First Cape Epic 2026

[jcza]

Flight Attendant will make all the difference 

[Titleist]

47 minutes ago, Lynskey said:

I am not sure if you are being serious or not 🤔🤷‍♂️😂

I'm dead serious. I'll never do a stage race on alu wheels. Just too many things that can go wrong. I am 90kg though, it's never just one spoke breaking.

[ChrisF]

1 hour ago, Titleist said:

I'm dead serious. I'll never do a stage race on alu wheels. Just too many things that can go wrong. I am 90kg though, it's never just one spoke breaking.

 

My alu rims stood up well enough on a couple of stage races.

 

Heck, it even managed the Ezelfontein routes the week before the Epic did the same trails ... and again the next year.

 

 

Sure, there may be benefits.  I know that @Me rida my bicycle swears by his carbon rims, due the "feel".

 

 

But, is it "needed" ?

[Ruan Fick]

Thanks for all the tips guys!

[Ruan Fick]

11 hours ago, ajnkzn said:

I personally, for under R 1 000 a month, would engage with a good coach. 
 

I’ve started with a coach here in KZN for the last three months and the difference it has made to my riding is massive. 
 

Keeps you accountable, makes it easy (just sync your Trainingpeaks to your Garmin and your sessions are ready)  and you can learn so much from the right person (strategy, pacing, nutrition etc etc). 

Can you recommend any coaches in Cape town? thnx

[ChrisF]

On 6/25/2025 at 6:44 PM, Ruan Fick said:

Can you recommend any coaches in Cape town? thnx

 

Speak to Paul at Alpine Sports Coaching
 

https://alpinesportscoaching.com/

 

He had two teams at this year's Epic.

 

He is busy with a new team that will do their first Epic in 2026.  Already got them to podium age Category at Sani2C.

[Me rida my bicycle]

1 hour ago, ChrisF said:

 

My alu rims stood up well enough on a couple of stage races.

 

Heck, it even managed the Ezelfontein routes the week before the Epic did the same trails ... and again the next year.

 

 

Sure, there may be benefits.  I know that @Me rida my bicycle swears by his carbon rims, due the "feel".

 

 

But, is it "needed" ?

On my Previous HT I replaced rear aluminium rim every 3 months give or take.

I was seriously stressed about going carbon as it's way more expensive to replace a rim if broken. Cheap unbranded carbon rims was a no go for me at over 100kg I did not want something exploding underneath me. 

After nearly 2 years only work my wheels have seen are bearing replacement.

That alone makes it worth it to me. 

[Lynskey]

1 hour ago, Ruan Fick said:

Thanks for all the tips guys!

Again just my personal experience. I rode it for fun 3 times. There is so much out there for and against. Make the choice if the money you are spending is worth it. I had a coach for the first one and stopped her after 2 months. I didn't enjoy it. But please come back here and update us throughout your experience. You could help the next guy looking for advice. 

[CharlieGaul]

No need for a new bike, consitancy is key and spending time riding with your team mate. I would take on one or two shorter stage races as part of my prep instead. Wines2Whale etc. 

Enjoy the journey to your first Epic! 

Edited June 25, 2025 by CharlieGaul

[Zebra]

I, too think a couple couple of 3-day stage races BEFORE jumping in to an 8-day stage race works well;

…my Epic partner and I did Sani2C as a ‘warm up’ for our first Epic, and then used the Sani again before the following Epic; it is a great opportunity to see what works, and more importantly, what is NOT working…

Any good stage race should do, think of it as running a HALF-marathon BEFORE running a FULL-marathon, if you get the analogy!
 

(…and where possible, avoid a hydration pack WHERE POSSIBLE; let the Donkey (bicycle) carry your fluids, not your back, and let your back breathe (for 8 days!). If there is a particular stage you need one, thats different.

