Dave first heard of the Sedgefield 500, a self-supported, 500km-plus gravel race through South Africa's Garden Route, watching a video of ultra-endurance cyclist Tegan Phillips take it on years ago. This episode is the honest post-race account: what worked, what didn't, and the night things nearly fell apart. Somewhere past halfway, a stomach crisis turned a hard day into a genuinely frightening one — alone, in the dark, with no signal and the hardest section of the route still ahead. What followed was one of the more honest reflections on endurance sport you'll find: not a highlight reel, but the real cost and the real reward of finishing something that once felt out of reach.

0:00 — Before the Start: Recording a Message to His Future Self

2:23 — The Sedgefield 500: The Post-Race Report Begins

4:56 — Rating the Equipment: What Actually Held Up

9:35 — Fuelling 500km: The Full Nutrition Breakdown

11:30 — Where It Went Wrong: The Night Into Uniondale

14:51 — Coming Back to Life: The Final Stretch

16:29 — 30 Hours Later: What the Body Proved

17:37 — Thank You — and What Comes Next

# === 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 =========================

https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo

# === PARTNER LINKS ===================================

Doolhof Wine Estate

https://doolhof.com

🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines)

RH 77

🔗 https://rh77.co.za

226ERS

🔗 https://226ers.co.za/

Code: ActiveHobo (10% off)

SCICON

🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link)

East City Cycles

🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/

Gear Change Bicycle Store

🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#RoadToGravelBurn #TheActiveHobo #StoriesThatMatter #HumanSpirit #Sedgefield500

Tom Pidcock started the 2026 MTB World Championships XCO race from the

fifth row of the grid. He finished it as world champion — his second

rainbow jersey, won by clawing back through the entire field in Val di

Sole, Italy. Jared Haley (East City Cycles) joins us to break down

exactly how he did it, and why Mathieu van der Poel's race went the

opposite way.

We also cover the Tadej and La Vuelta race shake up, lessons learned the hard way at the Sedgefield 500, preview of go2sea — the seven-day stage race everyone's talking about. The main talking points are then the China effect and what we need to safeguard in South Africa and a bike preview and MTB advice for the upcoming stage race.

Plus: East City Cycles has a new gravel bike launching this Friday at

9am, timed to drop simultaneously with the rest of the world. Come for

the ride, stay for the coffee.

0:00 — Intro & News Roundup

3:24 — MTB World Championships: Pidcock's Incredible Comeback

09:45 — Tadej Crash & La Vuelta

18:26 — Can Pidcock make World Champ History?

21:04 — Sedgefield 500 recap

30:18 — Gran Fondo Worlds

32:13 — Project 'Reform Cycling'

35:03 — Viewer Bike Spotlight: A UK Project Build

36:24 — Go 2 Sea 2026

43:09 — DuraAce 13 Speed

45:20 — Global Factor Launch at ECC

47:25 — Thank you Netto Invest

48:15 — New Pathfinder 2.2 and Maxxis Aspen

49:38 — East City Cycles' New Gravel Bike Launch

55:10 — Trek Domane

59:01 — The China Debate

1:31:05 — Choosing a MTB

# === 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 =========================

https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo

# === PARTNER LINKS ===================================

Doolhof Wine Estate

https://doolhof.com

🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines)

RH 77

🔗 https://rh77.co.za

226ERS

🔗 https://226ers.co.za/

Code: ActiveHobo (10% off)

SCICON

🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link)

East City Cycles

🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/

Gear Change Bicycle Store

🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

Jaryd @jarryd_haley

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#TheBreakawayPodcast #TheActiveHobo #SouthAfricanCycling

#MTBWorlds #TomPidcock #xlab #go2sea #cannondalescalpel

We get an exclusive first look at the all-new Factor Elora, a seriously aggressive gravel race bike making its global debut from Cape Town, South Africa. From its 55mm+ tyre clearance and aero-focused fork to deep-section wheels, integrated storage and race-proven SRAM Force, we break down what makes this one of the most cutting-edge gravel bikes we've seen. But with complete builds reaching well into six figures in South Africa, is the Factor Elara the future of gravel racing—or has Factor gone too far?

