Caerus

Count me in for sure, I'm there like a bear

Nice looking bike Would like to see a photo from the front to check out the clearance, also for the back wheel if possible? How does it handle?

That pic says it all doesn't it. may as well stick 26" wheels on there

So I ask you, what is the optimal amount clearance actually needed? If you gonna hit bad mud it will clog up no matter what you are riding. Just quicker with less clearance. If its gonna be a really muddy ride, you can always just switch wheelsets.

A day of hard trail building labour for the twats caught trying to sneak in

If you need some help, give us a shout.

Thats the thing, it can work, but as I also said, it might not. It depends on a few variables, get these right and its happy days. I've been doing a lot of research into this, if it works for me, which I think it should, then its happy days. If not, not a problem as well.

Fair enough, but still does not anwser the question, how much clearance is actually optimum? Is there a set distance between fork arch & tyre, as well as the back. When the design fork/ frames for either 26" or 29" wheelsets, do they have a clearance measurement all manufacturers work around, an industry standard so to say. This is where the particular frame and fork make a differance, certain forks & frames will just not work, some will certainly work. Do you think there would be such a following of 650B wheelsets if this was such a huge issue?

I hear you on the mud clearance issue, how much clearance would actually be needed, is there an optimum? The right tyre choice will also make a differance. When I look at my Fox fork with the current wheelset on, I'm only closing that gap by 12mm. This I'm basing on using a set of 650B Stans rims, and the current tyre I have on the front(Maxxis Crossmark) In all honesty while riding through the whole of summer I've not had any issues with mud while riding with my 26" wheelset, certainly not enough to even worry if I had put a 650B wheelset on. So how much time will I actually spend riding in the mud, possibly not much. It will also depend where you are riding, and the type of mud I suppose. Yes it will have its issues and limitations, but don't all wheel sizes each have there own limitations.

Not much info on the interweb regarding the history of MTB stage racing in SA or worldwide for that matter. The BC looks to be awesome, you can ride as an individual, team or a partner. Do the top guys ride this in the same manner as the Epic?

This is not good, wish all the victims a speedy recovery. I was only saying on Sat that there have not been any hi-jackings in KZN for a while that I had heard of.

I agree on all of these. I was just wondering where the idea started as too having the team options. I would love to see a stage race of this magnitude that is both an individual and team effort.

I've had above excellant service from both Easybike as well.

OK cool, so its purely down to rider safety more then anything else. Now I ask the following, surely with all the coverage, support teams and the fact its pretty much ridden in loops in various areas as opposed to the way it used to be (ie start in Knysna finish in Cape Town) that this may no longer apply. As you stated,"it was the idea", so does this mean it doesn't really appy any longer. I would just be interested to know how the race would differ if it was an individual race.

Any ideas to an answer?

OK, thats fair enough. Are the trails not marked well enough for this not to happen? Just curious to know

I would think it would be challenging as an indivdual race, but hey what do I know?

This may be a stupid Epic question, but why is it always raced as a team? I suppose that could also apply to most stage races.

Thats awesome, I saw the ususal suspects doing a sneaky on Sunday arvo. Time for the Trail runners and dog walkers to payup as well. Would love to be there when they catch the twats that sneak in while coming from Oscars

Good Luck with the training

Who did see what?

As do a lot of the tattoo covered girls you post Back to the topic at hand

This one? Well above board

I wonder if the Pro's all sit there saying this bull$hit about bike size to each other? I very much doubt it. "Hey your sponsership is worse then mine, must be why you're still riding a 26"hardtail."

What a load of bollocks