The Autumn edition of Mountain Bike mag is on shelf now
Africa's biggest off road cycling mag is packed with soulful stoke. The unique, large format glossy mag features deep story telling and powerful images to sit back and soak up in your offline me-time, feeding your chosen passion.
Exploring places to ride, speaking to interesting riders, checking out new bikes & tech, plus races to plan — just 3 times annually. A refreshingly stark contrast to the noise of social media.
Our cover feature describes a biking holiday across Botswana, possibly the closest you'll ever get to nature outside a game vehicle. It's a short hop from Jozi, warm in our winter, and they are well geared for us fat tyred bush lovers. Read why you should add it to your biking bucket list.
Speaking of Jozi, we take a good look at places to ride around Pretoria. There's so much more sweet trail up north than we realised.
If the winter weather is getting too much, follow our intrepid bike packer to Europe where he raced the 1000km Alps Divide. Or @jasonboulle European World Cup Series Tour. Or enjoy the story of our global crew who travelled to Chile to ride the wilds of Patagonia.
New season, new gear — we feature some cool new stuff.
We get to know @capeepic winner @alessandrakeller & SA Champ @marc_pritzen_114 , plus hear how amputee athletes @turbo__trav and @mhle_gwala dealt with mechanical disasters to finish the most iconic stage race on just two legs.
Over 40 picture-filled pages of races for the n@_sani2c , @tankwatrek all the high profile gravel races, and a full listing of local MTB races from June to December.
We end on a controversial note. Was the shortening of the Cape Epic pro ladies route a high 5 or a slap in the face? Two celebrated pro women share opposing perspectives. Share your opinion on our upcoming reader poll on Instagram and Facebook.
All this for less than a hundred bucks.
Find a local store on our stockist list at BikeRunTri.co.za
If you prefer digital you can download it now at the link in our bio!
Note that Pick n Pay have a great 2 edition special if you can find one in time.
#mountainbikesouthafrica #mtb #mountainbikelife #mountainbikeracing #mtblife
“If an opportunity arises, I’m going to take it.”
— @alanhatherly to @dan_challis@escapecollective
SA superstar and reigning XCO mountain bike world champion Alan Hatherly is taking on his first Grand Tour — lining up at the @giroditalia with @greenedgecycling in support of GC contender and team leader @ben0c0nnor
Six stages in, both are sitting right where they should be. O’Connor is locked in with the GC favourites, Hatherly tucked into his domestique role. The next few stages start to open it up — Blockhaus gives O’Connor his first real shot at the GC battle, while the transition days could open the door for Hatherly in a breakaway.
Which stage do you think Hatherly could claim his maiden Grand Tour stage win?
#girodeitalia #grandtour #cycling #greenedge #cyclist
After a leg busting opening stage and a monumental queen stage, the fast, scenic and final stage left riders satisfied soaking up burgers beers and good vibes.
This is a fittingly fun dash home for pros & amateurs alike.
DAY 3 — THE FINAL RIDE TO SCOTTBURGH
After two demanding days in the saddle, riders rolled out for the final stage of @_sani2c with tired legs, dusty bikes and the finish line finally within reach.
Day 3 might be shorter, but it still delivers everything that makes sani2c special — flowing trails, river crossings, rolling green valleys and that unique feeling that the adventure is slowly coming to an end.
There’s a completely different atmosphere on the final day. The nerves are gone, the pressure eases slightly and riders start soaking in the experience properly. Conversations become longer, photo stops happen more often and every kilometre feels like part of the celebration.
Some of the highlights from Day 3:
• Fast flowing riding through classic KZN landscapes
• Water crossings and cooling river sections
• Final stretches of iconic sani2c singletrack
• The build-up toward the Indian Ocean finish
• Rolling into Scottburgh after three unforgettable days on the bike
By the end of the stage, the exhaustion is real — but so is the pride.
