Absa Cape Epic 2018

[Patchelicious]

Meanwhile Brett Rheeder made more money this weekend taking two runs down Rotorua Slopestyle course than the winning team at the Epic. And he didn't have to sleep in a tent 

We should arrange a mass rally and go save these pro MTBers from the people who are holding the guns to their heads forcing them to ride bikes for a living.

[NicoBoshoff]

We should arrange a mass rally and go save these pro MTBers from the people who are holding the guns to their heads forcing them to ride bikes for a living.

Bit of a leap there. Simply poking fun at the irony that riders at the absolute fringe of the sport (I mean how many people reading this will now first Google Brett Rheeder, Crankworx and Slopestyle) are getting bigger paydays than the winners (combined) of the Tour de France of Mountainbiking (not that I've ever seen a boep finish the Tour).

[Odinson]

Bit of a leap there. Simply poking fun at the irony that riders at the absolute fringe of the sport (I mean how many people reading this will now first Google Brett Rheeder, Crankworx and Slopestyle) are getting bigger paydays than the winners (combined) of the Tour de France of Mountainbiking (not that I've ever seen a boep finish the Tour).

 

I think globally that Crankworx and the big slopestyle events might pull in bigger numbers than the Epic.

 

SA is just focussed on XC and very few people there give a **** about the rest of the MTBing universe. 

[Headshot]

Bit of a leap there. Simply poking fun at the irony that riders at the absolute fringe of the sport (I mean how many people reading this will now first Google Brett Rheeder, Crankworx and Slopestyle) are getting bigger paydays than the winners (combined) of the Tour de France of Mountainbiking (not that I've ever seen a boep finish the Tour).

Its only in this country that MTB is seen through the marathon lens almost exclusively, so Rheeder and his achievements are far more widely known world wide than here in blinkered SA.

[Eldron]

Its only in this country that MTB is seen through the marathon lens almost exclusively, so Rheeder and his achievements are far more widely known world wide than here in blinkered SA.

 

I don't know about that. In my circle I'd put knowledge of Rheeder at >90%.

 

Just because the race scene in SA is marathon focused doesn't meant other styles are not followed.

[Headshot]

I don't know about that. In my circle I'd put knowledge of Rheeder at >90%.

 

Just because the race scene in SA is marathon focused doesn't meant other styles are not followed.

Are those your Copenhagen homies or the local ones :-) I am going to ask one of my local Whatsapp groups who Brett Rheeder is and see who knows. Report to follow. 

 

Obviously I generalized a bit, but what I find is that people here are rather stuck in their particular mold. They absorb the mainstream MTB culture which here is all about the Epic and which is seen as the pinnacle of biking achievement bar none.  That said when you have Darkfest thrust down your throat and decent trails being built all over, it starts getting harder to avoid the other stuff...

[Eldron]

Are those your Copenhagen homies or the local ones :-) I am going to ask one of my local Whatsapp groups who Brett Rheeder is and see who knows. Report to follow.

 

Obviously I generalized a bit, but what I find is that people here are rather stuck in their particular mold. They absorb the mainstream MTB culture which here is all about the Epic and which is seen as the pinnacle of biking achievement bar none. That said when you have Darkfest thrust down your throat and decent trails being built all over, it starts getting harder to avoid the other stuff...

SA homies of course - over here precious few have heard of the Epic :-)

 

Slopestyle style events will always be nichey because the skill set is pretty far removed from Mr. Joe average but that doesn't mean it isn't followed/popular...

 

Hell people love supercars but very few have owned or driven one.

[MTBeer]

Are those your Copenhagen homies or the local ones :-) I am going to ask one of my local Whatsapp groups who Brett Rheeder is and see who knows. Report to follow. 

 

Obviously I generalized a bit, but what I find is that people here are rather stuck in their particular mold. They absorb the mainstream MTB culture which here is all about the Epic and which is seen as the pinnacle of biking achievement bar none.  That said when you have Darkfest thrust down your throat and decent trails being built all over, it starts getting harder to avoid the other stuff...

there is a third group of MTB riders here in SA (myself included). We don't particularly enjoy marathon stuff AND we've never heard of Brett Rheeder...

