Cape Argus Lifecycle Expo 2013 attracts the cycling masses

Cycling was at the forefront of everyone’s mind this week as the Cape Argus Lifecycle week and expo built up to the annual cycling event on Sunday 10 March. 

The Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay cycle tour (or the ‘Argus’) saw 35 000 cyclists and many more supporters take to the streets of Cape Town. 

The Lifecycle expo attracted over 80 000 visitors to the Good Hope Centre this year

As cyclists flocked to the expo to register and collect their race packs, families, friends and cyclists alike absorbed the atmosphere of excitement as the annual event drew near.   

What started as an idea from Eddy Cassar when he watched cycle apparel company Rapid Sports selling its wares from a trestle table alongside Camps Bay soccer fields in 1991, has grown to be one of the largest shows of its kind in the country. 

The Lifecycle Expo, which has been running for over 20 years, has more than 320 exhibitors from around the world, as well as an average of 78 000 visitors annually. This year the Lifecycle expo (7-9 March) saw over 80 000 visitors entering the Good Hope Centre in Sir Lowry Road, Cape Town.

Exhibitors had plenty opportunity to sell to cycle crazed visitors. Suppliers to the cycling retail trade as well as retailers had opportunity to market show specials, new products and ventures to cycling fans.    

Cape Union Mart

Sportsmans Warehouse

Chris Willemse Cycles 

Coimbra Cycles

Olympic Cycles

Retailers such as Olympic Cycles, Coimbra Cycles/Cycle House George, Chris Willemse Cycles, Sportsmans Warehouse and Cape Union Mart, amongst others, were popular stops for cycling fans.

Suppliers such as Breakthru Sports, Ocean Eyewear, Cape Cycle Systems (suppliers of Camelbak and Evo bikes), Medac (suppliers of Rocket Sports), GU Energy gels, Omnico (suppliers of GoPro and Cannondale), Polar heart rate monitors, Adventure Inc (suppliers of Buff headgear and Osprey backpacks), Felt bicycles and adidas, amongst others, interacted with the cycling masses.  

GU energy gels

Ocean Eyewear, distributed by Dragons Sport

Camelbak, distributed by Cape Cycle Systems

Osprey backpacks and Buff headwear, distributed by Adventure Inc

GoPro, distributed by Omnico 

Rockets compression gear, distributed by Medac

Polar heart rate monitors

EVO Bikes, distributed by Cape Cycle Systems

Felt bicycles, distributed by Worldview Sport

adidas SA showcased their cycling range

The Lifecycle Expo is also an opportunity for fund raising and non-profit organisations, such as the WWF Panda initiative (see below), to connect with cyclists. 

The WWF Panda Peloton stand

Published by www.sportstrader.co.za

Performances at cycling events

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg

Reinardt Janse van Rensburg of team MTN-Qhubeka, sponsored by Trek, locally distributed by Treger Brands, claimed his maiden Cape Argus victory at the Pick n Pay sponsored cycle tour, held on 11^th March.  Teammates Arran Brown and Dennis van Niekerk finished in fourth and seventh places respectively.

Columbia Grape Escape

The tough Columbia Grape Escape 2012, held just before the Cape Argus Pick n Pay Lifecycle Week, once again attracted top quality riders. Launched in 2011, the race is held over three days and amateur and professional mountain bikers cover over 200km of some of the most spectacular terrain in the Boland – including over 4 000m of climbing. Jackie Gouwerneur and Pieter Strobos of Wild Elements Apparel, local Columbia distributors, were ready to welcome the winners home. They were Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser (men’s team),  Hanlie Booyens and Jane Seggie (ladies’ team), Ariane and Erik Kleinhans (mixed team), Ralf Näf (solo men) and Ann Harrison (solo ladies), photographed by Karin Schermbrucker.

  

Jackie Goeverneur of Wild Elements Apparel, distributors of Columbia pulls the starting trigger

Jackie Goeverneur (middle) surrounded by Columbia riders

Champagne victory 

Winners at the Grape Escape

Columbia riders showed top form in their new kit at the Momentum Health i-Flex National Duathlon held at Kameelfontein, Roodepoort, on the 4^th of March. Team Columbia Sportswear was in the spotlight for nearly 90% of the race.

Columbia kit, image courtesy of cyclenation.co.za

Laureus World Sports Academy Members Miguel Indurain, Hugo Porta and Daley Thompson teamed up with Morne du Plessis, Chairman of the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation South Africa for the Cape Argus Pick ‘n Pay Cycle Tour on Sunday 11^th of March. They rode as part of the Laureus Vodafone peloton in the race, which involves more than 30 000 participants.

Daley Thompson, Miguel Indurain, Morne du Plesses and Hugo Porta is pictured here