Epic MTB riding skills - not a lot going round it seems :-)

[dev null]

i dont know who said it previously and couldnt be bothered about who should and shouldnt be riding

the person who gets the entry simple, no matter how even if it was a gift, someone thought you derserved it simple

im not the fastest rider or the most technical,in fact im far from it im probably  the guy who you say shouldnt be riding, point remains if you get a ticket you have done more than the LEGENDS posting from their aircon offices, yes i agree many "tough" men do it just to say they have done it, but who are you to say who should and should not be there,,,,jealous much????

and no i dont want to do the epic nor do i ever want to try just tired of LEGENDS deciding who is worthy of riding events

 

 

DIPS.  I cannot also be judging riders for doing the Epic and their preparedness for doing it and having the money to do it, but, FFS man, taking 3 and a half hours to do the 20km prologue I would seriously question any team's commitment to actually complete the race.

 

Dammit man, my wife can do that 20km in 2 hours.  But I am sure today would have sorted those out not prepared for it.  

[SwissVan]

Hemel....all the arm chair computer experts

 

Something about walking a mile in some ones shoes springs to mind....

[Skubarra]

, but, FFS man, taking 3 and a half hours to do the 20km prologue 

 

But I am sure today would have sorted those out not prepared for it.  

 

Maybe they had serious technical issues or a serious crash - being badly unfit not the only possible scenario?

 

But like you said - if it is just a case of being unprepared today would have sorted them out.

[dev null]

Maybe they had serious technical issues or a serious crash - being badly unfit not the only possible scenario?

 

But like you said - if it is just a case of being unprepared today would have sorted them out.

 

 I hope I am wrong, and it was just a crash. 

 

I am just disappointed that every year good MTBers with money can't get entries.

[BBN]

DIPS.  I cannot also be judging riders for doing the Epic and their preparedness for doing it and having the money to do it, but, FFS man, taking 3 and a half hours to do the 20km prologue I would seriously question any team's commitment to actually complete the race.

 

Dammit man, my wife can do that 20km in 2 hours.  But I am sure today would have sorted those out not prepared for it.  

I thought the cut off for the prologue was 3hrs? Money well spent.......NOT......... if you get booted after the prologue!!!

[dev null]

I thought the cut off for the prologue was 3hrs? Money well spent.......NOT......... if you get booted after the prologue!!!

 

 

I have to eat my words hubbers.  It seems the team that did over 3 hours received a time penalty.  So it seems the riders did not ride too bad after all.

 

Sorry.      

[Rapunzel]

yip, that pace is about right when I saw him trundling up that hill, probably would have been quicker if his partner rode ahead and then ran down to fetch the other bike and ridden that up AND still would have waited

They were penalised - the one bloke appeared to leave the course and then rejoined at view point B after a mechanical.

[rudi-h]

Some have no desire to improve their technical riding. Imagine how well we will all do if we lose 10kg's. just because its a good idea doesn't mean its going to happen. 

 

the problem with this logic is that somebody without skills causes congestion in sections that are typically narrow, steep and fun, the nett effect being that organizers are forced to cut out / widen / change these sections in years to follow due to congestion complaints.  the result is that races are getting less technical, less fun and downright boring.

 

if you are a slow climber but a capable technical rider, 99% of the time you are being slow on some wide-ass dirt road where you are not affecting the flow of the race or causing any frustration.

 

years ago on sani2C, i landed behind a bloke (or maybe a girl, cant remember) that literally got off his/her bike and pushed around every switchback on nicks pass.  some will argue that that section of single track must be some of the most awesome pieces of riding in the whole of SA, and every moment of fun was taken right out of it because of one dude with no skills.

[Louis for real]

to me it just seems like a total lack off skill>>>LOL 

[GLuvsMtb]

the problem with this logic is that somebody without skills causes congestion in sections that are typically narrow, steep and fun, the nett effect being that organizers are forced to cut out / widen / change these sections in years to follow due to congestion complaints. the result is that races are getting less technical, less fun and downright boring.

 

if you are a slow climber but a capable technical rider, 99% of the time you are being slow on some wide-ass dirt road where you are not affecting the flow of the race or causing any frustration.

 

years ago on sani2C, i landed behind a bloke (or maybe a girl, cant remember) that literally got off his/her bike and pushed around every switchback on nicks pass. some will argue that that section of single track must be some of the most awesome pieces of riding in the whole of SA, and every moment of fun was taken right out of it because of one dude with no skills.

All I am saying is that being technically proficient is not a pre requisite for Epic success. Do you really think that the Epic route would be dumbed down to accommodate a lack of skill? Furthermore riders are entitled to take as long as the race organizers allow to complete a stage. Trail and race etiquette is an entirely different topic. Doing a few enduro events may help some riders in this regard. Thinking that riders HAVE to like technical riding would limit the Epic field and turn it into something its not. For that you go do BC Bike race.

[GLuvsMtb]

the problem with this logic is that somebody without skills causes congestion in sections that are typically narrow, steep and fun, the nett effect being that organizers are forced to cut out / widen / change these sections in years to follow due to congestion complaints. the result is that races are getting less technical, less fun and downright boring.

 

if you are a slow climber but a capable technical rider, 99% of the time you are being slow on some wide-ass dirt road where you are not affecting the flow of the race or causing any frustration.

 

years ago on sani2C, i landed behind a bloke (or maybe a girl, cant remember) that literally got off his/her bike and pushed around every switchback on nicks pass. some will argue that that section of single track must be some of the most awesome pieces of riding in the whole of SA, and every moment of fun was taken right out of it because of one dude with no skills.

