Active Hobo

UKHU JHB, Wines2Whales Update, Fake Kit Review, Cycling in the UK & Sarah is BACK! | Breakaway EP40

Nov 12, 2026 ·53 min

We waited six weeks and paid R1,750 for a fake cycling jersey. Can anyone actually tell the difference? Subscribe for more stories that matter: [link] Episode 40 of The Breakaway Show, and two guests at the table. Sarah Maré is back after a big season, fresh off third at the first UCI Wines2Whales, and Vince returns from the UK to ride Chapman's Peak for the first time in years. We put a fake RH77 jersey next to the real thing, visit ukhu in Rosebank, settle the north vs south debate with the Wines2Whales category results, and ask Vince what Cape Town has that the UK doesn't. 00:00 Intro 02:21 Chappies segment analysis 11:57 Ukhu, Rosebank 17:08 Fake kit 27:25 Wines2Whales 44:30 Riding in the UK # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #StoriesThatMatter #TheActiveHobo #Wines2Whales #CyclingKit #TheBreaka...

How Nana Cycling Club Built a Double Century Contender

Nov 11, 2026 ·45 min

Five years ago, Nana Cycling Club scrambled to find 12 women willing to try the Double Century. This November they're bringing two teams. Renette and Nicola take us back to the beginning: a founder who was tired of riding only with men and asked where all the women were, a first DC team pieced together with whoever said yes, and a name borrowed from French slang for "girl" that the Cape Town peloton now shouts at them on the road. Nicola only started riding as a London commuter and did her first Cape Town Cycle Tour on a borrowed bike that was too big for her, wearing a skateboarding helmet. Renette grew up watching her parents come home from the Cycle Tour every year. They talk about women who arrived at Tuesday rides unable to grab their bottle and were racing a few months later, why the kit is half the fun, and why their DC jersey can't be bought. Then it's the 2026 Old Mutual Wealth Double Century: a Racing Division and a Joy Division, a stronger top eight than last year, the climbs where someone ends up pushing a teammate, and whether third place in 2025 can turn into something more. Part of our Double Century 2026 series. 0:00 Nana Will Reign Supreme 0:55 Meet Nana Cycling Club 2:28 Renette's Cycling Family 3:51 Nicola, London Commuter 8:41 What Cycling Gives Women 12:27 The Tuesday Ride 13:37 The Women They've Brought In 15:54 How Nana Began 17:18 Meeting Liv 19:58 Why "Nana"? 20:44 Kit Culture 26:37 Two Teams This Year 29:51 Fake Kit, Real Compliment 33:45 The 2026 Plan 35:11 Chalk Air and ASAP 37:28 Pushing Up Tradouw 39:00 A Stronger Top Eight 40:30 Plans Never Survive DC 41:37 North vs South 42:46 Filming the Women's Race # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS ===============...

What It Took to Win My Category at the World’s Biggest Gravel Race

Nov 8, 2026 ·23 min

The end of the road. A week after the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn, David sits down to look back on everything this series covered (the bike, the tyres, the kit, nutrition, strength work and coaching) and to say what worked, what didn't, and what comes next. Seven stages, 653 km, 7,800 m of climbing, 21 hours 19 minutes on the bike, and the Men 35–39 leader's jersey from Stage 1 to Stage 7. Official final GC, Men 35–39: 1. David Jenkins, 21:19:12 2. Steven Bark, +3:26 3. Janosch Wintermantel, +16:32 Thank you to Nedbank and Gravel Burn, to Team Toyota (Tasneem, Glenn, Caroline), to Barend and the VIP bicycle logistics crew, Josh and the Specialized team, Paige, Rhys, Rob at Rubber Side Down, Heather Jenkins for the custom kit, Stefan at Kiff Ideas for the stickers, and to everyone who watched, commented and sent messages along the way. Helicopter footage: @gravel_burn 0:00 The end of the road 1:49 The bike: Crux 5, Roval CLX, 42T 6:29 Tyres: 2.2 or 45? 7:44 Off the bike: shoes, kit, hydration, eyes 11:11 Nutrition: 90 grams an hour 12:47 Training: bio & coaching 14:35 The numbers 17:27 The race: why it mattered 20:53 What's next # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Lat...

DC is ON, Gravel Burn Recap, ONE TONNER, W2W - We’re BACK | The Breakaway EP37

Nov 5, 2026 ·1 hr 20 min

Seven days of Nedbank Gravel Burn, and one honest answer to "would you go back?" Episode 39 of The Breakaway Show is the Gravel Burn debrief, recorded days after the finish in the Eastern Cape. We talk about the speed of age-category racing, the crashes, what we got wrong with chainrings and nutrition, the tyres that held up, and whether a week like this is worth the money. Then we look ahead to the Old Mutual Wealth Double Century in Swellendam, why the women's race could be the best of the year, and what's coming at Wines2Whales. Chapters: 0:00 Back from Gravel Burn 3:49 One Tonner results 14:44 North vs South rivalry 18:00 Women's DC favourites 20:08 Why women's DC matters 22:40 Old Mutual and women's cycling 31:59 Wines2Whales preview 43:47 How was Gravel Burn? 48:48 What we got wrong 50:22 Pathfinder tyres verdict 1:03:05 Racing scared 1:06:14 Would we go back? 1:14:10 Crashes and danger 1:18:16 Gravel Worlds qualifying # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkW...

How Chalk Air Won the Double Century With Six Riders

Nov 3, 2026 ·59 min

Last year Chalk Air WC CMC lined up at the Double Century as underdogs and beat the double defending champions by 88 seconds. This November, they're the team everyone is chasing. Liesel Prentis grew up in her family's compressor hire business in East London, discovered road cycling on the back of her husband's tandem, and now owns the company that sponsors one of South Africa's strongest women's teams. She talks honestly about what the bike gave her as a mother of four, why the result is secondary for so many of the women she rides with, and why backing a women's team is a business decision she'd make again. Then their road captain takes us inside the 2025 Old Mutual Wealth Double Century: a derailleur gone in the first kilometre, seven riders over the big climb, a broken chain on the run home, and six women digging deep enough to hold off ASAP Ladies and Nana Cycling Club. There's also the local derby, the drafting debate, the watts it takes to sit on the front, and how you plan for a new route when nobody knows where the water point is. Part of our Double Century 2026 series. 0:00 Why DC Matters 1:03 Meet Liesel 4:13 How the Team Began 5:42 On the Back of a Tandem 10:50 Why She Rides 15:20 What Holds Women Back 20:25 Is Sponsoring Worth It? 24:07 Life Outside DC 27:47 The Big Ladies Ride 31:00 Meet the Road Captain 35:27 ASAP, Nana and the Derby 37:29 Winning in 2025 42:28 The Drafting Debate 51:10 Defending Champs 53:51 Watts on the Front 57:10 A New Route # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHo...

