Full Sus August 2016

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

#MTB BIKE REVIEW F U L LS U S SA

@ F U L LS U S SA

F U L LS U S SA

F U L LS U S SA

SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL LESSONS I’VE LEARNT ON MY BIKE

Bryony McCormick’s first bike was a pink BMX. She recalls the most advanced thing about it was the fact that it had back brakes.

Not long after the fairy wheels came off her riding adventures truly began.

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p16 Liv Obsess Advanced 2

JETLINE ACTION PHOTO

day or two after removing said fairy wheels, my brother encouraged me to go over a backyard ramp he had constructed from two bricks and a piece of wood. I came down the driveway at an adequate speed but in true girl form, fear took over and I squeezed my back brake seconds before impact. The back tyre slid out, I lost all speed and hit the ramp, destroying

it, my tiny child-ego and my brother’s faith in me in one foul swoop. I took the skin off my hands and elbows. I had a cry, but wanting to impress my brother I pushed my bike back up the driveway and gave it another shot. I panicked again, but instead of slamming on my brake, I gently squeezed the lever slowing myself down (almost to a stop) enough to roll over the rebuilt ramp. With each following attempt I braked a little less until

finally I managed to get a whoop out of my brother. Mission accomplished. I immediately retired for the day and went straight to my Barbies who offered some solace from the madness of being on my bike.

Thankfully I no longer have the Barbies, but I do still have most of the younger-me riding traits from my youth, like braking when I’m scared, falling a lot, trying to keep up with boys and learning

valuable lessons the hard way.

Since taking up MTB about four years ago I have learnt several new lessons (other than hitting backyard ramps that is), of which most I have learnt through trial and error.

Here are seven that may save you the public fails I have experienced.

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WIN

RACE ENTRIES

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EDITORIAL & WOMEN’S MTB

ED’S LETTER

AUGUST 2016 VOL33

THE SUS TEAM

FROM PAGE 01

Publishing Editor Shayne Dowling shayne@integratedmedia.co.za

SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL LESSONS I’VE LEARNT ON MY BIKE CONT...

Content Editor Seamus Allardice seamus@integratedmedia.co.za Art Director Annalie Boshoff Senior Designer Shannon Flewellen Sales Eloise Meyer eloise@integratedmedia.co.za

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’m well aware that the concept of a specific “ladies’ issue” of a magazine is in itself rather sexist. While we try to keep the mildly misogynistic views one often hears expressed on rides out of Full Sus, there’s always more we can do. We’re proud of the large number of female regular columnists and contributors Full Sus provides a platform to, but as most of the gear and bikes we feature are designed for our male readers specifically we need to redress the imbalance occasionally. That said, once a year, during women’s month, is not enough…

For this issue we roped in the considerable talents of Bryony McCormick to share some of her hard-earned mountain biking wisdom. Bryony is someone I look up to as a writer and I hope you enjoy her cover-story in this issue. We’ve also got a ride report from Simone van Aardt in this issue. Simone represented Full Sus at the RECM Knysna 200 alongside her mother Lolita and hopefully this is the first of many articles from her. The regular columnists bring you their take on women’s mountain biking; with Kath Fourie and Estelle Pickard celebrating women on bikes, while Stirling Senior takes a different view and suggests that riding with your wife will only end in tears… for you, when she becomes stronger and faster than you.

Meanwhile Diana Carolin put the Liv Obsess Advanced 2 through its paces for the bike review.

August isn’t all rosy for women’s mountain biking however. Sadly our female riders didn’t do enough to secure a qualifying spot for the Olympics. It was always going to be a tough ask for Cherie Vale to secure all the UCI points required while Mariske Strauss and Bianca Haw were out injured and ill respectively and with Candice Neethling focusing on longer format racing. There’s no lack of talent in women’s mountain biking however and if they receive the same level of support our male riders get the women can surely match or exceed the national men’s UCI rankings. That being so would only secure them a single Olympics starting berth though which is an issue for another day.

Good luck to Alan Hatherly and James Reid who have been selected to represent Team SA in the XCO race on the final day of the games. Catch the women’s XCO on the 20th of August and cheer on Alan and James on the 21st.

I hope you enjoy this issue and if you have any feedback, ideas on where Full Sus can improve on our coverage of women’s mountain TWEET biking, or stories you’d like to tell via YOUR Full Sus please get in touch.

Regulars Stirling Kotze Snr & Jnr, Jacques Marais, Dr Mike Posthumus, Amy Burton, Estelle Pickard, Stefan Garlicki, Erik Kleinhans, Hendrik Lemmer, Joëlle Sleebos & Kathryn Fourie.

My first stage race was on the rocky, volcanic and immensely hilly island of Mauritius. I was new to MTB but under the impression that I was good at it. Good enough to attempt my first stage race, on my own, far from home. I discovered, about 10km into the first day, that my self-assessment was slightly off. I also learnt that being alone for something of that dexterity, at that point of my MTB career was terrifying. A friend would have turned it into a laughable adventure, but when you’re on your own, lost without a sense of north or south, hungry and sore without a clue of how much further it is, the fun gets sucked right out of it. So if you’re entering your first stage race, rope in a friend, boyfriend, sibling or colleague and laugh at the hard times.

Contributors Bryony McCormick, Simone van Aardt, Diana Carolin and Neil van Tonder.

Rogue Contributor David Bristow Photography Ashlee Attwood, Oakpics.com, Red Bull Content Pool, Chris Hitchcock, Volume Photography, Newsport Media and thinkstock.com.

Printing Paarl Coldset (Pty) Ltd Published by

Head Office | Cape Town Tel: 021 685 0285 Address: Suite WB03, Tannery Park 23 Belmont Road, Rondebosch, 7700 Postal Address: PO Box 259, Rondebosch 7701 Disclaimer The views expressed by the contributors and columnists do not necessarily represent the views of Full Sus or Integrated Media.

Audit Bureau of Circulations of South Africa NPC

ALLIANCE PARTNERS

THOUGHTS

Cheers, Seamus

DON’T ATTEMPT YOUR FIRST STAGE RACE ON YOUR OWN. ON A SMALL ISLAND. FAR AWAY FROM HOME

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@FullSussa or @SeamusAllardice

PHOTOS BY ANDREW KING | NIKON

JETLINE ACTION PHOTO

PR & Promotions Ashlee Attwood ash@integratedmedia.co.za

Bryony off on a big game filled adventure.

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LEARN HOW TAKE APART, PACK INTO A BOX AND REBUILD YOUR BIKE

I learnt this the hard way, which was so unpleasant that it almost ended my MTB career after my very first stage race (see lesson 1). I got the bike apart easily enough and packed it into a box, but putting it back together was another story. I managed to assemble it, but didn’t have the foresight to actually check my setup. It turned out that my saddle setup was massively different, but I was so nervous (and inexperienced) about the first day to notice. Long story short, I ended the third day in immense pain wearing all three pairs of my cycle pants, my undies, a cozzie and some loo paper jammed into my pants too, as over the course of the three days I had developed severe saddle sores. Think palm-sized, open, weeping wounds on each butt cheek. All because I had set up my bike incorrectly. So before travelling, get shown how to do it, practice on your own and use markings to ensure your setup remains the same. Nobody wants to experience saddle sores, nobody.

COMPETITION TERMS & CONDITIONS

SUS THE COMPETITION WINNERS Congratulations to Jandre van Jaarsveld, The Wild dogs MTB Club, Warren Fincham, Wayne Oscar and Eben Greyling who each won a sexy Versus Socks hamper.

Happy #SockDoping guys.

The Prize/s is as indicated, no alternatives or cash will be provided.

The decision of Integrated Media will be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Under no circumstances shall Integrated Media or its appointed representatives and the prize donors be liable to anyone who enters these Prize Draws for an indirect or consequential loss howsoever arising which may be suffered in relation to the Prize Draws.

By entering these competitions you make yourself subject to receiving promotional information. Entrants are deemed to have accepted these terms and conditions. Prize Draw Rules: The prize draw is only open to residents in South Africa. Employees of Integrated Media and their respective advertising, media and PR agencies, as well as the family members, consultants, directors, associates and trading partners of such organisations and persons are ineligible for the draw. Prize style and colour may vary. Competition closing date 22 August 2016.

Perfecting the mid-ride chill.

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W O M E N ’ S M T B C O N T.

AUGUST 2016 VOL33

Bryony on a more successful stage race outing.

FROM PAGE 02

BIB SHORTS ONLY WORK FOR SHORT RIDES

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I like bib shorts for the incredibly vain (and slimming) reason that they have the same effect as wearing Bridget Jones undies, except you get to do it in public. I discovered however, that they are completely impractical on long rides or stage races when you’re more than likely going to need to go about your business in the foliage off the trails. The first impracticality is that you have to take your backpack and shirt off before even tackling the shorts, making it a long ordeal (not ideal if you have a rouge stomach bug that is requiring you to be in the sit down position in ten seconds). The second problem is that once you’ve managed to get them off, you’re basically naked, bar

LEARN HOW TO KEEP MOVING, EVEN WHEN SH*T GETS HARDCORE AND YOU’D RATHER CRAWL UP AND DIE UNDER A ROCK.

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TREAT YOUR PHONE LIKE A SMALL, INFANT CHILD

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This lesson cost me an iPhone.

The Berg&Bush has great water tables, the kind you’d like to stay at and forget about the ride. One such table had an endless supply of tasty food and a marimba band playing YMCA. Yes, the YMCA and so naturally, I got involved in showing everybody how to do the terrible seventies dance moves. In my excitement my phone fell out of my pocket and I proceeded to YMCA while

ISIMANGALISO MTB

I don’t like riding with girls. Of course there are exceptions to that rule (her name is Maria and she is my MTB, no-drama, partying, drinking, bantering soul mate), but in general, I avoid girl sessions. I realise this is 100% personal choice, but this is what I’ve learnt. When you ride with guys you get better much faster. There’s no room to be a wimp, go slowly or whine about the accidental over-the-handlebar injury you just attained while trying to keep up with the group. If you show signs of weakness you’re outed.

Sketchy sections are handled with valour and rewarded with woops and high fives.

The banter is better and in general, beer is the beverage of choice at the end. I ride to go fast (well as fast as I can), to session singletrack, to get better and to laugh.

I do not ride to bitch about my boyfriend (or anyone’s boyfriend), talk about schools, nappies, make-up, fashion, cool restaurants or gossip. That’s what chicks’ nights are for. Which I’m no good at either… but I’m working on that.

your sports bra and helmet, which is not exactly a good look if you’re caught… with your pants down. So if you heading out for a long day in the saddle, consider the alternative.

“A FRIEND WOULD HAVE TURNED IT INTO A LAUGHABLE ADVENTURE.” cleating the screen to death.

Had I listened to advice and kept it in a protective case, it would have survived the bad dance moves. And it’s not just dance moves that can destroy your phone, in fact it’s seldom dance moves. Think water, rivers, wipe-outs, etc… The lesson here, even if it’s just a simple Ziplock, is to take time to look after your phone. It’s an expensive mistake and worse than that, I lost all my photos from the previous two days.

PACK LIGHTLY, 6 AND PACK WET WIPES A few years back I arrived at the iSimangaliso four-day ride in St Lucia with a bike box and 25kilos of luggage.

