Stephan

Pogi’s day will come, but today is WOUT’s day. Fantastic! So happy for him. Superb race.

How is this thread so quiet? What a race so far.

Who’s the female commentator? She really knows her stuff. Very impressive and really enjoying her commentary.

Thanks @Zebra. Most of what I shared in my post I said in the rider survey that came out last Friday. So let's see. I really think the 8/8ths medal idea, where you build it stage by stage, would be very cool and unique. They could even do two medals: a 6/6ths medal for Stages 1 to 6, and then the usual ACE medal for the Stage 7 Grand Finale — so you still incentivise people to make it to Sunday. As for my proposal to add two numbers to the race bib — one for how many Epics you’ve started and one for how many you’ve finished — the inspiration is simple. A mate who has done (I think five Epics now) says the hardest part about the Epic is making it to the start line. It reflects months of discipline, focus, and commitment. I agree to some extent, although the race itself is still very, very hard. The other inspiration came from a guy I passed with “NEWBIE” written on his bib, which he had scratched out and replaced with a “3” in black marker. He said he was still trying to finish his first ACE, and this was his fourth attempt. He made it to the finish line, by the way. The fact that he kept pursuing his dream shows true grit and deserves recognition, and I’m sure there are many others like him out there.

There is so much that happens before and during the Epic that I’ve taken a week or so to gather my thoughts. Here is my race report, as told from the perspective of a backmarker. This is my own personal opinion, and I have been on Bikehub for long enough to know that my will not share my views. I am one voice out of 1350 people that entered this year, and many more who have done many other Epics. Last year was my first. I was subbed in six weeks prior, so I felt very underprepared and extremely nervous. I ended up finishing alone after my partner had to withdraw after Stage 2 (heat-related), so it was a tough solo journey. I knew I wanted to do it again. After watching the route launch last year, I was determined to ride this year’s Epic. It’s exactly what I believe the Epic should be: proper mountain biking on rough farm and jeep tracks where 4x4’s can barely ride, spiced up with long transition stages and a bit of playtime on trails here and there. If I have to pick between trails and farm or jeep tracks, I’ll pick the latter every time. I got an entry in October, which is when proper training started… only to crash at Eselfontein and break two ribs. That setback meant about a month off the bike (and missing W2W). From December, training consisted of five rides a week, aiming for 10–14 hour weeks, starting at around 2,000m climbing per week and ramping up to no less than 3,000m. Pre-Epic races were Attakwas, Imbuko, and then a fun CTCT. To set expectations: we had three goals as a team, in this order: finish, have fun and don’t start in the last batch (which I did most of last year… and it sucks to be honest). So I am by no means a racing snake, but more of a diesel engine. Endurance is my thing, not racing. Prologue: Fun day. I enjoyed the new route on the farm and the support was great. We started early-ish (between 8am and 8.30am), so we missed the worst of the heat. Already there were several heatstroke casualties later in the day. Stage 1: Tough, hard day, but very satisfying. The remoteness and scenery were mind-blowing. I honestly wish this stage could become a standalone race (someone pleeeeaaasseee make it happen). The only issue was long waiting periods at the first singletrack about 20km in. The level of technical skill in the back bunches is, in my opinion, generally quite poor. It got very hot later, which had me seriously worried (PTSD from Paarl Mountain last year), but I managed to get through it. Quite a few more people fell out due to heatstroke. Stage 2: This day rivalled Stage 1 for scenery. Absolutely incredible. There were some very steep, sketchy descents, but overall an amazing route. The section through African Game Lodge was out of this world. I felt sorry for anyone not used to rugged terrain. This day could end your Epic quickly. Weather was near perfect, with even a quick 5-minute shower up Ouberg Pass to cool us down. Stage 3: Wow, what a day. Perfect conditions for us late starters. Probably our best day of the week… but we burnt too many matches (as I would discover the next day). Stage 4: Another pearler of a route, just a pity I had absolutely no legs. The UFO climb looks scarier on paper, and the descent was super fun. Stage 5: What a privilege to ride from Greyton to Stellies without touching tar. What a stage. We got lucky with the weather again. The Oak Valley mud was bad but still rideable — unlike Lourensford last year. That said, I do think organisers should consider contingency routes for heavy clay sections. For backmarkers, the pace drops to walking speed and you can lose a lot of time quickly. On a 134km stage, I’m not sure there’s real value in forcing riders through unrideable mud if it can be avoided. Stage 6: A steep start up Botmaskop with lots of traffic and walking, but from WP1 onwards, things opened up and it turned into a really fun day. Stage 7: Still a tough final day and the tank was close to empty. But Jonkershoek is always a treat. I loved the route — except for that moment when they take you past the village and add another 15km… but that’s Epic. What didn’t quite work from my perspective: Cut-offs: They really need to fix the cut-off calculations. On at least two occasions, we reached a water point with less than 30 minutes to spare, yet still finished the stage well over an hour ahead of max stage time. On the Queen Stage, we were 1–2 hours ahead of WP cut-offs but only made the finish by a minute. That doesn’t make sense. Water Points: Most stages were well planned — but the Queen Stage felt off. One WP3 only had Between official WP1 at Houwhoek (KM52) and Idiom (KM98) there was a very small WP which only had water, oranges, and date balls which was not sufficient at all, so basically the gap was between KM52 and KM98 which is a massive gap. I’m convinced some riders got cut because they ran out of fuel. Suggestions for improving the amateur experience: My main criticism after my first ACE last year was nobody tells the story of the amateurs, or backmarkers. Yes, I am biased because these are the people I have been riding with two years in a row, but I really believe this is the true story of the Epic. The race is not just about the pros, yet all the focus is on the pros. I kind of get it, but I think they are missing something (although I am sure they would say the race still sells out each year, so clearly there is still enough amateur interest, which I understand). Out of 675 teams that started the prologue, only 61 were elite (40 men, 21 women). That means ~614 amateur teams, so roughly a 10:1 ratio. Yet the media coverage ratio is basically 10:1 for the pros vs the amateur rider. Do more to celebrate the amateur riders at the evening dinner and prizegiving to make the race village feel more like it is the melting pot for amateurs (which it is, because all the pros either stay off-site or in a campervan, so the evening dinner I would argue is 99% amateurs who mostly care about their own race and not much about what is happening at the front…….or at least that’s my view and every amateur I met view). Have prizes for the last team to finish the stage, or oldest person to complete the stage, or tell a comeback story or have a daily “grit award” or whatever, but make it more engaging for the amateur rider AND tell their story on the various media channels. Reward and recognise people for entering the race, even if they don't finish the race. On the race number bib thingy they currently show how many Epics you’ve finished, which is very cool. But why not also show how many you’ve started? Entering and starting this race is an achievement on its own. Finishing a stage at the Epic is (for some stages) harder than almost any other single stage race, so also reward people with a medal for finishing each stage. Design a medal that has eight slots, and for each stage finished you get a unique medal with that stage number on, that slots into the bigger Cape Epic medal, so that by the time you finish the Grand Finale, you have a complete 8/8ths medal that you’ve built stage by stage. The route this year was fantastic, but I really dont see the point in making the last 3km as hard as possible. Reward the person for getting to that point and make the last few kilometers a run into the finish (I know the organisers and pros will disagree with me on this one, so that’s fine). Also, please please please get the 10km and 5km to go boards correct. On three stages this year the actual route was two or three kilometers longer than advertised. It doesn’t sound like much, but a 140km day that becomes a 142km day, or a 87km day that becomes a 90km day really sucks. Will I do it again? Yes, for sure. It is a huge challenge to overcome, but the camaraderie and humanity that you witness at the back of the field is what will make me do it again. To see people with prosthetic legs fighting to keep going is so inspiring. Or to ride with people in their 60s and 70s who have done more than ten Epics puts things into perspective if you are battling on any given day. Everyone at the back supports everyone else and want their fellow riders to make it. People stop to help if they see someone on the side of the trail or offer a quick joke or words of encouragement to cheer everyone up. Right. That’s me.

