Innholdsfortegnelse for May/June 2019 i Bicycling South Africa

OUR ANGST IS YOUR REWARD. When I met with gear editor Jon Minster and we sat down to discuss our budget bike buyer’s guide for Issue 4 of 2019, the conversation started – as usual – with “how low do we go?” Below R20K? R10K? R5K, even? In the end, we decided that the spec of the bikes Jon would choose would define the price bracket. // THERE ARE PLENTY OF GREAT BIKES BELOW R10K – AND EVEN SOME BELOW R5K WORTH MENTIONING – BUT IF YOU WANT TO BUY A BIKE THAT’S CAPABLE OF HANDLING YEARS OF RIDING WITH A SUITABLE GROUPSET AND A DECENT SUSPENSION SYSTEM, YOU NEED TO SPEND A LITTLE MORE. // WE ALSO DECIDED TO FOCUS JUST ON MOUNTAIN BIKES FOR THIS YEAR’S SHOWDOWN, PURELY…

ALLEN LIM, PHD, RIDER If you’re scared, slow down. We’ll wait. We’re not animals. ANDREW PRUITT, RIDER If you’re over 50, the research is clear: use it or lose it. Ride full-gas at least once a week to stay sharp. AUGUSTUS FARMER, RIDER Take a break from the road, and ride some dirt. It’ll build up your balance and stability for confident bike handling. BENJAMIN RASMUSSEN, PHOTOGRAPHER I mix one tablespoon of MCT oil and one tablespoon of butter into my morning coffee. It helps the caffeine kick in fast, and gives me energy for the ride – and the rest of the morning. BRIAN VERNOR, PHOTOGRAPHER I separate cycling from fitness, because for me, riding is about having fun; so I only ride when I want to. That keeps…

This is the year we’ve noticed that it’s no longer odd to see lots of disc-brake bikes on any ride – from hardcore roadie world-championship-grade training grinds to the weekly mates’ ride to the urban pub crawl, the brakes that were once a staple only on mountain bikes have become the standard. (Even World Tour teams have been riding them during cycling’s biggest races, since the UCI approved them for the 2018 season.) And even the purists at Bicycling who vehemently resisted discs on aesthetic principles have accepted their excellent stopping power, superior speed modulation, and better all-weather performance. Whether you’re a holdout or already rocking them, here’s how to make the most of discs. THE BASICS: MECHANICAL VS. HYDRAULIC // There are two main types of disc brake: mechanical,…

Cyclists are suckers for tradition. We’re also suckers for aesthetics. And we’re really suckers for aesthetic traditions, which is why socks should hit the right height, why caps should loft just so, and why, for decades, many of us accepted riding with numb junk because saddles were supposed to look long and lean, much like the pro road racers perched upon them. We know better now – at least about the saddles. Seats come in dozens of shapes and sizes to support your weight without crushing your undercarriage. But the right saddle isn’t just about comfort; it will also improve bike control, minimise overuse injuries, and put more power into your pedal stroke. “Your saddle is essential for proprioceptive feedback when you ride,” says Dr Sonja Stilp, a spine and…

CLIMB SWEAT Riding seated, tuck your elbows into your sides, dip your torso toward the bars, drop your heels, and gently pull back on the bars with every downstroke to create a more powerful pedal stroke. SCIENCE Effort needed depends on road gradient, distance, and weight (of you and your bike). Ride lighter. CASH Wheels and hubs designed specifically for steep climbs in any weather conditions can make quite a difference. Contact your LBS. FRIENDS Grab a pal and do this: climb at an intensity that’s just under your threshold (RPE: 8). After 3 minutes, push your intensity so you’re at threshold (RPE: 9). After 2 minutes, push your pace above threshold for 1 minute (RPE: 10). Recover. Repeat 5 times. PACELINE FRIENDS Get together with 6 to 10 other…

