Absa Cape Epic 2021 thread

[DieselnDust]

20 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said:

The difference between the 10t and 11t is quite impressive. Running a 38 11 is similar to a 34-10 (3.45 vs 3.4). Running a 36-10 gives you almost the same ratio as a 40-11. I have found the move from 11 to 10 on my gravel bike pretty impressive, and I was considering moving up a chainring size before but now I am pretty happy. 

Now don't get me started on the drivetrain inefficiencies of running a smaller front ring or a smaller cog on the back... 

 

 

forget about the drivetrain inefficiencies. That's so small its only noticeable to snake oil salespersons

[Sid the Sloth]

1 minute ago, DieselnDust said:

 

 

forget about the drivetrain inefficiencies. That's so small its only noticeable to snake oil salespersons

Well if they are running 55t + chainrings in TT's partly to stay in the middle of the cassette, and people put on OSPW, wrapping your chain around a 10t and having a small front ring does not sound like the optimal combo. You are right though it is probably only milliwatts. 

[DieselnDust]

Its more the straightness of the chain were there is additional friction losses but I think unless you are addressesing all other friction losses the chain wrap over a 10 is nanonwatts and a watt is a small number

[J Wakefield]

22 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

Its more the straightness of the chain were there is additional friction losses but I think unless you are addressesing all other friction losses the chain wrap over a 10 is nanonwatts and a watt is a small number

 

41 minutes ago, Sid the Sloth said:

Well if they are running 55t + chainrings in TT's partly to stay in the middle of the cassette, and people put on OSPW, wrapping your chain around a 10t and having a small front ring does not sound like the optimal combo. You are right though it is probably only milliwatts. 

Believe it or not; that 1w over 4hrs is a fairly big loss of time when calculated and power. 
1 of the reasons we had Tadej run a junior cassette at the Tour TT last year to eliminate any cross chaining 

[Sid the Sloth]

3 minutes ago, J Wakefield said:

 

Believe it or not; that 1w over 4hrs is a fairly big loss of time when calculated and power. 
1 of the reasons we had Tadej run a junior cassette at the Tour TT last year to eliminate any cross chaining 

That reminds me I should probably fix my rubbing brake before Sunday lol

[DieselnDust]

11 minutes ago, J Wakefield said:

 

Believe it or not; that 1w over 4hrs is a fairly big loss of time when calculated and power. 
1 of the reasons we had Tadej run a junior cassette at the Tour TT last year to eliminate any cross chaining 

It’s one of the reasons I select my MTB chainring more to keep the chain as straight as possible in the gears I need on the flats and rolling hills than big steep climbs or descents. 
On a road bike I apply the same. What gears are used mostly so what chain rings allow that while keeping the chain as straight as possible most of the time 

[Hairy]

1 hour ago, Sid the Sloth said:

The difference between the 10t and 11t is quite impressive. Running a 38 11 is similar to a 34-10 (3.45 vs 3.4). Running a 36-10 gives you almost the same ratio as a 40-11. I have found the move from 11 to 10 on my gravel bike pretty impressive, and I was considering moving up a chainring size before but now I am pretty happy. 

Now don't get me started on the drivetrain inefficiencies of running a smaller front ring or a smaller cog on the back... 

Get an E-13 cassette and you can rock a 9t on the cassette

[Hairy]

8 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

It’s one of the reasons I select my MTB chainring more to keep the chain as straight as possible in the gears I need on the flats and rolling hills than big steep climbs or descents. 
On a road bike I apply the same. What gears are used mostly so what chain rings allow that while keeping the chain as straight as possible most of the time 

Best in line chain / chainring / cog = SS

[DieselnDust]

4 minutes ago, Hairy said:

Best in line chain / chainring / cog = SS

Nee man 

bmx is for bmx 

[TNT1]

9 minutes ago, Hairy said:

Best in line chain / chainring / cog = SS

Er, nope. Pinion box FTW

https://en.nicolai-bicycles.com/bike/ion-g16-gpi/

 

 

 

Edited October 19, 2021 by TNT1

[Hairy]

35 minutes ago, TNT1 said:

Er, nope. Pinion box FTW

https://en.nicolai-bicycles.com/bike/ion-g16-gpi/

 

 

 

Nope .. nowhere near as efficient, but serious street cred

[peetwindhoek]

2 hours ago, Hairy said:

Do you think that Matt's power comes from his mullet ..... 

Of course! #MulletPower is a thing. My guess is at least 40 Watts advantage!

[peetwindhoek]

1 hour ago, Hairy said:

Get an E-13 cassette and you can rock a 9t on the cassette

Yes, please! At 80 RPM that is almost 4km/h faster then the 10T.

[babse]

4 hours ago, Spafsack said:

Do we know what happened, is it runny tummy, chits and giggles?

Yeah they sat in mid A group not interested in setting pace from the gun. Seemed strange. 

Stopped twice (for nature call) before pulling off just after technical terrain climb. 

Hats off to Craig and Andrew for taking their opportunity and smashing the rest of the masters field. 

[Shebeen]

4 hours ago, Danger Dassie said:

I remember that year, we'd missed that section in the media ride to get ahead of the group another colleague and his moto rider rerouted riders away from the hives. 

Actually impressed at Epic's media setup, especially this year. It's a high end ecosystem and integration.
Besides all the logistics around working with all the external media across all platforms, they also have their own internal team of permanent and contract media staff. To co-ordinate helicopters, OB, ebike with camera/audio, route motos and then produce both a live and highlights package on deadline is damn impressive. And on top of that with 4G and Youtube/FB as a viewing platform. All on top of a number photographic and digital media services. 

it is groundbreaking what they're doing with the ebike coverage. I think they've dropped the 360' cameras they tried initially, too much waster data i guess. A huge part must be surely that Bulls is a small mtb brand but hugely commited to epic, they have the ebikes that are capable of riding the range and the terrain and the team riders who are recently retired hotshots. There was a bit today where Sahm almost collided with a rider who stopped unexpectedly, it took huge reactions and anticipation for him to avoid it.

What does suprirse me is that they're using live commentary, where GdK can ask queries and the audio comms goes onto the feed. but it's terribly borken and basically useless. must be a nice to have feature they never put the time into perfecting, as the video feed on youtube is 460p so the bandwidth is there.

 

3 hours ago, Hairy said:

Do you think that Matt's power comes from his mullet ..... 

he's had a much more powerful mullet in te past, giving everyone else a chance with even a  bit of neck showing

Edited October 19, 2021 by Shebeen

[babse]

5 hours ago, Shebeen said:

 

Today is the day for the Hanekom borthers to show their piece of paradise.

 

I've done that last donkey trail on foot. how rideable is it currently(because it wasn't then)?

 

 

 

Wagon trail is completely rideable. Very very technical in places. Don't think anything has changed on that trail in last few years. 

Killed me more than the climb to the top to be very honest.