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The Overberg Meander – a captivating 200km, multi-day gravel biking or bike-packing trail – has been upgraded in anticipation of its re-launch. This scenic ride through the rural southern Cape will enchant cyclists keen to immerse themselves within the breathtaking nature of the Overberg. This will serve to both enhance tourism while also providing a safe commuting option for residents. The Overberg Meander has become increasingly popular with bike-packing groups from around the world, providing a much-needed economic boost for local establishments in the area. The increase in international cycling tourists since late 2023 is expected to boom, based on the global post-COVID19 growth in […] View full article

Gravel is in vogue. It is growing and evolving, with stage racing already identified as the next frontier. The question which now needs to be answered is how many elements from road and mountain bike stage racing multi-day gravel events will incorporate, and where they will deviate entirely. The Garden Route Giro’s race director, Henco Rademeyer, considered elements from both these disciplines in devising the inaugural course and was heavily influenced by a pioneer from South Africa’s industrious past.     “We want to showcase the diversity of the Garden Route in the six days of Garden Route Giro racing,” Rademeyer […] View full article

Searing heat – on Saturday, 23 November – helped produce fierce racing at the 2024 Old Mutual Wealth Double Century. In the men’s race RH77 – Factory proved fastest, holding off RDXVermarc and Star Elite Cycling. Paceline and O’Right engaged in an even closer contest throughout the 202 kilometre race with, the defending champions setting the early tempo before the challengers surged into the lead. The gap was never more than 45 seconds between them and eventually Paceline prevailed. ChemChamp Honeycomb Racing’s fast start saw them defeat the highly touted Private Client Holdings Mixed team, despite the defending champions mad […] View full article

Paarl will host the prestigious Absa Cape Epic, often called the “Tour de France of Mountain Biking,” bringing excitement and global attention to our region. This legendary race features top riders conquering our challenging trails. A Community-Wide Celebration This event is not just for the riders, it is for everyone. Enjoy pre-race activities, supporter stations, and viewing spots along the route. With impeccably maintained trails and a buzzing atmosphere, Paarl will become EPIC Country! For Darren Herbst and the Paarl Trails team, this event reflects years of dedication. Since 2017, Paarl Trails has become a leading cycling destination with over […] View full article

Vye Cycle Kit Unveils Brand Evolution, Celebrating Legacy with Uncompromising Quality Cape Town, South Africa — Vye Cycle Kit is proud to announce a transformative rebrand that embraces our enduring legacy while pushing forward with enhanced quality and design. This evolution marks a new chapter, reinforcing our commitment to delivering premium cycling apparel that meets the high standards of our community. Honouring a Legacy of Craftsmanship and Innovation Since its inception, Vye has been dedicated to creating gear that not only performs but also resonates with the South African spirit of resilience and creativity. This rebranding reflects our respect for […] View full article

Sunday, 10 November, brought the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales race week to its conclusion as the Shiraz finished at Benguela Cove. Toyota Specialized’s Matt Beers and Alex Miller joined Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs as the fourteenth elite champions, a week after the SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR pair wrapped up their title. The dominant victors were joined on the final overall podium by Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha, as well as by Marc Pritzen and Tristen Nortje.  Leaving Oak Valley, the last day was largely downhill but into a headwind. The 64 kilometre route included just 950 metres of climbing as it […] View full article

Alex Miller, of Toyota Specialized, survived a crash, 15 kilometres from the finish, to win the second stage of the Shiraz race; at FNB Wines2Whales on Saturday, 9 November. The Nambian and his South African teammate, Matt Beers, were 2 minutes and 40 seconds ahead of the chase group at the time of the fall, and managed to only cede 50 seconds of that advantage. The man who endured a dramatic Stage 1, Tristan Nortje, was unable to best Marco Joubert and Wessel Botha in the sprint behind the runaway leaders. Imbuko thus took second, with Honeycomb Pro Cycling in […] View full article

The Wild Bike Foundation has been short-listed to receive a yearly grant from the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA) and they are now part of a public vote to select a final recipient. Get all the details on how to to show your support in the announcement below: The Wild Bike Foundation is excited to announce that our project, E-Bikes to Accelerate Wilderness Conservation, South Africa, is part of a public vote for funding through the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA)! We invite you to cast your vote on the EOCA website by November 15, 2024, to help us drive […] View full article

