2016 Absa Cape Epic entries open on Monday

60k Entry

60k bike x 2

2 x warmup events at say 10k entry fees

Filghts x 2 events (assume 1 local) - 15k

Accomodation for events pre and post - say 10k

Massage x 3 events - 10k

Maintenance and spares - at the epic - 8k x 2

Maintenance and spares for the year - 15k easily (assume 1000km a month effort)

And then there is kit - I know our kit cost around 80k - includes ride kit and wet weather gear

And and and.. especially if you want your family to be at the finish/start

 

And we have this fundamental belief that you should stay in the tents at the Epic - part of the deal... - otherwise add another 60k for the B&B or about half for a camper van....

 

At the end of the day it's only money.... won't make you happy in a bank account.... but it's would be a poor financial decision to debt finance an Epic campaign.

 

And yes - you can trim costs - but there is a practical limit to that - and you can find sponsors/donors (which we do have for some bits) - when you do add it all up, then it turns into a big number - especially for the first one - the second one has less outlay - assuming you can reuse things.

Well based on this I guess I will never do the Epic then.

The price per Km is not the reason there are 3 Sani races and only the one Epic. The two rides are not comparable as an event.

 

Sani is a jol and something you can do on a whim. Three easy days if you are not racing hard. I was invited on a Monday to stand in for someone and started on the Wednesday - no problem. I started my Sani training for this year last week.

 

The Epic is in a different league and yet sells out.

 

Whether people like it or not, KV has built the Audi R8 of mountain biking, no matter that a Golf will take twice as many people to Cape Town in the same time at a fraction of the cost, Audi has produced a vehicle that is so desirable that every one they allocate to the market was snapped up. That there are more Golfs sold is irrelevant.

You can "ride" any race, be it the epic, sani or BC.

I agree with you 100% that the EPIC is the pinnacle of mtb stage races, but as someone so rightfully put it in an earlier post, its not a case of "I came 50th in the EPIC" anymore, but more a case of I could afford to do it.... What i would love to see is the SA contingent vs foreign over the life of the EPIC. That will give a clear picture of the trend?

The perfect pricing would be to have the event 102% subscribed. They still are subscribed many times over, not just 102%, so there is still room for these increases they are passing. 

What now essentially happens is that today's Joberg2C is the Epic 5 or 6 years ago, that new Knysna to Cape Town race is where Joberg2C or Pioneer was when they started off, etc. If the Epic did not evolve in the way it did, there would not have been a void to fill by the Joberg2C and Pioneers, and if these races did not evolve, there would not be that new Knysna to CT race. 

The pricing at the top end does get away from the working-class guy, but with a pipeline of new events now all fighting for a segment of the market, capitalism and market forces at play here ensures that the growth is met with new events coming online, which in turn leads to more new events and better established events. 

I can see why the epic marketing machine would love you.

 

 

But your needs are out of touch with reality

Not sure why you feel my needs are out of touch with reality....

Do you want to know what an Everst attempt will cost? or is that also outside your reality spectrum?

Actually - don't answer - it's your reality, and none of my business to ask or comment on your reality - I apologise in advance if you feel offended.

I agree with you 100% that the EPIC is the pinnacle of mtb stage races, but as someone so rightfully put it in an earlier post, its not a case of "I came 50th in the EPIC" anymore, but more a case of I could afford to do it....

 

I disagree with that part of your comment.

We can all afford to run the Comrades. A pair of shoes, a qualifying race, a trip to Durban and a modest entry fee. But we don't all run it because to do so requires a serious commitment of time, efffort and discomfort.

The same is of Epic. I wonder sometimes how many of the people who complain about the cost would actually DO the race even if they were given an entry.

I disagree with that part of your comment.

 

We can all afford to run the Comrades. A pair of shoes, a qualifying race, a trip to Durban and a modest entry fee. But we don't all run it because to do so requires a serious commitment of time, efffort and discomfort.

 

The same is of Epic. I wonder sometimes how many of the people who complain about the cost would actually DO the race even if they were given an entry.

pick me, pick me ..... but I might not survive

You can "ride" any race, be it the epic, sani or BC.

I agree with you 100% that the EPIC is the pinnacle of mtb stage races, but as someone so rightfully put it in an earlier post, its not a case of "I came 50th in the EPIC" anymore, but more a case of I could afford to do it.... What i would love to see is the SA contingent vs foreign over the life of the EPIC. That will give a clear picture of the trend?