A DREAM COME TRUE | Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026 Stages 06 & 07

Nov 3, 2026 ·14 min

The finale of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026: Stage 6 (Gwanishi → Shamwari, 76 km) and Stage 7 (one last loop through Shamwari, 59 km). A last sunrise at Gwanishi, a 43-degree race into Big Five country, giraffes running beside the bunch, a safari through Shamwari, the Red Bull Night Burn by firelight, and one last loop to the windmill. David and Charl rode the final kilometres in together. David won Stage 7 in Men 35–39 and finished the week as the Men 35–39 champion, 3:26 ahead of Steven Bark. Charl finished 2nd overall in Men 19–34. Simon finished 12th in Men 19–34. What started as banter between three mates ended with them pulling each other across the line. Pro results: Matt Beers won the Nedbank Gravel Burn by 32 seconds from Filippo Colombo (Tristan Nortje 3rd); Nele Laing won the women's race by 1:05 from Hayley Preen (Clara Koppenburg 3rd). CHAPTERS 0:00 Three mates, one finish line 0:23 Stage 6: Gwanishi to Shamwari 0:29 Leaving Gwanishi 2:25 The route in 3D 2:51 The race: 43 degrees and full gas 5:14 The safari through Shamwari 6:11 One day to go 7:08 Red Bull Night Burn 8:38 Stage 7: the final day 9:40 The last race 10:40 The finish: David & Charl, together 12:48 Prize giving 13:34 Thank you, Gravel Burn Thanks to the Nedbank Gravel Burn team for an unforgettable week, to Mike Davis (Nedbank) for the last Burn Pod, to @nadiavanwyk.athlete for her nightly results reels, and to Charl Kemp behind the camera. Official race footage and results: Nedbank Gravel Burn. Route data: Nedbank Gravel Burn. 3D imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics; terrain: AWS Terrain Tiles. Huge thanks to Nedbank, Toyota South Africa, Specialized, Herotel, Ciovita and Red Bull. #GravelBurn #NedbankGravelBurn #GravelCycling #StageRace #ActiveHobo #Shamwari #RedBull #Toyota #Specialized #Nedbank # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...

I Wanted to Quit… Then Charl Gave Up His Race | Gravel Burn Stage 5

Oct 29, 2026 ·16 min

Stage 5 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026: Merino to Gwanishi. 128 km, 1,050 m up, 1,800 m down. On paper it looks downhill. It isn't. We flew the whole route in 3D for you: out of Merino across the Grootvlakte, through two tech zones, up the Toyota Power Climb on Renosterkop at km 107, and down out of the Karoo into thicket country at Gwanishi. Race morning at Merino: David on the bean bags with a 3:10 lead in his category, Nadia van Wyk's Stage 4 results, and Mpho Jasone from Nedbank sponsorship on why cycling is a metaphor for life. Then a very special message: happy 11th birthday, Logan. 🎂 The stage that changed the plans. "That was for me the toughest day… my toughest day racing ever." David was in the dark and wanted to quit, and then Charl rode up to him and said: "My race is over. I'm here to help you." The rivalry is over. The tripod is in action. Also in this one: 41.7 km/h for 60 km on gravel, three crashes (get well soon, Marco), Hayley Preen flying past, the gel Simon pulled out of his pocket that saved David's race, the race helicopter hunting the age groupers ("I feel like a jet on Top Gun"), Matt Beers on the day, and David's birthday jersey for Logan. David won M35–39 by ONE second (3:46:05) over Steven Bark, with Janosch Wintermantel 3rd at +2:12. He still leads his category; Charl was 4th in M19–34 and is still 2nd on GC. Burn Camp at Gwanishi, the thank-yous, and Nadia's Stage 5 verdict to close it out: "iron sharpens iron, and brothers strengthen each other." "This is now the time we unite." CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:23 Stage 5: Merino to Gwanishi 0:33 Nadia's Stage 4 results 1:15 Race morning with David 3:15 Nedbank's Mpho Jasone 4:43 Happy birthday, Logan 5:11 The route in 3D: 128 km that looks downhill 5:37 The race 6:34 Matt Beers on Stage 5 7:39 Post-race: "I'm on team Charl" 8:26 The rivalry is over: the tripod 10:02 41.7 km/h for 60 km 10:18 Three crashes 10:50 The gel that saved the day 11:18 The chopper 12:07 "Like a je...

Behind the Burn: How 400 Crew Run a Race in the Middle of the Karoo | Gravel Burn Stage 4

Oct 28, 2026 ·13 min

Stage 4 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026: the Merino loop. 61 km, 550 m of climbing, 100% gravel, the shortest stage of the week, and full gas from the gun. We flew the whole route in 3D for you: down past Shepherd's Dog and Grootdam into the Klein-Visrivier valley, up the Toyota Power Climb, through the tech zone and the Red Bull KM, and back to Merino Burn Camp. Race morning at Merino: 5 am coffee at the Vida truck, Manon Lloyd's morning report, Team Toyota's custom jerseys (illustrated by Heather Jenkins, made by Ciovita), and Hayley Preen calling a bunch sprint. Then the plan. Charl and Simon had one, and it worked: Charl went up the road, and when the bunch caught him 5 km from the finish he looked around and... David wasn't there. At the line: GC banter with David's category rival Stephen, Manon Lloyd on her mechanical ("I'm not very good at fixing my own punctures"), David's right of reply ("the entire peloton, pitying this man, letting him go up the road"), and a five-man crash David only just missed. [RESULT: official margin] Behind the Burn: Richard, Operations Director of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, took us on the camp tour for the Burn Pod: the remote finishes, the F1-style paddock, the Specialized service team (Josh: 80 bikes a night, and the rear rotor Charl burnt out on a downhill), the year Merino had to be evacuated (with the bagpipes leading the way), massage, a borehole pumping 20,000 litres an hour, laundry day (#339 packed five sets of kit), and accessible ablutions so riders like Bryce can race the Burn on a handcycle. "The race must add to the terrain, not take from it. Stories matter." Burn Camp after dark: the first (and probably only) donkey longtong fire-starting competition: Charl, the 78 kg speed dealer, Simon, his most loyal client, and David, the Soutie. "The banter between us is absolute, but the love is deep. Iron sharpens iron." CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:42 Race morning at Merino 2:32 The route: the Merino loop in 3D 2:54 Stage 4:...

