Stephan

Wow, thanks to everyone for the amazing response! Lots and lots of new ideas and route planning to do now. 🙂

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6

It's time for my annual bike-packing adventure. In 2021 it was the reverse Cross Cape (Franschhoek to George), in 2022 the Coastal Cross Cape (Elgin, Grabouw to George, via Cape Agulhas), and this year I'm hoping it's the Karoo Crossing, from Elgin to Prince Albert. Here is the current plan: Day 1 Elgin, Grabout to Greyton https://www.strava.com/routes/3115977830884860348 or https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44935372 Day 2 Greyton to Montagu https://www.strava.com/routes/3115978293497091128 or https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44935496 Day 3 Montagu to somewhere in the Karoo https://www.strava.com/routes/3115979027733940280 or https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44935591 Day 4 Somewhere in the Karoo to seweweekspoort (or nearby) https://www.strava.com/routes/3115979411271590968 or https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44935636 Day 5 Seweweekspoort (or nearby) to Calitzdorp https://www.strava.com/routes/3157275656213723470 or https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44935674 Day 6 Calitzdorp to Prince Albert https://www.strava.com/routes/3115979730828810834 or https://ridewithgps.com/routes/44935692 I know very little of the area between Montagu and Calitzdorp, so the Day 3, 4 and 5 routes really boggle me. Is it safe? Are there enough accommodation options? Is it best to go north around the mountains and through seweweekspoort, or stay to the south and pass through Ladismith, then do seweweekspoort as an out and back option. Between Zoar and Calitzdorp there only seems to be a tar road option? I drove this section a few weeks ago and it didn't look great to ride. I would appreciate any advice or recommendations on route options. @Prince Albert Cycles I guess you know the area better than most. Your thoughts?

The Speed Company Racing guys used the new Leatt Endurance helmets at the Epic earlier this year. https://bikehub.co.za/news/leatt-adds-endurance-cycling-products-and-backs-reigning-absa-cape-epic-champions/ Any rider feedback from Hubbers using them? Also, where the heck do I buy these helmets? They seem almost impossible to find online.

Fantastic event. Tough and technical trails, but fun to ride (just make sure you train enough beforehand....speaking to myself here ;-)). It was a great weekend away on the farm and a good vibe all around. Thanks Deon and Janene for another fun-filled Eselfontein weekend!

Maybe this one? http://www.morespeedlesspower.com/2022/02/do-foam-tyre-inserts-degrade-rolling.html

Thanks for all the replies, everyone. So IF I wanted to go this route, the https://ridepanzer.com/xc-marathon/ (~100grams) and https://tubolight.bike/shop-bike/tubolight-evo-sl-hd/ (~58grams) seem to be the two best options. Does anyone know if these brands are sold in SA?

MAXXIS Ikon 29 x 2.20 EXO on the rear.

Does anyone have experience with running foam inserts in XC bike? I like to do a mix of gravel, trail, and some mild downhill stuff on my XC bike, but I have had three snakebites on rocky downhill sections recently. I'll run my tires with a bit more pressure from now on, but as a random thought, I wondered if anyone has gone the insert route on an XC bike?

Ignorance is bliss. No point in trying to explain to you how risk assessments for these types of events work, and the actual consequences if something goes wrong. 100% correct decision. No doubt lessons learned from 2019 was also factored in. Will be back in 2024.

OK I've seen the press release now. Tough call for organisation to make, but the correct one given the weather forecast in my view.

Source?

That's very useful! Thanks @sias and @Thornman

Doing my first Desert Dash this year. We are a team of 4, so doing the relay. Does the route stay the same every year? Or does it change? Last year it was: Stage 1: 100km / 1223m Stage 2: 76km / 1470m Stage 3: 86km / 377m Stage 4: 83km / 164m Stage 5: 47km / 451m https://desertdashnamibia.com/rider-info/the-route.html Can anyone give some advice on how difficult or easy each stage is? We need to figure out which rider does what leg of the race. 🙂

Back to the original question about safety, when I did the CC on my own a few years ago I attached a self-defense pepper spray can to my top tube, to use in case I had to defend myself against someone or something (stray dogs/snakes/animals/baboons). I fitted it using industrial Velcro which you can buy at most hardware shops. I also had a Coghlan's Air Horn taped to the handlebar so that I could press the button which would then make a very loud sound to scare off something or someone (www.driftersshop.co.za/products/coghlans-air-horn). Some more tips in my post-ride report here:

All the roads are public roads, not private farmland. Except for the short sections on the N2 national road, they are very quiet roads with minimal car traffic. To clarify, "townships" in SA mean informal settlements. Use common sense and avoid them. I agree. Much less hassle. Fly to Cape Town and get an UberXL or scheduled transfer from the airport to Stellenbosch, stay at an Airbnb or guesthouse for a few days then start your trip. Ride to Knysna and fly back to Cape Town from Plett or George Airports. Another option is to rent a car and drive back to Cape Town along the Garden Route. You will not be sorry. It is an amazing drive! Bus options: greyhound.co.za/ and intercape.co.za Cape Town to/from George/Plett flights: https://www.flyairlink.com or https://www.flycemair.co.za/ or https://www.flysafair.co.za/ Car rental: www.airports.co.za/airports/cape-town-international-airport/transport/car-rental

You won't regret doing the Cross Cape. Stunning route. Don't leave your bikes or possessions alone when riding around in the towns and you should be fine.

Does anyone know when entries close?

Also curious to know... (replaced my gx chain this past week and wondered the same thing)

@Headshot can you give more details about these spots please? drop on the Kirstenbosch lower track a while before the steep rubber mat descent drop into the river bed after the rock garden Avenue Bordeaux descent

Interesting discussion. Listen from 24:35

@EddieV I think many people feel the same. I certainly do.

Pogi beats WA by 1min20sec. But Vingo beats Pogi by 1min38sec. Everyone predicted a 20sec gap, some said maybe 45secs. But he smashes him by almost a minute more than everyone predicted. That doesn't make sense? Not between these two? 🤔

My pre-race meal/breakfast https://futurelife.com/products/energize-drinking-meal

Where on the https://tiz-cycling.io/main/ do I get the live feed for each days stage? Or is this site only for replays of completed stages?