 

I doubt that there was any discussion at last nights finisher dinner on who earns what, and who's got the bigger limit on their private banking facility. What you are describing is the outsider vs insider view where the outsider sites pricing as the main barrier to entry. Those who have done a few Epics often get by on much less than you think.

pick me, pick me ..... but I might not survive

Hahaha.....I'm in the same boat!!

 but you're probably in the top 10% percentile of local amateurs in terms of spend.... Also the first time I've seen someone spend more cash on clothing for an event than race entry fee. 

 

You've also summed up your entire year of cycling as a cost for one week. That's a mindset thing, it's not a binary issue. If you don't get an epic entry will none of this money get spent anyway?

You wanted to know what it costs to do an Epic... so that includes prep and equipment etc..

Preparing for and riding an Epic is  a fairly single minded obsession for a major part of a year..

If I did not ride any races for the year, my costs would be significantly lower in terms of kit, bike maintenance etc (even holding the km the same) - but I am not going to put the effort in and compromise a finish possibility by worrying about the pennies.

And you are correct - some people spend less - some more.... and having walked around the bike park at the Epic a fair amount, and having many friends that have done it - I can assure you that the numbers are fair in terms of total cost of the campaign - many choose not to add it up,

Yes - you can save costs in places - and finding corporate sponsors for kit etc is key - I just happen to know what the bill was for that - fact of the matter is that there is a cost, and someone has to pay....

And I am grateful that 30 years of 80 - 100 hour working weeks has enabled me to pay the cost if I need to - and get friends and colleques to help out where they can (sponsors) even knowing we are never going to win,

And before you say the Epic is expensive (and it is) - go and see what the Cape Roleur costs to ride.. (No I have never ridden that)

No matter how you try and justify why you won't do the Epic, the truth is that if you really wanted to do it, you'd make a plan. It's expensive for sure but that’s NEVER going to change, so if it's on your bucket list, best you do it now rather than later because it's only going to get more expensive and so will bikes and associated costs. Or train harder and find a sponsor.

You can try and justify rather spending R30K on a family holiday or 5 local 3 day stage races but they will never be the Cape Epic. The Epic is a unique suffer fest and it's not the just the tough route that defines it, it's the whole package that sets it apart. The vibe of race camp; the relationships built up over 7 days of suffering with likeminded individuals; pushing yourself to physical limits that not even you realised you were capable off; the people you meet and see along the road; living in tents for 7 days… it’s something special people, it honestly is.

I'm just glad I did the first one and got it out of my system, now I can watch the rest suffer. BTW, I’m in no way associated to the Cape Epic, I did it once and since then I’ve tried to be there most years in one form or other, twice as a mechanic, once as a motorcycle media rider and once as support. This year I missed it and I’m still regretting it, I just love the vibe of this race, it’s addictive. I’ve also done the TransAlps and although it was an awesome experience, it never matched the Epic it terms of race spirit.

Make a plan!!!

I disagree with that part of your comment.

 

We can all afford to run the Comrades. A pair of shoes, a qualifying race, a trip to Durban and a modest entry fee. But we don't all run it because to do so requires a serious commitment of time, efffort and discomfort.

 

The same is of Epic. I wonder sometimes how many of the people who complain about the cost would actually DO the race even if they were given an entry.

If the comrades cost 3 times the current price, would they have the size field they do? Dont think so regardless of whether you could or could not do it.

Work hard, build a career, don't borrow for depreciating "assets", invest wisely and 60k soon enough becomes affordable.

How is spending 60k on an event any different from borrowing for a car etc...

Both equally terrible ideas.

My suggestion - sponsorship.

60k Entry

60k bike x 2

2 x warmup events at say 10k entry fees

Filghts x 2 events (assume 1 local) - 15k

Accomodation for events pre and post - say 10k

Massage x 3 events - 10k

Maintenance and spares - at the epic - 8k x 2

Maintenance and spares for the year - 15k easily (assume 1000km a month effort)

And then there is kit - I know our kit cost around 80k - includes ride kit and wet weather gear

And and and.. especially if you want your family to be at the finish/start

 

And we have this fundamental belief that you should stay in the tents at the Epic - part of the deal... - otherwise add another 60k for the B&B or about half for a camper van....

 

At the end of the day it's only money.... won't make you happy in a bank account.... but it's would be a poor financial decision to debt finance an Epic campaign.

 

And yes - you can trim costs - but there is a practical limit to that - and you can find sponsors/donors (which we do have for some bits) - when you do add it all up, then it turns into a big number - especially for the first one - the second one has less outlay - assuming you can reuse things.

You can trim costs a LOT.

A R30k 29" hardtail will do.

You do not need a full time bike mechanic to lube your chain. It is easy to find a mechanic if you need one.

The tents are on site. Easy. No logistics.

R80k for kit?