We Nerded Out on Bike Setups… Then Raced to the Clouds | Gravel Burn Stage 3

Oct 28, 2026 ·10 min

Stage 3 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026: Blaauwater to Merino, the longest stage of the week. 137 km and 1,550 m of climbing, from a 6 am start with the bagpipes, over the pass behind the clouds, across a long stretch of tar in the crosswinds, and up the Swaershoek to the most remote summit finish in gravel. Race morning at Burn Camp: oats at 5 am, a very specific good morning to Barbara in Australia, a fire-side chat with a rider who'll do the Sedgefield 500 in December, and the race plan over breakfast (get over that last climb, and don't get caught in a crosswind split). Then we got permission to nerd out: chainrings, tyre widths and tyre pressures, with Charl and half of Burn Camp. Up front, Eddy Le Huitouze (The Grip) won from the break on the Swaershoek, Nele Laing took the women's stage and the Ember jersey, Tristan Nortje took his first-ever climber's jersey, and Matt Beers keeps the overall lead. Behind them, David finished 63rd in 4:35:41, beating Charl by 3:55 (Charl says it was "one minute"), and was back on the category podium. Simon came in 137th. Charl's verdict: "David now has 12 minutes on me… but the bro must just know: we don't quit. We're coming." On the Burn Pod: Tebogo Galagala, the Soweto-born cyclist behind Banditz Bicycle Club. From a back room in his mom's yard to a shop that became a place where people come to talk, and a DM that saved a life. "People just need friends. The bicycle comes as an extra." A week before Gravel Burn they had to close their shop at 44 Stanley, but as David says: that location doesn't define you, what you do does. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:24 Race morning at Burn Camp 2:20 The setup: permission to nerd out 3:24 Stage 3: crosswinds to the Swaershoek 5:33 The rivalry (and the official result) 6:23 The Burn Pod: David × Charl 7:25 The helicopter came for the age groupers 8:44 Dedicated to the 40–55 cats 9:38 Burn Camp at Merino 10:49 Charl's nightly message 11:10 Tomorrow: Stage 4, the short one STAGE 3 O...

Charl Digs Deep, I lose 4 minutes on GC and we get a call from Canada ♥️ | Gravel Burn 2026 Stage 02

Oct 27, 2026 ·11 min

Stage 2 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026: the Blaauwater loop, 105 km and 1,450 m of climbing around the Kompassberg (2,502 m, the Karoo's Matterhorn), past Nieu-Bethesda and back to Burn Camp. Yesterday I won my category by four minutes. Today I felt the pressure of the jersey. I tried to go with the front group, blew up, and spent the day on the wheel of a Japanese Olympian… until Charl came flying past at 60 km and towed the whole group for 20 km. He cramped on the last climb, I got away, and I took another four minutes on him (8 minutes in total now). But the guy second in my age category clawed back more than four minutes on me: my lead in the M35–39 jersey is down from 4:20 to just 10 seconds. Up front, Matt Beers and Filippo Colombo went away on the first climb and stayed away for 100 km; Colombo won the sprint and Beers is in the leader's jersey. Hayley Preen finally got her Gravel Burn stage win with an attack on the Tafelkop climb. At Burn Camp: bike washes, a Burn Pod, a 10-year-old called Logan who phoned from Canada (happy birthday for Thursday, Logan!), and the guys from Herotel who keep "150 up, 150 down" running in the middle of the Karoo. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:30 Race morning at Burn Camp 2:14 Stage 2: around the Kompassberg 4:44 The pros: Beers, Colombo & Preen 5:51 The rivalry: four more minutes 6:56 Burn Camp & the Burn Pod 7:31 Logan Shout out 🇨🇦 8:44 Herotel: internet in the middle of nowhere 9:51 "It ain't over until the fat lady sings" 10:52 Tomorrow: the Queen Stage AFTER STAGE 2 (provisional GC) David Jenkins: 62nd overall, 1st M35–39 (by 10 seconds) Charl Kemp: 71st overall, 2nd M19–34 Simon Stofberg: 150th overall, 12th in his age category Pro men: stage won by Filippo Colombo from Matt Beers (100 km two-man break) Pro women: stage won by Hayley Preen TOMORROW: STAGE 3, THE QUEEN STAGE Blaauwater → Merino · 137 km · 1,550 m of climbing. Thanks to @gravel_burn for their race-day stories, the pro finish footage and the...

I Won My Category on Stage 1 of Gravel Burn | Gravel Burn 2026 Stage 01

Oct 25, 2026 ·11 min

Stage 1 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026: 90 km and 1,450 m of climbing from Graaff-Reinet to Blaauwater, and the day the rivalry finally went from banter to race. Charl and I lined up together, Cammy joined us for day one, and the banter finally became a race. Four months of all-in training, 14 kg lost, 3.6 → 4.2 W/kg… and on day one it paid off: 1st in Men 35–39 in 3:08:07, 66th overall and 4:09 clear of second. Charl crossed the line 3:53 later; Simon 23:03 back (but still smiling). Fun fact: 3:08:07 is exactly the winning time of the women's pro race. Up front it was a road-vs-gravel showdown: Mattia De Marchi (The Grip) won the men's race in 2:36:49, just 13 seconds ahead of Marco Joubert and Travis Stedman (Toyota Specialized Imbuko). Nele Laing (Canyon DT Swiss) won the women's race by 3 seconds from Alexis Skarda (SCOTT-SRAM), with Hayley Preen (ChemChamp) third. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:21 Race morning in Graaff-Reinet 2:58 Stage 1: 90 km of Karoo gravel 6:05 The rivalry: David vs Charl vs Simon 9:26 Burn Camp at Blaauwater 10:49 Tomorrow: Stage 2 & Kom Pass STAGE 1 RESULTS Men 35–39 · 1st David Jenkins 3:08:07 (66th overall) Charl Kemp 3:12:00 (80th) · Simon Stofberg 3:31:10 (128th) Pro Men · 1 Mattia De Marchi 2:36:49 · 2 Marco Joubert +0:13 · 3 Travis Stedman +0:13 Pro Women · 1 Nele Laing 3:08:07 · 2 Alexis Skarda +0:03 · 3 Hayley Preen +1:18 TOMORROW — STAGE 2 Blaauwater loop · 105 km · 1,450 m of climbing · over Kom Pass (1,894 m, the highest point of the race) to a hilltop finish. Thanks to @gravel_burn for the rivalry interview with Manon Lloyd, their race-day stories and the official Stage 1 photos (James Cameron Heron, Fahwaaz Cornelius, Sam Clark); to @charl_kemp for his race-day stories and the Burn pod recap; to @simonstofberg for his on-bike footage; to Cammy for riding day one with us; and to @nadiavanwyk.athlete for the best stage summary on the internet. Huge thanks to Toyota South Africa, Specialized and Nedbank Gravel Burn....