Wow!!! Amazing. And thank you.

Not going to argue with you. But this is basically what I meant by how it felt to me this year vs last year. Like I said, it is subjective. (edit, the graph shows 27m gained for comparison. I know this year was less per km than last year)

Speed Company 2022

Yes but many of the 2025 route was on purpose built mtb trails, so there was a lot of elevation gained, but the gradients were kind. This year wasnt that, so I personally thought the climbing was harder this year. Very subjective, I know.

If the event you are talking about involved five climbs, then I fully agree. By far the most amount of spent sachets and wrappers I’ve seen for a very long time.

Interesting thread. I’m not surprised by the backlash to the OP. My (probably unpopular) two cents… When it comes to environmental issues, it is socially very unpopular to be seen as “anti-environment”. As a result, those who want a more pragmatic approach often stay quiet, while conservation-first voices tend to be louder. The outcome is that support for positions outside the dominant narrative becomes under-represented, not because it doesn’t exist, but because people are reluctant to speak up for fear of being labelled or ostracised. Restoring Table Mountain to fynbos-only is clearly not what everyone wants, and that diversity of views matters. On a conceptual spectrum from full development to full protection, land use does not sit at the extremes but along a continuum: full development → urban green space or recreational landscape → multi-use urban nature → managed conservation → restoration → semi-wild protected area → full preservation or wilderness ideal. I would argue that areas such as Deer Park and Newlands Forest sit somewhere between multi-use nature and managed conservation. My concern with the Sugarbird Project is not its intent, but the assumption that positioning the project as environmentally friendly automatically assumes broad public support. The reality is more complex and nuanced. Some people value the existing tree cover and the benefits it provides. Deer Park is an intensively used urban green space where trees support safe, cool and accessible recreation. The same goes for Newlands Forest. Any intervention should explicitly acknowledge this human dimension and involve engagement with interested and affected stakeholders, to achieve a balanced outcome that manages invasive species while reflecting a pragmatic urban approach.

