the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[karma]

36 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I rode Contermanskloof today and I was disgusted to see how much litter the Epic riders left behind. If that is how these people treat our trails that were pretty much pristine before they came through, then they can take their race and shove it. What a bunch of tossers. 

UCI will fine them, littering, sock length, open jerseys, just you wait....

[love2fly]

51 minutes ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I rode Contermanskloof today and I was disgusted to see how much litter the Epic riders left behind. If that is how these people treat our trails that were pretty much pristine before they came through, then they can take their race and shove it. What a bunch of tossers. 

Saw either Stützman or Porro ditch what looked like a bottle from his RH jersey pocket.....on camera nogal. The litter is there every year, the fines don't seem to work.

Edited March 22, 2025 by love2fly

[Spafsack]

Lets talk bikes of the epic.

The Titan girls are doing so dam well. Does Bianka have a carbon ultimate, sid fork, wonder what specs that bike has. I kind of feel they doing so well versus international riders who have unlimited budgets for high end bikes which weigh less than 11kg, all while our ladies in red might have heavier bikes, but it does not seem to make such a difference?

On that note, i see tons of spez's and scotts, not many super calibers. The santa cruz's look cool as well. Some riders riding with inserts it seems as well, which adds to the overall weight, but rather safe than sorry.

Would be cool to know what some of these rides weigh as us normal people are always so fascinated with getting weight down on our bikes. I recon anything under 12kg with all there gear on should be just fine?

 

[SwissVan]

1 hour ago, Robbie Stewart said:

I rode Contermanskloof today and I was disgusted to see how much litter the Epic riders left behind. If that is how these people treat our trails that were pretty much pristine before they came through, then they can take their race and shove it. What a bunch of tossers. 

Humans in general are tossers, just look how they behave everywhere not only at the epic.

[JB77]

26 minutes ago, Spafsack said:

Lets talk bikes of the epic.

The Titan girls are doing so dam well. Does Bianka have a carbon ultimate, sid fork, wonder what specs that bike has. I kind of feel they doing so well versus international riders who have unlimited budgets for high end bikes which weigh less than 11kg, all while our ladies in red might have heavier bikes, but it does not seem to make such a difference?

On that note, i see tons of spez's and scotts, not many super calibers. The santa cruz's look cool as well. Some riders riding with inserts it seems as well, which adds to the overall weight, but rather safe than sorry.

Would be cool to know what some of these rides weigh as us normal people are always so fascinated with getting weight down on our bikes. I recon anything under 12kg with all there gear on should be just fine?

 

They are on different bikes, hard to tell what Hayley is riding. Looks like a Factor. Would also like a full description of their bikes.

Watched a few amateurs go through Eden forest on Friday. Specialized & Scott definitely still the choice for the majority of the field. 

[NotSoBigBen]

32 minutes ago, SwissVan said:

Humans in general are tossers, just look how they behave everywhere not only at the epic.

No no you must be wrong anyone who has or is doing Epic is a tosser (or fat or rich or both) .... At least that was the vibe here for a while and it would appear still continues for some 😜

[Spafsack]

13 minutes ago, JB77 said:

They are on different bikes, hard to tell what Hayley is riding. Looks like a Factor. Would also like a full description of their bikes.

Watched a few amateurs go through Eden forest on Friday. Specialized & Scott definitely still the choice for the majority of the field. 

Saw that as well, she is on a different bike.

Its crazy how good this is for Titan, there bikes are really good. Would be cool to know the specs of each like you said.

[Rowl]

48 minutes ago, Spafsack said:

Lets talk bikes of the epic.

The Titan girls are doing so dam well. Does Bianka have a carbon ultimate, sid fork, wonder what specs that bike has. I kind of feel they doing so well versus international riders who have unlimited budgets for high end bikes which weigh less than 11kg, all while our ladies in red might have heavier bikes, but it does not seem to make such a difference?

On that note, i see tons of spez's and scotts, not many super calibers. The santa cruz's look cool as well. Some riders riding with inserts it seems as well, which adds to the overall weight, but rather safe than sorry.

Would be cool to know what some of these rides weigh as us normal people are always so fascinated with getting weight down on our bikes. I recon anything under 12kg with all there gear on should be just fine?

 

@Titan Racing Bikes when can we expect a write-up 😀

[ajnkzn]

If there’s one article I click on scary fast, it’s a pro bike check. 
 

With pictures and writing. Not a video. 

[Danger Dassie]

Some Lukas Baum Orbea Oiz vibes - https://off.road.cc/content/feature/bike-check-lukas-baums-2025-cape-epic-orbea-oiz-16775

[lukelockie]

1 hour ago, Spafsack said:

Lets talk bikes of the epic.

The Titan girls are doing so dam well. Does Bianka have a carbon ultimate, sid fork, wonder what specs that bike has. I kind of feel they doing so well versus international riders who have unlimited budgets for high end bikes which weigh less than 11kg, all while our ladies in red might have heavier bikes, but it does not seem to make such a difference?

