Absa Cape Epic 2018

[Slowbee]

did it rain on last years epic?

[CogitoErgoSum]

Let's make it 7 x 10km and ride like hell shall we?

Ek kan net my kop skud....

 

Why aren't you riding then big shot?

 

There is every year someone on here complaining about the merits of the Epic.

 

Why does the difficulty concern you so much? What do you have to loose if this year is shorter/easier than previous times?

 

Everyone knows the Epic's marketing/media (specific ol' Gerald's commentary) is overly exaggerated.

 

If your existence depends on the difficulty level of the Epic, it is sad. If it is too easy this year, then so be it. There are worse matters to be concerned about.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

[davetapson]

Ek kan net my kop skud....

 

Why aren't you riding then big shot?

 

There is every year someone on here complaining about the merits of the Epic.

 

Why does the difficulty concern you so much? What do you have to loose if this year is shorter/easier than previous times?

 

Everyone knows the Epic's marketing/media (specific ol' Gerald's commentary) is overly exaggerated.

 

If your existence depends on the difficulty level of the Epic, it is sad. If it is too easy this year, then so be it. There are worse matters to be concerned about.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

 

When the Epic started, it was Epic. 

 

When those guys got to the finish line, you know they'd worked for it. You know it was an achievement. 

 

I spoke to one of the Polar guys, who back in the day were the only HR monitoring story in town and used to assist at the Epic, and he said that one thing a cyclist should do is get to the finish line of an Epic stage, because the human emotion was just another level and needed to be experienced.

 

Now?  Oh gosh, I'm a bit tired, but I got in with 40 mins to spare.

 

In your eyes, that's Epic?

[Shebeen]

Ek kan net my kop skud....

 

Why aren't you riding then big shot?

 

There is every year someone on here complaining about the merits of the Epic.

 

Why does the difficulty concern you so much? What do you have to loose if this year is shorter/easier than previous times?

 

Everyone knows the Epic's marketing/media (specific ol' Gerald's commentary) is overly exaggerated.

 

If your existence depends on the difficulty level of the Epic, it is sad. If it is too easy this year, then so be it. There are worse matters to be concerned about.

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G925F using Tapatalk

I don't think there is ever going to be anything wrong complaining about over exaggerated marketing... Frankly it should be encouraged

[Chingy182]

When the Epic started, it was Epic. 

 

When those guys got to the finish line, you know they'd worked for it. You know it was an achievement. 

 

I spoke to one of the Polar guys, who back in the day were the only HR monitoring story in town and used to assist at the Epic, and he said that one thing a cyclist should do is get to the finish line of an Epic stage, because the human emotion was just another level and needed to be experienced.

 

Now?  Oh gosh, I'm a bit tired, but I got in with 40 mins to spare.

 

In your eyes, that's Epic?

Sure thing, it was only day 1 and everyone is well prepared, excited and motivated.

Now go do it another 6 more consecutive days.

Personally, from a full blown weekend warrior, I consider it pretty epic. But that's just me.

[PhilipV]

When the Epic started, it was Epic.

 

When those guys got to the finish line, you know they'd worked for it. You know it was an achievement.

 

I spoke to one of the Polar guys, who back in the day were the only HR monitoring story in town and used to assist at the Epic, and he said that one thing a cyclist should do is get to the finish line of an Epic stage, because the human emotion was just another level and needed to be experienced.

 

Now? Oh gosh, I'm a bit tired, but I got in with 40 mins to spare.

 

In your eyes, that's Epic?

Just wait. Still early days. The attrition will come.

 

Besides, if you've never ridden the Karoo and dry Boland terrain you really have no clue how hard it can be.

 

Be wary of being an uninformed armchair critic, because you run the risk of looking like the uninformed father screaming at the ref at a primary school rugby game.

[LeoKnight]

My view, the Epic race is a combination of different events in one.  With the sharp end being the primary focus and not so much the back end.

 

Yes there is a component of riders that want to proof to themselves (and those around them) that they have overcome a grueling race that few others can achieve, something that takes dedication, training and mental strength to complete, I assume your view is that some of the guys / girls completing it this year does not fall under those categories, and that you would expect a flattish bell curve of success / failures.  There is also a component of riders signing up that want to enjoy it, they might not go as hard everyday from the start, rather conserving energy riding to finish instead of busting them nachos from the start, burning matches in the process, yet they do finish in time everyday, do the recovery at the end with a massage or two.

 

On the other side, the part that makes the advertising money, and the glam bit is the sharp end of the race.  At the end of the race do we feel that the best teams won the challenge, and were they properly tested between themselves, that we will only know in the end.  The clearest example that they race primary goal is the sharp end and not the back end, is the introduction of the shorter timetrail section.  That might sure not break any of the backmarkers, but it could have an impact on the overall standings, which more lean to the point that the epic is now a "lighter" version in some of the contributors here.

 

Let me put my my jokey jacket on, other things that they can do to make it more epic again:

- Stop offering recovery massages after the race

- Limit the food availability at the end

- Force everyone to sleep in tents

- Limit the amount of fluid that can be taken over the course

- Ban tubeless tires

 

 And for real epic, lets only allow hardtails

[dannygirl]

My view, the Epic race is a combination of different events in one.  With the sharp end being the primary focus and not so much the back end.

