Video: Absa Cape Epic 2012 Prologue (GoPro Mix)
Not to beat a dead zebra, but here is another look at Sunday’s Cape Epic Prologue shot entirely on the HD Hero by GoPro.
Cape Epic Prologue Recap
March, 25th 2012: Cape Epic Prologue
Sauser and Stander set to wear the
yellow zebra jersey for Stage 1
The ninth edition of the race kicked off with a 27-kilometer prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in the Durbanville Wine Valley – mountain biking Mecca on Cape Town’s doorstep. The event saw 1 200 excited riders from 46 countries enjoy sunny weather with the first group of riders starting their 8-day journey at 06:45. Far from just a ceremonial stroll, it was flat out from the start ramp heading through spectator points Contermanskloof, Kliprug Hillcrest and Nitida. The route took riders through protected Renosterveld, railing the sublime single track created by the Tygerberg Mountain Bike club. On the final push on the lung-bursting climb up to the Meerendal hilltop finish – a first in the history of the Absa Cape Epic, riders saw spectators lining the trail for support, with magnificent views of Table Mountain and Table Bay in the background. Teams opened up their throttles for a good seeding at the start in Robertson for stage.
This time trial was a race against the clock to decide the seeding in the field and which teams will wear the coveted leaders’ jerseys at the start of Stage 1 in Robertson.
The South African/Swiss team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser (team 36ONE Songo Specialized) will wear the sough-after Yellow Zebra Jersey made by Craft, with Kevin Evans and David George wearing the Red Absa African leader jersey. Esther Süss and Sally Bigham (Wheels4Life) will be leading the Ladies in Orange, with Robert Sim and Nico Pfitzenmaier of Robert Daniel Momsen wearing the Telkom Masters Blue jersey.
Men’s Category
For the second year in a row, the Men’s category for the prologue was won by the South African/Swiss team of Burry Stander and Christoph Sauser (team 36ONE Songo Specialized) in a time of 1:11:52,1. They were followed by South Africans Kevin Evans and David George of 360LIFE (1:12:05,3) with Alban Lakata and Robert Mennen of Topeak Ergon Racing in third place in (1:14:57,0). In fourth place was Max Knox and Kohei Yamamoto of Songo-Specialized (1:15:08,3).
Says Burry Stander (team 36ONE Songo Specialized): “We started really well. I pushed to hard at the beginning and crashed on a bend. Shortly after Christoph almost crashed and we decided to back off a bit. We found our rhythm shortly therafter and Christoph was very strong today. I just had to hang on as he pulled us. Thirteen seconds is a small gap, but it’s very nice to wear the Yellow Zebra jersey again for Stage 1 of the race. It was a fast course and one had to keep up your speed through the turns. The dust made it a bit difficult. Lucikly I didn’t hurt myself or damage the bike, so all in all it was a good day.” Sauser adds: “We started out very steady and I was drafting behind Burry. Towards the end, I felt really good and took over the lead. But this is a long race and from tomorrow, the racing will be very different. We also have a strong second team in Max and Kohei and it’s good to have them out there – also for team bonding and to help each other, which is very important. Tomorrow the real mountain bike racing starts and one would need to conserve your energy – it’s still a long way to go Lourensford Wine Estate.”
Kevin Evans of 360LIFE says they rode the perfect race. “It felt very good and to have two World Champions only 10 seconds ahead of us, is very good. Today’s course also suited cross-country riders and we’ll have a lot of interval training in the next seven days, so we’re happy with our second place.” Adds David George: “It was obviously a course that suited Susi (Sauser) and Burry (Stander) more than us, but our technical skills are there and we never felt never under too much pressure. For us our second place is fine. The Absa Cape Epic has never been won or lost by 13 seconds. We still have 7 days of hard racing to come and will plan day by day, take our chances and take nothing for granted. We all expect a big battle.”
For first-timer Robert Mennen of Topeak Ergon Racing, it was an incredible day. “We never though of finishing on the podium – in third place. We kept calm in the beginning and pushed harder towards the end. It worked out really fine. It was a tough course but we’re really happy. It’s still a long way to go and we decided to start slower. It’s the first time I compete in such a long race. We’re cross-country riders.” His team mate Alban Lakata adds: “Its a great start to finish on the podium and we really didn’t expect it. We’ll stay calm and relaxed and see how every stage goes, how long it is and also what the others do – and enjoy the race at the same time.”