Maria, previously mentioned exception to girl-ridingpartners, arrived with her bike and a small backpack. She had one set of riding kit, one set of casual kit, pyjamas, a toothbrush and wet wipes. I had enough gear, spares and clothing to circumnavigate the globe. Unassisted. I envied the simplicity of her packing and

BRYONY MCCORMICK)

IF YOU WANT TO GET BETTER, RIDE WITH GUYS (OR CHICKS THAT ARE BASICALLY GUYS WHEN IT COMES TO MTB)

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SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL LESSONS I’VE LEARNT ON MY BIKE CONT...

the lack of fuss or drama. She washed her kit every day in the shower, and to be completely honest, no one noticed or cared that she had the same casual kit day in and day out.

But the wet wipes, those were a godsend, and could be used for everything. From cleaning wounds, sunglasses, glasses (for drinks) and dusty faces, to dealing with more intimate ablution requirements, cleaning up spilt drinks and unclogging other women’s hair from the shared shower drains (worst, worst part of sharing showers with women). So pack light and pack cleverly.

MIDDLE: Bryony & Maria getting the pre-ride photoshoot out the way.

BOTTOM: Bryony and her boyfriend Andrew King celebrating completing Wines2Whales.

On the second day of the Mauritius ordeal the organisers mixed up the distances and the markings and there was an extra 15km at the end that no one expected. I had no watch, no Strava, no GPS – nothing, so I had no clue how far I had to go, but I figured after about seven hours of riding, the finish should be close. It wasn’t.

My saddle sores were festering in my pants and I could barely sit anymore. I was done.

I stopped and crawled into the sugarcane to avoid being seen and I lay on my back and cried loudly. I phoned my boyfriend with my precious Mauritian minutes, hoping for him to come and fetch me. Alas, he was in Cape Town and talked me out of that option for obvious logistical reasons. So I cried some more. A rustling in the sugarcane pulled me out of my emotional meltdown and I realised an oldish Indian man had heard my bawling and come to investigate. He looked at me.

I looked at him. No one said anything. In that moment I realised how ludicrous I must have looked, and also that sitting and having a tantrum wasn’t getting me any closer to the finish. I got back on my bike and finished the day. It’s important to learn that even though we’re girls and the odds may be stacked against us, we really do have what it takes to keep going, no matter how bad it seems. And while we’re not as fast, hardcore or brave as most guys, we are still flippen awesome and have every reason to deserve a place on the trails too!

Bryony McCormick is both brave and pretty hardcore. She’s run SkyRuns, bike-packed across long and lonely sections of SA and worked for big corporate publishing companies. Now she freelances… though that means she works harder than ever, just not from an office. Follow her on Twitter: @Bry_Bry_ZA.

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NEWS

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

The new Giant Trans in action.

CAMERON BAIRD | GIANT

GIANT ANNOUNCE 2017 MTB RANGE Giant have got their 2017 range off to an early start with their launch of the updated Anthem, Trans and XtC platforms. The Anthem and Trans updates centre on a new shock mount and composite upper rocker arm, which makes the much loved Maestro Suspension design even stiffer, lighter and stronger than ever before.

The 27.5 inch Anthem and Trans also feature boost hubs, shorter chainstays, longer top tubes and slightly slacker head angles.

The Anthem is now a 27.5 only bike for 2017 which might upset South African riders a bit… but there are rumours of an all new full suspension Giant 29er on its way. So watch this space. The

2017 Anthem boasts 110mm of rear travel and a 120mm fork, which when combined with the updated geometry and improved Maestro Suspension makes it a more capable do-it-all machine than the already highly impressive 2016 Anthem.

The Trans meanwhile has gone big on travel, with 140mm at the back and 150mm up front. It and the Anthem feature Giant’s new Dynamic Balanced Lacing WheelSystems wheels, which used innovative spoke tensioning to optimize wheel stiffness and strength when the wheel is in motion. The top end Anthems will be specced with XCR WheelSystems wheels which feature 28mm wide carbon rims, while the top end Trans models will be fitted with TRX WheelSystems wheels with 33mm wide carbon rims.

The popular XtC Giant hardtail also gets an update

for 2017, with the most notable change being the addition of a 27.5+ option to the 29 inch stable. The 27.5+ XtC is said to be perfect for singlespeeders, while the 29er remain the go-to bike of XCO and endurance racing weight

weenies. A brand new addition to the Giant hardtail line is the Fathom. The ALUXX SL-grade aluminium Fathom is available in 27.5 or 29er wheel sizes and features a 69° head angle to create a versatile hardtail for racing and trail riding.

CAMERON BAIRD | GIANT

The stiffer and lighter composite upper rocker arm.

CAMERON BAIRD | GIANT

FS NEWS

The 2017 Anthem is an even more capable machine than it’s predecessor.

SA XCO & DHI CHAMPS

a European feel to it than the Pietermaritzburg World Cup track. Track designer Nick Floros hopes that the shorter but more technical route will better prepare local riders for the conditions they’ll face when racing internationally.

ABOVE: Stephan Garlicki on his way to victory.

BELOW: James Reid defended his SA XCO Title.

SA CHAMPIONSHIPS RESULTS PHOTOS BY ANDREW MC FADDEN | BOOGS PHOTOGRAPHY

The South African crosscountry and downhill championships took place in Pietermaritzburg over the 16th and 17th of July. Both reigning Elite Men’s champions defended their titles, but in the women’s races new champions were crowned.

In the XCO race James Reid put a disappointing European excursion behind him to overhaul a 45 second gap to Philip Buys in order to retain the title he won last year in Stellenbosch. While in the women’s XCO showdown Mariske Strauss dominated the field to claim victory over her Novus OMX teammate Cherie Redecker and Kargo’s Hayley Smith.

In the DHI races on Sunday the 17th young local Sabine Thies claimed victory on the entirely new downhill track.

Kath Fourie was second after a few minor crashes in her race run while another junior, Gabrielle Lanfear, rounded out the podium. The elite men’s downhill saw Stefan Garlicki overcome a slow qualifying time to set the fastest time of the championships, in so doing retaining the title he won last year. In second it was Johann Potgieter while Jonathan Philogene was third. The new downhill course received lots of praise from the competitors, who agreed it had far more of

Elite XCO Men 1. James Reid (01:32:56) 2. Philip Buys (01:33:10) 3. Gert Heyns (01:36:53) Elite XCO Women 1. Mariske Strauss (01:40:24) 2. Cherie Redecker (01:47:52) 3. Hayley Smith (01:50:16) Elite DHI Men 1. Stefan Garlicki (02:33.854) 2. Johann Potgieter (02:35.006) 3. Jonathan Philogene (02:35.172) Elite DHI Women 1. Sabine Thies (04:06.541) 2. Kathryn Fourie (04:56.405) 3. Gabrielle Lanfear (05:20.543)

THE EAGLE HAS LANDED IN SA For fans of new tech this will be an eagerly awaited piece of news: SRAM Eagle is now available in South Africa in all its 12 speed glory. The SRAM Eagle drivetrains will be available in XX1 Eagle and XO1 Eagle for around R24 100 and R20 200 for full drivetrains respectively.

For those of you who have somehow managed to miss the furore over the new 12 speed cassette from SRAM which boasts reduced noise

and friction, improved chain retention, a huge gear range supplied by the 50 tooth big sprocket and an advertised longer lifespan. Expect topend bikes from brands with close ties to SRAM to come Eagle equipped in 2017, and you should start to see those on the showroom floor of your local bike shop in late August too.

To read more about SRAM Eagle technology visit www.sram.com

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NEWS

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

FROM PAGE 06

SILVERBACK WIN GERMAN BRAND AWARD

POTBERG & DE HOOP MTB

ANDREAS DOBSLAFF

Silverback Bicycles have been racking up the awards in recent years and they’ve just added the German Brand Award for successful brand management to their collection. Perhaps more importantly to mountain bikers though, is that their Sesta SBC (Super Bike Concept) added the 2016 German Design Award to the Eurobike award it won in 2014.

We’ve had a closer look at a few of their bikes now and we’ll hopefully be testing one soon too. But what we really like the look of is their IDS Revo Technology suspension set-up, as seen on their Sprada and Slider

trail bikes. It’s an interesting take on a virtual pivot point design where the main linkage attaches concentrically to the bottom bracket.

ALL IMAGES BY JULIE ANN HOFFMAN

Check out their latest bikes and find out more about the awards at www.silverbacklab.com

TREK FUEL EX 27.5 PLUS

Find out more at www.trekbikes.com LAURENCE CROSSMAN-EMMS

Dubbed the MidFat, the Trek Fuel EX 27.5 Plus is Trek’s full suspension entry to the burgeoning plus wheel size market. The MidFat features 130mm rear and 140mm front suspension travel, is shod with 27.5 inch by 2.8 inch tyres on 40mm wide rims on boost spaced hubs. You’ll be able to run standard 29 inch wheels on the MidFat frame too if

you’re looking for a bike to do both trail rides and marathon races on and would prefer to purchase a second wheel set rather than a second bike.

As the MidFat is essentially a mid-model year update on the 2016 Trek Fuel EX much remains the same, though Trek have gone with the new metric-sized rear shock and optimised the leverage ratio

to bring it in line with the performance enhancements of the new Fox EVOL and RockShox DebonAir shocks.

The Fuel EX is a bike we’ve always loved and the plus wheel size is fantastic for inspiring confidence on the trail, so we predict the Fuel EX 27.5 Plus is going to be a riot to ride. Watch this space for South African availability, pricing and a review.

With Spring on its way, we’re starting to froth at the events on the near horizon.

September is one of the busiest months on the mountain biking calendar and we suggest you kick it off with the Potberg & De Hoop MTB. The stage race in the amazing De Hoop Nature Reserve is organised by Garden Route Events and has gained in popularity greatly over the years. With 75km and 55km distances on offer in the long route and 25km and 22km for the short there’s something for the fit and not-so-fit riders in the family. We also can’t

oversell the beauty of the area, you’ll spot rare birds, ride through unique fynbos biomes, traverse wheat fields, pass nearly within touching distance of herds of eland and cap it all with a great meal overlooking the De Hoop Vlei.

Entry packages include various accommodation options, or you can book your own accommodation outside the reserve – as the De Hoop Collection’s cottages and campsites are selling out fast.

For more information and online entries visit www.dehoopmtb.co.za

WOMEN IN MTB

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

With this being the women’s issue we thought we’d take the time to put the spotlight on eight women we are inspired by in mountain biking.

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KATHY CRABBE

The lady with the biggest heart in mountain biking, Kathy is the general manager of songo.info.

It’s a tough job of drumming up financial support and then spending the money wisely to ensure it helps the kids in the programme as much as possible. But if you’ve ever been to a songo.info event you’ll have seen how much she loves what she does. She should be an inspiration to us all helping those less fortunate than ourselves to better their lives through mountain biking and education. Follow her on Twitter: @KathCrabbe.

Robyn is the South African marathon champ and undoubtedly our most successful female rider in recent years. She’s also one of the best ambassadors the sport and Ascendis Health could hope for; always friendly, always smiling, gracious in defeat and victory and happy to make time for a chat. Follow her on Twitter: @robyndegroot.

WWW.ZOONCRONJE.COM

ROBYN DE GROOT

SEAMUS ALLARDICE

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INSPIRATIONAL WOMEN 05

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If you need inspiration to take on a challenge then Nicola is a lady to seek out. Last year she took one of those life affirming, make all your friends jealous that you’re so brave, trips when she cycled solo through 1 500km of remote New Zealand countryside. Do yourself a favour and read her blog www.nixcollins.wordpress.com and follow her on Twitter: @GingerGiggler.

CHERIE REDECKER

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ARMIN M. KÜSTENBRÜCK

Robyn is one of our favourite ladies to bump into on the trail.

