BuffsVintageBikes

Yeah, we're there for the long weekend so we'll go ride most of the trails at some point during the weekend 🤙

I'm rather sad to hear the Forest has been removed from the 80km ride, I was rather looking forward to ending off the ride with that little loop, it adds a great fun element.

Incredible achievement, well done guys and thank you for such a great platform over the years. You have honestly done and outstanding job and it's much appreciated. Also cool to see my own Username - Buff in the first post clipping of this article. It's evolved to BuffsVintageBikes since then because I forgot my password many years ago during a dry spell of cycling when I went over to racing Offroad Motorcycles but now I'm back and still enjoying BikeHub. 20 years ago was also the first Cape Epic and we discussed that in length on this platform. It was kind of a big deal back then :-) Here's to another 20 great years

What does one call a group of Bianchi's?

That climb is a monster, made even worse if you're bike packing a heavy rig 😅

Very few mtb routes in the Wuppertal / Bieudouw area and the area took a hammering this winter so those that are there will be badly eroded. Rather just stick to the gravel roads in and out of the valley, there's lots of climbing to be done there and lovely scenery.

Probably the most useless ad I've ever watched 🙄

The same thing happens to me. If I spend too much time on the road bike, my first few rides on the MTB feel like I'm pedaling through peanut butter. I'm not sure why but it's probably a variety of factors rather than just one... longer cranks, smaller gears, different setup, heavier bike, using slightly different muscles (more core and upper body) etc. After a few rides your body adapts and it generally gets better and better.

Looking forward to it as well. Stunning photos 🤙

These Fords bring back memories. My uncle was co-owner of a Ford dealership in KWT in the 70/80/90's and my mother worked there as well. The one evening she came home in a Ford Cortina XR6 Interceptor sprayed in the iconic Gunston colours. I was a teenager and nearly spontaneously combusted in my jockey's 😲 Unfortunately it wasn't for sale, only a few were custom sprayed in that livery but the whole family got to go for a burn around the block in it. I can still recall the look on my old mans face when he stepped on the loud pedal 😄

I can tell you one thing for certain, it'll never be cheaper than the 1st year it's being presented 😄 I did the very first Cape Epic in 2004 and was so grateful for that because after that it was beyond my gov salary budget 😊

I'm also wondering if the majority of the route is going to follow the Cape Cross tour route from Plett 2 CT, which uses a lot of the original 2004 Cape Epic route (excluding the small bits of single track). I bikepacked that route last year on my gravel bike and it's the perfect blend of gravel & tar 🤙 I see Ashleigh MP and her husband are coming over here in Jan to lead a tour group over that route as well.

I wondered when this would finally happen. I heard a little rumour that Kevin Vermaak was planning on launching one soon as well. Now I'm wondering if Dryland heard the same rumour and tried to get theirs out the door first before all the details were ironed out, just to have the status of "First ever gravel stage race in SA"? Just thinking out loud.

Mark's Bicycle Workshop in Bellville stocks some of the basic nut & bolt stuff but nothing high end.

It's been winter and the social cyclists haven't been very active so things have quietened down a little. It's bound to pick up once the weather improves. On Hellshoogte, just wait at the bottom until one or two riders come past and ride up in a small group rather than alone. I've never had an issue there but its so sporadic, you just never know when your number gets pulled. The road from Stellies to the Jonkershoek gate is always a great addition to any ride 🤙

This isn't a gravel bike and for any tar road locally, a 28C tire is more than sufficient (well for the WC at least). In our bunch ride in the evening's, I've yet to spot anyone on anything above a 28C tire. GCN's latest video, where Ollie tests cheap/expensive tires on an indoor simulator, is rather interesting, give it a watch.

Nice looking bike 🤙

Glad their bonus's never came from my pocket. A couple of weeks ago I finally climbed up onto my roof and removed the old skottel dish and dumped it in the trash. They won't ever be seeing me again.

Well he is Australian

Either way, he/the team going to make a fist of it, that's for sure. For me it's going to be interesting to see how his temperament holds up to the challenge. He's shown before that he can sometimes be his own worst enemy.

At sunset last night at the top of the Devonvalley climb, looking onto the Stellenbosch mountains

Nice to hear they will be refunding those of us that entered.

Anodizing or painting with Cerakote is the only way if you want the coating to last and yes, you'll need to strip the levers.

I guess that would explain it although the team car was right behind her after she crashed. I'm assuming comms from car to the front riders was then down?

Very unusual race tactics yesterday. I wonder what that mood was like in the bus afterwards 😄