MTB
WE'RE IN A GOLDEN AGE OF MOUNTAIN BIKING. THE GEOMETRY OF MODERN BIKES IS ABSOLUTELY DIALLED, AND SUSPENSION HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER. THE ONLY ISSUE IS OUR BELEAGUERED CURRENCY, WHICH OCCASIONALLY MAKES THE PRICE OF NEW BIKES EYE-WATERING. STILL, THERE'S VALUE TO BE FOUND IF YOU KNOW WHERE TO LOOK: HERE'S OUR PICK OF THE BEST BIKES FOR STAGE-RACE SMILES, TRAIL BIKES THAT RIP, AND HARDTAILS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR UNCOMPLICATED FUN.
XC RACE
THE HARDTAIL KILLER
SPECIALIZED S-WORKS EPIC WORLD CUP
R230 000 SPECIALIZED.COM
DESIGN-WISE, THE EPIC WORLD CUP is a radical departure from its previous iteration; but philosophically the bike continues down the same path of active suspension when it's needed, and a rigid pedalling platform when it's not.
For the front suspension on this top-tier S-Works model, the Brain-equipped RockShox Sid Ultimate fork carries forward from previous versions of the Epic. It uses an inertiadriven valve to open and lock the suspension, and travel has been increased to 110mm. The rear shock is where things take a different turn. Specialized has abandoned its Brain system for an adjustable negative-air-chamber design, and instead of 100mm of travel, the new design provides 75mm of rear-wheel travel. Since Specialized intends the Epic WC to be ridden with little or no shock sag, the design has similar effective travel to most competitors’ 100mm bikes.
Denne historien er fra January / February 2024-utgaven av Bicycling South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra January / February 2024-utgaven av Bicycling South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
GEAR FOR THE AGES
Some bicycle components, tools and accessories - by design, luck or a bit of both - become icons of performance, reliability and permanence in cycling.
A RACE LIKE NO OTHER
IN KENYA'S MAASAI MARA, KNOWN MORE FOR SAFARIS THAN CYCLING, THE MIGRATION GRAVEL RACE CHALLENGES RIDERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD THE WORLD WHILE FORGING A FUTURE FOR BIKE RACING IN AFRICA.
WAR ON WHEELS
IF YOU GO FOR A RIDE IN CAPE TOWN AT THE WRONG TIME, YOU COULD FIND YOURSELF IN THE MIDDLE OF A CYCLING GANG WAR, WHERE THE WEAPONS OF CHOICE ARE STRAVA RECORDS AND SALTY COMMENTS ON INSTAGRAM. THIS IS THE TALE OF THREE RIVAL ROADIE CREWS AND A REMINDER THAT CYCLING IS A SPORT BEST TAKEN WITH A SENSE OF HUMOUR.
GET TOUR DE FRANCE FAST IN FOUR WEEKS
HAVE YOU GOT TOUR FEVER? If you have a good fitness base, let the pros inspire you to take your riding to the next level.
THE SECRET TO MAKING A COMEBACK? JUST START
\"THIS IS WHAT DECONDITIONING LOOKS LIKE,\" I said out loud to no one, as I looked at the heart-rate reading on my phone and gasped for breath. \"This shouldn't be so hard.\"
DEAR MARK CAVENDISH
WHEN I FIRST STARTED FOLLOWING professional road cycling around 2014, you were at the top of your game.
HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR POWER-TOWEIGHT RATIO
POWER-TO-WEIGHT RATIO IS one of the most telling metrics in cycling - and thanks to indoor trainers, many more cyclists are now familiar with it. Right now it's never been easier to calculate your power-to-weight ratio and use it to improve your performance.
EASY RIDER
A FEW YEARS AGO, my wife and I along with her parents, brother and his wife-cycled down the Danube River in Europe.
LEADING THE WAY - RYAN GIBBONS, 29, SA PRO RIDER, MULTIPLE SA & AFRICAN ROAD CHAMP
AFTER JOINING LIDLTREK from UAE Team Emirates, South African national champ Ryan Gibbons aims to be the best lead-out man he can be - while also helping his new team in their quest to climb the World Tour rankings.
6 WAYS TO BEAT THE HEAT THIS SUMMER
TOP TIPS TO KEEP YOU COOLER AND RIDING STRONGER... NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE.