She’s fast, always keen for a chat and has come a long way since the days of never venturing onto the singletrack without her knee and elbow pads… Teasing her is part of the fun, but she’s a role model to every woman out there of how to overcome technical fears by always pushing beyond one’s comfort zone.

Follow her on Twitter: @RobsWilliams.

MARISKE STRAUSS

Arguably the most talented of our local ladies Mariske has struggled with injuries over the last year or so. But following a couple of tough UCI MTB World Cup outings she looks to be getting back to her best and won the SA XCO title in July. We hope it’s the start of a successful spell for the OMX star. Follow her on Twitter: @StraussMariske.

08 CANDICE NEETHLING

MIA MOCKE

ROBYN WILLIAMS

Mia is a superb athlete in her own right, but it’s her work with others for which we’re highlighting her here. Through her personal training business, Mia’s Training, she inspires and empowers so many women to live an active and healthy life. Mia proves every day that you can affect positive change in others. Follow her on Instagram: @miastraining.

ARMIN M. KÜSTENBRÜCK

03 JB BADENHORST

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MIA MOCKE

CRAIG KOLESKI

You might still know her as Cherie Vale, so a readjustment is probably in order. Cherie joined the pro ranks relatively late, having excelled as an MTB event photographer and semi-pro rider. But she’s grabbed the opportunity with both hands and has proven that there is a career to be made from MTB if you put in the hard work, let the results speak for themselves and be the best representative a brand could ever hope for.

Follow her on Twitter: @CherieVale.

NICOLA COLLINS

NICOLA COLLINS

Now riding for Team Dorma Candice hides a growing mental toughness behind her famous cheeky smile.

2016 has been a great year for Candice on the bike, with wins in the joBerg2c, sani2c, National XCM Series, Nissan Trailseeker Series and the RECM Knysna 200. Expect more wins in 2017. Follow her on Twitter: @Candice_MTB

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TRAILS – OEWERZICHT

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

Listen up, all you fat tyre types… there’s a singletrack party happening at Greyton and you’re all invited. I found stacks of new tracks during the recent #GreytonClassic – here’s where to go find them! Photographs and words by Jacques Marais.

GETTING THERE

A GREYTON CLASSIC

EXIT GREYTON TOWARDS RIVIERSONDEREND AND TURN RIGHT AT KRIGE SIGNBOARD OVER THE BRIDGE. AT THE FORK 5KM LATER, KEEP LEFT AND CONTINUE UNTIL YOU SEE THE OEWERZICHT RECEPTION SIGNS ON YOUR RIGHT (9KM).

N1

LOCAL BUZZ I’ve heard some folks refer to Greyton as ‘South Africa’s Little England’. Well, that’s just plain old bull: if the UK had weather like this, most of the Cape would probably have emigrated to Blighty by now.

That said, I do see similarities with the Lake District’s rolling green hills, craggy peaks and clear streams.

The upside is that you’re still in Mama Africa, and that a burger at Oak & Vigne or Searle’s Restaurant won’t cost you a kidney. Add to this excellent local wine and craft beer, and a whole bunch of charming delis, craft shops, bakeries and a chocolaterie, nogal, and you have a winner when it comes to an MTB weekend away.

A major advantage is that the laid-back village atmosphere will satisfy non-riders too, allowing you to crank 24/7 while your significant others spa, hike, horse ride or trail run along a plethora of mountain routes.

Plus, you can choose from any type or style of level of accommodation you could care to mention…

Get in touch with your inner savage in an Indian tepee; hole up in a Hobbit-style straw-bale house; go lah-di-dah in a boutique hotel; chill on a self-catering farm stay; or even relax river-side in a luxury safari tent. But whatever you do, make sure you saddle up and go play in the breathtaking great outdoors epitomising this area.

Greyton is situated within the Cape Winelands, but close to the border of the Overberg, so expect mainly winter rain.

Summers are just this side of mild, but mid-winter months can get pretty serious, with muddy trails and snow on the mountains.

WHERE TO FIND US

“A MAJOR ADVANTAGE IS THAT THE LAID-BACK VILLAGE ATMOSPHERE WILL SATISFY NON-RIDERS TOO, ALLOWING YOU TO CRANK 24/7.”

TRAIL LOW-DOWN Focus, bru! Before you do anything else, pop into Vanilla Café and get your trails permit (R20 for PPA members and R40 for non-PPA members for a two-day temporary permit).

Cool, now that you’re legal, where do you start your ride is probably the next question, and in Greyton, you are so spoilt for choice that this is pretty relevant.

If you want flat, fast and windy, pop over the bridge in the Riviersonderend direction, then immediately sneak onto the RockHopper Forest Trail (4.5km) to your right. Corné and his crew put consistent work into this section and you’re bound to find a new kicker or berm to play on whenever you crank here.

There is an easy connection (and a vicious climb!) onto the Bakenskop Cobra from here, with a hyper-speed descent

down the mountain towards Genadendal village. Continue up towards the mountain side of this sleepy mission village, looking out for the singletrack traversing along the ridges in the direction of Greyton.

This was my first experience of the ‘Rocky Horror’ climb, fortunately on quite fresh legs, and ith divine payback along the loopy ‘Luislang’ back into town. If you want to pedal a bit further out of town towards ‘The Oaks’ there is a superb loop via ‘Pine Alley’ and the ‘Picnic Place’ before you hit a solid climb just after the dam, with a downhill back into ‘The Oaks’ that makes for a bug-splattered kinda smile.

And finally, there is fantastic Oewerzicht Farm, just on 10 minutes drive from Greyton. Kootjie Viljoen is part of the original Dirtopia Festival set, and their 23km route makes you work for your stoke. Dip and grind through gritty kloofs, flat-line it through the fields, and bomb rocky river crossings, all the while surrounded by flocks of sheep and blue cranes.

The trails make up part of the annual Greyton Classic which has built a reputation as an incredible adventure weekend.

Greyton lies nestled in the Riviersonderend Mountains, at just 140km from the Cape Town CBD. It’s become one of the most popular spots for a weekend getaway in the Cape. Along with all the outdoor and culinary attractions the village also boasts a host of B&B’s making finding accommodation pretty easy – outside of the Greyton Classic long weekend that is.

s all e

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

“DIP AND GRIND THROUGH GRITTY KLOOFS, FLAT-LINE IT THROUGH THE FIELDS, AND BOMB ROCKY RIVER CROSSINGS.”

TRAILS – OEWERZICHT

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SUS THE OEWERZICHT MTB TRAIL GRADING: Intermediate DURATION: 90min- 2hrs CONFIGURATION: Circular – 23km START POINT: Oewerzicht Reception TERRAIN: Mostly singletrack; some gravel road and jeep-track MAP: At Reception – Trail Is Well Marked ENTRY FEE: Free riding for Oewerzicht guests, R40 for a two day pass.

FACILITIES: Ablutions and secure parking; range of accommodation

CELL RECEPTION: Good BEWARE OF: Muddy ruts in winter MUST DO EVENT: Greyton Classic www.greytonclassic.co.za ACCOMMODATION: www.oewerzicht.co.za Tel: (028) 254 9831 MORE INFO: www.greytontourism.co.za or www.ggmtb.com COORDINATES: S 34° 05’ 57.98” E 19° 40’ 5.07”

Jacques Marais is the South African trail guru. If he’s not scouting a new MTB trail he’s trail running a new route in the Drakensberg.

His new book, Top MTB Trails 2, has just hit the shelves of all good book shops and you can purchase a copy for R250. Follow him on Twitter @ JacqMaraisPhoto

14

RIDE REPORT - RECM

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

ALL PHOTOS BY JULIE ANN HOFFMAN

FAMILY RACING IN THE GARDEN ROUTE Simone van Aardt had never ridden a Garden Route Event race before, but had heard lots of good things, so she jumped at the chance to ride the 2016 RECM Knysna 200 with her mom, Lolita.

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he registration went down smoothly at the Thesen Harbour Island race village. It didn’t even take two minutes and we’d received everything we needed: a number board, a meal armband, some Hammer Nutrition samples and a snazzy Cape Storm fleece top to keep us warm when we weren’t on the bike.

We then headed to Sirocco Restaurant for the race briefing and a buffet dinner before making our way to our accommodation.

While the race village centred on the Tapas & Oyster and Sirocco Restaurants, each stage started at different venues each day though, each around 15 to 20km outside of Knysna. There were complimentary AVIS shuttles from the finish to the daily start venues for those of us who needed to collect our vehicles after the riding.

STAGE 1 KNYSNA ELEPHANT PARK TO THESEN HARBOUR TOWN A strong field of female riders – including Candice Neethling, Carmen Buchacher, Katja Steenkamp and Theresa Ralph – gathered at the Knysna Elephant Park for Stage 1 of the RECM Knysna 200. Luckily for us, they were all not competing in our category. The ride started with a neutral zone, which gave us just enough time to warm-up our legs before we hit the first uphill. It was very muddy and my mom’s tyres just did not want to grip. Once up the first

“THE BEST PART, HOWEVER, WAS BEING ABLE TO RIDE AS A TEAM WITH MY MOM.” climb we passed a farm and then went into the indigenous forest for the Petrus-se-Brand climb. Though uphill, the forest trails were incredible.

After a plantation section we headed back into the indigenous forest and hit the “secret” singletrack, which was

Event sponsor RECM Asset Management were out in full force at the RECM Knysna 200.

the most amazing singletrack ever. I felt so privileged to ride this 10km section of trail, as we were told that this is opened for races only. At the second water point our chains and derailleurs got a much needed rinse and were re-lubed and we were on our way again.

At the race briefing the previous night Pax, the race organiser, told us that after this water point we should expect a climb – which he described as a “gentle slope”.

This climb was, however, anything but gentle. Luckily though, after that the stage was pretty much flats and descents; with the fun Enduro section in between, as we raced to the finish.

Team Dorma was well represented

by Nico Pfitzenmaier.

RIDE REPORT - RECM

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

Dylan Rebello powering up the WTF climb.

15

STAGE 3 HARKERVILLE FOREST TO THESEN HARBOUR TOWN The final stage got off to an icy start. Many riders, including me, were holding onto warm tops until seconds before the start. The ride started quite fast with a small climb where I lost my mom.

For this stage, we were very much a mismatched pair: My cycling strength lies in my ability to start fast and climb whereas my mom’s is on ultra-rides, flats, descends and facing any harsh conditions (wind, extreme heat, etc.). This was a 58km stage ride with approximately 860m of climbing and in perfect conditions, ideal for me.

Once we found each other at the top of the climb, she let me know that she was struggling to get going. We decided to slow down a bit. We then head into some amazing indigenous trails, following a contour line, through

Knysna is a beautiful spot for a mountain bike race.

Kranshoek for some sea views – and after approximately 15km, we slowly but surely started to catch riders who had passed us earlier.

My mom’s legs started to warm just in time so that we could have some fun as we hit the first section of singletrack.

The next section of singletrack was particularly stunning – it had the most beautiful green moss and ferns growing amongst the trees. The bridges, however, managed to catch me by surprise – my bike decided to slip out from underneath me and I crashed again!

The ride then descended

back into the indigenous forest. A singletrack took us to Brakenhill Falls, we then rode through Cape Pine plantations, turned into Kruisfontein and descended some more until we reached the lowest point in Pezula Valley.

After reaching this point, we had one last climb. We climbed until we reached the famous Grass Ridge. It was then some fast downhill, a small section of a very “rooty” singletrack and the last section to the finish was tar and paved road along the Knysna Lagoon.

