the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[Scott roy]

13 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

The sprint chain break was definitely Shimano. The Nino mafia must have swapped parts out over night. Funk didn’t know where the extra power came from Spain’s snapped another chain in shock

prologue start

 

 

Edited March 20, 2024 by Scott roy

[Ant in the NL]

1 hour ago, SwissVan said:

IMHO

If it aint broken don’t F*** with it. Replace it a week before CE and during the epic give it a clean and lube… without removing it. Bicycle chains don’t just break, and when they do it’s usually down to human behaviour, excessive cross chaining or chain removal.

Removing and installing a chain everyday is a recipe for failure, even when the work is performed by a professional mechanic.

Rant over 

Champion comment - have a mate that does a chain clean up and removal almost every 2nd week and the amount of drama he's picked up is astounding 🤯 - and he wonders why his chain isn't lekker on the trails 

[Jbr]

23 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

The sprint chain break was definitely Shimano. 

you sure ?

[MarcoDeS]

37 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

The sprint chain break was definitely Shimano. The Nino mafia must have swapped parts out over night. Funk didn’t know where the extra power came from Spain’s snapped another chain in shock

lol just stop. 

[Ruben101]

Anyone noticed the Media Bulls E Bike is running a belt system with a gearbox/transmission? You can see a small shifter lever under the bar.

[WaldoZ]

2 hours ago, SwissVan said:

IMHO

If it aint broken don’t F*** with it. Replace it a week before CE and during the epic give it a clean and lube… without removing it. Bicycle chains don’t just break, and when they do it’s usually down to human behaviour, excessive cross chaining or chain removal.

Removing and installing a chain everyday is a recipe for failure, even when the work is performed by a professional mechanic.

Rant over 

It takes one rock to bounce up from the bike in front of you and hit the chain + chainring in such a way to just just weaken the link enough that given the right amount of watts latter on the chain would break. I don't care what brand chain you have it is a very plausible (and very unlucky) scenario.

An no, removing a chain and putting it back does not weaken or mess with a chain if you use a quick link. It actually cleans easier taking it off. That is pretty basic bike maintenance.

I would hesitate putting a new chain on every day yes. I like testing a chain before going racing with it (sometimes you don't have a choice though) 

[Matt]

6 minutes ago, Ruben Hechter said:

Anyone noticed the Media Bulls E Bike is running a belt system with a gearbox/transmission? You can see a small shifter lever under the bar.

Running a Pinion system, pretty neat:

 

[NotSoBigBen]

6 minutes ago, Matt said:

Running a Pinion system, pretty neat:

 

My boet in New Zealand just bought this!

[johnson]

9 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

My boet in New Zealand just bought this!

I Hope those pink crocks aren't your Boet's as well  

[NotSoBigBen]

6 minutes ago, johnson said:

I Hope those pink crocks aren't your Boet's as well  

Loads of women folk there ... wife, 2 daughters and 3 granddaughters 

[ChrisF]

18 minutes ago, NotSoBigBen said:

My boet in New Zealand just bought this!

 

Please keep us posted about the longevity of that belt.

 

BMW motorcycles have stayed away from chains as much as possible.  Drive shafts on the larger bikes, and belt drive when the 650GS was first launched.  The Dakar 650GS came out with a chain.  And when people started riding the normal 650GS off road BMW stopped using the belt drive, and switched to chain drive.

 

Their "promotional garble" was that the belt showed premature wear and tear off road, and that the chain drive was more reliable off road.

 

Some 25 years later and now MTB's go belt drive .... 

 

 

[love2fly]

Anyone have the full Fini story today? They were down 1 minute and then it all went sideways .. .

[NotSoBigBen]

51 minutes ago, ChrisF said:

 

Please keep us posted about the longevity of that belt.

 

BMW motorcycles have stayed away from chains as much as possible.  Drive shafts on the larger bikes, and belt drive when the 650GS was first launched.  The Dakar 650GS came out with a chain.  And when people started riding the normal 650GS off road BMW stopped using the belt drive, and switched to chain drive.

 

Their "promotional garble" was that the belt showed premature wear and tear off road, and that the chain drive was more reliable off road.

 

Some 25 years later and now MTB's go belt drive .... 

 

 

Unfortunately not someone who rides a lot so I doubt wear will be an issue ... sorry Chris, must be honest I'd also be interested. 

[Eugene Oppelt]

Meanwhile:

SHORTENING OF STAGE 4

Due to extreme heat tomorrow, Stage 4 will be shortened 

- 88 km reduced to 73 km
- Climbing 3,000m reduced to 2,550m
- First start time remains at 07.00.  
- Spectator points remain as they were
- Note change in location of WPs and addition of a Hydro point  
- Note updated cut off times and locations

Edited March 20, 2024 by 'Dale

[Ozzie NL]

23 minutes ago, 'Dale said:

Meanwhile:

SHORTENING OF STAGE 4

Due to extreme heat tomorrow, Stage 4 will be shortened 

- 88 km reduced to 73 km
- Climbing 3,000m reduced to 2,550m
- First start time remains at 07.00.  
- Spectator points remain as they were
- Note change in location of WPs and addition of a Hydro point  
- Note updated cut off times and locations

Where did you see this?

[DieselnDust]

46 minutes ago, 'Dale said:

Meanwhile:

SHORTENING OF STAGE 4

Due to extreme heat tomorrow, Stage 4 will be shortened 

- 88 km reduced to 73 km
- Climbing 3,000m reduced to 2,550m
- First start time remains at 07.00.  
- Spectator points remain as they were
- Note change in location of WPs and addition of a Hydro point  
- Note updated cut off times and locations

eish here we go again taming the untamed