
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 33
Feature How to ride
a second pair, lend it to them to
Keep the pace steady enough so that the
use until they get their own.
ride flows smoothly. If they’re not that
Basic set-up
fit, let them set the pace where possible.
This is where you can fine-tune their
Be very patient with them. In more tricky
comfort and control:
sections, ride ahead and let them follow
•
Saddle height – not as high as on
you, this gives them an idea of how to tackle
a road bike, especially if you’re
certain types of terrain.
going to be riding some slightly
Stop occasionally for a short rest and to
challenging terrain. They need
allow them to stimulate all their senses:
to be able to slide back off the
sights, sounds and smells all contribute to
saddle on descents.
the pleasure of being outdoors. Don’t ride
•
Reach – this is more difficult to
for more than 60 minutes unless your buddy
change and shouldn’t be necessary
is already quite fit and wants to ride further.
if the bike is sized correctly to
You want them to finish the ride wanting
your buddy. However, a shorter
more, not being shattered and battered
or longer stem can usually make
resenting the suffering.
a small difference to their reach.
Basic gear
They need to not be too bunched
Besides the obvious helmet (make sure you
up or to stretched out. Use your
adjust it to fit your buddy’s head), the key
own reach as a guideline to what
items of beginner gear relate to the three contact points between body and bike:
•
•
•
Brake levers/gear shifters – the angle of these should make them
buddy’s grip on the handlebars
easy to reach and operate. Too
more comfortable and also protect
many bikes have the brake levers
the hands from abrasion from the
and shifters angled too high so
grips and cuts and grazes in case of
the rider’s wrists take strain. Let
a fall.
their fingers rest on the brake
Feet – most newcomers are unlikely
levers at the same angle as their
to have mountain bike shoes and
arms as a starting point and work
clipless pedals, which is actually
from there. They need to feel
just perfect. There’s a lot to think
comfortable when braking and
about on a mountain bike ride, let
shifting.
•
Tyre pressures – not too soft, not
in and out of pedals. Buy a pair of
too hard. Anything from 2-2.5
cheap flat pedals so that they can
bars should be fine. Inflate a on
have freedom to dab their feet
the harder side for heavier riders
whenever they feel they need to.
and the softer side for lighter
Backside – For women, fit a
riders.
women-specific saddle to the bike.
•
their body position should be.
•
Hands – gloves will make your
alone having to remember clipping
•
Shock setting – if the shock has
They’re slightly wider to properly
various settings, give your buddy
support the female pelvis. Make
a medium setting on rebound
sure they’re wearing a reasonably
and compression. Don’t confuse
good quality pair of cycling-specific
them by trying to explain it to
shorts with padding. Women should
them right away. Let the ride
wear women-specific shorts.
regularly and then tell him/
Eyes – they’re not a contact point
her how adjust the settings
between body and bike, but they’re
accordingly. Discourage them
your contact point with the trail and
from using lockout initially. This
should be appropriately protected
complicates the ride, especially if
from grit, insects and dust with a
they forget to unlock ahead of a
decent pair of eyewear. If you have
bumpy descent!
34 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Kitting out Claudia
Claudia’s introduction to mountain biking has so far cost less than R1000. She came to see me at Pro Cycles, the shop I moonlight in at weekends. “I’m not keen on girlie colours,” she said, turning her nose at the pink sleeveless tops. Instead she decided to try on some men’s tops. “You cycling boys are wimps,” she laughed, her right bicep straining the seams of the sleeves. “Okay, I’ll try the women’s top. But the white one, not the pink.” A fit of giggles came out of the dressing room. “Check it out, instant Wonderbra! I look like Pamela Anderson,” she said after trying on the first Velotex shirt. “Oops, too small!” The next size up was a perfect fit, and the ensemble was completed with a pair of Indola baggies, Louis Garneau gloves and BondiBlu specs. Claudia is now in the market for a bike, but for now she’s using the ‘Dale and will buy a helmet when she takes the plunge.
Feature
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 35
Feature
Race like the pros Mountain biking has to be one of the most rewarding of all sports. Put in the hours, apply discipline, eat properly and most of us are quite capable of participating in even the big events. Like the Subaru Sani2c. Like the ABSA Cape Epic. And many of us are capable of racing at the level of the big names of the sport. The Grobler brothers, Rowan and Andrew, provide a great example of how such dedication can have you racing like the pros...
36 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
By Adrian Wainwright PHOTOS: DOMINIC BARNARDT
A
Feature ndrew and Rowan Grobler are
Specialized MTB race team for which Burry
two regular guys making a name
Stander and Christoph Sauser race.
Ferreira, vet road-racing star. “Before working to a programme, I was
for themselves on South Africa’s
“Cycling was a way to stay fit, compete
just riding – as hard as I could, as often as I
marathon racing circuit. But
and make friends. I focused purely on road,
could,” says Andrew; “I also just rode, but
they’re not full time bike riders. Far from it.
and thought that would always be the case.
often without enough intensity or any real
Both have relationships and full-time jobs,
But years later, after I’d moved back to SA,
direction,” adds Rowan.
both ride early mornings and weekends as
I really needed a challenge, something to
Ferreira created a simple, clear and
that’s their only option, and both “lost fat
stretch me mentally and physically,” he
focused programme tailored to the riders’
and got fast”.
says.
lactate thresholds. Both brothers credit
What sets them apart is that through
“I got an opportunity to ride the Epic in
Ferreira with single-handedly revamping
training, patience and discipline, they’re
2008. There was a lot of doubt – from me,
their performance and giving them
knocking on the doors of the pro’s. And the
from others – around whether I could switch
much-needed direction, guidance and
good news is their transformation is not out
to mountain biking and get through a race
mentorship.
of your reach.
like that. But my competitive nature meant
The programme has them riding two weeks
‘no’ was never an option.”
on, one week off, all year round. There’s a
Andrew (28), a relationship executive for ABSA, has been riding for just three years.
Originally a power rider by his own
healthy dose of controlled distance riding,
“I remember the day clearly. I was in
admission, Rowan lined up at that Epic with
some brutal hill and sprint intervals, and a
Kleinmond, standing at the stage finish of the
84kgs perched on his Merida Team hardtail.
good amount of rest.
2007 Absa Cape Epic,” he says. Their father,
He completed the race, 72nd in the men’s
“The intervals kill you – 10-minute
Oscar, was Absa’s executive ambassador to
category; his weight and result were exactly
climbing repeats at threshold, two minute
the race at the time.
the same in the 2009 Epic. But there was the
climbing repeats at max or never-ending
potential for much, much more.
short sprints,” explains Rowan.
“Armed with a Klippies & Coke and a smoke, I watched a good mate cross the
“I’d regularly eat large portions – I think
“But it’s the recovery – man, it’s the
line. I remember the look on his face, the
I was put on this earth to eat,” he jokes.
recovery that makes the difference. You see
energy of the race, the sheer gravity of it
“I could’ve also been mistaken as being
people training hard all the time. But you
all. I realised that my student days were over
sponsored by Peroni.”
rarely see them off the bike. It’s just not
but my student eating and drinking habits
Today, after a few months dedicated to
sustainable. You have to ride hard, smart
weren’t. I knew I had to change. And I knew
smaller portions of “high quality chow”,
and focused, and rest harder, smarter and
I had to race the Epic.”
less alcohol and dedicated training, he lines
more focused.”
A week later, Andrew bought his first full
up at 75kgs. Yet he puts out more power at
The big result
suspension bike. At the time he weighed
threshold – a cool 340 watts. And he’s far
It wasn’t until the 2009 Sabie Experience
(
83kg. He ate whatever he liked, drank often,
more than just a ‘power rider’ now.
“In my first Epic, I learnt to ride for someone else. With this new training and racing schedule, I now know my own limits. And for the next Epic … well, bring it on.” – Andrew Grobler.
and smoked between 10 and 20 a day.
The hard graft
)
that the impact of this transformation came to light. The week before, they offered the usual rhetoric: “Ja, the legs feel a little heavy, we haven’t really ridden this last coupla weeks, so we’ll see how we go.” But the brothers rocked SabieX. The time trial (“Ja, not sure, TT’s are not our speciality so we’ll see”) saw them cross
Starting slowly, he rode for six months,
This transformation didn’t come from sitting
the line just three minutes behind the pro
shed 8kg and felt the gradual fat-tyre
in a slipstream, though. Following the 09
DCM Chrome team of Max Knox and Brandon
addiction many of us know so well.
Epic and some top 10 results in one-day
Stewart. This placed them 5th overall.
Today, he weighs 65kg in his MTN Club
marathons around Gauteng, Andrew and
Rowan says that he’s never been put in
100 (size small) shorts, taps out around 275
Rowan made the commitment to race the
the hurt box like that on the climbs before.
watts at threshold and, to quote his brother,
2010 Cape Epic as a team.
Andrew just remembers people looking at
‘climbs like a homesick angel’.
“I’d had good partners in the past but it
them like they’d taken a short cut.
By contrast, Rowan (30), a financial
was time to crank it up a level. I also really
Day two was muddy, cold and miserable.
solutions specialist at Wesbank, has over 12
wanted to deepen my relationship with
It also kicked off with a 35km, +1000m
years of riding in his legs.
Andrew – and what better for that than a
climb. They rode the first 20kms with the
top 50 goal at the Epic and a year of training
front bunch and then watched team tactics
towards it?” says Rowan.
and attacks unravel the top ten teams. They
On a work stint in the UK, he knew two triathletes who got him hooked on cycling; one of whom, Barry Behan, now manages the
The brothers hooked up with coach Jaco
rode within themselves, at or just above
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 37
Feature
The training programme The brothers ride two weeks on, one week off. Here’s an example of a typical hard training rotation leading up to the 2010 ABSA Cape Epic: Monday
Rest
Rest
Rest
Tuesday
Road group ride + hills
Road group ride + hard hills
Rest
Wednesday
LSD/rest
LSD
Recreational ride
Thursday
Road group ride + sprints
Road group ride + hard sprints
Rec ride
Friday
Club 100 Surf & Turf
Club 100 Surf & Turf
Rest
Saturday
Long MTB
Long MTB
Rec ride
Sunday
Long MTB
Long MTB
Rest
38 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Feature threshold, for the rest of the stage.
of 350 teams, just over an hour behind the
“We knew that the Labuschagne brothers [David and Johan, the legendary Cycle Lab
pro pairing of Knox and Stewart, and 20-odd positions ahead of their goal.
pairing] were only a couple of minutes behind
“We’d peaked for Sabie, no doubt,” says
us. We also knew that we were in good shape
Rowan. “We had no idea we could race like
when we crested the mountain and flew
that, none at all,” adds Andrew, sporting
down the other side in 4th place. I just said
what seems more a ‘WTF?’ expression than
(
to Rowan, ‘enjoy it, boy, this doesn’t happen
one of accomplishment or pride.
“My first two Epics created bonds that last a lifetime. They also created boundaries. This work has shown me just how those boundaries can be broken. It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had on a bike.” – Rowan Grobler. The future
often’,” says Andrew.
)
Day three saw them lose time thanks to
After some recovery and a period of long,
Rowan’s need to experience the Sabie forests
slow distance in January, the brothers set
face down, but they still finished 9th on the
their sights on the 2010 Absa Cape Epic. All
stage and maintained 5th overall.
were are on Africa’s toughest stage race
“It was more of a tactical race – we’d considered attacking 4th place but decided
down in the Western Cape. But neither would be drawn on their goals for it.
to rather defend our position, hold time, race
“It’s something between the two of us,
smart. Until that moment, every race we’d
something we’re working towards as a team,
ever done was about banging it as hard as
something that’s deeply personal and about so
we could and seeing where we ended up,”
much more than the finishing position,” says
says Rowan.
Rowan, four weeks ahead of the Epic start.
For day four the strategy was hardly
Andrew nods, eats his breakfast and stares out the window.
complex: klap it. And klap it they did. “We’d woken up pretty negative that
“On my first Epic I learnt to ride for
day – the crash, the pain in the legs, the
someone else – my partner. During my training
perceived pressure of doing better than we’d
this year I learnt where my limits lie, and how
ever done,” says Andrew. “But that paled
they can be over-stepped. During Sabie X, I
away on the first climb, and we just let our
learnt what pain and pride really mean. Who
bikes have it.”
knows what this Epic will teach me… but
The Club 100 Brothers finished 6th out
whatever is, bring it on.”