STAGE 2 QUINTA DA MONTANHA TO THESEN HARBOUR TOWN Stage 2 started with a neutral zone once again, I’m not sure if this neutral zone was too short to warm up or whether my legs were feeling the after-effects of stage 1 (I think the latter), but as soon as we hit the 3km, “The Ultimate Cycling Queen of the Mountain”, climb, they just didn’t want to pedal.

Luckily though, I had a little time to recover as I waited for my mom to reach the top. We then descended into the most beautiful forest for approximately 2km. And you know what they say: “for every uphill is a downhill”.

Well, the reverse also applies.

For every downhill is an uphill, and they certainly made sure that we climbed. Within the first 25km we had climbed around 1 000m!

The most relentless climb, however, must’ve been the climb just before water point one. On Strava, I see that this climb was named the “WTF Climb” – And trust me, every single rider that I found on that climb was thinking, or saying, “WTF” as we were struggling up this climb.

At water point two, my mom’s chain unfortunately broke. Perhaps fortunately we were at the water point, because if it happened anywhere else I’m not sure we

would have been able to fix it.

On the second last singletrack down Phantom Pass, I managed to crash twice – my technical skills aren’t the greatest when I get tired – and when I reached the end of the singletrack I felt my pockets and realised that my phone hopped out during my fall, so I went running back to find it.

Luckily, I found it pretty quickly and then it was tar and paved road along the Knysna lagoon to the finish, accompanied by the lovely view of the Knysna Heads.

ABOVE: Candice Neethling emerged victorious in the Solo Ladies’ race.

ABOVE RIGHT: Simone and Lolita van Aardt enjoying a wellstocked water point.

N1

WHERE TO FIND US The RECM Knysna 200 takes place in the lush indigenous forests and pine plantations, where elephants still roam, around the Garden Route mecca of Knysna. Knysna Tourism is positioning the town as Trail Town SA and it’s hard to argue with that tag line.

OVERALL EXPERIENCE It’s difficult to fault the RECM Knysna 200. Overall it was an incredible event and it felt as if the whole Knysna community joined forces to make the event a success.

The organisation was great. The route was clearly marked and honestly some of the most beautiful trails I have ever ridden. The water points were well-stocked – there was a variety of choices to refuel with, as well as Hammer Nutrition. The food was enjoyable – for lunches

we were treated to a buildyour-own-burger affair and for dinners, a buffet. The vibe was awesome – the evening presentations with race briefing, daily photos slideshows, sponsor talks, views on charitable causes, as well as being surrounded by people with the same passion as you was lovely.

The best part, however, was being able to ride as a team with my mom. The RECM Knysna 200 was three days on the bike which I will never forget.

Simone van Aardt is a BCom graduate from the University of Stellenbosch, currently adjusting to the real world in her first year of work. When not working, she enjoys mountain biking, spending time with family, hiking, and cooking. Follow her on Twitter: @simonevaardt.

16

BIKE REVIEW

XCO OBSESS

AUGUST 2016 VOL33

“THE LIV OBSESS ADVANCED 2 IS A WOMAN’S SPECIFIC XC BIKE, THROUGH AND THROUGH.”

When we found out we’d be testing the Liv Obsess Advanced 2 – the production version of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot’s XCO race machine – there was only one rider to test it: Diana Carolin, the reigning SA Veteran XCO Champion.

P H O T O S : A S H L E E AT T W O O D

w

hen I got the call from Full Sus to test the Liv Obsess Advanced 2 I realized a couple of things straight away… It has been over a year since I last rode or raced a hard tail and it’s been even longer since I last rode a bike with wheels smaller than 29”.

So I was pretty interested to see how the bike and I would get on.

The Liv Obsess Advanced 2 is a woman’s specific XC bike, through and through.

In my opinion it would be best suited to younger riders wanting to race cross-country or shorter marathon events.

The 27.5” wheels are made up of Giant P-XC 2 rims on Giant Tracker hubs, laced with Sapim Race spokes and shod with Schwalbe Racing Ralph tyres. It features an XC specific Fox FiT4 front fork, 2x10 gearing provided by a Shimano SLX drivetrain and a 170mm crank arm. The bike’s advanced-grade composite frame is nice and neat to look at, with its internal cable routing integrated into down tube through rubberised ports. Another neat touch is its hidden seat post clump, which is recessed where the top tube joins the seat tube. The geometric paint-job wasn’t really to my liking, but I can see it appealing to younger female riders, especially those who like funky kit.

Jumping on the Liv I noticed the bars were set

way too high, so I removed the spacers, dropping them quite a bit for a more aggressive ride. With the stem slammed I noticed the steering precision provided by the Fox fork combining with the OverDrive head tube, as seen on the men’s Giant mountain bikes.

Another oversized feature on the frame is the Power Core bottom bracket, which Giant say improves pedalling power.

The Shimano SLX drivetrain and brakes fall into the midrange of the Japanese brand’s component line, meaning they provide great performance and a long lifespan but without the major price tag. Which is a big plus if you’re a young working person paying for your bike maintenance.

With the Liv Obsess set-up I decided to head out for a ride on my local trails, as I know them well. They are quite varied, with rooty and rocky sections as well as smooth fast flowing sections so I could get a good feel for the bike. The Obsess is nice and nippy on the climbs and in the corners. To be honest I am so used to riding a 1x11 that I didn’t realise I was on a 2x until I hit a steeper climb up over a rooty section and started fishing for gears. To my delight there were a few more! What a treat!

What I did notice though was that the medium frame size, which I’d chosen for the test was a bit small. At 175cm tall I felt a bit cramped on the bike. I think a large would have been a better choice, though the bike was equipped with a relatively short stem so a longer

stem could have made a big difference too.

Once at the top of the route I headed downhill and really put the Obsess through its paces, hitting the drop-offs and jumps I usually take on my full suspension bike. It handled them all with ease and the nicely balanced geometry never left me feeling out of sorts even though I’d only spent an hour on the bike before attempting the technical terrain. All-in-all the Liv Obsess Advanced 2 felt great on the trails and provided a fun ride. With its agile climbing, balanced descending and nippy handling it really is the prefect XCO hard tail.

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

17

BIKE REVIEW

Both stopping force and acceleration comes courtesy of Shimano SLX components.

“I CAN SEE IT APPEALING TO YOUNGER FEMALE RIDERS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO LIKE FUNKY KIT.”

SUS THE LIV OBSESS ADVANCED 2

RRP R34 995

All measurements are for an 18 inch sized medium framed bike.

Head tube angle

70°

Seat tube angle

73°

Top tube

589mm

Head tube

109mm

Chainstay

429mm

Wheel Base 1 076mm Left: Neat rubberised ports for the internal cable routing and funky geometric patterns characterise the Obsess’ frame.

Far Left: The Advanced 2 model, as tested, features remote lockout for the Fox FiT4 fork.

Standover height

723mm

Reach

408mm

Stack

596mm

Diana Carolin has been a long time contributor to Full Sus, penning a regular column in 2015, submitting race reports and articles on sports massage therapy. She’s currently focusing on Olympic format racing with the aim of representing SA at the Master’s World Champs. Follow her on Twitter: @di_carolin.

18

KLEINHANS MUESLI

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

ALL PHOTOS BY ERIK KLEINHANS

SWELLENDAM SURPRISE!

How about a relaxing weekend getaway? As Erik Kleinhans discovered you don’t have to drive too far, from virtually anywhere in SA, to find a town that’s mad on MTB and set-up for riders to have a jol.

s

wellendam is one such gem, thanks to passionate mountain biking locals like Sakkie, Wynand and Alison.

Swellendam is well known in the cycling community for its success in hosting the Double Century every November, but now they have some marked off-road routes too thanks to the Marloth Nature Reserve and some landowners in the mountains overlooking the lovely town.

Reinette and I packed our bikes and enjoyed the scenery on the easy drive from Cape Town; we were smiling from ear-to-ear when we saw the gorgeous Schoone Oordt Boutique Hotel. Even more so when we read about how Alison and Richard Walker worked tirelessly for four years to transform this lovely Cape Victorian style house into simple, stylish comfort.

On Saturday we joined the “Friends of Marloth” on their first social outride on their newly marked routes. This is an initiative to promote the active use of the Marloth

Nature Reserve for riding and hiking. There are three options for all skill and fitness levels.

The 28km loop we did is a little challenging with plenty of climbing and some real MTB terrain. The focus at this time is to open routes to the public and then at a later stage more singletrack will be built.

It’s great to see what Sakkie, a full time farmer, with the assistance of some others are creating on the mountain!

“WE JOINED THE “FRIENDS OF MARLOTH” ON THEIR FIRST SOCIAL OUTRIDE ON THEIR NEWLY MARKED ROUTES.” On Sunday we headed out to the Bontebok National Park for a slightly easier MTB outing. This is perfect for the family or if you feel like doing a simple 40km ride while searching for some Bontebok,

Erik and Reinette (in the RECM kit) joined the Friends of Marloth on their first social on the nature reserve’s newly marked routes.

Cape Mountain Zebra, Red Wildebees and Grey Ribbok.

They do have a dedicated MTB route, which is just a rougher jeep track, but it’s still very easy for anyone to do.

We did not get there this time around, but not too far away from Swellendam is the Grootvadersbos trail network were singletrack is the name of the game. It could make for a lovely backpack tour.

One can only ride so much and apart from cycling, coffee and food is next on the list!

We did not get to try all, but an absolute winner was the steak at Field and Fork with the beef straight from a local Swellendam farm. Breakfast at Schoone Oordt had us pretty

motivated to get out of bed which is normally very hard on a relaxing weekend! And our post ride coffees were enjoyed at the Old Gaol restaurant, were a warm soup made an appearance. Later we planted ourselves in the afternoon sun.

Despite all these activities and great places, we were

mostly blown away by the friendly community. All the staff we encountered were well spoken and friendly.

The people of Swellendam are so proud of their town, they stand together and it is heart-warming to see. Thanks Swellendam for a stunning weekend! I Can’t wait for our next visit.

Erik Kleinhans has joined the specialist marathon racing team of Topeak Ergon, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be hearing any less from the Lion King. Follow him on Twitter: @erikkleinhans, or visit www.topeak-ergon-racing.com.

19

DIE GROOT LEM

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

WWW.ZOONCRONJE.COM

Ure en ure se langafstand-oefeninge is nie noodwendig goed vir mens se vaardighede nie.

e

k tik nou die storietjie op my selfoon want na ‘n lekker vakansie kom ek huis toe en alle fietse en rekenaars is gesteel. (Ek is in die mark vir ‘n borgskap op twee 29ers.) Toe ek hoor die maand se tema is “vroue” het ek nie ’n idee gehad waaroor om te skryf of waar om te begin nie. Ek weet steeds nie eintlik nie. Maar ek gaan iets probeer skryf oor die “link” tussen die G-spot en hoekom daar geen Suid-Afrikaanse vroue by die Olimpiese Spele is nie.

Soos wat meeste van julle weet is hier naby ons huisie, in Stellenbosch, ‘n bekende plek met die naam van die G-spot.

Hier geniet mans, vroue en kinders van alle groottes die kol op hul fietse. Meeste van die huidige wêreldkampioene kom hier opskerp. Daar is selfs ‘n Strava of twee op die G-spot! Soms kom mense (hier kon die sinnetjie stop maar dis ‘n fietsrykoerant) met groot afwagting van heinde en verre om ‘n lekker tyd te hê. Soos julle weet is die G-spot nie maklik om te vind nie, so in Stellenbosch is nou aanwysings en bordjies op, om jou of jou rymaat te help om daar uit of in te kom.

