Active Hobo

David Jenkins

The Active Hobo is a community of storytellers on a mission to make meaning. We’re rooted in Westlake, Cape Town—part café, part studio, all heart. Drop by for a great flat white, stay to enjoy our shows, or book a session to capture your own story.

  1. 3D AGO

    From a Farm Boy with ADHD to Building South Africa’s Biggest Sock Brand | Jurgens Uys

    He failed most of his subjects, raced mountain bikes on three different pro teams, and still never had the breakthrough he dreamed of. So at 23 years old, with R15,000 and a plan scribbled after six months of marketing studies, Jurgens Uys walked away from everything he knew — and started making socks. Ten years later, Versus Socks has sold over 6 million pairs, employs more than 50 people, and runs community events that draw 20,000 signups. But this isn't really a story about socks. It's about what happens when a farm kid from Lourensford with ADHD, a competitive fire, and zero backup plan decides to build something that matters — one brick in the wall, every single day. In this conversation, Jurgens sits down with David Jenkins to trace the full arc: growing up watching the Cape Epic roll past his front door, the heartbreak of never quite making the podium, the moment his business partner said "let's go 50/50," and the wild ride from a parents' garage in Stellenbosch to a world-class production facility in Kuils River. He talks about running a business like a sports team, why there are no side hustles allowed, the viral banana socks moment, and why he still believes the best is yet to come. 🔗 Versus Socks: https://www.versussocks.com 📲 Jurgens on Instagram: @jurgensuys1 🧦 Support our friends at Scicon Sports SA — get 15% off with code ACTIVEHOBO at https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount If this story inspired you, subscribe, share it with someone building something of their own, and leave a comment — what would you build if there was no backup plan? 00:00:00 — Welcome to The Active Hobo 00:01:20 — Growing Up on a Farm Where Cape Epic Rolled Past 00:02:05 — ADHD, Ritalin, and Finding Identity on a Bike 00:02:49 — First Pro Contract: A Small Salary and a Dream 00:05:02 — "There Was a Monopoly" — Spotting the Gap 00:07:48 — Going 50/50 with Hanno: No Side Hustles, No Backup Plan 00:09:26 — 260 Orders Before They Had a Product 00:12:34 — The Sportsman's Warehouse Breakthrough 00:17:00 — "The Most Loved Sports Sock Brand in the World" 00:19:01 — How Paul Roos Shaped the Man Behind the Brand 00:23:03 — 50% Motivated, 50% Scared of Losing 00:25:06 — Kevin Evans, David George, and the Heroes on the Doorstep 00:29:52 — Choosing Business Over the Yellow Jersey 00:32:40 — "We're Not a Family — We're a Sports Team" 00:39:05 — When Cycling Saves the Leader 00:41:02 — R15,000 Each and a Boot Full of Socks 00:46:27 — The Swiss Knife Partner and Learning to Let Go 00:51:57 — Knowing When to Fire Yourself as CEO 00:55:57 — Banana Socks and the Moment Versus Went Viral 01:03:19 — Nerdy Sock Tech: 200 Needles and Seamless Machines 01:06:42 — The AI Sock Designer That Changed Everything 01:07:24 — 4,000 Pairs a Day: Inside the New Kuils River Facility 01:17:18 — Why They'll Never Be an Events Company (But Run the Best Events) 01:22:05 — Back to Base: 20,000 People, 50K in 10 Days 01:24:02 — The Versus Road Run Party: 7,500 Runners in Stellenbosch 01:25:51 — "What If There's No Ceiling?" 01:27:06 — The Floodgates Are Open

    1h 30m

  2. 4D AGO

    Red Hill Road Race is Back, How to make a comeback, Garden Route Giro, GOAT Debate | Breakaway EP12