The numbers
Rowan
Andrew
Age
30
28
Weight
75kg 65kg
Height
1.76m
1.75m
BMI
??
??
Lactate threshold
165bpm
155bpm
Power at threshold
340W
275W
Watts/kg
4.53
4.23
Max power
>1000W
890W
Making it work for you What can be learnt from the Grobler brothers’ journey? You need the will to succeed and the drive to change, that’s for sure. Riding five or six days a week is no mean feat, but for many of us, it’s possible for a defined period of time. The change in eating and drinking habits is also key – as Einstein said, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Eat kak, drink kak, ride kak. Simple. For training, get your threshold and power tests done, work with a coach to design even a basic programme, follow that programme to the letter and become a pro at resting. We’ll say it again. Rest. Rest. Rest. You can’t be the guy on the front of Joburg’s legendary Engen-to-Engen ‘Classic’ from Tuesday to Friday and the long club MTB rides, weekend in weekend out. You will burn out, blow out and just plain lose it. Strive for balance. We don’t get paid for this – “I’m a banker who loves to ride bikes,” says Andrew – so we shouldn’t treat it like a job. Make time for your family – “I am the luckiest guy alive to have Chantelle, the world’s most understanding wife,” says Rowan. Claire, Andrew’s girlfriend, also gets a big up for accommodating what he acknowledges is “a big sacrifice for a big goal”. Lastly, keep the enjoyment factor number one on your list of priorities. With that in mind, the brothers leave the interview with a final thought, something I’ve heard them say before but which still bears sharing. “We work because we have to. We ride because we love to. If we’re not loving our riding, we’re doing something wrong. But right now, we’ve never loved it more.”
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 39
Consumer
You don’t need a great bike for a great ride There’s a good parallel between cyclists and golfers. We tend to believe that any amount of money spent on trying to get better equipment is perfectly justified. Last year’s stuff is just that; it’s so, you know, last year. We’re constantly compelled to shell out ridiculous sums of money for the latest kit, hoping it will give us the edge. But it doesn’t have to be like that. By Donovan Jackson
40 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
O
Consumer
ut on a training camp in
young daughter’s entry-level Silverback
Sabie, along with the Toyota
was on hand to save the day. A quick swap
So, how was the ride? Fantastic. The rig
CycleLab crew, the unthinkable
of the plastic platform pedals for a set of
probably weighed a good 15kg, but I was
happened. My frame broke
XTRs, an equally rapid raising of the seat
having as much fun as anyone else, and since
after only the second day out. My R80 000
(a ladies Specialized BG) and I was good
everyone had raced the day before, the
to go.
pace was quite agreeable. Even on gnarly
machine was in pieces and I was likely to miss out on probably the best ride of the outing. See, Burry Stander, Ben-Melt Swanepoel, Andrew McLean, ex-rugby player (and now keen and competitive mountain biker) Jeremy Thompson, Dusilegend Martin Dreyer, celebrity Michael Mol
(
‘never’ see any more.
The question we should ask ourselves is this: Is it really necessary to ride a machine that costs close to the price of a small car?
)
Now the bike has specs that make your
singletrack sections, the old Silverback
eyes water. RST ‘boing boing’ polymer
was quite up to the task…and the seasoned
joined the camp after the MTN Barberton
shock; Tektro V-brakes, Shimano SIS gears
pros had a good chuckle at my expense…
race. And here I was with a schmangled
(with Deore XT rear derailleur!), no-name
especially at the ladies’ saddle. And the
bike.
and a host of other interesting folks had all
alloy cranks, alloy wheels with some
Toyota CycleLab support crew was yelling
Not to worry, though. Toyota marketing
serious tread and tubes with Schraeder
‘SILVERBAAACK’ every time I clattered past
director Andrew Kirby had a solution; his
valves. You know, the old, fat valves you
with a grin on my face. We were on the Sabie Classic route, so many readers will know that this is ‘real’ mountain biking; most will also appreciate that with the calibre of riders on this jaunt, even a slow ride means a fair trot. The lesson which emerged with abundant clarity, is that here I was, ‘proper’ mountain biking, with a machine that probably cost less than R5000 brand new. Second hand, as it was, the Silverback might fetch just R2500. A far cry from my usual race rig - but without question sufficient to get into the woods and have a blast. The question we should ask ourselves is this: Is it really necessary to ride a machine that costs close to the price of a small car? The answer is simple: Absolutely not. You really don’t. But, do you want to spend that much on your bike? The answer is equally simple: of course. Our hard work earns us money which we spend on our hobbies. For most of us, there won’t be that much difference between a R25k bike and a R80k bike…but spend the money and you will get the satisfaction of riding the bike you want to. There is an old saying that to get the most from your sport, buy the best bike you can afford. I fully agree. But the other side of it is that when you do get your mates into mountain biking (see feature in this issue), they don’t have to spend tens of thousands of Rands. They can get in pretty cheaply. Until the bug bites, of course. TREAD MARCH/APRIL 2010
| 41
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TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
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TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 43
Industry Focus
Who is behind: The MTN National MTB Series? Fritz Pienaar is a former multiple national Elite men’s XC champion. But these days, he’s more active behind the scenes at races, and is the Series Director of both the MTN National XC/DH Series and the MTN National Marathon Series.
piece of singletrack space. We’ve started to address this with a new seeding system.
The Sabie Classic finally became part of your series this year. Was this because of the conflicting sponsors in the past? Sabie Classic was part of the Series in the
By Sean Badenhorst
early days (around 2002), but there have always been some conflicting sponsors and
You co-own three bike shops in Gauteng; how did you become involved in the country’s largest, most prestigious racing series?
events, and basically act as link between
we were unable to put it in the Series in
sponsors, riders, Cycling SA and the event
recent years. I am ecstatic to have the event
organisers and make sure that everyone’s
back in this year; the fact that it doubled as
expectations are met. Advendurance also
the National Marathon Championships is a
It actually started while I was racing
assists organisers by doing marketing,
further bonus.
competitively in 2001. We (my business
branding, route inspection, sponsorship
partners and I) wanted to start the first
support and media work. Our aim is to give
professional MTB team in SA. I was SA champ
riders the opportunity to participate in
Which of the MTN Series events does Advendurance actually own?
at that stage and there were no sponsorship
world-class events and we continually strive
Advendurance owns (organises) the MTN
opportunities, so we approached some
to improve the standard of local races.
Clarens and MTN Cullinan events. We felt
than teams so we proposed the national series
Obviously the marathon events are the most popular; are they still growing in numbers, or leveling off?
to them and they accepted and we started
It seems like all South Africans are suckers for
also owns a number of Gauteng-based events,
the Mazda (Drifter) National Series in 2002.
punishment and the growth in the Marathon
which are currently sponsored by Nissan and
Mazda was so impressed with the running of
series is unbelievable. There was growth of
form the Gauteng provincial series.
the series that they asked us to start a team
31% in the MTN Cup Series (XCO and DHI)
too. So we ended up running the National
from 2008 to 2009 and 35% in the Marathon
Series, a professional racing team and a
(XCM) Series for the same period – and this
How do you determine which events will be part of the marathon series each year?
bike shop (now grown to three). My partner
during the recession! So far 2010 has showed
We contact events that we feel qualify for
(Theo Grobler) was running the series, while
even bigger growth and I predict a further
the Series on various levels and will then
I managed the shop and the team. But Theo
50% growth from 2009 to 2010.
discuss the possibilities. But event organisers
sponsors and ended up at Mazda which was keen to get involved in mountain biking. Mazda preferred to sponsor events rather
emigrated in 2008 at which point I took over the running of the Series.
What is your role personally with the MTN racing series? And what does that involve?
Wow! That’s significant. Can the events handle that much expansion?
the need for Gauteng- and Free State-based events in the National Series and thus decided to create these events to ensure that we have good national representation. Advendurance
can also contact us and tender to become part of the Series.
I am the National Series Director and run
Many of the routes cannot cater for
You added the Ultra-marathon section to the marathon events in 2009. How has this addition changed the racing?
a company called Advendurance, which
larger numbers of riders – safety risks and
The MTN Ultra Marathons were the most
coordinates the National MTB series. We
bottlenecks can arise if these events are
exciting addition to the 2009 Series and were
put together a the National MTB series
not well administered. Mountain biking is an
well received by the top riders. The Series
which comprises some of some the best MTB
environmentally friendly sport, but routes
now offers the professionals opportunities to
events in SA. We also procure and manage
are becoming wider and vegetation is lost
compete in world-class marathon events on a
the sponsorship (MTN and MiWay) for these
when thousands of riders are gunning for a
regular basis and this has certainly lifted the
44 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Well, the increased number of entrants has certainly created logistical challenges.
Industry Focus standard of local racing, which was evident in Kevin Evans’s top-10 performance at the 2009 World Champs.
Why so few MTN Series events in the Western Cape this year? With only seven marathon events and 11 provinces, it is impossible to have events in all provinces every year, but we are currently looking for a good event in the Western Cape, which we might add to the series in 2011.
Does it detract from the prestige of the marathon race in any way? In a way, yes, but it also offers more opportunities to amateur and age-category riders to compete (without the Elite riders) for recognition.
Do you see XC racing growing at all in the near future? XC and DH racing is growing (31% in the last year) and it’s got potential to grow more, but it will never be as big a marathon racing due to the technical nature of the courses and the limitation to the amount of riders that the routes can accommodate. These disciplines are spectator-friendly and I would like to see them being run in conjunction with some marathon events where big numbers of riders are present and able to see what it’s about. It might also be a good idea to bring some XCO and DHI events to the major cities on man-made courses in an effort to attract spectators.
Does the DH Series have to follow the XC Series? Not necessarily, but it costs more to split them so it’s the best option for the time being.
PHOTO: ZOON CRONJE
We see you’re back racing again in the Sub-vet category. Do you have any racing goals or are you just racing because you can?
Any major changes we can expect in future?
I got involved in the sport because I’m
At the marathon events, seeded batch starts
passionate about it but ended up working
and hopefully UCI points on offer to attract
too hard and I didn’t make time to ride. I
international riders. Possibly having XC and DH
decided to make some changes to my life
races on the same weekend as the marathons
I wouldn’t like to see this discipline moving
and I’m riding again (I’ve lost 7kg so far),
to get more spectators.
away from Gauteng. Despite the limited
but I don’t have any ambitious goals yet,
venues, the Gauteng-based riders are
and my family and businesses will always
How do you go about improving the two series each year?
keen to develop some good courses in the
take priority. However, I miss competitive
We always try to lift the standard of the
Magaliesberg area and we’ll hopefully have
racing tremendously and might change my
National Series and aim to offer riders a great
good Gauteng-based courses in the near
mind.
MTB experience and awesome value. We are
future. We had the first leg of the 2010 MTN
currently working on better registration systems
Cup in that area and I was impressed with
How big is your organising team for the two MTN racing series?
the course.
I have a great team of six people who run
areas with bikini girls, better routes etc.
You have to admit the Gauteng DH courses aren’t the most spectacular and most of the country’s DH racers live in KZN and the Western Cape. Do you see the XC and DH series splitting for some rounds in future?
the events company (Advendurance), but we obviously get more help on event days.
(shorter queues), better water points, bike wash
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 45
Industry Leader
Ray Earl By Sean Badenhorst
When you list the really good okes in the South African cycling industry, one of the names that always gets mentioned is Ray Earl. He is a co-owner of Interac, importers and distributors of Continental tyres and tubes.
Q Q
How long have you been involved in the industry? A long time – almost 25 years now. I became involved in the
cycling industry in 1986. You don’t come from a cycling background, so how did that come about?
We were importing motorcycle tyres, parts and accessories. We
third overall. They put Mountain Kings on the front and Race Kings on the rear, a combination that’s now extremely popular. Of course the
Q
product has to be good too. And it is. Is the South African terrain that different to other countries?
