General Cape Epic cutoff times

[Greybeard]

The rules arn't written in stone.If they have a bad day because of weather or whatever,they can extend the cut- off.Im sorry but for this reason the Epic has become soft(to allow for the celebraties,old rugby players,ex models etc etc to complete the Epic.)If the epic needs to regain the name of been tough they need to make cut-off 8hrs,and if you havn't made it because of fitness or whatever or 50% of the field gets eliminated so be it.

It's this type of attitude that has made the Epic an elitist event that is hopelessly out of reach of the riders who are out there for enjoyment. Some organisers of multi day events have compromised by having a separate race for the racers and an adventure ride for those who partake in this sport for the pure enjoyment. Which camp are you?

['Dale]

@ cassie well said

 

The REAL heroes are the ones in the second half of the field!!

 

hats off to you!!

IF I RECALL IT WAS LEGEND BURRY WHO SAID THE EXACT SAME THING AFTER ONE OF THE HARD DAYS ON THE EPIC ONCE, he said for them its easy they finish drop there bikes they get serviced washed go for a warm shower a massage, eat, sleep and the back markers still have to wash bikes,fix them get clothes and food packed for next days ride

 

HE SAID THATS HIS HEROS

then again he didnt rate himself as much as most hubbers chirping on the sidelines

@ cassie well said

 

The REAL heroes are the ones in the second half of the field!!

 

hats off to you!!

IF I RECALL IT WAS LEGEND BURRY WHO SAID THE EXACT SAME THING AFTER ONE OF THE HARD DAYS ON THE EPIC ONCE, he said for them its easy they finish drop there bikes they get serviced washed go for a warm shower a massage, eat, sleep and the back markers still have to wash bikes,fix them get clothes and food packed for next days ride

 

HE SAID THATS HIS HEROS

then again he didnt rate himself as much as most hubbers chirping on the sidelines

 

If you're gonna quote Burry, then we better listen up

 

Too much seriousness in this thread

 

GO JOHN SMIT

[Greybeard]

If you make it a UCI race then that is what it is, a "race only elite riders can enter". You cannot and should not mix fun riding with UCI racing. If a fun rider wants the cape epic experience it would be better that he climbs on his bike in CT and gets off in Knysna, and stays in comfortable guest houses on the way. That is the philosopht of another challnege, which starts in Pietersburg and ends in CT called the FREEDOM something or other. (which is not a race, although people race it).

Perhaps you should read up on the original idea of the Epic. Why should some be excluded if they are prepared to fork out R50k. Kevin Vermaak almost bankrupted himself until sponsors stepped in and if my bank uses my money to float an event like this then I want to have choice of participation. perhaps you are also saying that the Comrades Marathon should be reserved for the top5% of runners as well?

[gummibear]

I think you need to go watch those back markers,sorry they shouldnt be there.If your aim is just to finish the epic in the 10 hrs every day its a very easy ride.For a race of this standars and for UCI points it has set the level too low.

You have never met Stringbean hey? Hence you say he should trust you, that the epic is tough?

 

I looked at some if the back markers and those people should not be on a bike, never mind try to ride the epic. For their own health!

 

And I said. SOME OF THEM!

 

Everyone has a dream so why be so mean?

I am one of those back markers at the races and have every right to be there.I enjoy the sport but I'm not going to win.

 

I pay my entry fee to race and if race organisers don't want the back markers then they should set qualifying standards .That they not going to do.

 

Even the UCI World Cup events have back markers and riders that get lapped and they sure as hell deserve to be there.

 

There will always be back markers and fun riders.......they the ones that make the sport.

['Dale]

This is a debate in a tea-cup (or coffee mug as most of us cycle here)

 

It is what it is.

Enter the Epic. Meet the day-to-day requirements.

 

Whoever entered, slow, fat or lean 'n mean, you're one brave rider.

[DIPSLICK]

never once saw the epic advertised as the top 50 riders in the world

 

 

the toughest multistage in the world,,,,,,,,,,,meaning there will all always be back markers

 

and meaning it wont be a finish line sprint to the whole pack every day

[SwissVan]

This is a debate in a tea-cup (or coffee mug as most of us cycle here)

 

It is what it is.

Enter the Epic. Meet the day-to-day requirements.

 

Whoever entered, slow, fat or lean 'n mean, you're one brave rider.

 

Its a silly argument, have yet to see ONE valid reason why someone cannot ride at a comfortable "Just to Finish" pace to beat the cut off time.

There are plenty of races which are open only to the elite level riders, but there are only a few events that cater for anyone who can manage to ride 700+ km with +/- 14000m climbing in 8 days, on or off road.

 

The hardest part is forking out the $$$$ for the entry fee....R53'700.00 for next year......

Edited March 25, 2014 by SwissVan

['Dale]

Its a silly argument, have yet to see ONE valid reason why someone cannot ride at a comfortable pace and just beat the cut off time.

There are plenty of races which are open only to the elite level riders, but there are only a few events that cater for anyone who can manage to ride 700+ km with +/- 14000m climbing in 8 days, on or off road.