Daar is ook “danger, up, down,

rooi pyle, moenie in die draaie briek nie, eie risiko” en ander waarskuwings- en informasietekens. So as jy nie regkom nie is dit jou eie skuld. ‘n Paar jaar gelede ry ek in die omgewing rond en ry so half in ‘n jong meisie vas wat toe pas in Stellenbosch

“ONS RY URE EN URE SE LANGAFSTAND-OEFENINGE EN -WEDRENNE OP ONS DUAL SUS 29ERS EN ONS WEET NIE MEER HOE OM MET SKILLS TE RY NIE.” begin ry het. Sy was eintlik toe meer van ‘n fotograaf by bergfietswedrenne. Anyway, ek vra haar toe heel onskuldig of sy weet waar die G-spot is. Nou ek moet byvoeg sy is ‘n baie ordentlike meisie en haar gesig het effe van kleur verander. Ek verduidelik toe vinnig dat dit ook ‘n plekkie is wat ek haar kan gaan wys en dit sal haar beter laat ry.

Bergfietsry. ‘n Paar jaar later en die onskuldige jong meisie het nou mooi groot geword, sy was die SA cross country kampioen en droom om na die Rio Olimpiese Spele te gaan.

Nou hang dit af wanneer jy die gratis koerantjie in jou fietswinkel optel maar die maand is die Olimpiese Spele.

En daar is ‘n wedren vir mense wat baie goed op die G-spot is. Ongelukkig is dis omtrent die eerste keer dat daar nie ‘n SA vrou gaan deelneem nie.

Met soveel honderde vroue

BARTOSZ WOLINSKI | RED BULL CONTENT POOL

Hendrik Lemmer sê hy het gesukkel met die tema van vroue, maar toe kom hy van Turkye af huis toe na die G-Spot.

VROUE, G-SPOT EN DIE OLIMPIESE SPELE

in SA wat bergfiets ry is dit ‘n groot teleurstelling en iets is fout. Ek het nie ‘n steekproef of navorsing gedoen nie maar ek dink daar is ‘n konneksie tussen die G-spot en die feit dat daar geen vroue Rio toe gaan nie.

Laat ek verduidelik…

Ons land is so behep met

langafstandsport vir die massas soos die Epic, Ysterman en Comrades soort goeters dat ons vergeet het van die Olimpiese dissiplines.

Eerder as om op die G-spot te gaan speel en werk aan vaardighede, ry ons ure en ure se langafstand-oefeninge en -wedrenne op ons dual sus 29ers en ons weet nie meer hoe om met skills te ry nie. As ons top vroue meer op die G-spot gefokus het eerder as net ’n laaang ryery was daar dalk nou iemand in Rio. Ek dink volgende maand se tema is kinders waar ek sal aanhou met die tema maar sonder die kol.

LINKS: Vaardighede word net beter as mens gaan speel op die tegniese roetes.

Hendrik ‘Groot Lem’ Lemmer is ‘n fietsry-kommentator en ‘n eiendomsagent. Hy bly nog steeds in die tuiste van bergfietsry in Suid-Afrika, Stellenbosch, en as jy nie omgee oor ‘n Twitter-oorlog of twee nie kan jy hom volg: @GrootLem.

20

COACHING & HEALTHFUL AMY

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

ASK DR MIKE ROSE AMONG THE THORNS This issue Dr Mike Posthumus answers Debbie’s question about how to improve one’s riding when faced with a guy’s only riding group.

Dear Debbie, This is a common complaint since most riding groups are male dominated. Firstly, it sounds as if you constantly have to ride within a much higher “zone” than the males in your riding group. This will result in you never having an easy day and never fully recovering. This may eventually lead to overtraining and will leave you feeling slower and demotivated. The answer to your woes though is not necessarily to avoid riding with the group of guys, but rather cut back on the amount of days you ride with them.

Riding hard has its benefits and a very hard tempo ride could be a great addition to your training regimen, but it shouldn’t be your only hard training and shouldn’t be performed too often. My suggestion to you would be to choose one day a week to ride with this training group. On the day you do ride with them see it as a race and try and set the pace. The objective should be to ride as hard as you can on that specific day. The added group ride affect will help you push yourself and doing this once a week only will be a good measure of how you are progressing.

I would recommend you performing another hard training session each week, preferably with a few days recovery after the hard group ride. For this training session, perform set interval sessions. If you do not have a training partner that can perform intervals with you outside, you could do this in your gym or at home on your indoor trainer if you feel unsafe riding outside. This interval session does not need to be long, a focussed structured interval session can be performed in 45 minutes. An example, and a favourite of mine, is 8 x 2 minute intervals with 90 seconds rest between each.

The other rides you do during the week should remain very easy. On a scale from 0-10, these rides should not be more than 3. There are JOIN A GROUP a few ladies riding groups SAFELY which may be perfectly Rather than advertise suited to an easy group ride your group rides on public with company that will make forums, visit your local you feel safe riding outside. bike shop and join their Alternatively find a more ladies group. Or initiate social riding group that will your own with their help. ride at a pace that you find Start a WhatsApp group very easy. and keep the ride times These small changes will off the internet unless have you showing up those you have a vehicle to guys in the group ride in no follow you or you’re riding time. in a secure trail park.

Dr. Mike Posthumus is an accomplished academic with UCT’s Exercise Science and Sports Medicine faculty and a coach with Science 2 Sport. Find out more at: www.sciencetosport.com

AMY BURTON

Dear Dr Mike, I am the only female rider in a group of guys, which ride 3 days a week. I really struggle since the pace is quite high and I have to work much harder than the guys. I am always tired and feel that I am not improving. I don’t know what to do however because I’m scared of riding by myself.

Thank you for helping Debbie

HEALTHFUL AMY: OATMEAL PIZZA Pizza! A word that evokes visions of melting cheese, crispy crunchy bases, topped with juicy tomato sauce and heavenly toppings… Amy Burton has our undivided attention.

l

et’s be frank, there isn’t much better than a hot pizza box in ones hands on a Friday evening. It’s amazing, well, except the greasy bloated feelings, which kick in afterwards, right?

This is because most pizzas are unfortunately not the pinnacle of health and leave much to be desired in terms of nutrient content. The below recipe will blow your mind because it has all the tasty attributes of a normal pizza, although the base is wheat-free and nourishing at the same time. Top your pizza with lots of fresh veggies, mozzarella, your choice of protein and garden herbs to create the perfectly balanced healthy meal (In disguise as take-aways)

OATMEAL PIZZA BASES INGREDIENTS:

✱ 1 ¾ cups gluten free rolled oats + 1 tablespoon for rolling ✱ 3 eggs ✱ 60g good quality cheddar cheese ✱ Salt ✱ Pepper

METHOD:

1. Preheat your oven to 1900 C. 2. Grind your oats either in the food processor or a Nutribullet until fine flour has formed.

3. Place the Oat flour in a large bowl and then remove 1 tablespoon for later. Add your eggs, grated cheddar, salt and pepper.

Mix with your hands until a firm dough has formed, if it is too wet add a bit more oat flour, if it is a bit dry add a little

water until it is knead-able.

4. Line a baking tray with baking paper and lightly grease it with some olive or coconut oil.

5. Sprinkle your left over oat flour onto a clean surface and then roll our your dough with a rolling pin sprinkled with oat flour. You want the base to be as thin as possible.

6. Transfer your base to the baking tray and place in the oven for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Add tomato paste, mozzarella and your choice of toppings and then place the pizza back in the oven until it is baked sufficiently to your liking.

7. My topping was mozzarella, chicken cooked in Portuguese spices, baby marrows and fresh rocket from the garden.

Happy pizza making!

Amy Burton is a mountain biker, trail runner, graphic designer and foodie. She has recently of opened a Rawfood and Superfood smoothie bar at Trail and Tar in Tokai so drop by for a great healthy treat. When she is not riding her bike, running or running her own business, she posts amazing recipes and photos on Instagram, so follow her at @healthful_amy.

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Y O G A A N D P I L AT E S

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

WINTER: LET’S REST, RECOVER AND HIBERNATE!

BROUGHT TO YOU

BY CONCEPT STUDIO

RELAXING YOGA POSES

a

fter such an amazing and positively hectic summer with so many activities to choose from, competitions to train for, amazing weather and therefore no excuse not to train, winter might be the perfect way to give your body the rest and recovery it deserves.

It is important to find and maintain the balance in all aspect of our lives, including our training, to allow our nervous system to rest and balance out the sympathetic and pathetic functions of the nervous system.

In winter we tend to get sick quicker too, so it is important to give our immune system a boost as well. That way we are ready for a new season when it arrives.

The following poses can be done in a more relaxed way.

You can stay in the pose for a couple of breaths or you can even time the length of the pose and stay for between 1 - 5 minutes. Try to focus on your breath. Inhale for around 4 - 6 counts and exhale for the same amount of counts.

These poses calm your nervous system and drain your lymphatic system, which increase your immune system.

Rest, relax and allow your body to recover before you start your spring training with these yoga poses prescribed by Joëlle Sleebos.

DOWNWARDS FACING DOG

WIDELEGGED FORWARD FOLD

03

INHALE: Feet pointed straight forward, hands to hips

EXHALE: Fold forward, hands to the floor BREATH AND HOLD: Keep your legs engaged by lifting your kneecaps

CHILD POSE

01

04

INHALE/EXHALE: Downwards Facing Dog BREATH AND HOLD: Hold Downwards Facing Dog pose

INHALE/EXHALE: Child Pose BREATH AND HOLD: Rest, relax and focus on slow breathing

CAT & COW

SAVASANA

02

INHALE: Cat – Look up, coccyx/tailbone up

EXHALE: Cow – Look at your bellybutton, coccyx down, chin to chest REPEAT: Cat/Cow series of poses

05 RELAX: Relax in Savasana

Joëlle Sleebos has 16 years of experience in the fitness industry as a group fitness instructor and became a personal trainer in 2012. She’s been teaching yoga since 2010, when it also became her main form of exercise. Follow Joëlle on Twitter at @JoelleSleebos or on Facebook: Joelle Sleebos – Getting Personal.

www.conceptstudio.co.za | 021 434 2266 | @ConceptStudioSA Now offering Altitude Training for Runners, contact Concept Studio to find out more.

LIV BEYOND

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

b

ecause we were all interested in bikes and trying to progress our riding, we started a WhatsApp group that we called “3ft of Sweet Air”. If you’ve watched Napoleon Dynamite you’ll know why (and if you haven’t, Google “Napoleon Dynamite 3 feet of air” and watch the YouTube clip).

I guess the name of our group sums up our vibe, we all think we’re hilariously witty and we have all smashed ourselves into the ground riding bicycles. You’d be amazed at how strong a bond can form between girls who ride in baggies and have lots of scabs in various states of healing.

There’s a simple code that exists between us, and I’ve been trying to put my finger on it for a while.

During races we are serious, we are riding to do our best, and to do our best means we all want to get on the podium. But we also understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and we don’t take advantage of that, we rather use that to help each other progress and get better.

We share funny stories, we check in on each other when we’ve had huge crashes (jeez if you could see some of the pictures that go around of bruised bums and thighs you’d think this was a special interest adult group) and occasionally we actually make a plan to ride together.

I think though, one of the reasons that we dig our group is because we feel we can say anything without being judged.