The Calm Before the Burn | Registration Day at Gravel Burn 2026

Oct 24, 2026 ·11 min

Day 0 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026 — registration day in Graaff-Reinet. Tomorrow it starts: 7 stages, 691 km of racing through the Great Karoo. Today is the calm before the burn — the activation ride on the first kilometres of the course, picking up race number 339, carb-loading at the Drostdy, the most incredible bike park we've ever seen, and the race briefing the night before Stage 1. "I don't even think it's this good overseas." Canyon brought a full all-terrain team, the owner of Factor is here, Pinarello, GCN… and yet cycling remains the great equaliser. CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 0:51 The activation ride 3:46 Registration 6:58 Bikes of Gravel Burn 9:56 Race briefing 10:26 Tomorrow: Stage 1 STAGE 1 — TOMORROW Graaff-Reinet → Blaauwater · 90 km · 1,450 m of climbing · 95% gravel THE WEEK AHEAD Stage 1 · Sun 25 Oct · Graaff-Reinet → Blaauwater · 90 km Stage 2 · Mon 26 Oct · Blaauwater loop · 105 km Stage 3 · Tue 27 Oct · Blaauwater → Merino · 137 km Stage 4 · Wed 28 Oct · Merino loop · 61 km Stage 5 · Thu 29 Oct · Merino → Gwanishi · 128 km Stage 6 · Fri 30 Oct · Gwanishi → Shamwari · 76 km Stage 7 · Sat 31 Oct · Shamwari loop · 94 km Spotted your bike in the bike park? Drop a comment with your name, your rig and why you chose that setup — we'd love to hear it. Huge thanks to Toyota South Africa, Specialized, Nedbank Gravel Burn and VIP Bicycle Logistics for getting every bike here. New video every day of race week. See you at the burn. #GravelBurn #NedbankGravelBurn #GravelCycling #StageRace #ActiveHobo #Karoo #GraaffReinet #Toyota #Specialized # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate...

12 Women, 202km: Femmes Take On the 2026 Double Century

Oct 23, 2026 ·58 min

Three years ago, a handful of Joburg women who had ridden every road race and stage race on their own got a phone call: why not get a few of us together and go and have fun at the Double Century? Joanita Simpson of Femmes tells us what happened next. Femmes arrived at their first Old Mutual Wealth Double Century with ten riders and no sponsors, and crossed the line in Swellendam with eight. Today they're a squad of 14, plus a bench: mothers, wives, business owners and self-confessed corporate animals who fit 202km of team time trialling in around everything else in their lives. Turquoise for life. Joanita takes us inside the team. She talks about the captain's whistle that tells everyone when to eat, what it takes to hold 220 watts on the front, and why women's teams police drafting so fiercely. She explains what proudly South African lubricants brand Herschell gets back from backing a women's team, and how women in leadership could put far more women on bikes. Then there's the plan for their fourth DC, and a time challenge she's promised to take back to the team. 0:00 Stirring the Pot 0:43 Meet Joanita 1:15 How Femmes Began 2:38 Mothers First 7:45 Why the DC Matters 9:31 Three Years of Results 13:18 The Team Whistle 13:50 Tactics and Drafting 16:22 Holding 220 Watts 18:40 What Sponsors Get 25:22 More Women on Bikes 34:07 Rivals and Respect 40:56 The 2026 Plan 43:13 Kit and Nutrition 51:53 Growing the Peloton # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short....

Hayley Preen, Big Sugar and a Wet Derby Dash | The Breakaway EP38

Oct 22, 2026 ·37 min

Episode 38 of The Breakaway Show is a quick one. No guest, because it’s the last week before Nedbank Gravel Burn and the whole team is flat out. We start with the Prince George 100 Miler, a gravel race that finishes at the top of the Swartberg Pass. Then Derby Dash in the wet, a Namibian race scene with a surprising prize purse, and Hayley Preen taking third at Big Sugar Gravel in Arkansas. We also look at how a South African junior ended up 10th at the Enduro World Championships in Italy. After that: what a week of using protein water and beetroot powder actually felt like, and why we want to cover local racing seven days a week. Chapters: 0:00 Final week before Gravel Burn 2:45 Prince George 100 Miler 6:31 Derby Dash in the rain 9:44 Namibia's N$770,000 race purse 11:14 Hayley Preen at Big Sugar 16:49 Enduro World Championships 20:00 Weekend MTB roundup 23:45 Covering local racing daily 25:36 Protein water and beetroot 31:11 Women's DC teams 33:59 Gravel Burn week # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playli...

Everything I’m Taking to Gravel Burn - Road to Gravel Burn | EP 13

Oct 21, 2026 ·22 min

The final pack. Nutrition, gear, the bag, sleep, the bike and the kit: everything I'm taking to the Nedbank Gravel Burn, a 7-day, 750 km gravel stage race through the Great Karoo (25–31 October 2026). 0:00 Intro 0:42 Nutrition 8:29 Gear 10:30 The Bag 13:05 Sleep 14:21 The Bike 19:29 The Kit # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #RoadToGravelBurn #TheActiveHobo #StoriesMatter #stagerace #GravelCycling #gravelburn #specializedcrux5

ALL IN for 4 months, how much could I move the needle? Road to Gravel Burn | EP 12

Oct 18, 2026 ·37 min

Four months of training, testing, and hard work come down to one final check-in on the road to Gravel Burn. With the help of coach Reece McDonald and strength coach Paige Goldie, we look at the progress made on and off the bike, and what it really takes to become a stronger athlete. But this journey has become about much more than watts, weight, and performance. It’s about consistency, rebuilding confidence, and changing the way you see yourself. As race day approaches, the biggest gains might not be the ones you can measure. This is the final chapter before Gravel Burn, and the results are about to put everything into perspective. 00:00 – The Final Test 01:00 – Four Months in the Making 03:00 – Back to the Lab 05:00 – Measuring the Progress 07:00 – What the Numbers Really Mean 09:00 – The Work Behind the Scenes 11:00 – Building Strength From the Ground Up 13:00 – Training Beyond the Bike 15:00 – The Importance of Consistency 17:00 – Pushing Past Old Limitations 19:00 – More Than Just Performance 21:00 – A Different Perspective 23:00 – The Moment It All Comes Together 26:00 – The Real Meaning of Progress 29:00 – Ready for What Comes Next # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ===============...

Specialized Crux 5 Bike Fit with the maestro Dan Loubser

Oct 17, 2026 ·12 min

We’re setting up the Specialized Crux 5 Expert with upgraded wheels, wider tyres, a new saddle and handlebars before putting the bike fit to the test. Dan Loubser breaks down the differences between the Crux and Diverge, identifying the fit issues affecting comfort, power and riding position. Find out how small adjustments and the right components can make a big difference to your gravel riding experience. 00:03 – Setting Up the Crux 5 Expert 00:58 – Do You Really Need a Bike Fit? 01:44 – Identifying Fit Issues and Discomfort 03:28 – Tyres, Wheels and Ride Comfort 05:17 – Frame Compliance, Seatpost and Handlebars 09:08 – Comparing the Crux and Diverge Fit # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #StoriesThatMatter #TheActiveHobo #MountainBiking

