{"id":62431,"date":"2023-03-30T10:51:21","date_gmt":"2023-03-30T08:51:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/?p=62431"},"modified":"2023-04-05T14:18:54","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T12:18:54","slug":"bike-check-christopher-blevins-cape-epic-winning-specialized-epic-evo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/bike-check-christopher-blevins-cape-epic-winning-specialized-epic-evo\/","title":{"rendered":"Bike Check: Christopher Blevin’s Cape Epic Winning Specialized Epic EVO"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We watched in awe as Matt Beers and Chris Blevins, riding as team Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne, came back from an unfortunate Stage 1 to methodically annihilate an eight minute deficit, win five stages, and claim the 2023 Absa Cape Epic<\/a> title. All in some of the toughest conditions in the history of the race. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s a closer look at Christopher Blevins’s winning S-Works Epic EVO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blevins and Beers both opted to pilot the S-Works Epic EVO for the 2023 Absa Cape Epic<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was a race defined by the elements: featuring everything from gale force winds, to torrential rain and knee deep mud. Equipment was pushed to the limits, and the Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne team had a notably smooth, mechanical-free race.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mud defined some of the key stages in this year’s race.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bike Specifications<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \n
  • Frame:<\/strong> Specialized S-Works EVO FACT 12m Carbon, Progressive XC Geometry, Rider-First Engineered\u2122, threaded BB, 12x148mm rear spacing, internal cable routing, 110mm of travel. Size Large.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Stem:<\/strong> Roval SL, 90mm, 6 degree<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Seatpost<\/strong>: Roval SL 30.9mm<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Saddle:<\/strong> Body Geometry S-Works Power, carbon fibre rails, carbon fibre base<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Shock<\/strong>: RockShox SIDLuxe Ultimate w\/ TwistLoc remote lockout<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • BB<\/strong>: Ceramic Speed<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Fork:<\/strong> RockShox SID, 120mm<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Handlebar:<\/strong> Roval Control w\/ extra wrap<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Grips:<\/strong> Supa Caz<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Front Tyre:<\/strong> Fast Trak Control T7 2.35<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Rear Tyre:<\/strong> Renegade GRID T5 2.35<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Rims:<\/strong> Roval Control SL, Carbon offset design, 29mm internal width, 4mm hook width, Tubeless ready, 24h<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Hubs:<\/strong> DT SWISS Roval Control SL, DT Swiss Internals, Ceramic Bearings, 6-bolt, 15mm thru-axle<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Spokes:<\/strong> DT Swiss Aerolite T-head<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Shifters:<\/strong> SRAM AXS<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Rear Derailleur:<\/strong> XX Eagle Transmission Derailleur<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Cassette:<\/strong> XX Eagle SL Transmission Cassette<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Crankset:<\/strong> XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission Power Meter Crankset, 38T<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Brakeset:<\/strong> Level Ultimate Stealth 4-Piston<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Chain:<\/strong> XX Eagle SL Transmission Flattop Chain<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Bottle Cages:<\/strong> Specialized S-Works Carbon<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Computer:<\/strong> Wahoo ELEMNT Bolt<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Pedals: <\/strong>HT Components M2T Pedals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
    The newly released XX SL Eagle AXS Transmission<\/a> Crankset featuring a 38T chainring for laying down the watts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
    Chris chose a fast-rolling Renegade GRID 2.35 in the T5 compound for the back tyre. Ideal for carrying speed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
    The new SRAM Level Ultimate Stealth<\/a> brakes blinging up the cockpit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \n
    \"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
    Tyre choice varied per stage, but here Chris has opted for a beefier Fast Trak Control, with a softer T7 compound for extra grip in the testing conditions<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
    Extra bar tape for getting aero on the long drags<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button>
    Chris chose to use the RockShox TwistLoc remote lockout with the SID Luxe rear shock. Also take note that he opted not to use a dropper post, and instead used the lightweight Roval SL seatpost.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    We watched in awe as Matt Beers and Chris Blevins, riding as team Toyota-Specialized-NinetyOne, came back from an unfortunate Stage 1 to methodically annihilate an eight minute deficit, win five stages, and claim the 2023 Absa Cape Epic title. All in some of the toughest conditions in the history of the race. Here’s a closer […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":62443,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[24,95],"featured_location":[338],"class_list":["post-62431","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tech","tag-cape-epic","tag-specialized","featured_location-bottom-row"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62431","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62431"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62431\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62461,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62431\/revisions\/62461"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/62443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62431"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62431"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62431"},{"taxonomy":"featured_location","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bikehub.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/featured_location?post=62431"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}