Cape Epic 2019

[Headshot]

Calm your farm chap .... plenty pros out there, even amongst the gravity set who have no idea how their bike works. Other than how they want it to. 

 

Sure there's an argument for people understanding how to ride and understand their bike's mechanical magic. But at the end of the day despite bike setup and/or skillsets, any organised event is going to have an impact on the trail used.

 

A very balanced response. I agree but.. 

 

The gravity ( and XC)/XCM) pro's you refer to don't need to know much because they are getting the info and set up from somone who does. Their bikes are always set up perfectly amd they are coached and trained to ride very well.

 

An amateur MTB rider needs to have more mechanical knowledge but perhaps thanks to the Epic and other events and over priced service packages ( and camper vans), many feel like thay are pros. The wheels fall off outside that environment, and sometimes during the very supported event when the oversubscribed service team stuff up the gear settings or something else happens en route. 

 

As to trail damage, yes for sure an event is always hard on  the trails.

[Headshot]

I agree with DnD re the berm radius. Attached is an example of a Helderberg berm:

Change of radius mid-berm

Wear on the preferred line (Post Epic)

New lower entry now being used

 

Perhaps Forster got caught by this change of radius, thinking he can carry more speed (he wiped out on one of these). Some of the berms are amongst trees, and the full berm is not visable on approch.

 

In general, the brake wear got better the further down the slope I went, and riders adjusted how much speed they took in.

Since when can a berm not have a change of radius?

 

I wonder if the lack of outright braking on most marathon bikes is part of the problem. With 160/140 rotors ( for weight ya know)  you cant adjust speed as swiftly as proper brakes. This will lead to panic brake dragging through a corner and an even greater liklihood of a slide especially when that develish "radius change" occurs... 

[MTBeer]

too much back brake too little front brake.

[DieselnDust]

Since when can a berm not have a change of radius?

 

I wonder if the lack of outright braking on most marathon bikes is part of the problem. With 160/140 rotors ( for weight ya know)  you cant adjust speed as swiftly as proper brakes. This will lead to panic brake dragging through a corner and an even greater liklihood of a slide especially when that develish "radius change" occurs... 

 

 

 

Waaaaay to much BS in here to take seriously

[Headshot]

Waaaaay to much BS in here to take seriously

Coming form an ace at BS, I take that as a compliment.  You been taking lessons from ichball Swerve again? 

[SwissVan]

Anyone looking for a Swiss Epic Partner? Ready for another adventure!

Pass

To much climbing

????

[NotSoBigBen]

Anyone looking for a Swiss Epic Partner? Ready for another adventure!

According to the Hub 'spurts most of us aren't skilled or skraal enough to bother entering so best to look at some other forum my friend ...

[Jewbacca]

According to the Hub 'spurts most of us aren't skilled or skraal enough to bother entering so best to look at some other forum my friend ...

The big boss and founder of Bikehub did the SwissEpic last year.... He IS this forum!

[DieselnDust]

Coming form from an ace at BS, I take that as a compliment. (you shouldn't,.....no really you shouldn't)  You been taking lessons from ichball Swerve again? 

 

You know full well that if berms are intended to tighten up, that the exit should then be designed to accommodate the rider being higher up on the berm at exit The berm disappearing to nothing but off camber track is just poor design. Don't make excuses for poor design. trail features should be design to maintain the flow of the trail and thus promote riders laying off the brakes for as long as possible. 

 

And whats all the issue with peoples disc brakes now. 160/140 is a legitimate gravel bike set up and gravel bikes can ride Tokai too or do you have some rules in the pipeline to get rid of those too because you don't have one?

 

Would you mind displaying your title deed to MTB? I'd really like to see why you think you own MTB and how riders should enjoy it. Crashing often on the land and leaving DNA behind doesn't qualify as title deed.

 

You really sound like a grouchy old man who has never ridden the Epic but dearly dearly wants too but can't because he spent his life campaigning against it and the people who participate in it. There there group hug. Just drop the cash, do the training and post the happy pics

[Tim Brink]

 

 

You really sound like a grouchy old man who has never ridden the Epic but dearly dearly wants too but can't because he spent his life campaigning against it and the people who participate in it. There there group hug. Just drop the cash, do the training and post the happy pics

 

You should see the damage Headshot did to the trails on his 26er in his early Epics.

[DieselnDust]

You should see the damage Headshot did to the trails on his 26er in his early Epics.

 

 

Pictures, Strava or are we talking pre-strava?

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

You know full well that if berms are intended to tighten up, that the exit should then be designed to accommodate the rider being higher up on the berm at exit The berm disappearing to nothing but off camber track is just poor design. Don't make excuses for poor design. trail features should be design to maintain the flow of the trail and thus promote riders laying off the brakes for as long as possible.

 

And whats all the issue with peoples disc brakes now. 160/140 is a legitimate gravel bike set up and gravel bikes can ride Tokai too or do you have some rules in the pipeline to get rid of those too because you don't have one?

 

Would you mind displaying your title deed to MTB? I'd really like to see why you think you own MTB and how riders should enjoy it. Crashing often on the land and leaving DNA behind doesn't qualify as title deed.

 

You really sound like a grouchy old man who has never ridden the Epic but dearly dearly wants too but can't because he spent his life campaigning against it and the people who participate in it. There there group hug. Just drop the cash, do the training and post the happy pics

Says the man who's been banned from le hub twice.

[Tim Brink]

Pictures, Strava or are we talking pre-strava?

 

2. 12.7  GPS Data. No rider may distribute any GPS co-ordinates in respect of the Race route at any time (including but not limited to, uploads onto online platforms such as Strava), unless expressly authorized in writing by the Organisers.

[BigDL]

Says the man who's been banned from le hub twice.

Oooohhh - interesting

[Headshot]

You know full well that if berms are intended to tighten up, that the exit should then be designed to accommodate the rider being higher up on the berm at exit The berm disappearing to nothing but off camber track is just poor design. Don't make excuses for poor design. trail features should be design to maintain the flow of the trail and thus promote riders laying off the brakes for as long as possible. 

 

And whats all the issue with peoples disc brakes now. 160/140 is a legitimate gravel bike set up and gravel bikes can ride Tokai too or do you have some rules in the pipeline to get rid of those too because you don't have one?

 

Would you mind displaying your title deed to MTB? I'd really like to see why you think you own MTB and how riders should enjoy it. Crashing often on the land and leaving DNA behind doesn't qualify as title deed.

 

You really sound like a grouchy old man who has never ridden the Epic but dearly dearly wants too but can't because he spent his life campaigning against it and the people who participate in it. There there group hug. Just drop the cash, do the training and post the happy pics

I've been watching your momentum build with every anonymous post you make old boy - you're on a roll. Time to reign yourself in there tiger. You're getting out of hand again.

[Captain Fastbastard Mayhem]

I've been watching your momentum build with every anonymous post you make old boy - you're on a roll. Time to reign yourself in there tiger. You're getting out of hand again.

Maybe he should change his name to GoRS1! to reflect the change in fork... While hinting at one of the previous nicks