The Shiraz race brings not only the FNB Wines2Whales, but also the South African competitive mountain biking season to a close. It features a stacked elite field and provides a final opportunity for the local teams, and a selection of seasoned international campaigners to perform. In 2024 a returning double champion and his Namibian teammate look tough to beat, on paper, but anything could happen on the trails from Lourensford to Benguela Cove. Though the off-season is just around the corner, it is not quite time to crack the Devil’s Peak beers just yet, but they can be put on […] View full article

Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs put in a performance worthy of a five-star review as they completed a perfect clean sweep of FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay stage wins. The SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR pair had time to stop for a selfie at the FNB Private banking picture frame on their way to victory at Benguela Cove. When the dust settled on the three days of racing, they were joined on the final general classification podium by Efficient Infiniti Racing and e-FORT 1. Sunday, 3 November 2024, marked SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR’s six successive FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay stage victory. Spanning two editions no team […] View full article

Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs secured their second stage victory of the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay race with another commanding performance on the Oak Valley Trails. Stage 2 suited the cross-country racers to perfection and they were able to add a further 4:57 onto their general classification advantage over their nearest rivals, Vera Looser and Sarah Hill. Saturday’s singletrack packed stage on the trails of Oak Valley Estate and Paul Cluver Wine Estates was tailor made for Tyler Jacobs and Candice Lill. SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR continued their perfect ride through the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales, with victory on Stage 2. For […] View full article

The opening day of the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales series got underway in perfect conditions on Friday, 1 November. SeattleCoffeeCo eFORT ALMAR’s Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs picked up where they left off in 2023 winning their fourth stage win in a row, though the most recent comes 12 months after the last. They were joined on the Stage 1 podium by the Efficient Infiniti and e-FORT 2 teams. Stage 1 of FNB Wines2Whales Chardonnay kicked off the celebration of mountain biking and gees for the next ten days in fine fashion. Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs were the opening day’s […] View full article

The 2024 FNB Wines2Whales gets underway on Friday, 1 November, with the elite women’s showdown in the Chardonnay race. South Africa’s international campaigners, Candice Lill and Tyler Jacobs, headline the field as defending champions. Yet they will face fierce competition from the Efficient Infiniti Racing, e-FORT 1, and Sani2C teams, in particular. The punchy and singletrack-packed FNB Wines2Whales course typically delivers exciting racing from both the elite men’s and women’s fields. In 2024 that should prove true, once again, in the Chardonnay race. Taking place from Friday, 1 November, to Sunday, 3 November, it gets the FNB W2W festivities underway […] View full article

The Cape Town Cycle Tour is proud to announce new partners, Standard Bank and Liberty. As organisers prepare for the 47th Cape Town Cycle Tour, the largest timed bike race in the world, this exciting collaboration heralds a new era, mirrored in both aligned ethos and enthusiasm by all stakeholders. “We are incredibly excited to announce our new partnership with Standard Bank and Liberty. As an event that is centred entirely on a return on investment directly into the communities of Cape Town, it makes absolute sense to move forward with some of South Africa’s leading investment and finance brands and brains, […] View full article

We’ve been checking in every quarter to assess demand in our marketplace. In the first quarter of 2024 we noted that demand appeared to be stabilising after the COVID bicycle boom, and subsequent reset. In the second quarter of 2024 we saw a 5% increase in demand year on year, offering reassurance that equilibrium has indeed been restored in the industry. Here’s what we found in the third quarter of 2024: Demand Remains Steady After a particularly brutal winter we expected to see some contraction in demand, so we were pleased to see that enquiries for Q3 2024 are up […] View full article

A unique, new gravel stage race is set to take place next October, in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape, South Africa. Held over 7 days and 850km, this full-service event will be open to both professionals and amateurs.  The route takes riders through South Africa’s diverse landscapes, starting in the coastal forests surrounding Knysna, then heading into the breathtaking Great Karoo – a famously spectacular semi-desert region. Riders rest each night in remote ‘Burn Camps’ under star-filled skies, and at the finish, they’re greeted by Africa’s iconic Big 5 wildlife at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Gravel Burn is Kevin […] View full article

Hatherly produces final round masterclass to clinch XCO World Cup overall Alan Hatherly was in a strong position going into the final round of the season, but his overall title wasn’t a foregone conclusion – Victor Koretzky (Specialized Factory Racing) able to swoop in and leapfrog the South African if he won and Hatherly finished further down the pack. As soon as the racing started though, it was quite clear that there was only way the 2024 WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series was ending. Hatherly was on a flyer from the off, going solo to build a 20-second lead […] View full article