Oh yes! Continental Europe has been doing tests here for the past
imported Continental motorcycle rubber, but in the mid-1980s their
few years and they reckon that not only is our terrain among the
pricing became ridiculous so we told them we can’t import their tyres
harshest in the world, but our UV rays are extremely damaging and
anymore. They asked if we’d be interested in doing their bicycle
this also impacts on tyre wear. The tyre failure rate in South Africa is
kicked us out. He said that now that cycling was becoming popular,
Q
Q
we were just jumping on the bandwagon. But he later became one of
they have a lot to learn about tyre weights. Most mountain bikers
our best customers. We’ve become an integral player in the industry
are on this weight-saving mission, which is actually crazy because at
Q
the moment, the lighter tyres are the tyres with the highest failure
inventory instead. It made business sense, so we accepted. How did the cycling market react? Well, we took them to Alan van Heerden at his shop and he
over the years. Do you import any other cycling brands? No, which is good and bad. Good in that we’ve been able
to really focus on doing the tyre and tube market properly, but bad
the highest in the world and that’s road bikes and mountain bikes. Do South African mountain bikers still have a lot to learn about tyre pressures?
No, I think they’re up to date in that regard. However, I believe
rates. My advice is to run tubeless tyres with tubeless rims. Converted tubeless setups mean the tyres have very little sidewall support which is the main reason for tyre failure.
in that we call on a whole dealer network for one product. We do
Here’s an interesting bit of information: When Christoph Sauser and
also still import and distribute aftermarket motorcycle parts and
Roel Paulissen raced the 2005 Cape Epic together for the Cannondale
Q
Vredestein team, I got to see one of Sauser’s tyres afterwards. It was
accessories. How has mountain biking’s growth over the past five years
a tubeless and it weighed 900g! They opted for durability over light
affected your business?
Q
It’s the best thing that could have happened! I’d say four or five
years ago, less than 1% of South African bicycles were fitted with
Q
Continental tyres. Now we estimate that figure to be around 25%.
weight. That’s still a good choice. That’s heavy! But surely the weight of UST tyres is going to come down?
For sure. Continental is working on a UST tyre that will weigh
All because of mountain biking becoming popular in South
under 500g. But it’s not easy, because you don’t want to compromise
Africa?
Q
Yes, and races like the Cape Epic and Sani2C stimulating a more
discerning tyre-buying mindset among consumers. The Mountain King
tyre resilience and performance for light weight. And the 29-er market, what’s your take on that? It’s certainly growing. I reckon the first tyre manufacturer
and Race King are very popular Continental models for the Cape Epic.
that can bring out a decent UST 29-inch tyre will have huge success.
This we believe is partly due to the fact that Kevin Evans and David
At the moment, the weight compromise is the biggest obstacle. But
George used them in 2008 when they won two stages and finished
I’m sure we’ll see progress in this category soon.
46 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
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Gear
CHOICES, CHOICES‌ Our test team tell it like it is when it comes to locally available bikes and gear. *Gear prices supplied: RRP
PHOTO:DINO LLOYD TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 49
Tested
MERIDA ONE-TWENTY TFS 800-D | R18500 Better known as a World Cup XC-race winning
neither of which we’ve encountered
steady and smooth on ascents. We did find the
brand, Merida is also making inroads into
before.
need to lockout the front and rear shocks for
the five-inch travel trail bike market. We
It’s a striking bike in terms of looks,
spent some time putting its sub-R20K model
but wasn’t that striking in the weight
long smooth climbs, but on rocky, rutted rises,
through its paces.
department when we gave it the old two-
THE BIKE
handed lift test.
steep for a trail bike, but we actually found no
The bright red and white frame is very
THE RIDE
disadvantage. In fact we took it down steep
eye-catching and closer inspection reveals
We only weigh test bikes after they’ve been
drops with relative ease and good stability.
that the toptube and downtube have been
test ridden to eliminate any prejudicial
The rear shock worked well for a brand we’ve
squared and tapered to add strength, but
feedback from our testers. And we are
not ridden before. Not surprisingly, the braking
keep weight down where possible. The cables
occasionally surprised by bikes that ride
was excellent, no doubt as a result of the large
have been neatly routed along the top of the
lighter than they weigh. At 14.0kg, the One-
185mm diameter rotors at front and rear.
downtube and along the chainstays and the
Twenty TFS 800-D is firmly in that category.
Cornering was very sure and predictable, even
four-bar linkage suspension design allows for
It accelerated reasonably quickly for a trail
on tight, twisty singletrack.
a bottle cage placement in the main frame.
bike and although not a snappy climber, was
The Manitou Minute fork went through its
left both active for optimal traction. The seat tube angle (73.5 degrees) is quite
The Fusion X RC 120mm travel rear shock
bump absorption duties fine, but lacked the
(with lockout lever) joins the main frame
smoothness we’ve come to expect from Rock
to the four-bar rear triangle. The white TFS
Shox and Fox models that are so much more
rims, rocker link and Avid Elixir S hydraulic
common. It’s not featherweight either and
brake levers and disc mounts are nice colour-
undoubtedly bumped up the overall weight of
coding touches.
the bike.
A mixture of Shimano Deore XT and
THE VERDICT
SLX components have been used for the
If you’re a newcomer to mountain biking and
drivetrain and shifting, while a Manitou
set on spending your cash on a dual suspension
Minute fork with 120mm travel and lockout
machine, the One Twenty TFS 800-D is a solid
takes care of front suspension.
option. Also consider some of it’s slightly more
There’s no compromise on braking
pricey stablemates should you want a better
power with both hydraulic disc rotors being
fork. It’s comfortable enough for long trail rides
185mm in diameter, while the bars, stem and
and will confidently get you through a marathon
seatpost are from the FSA stable.
or half-marathon race, making it a versatile
The TFS rims are mated to Xero hubs,
50 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
performer at a budget-friendly price.
Tested
PHOTO: DINO LLOYD
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 51
Tested
TREK TOP FUEL 9 | R34999 Trek hasn’t been a podium threat on the XC
accessories you’d expect on a Trek, but
somewhat. Although, to be fair, this is a
World Cup circuit for a while, but with five
sported FSA bars, stem and crankset and
race bike and big hits aren’t that common
stage podium finishes – two of those wins –
a WTB saddle and tyres. The wheels were
in race environments. Comfort wasn’t
and second overall at the 2009 Absa Cape
DT Swiss X430 rims with Shimano XT hubs.
bad, but long rides took their toll on the
Epic, the Trek Top Fuel is undoubtedly still
Gears were Shimano Deore XT shifters and
lower back of one tester not conditioned
a racing thoroughbred.
derailleurs and brakes were Avid Elixir R
to riding in ‘race crouch’ for extended
THE BIKE
hydraulic disc units. The fork was a Fox
periods.
Lithe is probably the best single word to
RL with 100mm travel and lockout: all
Braking was solid and shifting was
describe the Top Fuel 9, which is designed
decent components that hold their own at
crisp, while the WTB tyres impressed
with aggressive racing angles and which
this price point.
with their management of some quite
comes in bold black, white and red
THE RIDE
varied conditions.
colouring. Made from Trek’s Alpha Red
Our testers were immediately forced into
THE VERDICT
Aluminium, the frame sports a steeply
a low racing position when mounting the
The Top Fuel 9 is an aluminium version
sloping toptube with a small support tube
Top Fuel 9, the long (600mm) toptube no
of the higher-graded carbon fibre models
extending to just below the seat clamp
doubt added some stretch to the 73.5
(9.8 and 9.9 SSL), making it somewhat
on the seat tube. The downtube is curved
degree seatpost angle. But it wasn’t
at the headtube and bottom bracket
uncomfortable. If anything, it made our
and sports two bottle mounting position
testers want to ride fast.
options within the frame (one higher and
Climbing was quick, especially with the
one lower on the downtube) which is quite
ProPedal switched on. On long, smooth
a nice touch. The cables are very neatly
climbs we locked out the fork for added
routed underneath the toptube, keeping
efficiency, but generally left it active
them far from grit and grime.
most of the time and found it combined
Trek’s very compact Full Floater rear
well with the rear shock to make for very
suspension design sees a small rear triangle
smooth riding which made the bike feel
with asymmetric chainstays connected to
efficient and fast.
the main frame by a magnesium EVO link
Cornering was also swift. The
heavier, a fair bit cheaper, but no less
plate and Fox RL shock with 100mm travel
70-degree headtube angle seems to offer
of a serious race machine. Ideal for
and ProPedal switch option.
greater control in fast corners. Descending
XC, marathons and stage races, the Top
Ours was an early demo model so
was fine over bumpy terrain, but big-hits
Fuel 9 offers big-brand confidence and
didn’t have the usual Bontrager parts and
seemed to challenge the rear suspension
podium-proven race pedigree.
52 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Tested
PHOTO: DINO LLOYD
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 53
Tested
Ellsworth Epiphany | R24495 (frame and Fox RP23 shock only) Ellsworth makes no apology for selling pricey
Pro 2 hubs breaks the all-black monotony,
(there’s an impressive video demonstration of
bikes. The brand, which designs and makes
while a Thomson seatpost and stem and
this on the Ellsworth website).
its frames in the United States, is confident
Easton Monkeylite SL low-riser bars form
The Epiphany is a swift climber, more swift
that it offers possibly the most efficient dual
a quality cockpit. Shimano XTR crankset,
than most 4-inch-travel bikes we’ve tested
suspension design and that kind of confidence
Avid Juicy Ultimate hydraulic disc brakes
and sometimes felt like a XC machine rather
sells at a premium. The new design of the
and SRAM X-O gears complete the set-up.
an all-day trailblazer.
Epiphany will start hitting our shores later
THE RIDE
this year, but we figured we’d test it’s highly-
Any perception of heaviness you get
rolls well over rocks and ruts. We loved that
rated current design to see if it’s as good as
when looking at the Epiphany is quickly
we could adjust the fork travel and did,
it’s claimed to be.
dispelled when you start pedalling. There’s
giving it the maximum 150mm for big hits and
THE BIKE
a noticeably efficient transfer of energy
tightening it up to 120mm for long climbs and
There’s a no-nonsense look about the
from the pedals into the acceleration. It’s
tight singletrack. The short stem and riser-bar
Epiphany. There’s not a hint of glamour in
actually noticeable every time you ride
gave us confidence on technical steep drops,
the frame, which is tapered black anodised
the Epiphany, which is very reassuring,
but didn’t feel too freeride-like elsewhere.
6061 aluminium tubing, none of it too unique
especially when you’re in race mode - or
One tester caught himself getting excited
in shape, just pretty straightforward looking
just racing to beat a thunderstorm.
about his next ride on the Epiphany, not once,
It is very steady on tricky descents and
with a small gusset adding some strength
We switched to ProPedal on long, steady
but daily. Not a common phenomenon for guys
where the top tube and seat tube meet. It’s
climbs and noticed only a small difference
that get to ride so many bikes, but certainly
mated to a four-bar linkage rear triangle,
to the fully active setting. Ellsworth is so
one worth noting.
which is more square than triangle in shape
confident in the efficiency of its design
THE VERDICT
due to the long rocker link, which is attached
that it recommends speccing the bike with
Besides a bit of creaking of the linkages
to a 5.25-inch (125mm) Fox RP2 shock with
a Fox Float R (fully active) shock – an option
(solved with some cleaning and lubrication),
ProPedal.
through the SA importers if you’re a purist
we actually couldn’t find fault with the
trail rider.
Epiphany. Whatever challenge we put to it,
Ellsworths are usually sold only as a frameset, so parts spec is usually personal.
When looking down while climbing, you
was conquered; whether it was racing fast
The test model we were sent has a Rock
see the cables moving and some movement in
around a tight XC lap or rolling along on a
Shox Revelation U-Turn fork with adjustable
the rear shock, but strangely, you don’t feel
steady trail ride. It’s easily one of the most
travel from 120mm to 150mm, which, when
robbed of any efficiency. This is apparently
versatile bikes we’ve ridden and certainly
you adjust it, noticeably alters the top tube’s
due to the ICT design, which is has been
one of the most efficient in terms of rear
angle to the ground.
developed around minimising potential
suspension – not a bike you’re likely to top
energy loss through the suspension system
very easily.
A set of white Stan’s ZTR rims and Hope
54 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Tested
PHOTO: DINO LLOYD TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 55
Tested
Whyte E120 | R38 200 Whyte is a British bicycle company that
The dominant colour of the frame is
carbon linkage. On very steep climbs,
designs and tests all its models in the UK.
raw black carbon with a gloss coating and
where we needed the small chainring,
The brand only creates high performance
white and silver detail. With the mechanics
there was some noticeable shock
mountain bikes so there’s that MTB-only
of the rear suspension dominating the front
movement which switching to ProPedal
focus that’s translates into the design of the
triangle, the only place for a bottle cage is
seemed to minimise. The ProPedal lever
bikes which can be seen and felt from the
beneath the downtube.
is a bit obscured by the linkage, so takes
first impression, right down to the detail.