For not knowing enough about our bikes or, for arguments sake, the mysteries of suspension set-up. We can say things like “You know the little thingy on the caliper where the wire thing goes through to keep the brake pads in?” sans eye rolls and deep

A MIXED BAG OF CRAZY There is a group of women who ride mountain bikes whom Kath Fourie really likes. Most of them she met through racing mountain bikes and this is their group’s story.

The members of 3 Ft of Sweet Air, spread across South Africa’s provinces.

sighs and heads being thrown back, shaking in disbelief of our ignorance. It’s totally fine because we don’t care how thick we sound, or that we identify bikes by colour before we even know what brand they are.

I notice it when we’re riding as well, this lack of worry. When girls ride together they tend to ride more aggressively and confidently because they’re not worrying about what their friend-who-is-a-guy, boyfriend or husband is thinking or expecting them to do. And to be brutally honest, when girls ride together and they see one girl doing something technical (be it a drop, rock garden, jump, whatever) they automatically think “Cool, I can do that” versus, “It’s fine, I don’t have to do that because he’s a guy and guys are just better than girls at that stuff.”

Honestly – this is how the female brain works in my experience. We worry about what we think men are expecting from us, but at

the same time have this unreasonable notion that because they’re guys they are: braver, more athletic, more fearless, fitter, stronger… better.

It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy that we buy into again and again; a historical bias against ourselves that sucks. Even if we say we don’t believe such nonsense, deep down we are consistently battling against the stereotype in our own heads. Can I do it? Can’t I do it? o I have to do it? Wait – hang on, she just did it so that means I can probably do it, oh wait, look at that, I just did it!

And that really isn’t to say girls must only ride with girls, I guess it’s just nice to have a clan to be an ass with. On our WhatsApp group I can send

a picture of a girl doing a humungous jump… or pictures of the haircut I am going to have and both items are greeted enthusiastically. It’s a weird space that not a lot of guys would really get. Like a mixture of cupcakes and moonshine, pet rats with pretty bows around their necks… polka-dot chainsaws… you know?

I have been asked on several occasions when I’ve met chaps who mountain bike: “Do you have any single friends who also mountain bike and drink beer?” and my answer is usually “I’m afraid all my friends who mountain bike are hooked

23

up” – but what I also usually add is: “But just remember they all get PMS, they all cry from time-to-time and they all like to do other things… like painting, baking, boot camp exercise, fashion, high heels, icing moulding, geology, gardening, piercings, knitting, tattoos, nail art…” at which point they glaze over. TMI. Mountain biker girls are usually very multi-faceted and eclectic and weird. When you sign up for a mountain biker, you get a mixed bag of crazy and you better be up for the challenges they present. I know because I have seen the look of pure bewilderment in my boyfriend’s eyes as I slump against a tree trunk in my DH kit wailing about how “I am just not feeling it!” only to have me happy as a sparrow two hours later sorting Tupperware in my kitchen. We are weird. W-E-I-R-D. Anyways, I think my point here is that I want to give a shout out to all female mountain bikers and their posses. Its so important to have each other’s backs, otherwise we’d be continually on the back foot about what we can or can’t achieve. And an extra special shout out to our partners who support us and somehow, for some reason, think we’re pretty cool despite countless explosions of teary frustration while ripping off body armour covered in sweat, dirt and usually some blood. We salute you. (And thanks for fixing that thingy on my bike!)

Kath Fourie is a project manager, a Masters student, a double UCI Masters World Champs medal winner and now a regular contributor to Full Sus. She can be found on the trails of Howick with her little pack of trail dogs, and Mark Millar, chasing down KOMs.

D I R T D I VA D I A R I E S

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

CAMERA PRESS

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RED BULL CONTENT POOL | BARTOSZ WOLINSKI

RIDING A BICYCLE WILL LEAD TO THE MORAL DECAY OF WOMEN.

THE BICYCLE AS THE VEHICLE TO

Then and now: How things have changed for the better.

The bicycle allowed 19th century women to travel more freely.

WWW.ARTSCYCLERY.COM

WOMEN’S LIBERATION “If the bloomer was the gateway garment, the bicycle was the vehicle to women’s liberation,” quotes Estelle Pickard.

What? Yes, there was a time like that. We’re talking mid1800’s – the Victorian era, when women wore layers of skirts, petticoats and corsets.

If they didn’t wear corsets, they were termed “loose”. In addition to that, a woman of high stature was expected to be completely frail, helpless and dependent on others.

Anything to the contrary would be considered unladylike and morally questionable. Let alone entertaining the idea of physical exertion. These garments were not only intended to restrict women physically, but also to keep them morally in line. What a time to be a woman! In 1888 The Rational Dress Society issued a letter stating that the maximum weight of a woman’s underwear should not exceed 7 pounds (approximately 3,1kg). Gasp!

THEN ALONG CAME THE BICYCLE By the late 1880’s bicycle sales in America were booming – one in every 30 people in America owned a bicycle. In the same year, the New York Journal of

Commerce estimated that cycling was costing theatres, restaurants and other places of entertainment upward of a hundred million dollars per year as people were instead taking to cycling as a form of

“IT GIVES WOMEN A FEELING OF FREEDOM AND SELF-RELIANCE. I STAND AND REJOICE EVERY TIME I SEE A WOMAN RIDE BY.” entertainment. With this level of popularity, it was inevitable that women would also want to get in on the action but their prescribed “dress” made it very difficult to ride a bike.

To solve this problem, the bloomer was invented. Society was extremely disproving of female cyclists as it was believed that riding a bicycle will lead to the moral decay of women. The brave women who took to cycling despite public damnation were mocked,

harassed and banned from public places. The bloomer was mockingly referred to as a “gateway garment” as it was suggested that women who wore bloomers might consider further unladylike pursuits like business or reading.

WOMEN’S LIBERATION If the bloomer was the gateway garment, the bicycle was the vehicle to women’s liberation. Women were fighting for more rational clothing options for years and with the invention of the bicycle rational clothing for women ensued as a matter of practicality and necessity.

Women no longer relied on men for transportation and they were able to come and go as they please. They got into better physical condition and their mobility was increased unprecedentedly.

As a direct result of the invention of the bicycle, women became more selfsufficient and independent.

In 1896 Susan B Anthony, a women’s liberation activist said: “Let me tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to

RED BULL CONTENT POOL | BARTOSZ WOLINSKI

LIFE BEFORE BICYCLES

emancipate women than anything else in the world.

It gives women a feeling of freedom and self-reliance. I stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a wheel… the picture of free, untrammelled womanhood.”

Despite those words being 120 years old now, I think the same applies today. I too, “stand and rejoice every time I see a woman ride by,” because I know the feelings a bike ride awakens in me. The moment I take my seat I am free and unencumbered, liberated in a way that nothing else can set me free.

A modern trail blazer for women’s cycling: Jolanda Neff.

Estelle Pickard is a lawyer on sabbatical. She recently started the ladies specific cycling apparel brand Dirt Diva and will be providing a regular column for Full Sus on the trials and tribulations of finding her way as a woman on a mountain bike. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @hellodirtdiva.

STIRLING REVOLUTION

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

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years of marriage.

I am penning this the day after our anniversary. My wife bought me a wedding ring. My previous two wedding rings both wore out. If we were sitting in a bar I’d tell you how.

It wouldn’t be true but it would be funny. Disgustingly so. But we’re not sitting in a pub.

I bought her a new car. Just putting it out there. I’m not such a bad guy.

We celebrated with another anniversary couple (43 years).

The four of us got to discussing the secret to our matrimonial longevity and we unearthed an amazing commonality. Us guys are still, and have been riding bicycles for years. And a bit of tennis, surfing and a few other sporting activities.

Our wives will pedal around a village square in Sevilla and Florence and would have a fun holiday tennis game with their own rules e.g. the guys must serve underhand and the ball can bounce twice on their side of the net. I kid you not.

So where is this all going?

Surely there is a secret to a long, mostly happy marriage?

There is.

Dinners together with friends. (Very important; the longer you’re married the quieter dinner for two can be).

Matching taste in home decor is important – other than ‘her’ bedroom of course. If your wife has ever used the phrase ‘our bedroom’ you score high on the relationship barometer.

Bringing up your kids in a similar way is very important – much more important than ‘her’ bedroom and ‘his man cave’. If you’re already a grandparent you both realize it is so easy to spoil you grandkids rotten. Their parents (your kids) will have to sort out the aftereffects while you’re both happily watching Game of Thrones back at home.

Back to me riding bicycles and my wife not ridingbicycles.

She does her own stuff. Yoga,

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MARRIAGE AND CYCLING “SHE WON’T RIDE WITH YOU AFTER

36 years of marriage, to Stirling Senior, don’t come easy. So what’s the secret? Doing the Epic or joBerg2c together? Not a chance… home décor and air guitar.

A FEW MONTHS. SHE’LL RIDE WITH OTHER FAST CHICKS.”

ceramics, art and of course, lots of shopping (spoiling the grandkids, decorating the house – another candle or cushion...). She loves my Sunday rides and especially my Thursday night rides where she can catch up on Catch Up. I relish her Wednesday ceramic classes so I can plug my Telecaster into the amp and shred power chords and finger blues riffs makebelieving I’m Eric Clapton.

When she gets home and catches that last decibel she is quick to point out that I’m not Eric... not even close. Eina!

So, when a happy young couple comes into the store looking for two bicycles the sales staff do their best to jump in before I do. My staff know I am going to tell them the story I’m telling you. Not

good. I could lose the sale. But I’m still going to tell it. Share my wisdom.

Just a few weeks ago a 26 year old newly-married guy asked for two mountain bikes.

Yep, one of them for his new wife. I warned him. Told my story... happy long-term couples share one thing in common: different out-ofhouse interests. Gives them their time. Precious. He wasn’t buying my old school philosophy. Old people are no longer wise. Google has replaced us.

So, I go in hard. Budget?

R60K. For two bikes. Cool.

Two entry level soft tails. Or one R60K carbon machine just for you! His eyes sparkle. But not enough.

I try a different, emotional approach: ‘Women are

becoming really good at mountain biking and its possible she’ll be better than you. In which case she won’t ride with you after a few months. She’ll ride with other fast chicks. And then with fast guys. Fit, good looking guys. You’ll have your first kid. She’ll be out riding. You’ll

be babysitting. Playing air guitar.’ (it’s quieter than my Telecaster). He still sticks to buying two bikes. I warn him about their future. He is in love and doesn’t falter.

I can picture him popping in 10 years from now. “Oom, ek wens ek het vir jou geluister…”

The Stirling Revolution column is penned by the father and son, LBS owning, pair of Stirling “Snr” and Stirling James (SJ) “Jnr” Kotze.

With years of industry insider knowledge they’re your, and our, link to the retail side of the bicycle trade – and while they might upset the odd sensitive reader their insights prove invaluable time and time again.

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DHI COLUMN

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

The Fort William trip was an adventure this year, that is for sure, writes Stefan Garlicki.

The Week of Hell as it later became known, went down something like this…

i

FORT BILL

was travelling from Germany to Scotland for the 3rd round of the World Cup series and I decided to link up with fellow South African, Johann Potgieter and his team mate, Erik Irmish to make the drive easier. I met them on the Tuesday in Hagen, Germany and we set off in Erik’s T5 VW van. The plan was to go via London, spend the night at a friend in Newcastle and then arrive on Wednesday. However it was not that easy.

We were on the M25 when the van started losing power to the turbo but then it came back. So we carried on. Then it happened again, so we pulled of and called a mechanic to explain what it was doing, to possibly get a few answers, but to no avail so we called the AA for assistance and after about 90 minutes the tow truck arrived.

