AfterDark

Tx, we are super chuffed with Marco and Pieter's result today. Had a bit of bad luck in previous stages. But had great support from Wessel and Franko backing them. And today it all came together beautifully.

Merger of Typedev Nanotime & Imbuko Giant - made sense for us to combine our resources and to better help out some of the young talent in SA. Hopefully we can help them to get them to the Alan / Matt level so they can do their thing on the international stage as well.

Tristan N has signed up with an international outfit (same as Matt) - you'll probably see them in that teams colours this coming weekend at the Attakwas.

Congrats and well done to all that finished. It is for sure an awesome achievement. Seeing how the pro's were suffering up front, my thoughts went out to the regular Joes and Janes making up the bulk of the field.

Wessel/Tristan showed a lot of fighting spirit over the last half of the stage after Wessel went down hard, lost loads of time and had to replace his seat post. I would hope there is still a race in it between Pyga / Typedev for the red, would make for great viewing.

Unfortunate for Canyon, but it is the nature of the beast to survive all for a week. I'm so stoked for Matt/Jordan having a great day out and stretching the lead over 2nd place. And our other SA teams also had a good day out moving up on the standings. Good to see our teams perform in our backyard.

Got the inside info via my team at the race. Not wanting to spread hearsay, l assume there will be some sort of official release before tomorrow's start when they have validated the times.

Seems you were correct. The team was given a 5 minute time penalty for not swapping out their time chip when they changed over race numbers. Change of bikes are allowed in the race.

I see that rules are dated 2019 & the UCI one is in force from 10/06/2021. I would not think that local race rules can trump UCI regulations. But, there is a manager's meeting at 14:30 - let's see how Epic interpret the rules.

That's why I am asking because the UCI Cycling Regulations: Part IV Mountain Bike states: Technical assistance 4.2.045 Technical assistance during a race is permitted subject to the conditions below. 4.2.046 Authorised technical assistance during a race consists of repairs to or the replacement of any part of the bicycle other than the frame. Bike changes are not permitted and the rider must cross the finish line with the same handlebar number plate that he had at the start.

A quick question to all the knowledgeable Hubbers, as a keen follower of the Epic, I received unconfirmed information that one of the front teams allegedly had to swap out a bike with their 'back-up' team due to a failure of sorts. The question I have; is it allowed to swap out bikes between teams on a mountain bike race, especially a UCI status race? If not, what would the possible repercussions for the team be?

Is it only me or is there a bit of a spelling mistake on the medal. Or maybe it was with opset tweetaling

Who is organising the Sabie Experience for 2012? Dont see it listed on the www.gocyclingsa.co.za as one of their events any more.

Finished first Baviaans. Didnt know what to expect and took it as it came. Was exhausted, sore and cold at end but had blast. Well done to all that finished. And special tx to the organisers and the all the support staff. Can just imagine how draining it was to man the check points through the night. Now it can tick one more of my to do list.

1.96 so I need to go BIG

I received the new format explanation from the Sabie Race Office yesterday. It is as I initially thought back when the rumours about the route changes first surfaced. The original and real experience had to take a bow to the demands of the mighty rand and to that of the sponsor. In Dennis Lawrie's own words this year's race is targeted at the Average Joe, it is pitched as the big do-able event now. When the legends die, the dreams end; there is no more greatness. I do support the concept of giving every-one a chance to have a go at stage racing, but I am also off the opinion that the organisers have with these changes forgotten all about the experience core supporters. These are the guys that came back year after year wanting to be challenged, to struggle through the mud, to fight the wall, to survive the mamba. We want to freeze on the mountain and be dehydrated in the valleys. This is the EXPERIENCE. So maybe all is not lost - I wait in anticipation for more info on the full hard core version.

Montainbiker.co.za ran with the following update regarding Sabie Exp 2012. Revamped Sabie Experience Format for 2012 The Sabie Experience returns in a revamped format for this year, from 14th -17th December 2012. The traditional Experience is still over four days with a Prologue of 30km and three subsequent stages of (was 40km each - changed due to popular demand) 50km, 60km and 55km. Good to have the 'experience' back.