We just ride.

[Underachiever]

Just like any bike ride, whether it's taking your kid to school, or doing a 24hr race, the Epic is as tough as you make it.

 

 

 

Oh yes - and what about 2009 where we had a 4km hike-a-bike section over the mountains from Villiersdorp to Greyton.

 

 

To everyone that finished - well done. It's a remarkable achievement (especially for us privateers). Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Bask in your glory, chill for a week or two, and enjoy the super strong legs that you'll have in about a month's time!! 

Agree fully with your post.  My 2009 Epic was relative easy (I remember the hike), since I was stronger than my partner, and I slept well every night.

 

The tables turned in the 2012 Cape Pioneer where he was stronger, I didn't sleep well, so I was in the red for days 4-6.  Those 3 days were pure hell.

[Underachiever]

 

I have an immune system that is normally invincible (sick about once every 5 years, 12 years since I last had a tummy bug) and I came down the night before queen stage. I do not consume gels / sugary drinks and practise good hygiene so it would be unfair to lay the blame at the door of those of us who got it.

By the end of the Wednesday, unconfirmed reports say that over 200 people had been treated for gastro.

There are many areas where the spread of illness could have been averted.

• Better sanitation: There is virtually no running water in the race village - the 11 taps of potable water for all the riders are used for washing and filling bottles, brushing teeth, washing faces and hands ... and then non-potable water at the showers for washing clothing. Other than this, only hand sanitizer or the wipes you get at the supermarket for cleaning trolley handles)
• Staff toilets not equipped with hand sanitizer (trust me when you have a tummy bug, you have to use whatever portaloo is closest and the thought of people touching my food, suitcase, bike, ... after using these loos is not a nice one)
• Get the professionals in to assist instead of pretending there's no problem. This is an increasing problem each year. Epidemiologists specialise in locating the source and preventing the spread of illness and could have helped prevent this in 2018 / could help prevent it again in 2019

 

With reference to some posts of last year. 

 

Glad I didn't pay the big bucks to be treated like a "troep" for a week, and then get ill too. 

 

Having said that, the race is a "bucket list" event and I'm glad I got my chance in 2009 when the race was smaller and marginally better organised.

[Velouria]

With reference to some posts of last year. 

 

Glad I didn't pay the big bucks to be treated like a "troep" for a week, and then get ill too. 

 

Having said that, the race is a "bucket list" event and I'm glad I got my chance in 2009 when the race was smaller and marginally better organised.

2009 was probably the sweet spot. Before the big corporates got involved, and before the crazy entry fees.

 

There was still a cool vibe in the race village. The food was good and plentiful, the volunteers were (and still are) rock stars.

 

There were 600 teams, so it wasn't that much smaller out on the route. There were far less support services though...

[FDP]

I would be really interested in seeing what type of spares/tools those that rode carried along. Apparently some crazy bush mechanics by some backmarkers...

[mrcg]

Exactly why I am so shocked, he supposed to be one of the cool guys.

 

Lets see what he says.

 

Let's remember...not everything plays out on social media or in front of tv cameras.

I know enough of Mani that he would have visited Jeremiah and checked in on him and they would've chatted about it.

If not, then they're both pro enough to understand the situation: racing, **** happens (esp. when fatigued and in pain and groggy) and the race is paramount. Yes, it seems, sounds and looks uncool to most, but Jeremiah would've done the same racing for 2nd/3rd GC podium. And we also didn't hear everything on tv - perhaps Mani said "sorry, you ok?" or something similar...

[ScaredShiftless]

I wonder if the entries for the 2019 edition also sold out in no time like previous years...? 

[Carmichael]

Sold out in seconds

[Nick]

The selling out is a bit of hype. There are only 100 early bird entries available that sell out. Everyone else can still go into the lottery to get entries, if they wish.

 

https://www.bikehub.co.za/features/_/news/mtb/international-mtb/cape-epic-early-bird-entries-sell-out-instantaneously-r7225