sometime

I assume you're talking about the increase in slope generated by the Bushido? If so then largely yes it is. I may have had some initial tyre slippage if the slope suddenly went from 0% to 2% but that was more a function of me having not dropped gears timeously and placing high torque through the rear tyre which may have hd a little slip. But the once on the climb the motion is smooth. I did have the problems you had but a proper setup sorted it all out 100%.

Their store in Melrose Arch was the epitome of arrogant service and non-existent communication. I've never been back and will buy any Spez kit I may need from Dunkeld Cycles rather.

Go to Settings, brake, calibrate & follow instructions I had the problems you mentioned recently: Make sure you have the correct skewer in, that the securing 'pins' holding the skewer on the stand itself are neither too tight nor too loose and that the lock nut is in place, that you have the correct tyre pressure, that adjustment screw on the brake/roller itself is locked and that you have enough pressure between it and the tyre and you should be fine.

Wow - you say that with such conviction. Please give us an idea of the race results you have achieved with this programme?

I haven't read the article so I may be missing something here but the post here describes a campaign of reducing saturated animal fat content AND smoking which resulted in significant reductions in heart disease and cancers. The obvious question then is to what extent did each of the reduction in smoking and fat content contribute to this? The post says "When the cause of the dramatic improvements in health were analyzed, the drop in animal saturated fat was the most powerful factor." To make the post and the article of any relevance we should see the formal studies supporting this analysis and how they reached the conclusion that animal saturated fat was the most powerful factor. If these are not available then this article is no better than the LCHF propoganda we're constantly being bombarded with.

I've dealt with Jason for years and he's a top guy and really knows his stuff

I'm not a fan of Spez bikes but since they warrantied an 18 month pair of well-used MTB shoes for me many years ago after they tore, I have made a point of repaying their support by supporting them and I only buy Spez shoes, gloves and other accessories.

I'm using the Bushido. It's great because it needs no power source so I can use it wherever I like. It's also completely wireless which makes it quick and easy to move and set up. I'm not using any of the PC based software or VR products that are available for it. All it is is an indoor trainer with power measurement which is all I need (oh that and a frontal lobotomy to help with the boredom of 2 hours sessions on it) I cannot comment on the other product.

Well done to everyone - an achievement to truly be proud of. For those that didn't finish it; every respect to getting to the race and getting as far as you did. Everyone, pro's included, need some luck to finish the Epic. This wasn't your year but don't give up on the dream.

Finally someone with some common sense making an informed & accurate post on this thread.

You're so hardcore. One day when I'm big I'll be able to train like you.

What happened to PieterG - I don't see his results on this page?

Navigation is not going to be an issue IMO. You'll have riders around you and/or you'll follow tyre tracks and your GPS will beep at you when you go off course. It's not like reading a map & using a compass. In the context of what we all spend on annual maintenance / upgrades on our bikes, the price of a GPS which will last you for many, many years is actually very little. I've got Epic FOMO and looking forward to J2C this year is the best antidote.

I think Andrew Duvenage and Gareth Barnes are the leading amateurs. Andrew is 32 years old, has a day job and a young family and only took up the sport a couple of years ago. They're currently 31st overall.

But on a fast section you will never keep up on flat or slightly downhill roads with only a 30:11 top gear.

Chainsuck is when the chain is not released from the bottom of the chainring and is carried round as the crank rotates. This is obviously more likely on smaller chainrings due to the more acute angle the chain runs at which is part of the rationale for the 1x11 setup (but at least that offers some range unlike a 1x9 or 1x10 setup). But if the single chainring is worn and/damaged/dirty enough and the chain too, then yes you can get chainsuck on a 1x setup.

I've never had to maintain a front deraillieur in 12 years of competitive MTB racing. It's the most simple device in its design & operation which means there is VERY little to go wrong with it in any adverse conditions. Chainsuck is a function of poorly maintained & lubricated chains and chainrings. I also raced Sabie (and Dullstroom a couple of weeks before) on a well-used but well maintained 2x10 XT drivetrain and I never had one moments drivetrain admin. The only time I've ever had real problems with chainsuck was once in muddy conditions with a heavily worn small chainring and chain i.e. my fault. You guys are looking for mix 'n match, boer-maak-'n-plan type solutions to a problem that doesn't really exist beyond your own lack of maintenance and preparation. Why the OP would want to swap a top quality drivetrain like XT for a DIY 1x9 is beyond me but hey if you think you're better off then great. For the record I've also run a 1x9 in the past but concluded it was pointless with poor range giving you limited climbing ability AND limited top end. I'm much happier now with a single speed & my 2x10.

