G-Unit

Yeah, I may have been a blasé when entering. The thought of 2000m of climbing a day is starting to sink in. Hope the scenery is good, cause there'll be plenty of time to enjoy it!

Less than 2 weeks to go! Who's doing Panorama this year?

You should see what my bathroom looks like - freakin' solid gold taps and ivory tiles!! I'm thinking of doing a coffee table book about it (I stole that idea from the Epic )

Thanks. Will research to avoid further embarrassment :-)

'scuse my ignorance, but what are PBP and LEL?

I managed quite comfortably last year with 2 bottles and I drink quite a lot. Just be sure to fill up at all the waterpoints (especially day 2) and down a cup or two before you get going and you should be fine. It's so much nicer in all that singletrack without a camelbak!

I like to wear my Bulls jersey when I visit Cape Town. Doesn't get more hi-vis than that...

Word. I love pedalling up behind someone in single track, without them noticing and then backpedalling! Mostly, you don't have to say anything, they just move out the way:-)

+1+1. I built Mavic XM819's onto Hope ProII's. Absolutely bullet proof. Not the lightest, mind you.

Thank goodness - I thought I was the only guy who got crabs at Epic! damn those communal showers and loose Europeans...

Wliro was my first road race. Loaned a bike from my buddy and started in EL. Spent the first 60k working my way up to a good bunch. Was going ok and on track for sub 3:30 until a puncture with 10k to go. Loaner bike had no tool bag, and I was too lazy to sort this out before. So I ended up staring at my flat tyre for 10 minutes until a marshall arrived with some tools and a spare tube (thanks, dude!!) Finished in 3:45 - big day out! I learned : 1. Bring your own spares 2. Road riding is HARD!!! My legs ached for hours afterwards 3. Bunny hop the rumble strips, if you don't want to lose your water bottle.

Trample the weak, hurdle the dead...

I'm holding my breath, Big JD! When you putting it in the classifieds? Full suss is the way to go for Epic. Even the pro's agree. See comments made by Evans and George. Bulls only rode HT because their full sussers weren't ready in time.

In terms of DNF's for Epic I disagree with that 20% figure (not with you nochain, but with the organizers) As I understand it, when calculating the DNF % they INCLUDE unofficial solo finishers with official team finishers. Taking those out would increase the DNF % substantially.

Peanut brittle. Never get tired of that...

Hung over... Stage 8 after party :-)

I have a 2010 SJ with brain and a Fox Float 140mm fork (26" wheels though). It descends like a mini DH rig and is amazingly flicky and nimble in singletrack. My only gripe would be that the front tends to wander around a bit on steep climbs. That said, the brain makes that it climbs fairly efficiently on steady longer stuff. I would give it 10/10 for fun-factor, but it's not an outright race machine.

You don't get to choose your tents - they get allocated. ITO Sabie vs Sani day 2 - IMO if you could handle sabie, you should be fine. Apart from 'A Push of a Climb' there is nothing as steep or relentless as the Mamba switchbacks. The only issue may be the extra 20km. Like most things, the fitter you are the more you will enjoy it.

Thanks.

I have entered this race and received my SMS with start time. It is my first road race and I am clueless about how the seeding/batch starts work. My number starts with EL - I presume this is the batch that I am in. My start time is 7:47 - I'm guessing this may be a minute or so after after the sweep car starts up Also, does one get the Racetec timing chip at number pickup? Can anybody clarify this for me a bit? Thanks in advance!

Most of the bikes at Epic were pushed

The last one was already a slightly watered down version as day 3 was shortened by about 10-15km. I think the (obviously flawed) logic is to change the race into something that appeals to a weekend rider who can manage about 40km. The flaw in that logic is that the 'average' weekend rider won't manage 40km 4 days in a row. All that they are doing is alienating those who are up for the challenge of the original hardcore race. Also it is no longer a viable halfway test for Epic preparation. Death of a legend, I would say...

Entered for Wilro yesterday - my first road race! Anyone give me an idea of what I'm in for?

Dork disc - I like!!