1 / MODERN GILET / The latest gilets are more than just body warmers –stylish, moisture-wicking and super-light, they are the best way to stay warm in SA’s mild climate. 2 / MAXXIS MINION DHF 3C/EXO/TR / This is THE mountain-bike tyre. Excellent traction in wet and dry conditions, with a casing so reliable, even I have a tough time flatting it. 3 / SRAM NX EAGLE DRIVETRAIN / SRAM’s genius 1x12 drivetrain eliminated the front derailleur, and can rightfully claim to have improved the rider’s experience and bike design.…

1 / FLY WITH AN AIRLINE THAT DOESN’T HATE BIKES. Do some research on the airlines that offer the best deals on bikes. Some, sometimes, will even transport bikes for nothing – but research is essential. 2 / GET A RITCHEY BREAKAWAY. This steel coupled frameset comes apart and goes into its own compact case that fits nicely in the back of a sedan rental car. It may also dodge ‘oversize’ fees if you get a lenient gate agent, though technically it is a little over the 160cm limit for many airlines. 3 / RENT A BIKE. Sometimes the best way to take your bike on holiday is not to take it at all. Many international cycling destinations offer bike rental on top-of-the-range models.…

Standing on the end of an eight-kay salt flats course, Mueller-Korenek mounted her custom-built bike and tethered it inside a fairing on the back of the racing car. Over the first two kilometres, the 1 000-horsepower dragster accelerated to 177km/h – the velocity necessary for the rider to turn the cranks on the bike’s massive 529 gear inches (normal gearing is between 20 and 70). As she began winding up the pedals, her driver released the tether. The dragster continued to speed up, and Mueller-Korenek kept hammering under the protective fairing. Over the course’s final kilometre, she averaged a world-record 296km/h. The bike’s GPS registered an error, but the course timing showed increased speed at every kilometre, said Mueller-Korenek, a 45-year-old US national champion cyclist from Valley Centre, California. She…

Syd Schulz, 28 FORMER PRO ENDURO MTB RACER “GEARMATTERS.” A dropper post makes everything way more fun. I didn’t get one until I started racing enduro and riding more technical trails. I felt they weren’t necessary for XC racing, but you have much better range of motion on the bike, and you’re less likely to develop bad habits like throwing your weight way too far back. And it can really save you when things go wrong, because your seat isn’t up there ready to kick you over the bars. Giddeon Massie, 37 TWO-TIME OLYMPIC TRACK CYCLIST “YOUR BODY WILL TELL YOU WHEN IT’S TIME TO PUSH AND WHEN IT’S TIME TO REST.” Several months before my second Olympics, I distinctly remember tweaking my back during a squat session. I would…

I PROBABLY DIDN’T need to take a DNA test to know that I’m a middle-of-the-road athlete, but there it was: On a sliding scale titled ‘Your Aerobic Potential’, an arrow pointed decisively at the word ‘low’. Really? Low? I was hoping for at least ‘above average’. I like to think that I’m better than at least some people, like those flatlanders I flew past on my local climb yesterday. There had to have been some mistake. Or at least missing information. As direct-to-consumer genetic testing grows in popularity – more than 14 million Americans have had their DNA analysed by the two largest players, AncestryDNA and 23andMe – new tests are targeting amateur athletes. At last count, close to 40 companies offer some kind of gene testing for athletes, often…

DROPPER POST This changes the game when you’re descending or riding technical terrain. By getting the seat out of the way, you can lower your centre of gravity and get better positioned over the rear wheel of the bike. Try one – you’ll never go back. WIDER TYRES Once you’ve worn out the stock tyres on your new bike, buy wider. The more rubber your have in contact with the ground, the better your traction. You can also run them at lower pressure, for a smoother ride. Depending on your frame, you should be able to fit 29x2.4” tyres, or even wider. 1X12 DRIVETRAIN A 1x drivetrain is neater and more efficient for mountain biking. 1x11 is fine, but a1x12 system will give you even more range, especially at the…

BOOST. This is the latest hub-width standard in mountain biking – wider than quick-release hubs of years gone by. The extra width makes the wheel more stable, and gives you extra space in the frame for wider tyres. THROUGH-AXLE. Thicker than aquick-release axle, for increased stiffness and less flex. CLUTCH DERAILLEUR. Most new mid-range mountain-biking derailleurs have a clutch, which you can engage and disengage. When engaged, the clutch puts tension on the derailleur, which stops the chain from bouncing around, and hopefully from dropping off the chainring. The clutch also aids smooth shifting, especially when you’re going uphill and the drivetrain is under strain. HYDRAULIC BRAKES. You get two kinds of disc brakes: hydraulic and cable-activated. Cable discs have a cable (duh!) between the lever and the calliper, and…

