TORQUE AND TOQUE TOGETHER MAKE FOR A HAPPY CHEF
David Higgs of Marble and Saint is unplayable if he doesn’t get his rides in, he tells Aspasia Karras
The work hard, play hard, live harder trope of the chef busting a gut and then lining it with whisky and war stories in the trenches of the gourmet kitchen is not for David Higgs, celebrated chef and cyclist. Instead of succumbing to the clichés of his profession, he took to his bike, and found an obsession that neatly offsets his carb intake and his stress.
We asked him about his sporting hustle.
Why cycling?
I started cycling when I was 25/26 and working in Cape Town, mostly riding on the road, Sunday league races — it was a nice escape from the industry. But I started my own business at 29 and ran out of time. And then in 2013 a friend challenged me to the Epic — mountain biking was a different discipline completely. I was absolutely hooked. The escape is key, if I don’t do it I am unplayable.
Best ride ever?
Is that a trick question? I love different rides for different reasons. The Berg and Bush is fast, free flowing trail, lots of fun and very beautiful — I did it with an ex-pro Erik
Kleynhans and he really pushed me; it was the fastest ride I had ever done. The Tankwa Trek is a good test of character and skill and I love the Karoo. Obviously the Epic is great — the Tour de France of mountain biking. But riding a bike in Tuscany, the culture of stopping, eating and drinking is quite special, I can’t lie.
David Higgs
A ride you are really looking forward to?
The Namib Quest. It’s almost like going home from Windhoek to Swakop, so slightly sentimental. I am curating the food for 80 people. It will be really cool to be on a bike over seven days.
Let’s talk equipment …
I don’t ride well so I have to look good. I have a proper racing bike — a Canyon Lux XC Mountain Bike. It’s quite special, descends beautifully, great angles for climbing, its geometry on descent is lively. I have a custom-made pair of Lake shoes, black and white — you have to be fashion conscious, you know. We have just made our own customised Saint cycling kit — if you can’t be the part you’ve got to look the part.