 

Yes there is a component of riders that want to proof to themselves (and those around them) that they have overcome a grueling race that few others can achieve, something that takes dedication, training and mental strength to complete, I assume your view is that some of the guys / girls completing it this year does not fall under those categories, and that you would expect a flattish bell curve of success / failures.  There is also a component of riders signing up that want to enjoy it, they might not go as hard everyday from the start, rather conserving energy riding to finish instead of busting them nachos from the start, burning matches in the process, yet they do finish in time everyday, do the recovery at the end with a massage or two.

 

On the other side, the part that makes the advertising money, and the glam bit is the sharp end of the race.  At the end of the race do we feel that the best teams won the challenge, and were they properly tested between themselves, that we will only know in the end.  The clearest example that they race primary goal is the sharp end and not the back end, is the introduction of the shorter timetrail section.  That might sure not break any of the backmarkers, but it could have an impact on the overall standings, which more lean to the point that the epic is now a "lighter" version in some of the contributors here.

 

Let me put my my jokey jacket on, other things that they can do to make it more epic again:

- Stop offering recovery massages after the race

- Limit the food availability at the end

- Force everyone to sleep in tents

- Limit the amount of fluid that can be taken over the course

- Ban tubeless tires

 

 And for real epic, lets only allow SS hardtails

 

fixed 

[Eldron]

epic lite.

 

Below average distance, nearly shortest, below average ascent, probably least ever.  Hard track?  Doesn't seem particularly so.

 

Data 2004 - 2018

 

 

Unfit folk finishing with time to spare.  A challenge?  I don't think so.

 

Have a read here: http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2017-capeepic-all-the-rider-stats/

 

Last 2 years have had 3.4% and 4.5% higher DNF rates than the average of 21%. The distance and ascent tell a very shallow story.

[JAVSA02]

Be wary of being an uninformed armchair critic, because you run the risk of looking like the uninformed father screaming at the ref at a primary school rugby game.

 

Love this response to a really shallow pov. Cant it just be about the riding or close competition? What impact better equipment, training, coaching and and and on making it look easier to what was?

[HDW]

According to Instagram Nino will be pulling out after today's stage.

[Shebeen]

nice to see the tracking working today.

 

they have changed the url so there must have been some behind the scenes late nights

http://cape-epic.co.za/

 

BUUUT it's a real amateur* move to have it load on satellite as default - much quicker to have it on terrain - and obviously more users can be handled.

 

 

 

 

*or people with shedloads of bandwidth to burn on their servers.

[Shebeen]

According to Instagram Nino will be pulling out after today's stage.

Expect a lot of wheelies for the helicopter today, then.

 

 

thought about it this morning.

 

I know they lost time yesterday, but for stirneman to pull out 18 hours before the start of stage 2 seemed a bit premature....the body can recover amazingly sometimes. Defending champs could have at least waited until km 30 today before pulling the plug.

 

 

{but what do i know}

[davetapson]

Have a read here: http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2017-capeepic-all-the-rider-stats/

 

Last 2 years have had 3.4% and 4.5% higher DNF rates than the average of 21%. The distance and ascent tell a very shallow story.

The proof will be what transpires over the next few days, for sure.

 

"We all know that you don’t start the Cape Epic for fun. Not if you’re committed to finishing the event. No matter how conditioned you are, the annual mountain bike race in the Western Cape will always be a challenge. It will challenge you during the months of preparation and it will challenge you during the eight racing days. It will dare you, it will humble you and it will undoubtedly change your life. The Cape Epic is one of the most significant challenges its finishers will ever conquer.

That’s part of the attraction for over 1200 mountain bikers each year. You always finish a Cape Epic richer than when you started. Not richer financially, obviously, but richer personally. It’s inevitable. It’s why humans make great sacrifices and take on great physical challenges like the Cape Epic. It’s a voluntary commitment to finishing something difficult. It’s predominantly a physical event, but it requires mental and emotional strength. Yes, the Cape Epic is a pretty solid allround test of your character. 

And it’s a privilege. Most entrants appreciate that it’s a privilege. A privilege having an entry. A privilege to be healthy enough to tackle something this daunting. A privilege to have the appropriate equipment. A privilege to be able to be a part a world class event in our own country."

 

That's exactly the point.

 

It is supposed to be hard.  If it is not, you are trivializing the commitment and effort, and expectations, of the riders.

 

Would you rather be known as a finisher of an Epic (and there have been a few) Epic, or  an 'easy' Epic?

 

As soon as 'anybody' can complete any endeavor, that en endeavor loses what it had to offer originally.  A bit like adding the Vic Clapham medal to Comrades.  That hour makes a difference, and as such takes away some of the challenge.

 

It seems to me, (and you are welcome to call me uninformed on this point) that the format of the race has changed from being a string of marathons, to a string of X-country races.  To prevail in the past, you had to be a hard man/woman - it was HARD.  Now you just need to be fast. It's not the same. 

[nathrix]

Have a read here: http://www.treadmtb.co.za/2017-capeepic-all-the-rider-stats/

 

Last 2 years have had 3.4% and 4.5% higher DNF rates than the average of 21%. The distance and ascent tell a very shallow story.

 

Maybe it's because the majority of riders these days have deep pockets/celebs?

Don't get me wrong, the epic is a hell of a tough stage race day in and day out.

 

I'm not convinced the current format is tougher compared to the previous years. All of them were tough. Also if you look at the huge improvements in bikes, equipment, nutrition and better training programs, you should not have an excuse not to finish unless you get sick or crashed out.

 

Just my 2c, armchair critic (cum laude).

[Shebeen]

My pic for MASTERS winner 2019

 

hermida and purito (will be eligible next year)