From the Drakensberg to the sea, sani2c remains one of the most unique journeys in South African mountain biking. 🇿🇦
#sani2c #kapsani2c #mtnbikeworld #southafricanmountainbiking #mountainbikerace
“The Umkomaas valley descent is possibly the best stretch of mountain bike riding on the planet. It’s what riders have been traveling to the Underberg for since 2005”
@paulingpen , Mountain Bike SA editor
DAY 2 — THE DAY @_sani2c SHOWS ITS TEETH
What riders and fans can expect on day 2 of the @_sani2c mountain bike stage race:
96km.
1 896m of climbing.
And the stage that turns excitement into grit.
If Day 1 is about settling in, Day 2 is where the race becomes real. Riders wake up at Mackenzie Club carrying a little more fatigue, a lot more confidence and the growing understanding that sani2c is as much a mental challenge as it is a physical one.
But this is also the day the route fully reveals why so many riders return year after year.
From dramatic valley views and flowing descents to endless stretches of purpose-built singletrack, Day 2 packs in some of the most iconic riding of the entire event. It’s tough, rewarding and unforgettable in equal measure.
What riders look forward to on Day 2:
• Early morning riding through mist-covered valleys
• Legendary trails like Murray’s Meander and Steve’s Spruit
• The floating bridge crossing at Little Africa
• Long flowing singletrack through forests and open hillsides
• The atmosphere and relief of arriving at Jolivet after one of the hardest days on the bike
Day 2 also has a way of exposing mistakes. Riders who pushed too hard on Day 1 usually start feeling it here. Climbs feel steeper, nutrition becomes critical and patience suddenly matters even more.
But somewhere between the suffering and the scenery, something shifts. Riders stop focusing purely on distance and start appreciating the experience itself — the conversations at water points, the silence in the valleys, the sound of tyres through dust and grass.
By the time riders roll into Jolivet, dusty and exhausted, the race feels different. The nerves are gone. The adventure has fully taken over. 🚵♂️
Read our full KAP sani2c guide in our Autumn edition, on shelves now!
#sani2c #kapsani2c #drakensberg #mtbrace #southafricanmountainbiking
After all the driving, flights, bus rides and car rentals, this is how & where your famously lekker journey from the Drakensberg to the ocean starts 🏁🇿🇦
DAY 1 — WHERE THE JOURNEY REALLY BEGINS
What riders and fans can expect on day 1 of the @_sani2c mountain bike stage race:
89km.
1 027m of climbing.
And the moment months of preparation finally become real.
Day 1 of KAP sani2c is less about survival and more about immersion. Riders leave Glencairn Farm surrounded by nervous excitement, fresh legs and the kind of scenery that instantly reminds you why this event sits on so many bucket lists.
The early kilometres roll through open farmlands beneath the Southern Drakensberg, with long gravel roads, misty valleys and the feeling that the adventure is only just unfolding. Then the route starts introducing riders to what makes KAP sani2c special — flowing district roads, purpose-built singletrack and iconic features that have become part of the race’s identity.
What riders look forward to on Day 1:
• The PG Bison Floating Bridge crossing
• Fast sections like the SAPPI Speedway
• Riding through the Xumeni Indigenous Forest
• Iconic KAP sani2c singletrack like Pine Plunge and Ducky’s Demand
• Water points that feel more like celebrations than refuels
And while the route profile might look manageable on paper, Day 1 teaches an important lesson quickly: KAP sani2c rewards patience. Riders who pace themselves get to enjoy the experience properly — the landscape, the atmosphere and the thousands of small moments in between.
By the time riders roll into Mackenzie Club, legs are dusty, bodies are tired but the nerves are gone. The race has officially settled in — and so has the stoke. 🚵♂️
Read our full KAP sani2c guide in our Autumn edition, on shelves now
#sani2c #kapsani2c #mtbrace #drakensberg #mountainbikelife
One of our own, @zach.vancoller took some leave to do the unimaginable 🚴♂️
Cycling across South Africa with his dad and grandpa by his side — on a mission to get his gramps over the Race Across South Africa finish line, 2,000+ kms away!
Along the way the cycle turned into a battle — exhaustion, terrible weather, long cold nights in the saddle and stomach bugs that brought all 3 of them to their knees.
