Dec 17, 2019

Signal Bikes Goes On Tour

Welcome to Episode 1 of the Signal Bikes Dealer Tour. This all new series will see Oli 'Pinner' Munnik visiting our passionate dealers from across South Africa who reinforce the fact that brick and mortar bicycle shops are the bedrock of the country's cycling industry.

We Visit: Action Cycles

In our first stop on the Dealer Tour we head to the Eastern Cape to visit one of Port Elizabeth's oldest and most well known bike shops: ACTION CYCLES, a proud Signal dealer which is committed to delivering #SpeedYouCanAfford to its customers.

Garth Botha (above left) founded Action Cycles 34 years ago in 1985 in his prime as a road and track specialist who not only represented but captained the EP cycling team during the late 80s and early 90s. He is still in tip-top shape and keeps the local youngsters in check during the weekly shop rides!

Dave McEwan (above right) joined Garth as a partner in 2017 after deciding that he and his family needed a change from livestock farming in Tarkastad. Dave's wife, Julie, is also part of the business and runs Action Cycles' new coffee shop, The Grind, which served its first flat white in November.

With this in mind, we'd like to congratulate Garth, Dave, Julie and the entire Action Cycles team on the brilliantly refurbished shop, which re-opened its doors on November 1st 2019 ... great job guys!

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Keeping The Wheels Turning

Action Cycles' customers receive expert technical service from Kenneth Bronkhorst (below second from the left) and his team who operate the workshop with pride and passion. No detail is too small for this energetic team.

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Action Cycles Supports Grey High School

In an effort to help sustain and develop grassroots cycling, Action Cycles supports nearby Grey High School pupils with loyalty cards that enable the youngsters to purchase parts at heavily reduced prices as well as receive discounted labour rates when work needs to be carried out on their bikes.

Garth and Dave also support the Grey MTB Team at Port Elizabeth's Spur Schools MTB League events, local inter-schools races as well as 'Derby Days' with tech support and the use of the shop's bike trailer.

All Grey MTB Team riders also receive their custom cycling kit thanks to Action Cycles who sponsor its design and manufacture.

Signal SPEED CHALLENGE

Wherever possible, the Signal Bikes Dealer Tour will feature the Signal SPEED CHALLENGE: a race against the clock to crown the local wheel changing champion. During each stop on the tour, local youngsters will be invited by the dealer being visited to give it their best shot against Oli who will set the benchmark to beat on each occasion.

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The SPEED CHALLENGE aims to replicate the challenge faced by XCO mechanics when called upon to swap out a punctured or damaged rear wheel in the tech zone. The format is simple, each youngster must undo the rear axel, disengage the rear mech's clutch and remove the rear wheel placing it on the ground. The rear wheel then needs to be reinserted with a full revolution of the crank signalling that the wheel and chain are correctly fitted. Sounds simple, but in fact it's not that easy when you have the stop watching running!!!

With thousands of youngsters participating in the Spur Schools MTB League throughout the country every year, we believe the SPEED CHALLENGE is a fun way to build morale, camaraderie and wholesome competitiveness amongst youngsters.

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With some searingly fast wheel changes recorded, it was 17 year old Gareth Strydom who earned himself the bragging rights of recording the fastest rear wheel change in a time of just 33.62s.

The Grey boys will however have to go back to the drawing board as Oli's time of 31.42s was unbeaten. The bar has been set, we hope the rest of the country are up to the challenge!

Signal Speed Challenge Winner
🥇 Gareth Strydom (17yrs) || 33.62s

Get in Touch with ACTION CYCLES

Call them on: 041 581 6499

More from Signal Bikes:

We joined Spur Schools MTB League ambassador Alan Hatherly for an afternoon ride and skills sessions with Port Elizabeth youngsters and an exclusive dinner for 11 lucky laaities at the Silver Cloud Spur.