Bicycling South Africa

Bicycling is South Africa’s leading cycling magazine and is aimed at both road and mountain biking enthusiasts. Launched in February 2003, it is published 10 times a year, targeting the fast-growing and affluent lifestyle cycling market – youngsters, adults, professional as well as casual cyclists. The magazine is filled with the best international and local content for every element of the cyclist’s life from training techniques and fitness information to inspiring human interest stories, event news, nutrition and motivation. Bicycling is also South Africa’s leading tester of bikes and gear with over 30% of the monthly magazine dedicated to the latest reviews so our readers can make the best choices.

Bicycling South Africa

What’s your best puncture repair tip?

THE MORE YOU KNOW…

THE FRAME • THE BEAUTY OF THE RIDE

RYDER ELECTRIC PRESSURE GAUGE AND PUMP • R1 200 / RYDER INNOVATION

IT’S TOTALLY FINE TO HANG OUT IN YOUR KIT AFTER A RIDE • NOPE, NOPE, NOPE.

ANNND… BREATHE • DON'T NEGLECT YOUR DIAPHRAGM.

WHAT’S LURKING IN YOUR BOTTLE? • HOW TO CLEAN THEM – PROPERLY.

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A ‘BEST’ BIKE?

I'VE BEEN A GEAR EDITOR FOR 30 YEARS. HERE’S WHAT’S WORTH YOUR MONEY – AND WHAT ISN'T.

WHY EVERYONE SHOULD BE SINGLE

BUM DEAL

THE ALWAYS-ON INNOVATOR • KEVIN VERMAAK, FOUNDER OF THE CAPE EPIC AND GRAVEL BURN

MAKING HIS OWN HISTORY • TYLER LANGE (21), WINNER OF THE 2025 CAPE TOWN CYCLE TOUR

ROADIE HEAVEN IN GAUTENG • SUIKERBOSRAND NATURE RESERVE, NEAR HEIDELBERG

THE DETAILS

HOME GROWN, WORLD CLASS • SOUTH AFRICAN COACHES AND SPORTS SCIENTISTS ARE GLOBALLY RESPECTED FOR THEIR EXPERTISE, AND DR JEROEN SWART I S AMONG THE BEST. HERE’S HOW HE’S HELPED MAKE UAE TEAM EMIRATES THE NUMBER-ONE TEAM IN THE WORLD.

MAN, DOG, DESERT. • JOIN SEAN FRAENKEL AND HIS JACK RUSSELL ROCKY AS THEY EMBARK ON AN UNSUPPORTED 1 200KM ODYSSEY ACROSS THE NAMIB DESERT TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ANIMAL WELFARE – ONE (PAINFULLY SLOW) PEDAL STROKE AT A TIME.

THE CHEETAH OF NUMANSDORP • SINCE THE MOMENT HE ARRIVED ON THE WORLD TOUR SCENE IN 2022, YOUNG DUTCH SPRINTER OLAV KOOIJ HAS BEEN DESTINED FOR GREATNESS. HE’S HOPING 2025 WILL BE HIS YEAR.

UNLOCK THE SECRETS OF CYCLING’S SUPER-SENIORS • MEET THE SWEDISH OLD-AGERS WHO PROVE YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO RIDE HARD…

“WE’VE HAD IT WRONG THE WHOLE TIME” • WHEN ELITE RIDERS ADOPT NEW EQUIPMENT OR TECHNIQUES IN SEARCH OF PERFORMANCE GAINS, THE REST OF US USUALLY FOLLOW. THE TOPIC OF THE MOMENT IS CRANK LENGTH. DOES IT MATTER? OR MORE IMPORTANTLY, DOES IT MATTER TO YOU?

THE EVOLUTION OF A CRANKSET

THE RIGHT RUBBER • The tyres on your bike are literally your only connection to the ground – they’re crucial for grip, comfort, speed and safety. Yet so many riders have no clue what to look for when they need to replace their rubber. Here’s everything you need to know about width, tread, pressure and compound, so you can make the right decision next time you’re in the bike shop.

ROAD • In recent years, tyres for road bikes have grown wider and wider, thanks to the extra clearance afforded by disc-brake frames. And as they’ve gone wider, they’ve also gone tubeless. Here are four factors to consider when you’re shopping.

GRAVEL • There’s a heated debate happening in the dusty world of gravel racing – is wider better? Gravel tyres come in all shapes and sizes, from knobblies not much wider than road tyres to plump rubber that wouldn’t be out of place on a mountain bike. Here are three issues to consider.

MOUNTAIN • Mountain biking is probably where the tyre industry has experimented the most. This is where the concept of tubeless was born, and it’s where size and width have been pushed to the maximum. But the...