EPIC RACE FACE The Absa Cape Epic is part sufferfest, part adventure, and part glory. There is never an easy day as riders from around the world tackle dust, heat, rocky paths and long stages, all in search of a coveted medal. This year riders tackled 630km, with 16 650m of climbing over the eight days – one of the hilliest routes in the 16-year history of the event. IT’S NEVER OVER... Even the best can make silly mistakes – as the Trek Selle San Marco team of Michele Casagrande and Fabian Rabensteiner did, when they crashed into each other in the finishing straight of Stage 6. Casagrande broke his collarbone and was forced to abandon the race. HARD MEN Seventy-year-old Gustav Joyce broke two fingers on his right hand…

Unflinching on Gravel Over the past few months, our US testers have been testing the hell out of gravel bikes. Then they tried this one, the custom titanium Evergreen XX ‘ Scrambler ’from Seven that rides even better than it looks. Whether or not this bike is worth its price tag (over R210 000) is debatable. What’s not arguable is its performance. The Scrambler is smooth, unflinching, and capable of almost anything. – Matt Phillips, senior test editor Prevelo Is KILLING IT! Prevelo is a new US company that makes only kids’ bikes, like the Prevelo Zulu Two Heir above. We’ve had several in to try, including the neat little Alpha Zero balance bike. This 16-inch model might be the coolest one yet. It comes with disc brakes and the…

1 TORQUE WRENCH / When aligning your calipers or rotors, you’ll need a solid torque wrench to get the tension just right. 2 DISC BRAKE MULTI-TOOL / Get four great disc brake tools in one: a rotor truing slot, brake pad/piston spreader, a bleed block, and a travel spacer. 3 DISC BRAKE PADS / Quality pads are an affordable upgrade that can improve your braking experience – just be sure to pick ones made for your exact braking system, as there are no universal pads that work for all. 4 220 GRIT FINE ADVANCED SANDING SHEETS / There are plenty of good sandpaper options available, but 220-grit paper from 3M is premium.…

1 / SPECIALIZED WOMEN’S POWER MIMIC SADDLE / A flexible ‘hammock’ in the cut-out prevents soft-tissue swelling. 2 / SELLE SMP DYNAMIC SADDLE / The raised back cradles you to reduce pressure. 3 / FABRIC SCOOP PRO TEAM FLAT / Super-light, at 198 grams, but still comfy.…

BE BETTER THAN YESTERDAY Say you want to shave aminute off your big Strava climb. First, set up A, B, and C goals. A is your ideal (shave a minute), B is something acceptable (shave 20 seconds), and Cis guaranteed (getting out there, learning, and having fun). Too many athletes get bogged down by missing A goals, so striving for the small stuff keeps the ultimate goal in focus while making the process enjoyable. Giving your mind a fallback helps it relax, which sets you up for stress-free success. BE BETTER THAN OTHERS To be great, you need to harness adeep belief that you are great. Many people struggle with a subconscious that holds doubt and creates mental blocks. Retrain it. Spend five minutes in front of the mirror repeating…

Floundering in a sea of red brake lights on the main road, kilometres from my turnoff, I had to acknowledge two hard truths. The first was that I had gravely miscalculated how long it would take to get home from my ride, leading to the second hard truth: there would be no time for a shower. I would be going to dinner with hair that smelled like my trail helmet, which smells like an old washing-up cloth. I had promised my sister I’d be home from riding by 4pm. I screeched into the driveway at 4:43 and roared through the house, casting aside sweaty bike clothing, wiping mud splatters off my neck with a towel, and grabbing leftovers to wolf down in the car. We made it to my friend’s…

