Pure Savage Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Entry cost of an event and what the organiser provide are not related. Entry is driven by demand, and while there is demand, they'll keep upping the price. Am I happy with that? No. Have I made peace with that. Yes. If you okes are moaning about Epic now, I hate to think what you would have to say about Epic waaaay back in the day. Epic was a game changer for events in this country, and the Epic of 2007 is a shadow of what they put together these days. The race village literally consisted of 3 gazebos, a food tent and a truck with showers on the back. There was a halfhearted attempt at a supporters village - again, 2 bike shops and a physio offering massages. We quickly caught on that in order to have something to eat after the stage, you had to load up with Mule bars at the last water point, otherwise you'd go hungry till supper. Unlike now, crossing the finish line signalled the start of the hard work. We had to wash our bikes our selves, which meant we had to stand in a queue, still in our kit, and wait for our turn to use the hose pipe. Then it was off to the bag truck to get your bag, find a tent, eat a Mule bar or two or three, and wander over to the queue for showers. And they were the same showers for the weekend warriors as for the pros (which was kinda cool!). Next on the list was housekeeping - wash your kit in the basins provided, wash bottles, and try to find the water truck. For something so big it amazed me at how well they were able to hide it. With the Mule bars causing havoc in your belly, it was off to the daily torture session at the hands of the inexperienced Stellenbosch physio students. I often dreaded those massages more than what Dr Evil had ride up and down. By this time is was usually dinner time, which meant standing in another queue while listening to Mic Mic scream into the microphone in German English, and not being able to understand a word he said! Oh yes, and we had to bring our own water to dinner. After the awards and route previews (I can still remember having my mind blown by the flyover feature of Google Maps!) it was bed time. Except it never was easy to sleep because of the sound of the diesel generator they had parked next to the little yellow tents. I didn't mind it then, and I don't mind it now. Epic is about the stuff that happens from when the gun fires, till that moment we cross the finish line. I don't know how they do it, but that part of the event is still something they just get.If you dont mind us asking, how much did you pay to ride what sounds like the untamed epic 10 years ago?
Eugene Oppelt Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 If you dont mind us asking, how much did you pay to ride what sounds like the untamed epic 10 years ago? I'd guess 16 smackeroos
Velouria Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Something to think about : What if you and your partner trained like beasts as in when you get there you're strong ,super fit and ready for this. But on the start line you start easy and just enjoy it. Ride like it like A afternoon trail mission while having the physical condition to be in the leading bunch . I think it could be A lot of fun , but then again maybe not....Pretty much how I rode it this year. Although it was only me, not my partner It's great to not be dying every day, and to have a chance to appreciate some of the spectacular areas we get to ride in, but you're always that guy. The flip side is that you get to see that it's just as tough for the guys in the middle of the pack (and at the back too, although I haven't experienced that) as it is for the guys at the front. Everyone is riding on their limit. Everyone hurts. Everyone takes strain. And it explains why some people are so emotional when crossing the finish line each day, as well as that final finish line. For some of them, getting to the start is an achievement, and many aren't even sure if they'll make the first water point each day. But they do. And then they make the second water point, and before they know it, they cross finish line. Only to do that for 8 days. While I never said it to my partner, I made a promise that I was not going to push him, or give him a pocket, for two reasons. The first being that he was going to earn that medal and shirt on his own - I'd guide him and encourage him and be his waterpoint lacky, but he was going to get his bike to the finish under his own power. The second reason was my own - to try to quell my race instincts. We were going to be riding this at his pace! By and large it worked, but I did struggle when teams would overtake us. Getting back to being that guy. You're the guy that doesn't belong. Even though you're there with your partner, you're the guy that never really fits in with the rest of the riders around you. You don't share in their suffering. In their anguish. In their achievement. And for Epic, that feels a little wrong.
Velouria Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 If you dont mind us asking, how much did you pay to ride what sounds like the untamed epic 10 years ago?I think it was R12k for a team. Which was crazy considering PPA races cost R50 (R40 with easy entries), and Hell and Back cost R300 for a weekend.
Headshot Posted March 31, 2017 Author Posted March 31, 2017 I think it was R12k for a team. Which was crazy considering PPA races cost R50 (R40 with easy entries), and Hell and Back cost R300 for a weekend.So we can blame te Epic for pushing the price of everything up? Sounds fair? :-) Back then i tried to get an entry a couple of times and never did. Finding 6k seemed easier 10 years ago than finding R38.5 k would be now - by a long shot. At a normal inflation rate, of say 6% I think the price would be about R25k maybe less. Even that is still palatable - if only just.
eddy Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 FFS I'd forgotten what a bunch of cry babies populate this forum. . Who complain when there's a bottleneck at a race, but don't want to put in the hours of training to get seeded in bunches where there are no bottle necks That doesn't quite sum up Grant.. FFS I'd forgotten what a bunch of cry babies populate this forum. The same who whinge about race prices, and bike shop owners who dare charge them when they just 'pop in' on a Saturday morning with their dirty bike expecting the owner to just drop everything and help them. I am not sure which bike shop Grant goes to for his servicing, but when I take mine to his he does a good brilliant job. He has also on occasion not charged for a small job. He has never struck me as either as demanding privilege or as a wannabe. That the video comes from someone with his abilities both on and off the bike has some value in my book. Having said that, there are a lot of whingers around too.
