General Cape Epic cutoff times

[DIPSLICK]

I do know what the DIPS meant I have been subjected to his online rants/CAPS for years now.

ONLINE RANTS easy tiger,, CAPS MAYBE

[DIPSLICK]

That's racist

stainless steel pot

[SwissVan]

That's racist

 

Hope znot...don't think my last warning point has expired yet

[River Rat]

I think Stringbean's post and Jaxtun's reply highlights what a serious disparity exists in MTBiking. There are many wannabe Platts like Stringbean who simply cannot identify with the back marker for whom the idea of completing the Epic is a challenge that would be equivalent to Stringbean trying to win the race. If this sport is allowed to become so elitist that there is no place for the rider who knows that he/she does not have the talent but believes that through courage and perseverance that they could complete the race, if these riders are devalued we have less of a sport.

 

Let me add that I have the greatest admiration for the riders at the sharp end of the race. Not only do they have the talent but they put themselves up to fail every time they compete knowing fully that second place is the first loser slot. I saw their faces at the end of each day and I could see the suffering both mental and physical etched between the dust and mud. These people are great examples of what a human being is capable of when talent and preparation come together, I know that I can only admire them and revel in their achievements but I could never emulate them.

 

Now Jaxtun (and a whole lot of other back markers) earns a different type of admiration from me, knowing full well that each day is going to be a mental and physical test equal if not more intense than for those at the front of the field. But they start knowing that they do not have the talent nor could they match the preparation of the front of the field yet they line up at the start, with the fear of not finishing gnawing away at their confidence, everyday. They do this with their mental and physical reserves declining each day, yet they start and set about the days stage with a determination that personifies what is great about the human spirit. It is this spirit that has made our species the most dominant and successful of all species on this planet, we are not the fastest species nor do we possess the greatest endurance of all the species that have ever lived but we do have the human spirit.

 

So having watched this event over the last week and a bit I know that I can never hope to be a Karl Platt and neither do I want to be a Stringbean where I cannot recognize greatness in the soaring human spirit. What I do know is that I want to be like Jaxtun, I want to be able to say that I tested myself against all odds and I prevailed. I want to say that I have my finishers medal and I deserve very gram of it, Stringbeans of the world be damned!

 

Will I do it? The truth is I don't know, I do not yet possess the courage or the determination, I am not yet worthy of trying, I am not yet worthy of a finishers medal. In the meantime I revel in the achievements of others who prevailed on Sunday, heroes each and everyone of you!

[DIPSLICK]

@RIVER RAT, YOUR POST PRETTY MUCH SUMS IT UP FOR 90% OF THE HUBBERS I THINK

[Accelerate]

@River Rat - Very well said!

[rudi-h]

agreed RR. I'm going to be one of the 2000 standing on the beach at PE this weekend to experience the energy and strength of the human spirit in a very special way. The people who I admire most are the brave men and women that start their run as the sun sets with a very lonely 42km in the dark.

 

In 2011 I passed a man 65 years of age on the run who had been trying to finish the event for 3 consecutive years. He crossed the finish line for the first time that night well after 11PM. Everytime when life seems tough I think of that guy. what a legend!

[Mr X]

I think Stringbean's post and Jaxtun's reply highlights what a serious disparity exists in MTBiking. There are many wannabe Platts like Stringbean who simply cannot identify with the back marker for whom the idea of completing the Epic is a challenge that would be equivalent to Stringbean trying to win the race. If this sport is allowed to become so elitist that there is no place for the rider who knows that he/she does not have the talent but believes that through courage and perseverance that they could complete the race, if these riders are devalued we have less of a sport.

 

We are talking 1 event here the Epic not the sport in general. There are many road races and mtb races that do not allow just anyone to enter, it does no damage to the sport but enhances it by having the best riders compete. Why is nobody complaining that amateurs can not enter the TDF? Does this make road cycling elitist? Nope. Not anyone can just enter the XC Olympics, no harm done.

 

Also, it is the price tag on an Epic entry that makes the Epic elitist, but this does not make the sport of mtb elitist.