1. Make exceptions to your schedule for important occasions/trips/events. 2. Try new activities from time to time. 3. Reduce judgment for activities that aren’t cycling. 4. Plan rides ahead of time to improve your chances of having enough time to shower, and arriving on time. 5. Bring beer for the people who show up to watch you race/ride. 6. Be super-thoughtful about the rides you take your non-cyclist loved ones on. 7. Increase the variety of conversation topics you engage in. 8. Invite them to do things that aren’t riding. 9. Don’t forget about the passions you had prior to your bicycle. 10. Nurture your shared interests, and remember the intent of your friendship or relationship.…

Silca NFS Pro Chain Lube Lube is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to save watts. Buy the best you can find, for the best balance of speed, price, and all-conditions performance. Castelli San Remo 4.0 Speed Suit Windtunnel-designed and proven at the highest levels, the best skinsuits are extremely comfortable and will help you slip through the air. Cervélo S5 Dura Ace Di2 The Cervélo S5 was already regarded as one of the world's most aerodynamic road bikes. This latest redesign saves another 5.5 watts.…

On Sunday mornings, you can always find Juliet Elliott sitting at her kitchen table, hunched over her weekly planner. But that’s about the only time you’ll catch her in the same place at the same time. Elliott is one of the busiest women in bike racing. She has lined up for almost every discipline you can imagine – and some you can’t, like fixed-gear bike-park riding. She’s also a toddler mom, a journalist, and an all-round creative, running her popular blog ‘Bikes ’N’ Stuff’, and her Instagram, which has 65 000 followers. “I thrive on being busy. That’s how I work best,” she says. Doing it all and doing it all well has its downsides, of course. “I will say that I would probably be more successful if I focused…

Of all the bikes featured here, the Drone Comp is the most modern and offers the best value for money. It looks like something that a pro would race around an XC course, with boost spacing front and rear, a 1x11 Shimano SLX drivetrain and 180mm brake rotors. This is up-to-the-minute stuff, folks, at a price that will make you think the shop assistant has made a mistake. The frame is long and stretched-out, which takes some getting used to. The medium we tested rode more like a large – a feeling amplified by the lay-back seat post. A straight post and a shorter stem would have suited my proportions better. Speaking of the frame, it’s a brutalist piece of engineering – all blunt angles and square edges, with welding…

People in traffic stop and stare when you have this bike on your rack. Petrol attendants cluck and comment about how expensive it must be. Indeed, the all-black colour scheme makes it look like it means business. What you actually get, if you go beyond the stealthy veil, is a forgiving beginner’s bike with good components and a frame that you can improve with. Like the Trek Marlin 7, it’s available in six sizes, and the geometry is consistent across the range. Also like the Marlin, the frame is super-slick, with fetching lines and neat internal cable routing, including routing for a dropper post. The tyres are a combination of Specialized’s own Ground Control up front and a Fast Trak at the rear, both 2.3 inches wide (the widest on…

SADDLE DISCOMFORT THEN: Combat saddle sores by riding with raw steak in your shorts (1930s Tour de France solution) NOW: Religious chamois-cream application EXPERT TAKE: “There is definitely a risk of infection from sitting on raw meat – at the very least, that would be messy! Friction causes more damage than lack of cushion when you’re riding – the rubbing is what causes dryness and discomfort. Chamois cream is more effective because it’s moisturising, so skin slips and doesn’t get irritated.” – Dr Mary Jane Minkin, Gynaecologist BASE TRAINING THEN: “A solid foundation built on a base of easy kays is necessary before the finish work – intervals, hill repeats, and fast group rides – is added.” (The Cyclist’s Training Bible, 2003) NOW: You can get the same fitness from…

1. Avoid training wheels. They’re unstable, and won’t teach balance. Start young kids on a balance bike; for older ones, drop the saddle on an appropriately sized bike until their feet can touch the ground, and then remove the pedals for a similar learning experience. 2. A long wheelbase. Stretching the wheels further apart makes the bike more stable, and compensates for kids’ herky-jerky steering. 3. Rim brakes. Coaster brakes (the alternative) are heavy, and make it harder to teach forward pedalling. I even like rim brakes on balance bikes, because they deliver more braking control than your kid’s tiny feet. 4. Wide, grippy tyres. Just like on a big bike, air-filled tyres offer more control and better bump absorption – exactly what developing riders need.…