All I am saying is that being technically proficient is not a pre requisite for Epic success. Do you really think that the Epic route would be dumbed down to accommodate a lack of skill? Furthermore riders are entitled to take as long as the race organizers allow to complete a stage. Trail and race etiquette is an entirely different topic. Doing a few enduro events may help some riders in this regard. Thinking that riders HAVE to like technical riding would limit the Epic field and turn it into something its not. For that you go do BC Bike race.

[Hairy]

All I am saying is that being technically proficient is not a pre requisite for Epic success. Do you really think that the Epic route would be dumbed down to accommodate a lack of skill? Furthermore riders are entitled to take as long as the race organizers allow to complete a stage. Trail and race etiquette is an entirely different topic. Doing a few enduro events may help some riders in this regard. Thinking that riders HAVE to like technical riding would limit the Epic field and turn it into something its not. For that you go do BC Bike race.

Well they did build the bridge to enter the st in question due to concerns riders wild not be able tohandle the entry

[rudi-h]

All I am saying is that being technically proficient is not a pre requisite for Epic success. Do you really think that the Epic route would be dumbed down to accommodate a lack of skill? Furthermore riders are entitled to take as long as the race organizers allow to complete a stage. Trail and race etiquette is an entirely different topic. Doing a few enduro events may help some riders in this regard. Thinking that riders HAVE to like technical riding would limit the Epic field and turn it into something its not. For that you go do BC Bike race.

 

the epic is the tour de france of mountainbiking.  its supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport on all levels.  its supposed to be hard, tough and "untamed" as they like to call it.  then they "un-tame" one section in the prologue with the result that half of the field pulls a spectacular OTB.  Surely occurrences like these will eventually "dumb down" the race (in your words) to eventually become a hill-top fitness contest.  If a demanding technical course would indeed "limit the epic field" then I am afraid that the current epic field does not represent the heart and soul of our sport!

 

PS I also don't think completing enduro races should be compulsory to enter the epic or any other race for that matter, as 2 enduro rides by itself won't improve your skill.  I just think that the "climbing only" mentality is bad for our sport in general, and perhaps we should all strive to become more rounded riders, not just chasing strava KOMs on straight roads.

[droo]

All I am saying is that being technically proficient is not a pre requisite for Epic success. Do you really think that the Epic route would be dumbed down to accommodate a lack of skill? Furthermore riders are entitled to take as long as the race organizers allow to complete a stage. Trail and race etiquette is an entirely different topic. Doing a few enduro events may help some riders in this regard. Thinking that riders HAVE to like technical riding would limit the Epic field and turn it into something its not. For that you go do BC Bike race.

 

Yes. It's happened to many other races too. I can't recall which event, it may have been Eselfontein, but there have been instances of race organisers soilcreting technical bits so the average sunday palooka can ride them.

 

the epic is the tour de france of mountainbiking.  its supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport on all levels.  its supposed to be hard, tough and "untamed" as they like to call it.  then they "un-tame" one section in the prologue with the result that half of the field pulls a spectacular OTB.  Surely occurrences like these will eventually "dumb down" the race (in your words) to eventually become a hill-top fitness contest.  If a demanding technical course would indeed "limit the epic field" then I am afraid that the current epic field does not represent the heart and soul of our sport!

 

PS I also don't think completing enduro races should be compulsory to enter the epic or any other race for that matter, as 2 enduro rides by itself won't improve your skill.  I just think that the "climbing only" mentality is bad for our sport in general, and perhaps we should all strive to become more rounded riders, not just chasing strava KOMs on straight roads.

 

This. There are many aspects to MTBing, and half the challenge (point?) of the sport is riding over lumpy stuff without ending up in the bushes. Your earlier point about the dirt roadie types that smash district road climbs and then proceed to hold everyone else up in the ST is exactly the reason why I don't race.

[GLuvsMtb]

the epic is the tour de france of mountainbiking. its supposed to be the pinnacle of the sport on all levels. its supposed to be hard, tough and "untamed" as they like to call it. then they "un-tame" one section in the prologue with the result that half of the field pulls a spectacular OTB. Surely occurrences like these will eventually "dumb down" the race (in your words) to eventually become a hill-top fitness contest. If a demanding technical course would indeed "limit the epic field" then I am afraid that the current epic field does not represent the heart and soul of our sport!

 

PS I also don't think completing enduro races should be compulsory to enter the epic or any other race for that matter, as 2 enduro rides by itself won't improve your skill. I just think that the "climbing only" mentality is bad for our sport in general, and perhaps we should all strive to become more rounded riders, not just chasing strava KOMs on straight roads.

The only exclusive thing about the Epic is the price. Its more like climbing Everest than doing a TdF. You don't need to be a free climber to climb Everest, but you may enjoy it more, or you may find the long expedition type days tedious. If you have the means and is dedicated to train you can achieve success. Thats why we see marathon runners, soccer players and rugby players (and even the odd F1 driver) doing the event and succeeding. I wish people would stop romanticizing about the Epic. It is in fact nothing like the TdF.

[NicoBoshoff]

I saw a team come up that first tiny climb off Rhodes Mem tar, guy waited 3-4minutes for his partner who was walking, slowly, up the hill! Didn't look like a good start at all and checked their prologue finishing time on the results, 3hrs17!!!!

Just why?

Did ABSA perhaps pay for their entries?