[River Rat]

We are talking 1 event here the Epic not the sport in general. There are many road races and mtb races that do not allow just anyone to enter, it does no damage to the sport but enhances it by having the best riders compete. Why is nobody complaining that amateurs can not enter the TDF? Does this make road cycling elitist? Nope. Not anyone can just enter the XC Olympics, no harm done.

 

Also, it is the price tag on an Epic entry that makes the Epic elitist, but this does not make the sport of mtb elitist.

 

I believe that the isue is not about professionals and amateurs rather between different levels of amateurs some believing that they are more equal than others. I get it that TDF being a professional race does not allow anyone to enter, the Olympics has a qualifying criteria. But when a rider that by all appearances will not make either of the above race decides that riders chasing cut offs should not be allowed in the Epic it becomes elitist to the detriment of the sport.

[jaxtun]

and here is poor back marker me behind my partner clearly hating every minute and looking for all the sympathy I can muster ;-)

 

Edited April 1, 2014 by jaxtun

[Tankman]

Eina,couple hrs away and the thread has already turned into a nob measuring contest.

I still believe you can't have everything.We want to race against the pro's,we want to ride in a UCI event.You enter what some might consider to be the toughest stage race in the world but at the end a lot of guys are looking for sympathy.Sorry,I believe if you enter,you get your sh*t together and do what needs to be done.

I still believe it's pointless having cut of times if they don't keep to it.

At Comrades you have to qualify to be on the start line so at least those at the Comrades have a certain level of fitness at the start.If your granny has the 50K and is lucky enough to get a entry she would be at Meerendal.Should I then feel sorry for her because it's her 'dream' or because she is old,unfit,overweight,has a job and children.

NO

Sorry ,you enter Epic of your own free will.I don't give any sympathy to those at the back because they just havn't done what is necessary to do Epic comfortably.If you taking shots every day scraping to make cut off you only got the man in the mirror to blame.

 

You have your head so far up your own arse, you wont see daylight at next years Epic!

 

Will you be rubbing shoulders with the pro's or hiding behind you keyboard during next years event?

 

I have completed the Epic at both ends of the field and it is two completely different worlds!

 

I am by no means a racing snake or a pro. The first I did, we finished just outside top 100 in the mens category. We might have finished higher if I wasnt so farked on stage 6 & 7 from going flat out from the get go! We started strong, fit and fuelled by the adrenaline of competing in our first Epic. We started just after 7am in the mornings in normally the second group and usually finished around 1 or 2pm. We then had our woolies food, had a shower, got our bags, sorted out our tents, washed bottles & kit, took bikes to the mechanics, charged garmins, went for a massage, took a nap in the shade somewhere and pretty much had everything sorted by 6pm, before dinner time. We were fast asleep with full tummies by 8pm.

 

Some evenings we would see the warriors/hero's that finished just at 5:30pm walk into the dining room at 6pm, still fully kitted with cycling gear and helmets, sit down, stuff their faces and hurry off to go and do all the stuff we had already done.

 

I remember discussing this with my partner, we were glad we did not have to be out in the field riding the whole day, having to do all this admin after dinner. I remember thinking "darn, that must be tough!"

 

This year I found out just how tough it really was at the back end!

I rode with my (now) fiancee and realized after stage one that this Epic was going to be a complete different kettle of fish. This was to be her first mtb stage race, ever! I tried to prepare her mentally and physically as best I could for what lied ahead.

 

Luckily the week before, we had a lekker heart to heart chat and decided that we want to walk away with good memories from this awesome experience and privilege we were able to share. We decided to ride at her level and maintain good spirit. She was pushing her boundries from stage one, we were pushing the bikes a couple of times also but we pushed through! There were a couple of scary and nasty technical descents on stage one!

 

It very quickly became clear that the riding style at the back end was much different that what I am used to. There was way more breaking, walking, slowing down and getting off than the free flowing, keeping your momentum going riding I was used to.

 

We stared in the last group every morning, sometimes at 8:30am. We normally finished at 4:30pm, 5pm or later. My massage was booked for 5:15pm so some afternoons I would get up from finishing my woolies food, run to quickly shower, massage, only to be in the dining room again at 6pm. Not all that hungry and not having done any of the other admin. I thought I would service our own bikes this year but I made a huge calculation error since I did not realize how little time we would have after finishing every day, based on my previous experience! Your day on the bike is just so much looooonger.

