dillon

I would love to have a business where all my customers pay me 1 year in advance, within a few minutes of me announcing my product. A lot of us cannot afford it, but there are many that can......

thorn beat me to it! Great business Kevin has

well, I think we created a market in South Africa that was the first thing because mountain bike stage races didn’t exist when we launched, now there are over 50 on the calendar bur certainly be created the market in South Africa. Now we’ve got to a point where our race is certainly one of the most aspirant events around the world and it’s very desirable and it’s allowed us to increase the entry fee. I think in the last four years now it’s over 200% that we’ve racked up the entry fee. Ja, so since the day we were in a position to do that the business started making a lot more sense and it certainly one might think…well, certainly in South Africa we’re quite an expensive event compared to other mountain bike stage races, which are now on the calendar as well. But the reality is that we’re certainly delivering value and it’s definitely not overpriced because the race sold out this year for next year’s event, so 12 months in advance, the race sold out in 34 seconds, everyone pays their money within 24 hours of entering and it’s R46 000 per entry to ride the race. So there is huge demand for it and I can say it’s getting more and more, the type of people from around the world that I’m seeing entering the race or aspiring to do the race to be honest the actual cost of the entry is insignificant to their cost of taking part in the race and actually we can charge whatever we want for probably about 20% of the field. The price is absolutely irrelevant at the moment; it’s so desirable that they want to be doing to race.

KEVIN VERMAAK: Well, first of all if you look in the South African market one would think…well, the turnover now for the race is about R50m, it’s not a small sports event by South Africa standards I think. When we started the biggest races on the calendar were the mass participation road races like the Argus and the 94.7. We’re five times the size now in terms of budget. So in the South African calendar certainly we’re a big race but in terms of comparing us to global sports events and iconic sports events with a proud long history we’re a little pin prick that’s so small. So ja, I think that there’s certainly a lot of fresh air in front of us, there’s a lot more growth for the Absa Cape Epic if you compare it to international iconic events that have transcended the sport, the category, in which they exist. So I wouldn’t want to get complacent and think that we’ve achieved something great in ten years, we’re actually very small and very young. So ja, for me personally I feel that I’ve still got a lot of value to add to the event and I still get excited by it, every year I see it I get new ideas of how we can grow it. I’d hate for the Epic not to achieve what it could achieve if I were to step out too early. So that’s my take on it, I’d love to see it grow to its full potential and I feel I’ve got a lot to add to be able to achieve that. It doesn’t mean though that we might not partner with international agencies or sports agencies that can take it to the next…or work with us to take it to a much higher level than what it is at the moment.

read the article Kevin pegs it at R50 million

Interesting interview http://www.moneyweb.co.za/moneyweb-upper-echelon/kevin-vermaak--race-founder-cape-epic

where in centurion was it taken?

look here http://www.spectrumsport.co.za/Portals/17/ResultDoc/MTN_Rooiberg_20130615.pdf

entered the 45

this ride should be renamed to Klipies and Sand, helping you keep your eyes open.

I am running Maxies Ikon on the back with Conti mountain king wire on the front, perfect setup. I would prefer a cont X King at the back, but after my last experience with the X King think I will stay with IKon

I am in B for the 40km

anyone received their seeding yet?

A software sales guy in IT can earn R1.2 million a year, an IT Project manger can charge R800 an hour, and best of all an IOS developer can earn over R1 million a year. Maybe some of you need to change careers start here http://www.itjobs.co.za/

erosion means more technical bits Trail builders have a pretty good idea of what to do

you are partnering with one of the big European online retailers, bringing us even cheaper prices

will only be in late july

That is exactly what I will be doing, as soon as I have the main route sorted I will take small groups out over a few weekends, starting with everyone on this thread, That way we build a trail that we want

LOL I hope we can keep it tame, but if you feel the need to push yourself you can, one thing is for sure we will have some wild tales in the pub afterwards

If you want to come ride the first sections with me and explore some of the options add your name to this thread, I think we will have some rideable trails in late August, so I can take you out onto the trails and show you around then.

something i did not mention is that there are "watering points" where you can get a borrie roll, cool-drink, beer, repair a puncture, cool down in a pool or get an escape route via district roads back to your car

Tell you what guys I am looking to create a technical enduro type track that will be tough (realy tough if you ride the climbs) in a star type configuration. So you have a main circular route made up of single track and jeep track, roughly 20kms, not flat but a little more technical than say Groenkloof. From that circular route you will have other loops which will be steep climbs but awesome downhills downhills, enduro type sections, something like the Clarens 40km had in the last 10kms. All the looks together would get you over 50kms but with A LOT OF CLIMBING. Have I ridden it yet? Yes some sections on the mountain bike, others on the motorbike. There is still a lot of work needed to get the downhills flowing, but that starts next month. Just trying to gauge what others think we need as a training area

Here is the profile of a 20km loop 827m of climbing, just to give you an idea of what can be done here

can tell just yet, lets just say 30 mins drive from centurion and sandton in a NW direction :-)

I have access to 4 adjoining farms in the Gauteng area, the landscape is typical of the region and dotted with 200m high koppies. The technical riding potential would to be fantastic with only 20% of the route on jeep track, the bulk of the track would be single track along valleys in typical african bush, with steep technical climbs and broad smiling descents. the route would consist of a 20km ring route, with different short loops branching off the ring route, The 20km ring route would have 450m of climbing, with +-1200m of climbing possible over the whole 50km route. Is this to tough? personally I feel this would help me in training for some of the races out there. The downhills would have rockgardens, berms, roots, trees, dropoffs, loose corners and the odd kudu. Maybe one or 2 chicken lines. What do you think?