the unofficial Cape Epic thread

[Mamil]

10 minutes ago, SwissVan said:

Seen at least 4 of the men’s top ten finishers today wearing “camelbacks” including the GOAT and Colombo…..

Are they purely for hydration or also combined as some kind of cooling vest?

 

They don't keep you cool at all - but in that heat it's a no brainer for me, hydration must come first. Maybe different the faster you are but if it's between 5 and 8 hours in the heat, the USWE is essential equipment.

[andydude]

Random question, but is there any chance they could have kept the normal distance for the UCI Elite men and women?

I understand completely why it was shortened for the mid and back riders, but not sure why the "fun" part wags the tail for the pro's?

[nathrix]

Which is the toughest, the staying in tents or riding the epic…if you can do both you are hardcore!

[SwissVan]

24 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

Can’t think that it would cool beyond 10-15 mins if like those cooling vests - they all use USWE’s I think. 
 

Very tough trade off between extra heat and extra hydration. 
 

I personally sweat and battle with heat so much it’s a very tough sell to put a pack on…

 

20 minutes ago, Mamil said:

They don't keep you cool at all - but in that heat it's a no brainer for me, hydration must come first. Maybe different the faster you are but if it's between 5 and 8 hours in the heat, the USWE is essential equipment.

Yeah I didn’t seriously think they rode with cooling vests.

Personally I always rode these kind of events with a camelbac or small backpack, the benefits outweighing the discomfort imo. 
 

What I don’t like is the extra effort it takes to drink (suck) from them, especially if you are riding hard or very fatigued, and then the effort to keep the bladder and tubes clean from goggas 🤢 every day

[Vaultboy]

35 minutes ago, ajnkzn said:

Very tough trade off between extra heat and extra hydration. 
I personally sweat and battle with heat so much it’s a very tough sell to put a pack on…

I can't stand heat on my back either. I've got the camelbak hip-pack, which is a lot better, although it feel like its dragging you down, especially when climbing. 

[SSCC]

I don’t understand why anyone would stay in a tent in the race village. There is lots of accommodation in CT or the towns close by. It’s the same every year. Who wants to be in a tent with no shade in Paarl in summer? 

[PhilipV]

14 minutes ago, SSCC said:

I don’t understand why anyone would stay in a tent in the race village. There is lots of accommodation in CT or the towns close by. It’s the same every year. Who wants to be in a tent with no shade in Paarl in summer? 

Not everyone is a tourist paying in Dollars. The tents are paid for, and accommodation n in the winelands isn't exactly cheap.

That being said, My friends are sleeping at home (S-West) and getting up early to beat traffic through stellies. No brainer. 

[PhilipV]

Extended cut off to 16:50
Maximum amount of hrs allowed on route now 8:45  

Just got this message on the WA group.

Our team just went through Krismas Kamp WP. They are concerned that there won't be enough water for the backmarkers.

Edited March 19, 2025 by PhilipV

[Spafsack]

1 hour ago, MongooseMan said:

Sitting at WP2, absolute carnage here as riders arrive.

still 45mins to cutoff, and temps clearing 40

Cut off, how many hours do they have to complete entire stage, or do they cut you off at water points if they see you not going to make it? Thats really sad.

[MongooseMan]

1 minute ago, Spafsack said:

Cut off, how many hours do they have to complete entire stage, or do they cut you off at water points if they see you not going to make it? Thats really sad.

They have cutoffs at the water points

They have increased them today, WP2 was increased by 25mins 

[mikkelz]

14 minutes ago, PhilipV said:

Our team just went through Krismas Kamp WP. They are concerned that there won't be enough water for the backmarkers.

This and the reports from the tent camp are making the epic start to sound like Fyre Festival. 😂 All those entry fees and they can't even provide the basics? 😢

[Spafsack]

9 minutes ago, mikkelz said:

This and the reports from the tent camp are making the epic start to sound like Fyre Festival. 😂 All those entry fees and they can't even provide the basics? 😢

How can there not be enough water! They know what weather / heat is on its way. This is crazy, really feel sorry for the guys and girls.

 

[Headshot]

3 hours ago, babse said:

Anika walking down a trail... 

Why did she bother entering 🤷

 

She had two crashes already before this I think...

[SSCC]

45 minutes ago, PhilipV said:

Not everyone is a tourist paying in Dollars. The tents are paid for, and accommodation n in the winelands isn't exactly cheap.

That being said, My friends are sleeping at home (S-West) and getting up early to beat traffic through stellies. No brainer. 

Yeah no reason to stay in the winelands. Loads of people drive from CT to the start every day. The cost of an Air BnB in Durbanville is a fraction of the total Epic cost. 

[Headshot]

I see teams falling out - Diesel n Dust may have some explaining to do if the tracking feed is correct 🙂 . Some other guys I know lost 25 places in the last hour. 

[PhilipV]

2 minutes ago, Headshot said:

I see teams falling out - Diesel n Dust may have some explaining to do if the tracking feed is correct 🙂 . Some other guys I know lost 25 places in the last hour. 

Looks like he lost his team mate?