Eselfontein MTB 3 Day Stage Race: Blood, Sweat, and Beautiful Chaos

Contributors: Channette Bantjes and Zania Steyn The Eselfontein MTB 3 Day Stage Race – where adrenaline meets regret and triumph collides with total exhaustion. Last month, Dirt Addict’s very own Channette Bantjes and Zania Steyn took on the challenge, and they’re here to report back: it’s as wild, hard, and downright breathtaking as everyone says. […]
50 is not a death sentence by Lesley van Zyl

Almost 7 years ago I was in a bad place mentally and physically. I was 44 years old but I felt like I was 70. My mom had passed away after battling the side effects of a stroke for 7 months and I had gotten divorced after 21 years of marriage. I was mourning the […]
Dirt Addict Spotlight: Annelize van Zyl’s First XCM at Vines & Views MTB Classic

We’re stoked to share the story of our Dirt Addict member, Annelize van Zyl, who recently took on her first XCM at the Vines & Views MTB Classic. This wasn’t just any race—it was a true test of grit, determination, and a little bit of crazy. Annelize rolled up to the start line with mixed […]
Lesley van Zyl Takes on the Titan Obstacle Course: A Dirt Addict’s Journey

At Dirt Addict, we love seeing our members push their limits, and Lesley van Zyl, one of our dedicated 51-year-old members, recently did just that. She decided to take on the Titan Obstacle Course Race for the first time, and her journey was nothing short of inspiring. Lesley admitted to feeling a bit nervous as […]
Annelize van Zyl’s podium finish at Rooibos MTB inspires the Dirt Addict Tribe

ANNELIZE VAN ZYL! The cheer erupted from the Dirt Addict table when Shaun Peters announced the familiar name. The morning didn’t start out in a particularly positive way with the expected cold and wet conditions. Everyone’s response to the chill in the air was shared with scrunched up faces and shrugged shoulders, in the attempt […]
Bicycles And Battle Wounds – Michelle Du Preez

Third time, not such a charm. I have to admit, I’m not one for big crowds, especially if it involves people on bicycles swaying from side to side. It’s the unpredictability that gets me. I do however love the vibe and comradery people have the ability to bring to events like the Cape Town Cycle […]
From Crocs To Fit – Rentia Deyzel

Knowing nothing about bicycles in 2013, I did my first Cape Town Cycle Tour in Crocs and on an un-serviced bicycle. Yep, no lube on the chain. As you can expect, I had mechanicals. 11 years on, I crossed the finish line in 4 hours and 30 minutes. How has this experience changed from my […]
Just Do It, It’s Not That Bad – Julie Schubart

I enjoyed the Cape Town Cycle Tour and surprisingly shat myself far less than expected. It was my first Cape Town Cycle Tour, and I feared the predicted wind but was happy to find that even the experienced riders said that it was tough. The vibe of the crowd along the route was awesome and […]
You Can – Karien Basson

I didn’t know what to expect. This was going to be my very first Cape Town Cycle Tour. My biggest challenge leading up to the event was getting the time to train between work and daily tasks, so I rode my bike whenever I got the opportunity to. I set a personal goal to get […]
Personal Growth Is The Long Game – Sam Bell

It was a big push for me to show up at the start of the Cape Town Cycle Tour. I’d been battling with a cold for 2 weeks and my training had taken a knock. I had to keep reminding myself that personal growth happens when I take on challenges that have a 50/50 chance […]