A dramatic final stage – on Saturday, 5 October – saw Insect Science race their way to victory on the day and overall, at the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning put PYGA Euro Steel’s Jaedon Terlouw and Pieter du Toit under pressure, then drove home their advantage when the men who started the day endured an untimely puncture. In the women’s race the overnight leaders, Efficient Infiniti Insure, wrapped up their title in serene fashion with their fifth stage victory. The 64 kilometre Stage 5 provided the terrain for an […] View full article

After two days of near misses Insect Science stood atop the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, on Thursday, 3 October 2024. Arno du Toit and Keagan Bontekoning outfoxed and outsprinted six other teams in a chaotic run in to Langenhoven Gymnasium, in Oudtshoorn, to win the day. In the women’s race, Samantha Sanders and Danielle Strydom made it a perfect three from three, at the conclusion of Stage 3, for Efficient Infiniti Insure. Stage 3 was the longest of the race, but one which was expected to be an easier day. It did however not pan out […] View full article

For the second successive stage PYGA Euro Steel and Efficient Infiniti Insure emerged victorious at the Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen. Wednesday, 2 October’s Stage 2 took the riders from George over the Outeniqua Mountains to Louvain on a brutally tough course. The trek into the Langkloof required the conquest of a 73.5-kilometre-long route with 2 350 metres of climbing, and despite a losing out on the King of the Mountains crown Pieter du Toit and Jaedon Terlouw were able to best Insect Science to take the stage win. Efficient Infiniti Insure were more assured throughout their ride […] View full article

Stage 1 of the 2024 Momentum Medical Scheme Cape Pioneer, presented by Biogen, was raced under cloudy skies on Tuesday, 1 October, on the tracks and trails of the Outeniqua Mountain above George. The opening day was a fiercely contested affair in the men’s race with PYGA Euro Steel winning out after seizing an opportunity during a lull in action, in the final kilometre. For Efficient Infiniti Insurance the margin of victory was more commanding, having distanced their rivals for stage honours within the first 20 kilometres of the 56-kilometre-long course. The first stage was a deceptive one. It appeared […] View full article

We adore the hype and speculation around the the ‘Tour de France of mountain biking’, and the route launch inevitably becomes an ‘office’ talking point. Without further ado, here’s the press release detailing the full route for the 2025 Absa Cape Epic: Winelands Welcomes Fan Friendly 2025 Absa Cape Epic Route Brand new stages, a new host venue, and over 300 kilometres of trails never before used by the Absa Cape Epic should be music to the ears of mountain bikers and fans as they prepare for the 2025 Untamed African Mountain Bike Race. That is not where the excitement […] View full article

In August* 2024, Bike Hub celebrated its 20th anniversary, and we’re taking a nostalgic look back at how far we’ve come. * We’re not entirely sure of the exact month, but it was around this time. 2004: How it all started What began in 2004 as thehubsa.co.za was initially a simple discussion forum for cycling enthusiasts. It stemmed from an idea for “CyclingCT,” a website intended to serve as a directory of stores, clubs, trails, and road routes around Cape Town and the Western Cape, complete with a message board. This small community quickly gained momentum, becoming a hub for […] View full article

The relentless cape winter is the perfect time to get acquainted with an indoor trainer, and Garmin sent a Tacx Neo 2T our way at just the right time. The top of the range smart trainer from Garmin, the Tacx Neo 2T offers these stand out features: Here’s what we liked about it: Quick and easy setup and use I’m allergic to technology (just ask my long suffering colleagues) and so ease of setup and connectivity is absolutely critical for me.  The Tacx Neo 2T ticked all my boxes. It’s simple to work, and doesn’t require calibration. Put on the […] View full article

Elgin has long been a playground, training terrain, and race location for mountain bikers, but since late 2022 it has evolved into a more unified trail network too thanks to the work of the Elgin Valley Trails pioneers. They have however faced significant challenges in the last two years, mainly due to flooding and erosion. Pieter Silberbauer, Christopher Rawbone-Viljoen and their teams are now working to build back better, to create exceptional riding for the 2024 FNB Wines2Whales and shape the singletracks which will continue to thrill mountain bikers throughout the years to come. Late in 2022, Pieter Silberbauer, of […] View full article