I have read on the newsletter from www.gocyclingsa.co.za that the 'Experience' is now a seriously dumbed down version or in my view actually no more. You can't seriously be calling it the Experience any more with the news that: the traditional Experience is still over four days with a Prologue of 30km and three subsequent stages of 40km each. Have these distances been confirmed? I have done three so far and planned to do my fourth this year. But the race defnt wont see me if all the Experience is destined to become just a souped up Lite version. I wonder if the organisers have you sold out the Experience in the name of more entries? What ever the reason - the experience is traditionally a race that tested your mettle a bit. With these planned distances it seems to be just another joyride in the woods. If this is the case I sadly will have to look around for true 'experiences' then because this race will no longer be on my end of year calendar.

Which area are you planning on riding? And how long will the rides be?

Well my question would be: which is the strongest? I have broken to many a 29er wheel over the last 4 years or so to worry about looks. But I must agree, all things equal the Eastons are eyecandy.

I am not flaming the product or the brand. I have been using Garmins since there's been satellites in the sky. I was disappointed on two counts: first that a top of the range product failed after a relative short period of use, but mostly because the rep didn't come clean on his word. I contacted Avnic support on the web and received a quick reply asking me to bring the unit in to their offices (so no probs there). I decided to first drop in at the cycle shop where I bought the unit and as luck would have it a Garmin rep was there. So I spoke to the guy and gave him the unit. I was told no more than three days (this was end November). And so the days became weeks, and my telephone follow ups became visits to the shop. The reply I got from the shop was that they're not getting joy from the rep and I wasnt the only customer waiting for their unit to be returned. Eventually I told the guys I was going on holiday and that I was in a spot of bother because the delay was messing with my training routine, so the shop borrowed me a 305. I eventually received a replacement unit first week of Jan after I came back from holiday. It's a positive that the guys replaced the unit, the negative was the 'eventually'.

Ok Im straying a bit from the tread now, but you asked, so: Well you're not gonna get a very objective answer from me - I can give you my story and you make up your mind - used to ride a Specialized Epic before switching over to the Rip - and what a totally unbelievable difference it has made in my mtbiking xperience. The Rip is generally viewed as an all mountain rig and not a racer, but it has made me much much faster. Went from to top 50% in races to top 5-10% (ok I got a bit fitter, but it's because I enjoy being on the bike much more). That said - I'm a tall guy (1.97m) and the 29er in my eyes is a power bike (you have to give it some torque). On the flats I can easily keep up with guys much quicker than I - single tracks bit of a challenge as the 26ers accelerates better. The bike has gotten me out of trouble many a times; e.g time when i hit ditches and expect to go over the handle bars, which the bike just takes in its stride. Rock gardens are much easier, the bigger tyres really just rolls over the big stuff. So to get back to your question - I personally aint ever going back to 26ers. Because the bike fits me better, suits my riding style just perfect and allows me to cruise hours on end. Best advice I can give you is to go demo one - take it out on to your fav track; one that you know well, go for those tricky spots and feel the difference. It stays a personal decision.

Well you guys either race for the Garmin team or just had better luck than I. Had problems with a 705 and gave to Garmin rep in person - were promised a three day turn-around. Guess three days and 6 weeks are more or less the same down here in Africa. No feedback, and it came down to constant nagging from my side and lots of promises on Garmin's side. So sorry guys - I cant join the crowd and applaud Garmin's service.

I've been riding a 29er (Niner RIP) for year now - have used standard Stans conversion to do all my tubeless set-ups. No problems. Cylcelab Centurion have supplied all my 29er stuff; I'm sure the one in Cape Town will also be able to assist (they stock the Gary Fisher's). You can even go your own route on the conversions - go have a look at http://www.yellowsaddle.co.za/Docs/docs%20html/Homebrew%20MTB%20Tubeless%20conversion.html for their homebrew recipe. Instead of the 20 inch tube as rim liner, use a 700c tube. I've even used their latex sealing concoction - works like a bomb (is just sticky as hell). I also havent had problems to get my tyres from the Cyclelab guys - there is quite a range available in this country now - Geax (Saguaro - nice and fast - the 2009 range just came out), also have used Bontrager (Dry-X's), Panaracers (big tyre for big climbing; dont go racing with it unless you wanna feel like a tank on your big bike), there is also a couple of WTB's available in country (I'm using Vulpine's - more a tar/off-road combination, sucks in mud though).