The E120 is reassuringly fitted with a full
THE BIKE
Shimano XT groupset, including wheels and
There’s something awkward looking about
bottom bracket.
some getting used to and we had the frustration of the occasional fumble. The rear swingarm is designed to offer
the Whyte E120. Its beautifully crafted full
There’s a Fox 120RL fork with 120mm
plenty of mud clearance, but riders with
carbon fibre frame is mated to a similarly
of travel and a 15mm thru-axle to manage
large calves will find their lower limbs
crafted single-pivot swingarm, joined by
front-end suspension, while Avid Elixir
occasionally brushing the swingarm.
carbon suspension links, titanium bolts and
hydraulic brakes take care of the braking.
On twisty singletrack, the E120 was
a Fox RP2 shock with 5 inches (120mm) of
We found it a bit strange that a 5-inch trail
swift and sure, but we felt a bit of rear-
travel. They all meet in a somewhat bulky
bike didn’t have a larger rotor up front, but
end wandering from time to time on
union in the front triangle at the mid-to-
had two matching 160mm rotors.
high-speed turns.
bottom of the downtube. This, combined
No matter how long you look at it for
The relaxed head tube (69.6 degrees)
with the rear swingarm being more seatstay
– and you do catch yourself staring – the
combined with the moderate seat angle
than chainstay in design, makes for an
E120’s frame remains, well, interesting.
(71.6 degrees) give you confidence on
ungainly look.
THE RIDE
downhills, especially fast rocky descents.
The swingarm boasts Whyte’s unique
But you only have to point the E120 up a
There’s also noticeably good bottom
Big Gripper rear wheel clamp system,
climb to quickly forget about how the
bracket clearance. We did find the cockpit
which allows any rear wheel or hub to be
frame looks and experience how responsive
a bit on the compact side so check sizing
converted to a thru-axle, which Whyte
it feels. It reminded our testers of the Ibis
carefully before you buy.
claims makes for improved handling and
Mojo in terms of its climbing agility and
THE VERDICT
rear wheel tracking. Also unique to Whyte
acceleration. Push down on the pedals and
If me-too brands aren’t your thing and a
is the Getta Grip quick release seatclamp,
feel the bike move swiftly – very responsive
light trail bike is on your radar, consider
which minimises grime in the seattube,
and efficient on steady climbs, both with
the E-120. It’s got standout character,
while its low clamping pressure allows it
and without the ProPedal activated. This is
climbs better than most four-inch travel
to grip carbon seatposts firmly, but not
probably a result of a combination of the
XC/marathon bikes and has a plush,
forcefully.
relatively light weight – 10.8kg – and burly
quality feel.
56 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Tested
PHOTO: DINO LLOYD
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
| 57
58 |
TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010 GEOMETRY SIZES: XS, S, M (tested), L TOP TUBE LENGTH: 596.2mm SEAT TUBE LENGTH: Not given HEAD TUBE ANGLE: 69.6 degrees SEAT TUBE ANGLE: 71.6 degrees CHAINSTAY LENGTH: 420mm WHEELBASE: 1083.8mm SPECS PRICE: R38200 COLOURS: Raw black carbon gloss finish with white/silver detail WEIGHT: 10.8kg (without pedals) FRAME: Multi monocoque carbon front triangle, single monocoque rear swingarm with carbon linkages, titanium pivot bolts and Fox Float RP2 120mm-travel shock with ProPedal. FORK: Fox F120RL 120mm travel with 15mm thruaxle GEARS: Shimano XT levers and front derailleur, Shimano XT Shadow carbon rear derailleur BRAKES: Avid Elixir hydraulic disc with 160mm rotors front and rear CRANKSET: Shimano XT with carbon middle ring 44/32/22 WHEELS: Shimano XT rims and hubs, with 15mm thru-axle front TYRES: Continental Mountain King 2.2-inch front and rear COCKPIT: Thomson In-line seatpost, Fizik Gobi saddle, Easton EA50 90mm stem, Easton Monkeylite XC Low Rise bars CONTACT: www.intltrade.co.za; 087 7203951 X C - M A R AT H O N - T R A I L - F R E E R I D E
WEIGHT: 12.3kg (without pedals) FRAME: Alpha Red Aluminium with Fox Float RP-2 race-tuned shock with 100mm travel and ProPedal FORK: Fox RL with 100mm travel and lockout GEARS: Shimano Deore XT shifters and derailleurs BRAKES: Avid Elixir R hydraulic disc with 160mm rotors front and rear CRANKSET: FSA Afterburner 44/32/22 WHEELS: DT Swiss X430 rims, Shimano XT hubs TYRES: WTB Wolverine 2.2-inch front and rear COCKPIT: FSA bars and stem, Bontrager seatpost, WTB saddle CONTACT: www.justfunsports.co.za; 011 4053300 X C - M A R AT H O N - T R A I L - F R E E R I D E
WEIGHT: 14.0kg (without pedals)
FRAME: 6061 Techno Formed Aluminium with Fusion X RC shock with 120mm travel and lockout
FORK: Manitou Minute with 120mm travel and lockout GEARS: Shimano Deore XT
BRAKES: Avid Elixir S hydraulic disc with 185mm rotors front and rear CRANKSET: Shimano SLX 44/32/22
WHEELS: TFS rims with Xero hubs
TYRES: Merida Trail Lite 26x2.25 front and rear
COCKPIT: FSA bars, stem and seatpost, Mission X saddle
CONTACT: www2.merida-bikes.com/en_INT/ INT_en.; 021 8520509 X C - M A R AT H O N - T R A I L - F R E E R I D E
WHYTE E120
GEOMETRY SIZES: 15.5, 17.5 (tested) 18.5, 19.5, 21.5 TOP TUBE LENGTH: 600.5mm SEAT TUBE LENGTH: 437.5mm HEAD TUBE ANGLE: 70 degrees SEAT TUBE ANGLE: 73.5 degrees CHAINSTAY LENGTH: 427mm WHEELBASE: 1112mm SPECS PRICE: R34999 COLOURS: Black, white and red
TREK TOP FUEL
GEOMETRY SIZES: 16-inch, 18-inch (tested), 20-inch, 22-inch TOP TUBE LENGTH: 590mm SEAT TUBE LENGTH: 359mm HEAD TUBE ANGLE: 69 degrees SEAT TUBE ANGLE: 73.5 degrees CHAINSTAY LENGTH: 435mm WHEELBASE: 1100mm SPECS PRICE: R18500 COLOURS: Red and white
MERIDA ONE-TWENTY TFS 800-D
X C - M A R AT H O N - T R A I L - F R E E R I D E
TYRES: Schwalbe Smart Sam 2.1inch rear and Kenda Nevegal 2.1-inch front COCKPIT: Thomson straight seatpost, Specialized Phenom SL saddle, Thomson X4 stem, Easton Monkeylite SL bars CONTACT: www.ellsworthbikes.com; 012 3620080
WHEELS: Stan’s ZTR 355 rims, Hope Pro 2 hubs
BRAKES: Avid Juicy Ultimate hydraulic disc with 185mm rotor (front) and 160mm rotor (rear) CRANKSET: Shimano XTR 44/32/22
FORK: Rock Shox Revelation U-Turn with adjustable travel from 120mm–150mm GEARS: SRAM X.0 shifters and rear derailleur
GEOMETRY SIZES: S, M (tested), L, XL TOP TUBE LENGTH: 587.5mm SEAT TUBE LENGTH: 425mm HEAD TUBE ANGLE: 70 degrees SEAT TUBE ANGLE: 73.5 degrees CHAINSTAY LENGTH: 422.5mm WHEELBASE: 1097.5mm SPECS PRICE: R24495 (frame and Fox RP23 shock only) COLOURS: Black anodised, Nebula Blue anodized, Project Pink, Smoke anodised WEIGHT: 12.2kg (with pedals). Can be specced to sub-11kg FRAME: Tapered 6061 aluminium with Fox Float RP2 shock with 5.25-inches of travel and ProPedal.
ELLSWORTH EPIPHANY
Tested
Gear GARMIN EDGE 705 Review by Greg Beadle
Forget wired bike computers, in fact forget wireless bike computers. Garmin has the answer. Not being one to fiddle and adjust and check alignment on things, I loved the Garmin Edge 705 from the time I opened the box. Two cable ties to secure mounting bracket to handle bars and we are ready to go. (Ed’s note: Garmin brackets are a major source of complaints. Take extra precautions to secure your unit!) The Edge 705 locates satellites super quick and within seconds its time to hit the trails. First screen shows speed, ave. speed, cadence (bits in box to fit to bike for this to work). heart rate (comes with belt) calories, ride time and actual clock time. You can customise the fields as you like. One press of the mode button and we have a detailed map, including all district roads, contours and even locations of water, should you need to re-fuel. So many impressive functions, including a back to start navigator should you get lost (impossible with this genius co-driver on-board). Next push of the mode button shows you your altitude and graph of climbs, including accumulated ascent and descent. With it’s ANT function you can share ridden trails with your Edge(y) mates. All data downloads to PC or Mac in a useful graph system, allowing you to monitor your performance, comparing the various factors, climb, heart rate, speed, etc. This unit is compact (5.1 x 10.9 x 2.5 cm) and lightweight (104.9 g) and runs on re-chargeable batteries. That brings me to my only gripe. You need to charge the Edge 705 after every ride (3 hours) otherwise like I have experienced, you head out into the wilderness with a sleeping navigator. I like it and will be purchasing one very soon! Price: R4,995.00 www.garmin.co.za TREAD MARCH/APRIL 2010
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Gear PRO Target Summer Gloves
PHOTO: DINO LLOYD
White Lightning Crystal Clear Grease Grease, monkey! DIY-types, draw nearer. White Lightning, renowned for the stuff you slather on your chain, has produced a pot of lube likely to last into antiquity. Its Crystal clear grease is designed to molly the coddles of bearings for longer by being waterproof. It smells nice (important for a grease) and is apparently tasteless (please don’t eat any). It is aluminium-based, bio-degradable and won’t damage seals, carbon fibre or paint finishes. It comes in a 454 gram pot; we used it on headset and bottom bracket bearings on two bikes and were suitably impressed. However, 6 months later, there is a dent in the goop just one finger-scoop in size. That means this item is likely to last at least 10 years in a two-bike household, which pretty much makes it a once-off purchase. Price: R235.00 (454 grams, 16 ounces) Contact: Cool Heat, www.coolheat. co.za 011 608 2003.
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PHOTO: DINO LLOYD
PRO is Shimano’s range of accessories which have taken the market by storm. Almost certainly because the range offers great quality at a reasonable price. In the Target summer gloves, we have a good, honest, no-nonsense item. Almost industrial in look; you’re not going to impress chicks when out on the trail with these babies, but then, that’s not why you’re out there. The construction is durable, the fit snug, and with gel strategically placed under the pads of the palm, the PRO Targets deliver day-long comfort. The generous (and notably thicker than any other glove we’ve looked at) terry snot/sweatwiper is a standout feature; for some, this is a deciding factor in choosing a glove, so get a look at these wellpriced puppies. Available in black or blue, in sizes XS-XL. Price: R 240.00 Contact: Cool Heat, www.coolheat.co.za 011 608 2003.