On that note, i see tons of spez's and scotts, not many super calibers. The santa cruz's look cool as well. Some riders riding with inserts it seems as well, which adds to the overall weight, but rather safe than sorry.

Would be cool to know what some of these rides weigh as us normal people are always so fascinated with getting weight down on our bikes. I recon anything under 12kg with all there gear on should be just fine?

 

You can see the specs of the bike in the launch article, not sure they're listed part for part though: https://bikehub.co.za/news/safari-essence-titan-racing-team-announced-riders-bianca-haw-and-danielle-du-toit-signed/

 

[SamTaylor]

after 7 days of racing, there’s only 40 seconds splitting first and second place in the men’s GC. It’s going to be a proper race for the podium tomorrow. 
 

and only 10 seconds splitting 3rd and 4th. 
 

for the rest of us, it’s gonna be another tough day in the mud tomorrow. 

[DieselnDust]

Stage 5 update: the queen stage and what a b…. it proved to be:

rightie ho so i started in L batch with the other casualties of war. The first 3.8km was a neutral zone behind a land cruiser that took from Fairview along agter Paarl right onto the R102 and the left onto a farm road where the race began. I settled into a nice Z2 to low Z3 pace. The first 14km was gradual 3% gradient but then the little kickers started. Now bear in mind kickers in the winelands means double digit gradient %. That’s what we have been dealing with everyday so far lots of steep grades that just suck the energy from your legs.

i handled neversayneverending well. Legs felt strong and recovered but the queue was long and frankly I understand why people get frustrated. There are many riders who see the bigger picture and realise having someone breathing their fart gas is not the kind of pressure they want and will let you by. Then there are the others who wobble and meander all over the path at maximum HR trying desperately to make a race if it in 600th place. It will never change so I just celebrate the guys who are compliant and shake my head at those who aren’t. Life goes on. The descent through gum scramble to the water point at Muratie was fun but equally frustrating when I came upon a group that felt avoiding every rock with the flight attendant bikes was the fastest way down the track. I sent one through a rock garden and had a clear path infront of only to be aggressively cut off and the sworn at. I should have expected it by day 5 but the lack of skill in technically demanding terrain runs very deep into the amateur cape epic field. Lots of big talk at breakfast and supper but little action on the trails. 
botmaskop was a killer. I need to refuel desperately but there was little reprieve to even grab a bottle or a gel. I’ll have to do better in stage 6.

Bothmas kop was a real killer. It was wet, slippery and steep. 
the stage was now fast becoming a letter of survival. I had ridden myself up the field as far as G group with a few unlucky E and F riders. WP2 was a welcome sight but by now the rain was coming down again so the neck was going to be a real challenge with my 32x50 low gear. Everyone else was on 28x52 or 30x52. Yes I walked the neck not much slower than the riders but my hip flexors took a beating.

the descent was misty cold and very treacherous. Made it home in 7hr40.

not sure how I recover 

[peetwindhoek]

12 minutes ago, SamTaylor said:

after 7 days of racing, there’s only 40 seconds splitting first and second place in the men’s GC. It’s going to be a proper race for the podium tomorrow. 
 

and only 10 seconds splitting 3rd and 4th. 
 

for the rest of us, it’s gonna be another tough day in the mud tomorrow. 

Maybe more based on this link: https://www.epic-series.com/capeepic-riders-liveresults#1_F1B2AF

[DieselnDust]

Stage 5:

Another day another opportunity to stuff it into the bush. The conditions were ripe for it. Saturday didn’t really dawn, heavy clouds and light rain cooled the morning air but it almost meant we would have 88km of mud plugging ahead of us. 
I started in K this morning. More IF riders present. The drop out rate is climbing. Wednesday spilled over into Friday and the DNS continue.

lets be clear , the epic is flipped hard and every year they tighten the ratchet. I , personally think they have gone overboard this year. Today started with 15km climb, follows by wet slippery single track ether had rocks protruding through the slick to catch an unsuspecting tyre. Full mud tyres were needed but none of us had them. I was surprised to see how hard some rider were going. I think everyone was concerned with creating a buffer against the water point cut offs. I stick to my pace which wasn’t great because I felt awful. I badly wanted the pain to end and would have handed in my number. By WP1 I felt crap, flat and powerless. My hip flexors were screaming at me. It was raining again but I was warm so I wanted to unzip my top. But around the next corner it would be cold. I thought better of that idea since mud down the ass crack is less than ideal.

the details of the stage are a bit of a blur but just after leaving WP2 my DPS damper shaft broke and I was dealing with a pogo stick for the next 44km. My ass hurts….

fonished the stage in 7hr07 min. Never been so glad to see the finish line. I think they cut another 20hrs teams today 

[Robbie Stewart]

4 hours ago, love2fly said:

Saw either Stützman or Porro ditch what looked like a bottle from his RH jersey pocket.....on camera nogal. The litter is there every year, the fines don't seem to work.

I saw a Biogen bottle with a red cap amongst the shrubbery