DNF at Epic

[Ceres]

I know two teams that finished the epic last year and both teams said yes they trained enough to finish but what they would train alot more this year is pushing bikes up 25 % gradients. This year the one team did alot of "push" training and they are doing great in the top 150 from near the bottom of last year.

[walkerr]

Is it really worth doing the Epic? I guess it differs from person to person.

 

I would love to do it yes (or attempt to) but I cannot see it really being worth it.

 

If I spend R35k or whatever on an event (excluding the MTB, 2 weekly services and parts etc) it will be a once in a lifetime investment and should I not make it, I cannot see myself returing financially and will forever be "wondering" if I could ever do it. I will also then be paying off for the next 2 - 3 years on something I could not finish....

 

Almost like buying a new car, not insuring it and then writing it off and paying off for the next 5 years on it. It will destroy you mentally.......

 

The answer is probably to find a sponsor? Or maybe an insurance company needs to be dynamic and come aboard. Perhaps a product that guarantees you 75% of your entry fee back should you not make it past day 3 or something like that? (like pay R3,000 extra and be covered)

 

Not to take this too far off topic - check this out though

 

http://basinmtb.com/2012-cape-country-mtb-tour-invitation/

 

Seems like an "alternative Epic" may be in the works for those without the cash, or looking for the old "from here to there" spirit of an actual journey.

[Ceres]

Who is the ex Miss SA riding?

 

I dont think she won I think she was a finalist

[scotty]

Who is the ex Miss SA riding?

Sorry Miss SA finalist Vanessa Haywood. Better known for her leading role in District 9.

[LeTurbo]

The Argus is long enough for me thanks. 7 days on an MTB having my arse banged about is a litle too S&M.

 

That said, value wise. surely the Tour d'Afrique is more worthwhile? I think it's about R90k, but it's probably more testing, the cut-off rules maybe aren't as unfair, and the EFI is more a personal goal than a requirement.

 

That's as I understand things anyway. (This being the Hub, I'll probably be blown out of the water.)

[TNT1]

Sorry Miss SA finalist Vanessa Haywood. Better known for her leading role in District 9.

 

She belongs in our ladies & bicycles thread

http://www.strategiccommunication.co.za/media/home/vanessa-haywood-hp.jpg

http://www.starfishcharity.org/resourcelib/VanessaHaywood%20by%20Duran2D.jpg

http://www.starfishcharity.org/resourcelib/VanessaHaywood%20Oakley%20by%20DuranA.jpg

http://www.entelectwebmanager.co.za/ECGWebManager/MainContentImages/34613/Vanessa%20Haywood%203.jpg

[Guest Omega Man]

Is it really worth doing the Epic? I guess it differs from person to person.

 

I would love to do it yes (or attempt to) but I cannot see it really being worth it.

 

If I spend R35k or whatever on an event (excluding the MTB, 2 weekly services and parts etc) it will be a once in a lifetime investment and should I not make it, I cannot see myself returing financially and will forever be "wondering" if I could ever do it. I will also then be paying off for the next 2 - 3 years on something I could not finish....

 

Almost like buying a new car, not insuring it and then writing it off and paying off for the next 5 years on it. It will destroy you mentally.......

 

The answer is probably to find a sponsor? Or maybe an insurance company needs to be dynamic and come aboard. Perhaps a product that guarantees you 75% of your entry fee back should you not make it past day 3 or something like that? (like pay R3,000 extra and be covered)

 

To be fair it's 35k per team.

 

But that's 17k each. For 17k you can fly to Geneva. Catch an airport shuttle and mountain bike in the French Alps for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks you can get back on a plane. Come home and start planning the next trip.

 

Far better value in my mind but much respect to the guys and girls with jobs and families who do the epic tho.

[scotty]

She belongs in our ladies & bicycles thread

I'm in love

[Skubarra]

To be fair it's 35k per team. But that's 17k each. For 17k you can fly to Geneva. Catch an airport shuttle and mountain bike in the French Alps for 2 weeks. At the end of the 2 weeks you can get back on a plane. Come home and start planning the next trip. Far better value in my mind but much respect to the guys and girls with jobs and families who do the epic tho.

 

To each his own...

 

If I had 17k to blow on mtb'ing I would rather do the Epic

[Guest Omega Man]

I'm in love

She looks even better in real life. Sadly she's attached to Ryan Sandes.

[Guest Omega Man]

To each his own...

 

If I had 17k to blow on mtb'ing I would rather do the Epic

 

Yup. That's the beauty of mountain biking. There's so many ways to have fun.

[Garfield2010]

To each his own...

 

If I had 17k to blow on mtb'ing I would rather do the Epic

 

If I had R17k I would take my MTB and ride through Walt Disneys park's for a week!!

[Agteros]

I'm in love

You need to run dust in the eyes of Ryan Sandes first Good luck!

[davetapson]

I seem to remember a story about two nutters who begged Kevin Vermaak for a late entry, and he agreed as long as they did it on SSs. I think they finished.

 

Remember reading a blog of two guys (one Canadian, one UK(?)) who did it on rigid, SS's. Said they wanted to do it on bikes like they rode as kids. As far as I remember, they finished. Was when the epic was still epic and from Knysna to CT. Someone asked if they learned anything from the experience and the one guy's comment was 'Yeah - you spend far too much time on a geared bike changing gears.'

[Pusher]

Here is a great article on training and riding the Epic.

http://www.live2ride.co.za/capeepic.htm

[Stretch]

so i reckon the DNF stories here dispute a lot of claims of under preparedness - hard luck chaps.

 

As for the other "not real mtbers" as it has so horribly been phrased - how is mr Prost doing?