Dubber

Annika!? tsk tsk :-) I don't feel so bad now.

currently in the lead group with 3 other teams - if tracking is to be trusted.

an hour 20 into the race and the site is down - think that is about average for the Epic website. Same thing last year...

****** - how about hitting the brakes and waiting until you have somewhere to go. Just because you want to pass doesn't mean you can pass.

Also a DNS for me

And there lies the rub: As the consumer we want well priced, good quality (in focus) and exciting (composition) photos. As a photographer you expect (and deserve) to be well remunerated for your skills and investment in equipment. Unfortunately - as of yet I don't think anyone has found a way to tie the two together. Hence we are in the position of (mostly) inexperienced photographers producing average shots (which we deem over priced for the quality/composition). Edit: This is a broad statement and to be fair there are decent photogs producing great work out there - but I think they are the minority in terms of general race photos.

The quality and pricing is generally dependent on who shoots the photos. However, the quality is not necessarily dependent on the pricing. I believe ActionPhoto just hire freelancers for the day, take their photos and then resell them (as mentioned in a previous post). So there is not real incentive for the photographer to produce exceptional photos. In fact, they are encouraged to shoot 'standard' run of the mill shots in order to get the race numbers in shot etc, ActionPhoto are also the guys that charge R45+ for photos. OakPics (Cape Town based only - sorry) on the other hand have a dedicated team of photographers who produce interesting, alternative angle images - and sell them for R20+. So, if you are unhappy with your race photos (quality or price wise), let you race organizer know. Otherwise nothing will ever change. *I'm in no way affiliated with any company mentioned in this post.

All depends on you :-) But around 4:30 seems the average of that group. Just to add: you could break 4 hours from there, but that will be pretty much your best bet. Faster than that just isn't possible - too many people, too many bottle necks etc. So, go as hard as you can, but enjoy the vibe.

I'm in Group H (6:38). My mate is Group G (6:35). so that's a 3 minute gap? Where do you see that we are going off in 1 minute slots? Edit: group typo

Monday 17th?

So there will be one photo chosen each day from the submissions over the last 24 hours? Or a photo chosen each day from all submissions? Just thinking there could be 10 photos submitted on one day and then *** photos the next day? If only submissions over the last 24 hours count this could affect things.

yep - agreed. If money is tight (and when isn't it), buy a cheap 2nd hand bike. Even if you replace it after 6 months (or when you've saved enough) you won't loose much - you can probably sell your R5k bike for R4k. If you buy a cheap new bike and sell after 6 months you are probably loosing a 3 or 4 times that amount. The benefits of riding a cheapie: You learn to do your own maintenance quickly You can do you own maintenance without fear of trashing a R30k bike You will appreciate a new bike so much more Your bike will probably be heavy - so when you get a new bike you will fly like the wind!

I don't see why not. You tell them you want a loan of R20k, they check whether you can afford it - simple. I don't think they care what bike you are buying? Unless they are also getting kickbacks (or giving kickbacks) to the bike store. They don't use the bike as security - it's an unsecured loan. So I think make/model should be irrelevant. G

Lovely bokeh one these two shots. What lens were you using?

.putting my flame suite on... But it's not just XCO that we 'suck at' is it? Look at the results of Attakwas: Only one Saffa in the top 5 (well done Erik!). And the next 3 saffa's are about 20 minutes off the pace. So even though there is an explosion in the number of XM events, it doesn't correlate to the qulity of the riders. I'm not trying to disrespect our riders, but what I'm trying to say is that by simply increasing the number of XCO events won't neccessarily improve the quality of the riders. (But it can't hurt). EDIT: I see Oceana raised this point already. Too quick for me :-)

I'll be there. Keen to try get a few photos etc.

You got to love TheHub! I was in very much the same situation a couple years back as the OP and a few others that have posted here. Long history of asthma as a kid, struggling up hills with breathing (not legs) and any sort of 5 out 5 effort closed up my lungs. Did a search on TheHub and came across a very similar thread. There were a couple recommendations in terms medication to take. But most importantly the advice was to speak to either a GP that knows a lot about asthma or see a Pulmonologist. (if your medical aid will cover it go with the Pulmonologist). Long story short, I'm now on 'long term' medication together with short term inhalers. (Foxair/seritide if you want to know). All I can say is: life changing! (Basically I take the long term meds in the morning and evening and don't touch the pumps - regardless of whether I'm riding 100km or just chilling. Thank you TheHUB! .

Sounds familiar. After a couple tries and broken levers I took them to CWC. Three hours later they gave them back to me telling me they couldn't do it! I eventually got them on and working. Once on the rim, seating and pumping wasn't too bad actually. But getting them on - not something I want to do again in a loooong time.

yeah - Geax seem to be a few mm smaller than other tyers (if that is possible). Getting them on and off the rim is not a 5 minute job. I just hope I never have to do that on the trail...

I'm pretty much the same height as you - maybe 1cm shorter. So I imagine leg length is similar. I've been for a bike fit and my medium Giant XTC 29er is spot on for me. So I think you have the correct weapon already. But a decent bike fit will confirm things for you if in doubt.

Scrap that - figured it out. PPA sponsor the league and this is part of the league. Got it...

No reference on the PPA website to this event - so that backs up the fact that they aren't involved. My query then is why the discount for PPA members?

cool - thanks for the feedback.

I hear what you are saying. But 70% increase in price is taking the p1ss a bit. 10 or 20 % is understandable...

did you give this a go? How id it turn out?