PP1549 Posted March 4, 2019 Share Hi all, Stoked to be starting our journey to Cape Town at the end of THIS WEEK! Can't believe race time is almost here, and am so pumped to get on some dirt after a long cold Canadian winter thus far. Another broad question from our team - how much warm clothing should we be thinking of packing for race week? Is it possible it could get cool enough at night to warrant bringing a puffy jacket, toque, warm mitts, etc? Similarly, how likely are we to need arm/leg warmers for riding in the AM? We're aiming to pack relatively lightly, but not to overlook or forget any essentials. I also tend to be one of those people who is always on the cold side... Any advice is appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BaGearA Posted March 4, 2019 Share Pack arm and leg warmers and rain kit, probably zero need for winterkit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skylark Posted March 4, 2019 Share One reasonably warm jersey or jacket will be sufficient for when off the bike, its not going to get much below 20 degrees Celsius. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FootballingCyclist Posted March 5, 2019 Share Hi all, Stoked to be starting our journey to Cape Town at the end of THIS WEEK! Can't believe race time is almost here, and am so pumped to get on some dirt after a long cold Canadian winter thus far. Another broad question from our team - how much warm clothing should we be thinking of packing for race week? Is it possible it could get cool enough at night to warrant bringing a puffy jacket, toque, warm mitts, etc? Similarly, how likely are we to need arm/leg warmers for riding in the AM? We're aiming to pack relatively lightly, but not to overlook or forget any essentials. I also tend to be one of those people who is always on the cold side... Any advice is appreciated!Arm warmers yes, Leg warmers not necessary.. Hasn't been below 15°C here for ages. No need for Puffy jackets or winter mitts at all, on some evenings around 10pm it's still close to 20°C. A gilet would also be good as if you plan to ride in the morning as stated, that ocean breeze does get really nippy!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadbod Racing Posted March 5, 2019 Share You're Canadian, what we think of as cool would still be warm for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncleslow Posted March 5, 2019 Share Don't bring a jacket. You will buy an Epic branded one when you arrive... or probably two... so your suitcase will be full. Rather wear layers.I wouldn't use arm warmers - rather get the Assos type that are warm-ish in the morning and cool you down later. Those are great and also UV protective.Just bring an ultra light rain coat and warm socks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PP1549 Posted March 6, 2019 Share Thanks everyone - as always, appreciate the input! Good call on the Assos arm covers! Are they available to buy a the Epic, does anyone know? Otherwise I'll try to pick some up before we leave this week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V12man Posted March 6, 2019 Share Thanks everyone - as always, appreciate the input! Good call on the Assos arm covers! Are they available to buy a the Epic, does anyone know? Otherwise I'll try to pick some up before we leave this week.This is my set of stuff I have take with before: Cycling kit:1 shirt, bibs socks for each day (the washing service sucks)2 long sleeve rain jackets2 rain Gilets2 x Sleeves2 x gloves (and they get washed and alternated daily)1 x shoes After hours gear: 1 x rain suit (long pants and jacket - uninsulated)2 x washable set of shorts - dark colours2 x washable t shirts (these happen to be Assos but anything synthetic will be fine - dark colours)1 x assos warm jacket1 x assos watrm gilet1 x pair of tracksuit pants1 x pair slipslops1 x pair of slip on shoes1 x beanie1 x baseball cap And a tie down strap for keeping the bag together.... And does it get cold - YES - on occasion - does it get HOT - yes - on occasion - and WET... you never know... as well as any combination of those - Epic has had events with people hospitalized with both hyper and hypothermia - so ALWAYS take at least a gilet with you if the forecast is even vaguely threatening. Good luck FootballingCyclist 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FootballingCyclist Posted March 6, 2019 Share You can also take the arm warmers, gilets, warm jackets off at the water points as they have packets which you can mark with your race number and then you just collect right afterwards at the laundry tent where the organizers drop all the kit from the water points. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmichael Posted March 7, 2019 Share Bring at least one long sleeve rain jacket for on the bike, as you never know what you wake up to. REMEMBER SUN BLOCK ALOT OF IT Robbie Stewart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rudi Pollard Posted March 7, 2019 Share Thanks everyone - as always, appreciate the input! Good call on the Assos arm covers! Are they available to buy a the Epic, does anyone know? Otherwise I'll try to pick some up before we leave this week.Yes, they have a brand shop at registration on the Saturday where you will be able to buy any epic branded stuff. They even force you to walk through it after you receive your envelope with your race number, timing chip etc on your way to collecting your bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Stewart Posted March 7, 2019 Share First off, welcome in advance to South Africa. While you're here, make sure that you get yourself introduced to a braai. (Afrikaans word for barbecue, pronounced like "brine", but with a silent n, almost like try with a B, i.e. "bry") You will never look at a barbecue the same again. Trust me on this! First prize is to watch a rugby match while attending a braai, and enjoying some local craft beer. American football will lose it's appeal if it had any to start with, and you will never look at a barbecue the same, as I said already.Okay, priorities sorted. Now, this is South Africa, and not Canada. You are used to snow, big mountains, forests, Whistler, North Shore, B.C. and bears. Here, we have the big 5. Although, you will have to visit a game farm or reserve to see them. As for the trails, although not quite BC / Whistler, still pretty good. DUST. Lots of it. And the best piece of advice I can give? As mentioned by Carmichael - SUNBLOCK. You will need at least SPF 50 for your face and neck. EVERY DAY!!!, even if it's cloudy. Otherwise you WILL burn, badly, coming from a Canadian winter. You will get away with SPF 35+ for your arms if you wear arm protectors.Mornings and evenings are generally chilly, not cold this time of year. It's only the beginning of autumn (not Fall. One fall's from a tree, or off one's bike...) The days are full of sun, more sun, plenty of wind, some more sun, and the odd shower. Temperatures range in the mid 20's Celsius in the day, to the mid teens in the evenings. Layering effectively will be sufficient. Mitts, puffy jackets and full winter gear not required, unless you want to carry a whole lot of unnecessary baggage around, but to each their own.Lastly, enjoy our beautiful country, don't believe all the hype, take it easy, have a blast, and fill your memory bank with enough treasure to carry you well into old age. Gr3mlin131, PP1549, Chip and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Stewart Posted March 7, 2019 Share ^^^^^^^ this. When I was freezing I saw many guys thinking it was a nice summers day. The weather here is not bad. Just bring a few dollars and buy what you need. We need your support. and foreign currency Paying for a SA purchase using dollars makes it free, does it not? Dadbod Racing 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbie Stewart Posted March 7, 2019 Share I think so. Don't know what stuff costs in Canada. But I would love to go there. Ja, I know it means cheaper, but at the prevailing exchange rate, R10.66 for 1 $ CAD, means that for every R100 spent, that translates to CAD 10, i.e. "free" cheap. edit - I just want to go ride Whistler, and see a bear, eh? Edited March 7, 2019 by Robbie Stewart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadbod Racing Posted March 7, 2019 Share ^^^^^^^ this. When I was freezing I saw many guys thinking it was a nice summers day. The weather here is not bad. Just bring a few dollars and buy what you need. We need your support. and foreign currency I got used to cold weather when I was in exile on "The cold Island" vooitog the British know nothing about summer... I laughed when they said ooh it's a lovelly day we'll walk around with no tops on! I was driving home from Stellies one day in July, you know our winters days when it doesn't rain still sunny but still chilly. A group of guys jump out of the tour bus to take a waz next to the road, all dressed in shorts and my initial thoughts were "Engelsman" then I saw the all had the England football shirts on... ai tog... Robbie Stewart 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtypot Posted March 7, 2019 Share edit - I just want to go ride Whistler, and see a bear, eh? I've ridden in Whistler but not seen a bear. I feel cheated. Robbie Stewart and PP1549 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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