    This week's Breakaway hits a nerve. Dave opens up about something a lot of cyclists won't say out loud — the moment a week off the bike becomes two, then a month, then you're not sure how to come back. Sarah breaks down the coaching side: patience, accountability, and why consistency beats intensity every time. It's the conversation you didn't know you needed. From there, the crew recaps Sarah's first full Savage ride and her sub-10 Chappies attempt on a gravel bike, dives deep into the Garden Route Giro stage breakdown as Dave prepares for six day stage race, relives the electric sprint finish at the inaugural Red Hill road race, and gets into a proper GOAT debate — Pogačar, Van der Poel, or Pidcock? Plus: Jonas Vingegaard is back firing, Ryan Gibbons is coming to Cape Town for a Scicon-supported group ride and feature, and the crew tries Moodhouse adaptogens live on air. 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — Premium eyewear and luggage for cyclists who take their kit seriously. https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount 📩 Got a story? A question? A wager idea for Dave vs Cam at Garden Rijero? Drop it in the comments, DM us, or email — we read everything. 👍 Like, Subscribe, and share this with someone who needs a reason to get back on the bike. ⏱️ Chapters: 00:00 — Something Different This Week 00:02:14 — Sarah's First Full Savage & Chappies on a Gravel Bike 00:10:00 — The Savage Ride Breakdown: Ben Tables, Sprints & Secret Segments 00:15:58 — The Conversation Nobody Has: Getting Back on the Bike 00:19:08 — Patience, Accountability & Consistency (Sarah's Coaching Take) 00:23:40 — Post-Epic Blues: "What's Next?" Isn't Always the Right Question 00:25:38 — Upcoming Races: Sondela, Berg en Busch & Cape Pioneer Trek 00:30:01 — Garden Route Giro Stage-by-Stage Breakdown 00:45:30 — The Active Hobo Is Going to Garden Route Giro (Daily Podcasts, Come Say Hi) 00:48:30 — The Dave vs Cam Wager: Suggestions Welcome 00:50:29 — Red Hill Is Back: The Inaugural Road Race That Gave Us Chills 00:57:39 — Jonas Vingegaard Returns & The Classics Are Heating Up 01:00:00 — Tour de France Predictions & The Alpecin Problem 01:04:07 — The GOAT Debate: Pogačar vs Van der Poel vs Pidcock 01:11:10 — Ryan Gibbons Group Ride & Feature (Thursday 9th, Scicon x Active Hobo) 01:18:09 — Moodhouse Adaptogens: A Wine Replacement? 01:23:00 — Wrap Up: Keep the Feedback Coming

    1h 25m

  3. MAR 28

    Born With a Death Sentence. Now He’s Racing for a World Championship.

    He was given a 10-year life expectancy at eight months old. At 19, Jason van't Slot became the first person with cystic fibrosis to finish the Absa Cape Epic — the toughest mountain bike stage race on the planet. But this isn't just a story about cycling. It's about what it means to live inside a body that fights you every single day — chains around your chest, breathing like you're pulling air through a straw, eating 8,000 calories just to keep up — and still choosing to line up at the start. When a miracle drug called Trikafta finally reached South Africa after years of fighting, fundraising, and a community that refused to give up, Jason took his first unrestricted breath at 28 years old. He describes it as "mental chewing gum" — no pain, no caging, no chains. For the first time in his life, he was free. Now he's got his sights set on something nobody with cystic fibrosis has ever done: representing South Africa at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships in Japan. The road there runs through the Cape Town Cycle Tour, a top 25% finish, and rebuilding the fitness he set aside while he was busy doing something he'd never been able to do before — just living. This is Jason van't Slot. And he's not done yet. SCICON x Active Hobo Discount Code: https://za.sciconsports.com/discount/ACTIVEHOBO

    7 min

  4. MAR 27

    Cape Epic Stage Wins Decoded: The Power, Pacing & Pain Behind the Podium

    Winning a Cape Epic stage isn't just about fitness — it's about surviving the first 10 minutes, holding position through blind corners on rocky single track, and then having enough left to produce 1,000-watt kicks on grass after 4,000 kilojoules of work. In this breakdown, performance coach Reece McDonald pulls back the curtain on exactly what it took to win Stage 1 and Stage 6 of Cape Epic 2025. From the opening selection — 18 minutes at 6.1 watts per kilo on a 14.5% gradient — to the tactical patience of the mid-stage settle, to the breakaway on Stage 6 that came down to who could resist fatigue the longest. This is what race-winning durability looks like from the inside. Whether you're a data-driven cyclist, a coach, or just fascinated by what elite performance demands from the human body — this one will change how you watch mountain bike racing. 🔗 Scicon Sports SA — https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount 📩 Got questions about training or performance analysis? Drop them in the comments — Reece might just answer yours next. 👉 Subscribe for more stories from the world of endurance sport. 00:00 — A week that kept everyone guessing 00:58 — Stage 1: fresh legs, 35 teams, and the fight for position 02:50 — The first selection: 6.1W/kg on a 14.5% wall 04:30 — The settle: knowing when to save and when to spend 05:38 — Final attacks and the race to the line 06:38 — The sprint: 1,000-watt kicks on grass after 4,000kJ 08:00 — Stage 6: what six days of racing does to your legs 10:00 — The breakaway that broke the field 13:00 — What it actually takes: durability, cadence, and years of training 16:00 — How to get involved and what's next

    17 min

  5. MAR 26

    SHE Ran 13 Peaks on a whim, Founded Bitchy Bites and captures sports greatest moments | Jess Meniere