21 Races in 2 Months: A South African Teen Takes on Belgium | The Breakaway EP37

Oct 15, 2026 ·1 hr 28 min

This week on The Breakaway, Tristan McGiven sits down with us to talk about moving to online school, training 10 to 20 hours a week, racing in Belgium against juniors who compete all year, and the one lesson that stuck: stop comparing yourself to others. He also shares what he eats, how he measures a good race, and what next year in Europe looks like. Before that, the racing. Marianne Vos wins the 2026 Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Michelle George wins her age group for South Africa, Paul Seixas wins Il Lombardia, and Candice Lill wins the Life Time Little Sugar MTB. We also cover the SA Schools finals in Stellenbosch, a poll asking if a party's cycling policy would change your vote, and what's coming up: Derby Dash, Gravel Burn, the Attakwas Extreme prize purse and a documentary premiere. Chapters: 0:00 — Tristan McGiven joins the show 4:01 — Gravel riders who still want to do the Epic 6:00 — Poll: would a party's cycling policy change your vote? 12:35 — Gravel World Championships 2026 recap 20:59 — Il Lombardia: Paul Seixas' big day 28:48 — Candice Lill wins Little Sugar 32:21 — Local gravel series result 36:59 — SA Schools finals in Stellenbosch 43:34 — A last international track meet near Cape Town 45:37 — Derby Dash and Weekend Warrior this weekend 46:34 — Gravel Burn and the Attakwas Extreme prize purse 49:10 — "Breaths of Hope": a documentary premiere 50:15 — Supplements racers actually use 1:00:10 — Beetroot shots: the nitrate story 1:09:02 — What it costs Tristan to chase a pro career 1:19:27 — Stop comparing yourself to others # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https...

Cannondale Scalpel Review: 6 Weeks and a Stage Race

Oct 14, 2026 ·17 min

The Cannondale Scalpel is a lightweight carbon cross-country mountain bike built for riders who want to go fast, and this one came back from the Tokai trails in the south of Cape Town still wearing the dirt. The platform has been out for a few years, so why review it now? Because plenty of riders are staring at a bike that's a few years old and wondering if a step up is real or just marketing. The Scalpel answers that with modern geometry that puts you forward and centred, 120mm of travel front and back, and the single-sided Lefty fork that makes it instantly recognisable. It also climbs far better than you'd expect from a bike that isn't the lightest, which turned out to be our favourite thing about it. The Scalpel isn't perfect, though. There's a dropper post we'd swap straight away and a long-term question mark over Lefty maintenance, and we cover both. If you've got an older XC bike and a stage race or a few big days on the calendar, this one belongs on your shortlist. The bike was loaned to us by East City Cycles, and the opinions are ours. Chapters: 0:00 — First Look: The Cannondale Scalpel, Fresh Off the Trails 1:20 — Six Weeks and a Seven-Day Stage Race 2:39 — Price, Geometry and 120mm of Travel 4:36 — The Lefty Fork Explained 6:02 — How the Suspension Rides Down and Up 7:29 — Weigh-In: Claimed Weight vs Real Weight 9:39 — Carbon Wheels and SRAM Transmission AXS 11:09 — What We Didn't Like: The Dropper and Lefty Maintenance 12:38 — Who the Scalpel Is For, and Can You Race It? 14:50 — Is It Worth Upgrading? Final Verdict # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa 🔗 www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 C...

XPLR BAG | The Stage Racing Hack you never knew you needed!

Oct 14, 2026 ·3 min

Stage racing isn’t just about what happens on the bike — managing the daily routine, staying organised, and reducing unnecessary stress all play a huge role in recovery and performance. Here’s a look at how one piece of gear can make life on the race circuit easier and give you more time to recover and enjoy the experience. 00:02 – The Hidden Stress of Stage Racing 01:41 – Minimising Race-Day Admin 02:15 – Organizing Gear at Camp 03:07 – A More Efficient Race Routine # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #StoriesMatter #TheActiveHobo #MountainBiking

Ciovita Factory Tour | The most custom kit ever made?

Oct 13, 2026 ·14 min

What does it take to create a truly custom cycling kit? We head inside Ciovita’s factory in Cape Town to explore the craftsmanship, people, and processes behind bringing a unique design to life. Created as a special tribute to the Toyota team heading to Gravel Burn, this project celebrates creativity, collaboration, and local manufacturing. Join us behind the scenes to see what goes into making cycling apparel more than just a jersey. 00:00 Intro 00:13 Creating Custom Gravel Burn Kit 00:29 The Story Behind the Design 01:55 Inside the Ciovita Factory 02:35 From Fabric to Finished Kit 03:30 The Art of Precision Printing 04:31 How Sublimation Printing Works 05:45 The Details That Make a Difference 06:25 The People Behind the Process 07:55 Cutting and Preparing the Fabric 08:26 Where the Best Cycling Fabrics Come From 12:45 Thank you Toyota # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa 🔗 www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US...

The Best Bike for Gravel Burn? We’ve made our pick - Crux 5 | Ep 11 Road to Gravel Burn

Oct 11, 2026 ·18 min

Choosing the right bike for Gravelburn is about more than just weight and speed. After testing a range of gravel bikes, it’s time to break down the setup, upgrades, tyres, wheels and gearing that matter most for a demanding stage race. In this episode, we look at why the Specialized Crux 5 made the shortlist and how the right components can make a difference over multiple days on rough gravel. Is this the ultimate Gravelburn setup? 00:00 Intro 00:36 Choosing the Right Gravel Bike 01:56 Understanding the Course 02:38 Suspension or Bigger Tyres? 04:13 Tyre Clearance and Comfort 06:21 Finding the Right Balance 08:52 Wheel and Groupset Upgrades 11:57 Gearing for Gravel 13:12 Wheels and Tyre Setup 17:30 Final Conclusion # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Specialized South Africa 🔗 www.specialized.com Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo....

SA Schools MTB Finals: Why Nobody Should Panic | The Breakaway EP36

Oct 8, 2026 ·1 hr 16 min

Episode 36 opens with the SA Schools mountain bike finals in Stellenbosch, and the question every South African cyclist has been asking: is our sport dying, or just getting started? Then Jemaine Jacobs tells us how a school league, a borrowed bike and a job washing bikes led him to sales and social media at Specialized Tygerberg. We also cover the opening of the Western Cape road season, the first Hobo Thrash group ride near Wellington, the RH77 Killarney crit series, and the free UCI nutrition paper everyone should skim. Plus the first look at the RH77 x Specialized kit, new gravel tyre thoughts, and the 2027 Cape Epic route. Chapters: 0:00 — SA Schools MTB finals: why South African cycling is not dying 5:27 — Jemaine's Spur Schools League years 9:29 — Meet Jemaine from Specialized Tygerberg 13:03 — Tour de Worcester 21:37 — How the sprint finish played out 26:45 — The first Hobo Thrash: Gravel Drop Ride 33:45 — RH77 Killarney Crit 37:44 — The scratch group rule 44:05 — The UCI's free cycling nutrition paper 47:12 — Pathfinder 2.2 vs Thunderburt 51:28 — Gravel Burn chainring debate 52:59 — The RH77 x Specialized kit collab 56:41 — The 2027 Cape Epic route 58:02 — What it is really like to work in the bike industry 1:01:52 — From bike washer to junior technician to sales 1:04:55 — Why the in-store experience matters 1:14:08 — Gravel, road safety and a guest we're lining up 1:16:16 — Next stop: Somerset West # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.shor...