SCD Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Entry cost of an event and what the organiser provide are not related. Entry is driven by demand, and while there is demand, they'll keep upping the price. Am I happy with that? No. Have I made peace with that. Yes. *** After the awards and route previews (I can still remember having my mind blown by the flyover feature of Google Maps!) it was bed time. Except it never was easy to sleep because of the sound of the diesel generator they had parked next to the little yellow tents. I didn't mind it then, and I don't mind it now. Epic is about the stuff that happens from when the gun fires, till that moment we cross the finish line. I don't know how they do it, but that part of the event is still something they just get. Great comment, adding a lot of perspective. It makes me want to add to my earlier post that the big disappointment experienced was more against the huge expectations created by the EPIC's grande marketing promises. If you step back a bit and ignore the fanfare with which the EPIC is presenting itself the whole things is much lightened. So maybe the marketeers and the delivery guys should work from the same revision of the project briefing ... Lynn, listen up! Anyway, I was in a similar position as you describe in your next post, so I had an absolute blast. Riding awesome trails in the fairytale landscapes of the Western Cape for 8 days in a row is mindboggling insane and amazing...love it
mrcg Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 a quick recap from me:i did the 2017 edition - first timer. I've done (nearly) all other races out there so can compare. Which i won't bore you with, don't worry As mentioned by some previous forumites....Epic is Epic and you need to know what you are getting into. For me it was a bucket list item - a "to do", for my own bragging rights. However, having said that, there was definite disappointment with the level of some basics. And this is unacceptable and will eventually kill this race. Epic can look at maximising their bottom line, as they are free to do as a business, but eventually you will lose your overall appeal. Or only host pro/semi-pro riders. Which it seems is where they are going anyway.Food = dinner was always terrible. Quality and taste. Junk status. Brekkie ok.Best EVER: Woolies recovery tent. This is what saved us "normal"riders every day the moment we got off the bike. The service (wet towels, spray fans) and the people working there were top notch, never mind the food. Quality!!! This alone made it worth it. Luckily we didn't have to rely on the caterers of the Epic. Enough goodies to take to the tent to keep us going.Food is a basic for riders. The set-up at Sani2c or Joberg2c and many others is exemplary. They have a riding/racing soul. They look after their customers properly.Epic will always be elitist. We all (should) know that.Will I enter again? Not out of my own pocket! Sponsored, yes. To be part of that race.That's it
mrcg Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 Forgot to add: to be fair to Epic, what Grant showed in his video "only occurred" on the last night. As far as I saw - I didn't check the front rows every night.But no snacks, not enough water, coffee, tee, dessert, snacks etc....is just poor service delivery
leeubok Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 For nearly 40k I would rather fly to the Western Cape, ride all the trails there that I've never done before,or maybe even do a tour through the kalahari if I want to challenge myself. Whilst staying in comfortable b&b's with good food. I can't justify paying 38k to do a race, sleep in a tent and get crap service like people have mentioned here. Having said that, I wouldn't say no to a free entry into the epic.
EmptyB Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 For nearly 40k I would rather fly to the Western Cape, ride all the trails there that I've never done before,or maybe even do a tour through the kalahari if I want to challenge myself. Whilst staying in comfortable b&b's with good food. I can't justify paying 38k to do a race, sleep in a tent and get crap service like people have mentioned here. Having said that, I wouldn't say no to a free entry into the epic.Agreed...would I like to do the Epic, of course I would. But for that money I would far rather go on a MTB holiday.
Slowbee Posted March 31, 2017 Posted March 31, 2017 24k gets you and your bike to canada and back.4k for admin ( visa, passport and K@k )10k for accomodation and food 6k for trailfees and goodies at whistler. Seems like A good option when comparing My calculations may be A bit off be seems you can go to whistler for A few days compared to what it would cost to do the Epic. And that just the entry fee , I'm not including anything you buy yourself while doing the event. What would you rather do ? I'm not bashing the epic , just thinking out loudthe options to this kind of excercise are endless. I mean, you could hop on a plane to CT, and do most of the trails the WC has to offer, including hiring of a hubber or two to show you around. And still have loads of change for the extra baggage due to the premier beers and wine we have down here. Hell you could ship your mtn bike down, gravel grind from JHB (It is downhill after all). Hit the trails with mtn bike, the roads with your grinder. AND still have change.
Warthog Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 24k gets you and your bike to canada and back.4k for admin ( visa, passport and K@k )10k for accomodation and food 6k for trailfees and goodies at whistler. Seems like A good option when comparing My calculations may be A bit off be seems you can go to whistler for A few days compared to what it would cost to do the Epic. And that just the entry fee , I'm not including anything you buy yourself while doing the event. What would you rather do ? I'm not bashing the epic , just thinking out loudMy best mate lives in Canada, so I get 10K off. No brainer...
nonky Posted April 2, 2017 Posted April 2, 2017 Epic Ass Raping - Free Sorry, dude, you have to pay for that privilege in the western cape...only ANC provinces get it for FREE.
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