Andrew Gold is the co-founder of CIOVITA—a Cape Town–built cycling apparel brand engineered with a global mindset and a deep respect for craft. With a background in product development and garment manufacturing, Andrew didn’t enter cycling kit as a “logo-on-a-shirt” play. He built it as a long-term, say-it-and-prove-it brand—where comfort claims are backed by obsessive iteration, materials sourcing, and serious R&D. 

From day one, the vision wasn’t only South Africa—it was global relevance, built from a home base in Woodstock, Cape Town. Today, the company runs a substantial local operation (including a Woodstock facility employing around 230 people) and has been expanding internationally through community-first touchpoints like store concepts and weekly rides—most notably in places like Amsterdam—while also pushing growth into markets like Australia. 

What makes Andrew compelling is that he’s not selling “hype.” He’s selling standards—the kind you only learn when you’ve lived inside manufacturing, managed teams, and watched small errors become expensive problems at scale. CIOVITA’s edge is end-to-end control: design, prototyping, production capability, and a customer experience designed to feel seamless. That same philosophy shows up in the brand’s culture: curated retail experiences, a strong ambassador community, and real-world connection through rides that break down barriers and build belonging. 

If you care about cycling, entrepreneurship, or what it actually takes to build premium product from Africa to the world—Andrew’s story is a masterclass in doing it with conviction.

A South African junior cyclist is chasing a European breakthrough — and the biggest hurdle isn’t talent. It’s access.

In this episode of Active Hobo, Faraz Khatieb shares his origin story: how his dad and brother pulled him into cycling, how his father became his coach and mechanic, and why racing in Europe is a completely different game. Faraz is leaving **26 February** for an **Italy-based trial** with a European team — with Belgium racing on the cards — and he’s doing everything he can to turn a one-month opportunity into a full-season contract.

You’ll also hear the real behind-the-scenes reality young riders face: the costs of joining teams, the pressure to perform with limited support, and how community fundraising can make (or break) the dream.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

- How Faraz got into road cycling (and why he had to “wait his turn”)

- Dad-as-coach: training structure, recovery days, and race prep

- Why Europe racing demands race craft, nerve, and positioning—not just fitness

- The sponsorship problem: how talented riders get stuck behind paywalls

- The fundraising push to make the Italy trial possible