RH77: The Kit Everyone Is Talking About

Oct 6, 2026 ·28 min

We take an in-depth look at RH77, a Cape Town cycling brand that has become a familiar name on the local scene. From design and fit to performance, comfort and the details that matter when you're putting serious kilometres into a kit, we put their range under the microscope. But there’s more to this review than just the clothing — we explore what makes RH77 such a distinctive part of the cycling community. 00:00 – RH77 Kit Review Begins 00:31 – The Story Behind RH77 02:47 – RH77 and the Cycling Community 03:55 – Meet the Man Behind the Brand 05:42 – RH77’s Focused Product Range 07:00 – The Factory Racing Kit & Visibility 08:32 – Fit, Feel & Long-Distance Comfort 10:30 – Bib Construction, Chamois & Durability 12:23 – Pricing, Cargo Bibs & Practical Features 16:09 – Materials, Branding & Long-Term Wear 18:17 – Gilets, Jackets & Winter Kit 25:43 – Where to Buy & Final Thoughts # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US ===========...

THE ROAST featuring; Simon Stofberg and Charl Kemp | Road to Gravel Burn Episode 10

Oct 4, 2026 ·1 hr 18 min

No script, no plan, no filter: three mates the night before the Nedbank Gravel Burn. Dave sits down with Simon Stoffberg and Charl Kemp for the most unplanned conversation The Active Hobo has ever filmed. They argue about FTP, VO2 max and who is actually fittest, then get serious about why they're racing seven days across the Karoo. One of them is back for redemption after a brutal first Gravel Burn. Another is racing so his son can one day see what he was capable of. Charl is photographing and filming a wedding the night before the start, then being driven through the night to the line. Under the banter is a real question: what does it cost the people at home, and why do they keep lining up anyway? 0:00 — Cold Open: The Most Unplanned Thing We've Done 0:36 — Meet Simon Stoffberg and Charl Kemp 3:53 — FTP vs VO2 Max: Who's Actually the Fittest? 8:16 — Why Watts Per Kilo Matters More Than FTP 10:22 — Day One Strategy and Why We're Really Going 11:54 — The Brutal First Gravel Burn and the Redemption Plan 15:45 — The Brands and Sponsors Behind the Start Line 19:07 — Dave's Goal: Beat These Two, Top Five Is the Dream 24:53 — Why Simon Is Racing: A Son and a Standard 29:52 — Camp Life, Kit Bags and a Code Red Storm 40:44 — The Fan Poll: Who Do Viewers Think Will Win? 50:30 — Chainrings, Tyres and Last-Minute Gear Calls 1:02:45 — Racing as a Parent: Family, Sacrifice and Balance 1:10:35 — The Wager: Betting for a Good Cause 1:14:00 — Why Sponsors Matter More Than They Know 1:17:33 — Last Words # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://2...

Cape Pioneer, Road Worlds & a Call for Safer Roads | The Breakaway EP35

Oct 1, 2026 ·1 hr 20 min

Cyclists risk their lives every morning, and no political party has told us where it stands. This week on The Breakaway, we ask. Episode 35 starts with a simple question: why do one million South African cyclists have no voice? Jarryd Haley is back, and together we talk road safety, the muggings that are changing where we ride, and what happens when a community finally speaks up. Then the racing. Cape Pioneer on 32-inch wheels, the Lions Karoo to Coast in the mud, the Road to Desolation in Graaff-Reinet, and a schools league with over a thousand kids on the start line. We finish with the 2026 Road World Championships in Montréal: Demi Vollering's win, Brandon McNulty's solo ride, and Byron Munton holding his own among the best in the world. Plus the Hobo Thrash, a free group ride we are trialling, and our verdict on the Cannondale Scalpel. Chapters: 0:00 — Why community beats a tick-box race 2:55 — What we're covering this week 4:59 — The grit of cyclists, and why we have no political voice 13:57 — Road safety: what is being done in the Western Cape 26:28 — Cape Pioneer: Pritzen and Stehli win on 32-inch wheels 30:29 — Sarah Maré and the women's race 32:18 — Why the mid-pack race deserves the spotlight 35:14 — How Dryland keeps raising the bar 36:18 — Road to Desolation: a boutique gravel race in Graaff-Reinet 40:03 — The Schools League: over a thousand kids, one race 41:22 — Karoo to Coast: gravel bikes vs flat-bar mountain bikes 47:20 — Where is the racing outside the Western Cape? 52:09 — The Hobo Thrash: a free monthly group ride 56:20 — Road Worlds 2026: Vollering and the women's race 1:03:33 — McNulty's shock win and the del Toro question 1:07:46 — Tom Pidcock: the world champion that almost was 1:08:24 — Is a new Dura-Ace coming? 1:12:25 — Byron Munton: top 40 at the World Championships 1:18:42 — Cannondale Scalpel: is a modern mountain bike worth the upgrade? 1:23:12 — What's next # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Sp...

Bike Fit Essentials | Dan Loubser

Sep 30, 2026 ·7 min

Dan Loubser, an experienced bike fitter, breaks down what changes when a rider moves from road and gravel riding into mountain biking. From suspension setup and saddle position to bike geometry, power delivery and technical terrain, Dan explains how small adjustments can make a major difference on the trail. Whether you're new to mountain biking or looking to fine-tune your setup, this episode offers practical advice to help you get more comfortable and controlled on the bike. 00:00 – Road & Gravel vs Mountain Bike Fit 01:27 – Finding the Right Suspension Setup 02:51 – Saddle Position & Suspension Sag 04:17 – Mountain Bike Geometry & Brake Setup 06:21 – Brake Lever Position & Hand Comfort # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #StoriesThatMatter #TheActiveHobo #MountainBiking

The Future of Active Hobo + What Go2Sea Taught Us | The Breakaway EP34

Sep 24, 2026 ·1 hr 5 min

What does the future of Active Hobo actually look like... and how do you build an independent cycling platform without sacrificing honest storytelling? In Episode 34 of The Breakaway, Dave goes solo to give an open look behind the scenes of Active Hobo: how the channel is funded, why partnerships matter, and why maintaining editorial independence remains non-negotiable. Then lets talk Go2Sea. After seven days of racing, filming and experiencing the communities along the route, Dave reflects on a much bigger question: do cycling events genuinely make a difference to the communities they pass through? We also unpack Siabonga’s remarkable Go2Sea story, lessons from seven days of MTB stage racing, the Cannondale Scalpel, stage-race recovery and unexpected weight gain. Plus, there’s plenty of gear talk as we get into RH77, Ciovita and MBO cycling kit, upcoming long-term reviews, Gravel Burn preparation, nutrition testing and a serious 2.2" gravel tyre shootout. # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: htt...