00:36 – An Aggressive Gravel Race Bike

01:00 – The Aero Wheelset & Deep Rims

01:44 – Race-Focused Frame & Rear End

02:17 – Geometry & Race Pedigree

03:20 – Frame Details & Storage

04:34 – Raw Carbon, Fork & 55mm Tyres

06:22 – Aero Cockpit & Front-End Design

08:00 – Pricing & Build Options

08:57 – Final Verdict: The Future of Gravel Racing?

# === 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 =========================

https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo

# === PARTNER LINKS ===================================

Doolhof Wine Estate

https://doolhof.com

🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines)

RH 77

🔗 https://rh77.co.za

226ERS

🔗 https://226ers.co.za/

Code: ActiveHobo (10% off)

SCICON

🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link)

East City Cycles

🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/

Gear Change Bicycle Store

🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling #gravelbike #factorbikes

Every item on this bike earned its place. Ahead of a self-supported 500km-plus ultra-distance race with no aid stations and no route markings, Dave walks through exactly what's coming with him — from the kit built to handle a 30-degree swing in temperature, to the nutrition strategy built around 226ERS products, to the worst-case-scenario repair kit put together with help from Nick at Freewheel. Nothing here is guesswork. It's all been tested, questioned, and packed for a reason.

0:00 — Unpacking the Rig: What's Actually Going On This Bike

0:43 — The Kit: Bibs, Jacket, Shoes, Helmet & Glasses

5:16 — Nutrition: The Fuelling Plan for 30 Hours in the Saddle

8:23 — Hydration & Storage: Where Everything Actually Goes

9:50 — Spares & Repairs: The Worst-Case-Scenario Kit

14:19 — Lights, Navigation & Power: Surviving the Dark

20:13 — Final Send-Off: The Distance Ahead

# === 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 =========================

https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo

# === PARTNER LINKS ===================================

Doolhof Wine Estate

https://doolhof.com

🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines)

RH 77

🔗 https://rh77.co.za

226ERS

🔗 https://226ers.co.za/

Code: ActiveHobo (10% off)

SCICON

🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link)

East City Cycles

🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/

Gear Change Bicycle Store

🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#TheActiveHobo

#UltraCycling #SouthAfricanCycling #gravelrace

He was 115kg and hadn't ridden a bike properly in decades. Then a Cape Town

bike shop's Instagram challenge changed his winter — and Gear Change's own

co-founder had a strikingly similar story to tell.

0:00 — The 500km challenge that started it all

1:47 — The Argus that changed everything at school

3:55 — The weight he'd been carrying

7:46 — 110kg to 90kg: the video his nephew sent him

14:19 — Racing Cape Epic with his business partner

37:17 — 16 gels a stage: learning to fuel properly

42:31 — Why "Joe Public" is the whole point

50:38 — Saturday's community ride (and a bike up for grabs)

58:53 — One more pedal stroke

# === 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 =========================

https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo

=== FOLLOW THE GUESTS =========================

Sulaiman Wyngaard: @ridewithsuli

Justin Tuck: @gearchangesa

# === PARTNER LINKS ===================================

Doolhof Wine Estate

https://doolhof.com

🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines)

RH 77

🔗 https://rh77.co.za

226ERS

🔗 https://226ers.co.za/

Code: ActiveHobo (10% off)

SCICON

🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link)

East City Cycles

🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/

Gear Change Bicycle Store

🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#StoriesMatter #TheActiveHobo

South Africans were quietly dominating overseas: Hayley Preen backed up

her form in the US by coming home and winning African Gravel Champs on a

bike that doesn't officially exist yet, Alex Miller took the men's title

in Namibia, and Marc Pritzen and Felix Stehli made history as the first

team to win a Swiss Epic stage on 32-inch wheels. Plus Lucy Burns and

Michelle Bowden quietly picked up a podium at one of the toughest races

on the calendar.

