Active Hobo

This week on The Breakaway, Tristan McGiven sits down with us to talk about moving to online school, training 10 to 20 hours a week, racing in Belgium against juniors who compete all year, and the one lesson that stuck: stop comparing yourself to others. He also shares what he eats, how he measures a good race, and what next year in Europe looks like.

Before that, the racing. Marianne Vos wins the 2026 Gravel World Championships in Nannup, Michelle George wins her age group for South Africa, Paul Seixas wins Il Lombardia, and Candice Lill wins the Life Time Little Sugar MTB. We also cover the SA Schools finals in Stellenbosch, a poll asking if a party's cycling policy would change your vote, and what's coming up: Derby Dash, Gravel Burn, the Attakwas Extreme prize purse and a documentary premiere.

Chapters:

0:00 — Tristan McGiven joins the show

4:01 — Gravel riders who still want to do the Epic

6:00 — Poll: would a party's cycling policy change your vote?

12:35 — Gravel World Championships 2026 recap

20:59 — Il Lombardia: Paul Seixas' big day

28:48 — Candice Lill wins Little Sugar

32:21 — Local gravel series result

36:59 — SA Schools finals in Stellenbosch

43:34 — A last international track meet near Cape Town

45:37 — Derby Dash and Weekend Warrior this weekend

46:34 — Gravel Burn and the Attakwas Extreme prize purse

49:10 — "Breaths of Hope": a documentary premiere

50:15 — Supplements racers actually use

1:00:10 — Beetroot shots: the nitrate story

1:09:02 — What it costs Tristan to chase a pro career

1:19:27 — Stop comparing yourself to others

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

Specialized South Africa

www.specialized.com

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 #StoriesThatMatter

The Cannondale Scalpel is a lightweight carbon cross-country mountain bike built for riders who want to go fast, and this one came back from the Tokai trails in the south of Cape Town still wearing the dirt. The platform has been out for a few years, so why review it now? Because plenty of riders are staring at a bike that's a few years old and wondering if a step up is real or just marketing. The Scalpel answers that with modern geometry that puts you forward and centred, 120mm of travel front and back, and the single-sided Lefty fork that makes it instantly recognisable. It also climbs far better than you'd expect from a bike that isn't the lightest, which turned out to be our favourite thing about it. The Scalpel isn't perfect, though. There's a dropper post we'd swap straight away and a long-term question mark over Lefty maintenance, and we cover both. If you've got an older XC bike and a stage race or a few big days on the calendar, this one belongs on your shortlist. The bike was loaned to us by East City Cycles, and the opinions are ours.

Chapters:

0:00 — First Look: The Cannondale Scalpel, Fresh Off the Trails

1:20 — Six Weeks and a Seven-Day Stage Race

2:39 — Price, Geometry and 120mm of Travel

4:36 — The Lefty Fork Explained

6:02 — How the Suspension Rides Down and Up

7:29 — Weigh-In: Claimed Weight vs Real Weight

9:39 — Carbon Wheels and SRAM Transmission AXS

11:09 — What We Didn't Like: The Dropper and Lefty Maintenance

12:38 — Who the Scalpel Is For, and Can You Race It?

14:50 — Is It Worth Upgrading? Final Verdict

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

Specialized South Africa

🔗 www.specialized.com

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 #CannondaleScalpel #MountainBikeReview #CapeTown #XCMTB

Stage racing isn’t just about what happens on the bike — managing the daily routine, staying organised, and reducing unnecessary stress all play a huge role in recovery and performance. Here’s a look at how one piece of gear can make life on the race circuit easier and give you more time to recover and enjoy the experience.

00:02 – The Hidden Stress of Stage Racing

01:41 – Minimising Race-Day Admin

02:15 – Organizing Gear at Camp

03:07 – A More Efficient Race Routine

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

Specialized South Africa

www.specialized.com

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 #MountainBiking

What does it take to create a truly custom cycling kit? We head inside Ciovita’s factory in Cape Town to explore the craftsmanship, people, and processes behind bringing a unique design to life. Created as a special tribute to the Toyota team heading to Gravel Burn, this project celebrates creativity, collaboration, and local manufacturing. Join us behind the scenes to see what goes into making cycling apparel more than just a jersey.

00:00 Intro

00:13 Creating Custom Gravel Burn Kit

00:29 The Story Behind the Design

01:55 Inside the Ciovita Factory

02:35 From Fabric to Finished Kit

03:30 The Art of Precision Printing

04:31 How Sublimation Printing Works

05:45 The Details That Make a Difference

06:25 The People Behind the Process

07:55 Cutting and Preparing the Fabric

08:26 Where the Best Cycling Fabrics Come From

12:45 Thank you Toyota

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

Specialized South Africa

🔗 www.specialized.com

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 #MountainBiking #GravelCycling

#crux5 #gravelburn #gravelbike

Choosing the right bike for Gravelburn is about more than just weight and speed. After testing a range of gravel bikes, it’s time to break down the setup, upgrades, tyres, wheels and gearing that matter most for a demanding stage race. In this episode, we look at why the Specialized Crux 5 made the shortlist and how the right components can make a difference over multiple days on rough gravel. Is this the ultimate Gravelburn setup?

00:00 Intro

00:36 Choosing the Right Gravel Bike

01:56 Understanding the Course

02:38 Suspension or Bigger Tyres?

04:13 Tyre Clearance and Comfort

06:21 Finding the Right Balance

08:52 Wheel and Groupset Upgrades

11:57 Gearing for Gravel

13:12 Wheels and Tyre Setup

17:30 Final Conclusion

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

Specialized South Africa

🔗 www.specialized.com

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 #MountainBiking #GravelCycling

#crux5 #gravelburn #gravelbike