The Week We’ll Never Forget - Reflections on Stage 7 Go2Sea 2026

Sep 17, 2026 ·10 min

Day 7 at Go2Sea brought plenty of rain, some seriously steep trails, and what can only be described as Type 2 fun - it’s only fun once you look back on it! With the week coming to an end, the media crew sat down to reflect on the journey so far, the challenges we’ve faced, and the moments that have stood out along the way. Go2Sea has exceeded all of our expectations, and after a week of racing, riding and meeting the incredible communities along the route, we’re left with plenty to look back on and plenty more stories to tell. Thank you Go2Sea for an unforgettable week. 00:00 Intro 00:20 Final day brief 01:55 Media crew sit down 08:55 Final words from Dave 09:35 Last 5km with one crank === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/scicon... (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Noah @noah.futter Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardstander === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

Tarryn from Karkloof Country Club

Sep 15, 2026 ·1 min

Water point 2 was a vibe today. From the children to the staff people involved in this race are amazing.

This Is What Mountain Biking Is About | Day 5 Go2Sea 2026

Sep 15, 2026 ·9 min

Day 5 at Go2Sea was another tough day on the bike, but one that delivered plenty of fun along the way. The riders made their way through some incredible scenery before finishing at the Karkloof Country Club, with some fantastic single-track trails making this one of the most enjoyable stages yet. If you’d like to contribute towards Yarrow Intermediate School, any support or donations would be greatly appreciated. Karkloof Country Club: https://www.karkloofclub.co.za/ With challenging riding, beautiful surroundings and plenty of smiles along the way, Day 5 showed just how much variety Go2Sea has to offer. 00:00 Intro 01:30 David and David go back to back 02:44 The coolest start to a race 03:50 Where's the chocolate milk 04:57 Meet Taryn 06:25 Meet Mary Gray 07:30 Scenes on the finish line 08:17 Final words from farmer Gary === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/scicon... (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Noah @noah.futter Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardstander === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

Femmes_cycling always bring the energy.

Sep 15, 2026 ·1 min

Day 5 broke some but not these girls! #go2sea

The Breakaway Grabs Glory on the Queen Stage of Day 4 | Go2Sea 2026

Sep 14, 2026 ·16 min

Day 4 at Go2Sea brought a tough 108km stage as the riders continued their journey towards the sea. With every kilometer, the demands on both the riders and their bikes continue to grow. A huge shoutout to Siyabonga for taking the win today! 🏆 But once again, the real story of Go2Sea was found within the communities along the route. Today, we spoke to two incredible NPOs that are making a difference in their communities but need more funding and support to continue the work they do. First, we met with SARZA Search and Rescue, an organization dedicated to helping people when they need it most. 🌐 SARZA: https://www.sarza.co.za/ We also spent time with the Estcourt Animal Shelter, who work tirelessly to care for animals in need and give them a second chance. 📱 Estcourt Animal Shelter: https://www.facebook.com/estcourtanimalshelter Both organizations are doing important work with limited resources, and we want to help shine a light on what they do and encourage anyone who is able to support them to get involved. Go2Sea is showing us that the impact of this race extends far beyond the road. 00:00 Intro 01:03 Race brief 02:35 In the race 03:39 Ivor Interview 06:49 Pushing Siyabonga 08:10 Estcourt Animal Shelter 10:30 Back to the race 10:42 Siyaboga's Moment 13:10 What do you ride for 13:54 Finish line === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/scicon... (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Noah @noah.futter Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardstander === WORK WITH US ========...

Day 3 was really about the community

Sep 14, 2026 ·1 min

Returning to a community we had visited before, we were seriously moved by how warmly we were welcomed back. They shared how Go2Sea has already changed lives by helping educate people and giving them opportunities to reach a university-level education. For some, the race has also created employment and provided a source of income, showing that Go2Sea’s impact reaches far beyond the road and the finish line. This story really impacted us and we want to do everything we can to shine the light on these incredible people and their families to prove that us as South Africans can make a difference and build OUR country together. We ask if their is anyone who would like to help out PLEASE CONTACT US!

You Can’t Understand Go2Sea Without Meeting These People

Sep 13, 2026 ·12 min

Day 3 at Go2Sea and the riders are beginning to feel the physical and emotional demands of the journey. But for us, Day 3 was really about the community. Returning to a community we had visited before, we were seriously moved by how warmly we were welcomed back. They shared how Go2Sea has already changed lives by helping educate people and giving them opportunities to reach a university-level education. For some, the race has also created employment and provided a source of income, showing that Go2Sea’s impact reaches far beyond the road and the finish line. This story really impacted us and we want to do everything we can to shine the light on these incredible people and their families to prove that us as South Africans can make a difference and build OUR country together. We ask if their is anyone who would like to help out PLEASE CONTACT US! === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/scicon... (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Noah @noah.futter Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardstander === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

Clarens Brewery always providing the essentials

Sep 12, 2026 ·1 min

Also sharing even more insight to how #go2sea impacts the communities.

Moustache of 2026 Contenders and a podium Finish to match. #go2sea

Sep 12, 2026 ·2 min

Lee is from Australia and shares the days experience with us.

The water point on day 2 was straight vibes ! #go2sea

Sep 12, 2026 ·1 min

As expected we felt the continued excitement and how go2sea directly effects the students.

The Story Gets Bigger | Day 2 Go2Sea 2026

Sep 12, 2026 ·9 min

Day 2 at Go2Sea started to show the tougher side of the race. Crashes began to happen, the emotions started to show, and riders were pushed to their limits. With bikes needing makeshift fixes along the way, it became a day of adapting, carrying on, and finding a way to keep moving. As the race gets tougher, the real stories of Go2Sea are beginning to emerge. 00:00 Intro 00:35 Overview of the days route 01:40 34 Minutes into the race 02:00 The punctured tire 02:35 Back in action 03:03 The Finish line 03:25 Longest seat post we've ever seen 05:24 Community interactions 06:02 Water point 1 06:50 The femmes interview 07:30 What worked and what didn't === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/scicon... (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Noah @noah.futter Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardstander === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

Meet Lesedi

Sep 12, 2026 ·1 min

The pre race energy was exceptional, here’s what the people had to say. #go2sea

The question continues. #go2sea

Sep 12, 2026 ·1 min

The feedback seems to be very positive. People speaking from experience think that the race does indeed make a difference to the communities it passes through.

Do races actually make a difference to communities?

Sep 12, 2026 ·1 min

That's the question we want to find the answer to. #go2sea Melanie and Peter shared their thoughts based off of previous experience.

