Dappere

I never said the driver wasn’t in the wrong - in fact, I stated quite clearly that if someone is proven to have been driving under the influence, they are in the wrong. Most of us were not at the scene. We rely on media reporting, which at this stage refers to allegations. Questioning or quoting that distinction in what should be a safe space for discussion shouldn’t trigger knee-jerk personal attacks. Responding to questions with labels rather than engagement doesn’t move the conversation forward - it creates division, and division has never solved problems.

I think it’s fair to acknowledge that some cyclists do disregard the rules of the road, and I can understand the frustration the writer is expressing. From what has been reported, driving under the influence and reckless or negligent driving are allegations at this stage. What is non-negotiable, though: if it is proven that a driver was under the influence, they are unequivocally in the wrong - regardless of whether the victim was a cyclist, runner, or pedestrian, and regardless of minor contributory errors, short of deliberate or reckless intent to cause harm.

Samara Maxwell’s been dominating on a Rockrider... guess the secret’s not training, just the bike brand.

I’ve owned both generations of the Supercaliber, first the Gen 1 and now the Gen 2. For me, it’s the best bike out there. I’ve done most of my races on each version, including Baviaans and a number of stage races, even the one we aren't allowed to mention on the Hub. In terms of comfort, I’ve never had an issue. That 80mm of rear travel feels like more than it is - so long as you’re willing to put in the time to fine-tune the suspension and really get the most out of it. My time on the Scalpel has been fairly limited, so I’ll admit my view here is a little biased. The key thing with bikes, though, is geometry - it influences so much, from handling to comfort and beyond. The best advice I can give is to actually ride both bikes and see which one suits your body and riding style. Both are excellent choices, so you won’t go wrong with either. But taking the time upfront to find the bike that truly fits you will pay off in the long run, making cycling far more enjoyable.

I agree on the earlier Vittoria models, but the new XC Race version is in a completely different league. Pirelli Scorpions are also excellent tyres - I’ve had a few sets before switching to the new Vittorias. The Rekon Race is probably the most reliable when it comes to puncture protection and longevity, although they are on the heavy side. As for the Race Kings - they’re great tyres, but I’ll hold off until the new Dubnital arrives in South Africa, now finally available in 2.4.

It doesn’t look like Cycle Lab currently has the XC Race version of these tyres. I also checked, and the Barzo in the XC Race casing isn’t available in SA yet. Barzo reference: https://int.vittoria.com/products/barzo-xc-race-new?variant=56057812451709 Where to buy in SA: Mezcal: https://evobikes.co.za/product/vittoria-mezcal-xc-g2-race-tubeless-29-x-2-4-mtb-tyre-2/

The side knobs on the Mezcal XC Race and Peyote are identical - the only difference lies in the centre tread. I’ve been running the Peyote as a rear tyre for some time now, including towards the end of winter and in my last race at Baviaans. It’s certainly not a winter tyre, but it does offer more grip than you might expect. If you’re looking for a reliable setup, a Barzo on the front and a Mezcal on the back is a rock-solid combination. Pairing the Mezcal with the Peyote can cause a bit of drift when cornering hard, though it generally regains traction quickly. If you’re not in a hurry, I’d recommend waiting until the Barzo arrives in SA in the XC Race casing and going for that pairing. In my view, they’re a definite step up from their predecessors.

Mezcal XC race front https://int.vittoria.com/products/mezcal-xc-race Peyote XC race back https://int.vittoria.com/products/peyote-xc-race

This happens every year. Shortly after registration opens, a few volunteers start selling their entries. Then, towards the end of the year and into the beginning of the next, there’s typically another noticeable increase in entries being sold on the Hub.

First-time volunteers pay R3,800, and return volunteers pay R1,000—or at least, that’s the fee I heard.

Tyre choice is largely a matter of personal preference, with factors such as skill level, rolling resistance, and grip all playing a role. The Pirelli Scorpion RC XC tyres I used are quite similar to the Rekon Race, and I’ve never had any issues—they offer more than enough grip for my needs. My riding partner completed two Epics on a single set of Rekon Race tyres—Cape Epic (March) and 4Islands (April)—with zero issues, even on the notoriously rough, sidewall-eating rocks of 4Islands. Based on that, I’d say they are more than capable for the Cape Epic. As for width, we personally prefer wider tyres, and we both run 2.4s. At this size, the Rekon Race weighs around 800g per tyre, which is slightly heavier than the Pirelli Scorpion XC RC ProWall at approximately 700g per tyre.

I’m sure you’d get some odd looks pulling a Wattbike into the gym sauna! 😂 I first heard about cycling in a sauna on a TrainerRoad podcast, where they mentioned that some riders buy sauna tents to train in. But, as you said, it’s likely a significant investment.

Fair—case in point, Georg Egger from Speed Company at the Tankwa Trek this year. The heat played a significant role in his performance. I’ve seen some European riders attempt heat training by using an indoor trainer in a sauna, but this seems to be far less common among riders outside of the UCI circuit.

Ah, I see what you meant now—I misread that! 🙈 Accessibility to trails could also be a factor, along with the number of events that make use of some of those trails in similar conditions, as you mentioned.

Extremely interesting observation regarding South Africans not being as well prepared for ultra events. Do you think this could be due to the accessibility of our trails? Instead of committing to structured training, we might get easily distracted by single tracks—and to be fair, what’s better than a flowing single track? On a related note, I’ve also noticed that European riders tend to struggle with switchbacks, particularly on climbs. My riding partner and I experienced this first-hand during our first European Epic. That left us with two options—either empty the tank to reach the switchback first or learn to be patient! 🤣