Gear
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Gear NO FLATS PHOTO: DINO LLOYD
No Flats is No Nonsense gunk for your tyres. It’s a water-based concoction and unlike the silicon rubber sealants, it won’t turn into a bouncing ball inside your tyre when you klap it with a bomb out in the field. More than that, the manufacturers reckon a dose of this muti should last the lifetime of the tyre. All we know is, pumped into one of our test rigs, the result was....no flats. Price: R150 Contact: www.noflats.co.za; 0861 468228 (INTACT)
FIZIK Gobi XM Carbon Rail Saddle Oh sit down, oh sit down…in comfort. Cause there shouldn’t be any other way. Many mountain bikers have discovered the joy of a Gobi saddle. While the right seat for you is a very personal and idiosyncratic thing, TREAD has no hesitation in recommending this one. Why? Because this tester has ridden a Gobi through two Epics and plenty more. However, the best advice where seats are concerned is to find one that you really like and then buy two of them. Just in case the first breaks, as manufacturers can and do take products off the market which could leave your sensitive bits incensed. Or worse, inflamed. What you’re looking at here is the Gobi XM with braided carbon rails. It’s definitely not cheap, but for a properly comfortable seating arrangement (ultra-lights are not for everyone’s ‘area’) it tilts the scales at a claimed 229 grams. Not bad. Not bad at all. Do remember, however, that carbon may be lighter, but it has different characteristics to metal. KIUM, the alloy that FIZIK uses for its ‘midrange’ saddles, will bend. While it is strong, carbon shatters. That makes the KIUM-railed version the preferred choice for TREAD. Any FIZIK saddle also has a clever little clip integrated into the back. Come winter, snap a FIZIK light into there, or there is a range of saddle bags that can clip on. Nifty. Price: R2250 (R1450 for KIUM-railed version) Weight: 229 grams Contact: Nsquared Distribution, www.nsquared.co.za, 011 462 4616
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Gear Giro Ionos Helmet Remarkable what we cyclists consider to be cool. Take the Giro Ionos helmet, one of the finest specimens on the market. To an ordinary member of the public, it looks more at home on the set of Star Trek and may rightly be considered ludicrous in form (if not function). To a mountain biker, it’s one of the ultimates in headgear. Comfortable, excellent aeration and the promise of good protection. Which, we hapily report, we did not put to the test. Price: R2500.00 Contact: www.omnico.co.za
ESI Silicone Grips Available in chunky or slim (a bit like chocolate bars in this respect) ESI’s grips are so lekker that we couldn’t wait to colour-code our bikes with them. For those using Grip Shift, one grip is good enough for both sides if cut in half...and if you like a fairly compact cockpit. The soft, rubbery grip is great for comfort, too. Available in a range of colours to suit the finish on your machine. Price: R199.00 Contact: www.balisticbiketrading.co.za
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Gear Sigma BC1009 Cycle Computer What immediately caught the collective TREAD eye with the Sigma BC1009 STS cycle computer was the ‘Tool Free’ logo on the box. We like that, we do, the ability to put cool stuff on our bikes without having to use the cutlery or to start a search for the screwdriver set. We also liked the ‘Digital Wireless’ logo. We are, after all, that far into the new millennium that we don’t even think of it as ‘new’ any more. Things should not have wires in this fabulously advanced day and age. Just like it said, we were able to get the gadget fixed up and installed without reaching for the toolbox. In an age of Garmins and Polars, iPods and Nokia N79 Actives and other high-tech new fangled electronica, using a good old fashioned bike computer came as a refreshing breath of air. No complications, no hassles, just a small screen displaying the essentials – speed, average speed, distance (trip and odo), time, elapsed time, max speed – and no batteries to charge. Price: R495.00 Contact: Omnico, www.omnico.co.za 011 794 3808
MagicLight To appreciate how bright the MagicLight is, you really have to see it for yourself. At night, preferably (obviously!), but even in the harsh light of day, this thing is impressive. Imported and distributed by Brad Jackson, the box in which it arrives has a ‘personalised’ manual which he has written himself to help you get the most from your light. We liked that. But the light itself. Wow. It quickly became one of our most essential accessories. While we’re the first to admit that there’s no fun in the impending winter months, you should not be without one of these. More than that, night racing/trail riding is increasingly popular. You will see where you’re going with this light. The headlamp fits snugly and quickly to the handlebars with an O-ring, or there is a complex looking helmet-mount bracket in the box. We stuck with the handlebar mount. The lithium-ion battery back slots nicely under your stem and keeps that LED burning for just over 3 hours on its ‘high’ setting, 4.5 on the ‘dim’ (if ever a word was inaccurate, it is ‘dim’ when referring to the MagicLight) and indefinite on the ‘flashing’ setting. Charging the battery takes a good few hours, though, so make sure you either have a spare always available, or remember to charge it up before you hit the night time trails. We took to using it by day, too, on flashing mode. Even when a kilometre away, people in cars would stop before making right turns. A big thumbs up for the MagicLight from motorists! Price: R1400.00 (spare battery R600) Contact: www.magiclight.co.za Cell: 082 651 9182
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Gear GEAX Saguaro Tube of Tyres We loved the packaging from GEAX on its tube of tubeless tyres with sealant. Grab a pair of Saguaros along with the necessary goop all packed away in something that would be quite at home under the Christmas tree (what time of the year is it again – Ed). The Saguaros are a medium/hard compound tyre so will last for a good long time. That’s something we’ve put to the test, running a Saguaro on a front wheel for over a year, only chucking it out the first time it punctured…by which time it was totally knackered anyway. That harder compound means grip is sacrificed for longevity; it’s not the stickiest of tyres and it’s also not great in mud. However, it rolls beautifully in dry and rocky conditions, making it the choice of tyre for the races we love: the Cape Pioneer Trek and the Absa Cape Epic. These are available in the ‘whitewall’ style too. But remember, that style says something about you and we’re not quite sure what. They’re not the lightest tyre at 650 grams apiece, but that weight means the resilience you want to avoid mucking about fixing flats. Price: R1100.00 (includes two tyres and sealant) Contact: Nsquared Distribution, www.nsquared.co.za, 011 462 4616
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Training
Training in style
T
his innocuous little group contains some of South Africa’s finest MTB talent, young and old. It’s the final day of the Toyota CycleLab Cape Epic training camp held recently in the picturesque Mpumalanga town of Sabie. In bunch are Burry Stander, Andrew McLean, Ben Melt Swanepoel and several other riders. While the weather
was atrocious, the cycling wasn’t, delivering up a good 3 to 5 hours of riding each day, complete with CycleLab hospitality. Those on the journey got plenty of Epic preparation, right down to what to pack, how to eat and what to expect for the 8 glorious days of the country’s biggest MTB stage race.
PHOTO : DOMINIC BARNARDT
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Masterclass
Better brakes = better rider The better your brakes, the better you ride. Seriously. Speed moderation is an integral part of being able to ride faster and with greater control. You only have to ride with hydraulic disc brakes once to realise just how much better they are than V-brakes – especially in the wet. Here’s a guide to help you make the conversion. By Donovan Jackson
T
wo key factors need to be considered when making the conversion: 1. Your frame has to have disc caliper mounting brackets (there are two types of disc caliper mounts: Post- and IS-mount). You’ll see these as ‘eyelets’ on the left side of the fork and rear dropout.
2. You’ll need specific hubs that accept a disc, which could mean having to change hubs or even wheels. You can convert your bike – or that of a friend new to the sport – for under R3000. That’s what it cost us, using Alexrims’ TD24 wheelset and a Tektro Auriga Pro brakeset. Considering that this includes the wheelset, the brake levers, the calipers and hoses, and the discs, which bolt to the wheels, that’s not bad. But that’s if you do the job yourself. We went to mountain bike specialists, Mike’s Bikes in Greenside, Johannesburg to do the conversion.
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Masterclass
What you need In addition to the wheels and brakeset, we have: • A Shimano Deore LX cassette, ideal for a set of training wheels • Stan’s Tubeless Conversion Kit and GEAX AKA 26x2.0 TNT tyres. • Other than a multitool, nothing fancy is required, except for a T-25 Torx driver for fitting the discs to the wheels (some multitools have this tool anyway)
Fit the discs to the wheels. A simple task, but an important one. Make sure the screws have Loctite on them (they are supplied as such) and tighten to around 30-40Nm – that’s ‘firm’ if you don’t have a torque wrench. Disregard what Christoph Sauser does (he uses three to save weight) and use all six bolts.
Each brake is supplied with a hydraulic hose connecting the lever and the caliper. This can require some ‘finesse’ in routing the cable, as it Remove the grips and bar ends, brake levers and V-brakes from the bike
has the unwieldy caliper attached to it. Be careful not to pull the brake
as well as the old wheelset. Note the 5mm Allen key and the carbon
lever as this will force the brake pads together, making it difficult to
frame: Even relatively new bikes are candidates for a conversion.
slot the disc into the caliper when you fit the wheel.
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Masterclass
WIN
WIN a Volcan FS1 bike plus Volcan’s pro-team backing for a year, including spares, team mechanic and race support all worth R100 000.
Use the 5mm Allen key to fit the levers to the handlebar; check to ensure you fit the front and rear brakes respectively, to the correct sides. Stick with the configuration you’re used to.
Creative? Obsessive? Discerning? We don’t care where your motivation comes from. All we want are your photos showing your devotion to mountain biking. You don’t have to own a Volcan to enter, you just need to think like a mountain biker with soul.
This is my Volcan
To find out more, visit www.treadmag.co.za
Route the caliper to the mounting, choosing a sensible line for the cable where it won’t rub or get in the way of anything else, and tighten the caliper to the mount. Use cable-ties to secure the hose.
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Masterclass
This is arguably the trickiest bit; fit the wheels. If the caliper won’t admit the disc, press the pads apart gently with a broad, flat screwdriver. Force will damage the brake pads. With the wheel in place, loosen the caliper mounting bolts and pull the brake lever; then tighten the mounting bolts. This should centre the brake pads so they don’t rub. With some mountings (IS-mount) you may need to shim up the mounting bolts until there is no rub. Here we see the mechanic tightening down the caliper; again, here you want to make sure of two things: Loctite and decent tightening, of some 60-80 Nm (very firm). We also see that he was working at 10h19, a time when many might be on a tea break.
The gear we used for our conversion: Alexrims TD-24 Disc wheelset: R895.00 Tektro Auriga Pro brakeset: R1995.00 Stan’s Tubeless Conversion Kit: R550.00 (not essential) Shimano Deore LX Cassette: R550.00 (not essential) GEAX AKA TNT tyres x2: R1100.00 (not essential) Labour: Should you opt for a specialist like Mike’s Bikes to do the full
You’re good to go! Your bike now boasts technology that has revolutionised
conversion (recommended, but not absolutely necessary), expect to
mountain biking. And all that for less than R3000. If you haven’t used
pay around R200.00 including the fitting of tubeless conversion, tyres
disc brakes before, you’re in for a treat; particularly in the wet, they far
and cassette.
outperform V-brakes. Now get out there and ride - better!
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My Fitness
PHOTO: CLAIRE FURBANK
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My Fitness
Faster Master!
There are many cool things about bicycles. One of them is that they’re a great antiaging tool. Yep, they allow older people to beat younger people and feel good about themselves. Take for example Paul Furbank. He’s 55 years old, but he rides like a 25-year-old and he has the race results to prove it. Scan through the finishing times of most of the major road or mountain bike races over the past few years and you’ll see Paul’s name usually within the first 25% of the field. He’s also a very regular podium visitor as he seldom finishes outside the top three in his age group. Most often though, he’s first. Here’s how he ticks. By Sean Badenhorst
H
ow long ago did you start
What is your occupation?
a marathon mountain bike race I’ll have a
racing bicycles?
I have a company that imports and
recovery drink.
distributes medical products.
What keeps you motivated?
Do you have a wife and children? Do any
I enjoy the challenge of setting a goal and
ago, but what got me to be a more serious
of them ride?
trying to achieve it. If I could, I’d train on
racer was going to watch the Tour de France
I am married to Claire and we have three
a mountain bike and do mostly road racing.
in 2003. Because the trip involved a lot of
kids, two sons (19 and 21) and a daughter
I like the difficulty and the environment of
riding in big mountains, I had to train for it.
(24). My oldest son enjoys cycling but he’s
mountain biking and I like that road races
As a result I trained right into winter. Then
a student now and therefore he currently
aren’t necessarily won by the strongest
of course I got even fitter while in France
has lots of other interests, none of them
on the day – they’re more cerebral and
and started to get some decent race results
cycling-related. Claire does some road
tactical.
in road races.
cycling. She did her 10th Argus last year.
What is your best achievement as a
And when did you begin racing mountain
On average, how much time do you get to
mountain biker?
bikes?
ride in a week?
I’d say winning the African Champs XC title
When I was about 50. A clubmate of mine,
It varies throughout the year, but I’d say on
last year. But the field wasn’t that big so
Johan Spies, invited me with him to do a
average, I ride 10 hours a week.
I’m keen to win the SA title where the field
XC race in Pietermaritzburg and I carried
What does an average week look like in
usually has more depth. I like to peak for SA
on from there. That year I finished tie
your peak racing season?
championship events because that’s where
first with Kim Philips on points in the 50-55
I do one or two long rides and some
the toughest competition usually emerges,
category in the National XC Cup Series.
threshold or power intervals. It’s usually
making any win even more rewarding.