 

On the nights where I did service the bikes, around 8pm in the dark, I would only get to sleep around 9:30pm.

 

As the stages went by, it did not get any easier at the back. Fatigue, exhaustion, tiredness and the elements made people ride more cautiously and carefully. Sand becomes stones and stones becomes rocks and rocks becomes boulders. Small little inclines becomes hills, hills becomes mountains and mountains becomes passes. The legs are sore and tired, the concentration scattered and everyone is out there hoping to survive just one more day.

 

Previously we never once worried about the cut off times, this time it was a bleak reality, we were watching the clock a lot more, riding to such an extent what we would have a buffer, should anything go wrong. We completed stage 5 in 9hrs40min, 20minutes before the cut off time of 10hrs that day. Should we have had a technical issue that day, puncture, broken chain or whatever we would not have made it! And we did not mess about that day either. We had a bit of walking to do do at rusty gates but our motto of the day was "just keep moving". If you get off, walk, crawl or do whatever you feel like but "just keep moving". Groenland berge was just never ending and it broke many spirits a couple of time when you think the peak is in sight, only to see a string of people pushing around the next corner. We went over that finish line ... broken, tired, sore, lightheaded and relieved that we made it across the line. Emotions were running high! In 15years that was the longest I have ever been on a bike! 9hrs40min! BROKEN! And knowing you are getting up and dowing it all over agian tomorrow.

 

Sure you can probably do a stage or two of the Epic with a fair level of fitness. (depending on YOUR level)

But you will not survive 8 days in a row, unprepared.

The cut off times are calculated by the event organizers when they test ride the route. I am just not sure if they ride all stages consecutively or individually because that will surely influence the cut of times. But, again, if you are unprepared you will not survive and you will not make the set cut off times.

 

The back markers are out there pushing their own boundaries and expanding their capabilities, testing their limits ... and these differ hugely from person to wanabe pro to pro.

 

At least they are out there pushing their boundries and not pushing buttons on a keyboard!

 

Up to now I have refrained from calling the hero's and warriors at the back funriders, simply because it sure as hell is not fun! I have a new found respect for the hero's at the back, I take my hat off to you and I bow. You ladies and gentlemen are the bravehearts, you are the warriors and you are the real hero's of the Epic. You earned your medal, you earned throwing your hands in the air when crossing the finish line. You earned your bragging rights. You completed the Absa Cape Epic and no di*kwad can belittle you or take that acheivement away from you.

 

 

 

I put it to you: It is much harder at the back!

 

 

Your welcome to tell me if you think we look all fresh and dandy after Stage 5 here:

 

[SwissVan]

You have your head so far up your own arse, you wont see daylight at next years Epic!

 

Will you be rubbing shoulders with the pro's or hiding behind you keyboard during next years event?

 

I have completed the Epic at both ends of the field and it is two completely different worlds!

 

I am by no means a racing snake or a pro. The first I did, we finished just outside top 100 in the mens category. We might have finished higher if I wasnt so farked on stage 6 & 7 from going flat out from the get go! We started strong, fit and fuelled by the adrenaline of competing in our first Epic. We started just after 7am in the mornings in normally the second group and usually finished around 1 or 2pm. We then had our woolies food, had a shower, got our bags, sorted out our tents, washed bottles & kit, took bikes to the mechanics, charged garmins, went for a massage, took a nap in the shade somewhere and pretty much had everything sorted by 6pm, before dinner time. We were fast asleep with full tummies by 8pm.

 

Some evenings we would see the warriors/hero's that finished just at 5:30pm walk into the dining room at 6pm, still fully kitted with cycling gear and helmets, sit down, stuff their faces and hurry off to go and do all the stuff we had already done.

 

I remember discussing this with my partner, we were glad we did not have to be out in the field riding the whole day, having to do all this admin after dinner. I remember thinking "darn, that must be tough!"

 

This year I found out just how tough it really was at the back end!

I rode with my (now) fiancee and realized after stage one that this Epic was going to be a complete different kettle of fish. This was to be her first mtb stage race, ever! I tried to prepare her mentally and physically as best I could for what lied ahead.

