[2024 Cape Epic Route Announced]

On 9/15/2023 at 10:01 AM, Jewbacca said:

Or make it the SA Epic and do it all over the place!

I know it is relationships, contracts, land owner agreements, finish venues etc that keep it here, but as the comments show, it has definitely lost some of it's appeal and if not now, will likely need to reassess at some point.

The international entries definitely keep things ticking over for now

There are ample old and new routes in all those areas .Every berg in a two hour radius from cape town has a trail section on multiple sides .The organizers can put out a 20 day race and not ride the same routes .There is no other event like it currently and even at the price it still attracts full fields .Personally i think it will only get more popular .If they slash the price they can have two events and fill all entries  

[2024 Cape Epic Route Announced]

8 hours ago, babse said:

2020? You mean October 2021 edition?

Yes ! That one 

[2024 Cape Epic Route Announced]

I rode in 2019 and the Covid year 2020 editions . There will be 80% singletract except for the vineyard Stellenbosch loop .In 2020 the first five days were all new and old singletract .It makes it really difficult and slow going as you seldom have momentum .The vineyard riding is very steep .Strong legs and small gears all the way .I never worked out the cost ,but it was still worth it .I would do it again ,health permitting 

[From full suspension to hard tail?]

1 minute ago, Me rida my bicycle said:

The Highball cc is a solid bombproof frame but very stiff so not the most comfortable unfortunately. But you won't break it and they look cool 👌🏻

I have both the old, very stiff, model and the new ,more compliant,  model .The new model is way more compliant than the old frame .It is still a HT and over graspolle and corrugations a dual is still way better if you are riding multiple days in a row .Hard tails are okay for one hard day of riding .All of them get really uncomfortable after day two .Dual suspensions are popular for a reason 

[From full suspension to hard tail?]

I ride a modern SC Highball with a 130mm ohlins in front .My favorite bike for training and the odd gravel,ish event .Earlier in June i rode go2berg . I opted for the full suspension instead .Even an old 26 inch full sus would have been better than a HT for the terrain .Don,t get carried away .Full suspension is still the best mountain bike if you ride multiple terrain  

[Car changes over the years]

1 hour ago, Baracuda said:

What I find strange is that while the outside size of cars is increasing in size, the inside does not appear to be. I have a old Subaru Forest 2007 and it seems to have more room inside it compared to a friends new Land Rover Discovery (even though the Land Rover is far larger).

I am not sure if the doors of modern cars are filled with airbags etc, but they seem to be a lot more "puffy".

Only the 200 series Land Cruiser and Patrol seem to be substantially bigger inside. The worst may be a BMW X6, the puff pastry of cars, fills your garage and not much space inside it.

The doors are substantially thicker and less space inside .I was thinking of getting a double cab bakkie but the size puts me off .The P -series is enormous and the rear seats are just as cramped .I still drive my 2001 Prado 90 series .It is the perfect size .The new Prado is basically a Landcruiser with a smaller engine 

[Taking my Hyrax to Whistler?]

18 hours ago, Jewbacca said:

Absolutely. Or take the Hyrax, ride the valley and surrounds and hire a DH bike for the 3 or 4 times you actually ride the big stuff in the park?

Either way, it's an amazing trip and you want to enjoy it

Working out the best way to do so is always tricky

Hiring a e -trailbike would be something I would consider also .Transporting your own bike will also cost money 

[Sani2C - Gravel Bike??]

19 hours ago, Headshot said:

They will have to rename the Sani the Gravel to C after this thread... From what I recall of the route its nothing like the Cape which actually has rocks and things and where suspension works overtime.  I reckon you should go for it. 

The Cape trails ??All manicured rock less single tract with a water fountain and sunblock station every ten km .Not to mention the flower beds and warning signs for crickets and tortoises crossing .At CTCT I was profoundly shocked at the locals comments at the terrible south easter that ate away their final times .For me it was a gentle fresh breeze and would not want it otherwise 

[Sani2C - Gravel Bike??]

I rode go2berg recently on a decent DS .I was considering using a modern HT with a 120mm fork but was so happy i did not .Freestate graspolle is nobody's friend 

[Is a Bike Fitter Enough?]

On 8/8/2023 at 1:54 PM, Ncayi said:

Like "many" cyclists I have never had a professional bike fit. On my part mostly due to being stingy if I am being honest but GCN telling me I can do it on my own didn't help either. I have been riding for 2 years now in the same position with no issues, but at the back of my mind, I was flirting with the idea of getting one. I always felt that I was leaving some power and comfort on the table and felt a bike fit would help in this regard.

After suffering an injury (off the bike) and getting a professional assessment by a Biokineticist I am now rehabbing what he called patellar chondromalacia. This has led me to accept that I desperately need a bike fit. I have narrowed my bike fit options to Richard Baxter, Cycle Fit and North Cliff Cycles. 

