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Jewbacca

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    Western Cape
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    Muizenberg

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  1. I was coming here to day what @Brawler did.... Trek Roscoe comes dropper ready, modern geo and won't run out of ability before you do. Brand new. It is a no brainer IMHO
  2. Hardest part about Ironman is deciding where to put your tattoo......
  3. The American giant, Paris-Niece winner, seems to have made the right move at the right time 7km from the finish! Take a bow Matteo Jorgensen and Visma
  4. One significant thing is the economic commitment to do comrades and Epic. People are very underprepared for both, but it's far easier to be underprepared for Comrades financially. If you fork out 120k for an entry, chances are you will at least try to get there in some sort of form. When it's a few hundred bucks it's a lot easier to write off. I stand by my statement that it's easier to finish Comrades, one effort, vs finishing Epic. I'd bank on finishing Comrades 9.5 times out of 10 if you asked me to run it tomorrow, but would be WAY less sure on my odds over 8 days at Epic. There are far more variables With that in mind, statistics say that last year 92.6% of the field (almost 14900 of 16000 starters) finished, 2022 was 88.7%, 2021 was 89%........ I went pretty far back and despite the huge numbers, the finish rate is incredibly high. Like 85% or more
  5. The strength of commitment and emotional responses on this thread by guys who aren't ever going to ride the race is testament to how big the race is!!! 😜 Running Comrades is easy. Way easier than finishing the Epic. 8 days of riding under pressure in a row is tough. There is absolutely no denying that. Probably tougher for the very back markers than the front/mid pack amateurs. Walking trails when you're dehydrated, exhausted and running on empty is often a management tool. You just want to get to the finish without breaking anything. Same as guys walking up hills. If you haven't done a race longer than 3 or 4 days, you are likely not in touch with what goes on physically or mentally. Compounded fatigue is real. I still think the challenge is rad, as long as the motivation driving you isn't to be a part of an imaginary real mtb rider club. Regardless of body shape, skill, bike brand etc getting this battle done isn't for everybody, but a helluva achievement nonetheless.
  6. Hurting it in what way? There is a team behind each team, so doing it solo would be more like having a GT set up with guys taking turns each day getting the team leader in the right wheels and in the right positions as the cost factor wouldn't allow individuals to make it work. This will bring more rule changes in regulating how many helpers can one guy have? What level of assistance can be offered etc... The solo back markers would also struggle. Having a mate to pick you up, help you eat, remind you to drink and the between stage recovery is also better with a pal. Doing things like this alone is tough. I've done a few 6 day solo missions and there is a real struggle to stay out of your own head and keep on top of things. The race sells out pretty much every year. I see no reason for them to change anything. IMHO it was hardly boring. The lead changed hands a few times, some teams surged and dedded and the overall winners read the race to perfection. I thoroughly enjoyed it this year
  7. I think people can have a different opinion than others without being Snowflakes and/or other derogatory terms. Are you offended by it? 😉
  8. In a weirdly roundabout way, I have no affinity towards anyone having to be a 'real' anything. A 'real' mountain biker because you can suffer? Eish..... Lest we all forget, Burry was 25 when he died. I'd not quote the wisdom of a 25 year old kid, regardless of how good they are/were at a sport. I'm sure the sentiment was sincere and I'm sure he meant well by it, but it just isn't something we should revere. I also don't buy in to anyone having to prove anything to anyone in any field to earn 'respect'. It's a weird thing that people feel they need to endure voluntary hardship in order to garner support in an imaginary pecking order. If it isn't fun or you aren't doing it for your own benefit or introspection, I'd question the motives.
  9. This I think everyone agrees it would be good to see a more rounded coverage, the real challenge is getting that to the right people. I guess it would also be important to know what the numbers look like in terms of engagement - Number of Saffas, spanish etc and who engages in the non live stuff. Are we, those watching most years, the actual target market? Is it worthwhile for them to go through the processes for a handful of people who likely won't buy entries down the line? I'd guess these are all things the company can look at after the feedback and suggestions have reached the right people
  10. I remember that. The live feed wasn't a proper thing back then though, so it was a far more edited outlook. The e-bikes, wireless networks and transportable editing technology has allowed the live feed to really take centre stage, which makes the montage content less important I'm sure they will do a highlights/marketing wrap up which will really get the hearts racing, the amp high and loosen the purse strings of those so inclined.
  11. The thing is, the UCI teams don't make up many numbers. Let's round it to 490 finishing teams, 42 were UCI mens and 17 were UCI ladies. 54 men UCI teams started and 19 Female teams out of 720 ish teams. A shade more than 10% of the field The marketing is pro centric though. The whole strategy has been aimed at getting to ride the same race, route etc at the same time as the best pros in the world. It isn't the L'Etape where you ride the same route but on a different day, you are sold on being a part of the MTB tour de france actual race. The race coverage follows the pros at the racing end as it is exciting and the big names get people engaged and keen. I have had a lot of messages this week saying 'you, watching the epic coverage has made me so amped to get back on the MTB and do the race' from people who wouldn't last 4 days. Unfortunately the middle/back of the field is not attractive and seeing the level of suffering and dedding isn't going to sell next years entries to overweight CEOs, wannabe pros or people living on past glories. One part of the human brain that gets wholly underprepared people to buy into this event is ego and romanticism. They KNOW it's tough, they KNOW it's a big effort to get to the start line but 'it can't be that tough. I'm way more hardcore than those guys/girls who didn't finish and suck that badly.' I'm all for it. I may sound like I'm being derogatory or mean, but you get the point. The 'LIVE' feed is also getting shorter and shorter. I'd love a 90 second short montage each day of the other part of the epic and category winners, but I'd guess that until the race doesn't generate the numbers, very little will change.
  12. Who is extorting anyone and who is turning away customers though? They are making an offer, you accept it or you don't and move on. If their business fails, it fails. If their business succeeds then their business model works. There is nothing unethical about offering someone less than perceived value. If they tried to insist your item was rubbish and not worth what you are asking then derail sales etc I would understand, but it seems they are straight forward in a lowball offer delivered in a pretty vanilla, straight forward manner. Why do people continue to take this sort of thing personally? They haven't disrespected you, your wife/dog/child etc.... They have just offered money for an item. 'No thanks guys, I'd be happy to sell at X or wait until a better offer comes my way. All the best'
  13. It's almost as if some people on here forget that Nino is almost impossible to pair with, nevermind someone with the same/similar sponsors and timetable. The guy is relentlessly brilliant and has topped the MTB world for a really really long time. Add to that there is always one partner stronger than the other. It's nobody's fault, it is purely impossible for 2 people to perform equally over 8 days. It is what makes this format so intriguing. The top end of the field are racing within the tightest margins, I mean mere minutes over hundreds of Km. It is a phenomenal thing to watch and enjoy. I know I'm certainly a million light years away from criticising or suggesting I know better than the teams and their riders.
  14. Why is it so bothersome? Just say no and move on? It's not personal. It's just an offer
  15. Jewbacca

    Tour du cap 2025

    I plan on doing that in November...... 😜
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