Skubarra

We must move in different circles then, I need to meet these people! Most people I know who completed the Epic don't make a big deal out of it, that bike sticker that can't wash off the bike is usually the only Post-Epic vanity I notice. Think peeps are reading way too much into Burry's comment.

Maybe it just me being colourblind but no exactly helping that the colours for many years are basically the same 🤣

The problem with the cheapish towbar racks - the hang on types - is that it is very easy to scratch your car if you misjudge the putting your bike on/off process even slightly. That scratch will cost more to fix than the cost of a proper bike rack. I have also never felt that my bike is quite secure on that setup, especially if you add another one. If you car can fit a roofrack I would go for that, for me that was the best option. 2nd one of those mounted platform racks (although the Thule people are recommending here is stupid expensive nowadays, probably worth more than your bike)

I am wired a bit differently, I am quite happy to start out on entry level stuff and upgrade where needed over time. Think that gives a good appreciation of where extra money spent actually adds value and where gains are negligible. I find value in that "journey". Always feel a newbie starting out on a high-end bike cant really appreciate what they are getting (or not getting) for their money 😀

Not quite today, a few months ago. One of the better kept cycling secrets in the Western Cape Arangieskop in the Koo valley On a clear day you look down on Robertson and McGregor, unfortunately it was a bit overcast on that side. If you add Burgers pass to the ride its a cool 1000m climb to the top, giving Jonaskop a go. Was a memorable ride!

Died - not enough interest to keep it going

Feels a bit pointless to me to continue riding if you are not eligible for an official finish, but I guess if you paid all that money and is physically ok to continue then you might as well get your money's worth?

My 2c - aluminium frame is fine for a starting out - I had one for 10 years before going carbon. Its a bit heavier but for road riding that is less of an issue than for mtb'ing (in my biased opinion) Groupset - I would be wary of going lower than Tiagra Something to be aware off with a entry level road bike is that it is not cost effective to upgrade (other than the wheels), so you are mostly going to ride it as is until you have the budget to get a completely new bike where you will start from scratch. Last, in that price range the bikes of all the big brands are fairly similar, you cant really go wrong, so just buy whatever brand/colour speaks to you the most.

In principal I am with you, if I buy a bike new I would not be happy if I get "low" spec parts and someone else gets "high" specs. Just to clarify, what would be the price difference between the low spec and high spec parts?

Hopefully a local can give better advice, but I use Strava segments in a guide when I am visiting some far out town as a rough guide to see where people cycle And on Strava people do cycle the Cambedoo park regularly, there are no lions there that I am aware off so you should be fine 😀

But where are you actually saving money? Food is contracted out so thats the contractor's profit/loss, tents you already have, venue is a field.. Not sure on what you can meaningful save on by allowing in your planning for competitors to drop out?

Yep its not cheap. But then its not as if there are loads of alternative R300 races around in Cape Town anymore either 🤷‍♂️ Haven't ridden Lourensford in ages and since I'm not doing Epic or W2W anytime soon I am keen to go through for this race.

At least for Cat 2 and lower the normal CSA membership is fine, not sure about Cat 1

You will be fine in Cat 2, give it a go. No frills, no waterpoints, no medals (for participation) - just racing on your road bike and the opportunity to improve your cycling ability.

My first cycle tour was in 2012 - I remember that road being bad & bumpy even bad back then and ever since. Can't help but wonder if there is a specific reason for the condition of that stretch that has not yet been mentioned on this thread.

Theoretical discussion anyway - date is set, not going to move for 2025 Sure all options were considered but in the end not feasible, pity, a bummer for the muslim riders 😔

I like your proof-of-concept theory 😀 Only problem is that the "few months later your eye starts wandering" apply to all new gravel bikes! Not just the cheaper entry-level ones 🤣. At least the hit you take on the entry-level bike is not as big.

You should know by now, goodie bag discussions before weather discussions

We need a new thread!! 2025 here we come 😀

Also wasnt part of the cycling landscape then but I would imagine its super expensive and a logistical nightmare running a week long road tour over different provinces. At the very least you would need a dedicated big sponsor willing to throw a lot of money at this.

My fundamental problem with this (and all rewards scheme) is that you have to spend money to save money otherwise you lose money - great if this happens to be money that you would have spent anyway, but in my case often not. I value the freedom of not being tied into having to spend money and tied to where I spend my money more than the discounts. That's just the way I am wired but happy for the peeps who work those systems to their benefit.

Stretch between Smits and Chappies is also where my race went south in @, but also just one of those days, many previous years the bunch regather at Misty Cliffs and only scatter on Chappies. The very big bunches didn't help, crested Smits mid-bunch only to see the front of the bunch already disappearing in the distance. Luckily the leaders of your bunch caught me at the top of Suikerbossie so I just jumped on the train to the finish

The test would be how many e-bike cheaters were caught by the volunteers/marshals? We are talking about the ones that slipped through but how many were caught/prevented from doing nonsense?

Looks like roughly 450 vs 550 last year despite more entrants. Wasn't an easy year to get a sub-3. Negotiating the large @ and & bunches were tricky and required some luck as well.

There are better more comprehensive answers on here but the 1st thing I would say is start doing regular races on your road bike. For a sub-3 you 1st need good seeding & 2nd some bunch riding experience - both you are only going to get by racing regularly, also races are by far the best feedback you are going to get on how you are progressing and what you need to improve on.