Active Hobo

Bertus van Zyl is the chairman of Western Cape Schools Cycling, the structure behind one

of the most overlooked grassroots sporting movements in South Africa. In this conversation

he traces the whole arc: how a hobby with his own kids turned into running a province's

entire schools cycling programme, the legacy of Meurant Botha and the Spur Schools MTB

League that built the foundation this all stands on, and what it actuall...

Before I can race 750km across the Karoo, I need to know exactly what I’m working with — so I head to the world renowned Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Newlands, Cape Town, for a full physiological baseline test with Reece McDonald and Mark Stevens of Science to Sport. Body composition, lactate accumulation, fat max, VO2 max, peak power — every number gets measured, and not all of them are kind. I&rs...

South Africa's road cycling calendar is shrinking — and it's not because nobody wants to race. National commissaire

Stephan Aucamp breaks down exactly what it costs to put on a bike race in this country, where the money actually goes,

and why most events run at a loss every single year.

Stephan is a national road commissaire and works at Cycle Lab, giving him a rare view from both sides of South African

road cycling &...

He and his wife sold their dining room table, cancelled their lease, and quit their jobs

in 2023 to chase one goal: getting South Africa onto an Enduro World Cup podium.

[NEWSLETTER / LINK]

Jason Boulle is South Africa's 2024 Enduro National Champion, and one of only a handful

of South Africans who have ever raced a full UCI Enduro World Cup season. In this episode

he tells the story from the beginning — discovering...

Join David Jenkins and REVIVE founder Mark Myerson for a conversation that spans continents, careers, and a deeply personal health journey. From Johannesburg to Singapore to Cape Town, Mark traces the entrepreneurial path that taught him what he wanted by first teaching him what he didn't.

The turn comes quietly — weight gain, a vague feeling of wrong, and a deep rabbit hole of podcasts, doctors, and metabolic science. What...

Cam heads up partner activations and hospitality for Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling — Tom Pidcock's ProTeam. In this

episode, he breaks down what that role actually looks like inside a professional race team, what big sponsors really

want from their investment in cycling, and why the gap between what South Africa understands about sponsorship and

what happens at the world level is enormous. He also takes us inside the Pina...

Former professional footballer and content creator Mike Morton joins us for a deep dive into the state of South African football, Bafana Bafana's World Cup chances, and the power of social media in modern sport. From playing at the highest level to building an audience of over 1.7 million followers, Mike shares the lessons he's learned on and off the pitch. We explore why this may be South Africa's strongest football generation in ...

The new Specialized Diverge 4 promises comfort, capability, and versatility—but does it live up to the hype? We put it through its paces on rough gravel roads, technical descents, and long endurance rides to find out who this bike is really built for. From the controversial Future Shock system to massive 50mm tyre clearance and Shimano's latest wireless GRX drivetrain, we break down everything that matters. We also dive into ...

Is the Elves gravel bike a hidden gem or just another carbon frame in a crowded market? In this review, we put the Elves through real-world testing, breaking down its geometry, handling, tire clearance, build options, and overall value. From rough South African gravel roads to race-focused performance, we explore who this bike is really designed for and whether it deserves a place on your shortlist. If you're considering a new grav...

In this conversation Tyler breaks down his new deal with Giant and Envy, what it actually takes to compete at UCI level as a

non-continental team, and why he thinks South Africa is sitting on a generation of world-class talent that nobody is

watching. He also gives his honest read on the 2026 Giro and who he thinks wins the Tour de France sprint stages.

If you follow road cycling even loosely, this one has opinions worth hear...

Photographer Ewald Sadie joins us to break down the stories, techniques, and split-second decisions behind some of his most iconic cycling images. From shooting off the back of a motorbike during gravel races to explaining composition, motion blur, black-and-white photography, and race storytelling, this episode dives deep into what makes a truly powerful photo. If you love cycling, photography, filmmaking, or visual storytelling, ...

We took the Giant Revolt onto real South African gravel to find out if Shimano, comfort-focused geometry, and a more balanced setup can actually compete with the SRAM-heavy gravel scene. What started as a bike we thought we wouldn’t like quickly turned into one of the biggest surprises we’ve ridden this year. From brutal climbs and loose technical terrain to long-distance comfort and everyday ride feel, this is our hone...

A bunch ride in Cape Town. A couple from Wellington. And a chain of events

that changed everything.

Charl and Roxy Kemp join the Breakaway this week... and it's one of the

warmest conversations we've had on this show.

Also this week: the Giro d'Italia GC battle (Vingegaard, Pogačar, Van der

Poel — and the eternal debate about boring vs brilliant racing). SA

National Enduro Champs at Karkloof — Keira Duncan d...

What does it take to run the world’s biggest mountain bike stage race? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon Valstar, race director of the Absa Cape Epic, to unpack her journey from growing up around endurance sport to leading one of the most iconic events in cycling. From behind-the-scenes logistics and creative event strategy to lessons from Paul Valstar and the influence of festivals like Rocking the Daisies, this conv...

The 2026 Giro d'Italia has a new-look leaderboard — and Jonas Vingegaard's

cautious racing style is dividing opinion. Dave and guest Layla Schwellnus

dig into the GC battle, debate whether Tadej Pogačar's absence has changed

how we watch the race, and break down what Mischa Bredewold's Itzulia Women

win means for the sport.

Closer to home: the conversation gets real. SA Track Champs results, the

Western Province r...

Sandra Sischka shares the incredible story of cycling from Portugal to Cape Town over two years with almost no prior bikepacking experience. From crossing the Sahara Desert to navigating conflict zones in West Africa, Sandra reflects on fear, freedom, hospitality, and the people she met along the way. This conversation dives into border crossings, survival, cycling culture, and what long-distance travel teaches you about humanity. ...

What does it take to build the world’s biggest mountain bike stage race from scratch? In this conversation, Kevin Vermaak unpacks the untold story behind Cape Epic — from years of financial pressure and relentless risk-taking to creating an event that transformed cycling in South Africa and around the world. We also dive into the future of gravel racing, the vision behind Gravel Burn, and why Kevin believes the next era...