There are two main types of brake pads. Resin (or organic) brake pads are composed of organic materials such as glass, rubber, and fibrous binders bonded together with resin. Sintered (or metallic) brake pads are made of metallic grains that are bonded together at high pressure. In terms of feel, resin pads are quieter and have a stronger sense of bite. They’re better at managing heat, but they can fade as heat builds up. They also wear more quickly, particularly in muddy conditions. Sintered pads are the choice for riders who do mostly steep, lift-served mountain biking. They produce more heat but are less susceptible to its effects, and they last longer under heavy use and in wet conditions.…

LENGTH The distance from tip to tail determines how much room you have to move forward and back, which relates to your riding style. Long Nose: If you like a multitude of positions, from the rivet to the rear, this provides the most places to sit. Short Nose: Most people sit on the back third of a saddle, so short-nosed shapes eliminate unused real estate and take pressure off soft tissues when you tilt forward into an aggressive position. Mountain-bike saddles often have shorter noses so that you don’t hook your shorts. Noseless: Time triallists and triathletes barely need a nose, as they assume extreme aerodynamic positions for extended periods. CONSTRUCTION Your soft tissues will always bear some weight, but they shouldn’t be supporting so much that you get numb.…

I got my first mountain bike in 1988, when I was 15. It was a Diamondback Ascent EX with a funky purple smoke effect over light grey paint, a typical midrange bike of that era: steel frame and rigid steel fork, thumb shifters, cantilever brakes. It was far from top-of-the-line, but at that time the difference wasn’t huge. Almost every mountain bike was rigid, with 26-inch wheels. I spent a lot of my time on that Diamondback in the hills near our home. But I hadn’t ridden those trails since I left for varsity in 1991. Late last year, during a visit home, I was able to ride them again, this time on a Yeti SB130, a top-of-the line, carbon, full-suspension 29er with the most up-to-date technology, features, and geometry.…

BUY A TRAINER / “I bought a trainer that’s compact and can fit into an overhead compartment. And then took it along on a week-long work trip, so that I could ride the trainer at 5am in my hotel before working all day.” – Joan Hanscom BABY MONITOR / “I built a trail in the woods behind my house and bought a baby monitor with the longest range available, so I can ride while my two-year-old is napping. I loop it for an hour, with the monitor in my pocket.” – Patrick Brennan TRAVEL BAG / “I rode over two mountain passes, with my black dress and heels in a backpack, to a friend’s wedding. Afterwards I crashed on someone’s couch, and had awobbly ride back home the next morning.”…

DNAFit COST: R1 750* GENES TESTED: 15 core ‘sports genes’, plus a handful pertaining to nutrition and metabolism. SURPRISE FINDING: I’m a sprinter, apparently. CAVEAT: Per the user consent agreement, Helix owns your data; you can’t download the file the way you can with 23andMe and other services. Carmichael Training Systems COST: R875* GENES TESTED: Not specified, but traits range from endurance to strength to caffeine metabolism to B vitamin levels. SURPRISE FINDING: High bone density, contrary to family belief that we have brittle bones. CAVEAT: The report covered general traits ranging from endurance to nutrition to bone density, but felt vague. A follow-up consultation with a CTS coach helped answer some questions, but quickly turned into asales pitch for coaching services. *CTS and DNAFit prices include R600 sequencing by…

Cannondale are wizards of aluminium: the welding on the Trail 2 is almost invisible, and the lines are reminiscent of a steel-frame bike – especially the delicate seat stays at the back. There’s logic behind the daintiness: the Trail 2’s rear end features Cannondale’s SAVE micro-suspension – areas that can flex vertically to absorb shock, and therefore offer a smoother ride. The frame geometry is progressive, with a 68.5° head angle and boost spacing, and there’s internal routing for a dropper post. There are even mounts for a rear rack and a mudguard, should you wish to turn your mountain bike into a commuter. The ride position is relaxed and the handling is direct, thanks to that slack head angle and a 760mm-wide riser bar on a short stem. The…