What really costs money is the time off work to prepare (if you work for yourself)

You can trim costs a LOT.

A R30k 29" hardtail will do.

You do not need a full time bike mechanic to lube your chain. It is easy to find a mechanic if you need one.

The tents are on site. Easy. No logistics.

R80k for kit?

 

 

What really costs money is the time off work to prepare (if you work for yourself)

Money one can make a plan with if you really want to. Finding more time isn't always that simple.

This year was my 2nd Epic and here is my take on it:

1st Epic - You go completely "bos" to prep for it, you do most MTB stage races to prepare, you get a coach, you spend money on  a bike, parts, you spend a lot more hours on the bike, you look at nutrition. You really spend a lot of money and time at your first one out of fear of the unknown.

2nd Epic - Do an hour or two more on weekends to get some "miles" in for Epic, that is it! You then realize that you do not need to spend a lot of money to do Epic except that the cost of the entry.

Most people riding the Epic get companies to help sponsor their entry, usually if you beg hard enough you might get two companies to pitch in and at worst you have to pay in a few grand. If you get 2 companies who can give 10K then you 35K short, all of a sudden 17K each is not not bad to ride Epic.

But in summary...people tend to over analyse costs etc. to do Epic

I won't pay 30k to hike-a-bike every day ... yesterday it looked like a hiking trail with everyone walking in a row, seems people just accept it that the guy behind them is also walking, everyone walking in the middle of the path ...

Does anyone think they actually care about South Africans riding, no they don't, its getting cheaper for the foreigners every year with the rand weakening, so people will line up and pay whatever

This year was my 2nd Epic and here is my take on it:

 

1st Epic - You go completely "bos" to prep for it, you do most MTB stage races to prepare, you get a coach, you spend money on  a bike, parts, you spend a lot more hours on the bike, you look at nutrition. You really spend a lot of money and time at your first one out of fear of the unknown.

 

2nd Epic - Do an hour or two more on weekends to get some "miles" in for Epic, that is it! You then realize that you do not need to spend a lot of money to do Epic except that the cost of the entry.

 

Most people riding the Epic get companies to help sponsor their entry, usually if you beg hard enough you might get two companies to pitch in and at worst you have to pay in a few grand. If you get 2 companies who can give 10K then you 35K short, all of a sudden 17K each is not not bad to ride Epic.

 

But in summary...people tend to over analyse costs etc. to do Epic

Where there's a will there's a way I suppose........

See Early Bird entries are Closed?? How is that possible before 15h00?

 

 

Yes - you can save costs in places -

 

 

If you really wanted to save costs you could remove the derailleurs off your training bike and reduce the wear and tear on your drivetrain. You could even ride some of your preparation races like this.

Oh, wait........

Met Eish!!! How much? I think that may be a little excessive. Use your normal kit. Just buy 2 shirts that look the same. Who cares. Couple hundred bucks a shirt. I rode in my pants and my partner in his usual pants. Then we had some shirts made. Normally I agree with you on posts but this one is a little crazy and I have done the Epic 3 times!!

If someone else is paying why would you choose 2 shirts over a clean one every day?

Personally I am not a  big fan of either having my shorts washed with 20 other pairs of shorts of unknown hygiene, or doing the washing myself after 8 hours in the saddle... so - asked for enough for a team for a 10 day event - and got it... I did ask nicely... craft kit is not for free...   (and that is not an ad for the craft kit supplier either)

Sure you can do it on a 30k hardtail - I hope you are young and strong to take the beating from the HT - you will note I did not suggest you have to have a 130k Spez Epic for the event - and believe me there are plenty of those there - especially amongst the amateaurs.

The one thing I am sure about - you CANNOT buy an epic medal - no matter how good/expensive your kit is - you have to do the homework.... a LOT of homework.. but - you can DNF for not making good decisions.... or avoiding risks where you can.

See Early Bird entries are Closed?? How is that possible before 15h00?

There must be an Argus type problem with their system.

Or they have discovered that at almost R60k per team there is no demand and so they are now frantically discounting their product.

The real question is, will entries sell out again in less than a minute? Or will it take 2 minutes because of the price increase?

If you really wanted to save costs you could remove the derailleurs off your training bike and reduce the wear and tear on your drivetrain. You could even ride some of your preparation races like this.

 

Oh, wait........

In order to remove them, you would have to have them in the first place....

I started cheap and stayed cheap..... must be my grandmothers scottish heritage influencing me....

The real question is, will entries sell out again in less than a minute? Or will it take 2 minutes because of the price increase?

I think they will last 12 seconds - remember - there are only 100 of them up for earlybirds...

I think in USD terms the Epic is cheaper this year compared to last year.