Telling people you haven't done the Epic.

[my_intense]

Following a cloud of dust with helicopters and quad bikes toting camera men all over the place is not my idea of mountain biking. Someone got hospitalised a year or two ago on after being run over by a maniac on a quad bike. Lots of other multi-day stage events out there offering much better value for money.

 

The Freedom Challenge is where real mountain biking adventures happens IMHO . It's worth training up for that. If that's too big a bite, start with the Ride to Rhodes. Warning: there's no prize or instant glory to be had, just a deep personal sense of achievement.

 

No I don't work for them, but have done both. Life changing experience, I promise you.

[SwissVan]

Following a cloud of dust with helicopters and quad bikes toting camera men all over the place is not my idea of mountain biking. Someone got hospitalised a year or two ago on after being run over by a maniac on a quad bike. Lots of other multi-day stage events out there offering much better value for money.

 

The Freedom Challenge is where real mountain biking adventures happens IMHO . It's worth training up for that. If that's too big a bite, start with the Ride to Rhodes. Warning: there's no prize or instant glory to be had, just a deep personal sense of achievement.

 

No I don't work for them, but have done both. Life changing experience, I promise you.

 

Ja some of us need that life changing experience but are to scared to take the step....

[MTBeer]

Hmm agree it looks awesome but according to the website does not include flights to Europe

"The price does not include flights, bottled/canned drinks or sports massage therapy"

 

So once you add flights to the 14K Ronds

 

And only take 70 participants....

the Trans Provence is very much geared towards downhill riding. They drive to the highest points to maximise the amount of downhill. There is also a race and a tour - the tour being for less serious dudes.

Definitely on my bucket list. 14k plus 7 to 8 k for a flight makes it more than worthwhile. Also you stay in hotels not tents.

[ThePubSA]

Hell yeah! For R20K/annum I could have 3 and a bit Guinness per day - there is no bike race on earth that can measure up to that!

I won't drink during the week, so then I can have 11-ish Guinness a day over weekends

Now thats E_P_I_C

Edited April 18, 2012 by 2nutz

[Ed-Zulu]

 

 

Just do the Freedom Challenge then.

Will as soon as they change it to a 8 day stage race...

[izzypzee]

How do you know if someone has done the Epic?

 

Don't worry....they will tell you.

[patches]

Why tell them that oyu haven't done it...

 

just buy the accessories and act like you have

 

https://community.bikehub.co.za/topic/115330-for-sale-epik-stickers-number-boards-and-wrist-bands/page__fromsearch__1

[TNT1]

Hmm agree it looks awesome but according to the website does not include flights to Europe

"The price does not include flights, bottled/canned drinks or sports massage therapy"

 

So once you add flights to the 14K Ronds

 

And only take 70 participants....

 

A quick search:

 

Your departure flight

Johannesburg - Turin

 

Your return flight

Turin - Johannesburg

 

Passengers :

1 Adult

 

Total :

ZAR 10,784

 

So only R25k.

 

And I'm sure you can get cheaper fares somewhere...

Edited April 18, 2012 by TNT1

[Guest Omega Man]

the Trans Provence is very much geared towards downhill riding. They drive to the highest points to maximise the amount of downhill. There is also a race and a tour - the tour being for less serious dudes.

Definitely on my bucket list. 14k plus 7 to 8 k for a flight makes it more than worthwhile. Also you stay in hotels not tents.

 

Yerp. Deff on my to do list. Gary Barnard is doing it this year. The entry list really is a who's who of ex World Champions in downhill. The entry list is VERY limited tho.

 

As far as the Epic goes. Last year I went to the French Alps for 2 weeks. I rode my DH bike in Morzine, Les Gets, Chatel, Morgins and a few bits an pieces in between. The entire trip cost 18k. When I got back I told the wife that I have to go back every year until I die. That's why I'll never do the Epic.

[Guest Omega Man]

 

 

And I'm sure you can get cheaper fares somewhere...

My Emirates flight to Geneva cost R7800. Had to book waay in advance because of the olympics being around that time.

[TNT1]

My Emirates flight to Geneva cost R7800. Had to book waay in advance because of the olympics being around that time.

 

Exactly. Mine was just an illustration for the swiss nay sayer.

[SwissVan]

A quick search:

 

Total :

ZAR 10,784

 

So only R25k.

 

And I'm sure you can get cheaper fares somewhere...

 

25 K for one person is substantialy more than 1 Epic entry per person but it does prove that to experience an exceptional event you have to cough up some $$

And they speak English in the Cape, Spaggetti munchers on the other hand....

And...your're less likely to break your neck doing the Epic

[Guest Omega Man]

I won't drink during the week, so then I can have 11-ish Guinness a day over weekends

You need to define exactly what "during the week" is tho. I mean. Monday and Friday are adjacent to the weekend so in essence they are still the weekend.

 

And then there's all the public holidays and all the days adjacent to them.

 

And then there are the exceptional days. Like when you have a shitty day at work and you bend your weekend only rule.

 

And then theres annual leave days.

 

And double up days. Those are days that count as both. for example a weekend day that's also an Annual Leave day. Can I space bank them to another day?

Edited April 18, 2012 by Omega Man

[Guest Omega Man]

25 K for one person is substantialy more than 1 Epic entry per person but it does prove that to experience an exceptional event you have to cough up some $$

And they speak English in the Cape, Spaggetti munchers on the other hand....

And...your're less likely to break your neck doing the Epic

 

Isn't an Epic entry 25k for next year? And the Trans Provence is in France. Not Italy.

[TNT1]

25 K for one person is substantialy more than 1 Epic entry per personic

Isn't an Epic entry 25k for next year?

 

Um:

2013 Epic:

Entry Fee: R39, 800 per team

 

R25k(or less with the right flights - And that other oke's flights would have put it at R21,800) is in the ball park.

Edited April 18, 2012 by TNT1

[TNT1]

And the Trans Provence is in France. Not Italy.

 

Yes, and the race organisation provide airport transfers. You'd have to fly into Briancon, Turin or Geneva, something like that, close-ish to the start...