Ladies Category
Esther Süss and Sally Bigham (Wheels4Life) won the Ladies category in a time of 1:29:27,3, ahead of Theresa Ralph and Nina Gässler (Biogen Britehouse) 1:31:46,7. German team Ivonne Kraft and Elisabeth Brandau (notebooksbilliger.de) finished third in 1:36:01,1, with South African Scottish duo Karien van Jaarsveld and Jane Nüssli (MTN Qhubeka) in 1:37:25,4.
Says Sally Bigham of Wheels4Life: “Today was brilliant. It was a really nice stage and I felt really good and strong. It was a good pace for me and we worked really well together as a team – I think we’re going to have a good week. It was also a nice course, I loved the climbs, and nice single trails. Although I’ve lost my voice yelling ‘excuse me’ to all the riders ahead of us to make way.” Adds Esther Süss: “It was a good starts to the Cape Epic. It was a hard, dusty course but good. I think finishing first laid a good foundation for Sally and I.”
Elisabeth Brandau of team notebooksbilliger.de says she enjoyed the first stage. “It was amazing and I had fun. This is my first Absa Cape Epic and I can see why riders keep coming back for more. It’s very well organised. It was great to have the crowds cheer us on along the way. I think I’ll also come back for more.” Adds Ivonne Kraft: “We’re very happy with third place. I had a bit of flu earlier in the week, but feel a bit better today. It was not our best result, but we still have a long way to do.”
Telkom Business Masters Category
The Telkom Business Masters Category was won by Robert Sim and Nico Pfitzenmaier of Robert Daniel Momsen. Their winning time was 1:23.00,9. They were followed by Adrian Enthoven and Delaney Impi (Jag Craft) in 1:26:57,7, with former Olympic medalist Bart Brentjens and Jan Weevers of World Bicycle Relief finishing third in 1:27:19,4.
A hotly contested ‘race within a race’ is the one for the red Absa African jersey, awarded to the highest placed team, with both members holding African nationalities. Team 360Life (Kevin Evans and David George) successfully managed to secure this jersey for Stage 1. Siphosenkosi Madolo and Azukile Simayile of team Exxaro Academy 9 managed to secure the Exxaro Development jersey with their impressive performance during the prologue (overall 49 out of 600 teams).
Mixed Category
The Centurion Vaude team of Udo Boelts and Milena Landtwing, won the Mixed Category (in 1:31:34,1), followed by Erik Kleinhans and Ariane Lüthi of Contego 28E in 1:32:46,5. The South African/Swiss team of Russell de Jager and Andrea Huser (Big Tree / Velocity Sports Lab) finished in third place (1:37:26,7 ).
Says Erik Kleinhans of Contego 28E: “It went very well. We started off great and on the first climb we passed two of the mixed teams. We built up a nice gap, but towards the the end of the race, on the last downhill, Ariane cut her front tyre and we had to plug it to save it. We then managed to chase hard to catch up with the leaders. Tomorrow we’ll keep it safe and steady.” Adds Ariane: “I was really annoyed with myself. I saw the rock in my path, but I don’t know what I was thinking and went straight over it. At least I kept my cool and we tried to get ahead as fast as possible. I managed to control my nerves to the end and push myself.”
STAGE ONE PREVIEW: ROBERTSON TO ROBERTSON (distance of 115km, 2350m of climbing)
As the race’s history revealed before, stage one is always a rude awakening for the riders. Combining the length, the climbing, the severity of the trail surfaces and the speed of fresh-legged hares at the front of the field – all will be a shock to the system, even for the best prepared. Three major climbs loom ahead of the athletes. The first three-kilometer rise is littered with loose rocks and tilting to 25 per cent, forcing portage, and there’s a risky descent lying in wait. Then it’s Hangman’s Tree, which may be short, but could take up to half an hour to conquer. Beautiful flowing trails then traverse the mountain ridges, showcasing the breathtaking scenery everyone has come to expect from the race. Tortoise Peak is the third major obstacle (there are still a few lesser ones after) and riders will be creeping up this slow, yet rideable five-kilometre ascent, named after its ancient residents. Riders with bar ends ought to take care on the descent, with grabbing branches on the off-camber dual tracks. For their considerable efforts, riders are rewarded with a beautiful section of trails through Nama Karoo, with a few gentle rises before finally turning east, back toward Robertson with a final rocky plunge into town.
Recap & Video courtesy of the Absa Cape Epic.
2012 Absa Cape Epic Rider Brief
The 2012 Absa Cape Epic started today with the Prologue, but first let’s look at the briefing the racers got.
