E-BIKES ARE CHEATING! Graffiti is vandalism! These are givens, right? Maybe not. In 2018, retired Jozi ad-man Eelco E Meyjes set out to right the wrongs of both of these Karen-isms, by offering left-field two-wheeled tours of one of Africa's busiest cities. Graffiti Coffee Rides - a clever man is Mr Meyjes, bringing in the cyclist's drug of choice to seal the deal - operates out of the leafy northern suburbs, but arranges tours across Egoli.
It all started in 2017, as Meyjes finished his second solo self-supported 3 680km Cape Town to Vic Falls ride - on a 'normal' MTB. Besides championing the cause of the declining finch populations of southern Africa (birding is his other big passion), these two big adventures taught him all he needed to know about the potential of the bicycle; but also about its shortcomings.
At the time, in Europe and in Asia, e-bikes had been around for ages and were selling like hot cakes; in South Africa, retailers couldn't give them away. But in November 2017, after being rejected three times by the 947 Ride Joburg organisers, Meyjes became the first person in SA to ride the event on an e-bike, as their official guinea pig.
No one in SA could tell him if the motor might overheat, like that of an electric drill, or if the 300Wh battery would last the distance.
Fortunately, the ride was a success; and the rest, as they say, is history.
OUTSIDER ART
Denne historien er fra March/April 2023-utgaven av Bicycling South Africa.
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Denne historien er fra March/April 2023-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
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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.
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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.
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DEAR MARK CAVENDISH
WHEN I FIRST STARTED FOLLOWING professional road cycling around 2014, you were at the top of your game.
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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
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TOP TIPS TO KEEP YOU COOLER AND RIDING STRONGER... NO MATTER WHAT THE TEMPERATURE.