Oh no!! Tragic! My condolences to family and friends. The entire Atlantic seaboard section from Bakoven to the Lighthouse is simply too congested for runners, walkers, cyclists, parked cars and moving cars, buses, scooters and motorcycles. I have driven, walked and cycled this section a couple of hundred times now and there simply isn’t enough space. Accidents will sadly continue to happen until there is a separation of traffic. Personally I think the entire section of road should be repainted and split in three, with white lines and bollards separating them. Two lanes for cars and one lane for non motorists. Redesign and expand public parking spaces to make up for lost parking.

I assumed he meant the climb up to the KOM 🙂 Jo-han, spend a bit of time on Strava or Google Earth and really study the route so that you know what to expect from WP to WP. This will help manage your expectations and effort on the day. You must save as much as you can for the last 50km.

It’s rough and steep but a great feeling when you get to the top. But don’t focus on this climb because this climb is not your problem, its all the climbs after this. The race only starts when you hit the gravel at 75km.

Back to this. Anyone using the Leatt Endurance 4.0 helmet who can share their experience? There are very few online reviews about this helmet.

And this is why I have ZERO respect for bike traders. Even if someone undervalues what they want to sell, there is a market for it from honest, hard working people who love cycling but cannot afford to buy the best. But traders swoop in like vultures, offer even less and then resell it with a big markup.

Thanks Diesel! 🙂

Thanks 117 and Knersboy. That is useful feedback. Anyone else with experience of the previous gen EVO vs the new Epic 8 Evo?

My advice, buy the one you want and start training with it so that you can adjust it between now and ACE to be comfortable. Any half decent bike can do the Epic, it depends how you ride it. The ones you listed will be fine. You must must must book a good service package. They will check and service your bike every night. Have a spare budget of say R10k ready in case anything fails or needs repair. For example, this year the rain and mud caused havoc with drivetrains and many a chain and rear mech had to be replaced.

Looking to upgrade from my 2020 Specialized Epic Comp. I’m keen to stick with Specialized for various reasons, but the prices of the new-gen Epic 8 make my eyes water. I also want to go brainless, so my plan is to “ride the wave after the first wave” — meaning the 2021-2023 Epic Evo generation. When comparing the 2021-2023 Epic Evo frame to the new Epic 8 generation (2024+), here’s what I see: ’21-’23 Epic Evo / Epic 8 Rear shock: conventional shock on both Rear travel: 110mm / 120mm Fork travel: 120mm / 120mm Head angle (size L): 66.5 / 66.4-65.9 Seat tube angle: 74.5 / 75-76 Reach: 460mm / 475mm Chainstay: 438mm / 435mm Frame storage: No / Yes The previous-gen Evo already brought the longer-lower-slacker geometry with 110 / 120 mm travel, while the new Epic 8 / 8 Evo keeps a very similar frame shape, drops the Brain entirely, and bumps the rear travel to 120 mm (130 mm on the Evo). Question: out there on real trails, gravel, or even tar — is there any actual ride difference between the base-model ’21–’23 Epic Evo and the new Epic 8? I’m not interested in fancy electronic gadgets or “air-hostess” tech. At the current price gap, the previous-gen Evo seems like a no-brainer (pun intended 😉) — or am I missing something?

Personally I would not do this. I have done two cycle tours that went to these same places using as much gravel as possible and felt very exposed on tar sections. Many sections don’t have a shoulder. You can probably do the route you want many times and be fine, but you only need one idiot who is drunk, on his phone or not looking and you are a gonner. Not worth the risk.

You will not regret it. Best value for money event on the calendar. See you there.

Wow, well done to the organisers. For the first time in many years the Epic goes back to its roots. Montagu as the start. Amazing. Love the long transition stage. This is going to be a hard Epic but best route in years me thinks.

Bet there are a few nervous people around the world anxiously awaiting route launch tonight. 🤣

Mountain biking has never been more popular. There are now more events than ever before. The events entries are down in my opinion because fundamentally supply is outstripping demand. There is an oversupply of events for the already small subset of the mountain biking community who are interested racing I would say.