You also do marathon racing, which do
five rides a week, mostly in the mornings.
You’re doing your first ABSA Cape Epic
you prefer?
Do you train scientifically or by feel?
soon (interview done in mid-March 2010 –
Definitely XC! It’s a lot more fun and the
When I started getting serious about
Ed), for a guy that’s not big on marathons,
suffering is over quickly. I only really do
racing, I was coached by Dr Carol Austin,
that’s quite a thing?
one or two marathons a year because
who coaches scientifically using power
[Laughs] Oh yes! I’m not sure if it will be a
it takes me about a week to feel better
measurement. I still use those principles,
good experience or a bad one. Either way, I
afterwards.
but now I train more by feel. Usually comes
decided to try it at least once. I’ll be riding
You’ve got a few national titles, which
down to what I feel I can do, although as I
with Chris Brand and we’ll be masters in
ones exactly?
get older, it’s dictated more by what I feel
the veteran category, so we’ve not got any
Well I’m really missing one now. I have won
I can’t do!
expectations. We just want to finish it and
national titles in the road race, time trial
Do you use any nutrition supplements?
enjoy it as best we can.
and marathon. Last year I won the African
Nothing special. I am fortunate to be
Who is your biggest supporter?
XC title, but my goal is to win the South
able to follow a very balanced diet. I
My wife, Claire. Her support is wonderful
African XC title. I’ll be aiming for that in
use a decent quality carb drink when I’m
and unrelenting and very much a part of my
July this year.
racing and after a very hard road race or
being able to achieve my personal goals.
I got serious in my late 40s.
I did ‘The Argus’ about 11 years
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My Bike
Nico Pfitzenmeier’s Rocky Mountain Team Element
I
f you’ve seen a lanky, grey haired bloke right near the front of some serious races (mostly in the Western Cape), chances are it’s Nico Pfitzenmeier. The German has pretty much made South Africa his home and bike racing is something he is not only passionate about, but bloody good at to boot. Interestingly, despite his achievements and skills, he leaves the nuts and bolts of his trusty steed to those who know more about it…
By: Donovan Jackson
So, Nico, tell us about your bike.
Yes, my riding position is definitely crouched
It’s a Rocky Mountain Team Element. I got it
down. For my height, I always ride a smaller
directly from Rocky Mountain in Canada, for
frame with a longer seat post.
last year’s Absa Cape Epic, which I rode with
Any clever things you take with when
Alison Sydor. (Ed’s note: Alison and Nico won
racing?
the highly competitive mixed category and
I just pack a plug kit on my lower top tube
placed 25th overall).
and a bottle of sealing foam, which I attach
What do you dig about it?
to my seat tube. Occasionally, I might also
Being a dual suspension, the Team Element
pack a small tubby bag under my seat, which
is very agile in technical terrain. The back
contains a spare tube, a multitool and some
shock works very well to soak up the terrain,
bombs.
so there is no speed limit on the downhills!
(This is the interesting bit!) Finishing
More than that, this bike seems to be
that frame off: What’s your choice of
indestructible.
accessories and forks?
What made this the weapon of choice?
Actually I’m not a bike tuner at all. I just
Well, to be honest, it was a sponsorship; I
like to ride fast on any bike!
got the bike directly from Rocky Mountain in
OK, wow! What about wheels and tyres,
Canada for last year’s Epic.
any specific choices where these are
So, what bike did it replace then?
concerned?
Prior to getting this full suspension, I had
That’s an easy one; there is only one tyre
always ridden a hard tail. The year before, I
for me: Maxxis Crossmark. There is no
was on a Scott Scale 10 for two years.
compromise where this is concerned. For
You’re a pretty tall bloke: What size frame
me, these are the best tyres available, with
do you ride?
amazing side traction that allow me to drift
I have always preferred smaller frames;
around corners with both front and back
this gets me around the singletracks at full
wheels (Ed: powerslides – scary for most!).
speed. That makes my frame a medium.
So far, Crossmarks have taken me through
And does that affect your riding position?
three Cape Epics with only one slow flat…
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My Bike PHOTO: GREG BEADLE
By: Donovan Jackson
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My Challenge
Who are you calling tubby? By: Sean Badenhorst
Cricketing legend, Jonty Rhodes is a South African sporting icon. A legend in his own lifetime. His younger, more rotund brother Clinton, is a legend in his own lunchtime. Jonty got his obese brother onto a mountain bike a few months ago and, while it continues, the transformation so far has been remarkable. What made you decide to start mountain
and the fact that my only exercise was
with whom you wouldn’t hesitate to go to
biking?
from couch to fridge and back during TV
war. I hope that I am privileged enough to
My fitness freak of a brother, Jonty, forced
commercials was a major contributing
compete in this great adventure for many
me. He was invited by Subaru Southern
factor to my obesity.
years to come.
Africa to take part in the Subaru Sani2c
What is your weight-loss goal?
What is the best thing about mountain
mountain bike stage race and he wanted
To be like a hunting dog in winter – just
biking?
me to partner him in the event. He thought
ribs! Probably around 95kgs.
The Lycra… NOT! Probably the scenic areas
that he would show me some tough love and
Has mountain biking changed your life?
that you get to ride in. It’s far better than
get me off the couch with a major culture
If so, how?
the view from my couch.
shock. It sure did work.
Of course it’s changed my life. I had never
And what is the worst thing?
had a rash on my butt until now!
Did I mention the rashes?
Why mountain biking? Well, imagine me on a road bike – those little tyres would have burst for sure and besides I can’t fit in a canoe and there is not enough space in an emergency lane for me to waddle along in road running events. You’re tubby guy, what do you weigh?
(
Tubby! Who’s your tubby? I am 126kg of quivering prime South African beef. If I were a Zulu I would be regarded as the wealthiest man in the kraal.
)
Tubby! Who’s your tubby? I am 126kg of
What bike do you ride?
Do you train alone or with friends?
quivering prime South African beef. If
A very, very big one with all the bells and
Never alone! I have a group of about 10
I were a Zulu I would be regarded as the
whistles that can possibly be installed on a
friends with whom I have sweated and
wealthiest man in the kraal. Tubby! Come
bike. Apparently these extras make you go
cursed with over the past six months.
on, stop discriminating!
faster but they don’t seem to be working
I could not have done it without them.
What did you weigh before?
on mine so I’m gonna ask for a refund.
Actually, I probably could have, but then
Ten pounds – when I was born that is. No,
You and Jonty recently finished the
that would have been rather lonely.
my heaviest was 149,6kg before I started
Subaru Sani2c. Well done! What did you
What kind of training do you do?
riding my bike a few months ago.
think of the event?
I try and ride the bike at least three times a
How did you pick up so much weight?
Thanks. It is difficult to describe, but
week combined with at least two spinning
I wish I could say it was my underactive
people who have finished it will understand
sessions and then two gym sessions of 30
thyroid, or even my poor gene pool. But
what I am saying. It is so emotionally and
minutes each with a personal trainer called
sadly, I have only myself to blame, as I
physically tough that I wanted to cry at
Burger van der Merwe. Just gotta love that
gorged myself on all the yummy things such
the halfway mark every day but then
name, he reminds me of my favourite
as pies, KFC, hotdogs, hamburgers, chips,
I felt as strong as Russia when I came
food!
ice cream, bunny chows, fizzy cooldrinks,
within 10km of nearing each day’s finish.
You’ve got quite a fan base on your
and any other type of sweet that tasted
The organisers and the participants are
Facebook page. Has that helped with
good but was bad for the gut. Oh yes
a wonderful group of riding enthusiasts
your motivation?
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My Challenge No. They are very demanding and even
PHOTO: Caroline McClelland
got grumpy when I didn’t lose enough weight. I think they are there just to see the pictures of when I fall off my bike. All jokes… No, the people ‘fans’ on this page have been wonderfully supportive and yes it has definitely motivated me to get out there and train a bit harder than I normally would. Some of the comments have been really comical and I have enjoyed being part of the banter. I think that we will continue to utilise the site in the future with any other events we are planning to take part in. What advice would you offer others that are very overweight? You are what you eat, so stop complaining. Eat in moderation and do some exercise you fat bastards. It’s called tough love! How old are you? I am 38 but I am stuck in a 68-year-old body at the moment. Hopefully the fitter I get the more the numbers will align themselves correctly. Where do you live? In a little garden hut in Durban North. It’s awesome as I never have to mow the lawn or clean the pool but I get to use both. My thatch roof also smells like the bushveld and my DSTV is my special live in friend. Oh yes, and did I mention that the gate is electric? I live in bachelor’s heaven. What is your profession? I am confused with this question… obviously I’m a professional cyclist? Come on Lance, I’m still waiting for your call from Radioshack. You can ask my assistant Dianne, what my profession is, although she is biased and reckons I do FA! Are you married/do you have children? I am not married, but do have a wonderful ‘weekend’ girlfriend in Pietermaritzburg who is far too good for me. As for the children, I have not been informed of any little ‘Fat Boy Slims’ running around out there, and if there are any, then, “sorry I have neglected you little ones but come home to daddy!” Anything else you want to mention? Yes, if you EVER come behind me on a single track and try to pass, do it at your own peril. I will KLAP you. Fat boys rule! TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
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MTN Sabie Classic Monster By Adéle Drake PHOTO: ZOON CRONJE
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ear perfect weather - overcast but not raining - welcomed riders from across the country to the 12th running of the Sabie Classic marathon race in the picturesque Mpumulanga town. With MTN as new sponsor on board, the race served as national marathon champs for 2010 and all the ‘who’s who’ of cycling pitched to make their mark. By the close of an exciting edition of the race, Kevin Evans and Yolande Speedy (MTN Energade) confirmed their status as South Africa’s top marathon racers. A record 2669 entries were received for the 5 distances offered; a 110km ultra marathon, 75km marathon, 40km half marathon, 15km fun ride and a 2km for young aspiring cyclists. Highway to hell
Race with Soul
New Hope Race X2 superlight XC race brake
RACE LEVER LEVER: MACHINED SUPERLIGHT ALLOY BLADE TOP CAP: ALLOY CHASSIS: 2014 T6 ALUMINIUM ALLOY ADVANTAGES: SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT, MAXIMUM CONTROL, RACE PROVEN DESIGN
The route director, Dennis ‘the menace’ Lawrie, had pain and suffering in mind when he sent innocent riders up a relentless 13km ‘puke-yourlungs-out’ climb straight from the start. The monster climb consisted of a wide open road with a gradient of 1:14. Commissaire Richard Durrant’s face at the top of the climb (there to identify the King and Queen of the mountain), was a sight for sore eyes and jellied legs. The other side of the mountain At the summit, riders were greeted by a welcoming cool breeze blowing from the In De Diepte valley. A swooping, well maintained singletrack
X2 CALIPER MOUNT: 9.74 CALIPER WITH ALL MOUNT OPTIONS CONNECTOR: WIDE ANGLE HOSE CONNECTOR MOUNT CHASSIS: 2014 T6 ALUMINIUM ALLOY ADVANTAGES: SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT, TOP ENTRY PAD fITTING, RACE ROVEN DESIGN
lead riders to the first water point at the Stables hiking hut, which has an awesome view of rolling grasslands to the North. A series of exhilarating singletracks kept the child inside entertained: from swoopy Bruce’s, to steep rocky technical stuff, to ‘now-would-be-a-good-timeto-bail’ and ‘Yee-hah! Let’s do that again!’ singletracks. Man, it was superb riding. A technical break-neck rutted descent down to Christmas Pools and a short steep jeep track climb out again, took riders to the main gravel road towards the second water point. The long walk (ride) to freedom At the 40km mark the second of three climbs awaited: four kilometres long, slippery and rutted in places. A short fast descent was a welcome breather before the last climb aptly known as ‘ugly-words-climb’. The downhill home consisted of a ‘no-inhibitions’ ten kilometre technical section followed by five fast and furious kilometres on the Bell road. About halfway down the hill, the half-marathon route joined up with that of the marathon and it became a game of dodgem cars… er, bikes. Two new single tracks ensured that any energy left in the tank was tapped before finishing off in the Lovers-lane single track running along the meandering Sabie River. The Lowveld Chain Gang put together another kick-ass event with excellent organisational skill combining with great camaraderie and a
Weight: from 272g (complete with all fixings, fluid and bits you need to make it work!)
touch of torture. All this ensures that this race will continue to grow in stature in the mountain biking Mecca of Mpumalanga. Evans’ win ahead of Specialized’s Burry Stander sees him assume the title of National Ultra Marathon Champion while his teammate Speedy took the Ladies Marathon ahead of Karien van Jaarsveld.
| 81 Imported and distributed nationally by International Trade: 011-486-0060 TREAD MARCH/APRIL 2010
Race with Soul
Sani2C: the stage race for everyone By: Adrian Wainwright
When we get caught up in our daily grind, it’s easy to forget what a remarkable, striking, breathtakingly-beautiful country we live in. It’s also easy to forget just how brilliantly-suited it is to our chosen sport. But if you do need a clear reminder once a year, look no further than the legendary Subaru Sani2C.
