Active Hobo

Cannondale SuperX 3 Review – IS IT THE FASTEST GRAVEL BIKE?

We tested the SuperX 3 in the same batch as the Titan Racing Switch Carbon Comp and the Merida Silex 7000, and it sits at the complete opposite end of the spectrum from both. This is Cannondale's dedicated race gravel bike, built to go fast, not to carry your camping kit. At 8.57kg it's the lightest bike we've weighed in the whole series, running mechanical Shimano GRX in a 2x setup, DT Swiss 370 hubs, and tyre clearance up to 51mm up front and 48mm out back if you want to push past the stock 40s. Frame storage is minimal on purpose: three bottle mounts and a top tube bag, nothing more, because this bike wants you moving fast enough that you won't need it. It's neither of our reviewers' first gravel bike, but it is their first Cannondale, and it's easy to see why the brand's owners talk about it like a cult. At R80,000, this is a genuinely competitive way into that world without giving up anything on performance. We scored it an 8 out of 10, and reckon a wider tyre choice is the only thing standing between this bike and a 9. 0:00 — Cold Open: Meet the SuperX 3 0:40 — First Ride: Southern Suburbs to the Green Belts 2:52 — Frame & Component Walkthrough 5:55 — Weigh-In: The Lightest Bike We've Tested 6:41 — Three Weeks on Gravel: The Real-World Test 9:00 — Tyre Clearance: Room to Go Wider 9:31 — The Price Reveal: R80,000 11:09 — Final Verdict: Scoring the SuperX 3 # === 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 ========================= Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1 Website: https://activehobo.com/ Instagram: @theactivehobo Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/VRIeP2JYf5U Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/lGfvanjllXY 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — Premium eyewear and luggage for cyclists who take their kit seriously. https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling #gravelbike #titangravelbike #bikereview

We’re Going to Go 2 Sea! Tour de France Debrief, Jarryd from ECC joins us | The Breakaway EP27

Merida Silex 7000 Review: The Comfiest Gravel Bike We’ve Ridden

The Merida Silex 7000 might be the most comfortable gravel bike we've ridden — and it's not even trying to race you. We tested the Silex 7000 back to back with the Cannondale SuperX and the Titan Racing Switch Carbon Comp, and the contrast couldn't be bigger. Where those two want to race, the Silex wants to disappear into the hills for a week. Merida built this carbon gravel bike for exploring, not sprinting — mechanical Shimano GRX shifting, a wide-range mountain-bike cassette, 180mm rotors with genuinely serious stopping power, and tyre clearance up to 45mm (42mm once you fit mudguards). It comes ready to ride out of the box, complete with a water bottle, mini tool, and tubeless valves — a detail none of the other bikes we've tested this year bothered with. At roughly 9.55kg, it lines up with a Specialized Diverge, minus the suspension and the price tag. It's also home to the best small feature we've found on any bike this year: a magnetised Fidlock bottle cage that's worth the price of admission on its own. At R65,000, both our reviewers landed on a 9 out of 10 — not because it's flawless, but because for anyone chasing distance over speed, almost nothing touches it. 0:00 — First Impressions: Smooth Criminal 1:16 — Meet the Silex 7000 2:45 — Shimano GRX & That Stopping Power 6:13 — The Fidlock Magnetic Bottle System 9:12 — Comfort Test: Smoother Than a Diverge? 10:42 — Weigh-In: 9.55kg With All the Extras 11:38 — The Price Reveal: R65,000 13:02 — Final Verdict: Scoring the Silex 7000 14:25 — Closing 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 ========================= Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1 Website: https://activehobo.com/ Instagram: @theactivehobo Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/VRIeP2JYf5U Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/lGfvanjllXY 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — Premium eyewear and luggage for cyclists who take their kit seriously. https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling #gravelbike #titangravelbike #bikereview

