Active Hobo

What starts as a gift meant to nudge Farhad into endurance sports – a single cycling helmet – turns into a life-changing journey that now shapes one of South Africa’s most loved races, the Old Mutual Wealth Double Century. In this episode Farhad shares how a persistent colleague, a tragic diagnosis, and a growing love for endurance sport pulled him deep into cycling, community, purpose and the most important race on all our calendars.You’ll hear how he went from “team sports only” to Joberg2c, road races and Zwift sessions, why the Old Mutual Double Century became his favourite race on the calendar, and how Old Mutual ended up as title sponsor. Farhad unpacks what the DC really means for riders, small towns, schools and marshals along the route – and why the brand cares more about community and memory than hard lead numbers. We also get into the infamous DC subplots: savage team tactics, the KOTAS rivalry, and the growing wave of corporate and mixed teams using the event as their year-end event.Thank you for your time and all do for our sport and community Farhad.

What happens when a bunch of Atlantic Seaboard savages, a charity foundation, and a 200 km sufferfest collide? In this episode we sit down with the founders of House of 12 – the loud new kids on the block who’ve gone from “outsiders” on the Savage rides to one of the most talked-about DC teams on the seaboard.They unpack where House of 12 actually came from, how a small charity foundation became the platform for the team, and why they care just as much about banter and chaos as they do about watts and results. From old WhatsApp group names to the meaning behind the rainbow kit, they explain how the whole project came together in a matter of days – name, design, team, and all.We get into DC strategy (and anti-strategy), why drafting ethics spark such strong opinions, how far they’ll go to avoid “cheating to win”, and what it feels like lining up seedings-wise against stacked outfits like ECC, LPC and Savage. There are bold predictions, reverse-podium jokes, and even a wager involving road captains, underpants and a very public team ride if things go wrong.

Gravel Burn 2025 pushed riders to the edge of what’s possible on a gravel bike. In this raw debrief, Aaron sits down with David to unpack what really happened out there: from African “champagne gravel” that feels like technical MTB anywhere else, to days of corrugations, hail, heat, and howling winds that literally blew pro riders off their bikes.Fresh insights from Aaron who is now back in the UK, he takes us through the reality of a seven-day gravel stage race in South Africa: the brutal descents, endless washboard, shockingly unpredictable weather, and the mental battle of waking up each morning knowing what’s still to come. He explains why he told the organisers not to “dumb down” the route, why African gravel is on a whole new level, and how those war stories earned around the campfire might be the real magic of Gravel Burn.You’ll also hear a deep dive into bike choice and setup for Gravel Burn: what worked, what didn’t, and what Aaron would change next time. From tire width, inserts and suspension forks, to bar/stem choices, torque checks and chain catchers, this is a masterclass in future-proofing your gravel bike for truly gnarly terrain. Then they move into the softer side: world-class catering, shared tents with world-tour pros like Tom Pidcock, and the unique way this event puts everyday riders shoulder-to-shoulder with some of the biggest names in the sport.

If you’ve ever stood at the edge of something bigger than you—new team, new league, new level—and wondered, “Do I have the courage to go again?” this conversation with Sarah Hill is your blueprint.Sarah’s story is a full-send masterclass: a Joburg lady raised on school-sport intensity, a rower who learned discipline the hard way, a mountain biker who taught herself to fly—and a pro who had the courage to step back, rebuild, and return sharper. She breaks down the mindset that turns fear into fuel, why team culture can resurrect a career, how to train for stage racing without breaking your body, and the exact moments that flipped the switch from “I hope I can” to “I know I will.”Expect the kind of honesty that makes you sit closer to your screen: the Wines2Wales moment that felt like a private victory, learning to “send” downhill (yes, including a road gap), and the practical habits—nutrition, recovery, confidence reps—that separate good from great. If you’re an athlete, creator, or anyone climbing back from a setback, this episode will light a fire under your goals.01:14 Pro season & team context01:37 Back with Efficient Infinity05:03 Growing up: East London → Joburg09:43 School sports & identity11:10 Coach steers to rowing22:16 Wines2Wales turning point49:24 Learning to send: DH & the road gap51:20 US college path (Lees-McRae → Brevard)58:59 Nationals omnium title1:30:48 Fueling the engine: training & nutrition1:42:52 Looking ahead