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PHOTO: Jon IViNS
T
Race with Soul he three-day race starts from the welcoming hamlet of Underberg at the foothills of the Sani pass and wends its way about 250kms
south east to the small sea-side resort of Scottburgh. The 700+ two-rider teams in the ‘adventure’ category set off on the Wednesday; those 700+ teams taking part in the ‘race’ roll out on the Thursday. What follows them is possibly the most talked-about collection of single-track of any race in the country; views that blow the mind; the odd climb to test the mettle; and hundreds of kilometres of trail that literally flow their way to the sea. The 75km first stage of this year’s race took off from Underberg at a fair lick of a pace along 20kms of farm track undulating enough to sort men from boys right up front. My partner and I followed mountain biking legends Steve Peat and Greg Minnaar into the day’s first piece of single track. We hung on for dear life, which we considered an achievement, until we realised the track was practically flat, if not a little uphill. That was the last we saw of the downhill world champions.... The rest of the day saw us heading through damp and muddy forest tracks, a few select pieces of technical single track, and then the rolling farm roads towards the finish at McKenzie Farm. Rerouted second stage The 93km second stage started out as a shocker. Thanks to the overnight rain, the organisers had chosen (wisely) to route us around the 20kms Murray’s Meander and Nick’s Pass single track that are the very signature of the race.* However, the alternate route down into the Umko Valley was a forest road made slick with an inch or so of clay mud, and made deadly by the +50km/h speeds of myriad mountain bikers. Mud everywhere, less than 5m visibility, okes to your left, right, front and back, and breakneck speeds. The sun came out not long after and encouraged riders through the Valley and up the start of the ascent on the other side. Three short, sharp climbs woke up the legs ahead of the enforced 10-minute TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
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Race with Soul stop at the 60km mark, designed primarily to reduce riders’ core body temperature given the +40 degree temperatures they were facing. Another short steep affair lay in wait for riders after the stop --- Push of a Climb (or the Positively Onerous and Extremely Sketchy climb as it became known by many, purely for the acronym). For most, this was enough to simply get up without putting a foot down, and keep it all tidy for the remaining 30kms into Jolivet Farm. On to the Indian Ocean For the 76km final dash for the sea the next day, it was about swooping speed and fun for the most part. A couple of telling climbs reminded everyone that ‘life is not all downhill’ (as the race proclaims brightly at all times) but it was all worth it for the first taste of the sea breeze and the roll down into the finish at Scottburgh. While the routes of Sani are some of the very best in the country, the drive home sparked major debate: what makes the Subaru Sani2c stand out, year after year? For a start, it’s easier to get a straight answer on Julius Malema’s tax affairs than an entry to the race - a criticism from many corners of the MTB world. Then there’s the pancakes and doughnuts at the water points. The smiles and warmth on faces of the patients and carers from the Pevensey Place adult cerebral palsy centre who break your heart at the water point on day 2 The rocking free-drinks happy hour(s) at McKenzie Farm? It’s hard to say. All we know is it’s a privilege. A privilege to ride through areas that humble the senses and remind you of exactly why you started mountain biking in the first place. A privilege to know that anyone with a fair degree of training and riding prowess can make it from start to finish, no problem. And a privilege to know you are part of something iconic, something mythic, something seriously special on the MTB calendar.
*You can still check out the trails that we missed here –http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=8xPb7aREL9E
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Race with Soul PHOTO: Jon IViNS
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lberton’s residents like to call the industrial town the Soul of the South. And on Saturday 6 February more than 230 riders from around
the country got to experience some of that soul at the first round of the 2010 MTN National XC Series. It didn’t have the mountains of Stellenbosch, or the ocean views of George, but the course, located at Rietvlei Farm, about
12km south of the City of Joburg, boasted a superb track, rated by the riders as one of the best in the country. A distance of 6.2km offered an almost textbook XC challenge for participants in various age categories as well as the country’s top professionals. Short, steep climbs, twisty forest singletrack, rocky descents and gloriously sunny skies ensured every participant was tested to their limits as they chased national series rankings points. It was also an opportunity to see who was in good form early in the year and in the Elite categories there really were no surprises. Burry Stander (Specialized Mr Price) and Yolande Speedy (MTN Energade) continued their dominance of the men and women’s divisions respectively. For Stander it was his first XC race outside the Under-23 division of which he is the 2009 World Champion. He reeled off the six laps with enviable composure and consistency to win by more than five minutes. “Even though there were no big climbs or downhills, it was still one of the most challenging courses I have ever ridden. The route was so challenging that you had to stay focused all the time. If you read one line incorrectly you paid the price,” remarked Stander afterwards. By contrast Speedy’s win was less straightforward after a pedal problem on Lap 2 forced her into chase mode. But the Beijing Olympian’s combination of speed and skill saw her quickly reclaim the lead and capture maximum points. The event proved to be the ideal start to the 2010 national XC series and while the final winners of the prestigious series were still months from being decided, the course made an impression that’s likely to see a lot more top class racing in future. For a full list of results, visit www.cyclingsa.com
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Alberton passes XC test with honour By Sean Badenhorst PHOTOS: Dino Lloyd
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Minnaar tames the Magaliesberg By Sean Badenhorst PHOTOS: Dino Lloyd
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T
he only mountain range in Gauteng
technically tricky, requiring uninterrupted
Potgieter, who accounted for second and
is the Magaliesberg. In mountain
concentration from the riders as well as
third respectively.
terms, it’s not particularly
lower shock pressure settings to what
The Magaliesberg is a minnow when
majestic, but offers steep, rocky
they’re accustomed to riding on the more
compared to the major mountain ranges
gradients on both sides and is pretty much
predictably surfaced slopes at most other
Minnaar is accustomed to racing down, but
the best place to hold a downhill race in the
race venues.
his appearance on a hot Highveld summer’s
gradient-challenged province.
The occasion marked the first appearance
day showed good loyalty to his local fans. It
The first round of the 2010 MTN National
by Greg Minnaar in a South African national
also gave him a confidence boost following
Downhill Series was held on the southern
series race since 2008. And the former world
his recent recovery from a broken collarbone
slopes of the range at Skeerpoort, near
champion and multiple World Cup winner
and surgery to remove blood clots from his
Hartebeesport Dam on Sunday, 7 February. It
didn’t disappoint his fans, claiming overall
right leg.
wasn’t a long downhill course, but that didn’t
victory, albeit by a narrow margin over
make it any less challenging.
rising star, Timothy Bentley, and current
The rocky terrain made the course
South African and African champion, Johann
Carla Freysen won the women’s event comfortably. For detailed results, visit www.cyclingsa.com TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
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Greg Minnnaar, winner of MTB DH
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Carla Freysen, DH women’s category winner
Calendar
RACE DIARY
MAY
Schedule of South African mountain bike events Place
Date
Race
Dicipline GAUTENG
Distance
Contact Person
SVJ Farm, Pretoria North
Sat 1st May
AmRic SVJ Series
XCM
30km/15km
Richard Sutton
Maropeng, Muldersdrift
Sat 1st - Sun 2nd May
XCM Stage Race
80km/50km
Rob Jackson
Krugersdorp
Wed 5th May
Cradle Lifestyle & Adventure Festival Moonlight Series
XCO Night Race
One hour (1.6km lap)
Lynne Venter
Krugersdorp
Wed 19th May
Moonlight Series
XCO Night Race
One hour (1.6km lap)
Lynne Venter
Base 3, Midrand Babas Lodge, Pretoria
Sat 22nd May Sun 23rd May
Dylan Victor Cup #1 Babas Lodge #5
XCM XCM
60km/30km 65km/35km
Sharlene André de Beer
Shiloh Shalom, Parys
Sat 1st May
XCM
Bloemfontein Parys
Sat 1st May Sat 1st - Sun 2nd May
XCM XCM 24-hou
60km/30km/10km/5km Belinda Basson (10km lap) Night Race Hennie Verster ±7km lap Ride Magazine
Petrusburg Kroonstad
Sat 8th May Sat 29th May
Parys Island Dirtmax MTB Series #4 Noordstad Ride 24-hour Southern Skies MTB team relay Human Auto MTB Saley’s Winter Challenge
XCM XCM
60km/30km/10km
Gateway, Umhlanga
Sat 1st May
Tour Durban MTB Classic
XCM
50km/25km/10km
Margie Gallagher
Bonamanzi Dam, Paulpietersburg Cascades, Pietermaritzburg Karkloof Country Club, Karkloof Karkloof Country Club, Karkloof
Sat 1st May
Safire Dumbe MTB Challenge Momentum Health XC Series #4 Mr Price Karkloof Festival
XCM
60km/20km/10km
Renier Steffen
Sun 2nd May Fri 7th - Sun 9th May Sat 8th May
Underberg Showground, Sat 15th - Sun 16th May Underberg Alpine Heath, Drakensberg Sun 16th May Monzi Golf Club Bee Hive, Greytown
Sun 16th May Sat 22nd - Sun 23rd May
Cascades, Pietermaritzburg Mtunzini Country Club
Sun 30th May
Sat 29th May
Momentum Health XC Series #5 & KZN Championship Drak MYB Xperience Royal Drakensberg Challenge Monzi Hippo Classic Big 5 Greytown MTB Festival / Super Classic #4 Greg Minnaar Mongoose DH Series Mtunzini Super Classic #5
FREE STATE
KWAZULU-NATAL
Hendrik Strydom Jan Olivier
XCO
Maverick Cycles
XCM, XCO, XCM Night Race 20km/75km/35km
Stu Berry
XCO
Stu Berry
Contact 082-901 8703 www.amric.co.za 082-550 1628 www.leveragecorporation.co.za 079-878 5379 www.goldfieldscyclingclub.co.za 079-878 5379 www.goldfieldscyclingclub.co.za 083-327 2499 082-490 5061 083-595 8439 083-702 1932 011-888 8288 www.ride.co.za 073-289 5111 082-358 6885 www.nfscycling.co.za 082-714 2471 www.tourdurban.co.za 082-776 4227 www.safireinsurance.com 031-765 6222 083-456 8435 www.karkloofclassic.co.za 083-456 8435 www.karkloofclassic.co.za
XCM Stage Race
40km/60km
Bruce Hansen
083-777 8420
XCM
45km/25km/10km
Jowetts Cycles Events
XCM XCM Stage Race
50km/25km/10km 60km/42km/30km/25km
Shaun Nalson Martin Platt Brian Dinkelman
