Cape Epic Battle Plan ...

[Stevief]

Yeah But Yeah BUT yeah But .....Who really won the epic?

[Enticement]

Is it an investment at all or just an expense?

 

Its an investment in yourself, but if you're a coach potato you'll probably view it as an expense ...

[Carmichael]

Def. not an ivestment, it is a sporting expense and adventure.

[Enticement]

Completed 2 Epics, 2011 and 2012.

Rough Stats for 2012: Leaving out the entry fee which cost me less than full price.

Mechanic package : Zero. Did my own basic work. Had no mechanicals, but the Mechanics at Epic ALWAYS take walk-in business. Learnt my lesson in 2011. You pay R 3500 over to ...... and get crap service.

Nutrition Pre Race: 1 tub Enduren every 6 weeks (R195/tub). Epic training started proper in November . Cost : R 682,50

Nutrition at Race: R 195 (didn't use the whole tub). Don't use GU's , so no cost there.

Cramp & Salt Tabs: R 150

CSA License: 0 Got PPA and that was enough. Plus, it's valid for 1 year.

Training Plan: used Kevin Evan's plan from the 2010 Pioneer, plus got some free advice. Just need to ask. Cost: 0

VO2max Test at Sports Science: R 660 (voluntary, just to see how my fitness was a month before the Epic)

Spares and Wear & Tear during Training: difficult to assess as I ride a lot anyway, but let's call it R 4000. If you put new tyres,chain , small ring and cassette on your bike before the Epic, you'll be fine.

Training Time : about 10-15 hours/ week which went down to 8-10/ week, 6 weeks before the Epic. Intervals of an hour twice a week and normal riding for the rest.

Massage: R 2000. We had our own Physio (Connections: she's my wife ). I got it for free, but add the cost, because that is the one non-negotiable to get a proper massage to get the legs ready for the next day.

Cycling Tops: Sponsored, but let's add R 2500 for 5 shirts per rider. Bibs can be your own.

 

Do you count other races such as Pioneer as part of Epic training? I think not. They are proper races in their own right and I would do them irrespective of whether I have entered the Epic, but give you good base training. Throw in the W2W or Knysna 300 and you have events which are great rides to do and give you excellent prep time for the Epic. And they test your team compatibility.

 

I didn't buy a new bike for the Epic. I actually took a second hand Fox shock someone sold on The Hub for 2k and did the Epic with it. He bought a 10k shock for the Epic. Makes the point of potentially overspending for the Epic. If you maintain your bike , you will be fine . Nobody can forsee major mechanicals , crashes or sickness.

 

My total is : R 10187,50.

I'll add another : R1812,50 for sundries. R 12000 , excluding Entry Fee. I don't think that is such a scary looking number. Check my maths in case I made a mistake adding up.

 

Just for the record, our team finished GC 170 in this year's Epic

 

You get a "suvivalist" and a "minimalist", I guess you're the latter. And you have really spent very little on bike maintenance - you're perhaps one of the fortunate riders that do it yourself. Interesting you used VO2Max for determining fitness, you could have saved some money there. Also, if I was you I would have retrenched my nutritionist . However it may be, your Epic is not only entry fees but a host of other monies as well - you confirmed that, thanks!

 

Make sure you spend wisely ...

[Enticement]

The assumptions are quite high, but the point is that it is an expensive race, and there's no question about that (just see the 1000's of hub topics about it). Add travelling and pre- post- event accommodation for the non Cape people, and it really does add up.

 

I recon there is a big market for this sort of training plan. I much prefer the DIY approach and enjoy reading up on training. But that's not for everyone.

 

To the OP, it might help if you were a bit more clear about what exactly you are offering, it sounds like you are deliberately being vague.

 

PM me if you need specific information. This is a discussion forum although I used it to drive some points home.

[Shebeen]

Its an investment in yourself, but if you're a coach potato you'll probably view it as an expense ...

 

Since you're determined to prove it's an investment,

 

Do you realise that it you are breaking the law under

 

No. 37 of 2002: Financial Advisory and

Intermediary Services Act, 2002.

 

???

 

Go do your maths in the chookie. I hear pollsmoor has a good mtb team.

[Enticement]

Since when does TIS not suffice ANYMORE, if it did once before why not anymore?

Time in saddle is crucial imo

 

Considering the costs of doing Epic what exactly does the R10'000 cover?

 

Since the Epic route has been adapted to be more demanding, to that extend that riders earn UCI points. If you are satisfied with riding with the idea that if you have one hick-up you will not make cut-off, keep relying on your TIS. If you want to perform at your best its a different ball game.

[Enticement]

Since you're determined to prove it's an investment,

 

Do you realise that it you are breaking the law under

 

No. 37 of 2002: Financial Advisory and

Intermediary Services Act, 2002.

 

???

 

Go do your maths in the chookie. I hear pollsmoor has a good mtb team.

 

Ha bloody ha

[petatodd]

Since the Epic route has been adapted to be more demanding, to that extend that riders earn UCI points. If you are satisfied with riding with the idea that if you have one hick-up you will not make cut-off, keep relying on your TIS. If you want to perform at your best its a different ball game.