The Barry-Roubaix: Bike Choice & Fatness
Worrying About Bike Choice
The Barry-Roubaix is fast approaching. Over 1,500 racers will be lining up come Saturday morning and right now many are pondering the question- which bike, mountain or cross? Personally I’m going with my Kona Jake the Snake gussied up with some well worn, should have got a new pair ages ago 700 x 40c Ritchey SpeedMax cross tires. This may or may not be the right choice. But unless Saturday is going to be an utter mud fest, that’s the choice I’m going with.
The 62 mile course has over 4,000 feet of elevation gain, which is sort of scaring the hell out of me for a couple of reasons… 1. I recently did a 59 mile gravel road ride near my house in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. That ride netted me only about 600 feet of elevation gain. 600 feet vs. 4,000 feet. Yikes! 2. I did the 32 mile Barry-Roubaix race in 2011 on my 29er hard tail. I remember thinking “I should have done this on my cross bike” quite often during the race. Of course it’s easy to think that when you’re middle ringing it up climbs in 32/34 and floating over sandy sections on 2.1 tires.
Other areas of concern: The new section of E. Sager Road To Shaw Road (see the video race director Sir Rick Plite shot below).
As you can see the sand looks like it’s going to be a bitch for sure. Add in 1,500 racers and it could be epicly bitchy. But there is a very good chance of rain from now up to and including race day. This could help improve traction in this sand. Of course if we get heavy rains it could turn the rest the course into a deep muddy mess, based on my experiences on my local Michigan dirt roads this could make the mountain bike a very good choice.
Many may be thinking “Jesus dude, just ride the freaking course and stop thinking about it.” And I would have to agree with that, to an extent. But I also think that all he pre-race thinking about gear and nutrition choices is part of what makes racing so fun. I’d rather spend my pre-race week thinking about tire and bike choices than worrying about rising fuels costs, my chapped ass, elections or the Bronco’s new QB.
Having said all that, come Saturday I will line up with 1,500+ other folks and whichever bike I’m on will be the right bike, because at that point there’s no point thinking about the bike, just racing. Well racing and having a few beers and busting the balls (or female equivalent) of your friends who made the wrong bike choice. See… it’s allllll good! Unless your friends are busting YOUR balls (or female equivalent)… then they’re of course just being asses and you should start looking for new friends.
The Fatty-Roubaix?
As discussed above many folks (or just me) are lamenting bike choices. But there are 19 folks who know right now what they are riding… A fat bike. Yep, a freaking fat bike. In 2012 Sir Rick introduces a 36 mile Fat Bike option for the Barry-Roubaix. Of the 19 signed up there are two women; one is XXC #15 cover star Tara Jansen, the other is our friend Danielle Musto (Salsa Cycles). I recently emailed with Danielle to ask if her if she still plans to roll her Salsa Mukluk, why the hell she would, and about racing the Barry on it. Here is her response:
Yes I am racing my fatty at Barry in the Fat Bike category, which is 36 miles. When I saw they had that category I had to sign up.
When I first found out that I was getting the Mukluk I was excited, but never imagined that I would like it as much as I do. I have not ridden another bike outside since I got it (which was sometime in December). I’m considering this race a “fat-bike season finale” and then I’m going to start riding my regular mountain bikes again. Except when I’m going to the beach.
Our category is combined Men and Women. Tara Jansen (Farm Team) and I are the only females representing and she will be hard to beat. I think there was only 8 minutes separating us in the Farmer’s FatBike race. While I’m a stronger mountain bike racer she is really, really strong on the road. It will be a good race for sure. And of course I’ll be trying to pick off as many skinny tired bikes as possible! HA!
I think this race will be a blast. The only thing I’m NOT looking forward to is the prospect of rain and mud. I DO NOT need my bike to be any fatter then it already is!
Thanks for the replay Danielle.
Good luck to all the folks racing the Barry-Roubaix. Ride fast, ride safe, have fun.
Süss & Bigham Team Up For 2012 ABSA Cape Epic
In the Ladies category this year, the Absa Cape Epic welcomes back Esther Süss (37) of Switzerland and partner Sally Bigham (33) of England. These two ladies will be riding under the team name Wheels4life.This year’s race, which takes place from 25 March to 1 April 2012, will once again take 1 200 riders through some of the Western Cape’s most unspoilt territory. The race will kick-off with the prologue at Meerendal Wine Estate in Durbanville and will finish at the traditional Lourensford Wine Estate.
This will be the fourth Absa Cape Epic for Süss. “It’s always a good and strong training session which I enjoy. The race is also wonderful and it’s a great inspiration with a lot of good experience. I also like South Africa,” adds Süss.
Esther Suss Photo by Karin Schermbrucker/Cape Epic/SPORTZPICS.