We also break down the chaos at La Vuelta a España, where Stage 3 was

neutralised and then cancelled with 15km to go after a severe hailstorm

hit the peloton — and why Tadej Pogačar's role in that decision mattered.

Plus a genuinely great impact story: a Mandela Foundation-linked

initiative driven by Sipho of VeloKhaya that's built 20 schools, now taking the model to Mozambique.

0:00 — Intro & Studio Chat

9:08 — The Fake Wheels Story

14:11 — Gravel Worlds & African Champs: South Africans Abroad

19:15 — Swiss Epic: 32-Inch Wheels Make History

22:00 — La Vuelta a España: Stage 3 Chaos

27:07 — Impact Story: Building Schools, One Ride at a Time

40:39 — Gravel Wheels Deep Dive: 45mm vs 55mm Tires

# === 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 =========================

https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo

# === PARTNER LINKS ===================================

Doolhof Wine Estate

https://doolhof.com

🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines)

RH 77

🔗 https://rh77.co.za

226ERS

🔗 https://226ers.co.za/

Code: ActiveHobo (10% off)

SCICON

🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link)

East City Cycles

🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/

Gear Change Bicycle Store

🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#TheBreakawayPodcast #TheActiveHobo

#UltraCycling #SouthAfricanCycling #gravelrace

We sit down with Mark Hopkins the founder of CSixx to find out how his 65mm deep gravel wheels became the biggest surprise in the insane crosswinds on our wheel test. From rim shape and aerodynamics to internal width, spoke choice and real-world durability, Mark breaks down the design philosophy behind these seriously deep gravel wheels. We also talk about why a deeper wheel can still feel incredibly stable in brutal Cape Town crosswinds—and whether the 65mm is the right choice for a 517km gravel race. Is deeper really faster, or have we completely lost our minds chasing aero gains?

01:01 Meet Mark from C6

03:04 Where Does a Carbon Wheel Begin?

04:34 Why Internal Rim Width Matters

05:43 Aerodynamics & Tire Harmony

07:53 Why Go 65mm Deep?

09:05 The Secret to Crosswind Stability

11:55 Spokes, Compliance & Gravel Durability

13:15 Why External Nipples Matter

15:30 Hub Engagement & Reliability

17:54 Is the 65mm Wheel Right for Gravelburn?

# === 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 =========================

https://linktr.ee/theactivehobo

# === PARTNER LINKS ===================================

Doolhof Wine Estate

https://doolhof.com

🔗 Code: ActiveHobo (20% off wines)

RH 77

🔗 https://rh77.co.za

Code: THEACTIVEHOBO30 (30% off, first 10 users)

226ERS

🔗 https://226ers.co.za/

Code: ActiveHobo (10% off)

SCICON

🔗 https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount (URL and 10% Discount code link)

East City Cycles

🔗 https://eastcitycycles.com/

Gear Change Bicycle Store

🔗 https://gearchange.co.za/

# === THE CREW ===================================

Dave @davlewjenkins

# === MORE FROM ACTIVE HOBO ======================

Latest episode: https://youtu.be/vSnCZ6pTguQ?si=4hvAobdbQznnyw10

Full podcast playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc2XIoaiAXafwoZykJM-jg6HnrLkWlJXH

Related episode: https://youtu.be/mgogDtiB_vg?si=RBaUt8VItbQisdTd

# === WORK WITH US ===============================

Sponsorships & collabs: david@activehobo.com

Send a question for the show: noah@activehobo.com

#ActiveHobo #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling #gravelbike #envewheels #zipp #carbonwheels #gravelwheelreview #ENVEGSES4.5 #Csixx65 #Zipp303XPLRSW #RovalTerraCL