We did 99% of our walking on stage 1, but there was loads of that (even on the downhills & even for the pro's!) and that's what did the damage for the rest of the race. The rest of the race there was essentially no walking (assuming of course you're a good climber and descender). I'm pretty sure the organisers won't repeat that mistake this year.

Stiff shoes are great until you have to do loads of walking in them. Then the blisters start as the sole doesn't flex. Hopefully there will be none of the enforced walking we had last year which gave many of us huge heal blisters.

We rode 2013 Epic on Racing Ralph 29x2.25 snakeskin as well as numerous other SA stage races the past couple of years on those tyres. In all those races we never once had punctures that required any repairs. I ride a Giant Anthem and my partner a Spez S-Works. Both running full XT groupsets including pedals. We had 3 small self-sealing punctures the whole of Epic and absolutely no mechanical problems at all. Looking around the bike park Schwalbe's seemed to be the most popular choice of tyre there. But I would recommend starting the race on new tyres as our new rear tyres were finished by the end of the race and neither of us are the type to lock our drag our rear brakes. Everyone I've ever known who raced with Egg-beaters no longer uses them but no doubt many others still do.

Pieter we raced it for the first time last year as vets > 45 years old. We went there to race hard and wasted no time at things like water points, and each day we gave it everything. We paced ourselves more slowly for the first few days (but stayed in A batch - top 150) but moved up the GC every day. We finished in the top 20% of the total field and top 30 in category at the end which we were very chuffed with. Out of 10 I would give it an 8. I'm guessing we could have finished in the top 100 if we'd pushed ourselves to a 9 or a 10 but at the end of the week we'd really enjoyed the race and each others company something I doubt we would've done if we'd pushed that little bit harder each day. We were even back on our bikes the week after Epic. You also risk sickness & injury if you push that last little bit, something we saw happen to MANY teams who were quicker than us the first few days but who we left standing towards the latter half of the race. Good luck - I'm getting serious FOMO

Weird seeing Platt on a road bike. Kinda like seeing Greg Minaar on a triathlon bike; or Sylvestor Stallone in a Broadway theatre production

Easybike are my preferred online cycling supplier. Quality products at great prices and quality service

Yes we will know. All those present can give eye-witness affidavits of what happened and then testify under oath in a criminal court. They can of course lie but perjury is also a criminal offense. Chances are the prosecutors offer some of the cyclist witnesses amnesty from possible prosecution for giving their evidence against their cyclist 'mates'. Too many witnesses, too much risk for all concerned so yes the truth will out. Good luck - you're going to need it!

Pieter it sounds to me you're getting over-stressed and over-analysing this race. First of all based on your training you should not be worrying about cut-off times. You should be backing yourself for at worst a top 150 finish with a top 100 as a real ambition. The only time cut-off should become a concern is when you have mechanical/injury/sickness issues on the day. Know what the day's cut-off is, check your average speed, check the distance left and do the maths to make sure you make it home in time. Take a few hundred rand cash for incidentals but remember you're going to be staying in towns not the bush so a walk to draw cash is easy enough. Carry your credit card during the race in cash you need to buy parts a a tech zone. Most importantly DON'T start looking for a new/loan bike now. You've done thousands of km's on your current bike and your body is used to it. A change now is way too risky. Your bike is more than good enough. Spend some money giving a full rebuild in the next week installing a new drivetrain if yours is more than 1000km old (you can save your current drivetrain to use later again), new BB, new tyres (I wore out a new rear Racing Ralph in 2013 on the Epic), new brake pads and gear cables, service your fork and bleed your brakes. Yes that will be a few thousand rand but in the context of your race investment it is money well spent). YOu can still keep and use your used tyres etc again later. Good luck!