083-659 8605 www.jowettscycles.co.za 083-456 1405 082-823 2032 www.greytownmtb.co.za 084-693 1502
40km/20km
Cobus de Vos
072-344 3643
6km lap
EPMBA/Fattracks
70km/40km & 50km
Neels Ferreira
083-760 8968 www.fattracks.co.za 083-400 7193 www.queenstown.co.za 073-197 5161 www.hillbillies.co.za 083-327 2499 www.advendurance.com 071-140 5549 www.amatolamtb.co.za 041 484 7860 www.kentonXtreme.co.za 083-327 2499 www.advendurance.com
DHI XCM
EASTERN CAPE
Thornhill, Port Elizabeth
Sun 2nd May
EP Cross Country & Fun
XCM
Longhill Game Park, Queenstown Saasveld, George
Sat 8th - Sun 9th May
Twizza Double Trouble
XCM Stage Race
Sun 9th May
SCMBA XC
XCO
Rob Lotter
Saasveld, George
Sat 15th May
MTN SA Cup XCO #3
XCO
Advendurance
Joy Valley, East London
Sat 15th May
Club Race #4
XCO
Amatola MTB Club
Kenton-on-Sea
Sun 16th May
SPAR Kenton Xtreme
XCM
Saasveld, George
Sun 16th May
MTN SA Cup DHI #3
DHI
Greyton
Sat 1st - Sun 2nd May
Dirtopia MTB Festival
Various
Calitzdorp Spa, Calitzdorp Sat 1st - Sun 2nd May Durbanville Sun 2nd May
Klein Karoo Classic Fair Cape MTB
MTB XCM
40km/20km
Elmarie V/D Walt Tricia Holtzhausen
Grabouw Montagu
Sat 8th May Sat 8th May
Tru-Cape MTB Montagu Mountain Mania
XCM XCM
40km/20km/10km 80km/40km/15km
Carel Brand Mitzi Knipe
Worcester Buffelsdrift Game Lodge, Oudtshoorn Montagu
Sun 9th May Sat 22nd May
Nando’s Willow Creek XCM Buffelsdrift MTB Challenge XCM
60km/30km/10km 70km/50km/20km
Francois Esterhuizen Ecobound
Sat 22nd May
Amarider 100 Miler
XCM
160km
Dirtopia
Hex River Valley
Sat 29th May
XCM
55km/35km/15km
Nienke Jordaan
Avalon Springs Hotel, Montagu
Sat 29th May
Hex Valley Autumn Splendour Red Stone MTB
60km/40km/21km
Dryland
082-379 1177 www.dryland.co.za 082-467 3079 www.forest2falls.net 083-654 1367 www.dullstoommtb.co.za 082-774 5821 082-429 0679 www.indunaadventures.com
MacMac Forest Retreat, Graskop Dullstroom Nature Reserve, Dullstroom Sabie Inunda Adventures, Hazyview
60km
Zports Advendurance
WESTERN CAPE
XCM
MPUMALANGA
Dirtopia
Sat 1st May
Komatiland Forest2Falls
XCM
70km/35km/15km
Chris van der Burgh
Sat 15th - Sun 16th May
Dullstroom Winter Challenge Sabie Shenanigan The Big Induna Hazyview MTB Classic
XCM
56km/40km/25km/10km
Greg Horn
XCM Stage Race XCM
Brett Coates 120km/75km/45km/10km Jaco Lubbe
Sat 22nd May Sat 29th May
ATKV Resort Buffelspoort
Sat 29th May
Bela-Bela, Mabalingwe Nature Reserve
Sat 15th May Mabalingwe XCM Lion Man
NORTH WEST PROVINCE
Pronutro Magalies Monster XCM
LIMPOPO
80km/35km
75km/45km/20km
Stillwater Sport Entertainment Jo-Line
021-884 4752 www.dirtopia.co.za 083-508 9646 083-280 8328 ijhugo@mweb.co.za 072-648 7356 084-54907700 www.makadasadventures.co.za francois@maniccycles.co.za 083-508 9642 www.ecobound.co.za 021-884 4752 www.dirtopia.co.za 084-206 4388
& 082-578 3297 www.stillwatersports.com & www.proedieberg.co.za 014-736 9000
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www.mabalingwe.co.za
Calendar
JUNE Place
Date
Race
Dicipline GAUTENG
Distance
Contact Person
Contact
SVJ Farm, Pretoria North
Sat 5th June
AmRic SVJ Series
XCM
30km/15km
Richard Sutton
Tyger Valley College, Pretoria Krugersdorp
Sat 5th June
NISSAN #1 Silver Stream
XCM
60km/30km/10km/2km
Advendurance
082-901 8703 www.amric.co.za 083-327 2499 www.advendurance.com 079-878 5379 www.goldfieldscyclingclub.co.za 082-490 5061 083-327 2499 www.advendurance.com 079-878 5379 www.goldfieldscyclingclub.co.za 083-452 6191
Wed 9th June
Moonlight Series
XCO Night Race
One hour (1.6km lap)
Lynne Venter
Babas Lodge, Pretoria Walkerville
Wed 16th June Sat 19th June
Babas Lodge # 6 NISSAN #2 Southern Storm
XCM XCM
65km/35km 60km/30km/10km/2km
André de Beer Advendurance
Krugersdorp
Wed 23rd June
Moonlight Series
XCO Night Race
One hour (106km lap)
Lynne Venter
Hartebeespoort
Sun 27th June
Dylan Victor Cup # 2
XCM
58km/30km
Sharlene
65km/34km/22km
Jacques Robbertze
00-268-643 0393 www.imvelo.co.sz 083-327 2499 www.advendurance.com 083-327 2499 www.advendurance.com
SWAZILAND Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary, Sat 5th June Ezulwini
Nedbank Classic
Imvelo
MTB XCM
Mankele, Nelspruit
Sat 12th June
MTN SA Cup XCO # 4
XCO
Advendurance
Mankele, Nelspruit
Sun 13th June
MTN SA Cup DHI # 4
DHI
Advendurance
Dirt Diggers, East London
Sat 12th June
Club Race # 5
XCO
Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve, East London Kirkwood
Sun 27th June Sun 27th June
Jikileza Wet Marathon Kagouga
Kimberley Kimberley
Sun 6th June Sat 26th June
Big Five (4) DWCC Mini Stage
XCM Road/MTB
Wolwe Rivier Dam, Sedgefield Robertson
Sun 6th June
SCMBA XC
XCO
MPUMALANGA
EASTERN CAPE &
Wild XCM
50km/25km
XCM
60km/45km/25km
Amatola MTB Club 071-140 5549 www.amatolamtb.co.za Amatola MTB Club/Marlene 071-140 5549 Stals Fattracks 082-901 8864 www.fattracks.co.za
NORTHERN CAPE 80km/40km/20km
Wimpie Geyer George Joseph
082-899 8970 072-398 0270
Eugene Roux
072-464 1439 www.hillbillies.co.za 082-558 0101 barryk@vinimark.co.za 021-884 4752 www.dirtopia.co.za 083-566 5783 info@targetevents.co.za 073-197 5161 www.hillbillies.co.za 084-279 1065
WESTERN CAPE Sun 5th June
Robertson Winery MTB
XCM
42km/29km/12km
Barry Kok
Delvera Farm, Stellenbosch Greyton
Wed 16th June
9-5 Team Relay
XCM
7km lap
Dirtopia
Sun 19th June
Greyton MTB
XCM
42km/26km/10km
Angie Wilson
George
Sat 19th June
Cheese Festival SCMBA
XCM
Oudtshoorn
Sat 26th June
Methodist Church
XCM
Rob Lotter 60km/35km/20km
Essie Esterhuyse
40km/20km/10km
Johan van Dijkhorst
LIMPOPO Info Centre, Louis Trichardt
Sun 6th June
Kremetart MTB Challenge
XCM
Shiloh Shalom, Parys
Sat 5th June
Country Club, Smithfield
Sat 12th June
Parys Island Dirtmax MTB XCM Series # 5 BibberChill MTB Classic XCM
60km/30km/10km/5km Belinda Basson (10km lap) 75km/35km/15km Gus Uys
Bloemfontein Sunny Hill, Bloemfontein Kroonstad
Wed 16th June Wed 16th June Sat 26th June
Van Riebeeck Race Sunny Hill Kroon Wedren
XCM XCM XCM
70km/35km
Bishopstowe – Durban
Sat 5th - Sun 6th June
Dusi Mfula Experience
Howick High School, Howick Scottburgh
Sun 13th June
Howick Super Classic # 6
XCM Stage Race 60km/60km 082-224 4881 Ray de Vries XCM 40km/20km
082-740 8740 www.kremetartcycling.co.za
FREE STATE
56km/28km/14km
J Van Der Merwe Hennie Verster Willie Stoman
083-595 8439 082-697 4224 www.rufpatch.co.za 057-352 1906 083-702 1932 082-412 4606 www.nfscycling.co.za
KWA ZULU NATAL
Pont Resort, Port Edward
Sat 19th June Scottburgh XCM 40km/20km MTB Challenge Sat 19th - Sun 20th June Sardine Super Classic # 7
Giba Gorge, Pinetown
Sat 26th June
Kamberg Resort, Glengarry Sun 27th June Farmers Hall, Heatonville Sun 27th June
Gordon Beard
082-902 0712
Billy Harker
082-654 6542
XCM Stage Race
45km/25km/10km
Arthur Venter Hill2Hill Events
082-854 9167 www.bundubasher.co.za 083-447 0697
65km/30km 40km/20km
Rose Sivright John Readman
082-783 3445 082-801 1160
David Waddilove
084-567 4152 www.freedomchallenge. org.za
Giba Gorge Birthday XCM Challenge Glengarry Classic XCM Heatonville Leopard Classic XCM
NATIONAL Pietermaritzburg – Paarl
Sat 12th - Sat 19th June Freedom Challenge Race XCM Stage Race (non-stop) 2350km (start) Across South Africa
TO EVENT ORGANISERS Listing of events in this calendar is free but dependent on timing and complete event information. Send your complete event info to info@treadmag.co.za. Event advertising can also be placed. Call 082 8761672 for rates.
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TO MOUNTAIN BIKERS This calendar was compiled with information available to us and we assume it is correct. TREAD MAY/JUNE However, we cannot be 2010 held responsible for any errors and recommend you confirm event details with the organiser if you’re uncertain.
Classifieds
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BICYCLE SHOP
TOYOTA MTN CYCLE PARK
Editable text • Normal opening times: Dawn til dark – will vary according to season • Night racing will be held regularly at the floodlit BMX track • Night riding will be scheduled occasionally on the trails • Secure parking • Toilets and change rooms with showers to be added by Phase 2 • Seattle Coffee Company for refreshments and nourishment • Shimano Tech Centre for bike repairs and adjustments • Cycle Lab satellite store for bike consumables • Motorex bike wash
Available mounting surface (135 x 155) Edge of label Radiused corners
For more information, visit www.cyclelab.com Riaan La Cock | 083 725 BIKE (2453) | cyclepark@cyclelab.com
SPOKE WORKS
Disc Brake and Parts Cleaner TREAD MAY/JUNE 2010
Edge of label
Instructions
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(
Blend Some facetime with real mountain bikers you’d never normally read about.
)A
Henry Fagan PHOTO: GREG BEADLE
ge, location, day job? 58. My
involved with include the V&A swing bridge and
office is in Breë Street, in the
the Green Point Stadium.
upper portion of Cape Town and
Why mountain biking? I love cycling for the
fortunately I live less than 10
sheer enjoyment of riding a machine, the
minutes away in Oranjezicht, just below the
sense of speed and freedom, the good physical
MTB paths on the slopes of Table Mountain.
workout keeping one fit, and the pleasure of
I’m a partner with Henry Fagan & Partners,
knowing the energy that gets me from one
Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers.
place to another so efficiently is provided by
Some of the special projects we have been
my own legs. Also the camaraderie and all the great friends I meet. Mountain biking has the added bonus of avoiding traffic and enjoying the most remote and stunning parts of our country, which one would not normally visit. How long have you been riding for? My parents gave me a bike when I was a young boy. At the age of 10 I regularly cycled 20 km from the dairy farm where we lived to school in Pretoria. (This would not be a good idea today!) I rode my first Argus 23 years ago and started training more regularly, but since I’ve also got into mountain biking about a decade ago my fitness levels have steadily improved. Best ride? It’s difficult to choose between all the memorable races and training rides with friends. We are extremely fortunate that we live in such a beautiful country and furthermore that there are so many amazing events we can choose from, with new ones added every year! Chapman’s Peak, Silvermine, Palmiet, Kamanassie, Attakwas, Knysna, die Hell, Wild Coast, Swaziland ..... Tell us about your bike? For last year’s Epic I needed a new bike and decided on a Titus Racer X. I love the bike, because it handles so beautifully on climbs, technical sections and fast descents. However, I’ve kept my old bike, a Scott Genius MC20 and still enjoy using it for most of my training rides. Where do you train? In Cape Town we’re blessed with many wonderful riding choices, road or MTB, e.g. from Town to Chappies, Fish Hoek or Cape Point; along the slopes of Table Mountain and Devils Peak, past Rhodes Memorial and Plumb Pudding Hill; Tokai mast and Silvemine loop. Any other sports? I used to do a lot of sailing, both dinghy racing (e.g. Fireball racing at 4 World Championships) and keelboat racing (including 5 Trans-Atlantic races).
I’ll be
taking off some time from work and cycling in September this year, to do my third Mauritius to Durban Yacht race.
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