Before I answer that, let’s talk about age. Way back in 1875 Britain’s Friendly Societies Act declared that when you reached 50 you were defined as OLD. I suppose that’s why your 50th birthday party is such a biggie. Today, the conversation could go something like this: Q. “How […]
Author: Stirling Kotze snr
Am I being ripped off?
Mountain biking is not a cheap sport and by keeping your prized steed in tip-top shape would not only be beneficial to its longevity but it will also ensure you reach the finish line without major problems. Regular contributor and bike shop owner Stirling Kotze (senior) explains why servicing is […]
SIZING CUSTOMERS AND OTHER BITS AND PIECES
After spending many years in the bike retail industry, the Stirling’s have become experts at guessing client’s bodily dimensions. After many years of selling bikes, we have become pretty good at guessing customers’ vital statistics. Mainly weight and height. Both these physical factors can be determined empirically: use a scale […]
E-IMPRESSIONS WHY THEY MAKE SENSE
The world is moving on at an electrifying pace. At home, industry and business electricity has been doing its magic for generations. Solar-panelled experimental cars have students and tertiary institutions from all over the world competing for aerodynamics and efficiency. Battery-powered cars like the BMW i8 are quietly carrying Uber […]
Hooked on E!
Okay, I’m going to tackle a controversial subject. E-bikes. More specifically, pedal-assist bikes. About three years ago while visiting Austria a group of fit roadies invited me on an Alpine road ride. I declined without hesitation. Not because I didn’t like road riding and not because I didn’t have any […]
Kids and Bikes
Kids and bikes. Like macaroni and cheese. They go together says Stirling Senior. A kid who grows up without a bike will miss out big time. When he (or she) buys his first grown-up mountain bike and discovers how much he has missed out on he’ll never forgive his folks. […]
Your Dream Machine – Part II
In the May issue of Full Sus the Stirlings got the ball rolling with talking you through the ins and outs of custom speccing your dream bike. This issue they move into the nitty gritty of component choices. And now the real fun begins, picking and choosing all your favourite […]
When the Abnormal is Actually Normal…
We’ve had our shop for a long time, write SJ and Stirling Senior, and have noticed a few strange patterns and recurring problems with modern bicycles that seem to be more normal than abnormal, so these are the 15 weird realities to look out for on your bicycle. Some things […]
8 Gifts Most Riders Actually Need For Christmas
SJ Kotze has kindly put together a guide, to casually leave lying around for your significant other to read, to what to get a mountain biker for Christmas. In no particular order they are: A MTB Skills Course: In almost every South African Mountain Biking community, there are […]
Great Expectations
The workshop of any bike shop is its heartbeat, writes Stirling Kotze, but there are some definite do’s and don’ts that should be known by both the customer and the bike shop owner. The workshop of any bike store is its heartbeat. The showroom is the beautiful body. Bike sales […]