 

Luckily the week before, we had a lekker heart to heart chat and decided that we want to walk away with good memories from this awesome experience and privilege we were able to share. We decided to ride at her level and maintain good spirit. She was pushing her boundries from stage one, we were pushing the bikes a couple of times also but we pushed through! There were a couple of scary and nasty technical descents on stage one!

 

It very quickly became clear that the riding style at the back end was much different that what I am used to. There was way more breaking, walking, slowing down and getting off than the free flowing, keeping your momentum going riding I was used to.

 

We stared in the last group every morning, sometimes at 8:30am. We normally finished at 4:30pm, 5pm or later. My massage was booked for 5:15pm so some afternoons I would get up from finishing my woolies food, run to quickly shower, massage, only to be in the dining room again at 6pm. Not all that hungry and not having done any of the other admin. I thought I would service our own bikes this year but I made a huge calculation error since I did not realize how little time we would have after finishing every day, based on my previous experience! Your day on the bike is just so much looooonger.

 

On the nights where I did service the bikes, around 8pm in the dark, I would only get to sleep around 9:30pm.

 

As the stages went by, it did not get any easier at the back. Fatigue, exhaustion, tiredness and the elements made people ride more cautiously and carefully. Sand becomes stones and stones becomes rocks and rocks becomes boulders. Small little inclines becomes hills, hills becomes mountains and mountains becomes passes. The legs are sore and tired, the concentration scattered and everyone is out there hoping to survive just one more day.

 

Previously we never once worried about the cut off times, this time it was a bleak reality, we were watching the clock a lot more, riding to such an extent what we would have a buffer, should anything go wrong. We completed stage 5 in 9hrs40min, 20minutes before the cut off time of 10hrs that day. Should we have had a technical issue that day, puncture, broken chain or whatever we would not have made it! And we did not mess about that day either. We had a bit of walking to do do at rusty gates but our motto of the day was "just keep moving". If you get off, walk, crawl or do whatever you feel like but "just keep moving". Groenland berge was just never ending and it broke many spirits a couple of time when you think the peak is in sight, only to see a string of people pushing around the next corner. We went over that finish line ... broken, tired, sore, lightheaded and relieved that we made it across the line. Emotions were running high! In 15years that was the longest I have ever been on a bike! 9hrs40min! BROKEN! And knowing you are getting up and dowing it all over agian tomorrow.

 

Sure you can probably do a stage or two of the Epic with a fair level of fitness. (depending on YOUR level)

But you will not survive 8 days in a row, unprepared.

The cut off times are calculated by the event organizers when they test ride the route. I am just not sure if they ride all stages consecutively or individually because that will surely influence the cut of times. But, again, if you are unprepared you will not survive and you will not make the set cut off times.

 

The back markers are out there pushing their own boundaries and expanding their capabilities, testing their limits ... and these differ hugely from person to wanabe pro to pro.

 

At least they are out there pushing their boundries and not pushing buttons on a keyboard!

 

Up to now I have refrained from calling the hero's and warriors at the back funriders, simply because it sure as hell is not fun! I have a new found respect for the hero's at the back, I take my hat off to you and I bow. You ladies and gentlemen are the bravehearts, you are the warriors and you are the real hero's of the Epic. You earned your medal, you earned throwing your hands in the air when crossing the finish line. You earned your bragging rights. You completed the Absa Cape Epic and no di*kwad can belittle you or take that acheivement away from you.

 

 

 

I put it to you: It is much harder at the back!

 

 

Your welcome to tell me if you think we look all fresh and dandy after Stage 5 here:

 

 

Nice one Tankman, lump in the throat stuff

[DIPSLICK]

tankman thank you for taking time out to post that, who knows maybe it will sink in

[Carmichael]

LEKKER TANKMAN

[VeloRacer]

I am proudly an 2014 Cape Epic finisher!

It's the hardest thing I've done in my life.

To suffer like that day after for 7 days and sleep in a tent ain't easy.

 

I finished in the Top 250 of the field.

Hats off to the back of the field for soldiering on.

[CleatsnCleavage]

Congrats on the engagement Tankman! Thanks for the post.