Michael S

Just an option which myself and a few others I know did. Import a chinese frame. Buy straight from manufacturer in China. Plenty options out there. (Mine(and Mongooseman's): https://tideacebike.com/products/fm-gv201-noah-carbon-gravel-bike-frame?variant=42818324660407) Even cheaper option that a mate of mine went with and is going well: https://www.velobuild.com/products/2025-velobuild-carbon-fiber-racing-gravel-bike-frame I then bought a full new grx 12spd groupo with 10-51 cassette from BikeAddict which had prices better than Merlin at the time and bought a set of wheels(alloy) and bars on the hub. Build came in around ±R45k all in tax and shipping incl. I am about 91-95kgs and have put that bike through the ringer, incl. Gravel Burn which was hard on bikes from the conditions. My 2c on MY experience what I look for in any gravel bike at the moment as a bang on mid-pack rider YMMV: - Absolute minimum rated clearance of 50mm. - Don't fit tyres smaller than 50mm, preferably 2.0-2.2 (Front end racers might differ) - Run 2.2 tyres instead of suspension. - UDH compatible - I like in frame storage - I prefer cables not through the headset but hard to find these days - Crux still a winner here. - This luckily dyeing out, but I will not consider any bike with a press fit bottom bracket, any threaded variant will do. T47 all the rage right now. - I will steer clear of hookless rims

Results: www.raceclocker.com/034c549e

These are the 360k (325km) results. Matt put in a massive shift to help mads to the win and then proceeded to place 3rd. Mega effort. Keegan did not go over to get some lost training in due to his earlier injury.

Current weather is looking to give us a gap in the weeks rain. Anyone with a Epic ride subscription to do a route forecast?

@SoloCyclist, the seller was @Mo79 who can hopefully clear up some stuff here as his ratings are great.

Are these on the 303 Xplr? If so, what do thet actually measure on those big boys?

Stoked on this, can't get the 2.2 RK in the back (If you have not switched bikes were in the same boat) And I have lost trust in a Thunderburt's ability to hold air. Love a Race King so will be on the shopping list as soon as available.

Beers in 5th Preen in 6th for the ladies

Just a teaser at this point. https://outercycles.com/blogs/news/meet-alterra-our-avinox-powered-e-bike

https://letmegooglethat.com/?q=Outer+Bikes

Outer is putting one in their new mtb. Have a chat with them

How does Gageberg compare to Hans se kop? Considering my current gearing up front and only comparable thing I have been up is Hans se kop. 42t 10/51 was right on the limit there.

Kicking off this weekend with Sea Otter. Keen to see how 'super team' tactics start to work it's way into gravel racing with the Spez boys.

KAP sani2c: ~R15,000 – R20,000 per team (~R7,500 – R10,000 per person). R3333pp/pd FNB Wines2Whales: ~R16,000 – R20,000 per team (~R8,000 – R10,000 per person).R3333pp/pd Cape Pioneer Trek: ~R20,000 – R25,000 (Solo/Tented). R6250pp/pd Berg & Bush: ~R12,000 – R18,000 per team (~R6,000 – R9000 per person). R3000pp/pd The 36ONE MTB Challenge: ~R3,700 – R3,900 (Full 361km Solo). The Munga: ~R29,999 (1,130km Solo). The Freedom Challenge (RASA): ~R35,000 – R45,000 (2,150km, including support stations). Absa Cape Epic: ~R113,750 per team (~R56,875 per person). R7109pp/d Added a per person per day. but should be further refined to per km, as there is a lot of cost racking up in route costs.

Sound like new bike day to me

"Serious racing ambitions" is a very broad concept 😂. I will not be sitting in front with you lot, so might as well fit the big ones. It is the Dylan Johnson magic RaceKing up front, so should go well. Still need to source a suitable rear in 2.1 or 50mm as I have lost faith in Thunderburts.

What are the tyre recommendations for this route? The larger the better? I have 45 options or 2.2/2.1

How does one go about checking a 2nd hand Garmin is okay and also not fake? Can you run the serial nr through Garmin? Is there a way to see if the battery is still fine? So many brand new "unopened" devices floating on the hub, gives me a counterfeit vibe.

Nice, I'd consider larger volume tyres for multi-day gravel, but the rest is prime.

+1 for TrainerRoad. Used ot exclusively and religiously to train for a gravel stage race and worked a treat. Great at managing fatigue. Adapts to what you , don't do and perform. Really good for the time crunched cyclists. I was very sceptical when I started as the workout seemed too short, but it ramps up well as you progress.

That ship has sailed, they wanted silly money. He moved on to Gravel Burn instead.

Have to agree, especially with Keegan who seems to really want an Epic win badly. Without changes in the actual Specialized off-road team, which is unlikely as they are already the "biggest" in terms of gravel, and KS who has just joined. Without injuries or team change, reckon we'll see a MB +KS team next year. And they will be helluva strong. There will be a hunger lurking for Gaze and Schwartzbauer who were super strong barring day 1 trouble. If that team stays together and come back, they will fighting.

If the old Titan can definitely take 2.1s then not much draw back apart from no UDH, so no full mount Sram derailleurs.

Luca blew

Missed what happened to the Canyon boys? Did Luca blow?