Mountain bikers, or at least most male ones, are inveterate fettlers. Always tweaking a bit of bike set-up, getting excited about a new piece of kit, or boring everyone stupid about tyre or shock pressures. And even those that don’t do this probably spend considerable amounts of money on servicing for their bikes. And those […]
Absa Cape Epic 2014 stage 7 – it’s all over
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
The Absa Cape Epic is over for another year. If you’ve been riding, there are a lot of things you’re going to miss. And if you haven’t, there are a lot of things you have missed, but fear not, because entries just opened for next year… Things you’re going to miss The sheer simplicity of […]
Absa Cape Epic Stage 6 – two things that need to work: the team and the stomach
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
This week has demonstrated just how many things need to work in order to reach the end of an event as tough as the Absa Cape Epic. Obviously your legs need to keep on stomping; but assuming you’ve done the right training, you should be OK. Your bike needs to hold up; which means you […]
Absa Cape Epic 2014 Stage 5 – the queen
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
While Tuesday’s 134k was a long enough day, today was undoubtedly the queen stage of the 2014 Absa Cape Epic. And it contained some classic Epic ingredients: the remote Groenlandberg climb and the formidable “Rusty Gate”; 115k; heat (although mercifully not the full oven treatment) and sunshine; more great mountain views. On a tough stage […]
Absa Cape Epic 2014 Stage 4 – the one that makes it all worthwhile
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
The riders at the Absa Cape Epic have had a real rollercoaster over the last few days. Stage 2 was so muddy that an ‘easy’ stage turned into a bit of a monster, and Stage 3 involved so much wind that a long 134k stage was made even more arduous than it would have been […]
Absa Cape Epic Stage 3 – victory to Sauser and Rabon
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
After the rains and mud of Robertson on Stage 2, climbing back on the bike today was tender. Mechanics were up all night repairing bikes, It was the longest day today at 134km, but without lots of climbing – a paltry 1800m. A day like this is a transition day, one enjoyed by the roadies […]
Absa Cape Epic Stage 2 – mud!
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
Absa Cape Epic Stage 2 It’s hard to look very far beyond the conditions when talking about today’s stage. The Absa Cape Epic is associated with heat and dust; but even in South Africa, it sometimes rains! And boy did it rain, all through the night and into the morning. New stage winners in Men, […]
Absa Cape Epic 2014 – Stage 1 – the sort-out
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
Absa Cape Epic Stage 1 – the sort-out The first full stage of the Absa Cape Epic is always a bit of a sort-out. It’s a day for big changes in GC results, and a day for all riders, however far down the order they might be, to discover a little more about what the […]
Easing into the 2014 Absa Cape Epic – the Prologue
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
At a big stage race, it can feel like a bit of a marathon just arriving at the start line, let alone the finish. The critical point to reach is when you arrive at the first main stage village after the prologue; once you’re there, you can settle into the rhythm of the race. But […]
2014 Absa Cape Epic – only a few days to go
Related Event: ABSA Cape Epic
Too late! Too late for any more training, probably too late for any significant changes to bikes and kit, definitely too late to get an entry; the 2014 Absa Cape Epic is now only a few days away. The race is now on its eleventh edition, and still going from strength to strength. This year sees a […]