Water Point 1 was full of joy! #go2sea

Sep 12, 2026 ·1 min

Willie shares some insight to how #go2sea helps the Clarens village conservancy keep the natural beauty of Clarens alive. Find them at www.clarensconservancy.com

Starting To Understand Go2Sea | Day 1 Go2Sea 2026

Sep 11, 2026 ·8 min

Day 1 at Go2Sea was about more than just getting to the finish line.  From interviews with the children and riders in the race village to the incredible scenes at the finish, we got to see what makes this race so special. The emotion on the riders faces as they arrived was had to miss and seeing the children waiting for them captured something that goes beyond cycling. This is Go2Sea. 00:00 Intro 01:05 Farmer Gary shares a brief overview 02:46 Dave shares some riding footage and moments within the race 03:25 Dave at the finish providing his thoughts on the ride 05:05 Interviews === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/scicon... (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Noah @noah.futter Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardstander === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

Welcome To The Race That Connects Communities | Day 0 Go2Sea 2026

Sep 10, 2026 ·13 min

The excitement is already building, Day 0 at Go2Sea was an absolute blast! From the final race preparations to meeting the people at registration. This race is shaping up to be something special, combining the thrill of the challenge with heartwarming stories from the communities the race passes through. 00:00 Why are we here 00:50 Getting to Day 0 01:50 Baggage we Testing 03:08 Stage 1 Overview 03:38 Stage 2 Overview 03:51 Stage 3 Overview 04:10 Stage 4 Overview 04:36 Stage 5 Overview 04:55 Stage 6 Overview 05:08 Stage 7 Overview 05:19 Cannondale Scalpel Overview 08:00 Registration Vibe check 08:35 Pieter & Melanie Interview 10:49 Meet Lesedi 11:49 Father and Son === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/scicon... (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Noah @noah.futter Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardstander === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

Jason’s Story: Racing Through Cystic Fibrosis, All the Way to Japan | The Breakaway EP33

Sep 10, 2026 ·1 hr 34 min

Before anything else: this week we lost someone close to our community. Our sincerest condolences go out to everyone who knew and loved her. And our thoughts are with Michael Foster and his family, currently in ICU after a collision while cycling, he's showing positive signs, and we're holding onto hope. Please, be careful out there. On a different note, we're glad to have Jason back. Years ago, he made a video about endurance that, without either of us realising it at the time, has quietly become one of the first things people watch after being diagnosed with cystic fibrosis. He's back to talk about that, about a race in Japan that pushed him further than he expected, and about what actually drives someone to keep going when it would be so much easier to stop. We also cover the news: La Vuelta a España has been genuinely brilliant racing, with Enric Mas putting in performances that have won over even the skeptics. 0:00 — Intro 1:49 — Community News: A Tragic Loss & Ongoing Prayers 4:59 — go2sea & Racing News Roundup 8:48 — La Vuelta a España: Enric Mas Impresses 1:03:16 — Jason's Story: Living With Cystic Fibrosis 1:08:09 — What Really Drives You: Love, Hate & Shame 1:33:48 — Wrap-Up & Thanks to Jason # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW ==================...

Go 2 Sea Transit Day done and dusted #go2sea #cannondale #clarens #mtb

Sep 9, 2026 ·1 min

The Coach Teaching South Africa’s Kids to Ride Fearlessly | Rob du Preez

Sep 8, 2026 ·1 hr 7 min

He was told to teach kids ball skills. He ended up building one of Cape Town's most trusted mountain bike coaching businesses — almost entirely by accident. Rob du Preez is the founder of Rubber Side Down, a Cape Town-based mountain bike skills coaching business born out of an unlikely place: the 2020 lockdowns. In this conversation he traces the whole path — growing up racing road and track in Durban, discovering mountain biking almost by chance, and the strange gift that COVID gave an entire generation of South African kids who suddenly needed something to do outside. He breaks down the three fundamental skills that determine how safe, confident, and fast any rider will ever be, looking ahead, braking, and staying balanced... and why he believes most cyclists never look at them because they're too busy chasing watts and nutrition plans. He talks candidly about coaching kids as young as four and a half, the parents who need almost as much guidance as their children, and why he believes South African cycling has a "perception problem" — we're already among the best in the world, we just don't see ourselves that way yet. This is a conversation about what it actually takes to build confidence on a bike, and why the skills that keep a beginner safe are the same ones that make a professional fast. 0:00 — Cold open: the one rule of coaching kids 0:43 — Meet Coach Rob, from KZN road racer to MTB skills coach 6:52 — How COVID accidentally created Rubber Side Down 9:21 — Enduro vs. downhill, and finding his own line in gravity riding 15:56 — Building a business at the intersection of passion and skill 19:15 — The three fundamental skills every rider needs 30:45 — South Africa's "perception problem" in sport 35:46 — Inside the explosion of the Western Cape schools series 45:15 — What makes a good — or a reckless — skills coach 48:37 — Coaching the parents as much as the kids 1:02:12 — Rob's dream of coaching overseas # === LISTEN ON THE GO ====================...

Does technical Skills coaching actually work? | Road to Gravel Burn Episode 9

Sep 6, 2026 ·15 min

Coming off a brutal recovery week following the Sedgefield 500, the focus turns to something I never properly worked on: technical mountain bike skills. A session with coach Rob from Rubber Side Down MTB Skills starts in a parking lot with basic balance — and ends up reshaping everything from body position to cornering, ahead of the notoriously technical terrain expected at the Nedbank Gravel Burn. Along the way: a hard lesson in self-compassion after a rough week of fatigue, a preview of the next big test (the seven-day go2sea stage race), and the packing system that's about to save a lot of race-day stress! 0:00 — Cold Open: "I Knew Everything, I Knew Nothing" 0:16 — The Fatigue Reset: What a Hard Recovery Week Actually Taught 1:36 — What's Next: A Community Story Ahead of go2sea 2:40 — A Skills Lesson With Rob: Body Position, Tyres & Suspension 9:06 — The Cornering Pattern That Changes Everything 11:00 — The Parking Lot Reality Check 12:40 — Packing Smart: Sorting the Bike Bag Before Race Day 15:19 — What's Coming Next on the Road to Gravel Burn # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlis...

Factor Elara | First Look

Sep 4, 2026 ·10 min

We get an exclusive first look at the all-new Factor Elora, a seriously aggressive gravel race bike making its global debut from Cape Town, South Africa. From its 55mm+ tyre clearance and aero-focused fork to deep-section wheels, integrated storage and race-proven SRAM Force, we break down what makes this one of the most cutting-edge gravel bikes we've seen. But with complete builds reaching well into six figures in South Africa, is the Factor Elara the future of gravel racing—or has Factor gone too far? 00:36 – An Aggressive Gravel Race Bike 01:00 – The Aero Wheelset & Deep Rims 01:44 – Race-Focused Frame & Rear End 02:17 – Geometry & Race Pedigree 03:20 – Frame Details & Storage 04:34 – Raw Carbon, Fork & 55mm Tyres 06:22 – Aero Cockpit & Front-End Design 08:00 – Pricing & Build Options 08:57 – Final Verdict: The Future of Gravel Racing? # === LISTEN ON THE GO =========================== Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5GselFmeym7YgYXtcyPUXU Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/active-hobo/id1846864699 # === FOLLOW ACTIVE HOBO ========================= https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo # === PARTNER LINKS =================================== Doolhof Wine Estate https://doolhof.com 🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines) RH 77 🔗 https://rh77.co.za 226ERS 🔗 https://226ers.co.za/ Code: ActiveHobo (10% off) SCICON 🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link) East City Cycles 🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/ Gear Change Bicycle Store 🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/ # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10 Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & c...