The mechanic tried for hours to sort the problem out but unfortunately it was a no go. It was also freezing cold and raining in London as it does. By this time it was around 10pm and we still had no idea where we would sleep but luckily the driver offered to drop us at a hotel for the night, however it would have been too easy just to go a hotel; no all the hotels in the vicinity were full! On a Tuesday night?!

After about an hour of driving around to five different hotels we finally found one with rooms but it was not cheap!

However, we didn’t really have a choice at that point and we had not eaten anything either. We checked in and then started walking to find a place

ALL PHOTOS BY ZACK FAULKNER

to eat, finding a food truck close by but of course they didn’t accept cards so we had to walk for another 20 minutes to find a 24 hour McDonald’s which we settled on, under the circumstances, at 11:30pm!

The next day, after waiting until lunch time for word on the van, we finally got a rental van and set off to Newcastle. We arrived late that night and planned to leave in the morning to get to Fort William prior to track walk and registration on Thursday.

That would have been too easy… We were about an hour away from Fort William when we hit a traffic jam and had to turn around to take a detour of two hours! Thus we missed

“THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO EASY…” registration and got the last gondola up the hill for the track walk at 5pm.

It was a mad rush to sort everything out before practice the next day and created a very stressful atmosphere which was not ideal. I felt fairly good on track but I think my body was a little fatigued due to all the late nights and the stress, but no excuses. I had a clean run in qualifying but just didn’t attack enough and missed out by 2.9 seconds, which was a tough one to swallow but considering everything I still enjoyed my time on track. Johann managed to put in a good one

to squeeze in to the finals with a 78th in qualifying. We were stoked for him!

The next challenge was to get home. We set off on Sunday evening to Newcastle and the plan was for me to go with the Radon team via Amsterdam the following day.

This meant they could drop me off in Hagen at my car, and then I would be able to at least collect Johann and Erik from a train station or airport if need be. They would drive the rental van back to London and see what they could arrange with Erik’s van.

However, that would have been too easy! I had to book my spot on the ferry at the last moment and after very little sleep I made a mistake on the booking and booked a day too late! It was not cheap either! So in a very stressed state I had to try to change the

TOP LEFT: Stef in action on his qualifying run at Fort William.

TOP RIGHT: The Fort Bill course descends Aonach Mor, the 9th highest peak in the UK. ABOVE: Stef scoping lines during the practice. booking by phoning around for about 90 minutes. I finally got it changed after throwing more money at it. I got dropped off at the ferry terminal and

waited for check in but when it rolled around it turned out that there was a mistake and I was still booked on the following day! Again the panic started and I was sitting on my laptop on skype in the terminal trying to sort it all out via the booking agent. Finally I got it sorted after another 30 minutes and more money.

At this point I thought I was home free, but the next day when I got dropped off in Hagen at my car the owner of the house was at work and had not left the key for me as requested. This meant that I potentially had to sit outside in the rain from 1pm until 5pm waiting for his return! In my first bit of luck for the week his girlfriend happened to be home to collect something and let me in.

In the meantime Johann and Erik managed to get the van fixed and drove to Hagen the same day. It was just incredible how many things had gone wrong in just one week, but I guess we live and learn. For anyone thinking that travelling and racing professionally is smooth sailing, it’s not! It’s a learning curve and all these experiences make us stronger, plus they create a few funny stories to look back on!

Stefan Garlicki is the reigning South African Downhill MTB Champion. He’s sponsored

by Investec, will be racing in Europe this year and sharing his experiences with Full Sus readers.

Follow him on Twitter: @StefanGarlicki.

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

01 LIV PIQUE

The Liv Pique is the do-it-all high performance bike for women who want to race XCO, marathons and rip up the trails. It features 120mm of updated Maestro Suspension travel, boost hub spacing and evolved women’s specific geometry developed by Liv after analysing global body dimension studies and extensive product testing with professional mountain bikers Leigh Donovan, Katie Holden and Lindsey Voreis.

The Pique is available in four carbon models, with the Pique Advanced 0 featuring the new SRAM Eagle XX1 drivetrain and the Pique Advanced SX featuring a 140mm fork for the rowdier trail riders among you. There are also four ALUXX aluminium models of the Pique and you should be on the lookout for the other newcomers to the Liv stable, the 160mm travel Hail and the 120mm travel single pivot Embolden.

RRP - Local pricing yet to be announced. www.liv-cycling.com

LADIES MTB GEAR

HOT NEW PRODUCTS Sus out these cool new ladies specific products designed for women who shred.

02 SPECIALIZED AMBUSH

It’s a trail lid we know and love, but in a fresh white to match every outfit in your trail riding wardrobe.

RRP R2 599 www.specialized.com

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04

VERSUS SOCKS SALLY

03 SPECIALIZED ANDORRA COMP SS JERSEY

Designed with ladies in mind from moisture wicking VaporRize™ fabric it’s the ideal top for a relaxed trail ride. It also features a single zippered pocket to keep valuables safe while you’re launching off every root and rock.

RRP R609 www.specialized.com

The Sally is Versus Socks’ ladies specific angle high offerings in their lightweight and breathable ‘race’ materials. They’re also available in purple and blue.

RRP R90 www.versussocks.co.za

05

SPECIALIZED WOMEN’S ANDORRA PRO SHORTS Look the trail ripper part and feel at ease off the bike in these women’s trail shorts, cut to hang just above your knees. They come equipped with a women’s specific removable SWAT bib for hours and hours of comfortable riding.

RRP R1 599 www.specialized.com

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02

GEAR

A good sports bra is vital to enjoying your time on the trails so we put eight sports bras from four brands to the test to help you with the tricky choice.

01

NEW BALANCE THE TENDERLY OBSESSIVE

The crop top cut New Balance The Tenderly Obsessive is designed for high impact activities like running, so it’ll suit Enduro racing ladies to the tee. Constructed from 44% Polyester, 44% Recycled Polyester and 12% Spandex, it features thin adjustable shoulder straps and a mesh back to keep it breathable despite the ample support.

It has a tight yet soft chest strap which stops the bra from slipping up and the cross-back construction and light weight padded cups provide motion control even in the roughest of terrain. It provides great support but remains fairly minimalist and it looks really funky too. The New Balance The Tenderly Obsessive sports bra is available in black or the funky mottled print as pictured.

RRP R600 www.newbalance.co.za

Medium Impact

NEW BALANCE THE TONIC CROP Constructed from 91% Polyester and 9% Spandex and sporting New Balance’s moisture wicking NB Dry technology the New Balance The Tonic Crop sports bra feels silky soft. The removable cups are lightweight, but can be swapped out for larger and denser cups. It features a cross back/racer back, which is unfortunately not adjustable – so be sure of the fit, and provides good medium impact support. It’s not a bra for aggressive trail or Enduro riding, but if you do lots of gravel road grinding it’s perfect. Overall it’s light, breathable and the crop top style cut means you can wear it without a top over it for yoga. Plus for hot summer days there’s nothing stopping you from zipping your cycling top down when rolling out in the New Balance The Tonic Crop.

RRP R450 www.newbalance.co.za

High Impact

SPORTS

High Impact

BRAS Medium Impact

05

SHOCK ABSORBER POWER WORKOUT | PADDED SOFT CUP Again, this bra is made from moisture-wicking, breathable, sports performance fabrics. Like the Moulded Padded Bra, is has moulded, padded cups, except the big difference is that it doesn’t have underwires. It has a multi-way backstrap, which adjusts to a custom fit. This means you can wear it in its original form - tee-shirt style, or you can cross over the straps for extra support, which works brilliantly.

We liked the idea of the sporty mesh in the front, for those hot summer days on the bike when you’re forced to zip your cycle top down a little. The soft, moulded cups were super comfy too, soft and cushioning. While we weren’t impressed by the Shock Absorber Power Workout Padded Soft Cup bra in the tee-shirt style set-up once crossed over it was like a different bra; comfortable, flattering and offering medium support, something we’d definitely ride in.

RRP R289.95 www.hanes.com

Medium Impact

06 FALKE RACER BACK

According to the website, the Falke Racer Back uses a fabric called Dynamix, which is 97% nylon, 3% elastane. It has been designed to have built-in moisture management technology that keeps you cool and dry. There are two mesh inlays, one on the front and the main part of the racer back – this mesh optimises ventilation and breathability. The bottom band is constructed with wide elastic, which is quite a noticeable difference to the other bras we tried, and it’s very comfortable. The racer back is also wider than most. It’s a simple design, which means that there’s not a lot that can go wrong and is fitted flush to our skin. We wouldn’t recommend it for running but for cycling, especially on the road its perfect.

It is a no mess, no fuss type of sports bra with only one clasp and no adjustable straps, so there’s less potential things to rub or chafe. The wide elastic band at the base provides a snug fit, but might fight for space with a HR monitor strap.

RRP R175 www.falke.com

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

03

Medium Impact

SHOCK ABSORBER X-TREME RUNNING

It is made from moisturewicking, breathable, sports performance fabrics. In principle it is a racer back, but the design is far more elaborate and the racer back system can be opened fully, so you don’t have to put the bra over your head to get it on.

The fit is snug and the support is incredible! Comfort-wise, time and effort have been put into designing a bra that not only works, but is comfortable too. Its soft, seamless inner reduces rubbing or chafing, and the non-slip, wide padded adjustable straps are supportive without digging into the skin. The only drawback is that it can require a second pair of hands to get it on, at least until you’ve figured it out completely. We tested it on a 17km trail run in heavy rain (the ultimate test) and didn’t experience chafe, rubbing, irritations or bounce. Absolute winner for high impact sport like running, or mountain biking on a hard tail!

RRP R699.95 www.hanes.com

High Impact

07

04 SHOCK ABSORBER POWER WORKOUT | MOULDED PADDED BRA

Like all Shock Absorber products, the bra is made from moisture-wicking, breathable, sports performance fabrics.

It’s a racerback, and has moulded foam cups with smooth, brushed underwire casings – which basically enhance the shape of your breasts, while offering great support too. We found this bra incredibly comfortable, and really flattering, the sweetheart neck line certainly give your breasts some decent shape, as opposed to simply ‘strapping them in for the ride’. In doing so it might lose on being a high impact sports bra, but for medium impact, like cycling, you don’t need anything more than this! No hot spots, no chafe experienced. Without a doubt the sexiest and most feminine – which is sometimes great when you’re knee-deep in mud, fixing a flat or trying to get to the top of a steep climb!

RRP R369.95 www.hanes.com

Low Impact

ADIDAS TECHFIT CLIMACHILL

We loved the fabric and feel of the adidas Techfit Climachill sports bra. But sadly its main feature, the aluminium-silver dots in the racer back strap, which are said to conduct heat away from the body, couldn’t be effectively tested in the middle of the Cape winter. The simple elasticated fit, with no adjustable straps means that correct sizing is essential, but our test bra was a size 8 to 10 which proved slightly too big for our size 8 frame. It proved fairly comfortable too, with the only issue being the lower elastic band riding up slightly, but that could have been due to the slightly large size. When perfectly sized the adidas Techfit Climachill bra provides compression benefits, to reduce muscle fatigue along with the superb high intensity support. Another bonus are the funky looks, we wouldn’t be embarrassed if it peaked out of a half zipped down cycling top.