    She calls it "ruthlessly brave." Others might call it reckless. Jess Meniere has built her life around one principle - put your hand up first, figure it out later. And the consequences have been spectacular. In this episode of the Femme Series, Jess sits down with David to talk about what it really costs to chase a creative life in South African sport. From running the 13 Peaks with no training and no nutrition plan, to landing a dream career in sports photography before she even owned a camera - Jess's story is one of audacious leaps and hard landings. She opens up about the financial reality of freelancing, why she took a corporate job and immediately knew it was wrong, and the moment in Europe where an eight-day solo cycling odyssey through the Tour de Femme broke her completely. Along the way, there's a vegan cookie business born from spinal fractures, an honest conversation about what it's like being the only woman on the back of a motorbike at an event, and a triathlon that raises millions for education in South Africa. This one's for anyone who's ever been told they're not qualified enough, not strong enough, or not ready — and did it anyway. Part of the Femme Series — stories of remarkable women shaping South African cycling and beyond. 🍪 Bitchy Bites — Follow Jess's vegan cookie business: @ bitchy_bites 📸 Follow Jess: @ jess_meniere 🎧 Follow The Active Hobo: Instagram: @theactivehobo Website: https://activehobo.com 🏷️ Scicon Sports SA DISCOUNT: https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount 00:00 — Ruthlessly Brave, F**k Around And Find Out 02:29 — "How Hard Can It Be?" — 13 Peaks With Zero Prep 04:37 — Landing Her Bum In The Butter At Faces 06:05 — Going Freelance At 21 Without A Camera 14:19 — The Only Woman On The Mountain 22:20 — 250km Days And A R36K Disaster In Europe 27:46 — The Crushing Reality Behind The Glamour 37:42 — A Broken Back, 500 Biscuits, And Bitchy Bites 42:53 — Twitch Bitchy: The 100K Cookie-Fueled Gravel Route 47:04 — A Monday Marathon And A Near-Hijacking 49:41 — The Three Gravel Events That Ruined Everything Else 53:36 — Why Grassroots Beats Corporate 58:05 — What's Next: Cedar, Epic, And Calling Cape Town

    1h 5m

  6. MAR 26

    The Day South Africa Won the Cape Epic | Milan-San Remo | The Breakaway Ep11

    For 23 years, no all-South African team had ever stood on the top step of the Cape Epic. On Sunday, Matt Beers and Tristan Nortje of Toyota Specialized Imbuko changed that - and the entire finish line held its breath counting down the seconds. This episode is a full Cape Epic 2026 debrief from the people who lived it. Sully was behind the camera on the back of a motorbike. Cam Roach finished in the top 40 alongside 16-time finisher Ollie Munnik. Sarah Maré made the hardest call a racer can make - to stop. Together, they break down the historic men's victory, Candice Lill's long-awaited women's win after being second on the podium fige times, the team dynamics that made it all possible, and what it actually takes to survive eight days on South African soil. Plus: Pogačar vs Pidcock at Milan-San Remo, the women's race crash that sparked an important conversation, and why the ABSA Cape Epic is still putting this country on the global stage. 👉 Subscribe for stories that matter 📲 Follow us: Instagram: @theactivehobo #TheActiveHobo #BreakawayPodcast 00:00 — Welcome to the Breakaway 00:03 — The Holy Trinity: Pogačar, Pidcock & Four Centimetres 08:30 — "Women Drivers" — The Crash Commentary That Has to Stop 15:15 — South Africa's Back, Baby: The Headline That Changed Everything 19:17 — The Crowd Counts Down — A Moment That Rewrote History 22:00 — Candice Lill: Eight Attempts and Five Second Places Later 26:08 — Hailey Squared & the Art of Chipping Away 27:20 — The Brands and People Behind the Winning Machine 33:27 — Sarah's Decision: When Health Comes Before the Finish Line 43:54 — Cam & Ollie: Piano, Piano to the Top 40 48:56 — The Epic Bug, Bin Bags & 690cc War Stories 52:15 — Sully on the Media Bike: Chasing Sam Gaze Downhill 57:00 — Did the Women's Separate Start Work? 1:05:00 — The Tour de France of Mountain Biking — Or Something Better 1:11:00 — Closing Thoughts: Pride, Gratitude & What Comes Next

