The Bull Shark

I think they had more roasties than 1B and 1C.

That should be sorted out once the results from all the scan points are reconciled. From past experienced it usually is sorted on the Monday as the IT people work through the data.

@capediver I see EWN has an article. Not much details though. https://ewn.co.za/2023/03/12/single-fatality-during-cape-town-cycle-tour

Most of the issues I saw were caused by the massive differential in speed up the climbs. Most riders in a seeded group will cycle up a climb at the same speed on normal bikes. These people on e-bikes zipping up the right and yelling to keep left are the people causing panic line changing by riders already zoned out from suffering.

They should not allow e-bikes in the early bunches. Maybe from 5 they can seed them with the others. Most of the e-bikes in the bunches I rode in behaved. I started from 5D. Only few idiots I saw. Most of the issues I saw were bad cycle etiquette, but that is to be expected in the late bunches. The road from Smits is get more sketchy as the years roll by.

I am back in the mix. Rode in the October race in 2021 but did not finish. I had COVID 3 weeks prior and sort of convinced myself that I was fine. I was not. Stopped at the halfway mark with bad heart issues and nausea. In 2022 both me and the wife sat out because we still did not feel great. So started this year way down in the bunches as my seeding took a hit. I forgot how painful it is to ride from the later bunches. No groups at all on the Blue Route and we got bad wind from Muizenberg right up to Simons town. Finished just a minute or 2 over 5 hours. I wanted to push for sub 5 but my calf muscle was having none of it. Started cramping at Llandudno. Also saw a man that passed away laying in the road just as you leave Misty Cliffs. Can't see that it was an accident as speed is low there. Must have been a medical emergency. At that point I counted my blessings and just enjoyed my ride even if my 56 year old unfit body was bitching and moaning.

Not to worry. I have my own challenges. My heart is still screwed after either the J&J vaccine or COVID or both. Never tested positive for COVID but my last CoCT (2021) I had to abandon halfway because of heart issues. I am still not back to where I was in 2020. I have been stuck on 8 tours done now for almost 3 years. Did not enter for 2022, as I was nowhere near ready.

They are trying to give you a subtle message, but you do not seem to appreciate it.

I know for a fact I will not make it, no matter how hard I train and prepare, if I get a hot day in the mountains like they had on stage 1. My body just simply fall to pieces in the mountains when the temperature goes over 32 degrees C.

I agree. I think there are a few that just wants to be seen on the Prologue start line.

I never ever service a bike just before a big race. I always do it a month before and then do at least 2 decent rides before the big race. New bikes? My cousin did Epic many years ago. He and his mate bought their new bikes for the Epic months before and did all their Epic training on them to get used to them and iron out all the bad parts. On a different note: I wonder how many bikes were stolen in Stellies this week from unsuspecting Epic riders? I saw a very dodgy character with 2 Cannondales last night in Stellies.

They are probably instructed to mention 'ABSA Cape Epic' every 30 seconds. Also it leaves a very sour aftertaste that SCR were not properly interviewed. I can bet you if a factory team won it they would have had a stand-up and sit down interview.

Let me make a bold guess and say that SCR will have at least 2 big sponsors for next year's event by tonight. That is if they will come back next year. A real pity that the ladies field was not even close to being competitive. To me it seemed a mere procession after day 1. Watching the live feeds gave me motivation to enter MTB races again this year after the past 4 years of mayhem. First I had multiple injuries (shoulder and hand overuse injuries), and then COVID hit. Let us hope there are still race organisers left after them being decimated this past 2 years.

So after the Epic, they are just going to let it grow over again? Because I cannot think that any club owns it. I was hoping it was part of the new Cape Winelands Trail Network, of which I have a permit / board for.

That ST they rode from Jonkers to Coetzenburg; I was not aware of that one. I need to go check that one out. Do any of you know if that trail is new?

I get tired just watching the Epic. Nevermind even thinking of riding it. These Cape Mountains and the heat are a bastard when they come together for a party. I still get fever chills and nightmares when I stand in my backyard looking at Gantow Pass and it is like 35 degrees, memories from my disastrous first day few years go on W2W in that heat coming back to me. I respect each of you that rode the Epic, now and in the past.

Did a race in Wellington many years ago in rain. Tell you one thing; some of those single tracks turns into unridable mud slides where it is just impossible to even make the turn when hitting the berm. Brakes just means bugger all. The bike just slides on into the bushes.

With the quality of the roads getting worse around Cape Town a gravel bike might not be such a bad idea.

Ja. Now please don't rub it in. I am already heartbroken that I had to climb on the bus exactly halfway in. ????

My son is now 21 and he has already done 7. I started him when he was 13, so I have set him up well to do 21 and many more after that.

Yes. I can see my seeding getting me to a later start every year with all these e-bike racers seeded in front of me.

Yes. There were lots who started way before their time.

I saw quite a few very oversized riders passing me on E-Bikes. Hey, I did not even bother to complain to the heavens while I was suffering. I was just glad they were there and not sitting on a couch at home.

Yes. Thanks for helping me looking at it from a glass half-full viewpoint. At 55 with Asthma I am glad to still be here after this past year. In 5 months I will be back stronger, fitter and hopefully more healthy.

Yes. Clearly the marshals at the E shute did not get the memo or were just not following instructions from management properly or did not understand them. If they do this again I will be there 30m before time, no matter what we are told. Lets just hope that in 5 months time we have a normal CTCT.