Good luck, and you bike is fine; invest in training and maybe a warm-up shorter stage race. And a coach sounds like a good idea, though we never used one. Wished i had, but this was ‘05, ‘06 & ‘07.

Edited June 26, 2025 by Zebra

[ajnkzn]

1 hour ago, Zebra said:

I, too think a couple couple of 3-day stage races BEFORE jumping in to an 8-day stage race works well;

…my Epic partner and I did Sani2C as a ‘warm’ up for our firtst Epic, and then used the Sani again before the following Epic; it is a great opportunity to see what works, and more importantly, what is NOT working…

Any good stage race should do, think of it as running a HALF-marathon BEFORE running a FULL-marathon, if you get the analogy!
 

(…and where possible, avoid a hydration pack WHERE POSSIBLE; let the Donkey (bicycle) carry your fluids, not your back, and let your back breathe (for 8 days!). If there is a particular stage you need one, thats different.

Good luck, and you bike is fine; invest in training and maybe a warm-upshorter stage race.

Interesting re the pack…

 

I am possibly the hottest and sweatiest human being in the world. 
 

This year I decided to buy and use an USWE pack against my exact thoughts as per Zebra’s quote. 
 

All I can say is that I have performed way, way better being able to carry 3.5 - 4 liters of liquid and drink way more. 
 

So use Zebra’s post and mine as a warning to try all the different options / extremes and do what works for you. 
 

Definitely do at least one 3 day stage race before. 
 

Cape Pioneer Trek would be even better if you can.  

[DieselnDust]

19 hours ago, Titleist said:

I'm dead serious. I'll never do a stage race on alu wheels. Just too many things that can go wrong. I am 90kg though, it's never just one spoke breaking.

Alloy wheels can survive a lot and they’re generally more comfortable. Much cheaper to replace and build over night. Can also usually be repaired and put back into service at a WP tech zone whereas a carbon wheel will need to be replaced 

[DieselnDust]

16 hours ago, Me rida my bicycle said:

On my Previous HT I replaced rear aluminium rim every 3 months give or take.

I was seriously stressed about going carbon as it's way more expensive to replace a rim if broken. Cheap unbranded carbon rims was a no go for me at over 100kg I did not want something exploding underneath me. 

After nearly 2 years only work my wheels have seen are bearing replacement.

That alone makes it worth it to me. 

I’m assuming the alloy wheels came on your bike and the carbon were custom built?

[Headshot]

2 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

Alloy wheels can survive a lot and they’re generally more comfortable. Much cheaper to replace and build over night. Can also usually be repaired and put back into service at a WP tech zone whereas a carbon wheel will need to be replaced 

Precisely. There are of course quality differences between rims and if you're riding some alloy own brand Spesh, for instance, rims and not DT or equivalent, you could have issues. The fact that many if not the majority of DH and Enduro racers at WC level ride alloy rims over carbon should also inform your choices. Do Stans rims still exist? Their 6069 alloy rims are plenty tough too. A 32 spoke  DT XC rim should cope with anything you can throw at it. 

[Me rida my bicycle]

8 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

I’m assuming the alloy wheels came on your bike and the carbon were custom built?

Previously was custom built alu wheels and built my currently bike on Bontrager Line elite 30's and they are still like they left the shop only with different bearings. 

I've been through a couple unexpected rock gardens on low pressure and hit the rim hard expecting that unmistakable snake bike sound but nope nothing. In all honesty I am truly amazed that there are no chips on the bead. 

[Lynskey]

On 6/25/2025 at 2:57 PM, Titleist said:

Bike is fine, but if you don't have carbon wheels yet, buy some and you're sorted.

I have never ridden carbon wheels. Never will. But as is riding this is a personal choice. I would definitely put that at the bottom of my list. Maybe you have never ridden a good set of aluminum wheels? You don't even need a good set. You just need them to be built by someone who knows what they doing. Bearings are bearings. Is there factual evidence that bearings in carbon wheels last longer? News to me.