Which brings me to the point of this thread.

Is a bike fitter enough or should I also consult with a podiatrist?

I have extremely flat feet, knocked knees and duck "feet" the trifactor of bad posture. On top of that, I was once told that I have a leg length discrepancy, extremely tight hamstrings.

 

A biokinetist is your answer .Your knee joint is out of balance and that needs to be fixed 

[Pretoria danger areas]

2 hours ago, edgarblount said:

 

 

Edit: Updated map as per Barry's location.

 

That is a very dodgy place to cycle at any time and i don,t exclude myself from doing such dof rides .Usually there are a bunch of 4x4 and enduro riders in that area and then i have ventured it alone ,but not anymore !

[Bike Addict OK?]

Cycle lab does price matching .I showed them the price online and i bought the item at that price 

[Cape Pioneer Trek, Route Comparison and tire selection.]

Karoo rocks aren't worst than Magaliesberg one's .Have done it twice and used Continental once and Maxxi's /Vittorio combo once  .Currently i am on Ikon,s and Barzo and would use them .Just completed go2berg and never touched my tires from start to finish 

[[Event] Old Mutual go2berg]

It has been too long since I rode joberg2C in 2013 .Life and kids and dogs and maintenance happened and now it is ten days to lift off and I am still planning my training ,Eish! I will suffer through every day and take many pictures .That is the plan so far 

[New to Gravel racing - Help needed please]

I was also skeptical about the gravel bike thing. I found a Spez Roubaix and put 35mm gravel tires on it .Now i find that it has become my go to bike .I have had pinch flats with the 32mm previously and like all other gravel riders i need to go wider tire .That means a proper gravel bike with 40 to 45 mm tires .Spez Diverge you are looking so hansome !!!!

[Is the 2nd hand market dead?]

1 hour ago, LazyTrailRider said:

I’ve bought and sold multiple bikes worth double that. When a year old *mint* condition bike with 300km on it can be had for R80k instead of R110k, it’s a no-brainer.

I am very specific when it comes to size and components .Some bikes are just specked silly .All my bikes have been auction buys or new used ones .Only once did i buy off the floor and then i replaced the wheel set immediately 

[Is the 2nd hand market dead?]

Just for interest sake .Go on the site of THEPROSCLOSET in the USA .Their used bikes are substantially more expensive than ours .A year old used bike sells for maybe 5% less than a new one 

[Is the 2nd hand market dead?]

Quality sells at higher prices , but for the average it is lower .High end bike are not found in shops anymore ,they appear in the used market . 

[[Event] Race to the Sun]

2 hours ago, NeoOne said:

Is there reliable shuttle service from Sun City back to the start all day?

Three shuttles .You have to book .Big question to anybody that knows current gravel conditions on route .HT ,DS or gravel bike ??? Did the race a while back .Only part i remember was , JOU MA SE , on strava

[[Event] Race to the Sun]

2 hours ago, NeoOne said:

Is there reliable shuttle service from Sun City back to the start all day?

Three shuttles .You have to book 

[Can I use a Specialized Roubaix as a gravel bike?]

On 10/8/2022 at 3:47 PM, eala said:

Have you tried wider tires than 32 mm .I reckon 36 mm will work if you ride mostly dry gravel 

I have fitted 35mm gravelkings .That would be the max size .Dry conditions will be fine , muddy not 

[The Specialized Epic WC wants to kill the hardtail]

Santa Cruz improved the hardtail to where the highball is currently . If they splashed money on XCO races they would probably win a few of them .Like everything else we will see if there is a market for a DS /HT/ gravel $$$$ in time .Spez created a monster and now it needs feeding .That,s how i see it

[Where can I buy cycling shorts and tops (for mountain biking)?]

2 hours ago, Randolph said:

Theyre not padded 😢

They are .I have four pairs

 

[Converting Gravel bike (105 R7020) to 1x]

Minimal noise .I also have eagle on other bikes .Cost of a GX sram cassette is more than a complete 1 x 11 groupset 

[Converting Gravel bike (105 R7020) to 1x]

21 hours ago, Dexter-morgan said:

Personally, I like the idea, I converted a MTB 3x 9 to 1x10 and love it, I bought a 42t Narrow wide from Rapide and the 10 speed rear derailleur I had, I use it around our weekday ride and love it. I use a 11-36 cassette, suffer a little on the climbs but in our area, I could get to the top of most climbs. Maybe investigate if your shifter will work with a 11speed XT derailleur, you will find them in the classified section

Going 1 x 11 is a good and cheap plan .I ride with a 32 oval x shimano 11 x 46 cassette .