Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Bicycling South Africa

‘GTFO’ IS PROBABLY BEST EXPLAINED BY OUR FEATURE ON PAGE 46 .Though it is an acronym for ‘Get The **** Out’, and possibly a phrase you’d be tempted to use when your six-year-old makes a noise during Paris-Roubaix afternoon. // But it also adequately describes that most undervalued division of cycling – the touring adventure. // The adventure has no distance, time or deadline. It has one mission: to get out, get off the grid, and get exploring. // AND ON A BIKE, YOU CAN ‘GET OUT’ MORE EASILY THAN MOST. // On a bike you feel the ruts of a road, the smoothness of the tar, the wind in your face and the smells of the world you ride through. With just a…

MY BAE (BREAKFAST I ALWAYS eat) and I had been going steady for three years. Each morning, the same routine: peanut butter, frozen raspberries, chia seeds, ground flaxseed, swirled into a cozy bowl of oats. I’d come to rely on that hearty concoction of fat, carbs, and protein to fuel my body for a packed schedule of varsity lectures and cycling training. Yep, oats and I had a thing. But over time, the spark began to fade. One day, out of nowhere, the oats tasted gluey, the fruit mushy, the peanut butter too sticky. I pushed the bowl away. Maybe I’m sick, I thought. But the sensations persisted. Could it be that I’d been stringing along my bae, unwilling to accept that I was bored? And so I did it.…

I STRUGGLE WITH FIXING FLATS, AND I’VE WORKED AT NOT ONE BUT TWO BIKE MAGAZINES. – Matt Bevilacqua, associate editor 50% * of you aren’t fully confident changing a flat in front of others. 3 TIPS TO MAKE FLAT-FIXING EASIER You’ll need two sturdy levers with a wide, thin ‘spoon’ (the bit you slip under the bead) and a solid hook for the spokes. We like Pedro’s (R60/pair). Remove one side of tyre from rim by placing levers 15cm apart and prying bead over edge of rim. Hook one lever to a spoke and run other around loosened bead to completely pop it off rim. Drop other bead to centre of rim channel. To re-install: Insert slightly inflated tube. Start at valve and work loose bead back over sidewall of…

TO GET HIMSELF THROUGH THE 2017 EQUIVALENT OF ALL THREE GRAND TOURS, THE CRITERIUM DU DAUPHINE AND THE CAPE EPIC, MARK BEAUMONT RODE A CUSTOM-MADE BIKE SUITED TO SOMEONE SPENDING SUCH A LONG PERIOD IN THE SADDLE. FRAME: KOGA KIMERA PREMIUM Made of high-modulus UD carbon, the frame and fork have high tensile strength, making them lightweight and stiff. TYRES: 28MM PANARACER More comfort, better aerodynamics, and low rolling resistance. They may be wider than you’d expect, but these tyres helped Beaumont to ride faster and more comfortably. GROUPSET & BRAKES: SHIMANO ULTEGRA DI2 DISC With high stopping power in any conditions, and electronic shifting that’s fast and accurate, Beaumont was able to conserve energy and ride safely throughout his 78 days on the bike. SADDLE: SELLE SMP PRO For…

MAPLE-BACON 2 slices bacon 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup ¼ tsp kosher salt Cook the bacon in a skillet over medium heat until crisp, then transfer to a paper towel–lined plate. Stir the maple syrup and salt into prepared oats*, then top with crumbled bacon. SAUSAGE, ASPARAGUS, AND ROASTED RED PEPPER 120g sweet Italian (or your choice) sausage, cooked and sliced 3 asparagus spears, cut into 2-3cm lengths ½ roasted red pepper, sliced into strips ¼ tsp black pepper 1/8 tsp kosher salt Combine the sausage, asparagus, and roasted red pepper in a skillet and cook over medium heat until the asparagus is bright green, about 2 minutes. Stir black pepper and salt into prepared oats, then top with sausage and veggies. PINEAPPLE, COCONUT, AND MACADAMIA NUTS 1 Tbsp shredded…

Stages produces the most popular and best-selling power meter in the country for a reason: it’s affordable. It’s also exceptionally reliable. Team Sky prompted the birth of the dual-sided meter you see here. Adding just 35g to the drive-side crank, this new device offers true left/right measurement, and can be split into two separate meters if you so wish. Pretty nifty. And Stages has ironed out all of the idiosyncrasies of its forebears – no signal dropping here. Team Sky were pivotal in providing feedback and data; particularly that of Chris Froome, who won the 2015 Tour de France on an early production model. Like the other models, the new LR boasts a 2% accuracy figure at 100w/90rpm, and has Ant+ and Bluetooth compatibility. Currently, only Dura Ace 9100 and…