RRP R649 www.adidas.co.za

08 ADIDAS SEAMLESS

The adidas Seamless sports bra is amazingly lightweight, soft and comfortable. The seamless technology is fantastic and the thin straps combine with the moisture wicking material to keep you cool, or so we hope, given the mid-winter test. The adjustable straps help dial in a perfect fit and we liked the removable perforated cups too. The downside of the bra is the support, but for spinning or low impact cross training it is perfect. The adidas Seamless is probably one of the nicest and most comfortable sports bras we’ve ever worn. And it’s very stylish too!

RRP R599 www.adidas.co.za

COMP & PIC OF THE MONTH

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

The Fedhealth MTB Challenge is a festival of mountain biking, featuring kiddies’ races on Saturday the 3rd of September and 15km, 35km and 65km races on the 4th of September for the big kids. The festivities are taking place at Meerendal Wine Estate on the outskirts of Durbanville and you’ll be treated to stunning trails, fantastic food and wine and a carnival atmosphere.

Entries are R150 (15km), R200 (35km) and R300 (65km) per rider, but members of the title sponsor, Fedhealh Medical Aid, receive free entry! If you are a Fedhealth Medical Aid member all you need to do is enter online and quote your medical aid number in the “Voucher code” field when checking out. If you’re not a Fedhealth Medical Aid member you’d better enter the competition or visit www.stillwatersports.com to enter the Fedhealth MTB Challenge.

WIN FEDHEALTH MTB CHALLENGE ENTRIES Tell us who the title sponsor of the Fedhealth MTB Challenge is and you could win one of two pairs of entries to the Fedhealth MTB Challenge.

TOBIAS GINSBERG | VOLUME PHOTOGRAPHY

THE PRIZE

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HOW TO WIN To win one of two pairs of entries to the Fedhealth MTB Challenge race of your choice simply tell us who the title sponsor of the Fedhealth MTB Challenge is. Email your answer along with your full name, ID Number and contact details to comp@fullsus.co.za to enter.

Entries close on the 22nd of August 2016.

PIC OF THE MONTH NO CATCHY HASHTAGS NEEDED, JUST WOMEN ON BIKES HAVING FUN.

Oakpics is a Strand based photographic company. They shoot a vast array of events, covering everything from wild horses to weddings.

But it’s in MTB that they’ve carved out a niche as one of the leaders in the field.

If you spot them on the trails, usually when you’re picking yourself up after an unexpected brush with the ground, you can purchase the photos directly from their website.

Or book them to shoot your event. Call them on 021 854 8723 or visit www.oakpics.com.

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CALENDAR

MUST DO EVENTS AUGUST W’ CAPE 21 All Mountain Enduro Helderberg The 4th round of the Dirtopia All Mountain Enduro Series takes place on the trails of Helderberg Farm. The series has less technical trails of the area for its events to encourage rookies to give it a go too. You don’t need a long travel trail bike to take part, but it helps. Just rock up on your usual ride and have fun.

Remember to ride within your limits. Entries are R350 and they close on 16 August. Visit www.dirtopia.co.za.

GAUTENG 27 Nissan Trailseeker GP #3 Legends MX in Donkerhoek, Pretoria East, hosts the third Gauteng round of the Nissan Trailseeker series. The arid savannah terrain is crisscrossed with cattle tracks, singletracks and rugged 4x4 trails so expect a variation.

There are 70km, 40km, 20km and 10km route options and entry prices vary from R100 to R270. Enter online and view all the routes at www.trailseekerseries.co.za.

KZN 27 Mandela Day Marathon MTB Dash As part of the Mandela Day Marathon (that’s the road running kind of marathon) festivities the KZN MTB Commission is hosting a MTB race with a massive prize. The events start at the Mandela Capture Site in Howick and there’s R117 200 up for grabs across all age groups. You can enter either the 42km, 21km or 10km distances and though entries close on 24 August you can still enter on the day or at registration the day before.

Find out more at www.mandelamarathon.co.za or enter online via www.entryninja.com.

RACE 2016 17 Hakahana 2016 BikeFest 17 Spur Schools MTB League: Gauteng #4 18 Babba’s Lodge MTB Series #9 24 Kameeldrift MTB 30 Route 99

MPUMULANGA 03 Ashburton Investments National MTB Series #6 10 Spur Schools MTB League: MPU Highveld #2 10 Mopani MTB Series #5 Final 17 Spur Schools MTB League: MPU Highveld #3 24 Spur Schools MTB League: Mpumalanga Final 24 Teenimeer 30 Innibos MTB Stage Race ’16 30 Isuzu 3 Towers Stage Race: The 3 Towers is tough but the riding is rewarding and if the Stage Race is too much you can sus out the Challenge or Mncane shorter routes rather. Go to www.3towers. co.za to find out more.

LIMPOPO 03 Spur Schools MTB League: Limpopo #3 17 Spur Schools MTB League: Limpopo #4

FREE STATE 03 Spur Schools MTB League – Free State #4 17 2 Riviëre MTB Challenge 23 Clarens Clover MTB Stage Race

KZN 03 Spur Schools MTB League – Kwazulu Natal #3 04 Kamberg Classic 04 BELL Big 5 Series # 4: Monzi Hippo Challenge 04 Lynford Clover Classic 10 Mountain Splendour Mania 17 Sunday Tribune Jeep Hill2Hill (45km) 18 Compendium Sunday Tribune Hill2Hill (100km) One of the big ones on the KZN Calendar. Race 100km from Hilton to Hillcrest. Visit www.hill2hill.co.za.

23 Homeward Bound Challenge 24 Spur Schools MTB League: Kwazulu Natal #4 30 Sani Dragon

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

OCTOBER

N’ CAPE 01 Namaqua Quest 3 Day MTB Stage Race 03 Spur Schools MTB League – Northern Cape #3 10 Tour De Ghaap

E’ CAPE 01 03 07 10

ISUZU Trucks PE – Plett Angora MTB Marathon The X-tremtb Non Stop Makro Bestmed MTB Race 2016 12 The XPedition: An Eastern Cape Odyssey 16 Fat Attack Wild Coast: The best way to see the amazing Wild Coast… on a fat bike. Makes sense. Sus out www.fatattack.co.za.

30 Lormar Endurance MTB Tour 2016

W’ CAPE 03 03 03 03

Battle Of The Bikes Tip Trans Cederberg MTB Greyton 2-Day MTB Tour Fedhealth MTB Challenge: A family MTB event complete with kiddies races, a relay and the traditional marathon and half marathon; truly a great way to spend a day in the Winelands. Visit www. stillwatersports.com for all the details.

03 Potberg & De Hoop MTB 09 Ride2Nowhere presented

by WeChat 10 Piket-Bo-Berg Cycle: Challenge & Trail Run. The toughest single day we had on a bike last year.

But boy was it worth it. PiketBo-Berg is a trail mecca.

Check it out at www.piketbobergtrails.com.

10 Spur Schools MTB League: Southern Cape #4 11 Staalwater MTB Challenge @ Caledon 15 Dr Evil Classic 17 Lakeside Lodge Cross Tri 17 Spur Schools MTB League: Western Cape #4 18 Karoo To Coast 24 Rockets Funky Fynbos MTB Challenge 25 Spur Mountain Bike Classic

OUT OF SA 30 Colin Mayer MTB Tour – Mauritius

GAUTENG 01 Van Loveren’s Java MTB Challenge 01 Nissan Trailseeker GP #4 BUNDU BASH 08 Mahala Magic MTB Race: SA’s 1st FREE MTB Bike Race 08 Spur Schools MTB League: National Final 08 XCOSA Race # 3 16 Bestmed Satellite Classic MTB 16 Cyclesure Hollard MTB Series @ Babbas #10 22 USN MTB Cup Race #5 29 South Africa Single Speed Champs 2016 29 XCO SA Race #4

MPUMULANGA 15 Off Road Rescue Unit MTB 29 Mopani MTB Series ‘16 #5 29 De Oude Schuur Plaasfees

LIMPOPO 08 ATKV-Eiland Spa Bergfietswedren 15 Ashburton Investments National Marathon Series #7 15 ORRU MTB Challenge 22 Mooketsi MTB Challenge 22 Forever Resort Mount Sheba

NW PROVINCE 23 Pick n Pay Mathaithai MTB & Trail Run

FREE STATE 01 Dewetsdorp MTB Race 22 Time Freight Gerard Van Heerden MTB Race 29 Mangaung MTB Tour

KZN 01 Gooderson Natal Spa Resort MTB & Trail Running Challenge 02 South Coast MTB Series #4 07 Berg & Bush Descent 08 Havelee Echo Amabutho Classic 08 Cane Cross 11 Berg & Bush Great Trek 15 Berg & Bush 2 Day 22 St Dominic’s Academy Newcastle Bundu Bash 22 Seabreeze Build It Bitter Sweet MTB Challenge 29 Over the Edge MTB Challenge

29 Pecanwood Oktoberfest Sport & Lifestyle Festival 29 South Coast MTB Series #5 29 BELL Big 5 Series #5: Hluhluwe Rhino Charge 30 Drak MTB Experience

N’ CAPE 29 MTB Classic

E’ CAPE 15 Daily Dispatch BOVA MTB Challenge 17 Wild Corridor 18 Fish River Sun MTB Challenge 23 Addo Classic 29 Thomas River MTB 29 Langkloof MTB Challenge 30 Langkloof MTB Challenge

W’ CAPE 01 Varsity MTB Challenge 07 The Weskus Phat Bike Adventure 08 Nissan Trailseeker WC #3 Hemel en Aarde 08 Route 62 Classic 2 Day Stage Race 08 Tour De Plett 14 Eselfontein MTB 3 Day Stage Race 15 The U – MTB Stage Race @ Piket-Bo-Berg Trails 16 Cape Pioneer Trek 22 STBB 2Keep-a-Breast MTB Challenge 22 PHS Dirt Road Challenge 23 Buffet Olives MTB Classic 29 Jakkalsvlei Mountain Bike 29 Botrivier MTB Challenge 30 SRAM WP Gravity Enduro

OUT OF SA 02 Trans Africa Bike Race 2016 (Zimbabwe) 12 The INYATSI Swazi Frontier (Swaziland)

Advertise your event in Full Sus and we will send you copies of the paper for your goodie bags or registration table. Call Eloise on 021 685 0285/6 Get your event listed here for free! Email all your 2016 event dates and details to sussed@ fullsus.co.za to make sure you don’t miss out on the coverage.

RIO2016.COM

FREE STATE 27 Six Star Wilgerivier MTB Challenge On Saturday the 27th of August the Wilgerivier Hoërskool in Frankfort will be hosting its Six Star Wilgerivier MTB Challenge. There are 80km (R190), 40km (R140) and 20km (R60) distances on offer and all the funds raised will be donated to the Frankfort Children’s Fund.

Entries close on 25 August and you can enter online or find out more about the event by visiting www.cycleevents.co.za.

SEPTEMBER GAUTENG 03 XCOSA Race # 2 03 Roodeplaat MTB Challenge 10 Rand Water Race for Victory 10 Penny Pinchers Silver Star MTB Challenge 17 Believe CHOC COW MTB

Will Nino Schurter repeat his Rio Test Event victory come the 21st of August or will Julien Absalon add to his gold medals from Athens and Beijing?

AUGUST 2016 VOL36

Come Experience a floating bridge on a dam!

• 50km • 35km • 10km races When: 28th August 2016 • Where: Dalpark Ext 1, Van Dyke Dam Contact: Athol on 082 857 5747

online entries www.cycleevents.co.za

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO THE APRICOT TREE SCHOOL.

CLASSIFIEDS

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