The journey turned into a daily story of inspiration to friends, colleagues, family and hundreds of people who joined online just to watch their dots crawl across South Africa.
It all came to a head on Monday night — 10 hours to the cut-off, 180kms to the finish. A ride through the night with Zach out front, pulling his grandpa with a tow rope, urged on by strangers online! 🙌
They rolled across the finish line together at 7am on Tuesday morning, less than an hour before the cut-off, to an emotional reception and a community that had cheered every single pedal stroke. 🥹
We are SO proud of you Zach, Brett and Tim! 👏❤️
Stay tuned for a deep dive into their adventure and the Race Across South Africa, coming soon!
#raceacrosssouthafrica #freedomtrail #freedomchallenge #endurance #inspiration
They call it the ultimate souvenir for the ultimate race.
If you lined up at the start, suffered through the climbs, felt the African sun on your back and crossed that finish line — this is the keepsake that does it justice.
150 pages of large format mountain bike stoke, packed with every stage, every story and the riders who made it happen.
And if you didn't ride Epic this year?
There's no better way to live it and learn it. World champions, inspiring images, over 20 years of history and the kind of coffee table book that'll have every mtb fan reaching for it.
This is your last chance to get a physical copy. Once they're gone, they're gone. Find us at Exclusive Books, Woolworths, Spars and leading bike shops country wide — or hit the link in bio to track down your nearest stockist.
Don't say we didn't warn you. 👆📖✨
#capeepic #mtbmag #mountainbikesouthafrica #mountainbikelife #mountainbikeracing
Long rides demand consistent fuel.
Avocados provide healthy fats, fibre and key nutrients that can support sustained energy and recovery on the bike as part of a balanced approach to nutrition 🥑
We explore where avos fit into fuelling strategies for longer days out and consistent time in the saddle - plus a tasty avo smoothie recipe for you to try at home!
👉 Read more on BikeRunTri.co.za (link in bio)
#MTBMag #MountainBiking #RideSouthAfrica #MTBNutrition #EnduranceFuel
The ABSA Cape Epic is almost here and there’s already plenty to talk about ⛰️🇿🇦
This weekend the Epic gets underway and the excitement is building across the Western Cape as the world’s best marathon riders get ready to roll into eight days of dust and climbing and classic African trails.
One of the biggest talking points this year? The UCI Elite Women’s race has been shortened with tailored stages designed to bring the women’s racing time closer to that of the men’s field.
It’s a move that’s sparked plenty of debate in the MTB world. Some riders and fans feel the Epic’s legendary status has always been tied to the sheer distance and suffering required to finish the race and for them the brutality of the full route is part of what makes an Epic an Epic.
Others see the change as a potential game-changer for the women’s race. Shorter stages could mean more aggressive racing, tighter gaps and less chance of the overall being wrapped up after the first few stages.
In theory, it opens the door for explosive attacks and closer battles and maybe even a few surprise results along the way. It could also draw more cross-country specialists into the mix, helping grow the women’s field and bringing another level of intensity to the racing.
Either way, with the depth in the women’s field this year there’s a strong chance we’ll see some seriously exciting racing as the peloton goes all-in from the prologue to Stage 7. One thing’s for sure, when the tyres hit the dirt this weekend, the Queens of the Cape will put on a show 🔥
Read more in Mountain Bike Magazine Cape Epic Special Edition which is on shelves now at Woolworths, Exclusive Books, Spar, PnP and leading bike shops across South Africa. Check our stockist list via the link in bio 👆
You can download the digital version too if that’s more convenient. The link for that is also in bio.
#MountainBikeMag #CapeEpic #MTB #RideSouthAfrica #WesternCapeTrails
With multi-stage mountain bike races like Cape Epic, Gravel Burn and Tankwa Trek on the calendar, long days in the saddle place plenty of demands on riders and equipment.
The Falke Pedal Pressure Free mountain bike sock incorporates targeted metatarsal cushioning, BCool recycled yarn for moisture management and a Sensitive Cuff construction.
Read more at the link in our bio 👆
#MountainBikeMag #MTB #MTBGear #Falke #RideSouthAfrica