 

The hardest part is forking out the $$$$ for the entry fee....R53'700.00 for next year......

 

Moer!

[DIPSLICK]

Moer! more than this year you mixed up your e and r

[NotSoBigBen]

Its a silly argument, have yet to see ONE valid reason why someone cannot ride at a comfortable pace and just beat the cut off time.

There are plenty of races which are open only to the elite level riders, but there are only a few events that cater for anyone who can manage to ride 700+ km with +/- 14000m climbing in 8 days, on or off road.

 

The hardest part is forking out the $$$$ for the entry fee....R53'700.00 for next year......

 

Everyone's comfortable pace' is not the same ... I bet very few are riding 'comfortably' today!

[Witkop]

Perhaps you should read up on the original idea of the Epic. Why should some be excluded if they are prepared to fork out R50k. Kevin Vermaak almost bankrupted himself until sponsors stepped in and if my bank uses my money to float an event like this then I want to have choice of participation. perhaps you are also saying that the Comrades Marathon should be reserved for the top5% of runners as well?

 

Ahh, it does not matter what the Epic was supposed to be, rather what matters is what it has become. I like your R50 000 exclusion criteria for a race. ie wealth (or access to wealth) is more important than fitness. What a race!.

 

Comrades started as a rememberance race to those who fell during WW1. It has always attempted to keep true to this manifesto. It has introduced a number of medals and sub catorgories to accomodate runners that have proven their FITNESS (by qualifying by completing a marathon in sub 4 hrs) So to compare the cape epic with Comrades is disingenious. Also comrades only treats the silver medalists and up as elites (ie doping control), not the entire field.

 

The rub is this either you host a mass participation race (ie fun ride) or a elite race (UCI race). If you want host both in one event then make it known that those entering one catergory will not be treated like those in the other category (doping control and prize money included).

[Cassie]

Even if there was no cut-off time, completing this endurance event would be a mammoth task

 

More time in the saddle - less time to rest and recover from fatigue, injuries, mental exhaustion

 

hence why they are my heroes!!! ~4hrs...pfft!! try 9-10 hours a day - for a for an entire week...

[SwissVan]

Everyone's comfortable pace' is not the same ... I bet very few are riding 'comfortably' today!

 

Ja my seat interface area agrees, comfortable was not the correct word choice......

I'll edit my op to say "Just to finish" pace

[Wyatt Earp]

The rub is this either you host a mass participation race (ie fun ride) or a elite race (UCI race). If you want host both in one event then make it known that those entering one catergory will not be treated like those in the other category (doping control and prize money included).

 

This is a bit of a moot point.

Epic will never be a "mass participation" event.

The numbers and entry fee don't allow for that.

 

As for it being a UCI event, that was bound to happen somewhere along the life of the event, in order to attract bigger names as well as get more and bigger media coverage.

Many people will forget that before Epic was the Trans Alp, an event where anyone could enter and ride provided they payed their ticket and finish within the allocated cut-off times.

 

The guy who pitches at Epic thinking it's a big joke and hoping he can scrape through by seconds every day to cut-off, will quickly have it handed to him on a silver platter and won't see the event beyond day 4 (if he is lucky enough)

 

The rest that just scrape through everyday ,they are hard manne and harde meisies.

Real tough people, headstrong, physically strong and one can't he;p but look at them with huge admiration because of their sheer determination and guts.

Every single person who gets that medal at the end, would have earned it.

 

And as NSBB pointed out, there is a vast difference in what is comfortable pace for some.

The jokers who "don't deserve to be there" will not get that medal at the end of this.

The rest are the people you can take your right hand, stick it out and give them a very respectful gesture of congratulations for their achievement.

Edited March 25, 2014 by Wyatt Earp

[SwissVan]

 

The rub is this either you host a mass participation race (ie fun ride) or a elite race (UCI race). If you want host both in one event then make it known that those entering one catergory will not be treated like those in the other category (doping control and prize money included).

 

 

Why?

[Wyatt Earp]

hence why they are my heroes!!! ~4hrs...pfft!! try 9-10 hours a day - for a for an entire week...

 

Cassie, I like what you said here.

Every time I do any stage event, Epic, J2C or whatever else it is.

I can't help but to stop and count my blessings.

 

I get in, wash my bike, have a shower and a nice wholesome meal.

Take a nap, grab a beer and get ready for dinner.

People are still finishing, as I have already had some recovery time from a rest and nutrition standpoint.

 

As I walk off to dinner, they now have to get their bikes washed, find their bags, get cleaned up, find their tent and pitch for dinner hoping that they have enough food to still fill their bellies.

They barely have time to recover, as a result of the amount of time they sat on that saddle , their bums are raw, their legs are tired and they still have to get to bed late as the mechanic works on their bike till midnight.

 

They get up the next morning, just to do it again, and the best part of all, they complain the least.

YES, THOSE ARE THE TRUE HEROES !!!!!!!!!!!