Michael Finch

3 weeks ago | bicycling.co.za | Michael Finch

“When did you first realize you weren’t a beginner anymore?”It’s a question I posed to my coworkers at Bicycling, many of whom have been riding and racing for multiple decades, at elite levels, across staggering distances, possibly uphill both ways in the snow. I expected my inbox to be flooded with inspiring anecdotes; tales of triumph and woe; or at the very least, smug hot takes on when it’s OK to start caring about insider stuff like embro and VO2 Max. But such was not the case.

3 weeks ago | bicycling.co.za | Michael Finch

Prevention is better than cure when it comes to your tyres and their lifespan. Unfortunately, flat tyres are part of riding and bound to happen to every cyclist at some point—but there are precautions you can take to reduce their likelihood. Here are nine expert tips to prevent a flat tyre from slowing you down on your next ride. Use Baby PowderLiberally dusting a new inner tube with baby powder before installation reduces chafing on the tube’s rubber surface.

3 weeks ago | bicycling.co.za | Michael Finch

Whether it’s a long ride with friends, a race, or a strenuous interval session, fueling up correctly before a bike ride is key to keeping energy high and maintaining stable blood sugar levels. However, not all rides call for the same nutrition strategy; distance and intended intensity both factor into what you should eat before hopping on the saddle.

1 month ago | bicycling.co.za | Michael Finch

While Trek’s Checkmate goes all in on racing, the Checkpoint is free to become a gravel bike built for adventure. And multiple updates for 2025 express that. “Puts you in a more relaxed upright riding position”Comfort is a big theme. A great deal of that comfort is due to the revised geometry that Trek says “puts you in a more relaxed upright riding position” and allows more riders to get a good fit on the bike.

1 month ago | bicycling.co.za | Michael Finch

Dan Loubser not only won the 2025 36ONE MTB Challenge on Saturday, 24 May, but also shattered the course record and the 13-hour mark in the process. The Freewheel Cycology man’s time for the 356 kilometre course was 42 minutes and 20 seconds faster than Drikus Coetzee’s 2022 benchmark, as well as 25 minutes and 3 seconds quicker than the 13-hour goal. This ensured that he would take home a performance bonus to top up his winner’s prize purse to R36 100.