General Cape Epic 2016 Group

[Carmichael]

Extremely tough yes, my partner fell out on day one. Ran a 1x11 with 30 upfront, that was tough on some climbs I would have like to spin a little more..

[GLuvsMtb]

My second start - DNF.

 

A picture says a thousand words so I will just leave this. WP 2 stage 5. Racing well into the top 50 for the day. Making progress and feeling strong. Slipped on a wet root and took a boulder to the spine. Tried to continue but couldn't move my back and felt pins and needles in my back. Doctor told me not to continue. I cried like a baby..

 

ACE_STG5_EH-143.jpg

Sorry Donovan. It sucks big time to drop out like that.

I wonder how many had to drop out due to injury / tech trouble opposed to not being fit enough. Something tells me that these overpaid corporate types that everyone is moaning about prepare very well for the event.

[Donovan Le Cok]

So did anyone finish it on a 1x11?

 

I would say 80% of the field were on 1 x 11. I rode 32 oval up front and 10 - 42 rear. No problem. 

[AuctionLamb]

This year the Epic brought in some serious technical sections, the most obvious reason why riders experienced dehydration was because of the more technical/singletrack on the route, you just do not drink as much because you focus more staying on the bike and to drink on most sections were challenging.

 

I was sick the first 2 days, from the Wed I felt better so did our position. Managed to sneak in a 60 GC. No mechanical's but it is because we were very "conservative" on the downhills, rather be 60 sec slower on the decent than losing minutes fixing a puncture or fall yourself out of the Epic.

 

All in all very tough ride, proper technical, flat sections were sandy and if you had an open gravel road it was against the wind so no easy parts in this years Epic! :-)

 

I had a 1 x 11 with 32 in front, no issues.

 

Well done to all who finished!!

[Disylizzy]

Well done to all!  Huge respect to everyone.  Was standing up Stairway to Heaven on the Sunday and people were broken towards the back.  The coolest part was just seeing their smiles (mostly grimaces though) when they were told it's the last climb.

[waveduke]

My second start - DNF.

 

A picture says a thousand words so I will just leave this. WP 2 stage 5. Racing well into the top 50 for the day. Making progress and feeling strong. Slipped on a wet root and took a boulder to the spine. Tried to continue but couldn't move my back and felt pins and needles in my back. Doctor told me not to continue. I cried like a baby..

 

ACE_STG5_EH-143.jpg

 

Sorry Mate -  I was wondering what happened to you.

You guys were racing hard!

 

That's also part of the Epic. There is so much that can happen during these 8 days.

[SimpleDom]

Well done to all! Huge respect to everyone. Was standing up Stairway to Heaven on the Sunday and people were broken towards the back. The coolest part was just seeing their smiles (mostly grimaces though) when they were told it's the last climb.

Saw you up there. We were the team on the two orange Pygas. Was so Cool to have support up that last bit!

[varkie2]

We were the last entry into this years epic, winning it on the Dan Nicoll Show. My partner who won it had not ridden a mtb in his life. Needless to say he bought one and went for one skills course. He is a endurance athlete though.

 

We suffered on day one, he had very bad hammy cramps, but made it through, day two my fork seized coming down ouwapad.

 

Day 3 was tough.

 

As we went on it became "easier" because we got closer to the finish. Didnt try to race it, just make every stage.

 

Thought of giving up countless times.

 

But we crossed the finish line on sunday and it was amazing!. Bucketlist ticked.

 

Congrats to all who finished! We made some good chommies out there.

[Gnarly]

Finished my 3rd and last.

 

This was by far the most technical of the 3, others were 2010 and 2015.

 

Last year we came across the line said, hard yes but riding lekker.

 

This year we were like, farking hell that was hard and WTF did they just send us over. In saying that scenery was awesome when you could look around. I also cant remember so many crashes. We had access to the ABSA tent so that also helped take our mind off things a bit.

 

Tyres 2.4 X-King on the front, really helped in the sand, 2.2 Race-Kind on the back, hooked up very well but pretty much buggered after 8 days on that terrain.

 

Great to meet Johan (jcza) you are a machine pal.

 

I am also extremely proud of my Dad, riding with my boet, he was the oldest rider in the field and finished WITH a smile, not bad for 69 years old.

 

As I said before, and I mean it this time, this is my last. Financial strain and burden on the family.

 

Farewell Cape-Epic, it's been real.

[V12man]

On a side note - anybody want to swap a small jacket for a medium?

 

I have  a medium despite asking for a small - but I really need a small.

[V12man]

You know who we used, cannot recommend them highly enough. Bike has never felt better. 

It's ok - you can publically say who you used....

[V12man]

Yip. 1x11 here. 30t oval up front, 10-42 sram at the back. No problem. Don't think it was any more or less tough for me than someone on 2x

Well - no - because your low gear is almost the same as a 24/36 setup...

 

Had you used a 32, it would have been harder...

 

Edit - fixed up my misread calculation sheet

 

Gear chart using KPH @ 90 RPM For 29 x 2.3 /60/622 tire with 175 mm cranks With custom sprocket(s)   24 25.0 % 30 6.7 % 32 36 8.3   10.4   11.1 16.7 % 42 7.1   8.9   9.5

[waveduke]

On a side note - anybody want to swap a small jacket for a medium?

 

I have  a medium despite asking for a small - but I really need a small.

 

I need a medium - but only have a large...

[Aaron_B]

I got food poisoning and couldn't start Stage 5. Bleak. Up to that point my 32T front and 10-42 rear was perfect. Already secured entry for next year as revenge. Have to finish what I started.

[Lexx]

Why did so many people got sick? was it the food?

[cyclesharp]

So did anyone finish it on a 1x11?

Yip, 32 front