00:00 – Cold open08:30 – East Africa opportunity: zones, free trade, and growth vs. Europe12:30 – Cape Town Cycle Tour: finances, sponsorship droughts, and recovery17:30 – Global cycling headwinds & why formats must evolve20:30 – A life changed by cycling: DC culture, move to Cape Town, purpose28:00 – Why fun rides vanished: 2010 safety act, compliance costs, risk36:00 – Prize money vs. media value; TV rights reality41:00 – Cavendish, Armstrong & the solidarity ride (fires year)47:00 – Rebuilding the ecosystem: short routes, youth on-ramps, coffee stops53:00 – E-bikes: perception vs. actual incident data57:00 – Deep South road closures, traffic constraints & what could work next1:02:00 – Inclusivity, new demographics, and where SA cycling can go from hereWe dig into the cost of compliance, the role of PPA, prize-money vs. media reality, the DC culture, e-bikes, short routes, and practical ways to rebuild the fun-ride ecosystem in Cape Town. You’ll also hear wild behind-the-scenes moments.#DavidBellairs #CapeTownCycleTour #CyclingPodcast #SouthAfricanCycling #CapeTown #DoubleCentury #PPA #CyclingCulture #EnduranceCycling #MassParticipation #Ebike #SportBusiness #UCI

Velokhaya has developed and exposed more Africans to the Global Cycling stage than any other cycling academy, their story is hard to summarise but Sipho Mona does an incredible job of doing just that as we unpack his story and how it led to this incredible academy reshaping the lives of many cyclists in Africa. Sipho thanks SO MUCH For your time and what you doing for the industry and youth! #cycling #cyclingacademy #podcast #storytelling #velokhaya

La Perla Classic AKA LPC are the main protagonists in the KOTAS (King of the Atlantic Seaboard) battle and are soley responsible for bringing world tour riders to the DC (Double Century)They are easily one of the gnarliest groups to hook onto for a weekend thrash and individually have some incredible stories. Gents it was such a pleasure to have you in studio and to get onto the group ride. Best of luck for the DC, lets see how those predictions hold ;) #doublecentury #cycling #cyclingcapetown #KOTAS #capetown #dc

East City Cycles is without a doubt one of if not Cape Towns most desirable bike shop. Nestled in the vibrant Harrington Street this owner run and passion inspired business has grown from strength to strength and Jarryd sits with us to take us through the origin story. Naturally some DC banter is thrown into the mix for good measure. Jarryd it was a treat to join the morning ride and get to know you and the brand a lot better. Wishing you and the team all the success in the future! Here's to many more Tuesday burns and collabs! #bikeshoplife #bikeshop #storytelling #capetown #cycling #factorbikes

Such an inspiring and uplifting conversation with Aaron Borrill, fortuitously on the Savage ride and in true South African spirit was happy to just jump into the podcast room post ride - SO Grateful for your time and willingness Aaron. Aaron has managed to climb his way to the very top of the mega publication empire of cycling and is a Tech Writer for Cycling Weekly Magazine. Previously been with Roadcc, Bike perfect and Bicycling. He tells a great story about how much value we have and just how limitless our opportunities really are. Naturally there's some DC banter and froth geek out over his incredible Lab 71 Gravel weapon for the upcoming #Gravelburn Aaron - best of luck for the race and can't wait to chat again! #cyclingweekly #southafrican #storytelling #podcast #doublecentury #puresavage

Sulli (Max Sullivan) is easily the most well known, respected and decorated cameraman you maybe haven't met. He has shot just about every premier event in South Africa and worked with the biggest brands and athletes South Africa has to offer including the infamous Cape Epic. Max is a rare breed being an exceptional hybrid shooter who can capture both photo and video. Join us as we unpack his story! Enquriies for Max: https://maxsullimedia.co.za/#cycling #photographer #videographer #capeepic #enduro #maxsullivan #southafrican #podcast #storiesthatmatter