“I usually don’t know who wins the races if it isn’t one of my athletes. I’m not proud of it.” – Brad Copeland, mechanic for Specialized Racing “I once faked a flat to get out of a casual group ride because the pace was ridiculously fast for no good reason.” – @WattageCottage “HARDEST PART OF CYCLING? Being brave/crazy/ stupid enough 2 wear spandex. The hills R the 2nd-hardest part. Me & our awesome pilot Jeff.” – Ralph Dale Earnhardt, Jr. on Twitter, 11 March 2017 “I lost a Junior 15/16 Super D national championship because I didn’t know where the finish line was and stopped about three metres before it. But the girl who passed me and ended up winning is now my best friend.” – Kate…

THE NOTORIOUSLY TYRE-HUNGRY PAT’S TRACK TRAIL NEVER CUT OR PINCHED THE BUTCHERS.” We saw spy shots of the new Specialized Butcher towards the end of last year, and were interested to see how this update of an already great tyre would alter its performance. Though the original’s roots are in the downhill discipline, this tyre is now available in a variety of wheel sizes, casings and volume options, which cover the trail riding, enduro and e-Bike rider’s needs. For our test we opted for the 29 x 2.6 Grid version; and on opening the box, we immediately noticed many subtle updates on the older model, including marginally taller lugs, a ‘sawtooth’ finish on the leading edges, and bolder centre knobs with multi-directional sipes. It’s an aggressive-looking tyre. Not so visible…

I grew up watching the Tour de France and considered the Alps and Pyrenees hallowed ground, which influenced my decision to study in France in my first year of university, in 2013. The reality of my French experience was less romantic: the roads and weather in Strasbourg were less Tour de France and more Tour of Flanders. I was homesick and rode alone a lot, doing heinous intervals. I lost the joy of cycling then. I actually dreamt about someone stealing my bike – I would have an excuse not to ride. But then I met cyclists from a local velo club. I made friends on long group rides, and as we chatted in the paceline my French improved. I started to look forward to riding as a connection to…

Marco Joubert’s rise to prominence has been meteoric – the 21-year-old celebrated his most successful season last year, comprising 10 wins and over 20 podiums. This year sees him riding in the colours of Imbuko Wines together with Dylan Rebello – a partnership that has already celebrated some early success, the pair completing the 121km Attakwas Extreme in 5th and 6th respectively. It will also be the first year Joubert focuses 100 per cent on his riding, choosing to forego his studies to pursue a full-time career on two wheels. Perhaps the biggest secret to Marco’s success lies in his approach to life as a professional athlete. It seems as though nothing can dampen his positive attitude – not even a broken collarbone, which almost put an end to his…

BEAUMONT WASN’T ALONE IN BEING INSPIRED BY JULES VERNE’S STORY. OTHERS HAVE DONE THIS STAGGERING JOURNEY TOO; AND WHILE NONE OF THEM USED BICYCLES, THEY ALL FACED THEIR OWN CHALLENGES IN GETTING AROUND THE WORLD IN UNDER 80 DAYS. JOURNALIST NELLIE BLY’S attempt to emulate the trip was the first recorded, in 1889. She did it for her newspaper, the New York World, and finished in 72 days, meeting Verne when her journey took her through France. She also wrote a best-selling book about her experiences. In 1903, arts promoter JAMES WILLIS SAYRE did the trip – and set a record for circling the world in the process, completing the task in 54 days. His entire journey was done using only public transport. MICHAEL PALIN, of Monty Python fame, took…

Long gone are the days of trickling a trail bike down a descent because of dodgy tyres or geometry. These days, they climb really well; and most descend incredibly well too. So much so that at times, a trail bike will be the fastest bike for certain downhill sections. So if trailies are capable of barrelling down singletrack at 60km/h, why no full-face helmet? Fortunately, helmet manufacturers have now seen the need for a lightweight, full-face trail lid; and the Fox ProFrame was the first to land in our offices for testing. At 735g, it’s far lighter than a traditional downhill helmet, yet it carries a downhill safety certification. Other features include 24 air vents, an integrated chin bar, a Fidlock buckle system, a secure visor, and the MIPS safety…

E-BIKES ARE FAST, FUN AND EXTREMELY POWERFUL. THAT’S RIGHT. WE SAID IT! WHETHER YOU’RE OUT ON A TRAIL OR BARRELLING ALONG THE PROMENADE, YOU’RE GUARANTEED TO HAVE JUST AS MUCH FUN (IF NOT MORE, IF WE’RE HONEST), THAN THE GUY RIDING NEXT TO YOU SWEATING AND PANTING ON HIS CARBON-FIBRE ITALIAN STEED. BUT THE E-BIKE IS MORE THAN JUST A STRAVACHEAT’S TOOL – IT’S ALSO AN IDEAL WAY FOR CYCLISTS RECOVERING FROM INJURY AND ILLNESS TO GET BACK INTO THE SPORT. CANNONDALE QUICK NEO ZIPPING AROUND TOWN THE CANNONDALE QUICK NEO bridges the gap between practicality and affordability. Outfitted with Shimano’s STEPS mid-mount drive system, it combines a 1x-style drivetrain that shifts 10 cogs, with added assistance in three power levels: Eco, Normal, and High (maximum 250 watts). Pedal assist…