DonatelloOnPinarello

I have always been a fan of giant, but that Marlin is a seriously good package all together. Whatever you choose, just make sure you enjoy riding it

I think there used to be local support somewhere in the western cape, but not any more. It really is a boutique brand, and you are basically on your own with importing etc. They do look might sexy though

It would be very much dependent on the material used, pure cotton or even high cotton count poly blends don't sublimated well. But as these are riding t-shirst I would assume polyester quick dry type shirts. So they should sublimated well. DTG is best for intricate designs and also for longevity, but it's very costly. For the OP. I also would find it very hard to answer your with no idea of the designs, the shirt material/quality/cut etc, and the price

I think a lot of people are put off by gripshift because of experiences with the absolutely terrible first editions of it in the late 90s early 2000s. I remember in school having gripshift and everyone thought it was so cool, but it required almost weekly adjustment and it was actually just rubbish. So when it started making a comeback a while back I thought it would be the same. But this thread has me thinking maybe it's worth a second shot. But, I But if Shimano made it, they would have got it right the first time around...????

Holy smokes this took off. you guys obviously have way too much time on your hands. Back on topic, I'm just going to say two things: 1. Yes, spend your money however you see fit. I made that clear in my first post. But that still doesn't answer the question. The question is why the epic? When there is a lot of other seriously awesome Biking you could do for the money. 2. I don't buy the "it's targeting the international market" story. International riders pay more for the "privilege" of riding here. They also need to travel to get here, and it's a lot more expensive than any other international event, including the other epic series events. My question also wasn't, why it is so expensive, but rates why it is so important to do?

Paid in 2016, was "sponsored" in 2017. I guess the S-works analogy makes sense. Touchè, I guess I walked right into that one. For the record I no longer own any road bikes, but if I took up road riding again, a Dogma would be the bike I aspire to.... so I guess I should stop chirping the S-works guys so much

That's really disappointing, but understandable. It's become pretty clear that producing anything locally, and at a fair price is completely impossible.

Okay, I found Core Merino, and that was just what I was looking for. Mods, feel free to close/delete this thread

I have done an initial Google search, but only seem to find links to producers (like the actual wool producers) I am trying to find a local manufacturer of merino clothing. Not technical gear/rising gear, just casual wear. Like t-shirts/sweaters etc, and then also maybe some base layers and so forth. Anyone able to point me in the right direction? I find it hard to accept that we are one of the worlds top producers of merino wool, but export it all so we can import it back again in garment form.

Serious question. I don't want to get into the merits of whether or not the epic is overpriced. It is, grossly so. Most stage races are, and the epic is the top of the crop. but it is also under normal circumstances completely oversubscribed, so there definitely is a market. But this week a couple of entries have popped up in the classifieds and it just got me wondering again. So to those who actually pay for their entries, do you think it's justifiable, and why/how? (Full disclosure, I have done it twice, and it's a very special experience, but unless I am offered a free ride, there is no way I would do it again. Also, it's your money, spend it how you please, just interested in why the epic is still overbooked, even at upwards of R120k per team) When you compare it even to international events, like the Transalp, which I will be doing next year for a third time with my own money, and am happy to pay for, it just gets absurd. Transalp entry, which includes all the logistics etc, race villages, catering and all that, is like R20 000.00pp if you include the basic accomdostion package. (Dorm rooms, school boarding houses etc). We arrange our own bnb accomodation as soon as the route is announced, and shared by a group of 4, all in, with flights, accomodation and a few extra days in Lake Como or Trieste afterwards, its still half the price of just the basic entry fee for epic. Even the Swiss Epic, which is organized by the same company, is significantly cheaper, even though it's all luxury accomodation in Switzerland throughout the whole event. So for the epic regulars, what keeps you going back? For first timers, what made you choose the epic? Considering other options available?

Axis is a really cheap low budget bike to begin with. I really don't think this is a worth while project. It's a heavy old hunk of metal not designed for any hard riding. The welding is questionable at best. Just walk away

Perhaps the real question is, does it really matter what country a yellow jersey rider is from? In my opinion the idea of nationality in Profesional sport is somewhat outdated. A Profesional sports team, regardless of the sporting code, is made up of people from various countries, not only the athletes, but coaches, doctors, management etc etc. Teams recruit riders that fit into their structure and "gameplan" or vision, as well as their budget and then play to their strengths. So this obsession with nationality has always been a bit of a funny quirk to me. . . . . *that said there is obviously something to be said for national bodies and the support/platform they provide to young athletes coming up through the ranks, and that will obviously have a meaningful impact on representation once those athletes enter the Profesional realm. But my point remains, beyond the olympics/commonwealth games/world Champs (which are all officially "amateur" events), why should nationality matter? At Profesional level, it's is all business.

Just go and have fun. Without ridiculous expectations of top 20 (or 50) finishes, the half will be a fun morning out. With a 2l camelback you will be sorted. The Super technical climbs scattered with the monkey head stones are only on the full marathon route (to the best of my knowledge, 2019 was my last race). For the techy stuff, consider it somewhere half way between hennops and iron throne, leaning more towards hennops. Especially on the half marathon route, which turns back before the really techy climbs.

Was about to say concealing an ebike motor that well was akin to cheating, then I realized it's a gearbox. All I can say is wow, and who do I need to make a cheque out to (after winning the lotto tomorrow night obviously)

Thanks. I know I often talk a lot of rubbish and I'm in the running for longest post awards, but I tried hard to stay on point here, and just get my past experience across And seriously, those monkey head sizes marbles.... watch out for them. I have the X-Rays to back this claim up