    1h 20m

  7. MAR 25

    13 Peaks, Bitchy Bites Founder, Media Extraordinaire - Meet Jess Meniere | Femme Series

    She calls it "ruthlessly brave." Others might call it reckless. Jess Meniere has built her life around one principle - put your hand up first, figure it out later. And the consequences have been spectacular. In this episode of the Femme Series, Jess sits down with David to talk about what it really costs to chase a creative life in South African sport. From running the 13 Peaks with no training and no nutrition plan, to landing a dream career in sports photography before she even owned a camera - Jess's story is one of audacious leaps and hard landings. She opens up about the financial reality of freelancing, why she took a corporate job and immediately knew it was wrong, and the moment in Europe where an eight-day solo cycling odyssey through the Tour de Femme broke her completely. Along the way, there's a vegan cookie business born from spinal fractures, an honest conversation about what it's like being the only woman on the back of a motorbike at an event, and a triathlon that raises millions for education in South Africa. This one's for anyone who's ever been told they're not qualified enough, not strong enough, or not ready — and did it anyway. Part of the Femme Series — stories of remarkable women shaping South African cycling and beyond. 🍪 Bitchy Bites — Follow Jess's vegan cookie business: @ bitchy_bites 📸 Follow Jess: @ jess_meniere 🎧 Follow The Active Hobo: Instagram: @theactivehobo Website: https://activehobo.com 🏷️ Scicon Sports SA DISCOUNT: https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount 00:00 — Ruthlessly Brave, F**k Around And Find Out 02:29 — "How Hard Can It Be?" — 13 Peaks With Zero Prep 04:37 — Landing Her Bum In The Butter At Faces 06:05 — Going Freelance At 21 Without A Camera 14:19 — The Only Woman On The Mountain 22:20 — 250km Days And A R36K Disaster In Europe 27:46 — The Crushing Reality Behind The Glamour 37:42 — A Broken Back, 500 Biscuits, And Bitchy Bites 42:53 — Twitch Bitchy: The 100K Cookie-Fueled Gravel Route 47:04 — A Monday Marathon And A Near-Hijacking 49:41 — The Three Gravel Events That Ruined Everything Else 53:36 — Why Grassroots Beats Corporate 58:05 — What's Next: Cedar, Epic, And Calling Cape Town

    1h 4m

  8. MAR 19

    E2E Feedback, Cape Epic ’26, World Tour Update & SA’s Gravel Season Opens | The Breakaway Podcast

    He went to Joburg for one ride. He got dropped by a world-tour cyclist, skipped a robot or two, and came back a convert. That's where Episode 10 begins — and it only gets bigger from there. Cape Epic is underway, and the stories coming out of those trails are exactly why this race is unlike anything else on earth. Dean Hoff and Kevin Benke ran 30 kilometres with their bikes after a mechanical destroyed their race — and kept going. Tristan de Villiers and Kezia Llewellyn are in the yellow jersey, chasing what no South African pairing has ever done: win the Cape Epic. Meanwhile, Cam and Allie are out there somewhere in the peloton, laughing their heads off. Alec's on the ground. Sarah's racing. This one's personal. On the world stage: del Toro is making GC statements, Vingegaard's wardrobe is making headlines, and Van der Poel is riding like a man possessed. Milan-San Remo is around the corner — and the women's race might be the most unpredictable one-day classic in years. We also touch on Allan Hathley quietly going 13th at Tirreno and what that could mean. And then — gravel. Gallows. Garden route Giro. Roads to Desolation. If the gravel bug hasn't bitten you yet, this episode might be the one that changes that. We're a year old, Scicon has come on board, and we're just getting started. 🎙️ Hosted by David & Jason | The Breakaway Podcast 📸 Follow Alec's live Cape Epic coverage on Instagram: @theactivehobo 🕶️ Gear up with Scicon Sports SA — 15% off https://theactivehobo.short.gy/sciconsports-discount 💬 Drop your take in the comments — is Gallows South Africa's best gravel race? And can Tristan & Kezia make history? 🔔 Subscribe so you don't miss our daily podcasts from the Garden route Giro. Gallows Gravel Race Link: https://www.thegallowsrace.co.za/ Garden Route Giro link: https://www.gardenroutegiro.co.za/ #capeepic2026 #capeepic #achievementunlocked 00:00 — The Capetonian Goes to Joburg (and Gets Schooled) 11:34 — Inside the Cape Epic: Yellow Jersey, Broken Bikes & 30km On Foot 16:15 — The Story That Defines What Epic Actually Means 22:00 — Can a South African Pair Finally Win the Cape Epic? 30:04 — Del Toro, Vingegaard's Shorts & Tour de France Signals 47:08 — Women's Milan-San Remo: The Race Nobody Can Call 50:37 — Allan Hathley's Quiet Statement to the World 54:20 — South Africa's Gravel Season Is Here 55:24 — Gallows: The Race That Breaks You in the Best Way 1:00:13 — Garden Route Giro 2026 1:08:49 — One Year In: Scicon, Milestones & What's Coming 1:11:29 — See You Out There

    1h 12m
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About

The Active Hobo is a community of storytellers on a mission to make meaning. We’re rooted in Westlake, Cape Town—part café, part studio, all heart. Drop by for a great flat white, stay to enjoy our shows, or book a session to capture your own story.

Information

  • Creator
    David Jenkins
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    52
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Active Hobo

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