Grease_Monkey Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 Sometimes a duallie is a luxury not a choice.OP kinda implied by his question that he has that choice...
Eldron Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 OP kinda implied by his question that he has that choice... Sure but the conversation flowed from there.....
Grease_Monkey Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 Sure but the conversation flowed from there..... True...
Edge_Design Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 I think we're talking at cross purposes - a duallie is the best weapon for the Epic - no question. One of the issues raised was money - if you can't afford a decent dual susser then the Epic is completely doable on a HT (with some fortitude). To bang it into an elective category like SSing and Fattying probably makes those newbies on hardtails unnecessarily nervous. Given the choice - I'd like to ride the Epic on a factory bike with a camper van and a dozen support staff and mechanics. We don't all have that kinda lolly so people do the races at the level they can afford. Sometimes a duallie is a luxury not a choice. If money for a bike is an issue then should you spend R35k on a race entry? Just my opinion but I'd rather enjoy riding all year round than spend all my savings on 1 week (where you could crash on stage 1 and sacrifice the whole amount in theory)
Grease_Monkey Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 If money for a bike is an issue then should you spend R35k on a race entry? Just my opinion but I'd rather enjoy riding all year round than spend all my savings on 1 week (where you could crash on stage 1 and sacrifice the whole amount in theory) Personally, I'd rather spend the cash on a new bike. But... I have a mate who is doing Epic (and has done most of the major stage races) on a 2006 26er Aluminium Specialized Epic with 3x9 and basically completely buggered suspension (might as well ride a rigid). To him having the experience is more important than a new bike. And when I tell him about shiny carbon parts and 29" wheels he just laughs and drops me up all the hills and tech sections in any case...
V12man Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 Personally, I'd rather spend the cash on a new bike. But... I have a mate who is doing Epic (and has done most of the major stage races) on a 2006 26er Aluminium Specialized Epic with 3x9 and basically completely buggered suspension (might as well ride a rigid). To him having the experience is more important than a new bike. And when I tell him about shiny carbon parts and 29" wheels he just laughs and drops me up all the hills and tech sections in any case...Your mate is going to get a lot of verbal flak about his bike .. And there is always someone at the epic that can and will drop you... badly.... As to HT or DS - DS for sure - and a great fitting saddle and bib - personally I think people undervalued the benefit of a great set of bibs with seamless chamois - and judicious sterilisation of the area... I've posted on this before so feel free to search. Never spent a day at the bum clinic either.... ????
Eldron Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 If money for a bike is an issue then should you spend R35k on a race entry? Just my opinion but I'd rather enjoy riding all year round than spend all my savings on 1 week (where you could crash on stage 1 and sacrifice the whole amount in theory)<queue existential music> Depends which you vaiue more - experiences or posessions.
Edge_Design Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 <queue existential music> Depends which you vaiue more - experiences or posessions. I guess that depends on whether you regard the Epic as an experience or just yet another XC race that happens to be repeated daily for a week... But that's a debate for a different day! The rides I do with friends (occasionally in interesting places) are a much better experience for me personally if I had to only choose one option out of the race or the bike. The ultimate answer to the question that was asked is dual suspension is best for the Epic (and almost all other offroad riding in the Western Cape)... but hardtails are also capable of travelling 900km if they really had to (same as fat bikes, single speeds, 26ers and everything inbetween)
Eldron Posted January 8, 2018 Posted January 8, 2018 I guess that depends on whether you regard the Epic as an experience or just yet another XC race that happens to be repeated daily for a week... But that's a debate for a different day! The rides I do with friends (occasionally in interesting places) are a much better experience for me personally if I had to only choose one option out of the race or the bike. The ultimate answer to the question that was asked is dual suspension is best for the Epic (and almost all other offroad riding in the Western Cape)... but hardtails are also capable of travelling 900km if they really had to (same as fat bikes, single speeds, 26ers and everything inbetween) The Epic is a weird one - I didn't enjoy the race very much but you definitely form a different kind of bond with your partner - one which can't easily be replicated elsewhere. It's easy to brush off the Epic as a long poser's XC race if you haven't done one I suppose. Being in the "finishers club" has a silly and pointless but ethereal experience value. I'm still not sure what I would do if someone offered me R35k cash but I would lose the memory and experience of the Epic. Either way I'm glad I did it. R35k glad? I'm not sure. I'm glad I did it when it was R25k (if memory serves). Quite right on the ultimate answer though - duallie is best but ride it if you got it!
sirmoun10goat Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 If money for a bike is an issue then should you spend R35k on a race entry? Just my opinion but I'd rather enjoy riding all year round than spend all my savings on 1 week (where you could crash on stage 1 and sacrifice the whole amount in theory) The problem is timing - will I have money for a new dual next year? Probably. Will I get an Epic entry next year? Who knows - its not the easiest thing to come by, and with the rumors around needing to qualify for future Epics, I may never get the opportunity again
Dicky DQ Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 The problem is timing - will I have money for a new dual next year? Probably. Will I get an Epic entry next year? Who knows - its not the easiest thing to come by, and with the rumors around needing to qualify for future Epics, I may never get the opportunity againJust do it. I have done a few, all on HT. Would I do it again on a HT Not if I could help it. But my budget never extended to a DS. It is more tiring on a HT as you have to use you legs to soak up the bumps even on the flats, but that is about it. The ass is not an issue if you have done the km's.
Christie Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 Another factor to consider is the goal of the route designer - Epic tried to make it as hard as possible for the pro riders on the past. The focus is a bit different than other events, that try to make the route as enjoyable as possible (Jhb2c)
Jewbacca Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 I have a completely non related question... I see guys calling Epic an XC race on repeat, I see trail centres and guys on here regard the smooth, easy trails as XC oriented trails YET... when someone is asked why they don't come to any of the XC races their reply is often 'It's too technical'... Throwing out the term XC to describe sedate trails and hundreds of KM of gravel road and headwinds is hardly accurate. As you were.. Back to debating bikes, budgets, wheel size and religion...
Goodbadugly Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 My answer to the original question:Ride the bike you like. Hardtail, FS, singlespeed, 29er or 26er if you are so minded.Nobody with podium intentions will ask "hardtail or FS" on the bikehub.
Pure Savage Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 That is a little melodramatic! It's a little tougher on a hardtail but nowhere near fattie/ss territory. I realise humans are getting softer but come on - it's been done thousands and thousands and thousands of times on a hardtail.Wait, next you will say its possible to do the Epic on something that is not a 29er with 2.25 wide tyres and has a dropper post? MADNESS!!
Jewbacca Posted January 9, 2018 Posted January 9, 2018 Wait, next you will say its possible to do the Epic on something that is not a 29er with 2.25 wide tyres and has a dropper post? MADNESS!!2.25? Are you in 2015? You get 2.4 Ikon race tires these days Savage.... Keep up!
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