Is Your TT Bike Even Legal? A UCI Commissaire Explains | The Breakaway EP26

Most riders have no idea if their TT bike would actually pass inspection. Dave sits down with Stephan, a national road cycling commissaire based at Cycle Lab N1 City, who measures TT bikes against UCI regulations for a living — and puts a bike through the exact test riders face on race day. Before the demo: reaction to the biggest story to come out of the Tour de France this week. Jonas Vingegaard crashed out of Stage 15 on the descent into Plateau de Solaison, ending his bid for a third yellow jersey with a fractured collarbone. Remco Evenepoel took the stage win, his first road victory at the Tour, while Tadej Pogačar showed real sportsmanship in how he handled the closing kilometres. Then it's down to business: what "default" position actually means, why the UCI cares about 750mm and category height limits, and why a bike that looks fine to the eye can fail on a technicality worth three millimetres. # === CHAPTERS =================================== 0:00 — Cold Open: Coffee, Colours & Cycle Lab N1 City 1:49 — Meet Stephan: Commissaire & TT Bike Specialist 3:37 — Tour de France: Vingegaard's Crash & Pogačar's Sportsmanship 5:32 — What Makes a Commissaire Qualified to Judge Your Bike? 6:44 — Why the UCI Regulates TT Bikes: Man vs Machine 10:42 — The Jig Demo: Measuring a "Default" Position 18:10 — The Non-Compliant Bike Example 19:44 — Category Heights Explained: Why Taller Riders Get Less Room 25:41 — The Jig Built for Western Province Cycling 26:17 — Why the Time Trial Is the Purest Test in Cycling 30:35 — Chasing KOMs & Wrap-Up # === 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 ========================= Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1 Website: https://activehobo.com/ Instagram: @theactivehobo Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins James Ross-Marsh @jamesrossmarsh # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/VRIeP2JYf5U Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/lGfvanjllXY SOIL SEARCHING on YOUTUBE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DYUE9tW24E https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZEaRtB5hzs 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — Premium eyewear and luggage for cyclists who take their kit seriously. https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling

Titan Racing Switch Carbon Comp Review: Worth It?

We put the Switch Carbon Comp through three weeks and 500km of everything the Western Cape could throw at it: smooth tar, fast gravel, and rock climbs nobody sane would call "gravel." It didn't flinch. Titan Racing, a proudly South African bike brand out of Stellenbosch, built this as a genuine entry point into carbon gravel racing — wireless 1x12 SRAM Apex AXS shifting, Vittoria Terreno Dry tyres, and a carbon frame with clearance up to 50mm, all finished in one of the most understated paint jobs we've tested this year. At 9.4kg and under R53,000, it's the bike that had two reviewers arguing over whether it deserved an 8 or a 9 out of 10 — not because it's flawed, but because at this price, almost nothing else comes close. It's also built to grow with you: upgrade the wheels, widen the cassette, or just ride it stock for years. If you're gravel-curious and don't want to remortgage anything to find out, this is where you start. 0:00 — Titan, What Have You Done? (First Reactions) 1:47 — The Price Reveal: What R52,999 Buys You 4:02 — Frame, Finish & The Minimalist Paint Job 7:07 — Three Weeks, 500km: The Real-World Test 7:31 — The Extreme Terrain Torture Test 9:11 — Weigh-In: Does 9.4kg Hold Up? 9:43 — Final Verdict: Scoring the Switch Carbon Comp 11:39 — Final Thoughts (Your Turn) # === 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 ========================= Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1 Website: https://activehobo.com/ Instagram: @theactivehobo Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/VRIeP2JYf5U Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/lGfvanjllXY 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — Premium eyewear and luggage for cyclists who take their kit seriously. https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling #gravelbike #giantrevoltreview #bikereview

The Hidden Economy of a Stage Race - And Why It Matters | The Breakaway EP25

Every rider who's done a stage race has seen it: the school kids handing out water, the local guy who's swept the same piece of singletrack all year so it's ready for you. James Beers joins The Breakaway to unpack what actually happens to the money you pay to enter a race — and why it matters more than most riders realise. This is a big one. James breaks down the real, direct link between event entry fees and rural community income in South Africa — school fees paid, local trail builders employed, families supported through a single race weekend. It's not corporate box-ticking. It's tangible, and it compounds year on year. We also get into the Giro d'Italia GC battle — Jonas Vingegaard's gearing, Tadej Pogačar's dominance, and what's coming in the next two weeks. Plus two big pieces of South African cycling news: performance coach Reece McDonald's move into the WorldTour pipeline with Q36.5 Pro Cycling, and Daryl Impey's new role as a Sport Director at Ineos Grenadiers for 2026. # === CHAPTERS =================================== 0:00 — Intro: Do Races Actually Help Communities? 2:05 — James Beers' Toyota Commercial Stunt Double Story 6:35 — The Philosophy of Riding When the Stoke Is High 15:10 — Cape Epic's UNCO Valley & the Beaded Bracelets 23:14 — Craig Wapnick, go2berg & Community-Powered Events 28:46 — Whose Job Is It to Fix the Trails? 43:48 — The Trail Pass: An Easy Lever Riders Ignore 49:14 — Giro d'Italia: Vingegaard's Gearing Under the Microscope 52:47 — Could Different Gearing Have Changed the Giro? 1:07:28 — Pinarello-Q36.5 & Reece McDonald's Move to the WorldTour Pipeline 1:08:06 — Daryl Impey Joins Ineos Grenadiers as Sport Director 1:14:18 — Wrap-Up & Thanks to James Beers # === 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 ========================= Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1 Website: https://activehobo.com/ Instagram: @theactivehobo Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/VRIeP2JYf5U Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/lGfvanjllXY 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — Premium eyewear and luggage for cyclists who take their kit seriously. https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling

