Absa Cape Epic 2017 early bird entries gone in 9 seconds

2017 BC bike race time?

I took a lesson or two from Peach.... and somehow I have been convinced to buy a long travel bike....

2017 BC bike race time?

 

I took a lesson or two from Peach.... and somehow I have been convinced to buy a long travel bike....

Don't think I'm ready, will need lessons and a proper trail bike before I even think about it. 

Don't think I'm ready, will need lessons and a proper trail bike before I even think about it. 

Ping Peaches - use the momsen and go from there - I took my SS....

Might be the shortest but you failed to mention it was the most climbing per km and a lot more technical than before as this was the biggest issue people had regarding the previous routes, hence all the dehydration that took part as people had to work for every km and didn't had a lot of open district roads with free km's to work with. Oh I forgot, you didn't get a entry to do it, so you won't know, hence why I don't get it why you give such half comments.

 

Like the others said, if you don't have the money to participate don't come and moan here, create your own route make it affordable for everyone and do your own thing. I find it fascinating how people these days like to sit behind their keyboards and complain about everything just to have it their way. I take my hat off to Kevin Vermaak for doing what he did, making his money and that he can continue to increase the fee and demand is most definitely still there to do it with record sales.

Congratulations on completing your first Cape Epic.

Thanks for your post, let me address some of the highlights from your post:

"it was the most climbing per km"

Yes, one meter more per km compared to 2013. Wow!

"a lot more technical than before as this was the biggest issue people had regarding the previous routes"

These people you referring to completed all the previous epics?

"Oh I forgot, you didn't get a entry to do it, so you won't know, hence why I don't get it why you give such half comments."

What do I know hey.

"sit behind their keyboards"

I prefer being called a couch potato.

I do respect Mr Vermaak kudos to him. He did put SA mtb on the international map.

Tell me Dominik, what's your opinion regarding the Cape Epic gps tracking rule?

Why don't we get Hannele's opinion about the toughness of this ACE 2016? 

She is one of a handful of people who can actually give a real answer....

The rest of us should just shut up I think..

Sold out in 9 seconds, don't think there's a crisis meeting at Epic HQ.  

Jissis, all the anger for crap that doesn't matter (except for the numpties messing up my favourite Hoogekraal downhill)

On a happy note, my friend who was previously cash-disenfrachised by a certain UCI accredited coach finished her first epic. So not all is doom and gloom.

 

 

Tell me Dominik, what's your opinion regarding the Cape Epic gps tracking rule?

Having been on the coal face regarding permissions related to access for MTB, I'll say that it's a darn good thing that this rule is there and is being enforced. We have enough rogue riders already stuffing land access up for us without everyone getting downloadable route info and "riding the epic"

Having been on the coal face regarding permissions related to access for MTB, I'll say that it's a darn good thing that this rule is there and is being enforced. We have enough rogue riders already stuffing land access up for us without everyone getting downloadable route info and "riding the epic"

There was live gps tracking on every stage where anyone could have captured the route information if they wanted to.

There was live gps tracking on every stage where anyone could have captured the route information if they wanted to.

yeah, but that's not the point. If you had recorded it, then they wouldn't have to screen cap the entire route as and when the screen changed. Point is, if you create a downloadable GPX file or other tracking file, which you can use to navigate across private land, that IS trespassing. People have lost existing MTB trails for less. 

With the live tagging, you have to manually plot the route on google earth or another geo-tagging device if you want to plug it into your gps and create a route... 

adding to the above - it's most likely a requirement from the landowners themselves in order to gain access to the private land it traverses. 

There were many guys who recorded their rides on strava. Does that not count?

There were many guys who recorded their rides on strava. Does that not count?

it most certainly does. You'll find that over teh next few days, if those rides aren't made private, they will be removed or the guys will face disqualification from any future events. 

it most certainly does. You'll find that over teh next few days, if those rides aren't made private, they will be removed or the guys will face disqualification from any future events.

In reality what's the point of this, other than just creating more hype around the event?

In reality what's the point of this, other than just creating more hype around the event?

simply put, land owners don't want the epic route to be publicised via downloadable gps files, as it creates a problem. Maybe not because of people like you and me, but you get people who actively search out routes and if they see something on Strava / Garmin Connect etc etc they think it's a legitimate route, and just ride it - without checking legitimacy. "It's on the internet, it must be true"

Adding to that, someone may want to download and ride the "epic route" which would, again, be trespassing on private property, in places. 

It's exactly how we lost a couple of the farms on the Wannabees and Tygerberg trail networks. 

Point is as well - it's a rule of a race YOU want to ride. YOU signed up for the terms and conditions. You cannot then say that the t's and c's are stupid, for a reason such as this. You can query it, sure. But the rule is there most likely due to landowner requests, as a condition for them opening up their farmland to cyclists for one event each year. Thereafter, the routes are on PRIVATE land in places. This rule is there to respect their wishes, and property rights.

Don't piss on that. It's not your right to request that they drop that rule just because you think it's stupid.

EDIT: "you" referring to people who sign up and then complain about the GPS tracking, when it has a clear basis. 

So what about other races that cross private property?

Edit: not argueing the rule, or asking it to be removed, not even calling it stupid, just questioning the true motives.

So what about other races that cross private property?

I don't know why they don't have it, where the CE does. But I know why the CE does. Quite logical, from my point of view. 

Landowner request in order to open up routes, hence rule forbidding GPS recording data, and rides being flagged / requested to be made private when the CE finds them on Strava etc. 

So what about other races that cross private property?

 

Edit: not argueing the rule, or asking it to be removed, not even calling it stupid, just questioning the true motives.

Because Strava was created by a third force that wants to steal the epic from the corporation...

LOL

Skynet or Umbrella Corp?

The rule is just a show of good faith from event organiser to the landowners. In reality it can't be policed and you cannot with certainty pinpoint who's file was used to trespass.

There is plenty of other data available for any would be mtb trespasser to strich a route together e.g. That old invention called a topographical map, youknow that thing before Garmin.

Besides anyone who publishes their leisure activities for the world to see deserves to get banned

The rule is just a show of good faith from event organiser to the landowners. In reality it can't be policed and you cannot with certainty pinpoint who's file was used to trespass.

There is plenty of other data available for any would be mtb trespasser to strich a route together e.g. That old invention called a topographical map, youknow that thing before Garmin.

 

Besides anyone who publishes their leisure activities for the world to see deserves to get banned

I agree with Myles and this - the farmers are looking for some 'good faith' gesture, publicizing that you have ridden over their land is just the 'permission' a self entitled rider is looking for.

As an example the key access route between the Southern Cape/ Overberg and the Breede Valley has been Trappieskraal portage - the farmer has apparently decided 'no' to any race because of the trespassing and attitude of riders.

For rides like the Epic and Freedom Challenge this is a big deal, especially Epic which I am sure would love to revisit the Overberg and link to Grabouw/ Elgin. For the Freedom its just another sadistic opportunity to send you somewhere 'impossible'. 

Why don't we get Hannele's opinion about the toughness of this ACE 2016?

 

She is one of a handful of people who can actually give a real answer....

The rest of us should just shut up I think..

LOL

 

Skynet or Umbrella Corp?

Hahaha Myles! On the money bro.

You can get all the files you need online in a matter of minutes, just scratched the surface..

You can get all the files you need online in a matter of minutes, just scratched the surface..

You don't get it. They're asking you not to. It's not that you CAN do it, it's that you shouldn't. There's a difference.