Cut off times are extremely generous, you need more than one hick-up and have to be seriously mechanically useless to miss out on time cuts if you have done serious TIS.

 

There is this mystique around the Epic and plenty of guys around willing to take dollars from the naive and nervous.

 

Get your weight down, get miles in your legs, know how to suffer and get through bad spots then just ride your bike and enjoy it.

 

Oh, and be kind to your equipment.

[Guest Omega Man]

@ the OP.

 

So from what you are saying the cost of doing the Epic each is 35k + Entry fee + Airplane tickets and accom if you are not a local.

 

Good lord that is a LOT of money.

[patches]

@ the OP.

 

So from what you are saying the cost of doing the Epic each is 35k + Entry fee + Airplane tickets and accom if you are not a local.

 

Good lord that is a LOT of money.

 

I'd rather spend a season in the Alps for that sort of cash, than have that overpriced sticker on my bike.

[sometime]

know how to suffer and get through bad spots

 

 

Nail. Head.

[Enticement]

I guess the OP is aiming at the Corporate first time Epic riders who will spare no expense. Over 60% of Epic riders in 2011 bought new bikes for the race. You can imagine the average cost of those. What's another 10k to them?

5k for a mechanic package. Totally overpriced. I know a mechanic who does it for half the price and he had a the Masters leaders under his wing until they pulled out due to a fall.

Put a call out for Epic training advice on this Platform and you will get hundreds of tips. Filter and you will have plenty to do for free. Go to the Daisyway website and you can get a free training plan for "Have time issues" and "Got to get a good result" guys. For Mahala.

I think the Pioneer Trek site just put up a training plan as well.

Live in the tents, they are fine. Save the B&B cash to take the wife & kids away for a weekend to say Thank You for putting up with my training.

 

You guess wrong, even the corporate 1st time Epic rider is cost conscious, sometimes even more so. They are absolutely pedantic about time utilization as time is money for them. Using an off-the-shelve training program is like using someone else's old toothbrush - it works well but there are always spots that you miss. And there are so many experts that will give you scientific advice on a request like that, its scary ... Did you know that you get different types of interval training, each type aimed at utilizing a very specific energy system - and optimizing training effect implies doing them in a specific sequence.

[sometime]

I'd rather spend a season in the Alps for that sort of cash, than have that overpriced sticker on my bike.

 

And some would rather have that sticker on their bike than an overpriced season in the Alps?

 

Take out the overpriced part of each comment above and each comment is fair. Value perception is subjective not absolute.

[kandui]

You get a "suvivalist" and a "minimalist", I guess you're the latter. And you have really spent very little on bike maintenance - you're perhaps one of the fortunate riders that do it yourself. Interesting you used VO2Max for determining fitness, you could have saved some money there. Also, if I was you I would have retrenched my nutritionist . However it may be, your Epic is not only entry fees but a host of other monies as well - you confirmed that, thanks!

 

Make sure you spend wisely ...

 

Trading off the hype of the Epic is something I don't really agree with. It's a far more intense experience than any other Stage race, no dispute there. But , just because it's the Epic, doesn't mean that your bike is more prone to damage or that you'll only get though to the finish if you follow a professional training plan. My wife did massage for teams in the 120's , in the 300's as well as right at the back. The back guys, one of them had only started riding a year ago and looked like a hooker, but he suffered though it and got his medal. It's about what you want from the race.

The guy that finished at the back still gets the admiration from friends, family and riding pals. That, apart from self-satisfaction, is all he wants and needs.

Enticement, you are defending your need to make money, hence your stance on preparing for the Epic.

I think the cost of what you are suggesting is contentious in this Forum. You're basically offering a once-off insurance premium against failing at the Epic. Does a mid to end pack rider need to be over-insured?

[Shebeen]

Trading off the hype of the Epic is something I don't really agree with. It's a far more intense experience than any other Stage race, no dispute there. But , just because it's the Epic, doesn't mean that your bike is more prone to damage or that you'll only get though to the finish if you follow a professional training plan. My wife did massage for teams in the 120's , in the 300's as well as right at the back. The back guys, one of them had only started riding a year ago and looked like a hooker, but he suffered though it and got his medal. It's about what you want from the race.

The guy that finished at the back still gets the admiration from friends, family and riding pals. That, apart from self-satisfaction, is all he wants and needs.

Enticement, you are defending your need to make money, hence your stance on preparing for the Epic.

I think the cost of what you are suggesting is contentious in this Forum. You're basically offering a once-off insurance premium against failing at the Epic. Does a mid to end pack rider need to be over-insured?

totally, of course there are masses of people who will throw money at the epic, but it's not necessary.

 

the first epic was done on a pink nishiki

the last freedom challenge was done on this alaskan wolf

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fMUvlsMTju4/T_vnwSCFIuI/AAAAAAAABdM/O1EgnlYcxVE/s1600/Alaskan+Wolf+1.jpg

 

sure you will find people who can justify that sort of spend, but be vague about it and you will get mauled on the hub. happens everytime!