Tristan Nortje: THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING | Active Hobo Film

Tristan Nortje and Matt Beers made history in 2026 by becoming the first all South African team to win the worlds biggest mountain bike race - The Cape Epic. This film tells Tristan's story and how the result was his destiny foretold long before the day arrived. SPECIAL THANKS to TOYOTA SA, Specialized South Africa, Cape Epic, RideLife George, Matt Beers, Anika Boshoff, Linda Nortje & of course Tristan Nortje for letting us tell this story 🇿🇦 #storiesmatter #capeepic #southafrica # === 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 ========================= Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1 Website: https://activehobo.com/ Instagram: @theactivehobo Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b

THIRSTI HALF MARATHON and 10KM RUN - JOIN ACTIVE HOBO for the RUN UP! #springiscoming

THIRSTI is hosting its inaugural Half Marathon and 10km on the 29th of August 2026. Active Hobo has assembled a super crew to help you get there in tip top shape whether you want to race the event and set PB's or simple achieve something you never thought you could! Weekly runs with Terence Petterson (the influencer) Paige and Lindi (The brains and BIO's) and Alec (the storyteller) will ensure peak vibes and form! Free entry spot prises, THIRSTI Sports drinks and other cool giveaways weekly! Join us by simply DM'ing your whatsapp number and we'll add you to the group! #yourstorymatters #storiesmatter #springmarathon #thirsti

From Bike Shop to South Africa’s Biggest MTB Events | Dryland’s Henco Rademeyer

For the first time outside of COVID, Dryland Event Management had to cancel a race ten days before the start. Here's the man who made that call — and built a 20-year career on the events that came before it. Henco Rademeyer is the co-founder and director of Dryland Event Management, the team behind some of South Africa's toughest and most loved mountain bike stage races: the Attakwas Extreme, the Cape Pioneer Trek, the Tankwa Trek, and the brand-new Garden Route Giro. In this conversation he tells the story from the very beginning — running a bike shop in Oudtshoorn before online retail existed, realising that events drove more bike sales than anything else, and starting Dryland almost by accident with his co-founder Carel Herholdt. He walks through the flooding that forced the cancellation of the 2026 edition of The 36ONE MTB Challenge — a 361-kilometre race through the Klein Karoo that had never been called off outside of the pandemic — and the decision-making process behind making that call ten days out, with refunds rather than partial routes. He also gets into the business side most riders never see: how commercial partnerships made the events financially viable, why the average rider age has settled around 44, and why South Africa might have the best standard of mountain bike and gravel events in the world. This one is for anyone who's ever finished one of these races and wondered who actually builds them — and what it costs, physically and financially, to pull it off year after year. # === CHAPTERS =================================== 0:00 — The 36ONE cancellation and 20 years of Dryland events 0:27 — Inside the Garden Route Giro 1:02 — From bike shop owner to accidental events founder 4:41 — Attakwas: the race that started it all 6:03 — The Cape Pioneer Trek and the move toward technical single track 7:10 — Bernard le Roux joins, and Dryland starts to scale 26:15 — A mountain biker's-eye view of Dryland's events 31:03 — COVID, gravel's rise, and shifting rider demographics 38:39 — The funniest and most dramatic moments in 20 years of events 41:53 — Why Tankwa Trek is Henco's own personal favourite 45:02 — Equipment trends: dual suspension, gravel, and changing customer expectations 52:21 — The real cost of getting young riders into endurance sport 72:24 — New recovery partnerships and what's coming for finishers 76:45 — What Henco does when he's not running events 78:05 — Why Drive to Survive changed sports storytelling forever 80:37 — Cricket, rugby, and the cultural weight of schoolboy sport in South Africa # === 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 ========================= Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@activehobo?sub_confirmation=1 Website: https://activehobo.com/ Instagram: @theactivehobo Strava: https://strava.app.link/ciVbx92FJ2b # === THE CREW =================================== Dave @davlewjenkins Alec @alec.gates Regardt @regardt.stander # === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ====================== Latest episode: https://youtu.be/VRIeP2JYf5U Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH Related episode: https://youtu.be/lGfvanjllXY 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — Premium eyewear and luggage for cyclists who take their kit seriously. https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount # === WORK WITH US =============================== Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com #ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #originstory #podcast #revive #capeepic #enduranceathletes #mtb

A story for cyclists, a story for the racers a story for South African. This is Tristan Nortje’s.

Premier Wednesday 15 July 2026