the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[DieselnDust]

17 hours ago, ChrisF said:

Real question .... why do people enter the Epic when they have to walk the first single track ? 

 

 

EDIT - As per my next post, referring to the early riders walking the DOWN single tracks ...

If you’re referring to the Dorstberg descent in today’s prologue then I’ll tell you it’s no joke. It’s very loose, rutted and kitty kat steep. I was cadence braking down there to keep speed under control. If one person in front of you stops or crashes then you have two choices. 
ride over them 

head for the fynbos and that’s no fynbos. This not the usual singletrack but a track that literally runs straight down the mountain .

17 hours ago, nathrix said:

Was thinking exactly the same!

That’s a 16% gradient. It’s steep and about 250m long. It’s called Ongegund Killer

11 hours ago, ChrisF said:

 

Okay, you missed my next post.

 

Couple of the early riders were walking the DOWN single track.

 

 

Short of a technical that did not make any sense .... thus my question.

Very steep, very lose and cooked brakes

Edited March 17, 2025 by DieselnDust

[babse]

49 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

If you’re referring to the Dorstberg descent in today’s prologue then I’ll tel you it’s not joke. It’s very lose, rutted and kitty kat steep. I was cadence braking down there to keep speed under control. If one person in front of you stops or crashes then you have two choices. 
ride over them 

head for the fynbos and that’s no fynbos. This not the usual singletrack but a track that literally runs straight down the mountain .

That’s a 16% gradient. It’s steep and about 250m long.

Very steep, very lose and cooked brakes

All the best for week ahead!

 

Keep us posted on your ride and experiences.

Always keen to hear war stories first hand.

[DieselnDust]

Prologue Feedback.

we headed down the start ramp at 7:17

The weather was awesome, cool , light drizzle and a very light breeze. 
we took dorstberg easy as my Teamie just finished a round of anti biotics for a cheat infection. I pegged my HR at 158 max while Hans was hitting that +20bpm. So damage limitation kicked in. Ride his pace.

over the top and straight into a dramatic lose drop Down the otherside. This track was near as damnit straight down with a a few gentle meanders to the left and right to spice things up. Braking was effective until it wasn’t so cadence braking stepped in for the win. 
The next obstacle was the floating pellet trail. Followed immediately by about 80m of a devil thorn plantation designed to suck the air and sealant from your tyres.

the climb up to the Toyota technical terrain was another super steep leg sapper at 18%.

shake rattle and roll was dispatched with great joy and I could resist the crowds goading to take the A-line. They were looking to collect some skin tax but not today, much to their delight. 
 

we passed back into meerendal where the Ongegund killer took some more leg tax. That’s the one  a few posts with people walking. 
stairway to heaven was next to take some more from many legs that are  alresdy feeling The Epic. 

Stage 1 will sort out the pecking order far more effectively. More later…..
 

[ChrisF]

3 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

Prologue Feedback.

we headed down the start ramp at 7:17

The weather was awesome, cool , light drizzle and a very light breeze. 
we took dorstberg easy as my Teamie just finished a round of anti biotics for a cheat infection. I pegged my HR at 158 max while Hans was hitting that +20bpm. So damage limitation kicked in. Ride his pace.

over the top and straight into a dramatic lose drop Down the otherside. This track was near as damnit straight down with a a few gentle meanders to the left and right to spice things up. Braking was effective until it wasn’t so cadence braking stepped in for the win. 
The next obstacle was the floating pellet trail. Followed immediately by about 80m of a devil thorn plantation designed to suck the air and sealant from your tyres.

the climb up to the Toyota technical terrain was another super steep leg sapper at 18%.

shake rattle and roll was dispatched with great joy and I could resist the crowds goading to take the A-line. They were looking to collect some skin tax but not today, much to their delight. 
 

we passed back into meerendal where the Ongegund killer took some more leg tax. That’s the one  a few posts with people walking. 
stairway to heaven was next to take some more from many legs that are  alresdy feeling The Epic. 

Stage 1 will sort out the pecking order far more effectively. More later…..
 

 

Well done.

 

Best wishes for your week ahead.

[Zebra]

11 hours ago, Lynskey said:

Why not just use real pedals? Eggbeaters don't need cable ties.

And yes... I do have amabubesi status 🤩📸

Actually, Eggbeaters OFTEN benefit from the ‘contact sleeves’ supplied in 6 different sizes, to ‘cure this very issue - there are SO many shoe SOLE profiles, that some essentially make little/no contact, thus the contact sleeves.

Amabubesi, 3-peat

[Eugene Oppelt]

The South Easter is pumping here and bunch riding will be inevitable. Conserving energy and staying out of the red will be key by hiding a bit behind Matt.

The course is dry, dusty and rocky. It’ll be tough for the aspiring amateur, especially the wall up to the Mast, with a moerse headwind.

Edited March 17, 2025 by 'Dale

[Jbr]

Ooof I feel for the riders having to race up that concrete mast climb 😅

[Jbr]

got a feeling my KOM on anah beuulah won't be mine anymore soon

Edited March 17, 2025 by Jbr

[lukelockie]

38 minutes ago, Jbr said:

got a feeling my KOM on anah beuulah won't be mine anymore soon

technically the riders aren't allowed to post their rides to strava (according to the rules). Get familiar with that red flag button 🤣

[babse]

the "King of Gravel" better live up to all his hype in days to come...

[Jbr]

45 minutes ago, lukelockie said:

technically the riders aren't allowed to post their rides to strava (according to the rules). Get familiar with that red flag button 🤣

ahaha let's see !

 

I expected Matt and Keegan to roll over the competition, looks like the Cape Epic Diarhea is striking from day 1 😜

That's a big gap to bring back after just 2 days hey...

[Bub Marley]

33 minutes ago, babse said:

the "King of Gravel" better live up to all his hype in days to come...

Tbh. Every year the xco specialists come out full guns blazing the first few stages and then fade out completely towards the end so wouldn’t surprise me to see the same thing happen again. I’ve seen so many of Ninos partners look great initially but can’t keep that intensity going for the full week. 

[Bub Marley]

1 minute ago, Jbr said:

ahaha let's see !

 

I expected Matt and Keegan to roll over the competition, looks like the Cape Epic Diarhea is striking from day 1 😜

That's a big gap to bring back after just 2 days hey...

Also just shows you how different it is to ride somewhere foreign. You need to adapt and so far doesn’t look like keegan has. Let’s see if he gets stronger as the days go by. 

[Bub Marley]

Tomorrow is a 66km time trial😂. Going to be huge gaps I feel. 

[babse]

2 minutes ago, Bub Marley said:

Tbh. Every year the xco specialists come out full guns blazing the first few stages and then fade out completely towards the end so wouldn’t surprise me to see the same thing happen again. I’ve seen so many of Ninos partners look great initially but can’t keep that intensity going for the full week. 

Yeah not getting too excited... i'll like to see Beers up there again. 

 

I have no doubt Beers could ride his way back into this, hence my comment around the gravel king. Beeeeeeg gaps already and there is real quality in between. Lets see

[Titleist]

Today's bad day for Matt and Keegan might be a blessing in disguise. The week is still long with brutal climbs waiting. Some guys already burnt matches meant for Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.