Get ready to enter for the 2017 Absa Cape Epic

... But how is hubland going to respect you if you take premium upgrades?! Tent it and ride barefoot... because real men don't wear shoes either.

And barefoot with flats, rivets need to be extended to max too.

Oh well I guess it's the Trans Alps for me then in 2017. The Epic will just have to stay my white whale.

Then auction the entries

I rode the epic in in 2010 for the price of R25900 per team!

Still too much...

The organizers got the route badly wrong this year, in my opinion. To pay what we did to push our bikes around what passes for mountain bike routes in Tulbagh, was an absolute disgrace. In the unlikely event that I shell out what must have added up to 100k ( entry, accom upgrade, bike mechanic, spare, services, flights and accom for family, etc) to do this race again, I will first wait for the route to be advertised.

 

I loved the 2014 route, this was nothing like it.

Sorry it panned out like that - spending that cash should never end in disappointment.

I do think they tried to warn people that it would be shorter but tougher than in the past, but its hard to know what that actually means. For some people sand/ pushing bikes is not acceptable, for others the tougher the better.

Pioneer seem to have it right when they announce the route early and clearly state that it is going to be a departure from the past with the emphasis on enjoyment and shorter stages.

Epic seems pretty hell bent on weeding out a significant portion of the field on day 1 and 2 each year.

I rode the epic in in 2010 for the price of R25900 per team!

That's on average 15% increase per year.

I'm sure the epic is 2.5x better now that it was back then.

Not sure why guys complain about walking. I estimate that we walked less than 2km over the 8 days. Most of it on stage 2 up the Witzenberg mountains and then some on the way back when I cramped.

The organizers got the route badly wrong this year, in my opinion. To pay what we did to push our bikes around what passes for mountain bike routes in Tulbagh, was an absolute disgrace. In the unlikely event that I shell out what must have added up to 100k ( entry, accom upgrade, bike mechanic, spare, services, flights and accom for family, etc) to do this race again, I will first wait for the route to be advertised.

 

I loved the 2014 route, this was nothing like it.

I've read that the dry conditions have reshaped many of the routes as the test run by the organizers was in Sept or something like that

They held absa training camps in January and knew exactly what the routes were like in advance of the event.

They even knew about the bee hives that resulted in many riders getting stung badly at the start of day 2

These stage races are all a holiday. Massages, hot food, tents, mattresses, sleep.. All I hear is 'Worlds toughest MTB race....' It was too tough?!!!!

Grow a pair. Sorry. I said it.

Come do some Adventure Racing. 

What year did they factor out Dr Evil?

They don't even use lube, just full wallet rape.

The organizers got the route badly wrong this year, in my opinion. To pay what we did to push our bikes around what passes for mountain bike routes in Tulbagh, was an absolute disgrace. In the unlikely event that I shell out what must have added up to 100k ( entry, accom upgrade, bike mechanic, spare, services, flights and accom for family, etc) to do this race again, I will first wait for the route to be advertised.

 

I loved the 2014 route, this was nothing like it.

I can understand the frustration because there were a lot of steep, tough climbs to master.

There were also a few organisational things I did not like and thought to be better in 2014.

But IMHO this year's route was fantastic. Scenery and the single tracks were absolutely amazing and will be difficult to top.

Only the last stage was everything mountainbiking is not about - long stretches of farm / district roads into a headwind. Not my cuppa of coffee.

Not sure why guys complain about walking. I estimate that we walked less than 2km over the 8 days. Most of it on stage 2 up the Witzenberg mountains and then some on the way back when I cramped.

'We' would that be the same for everyone?

These stage races are all a holiday. Massages, hot food, tents, mattresses, sleep.. All I hear is 'Worlds toughest MTB race....' It was too tough?!!!!

 

Grow a pair. Sorry. I said it.

 

Come do some Adventure Racing.

You should change your alias to Audie Murphy *smk*

How much was the 2016 entry fees?

How much does a bike mechanic cost.

Any other hidden cost?

Lets leave the travelling cost and bike upgrades out of this equation.

Didn't realise the early bird ticket is a R17k discount for international riders over general entry. Expect some interest from undersea cables

I see entries are 5pm today. let's open the betting, I say 54 seconds

57 seconds....only cos it's a bit more expensive

These stage races are all a holiday. Massages, hot food, tents, mattresses, sleep.. All I hear is 'Worlds toughest MTB race....' It was too tough?!!!!

 

Grow a pair. Sorry. I said it.

 

Come do some Adventure Racing. 

Don't forget the guys in the luxury accommodation! Can I do adventure racing with flat pedals and plakkies?

Don't forget the guys in the luxury accommodation! Can I do adventure racing with flat pedals and plakkies?

Don't forget the guys in the luxury accommodation! Can I do adventure racing with flat pedals and plakkies?

Jah! Ids like dose oakes putting airkon in deir bakkies hey! Almal sissies!

..

Early Bird entries are now closed.

Didn't even get to the form!!!

sold out in 2min'

Clicked on It as soon as it was 15:00. Got nothing. So now I had to enter the Lottery System...

Looks like the Epic website crashed....... Trying to refresh and go into it, but nothing.