Süss will be riding with Bigham, who will be facing her third Absa Cape Epic this year. Adds Bigham: “A race season would not be complete without the Cape Epic. It’s a major part of my race calendar and I’d be upset if it wasn’t. I love the race, the people and South Africa – that’s why I keep coming back.”
Bigham is very excited to be riding with Süss and is confident that they will be a very strong team. She adds that she is unsure as of yet if they will be a winning combination until they cross the finish line at Lourensford Wine Estate
Both Bigham and Süss have many accolades to their names. Süss has been the Swiss champion in cross-country and the winner of numerous national marathon and cross-country races. She placed 3rd in the World Cup in Offenburg (Germany), 5th overall in the Crosscounty Worldcup in 2010 as well as becoming the World, European and Swiss Marathon Champion in 2010.
Bigham has come first in the British National Marathon Championship in 2008, 2009 and 2010 and placed 2nd overall in the Trans Germany in 2011 and received 2nd place in the European Marathon Championships in 2011. Last year, Bigham also achieved 1st place overall in the Absa Cape Epic ((Ladies category) and came 1st in the UCI World ranking marathon.
Sally Bigham. Photo by SportoGraf.com.
Unfortunately for these two, they have yet to train together. Says Bigham: “We’ve raced each other many times, but we’ve never trained together or raced as a team before.” When training independently, Süss says that it is difficult to explain as it changes from week to week. In terms of her diet though, she eats healthily. Bigham, however, has a more structured training schedule. “I’ve just finished a 3 week training camp in Gran Canaria where I rode between 3 and 6 hours six times a week. These sessions were mixed with different types of intervals ranging from 10 seconds to 45 minutes. I don’t have a special diet as such other than eating lots! I love food!”
Fortunately, neither of these two have any injuries which could affect their performance. “Injuries are scary for any athlete and I’m always taking care to avoid them. At the moment all is OK and hopefully it will stay that way,” adds Bigham. Both are unsure of podium finishes this year, but Süss believes that their chances are not too bad. Adds Bigham: “I’m a little bit superstitious and I don’t want to jinx us! Of course we want to win stages and make the podium in the GC, but there’s a lot of hard work to be done and we also need luck to be on our side. Fingers firmly crossed!”
Süss has many fond memories of the race but when it comes to the most difficult stages, she mentions “stage 5 or 6 are the worst because by then my whole body is tired. I can’t describe the feeling though when crossing the finish line! There are no words in English…I’m just so happy if I manage to ride all the stages.”
For Bigham the first stage is the most difficult as she is very nervous then. “But when I cross the finish line, it’s totally overwhelming. All of the emotions that you’ve had to keep under control for the last 8 days can finally come flooding out. I get goose bumps just thinking about it,” says Bigham.
Her fondest memory of the race was when she and her 2011 partner, Karien van Jaarsveld, approached the finish line at Lourensford Wine Estate to win the Ladies. “This year, I’m looking forward to seeing all the other riders as it’s such a great atmosphere. I’m also looking forward to racing with Esther and to do some hard riding.”
In her free time, Bigham enjoys going for coffee and cake with her friends and when she has the time, get some windsurfing in. “In 2012, I want to be happy and healthy, and if I can achieve that then hopefully I’ll also win some races.”
“In my free time, I enjoy reading and baking. This year, I’m hoping to qualify for the Olympics in London!!” adds Süss. Süss advises other participants that they must listen to their body. If you do not plan enough recovery time, you will struggle. “Don’t go too fast during the first few days. Just have fun and enjoy the race otherwise you’ll struggle to finish the Cape Epic.”
Bigham adds: “Prepare well. Think about everything you will need for the whole 8 days, both on and off the bike. Good preparation beforehand will mean that you can spend more time relaxing during the race.” She believes that besides good preparation, excellent communication with your partner and good nutrition on and off the bike are vital – “in other words”, she adds, “lots of eating!”
Süss concludes: “Have fun if you can and enjoy what you do, especially if it’s your profession. It’s a privilege if it becomes your profession. You must also work hard for your dream and never give up!”
From 25 March to 1 April, all eyes will be on the Western Cape as the world’s top riders vie for a position in what is billed to be the most competitive event in the race’s history. Covering a distance of 781km with 16 300m of climbing, the race will finish eight days later at Lourensford Wine Estate.
Visit www.cape-epic.com for more information. To read an interview with Sally Bigham check out XXC Magazine #15.
Stagecoach 400 Q&A With Brendan Collier
xxcmag.com contributor Heidi Volpe picks the brain of Brendan Collier, one of the driving forces behind Southern California’s self supported Stagecoach 400 race coming up on April 27th.
Your wife Mary Metcalf-Collier won that race the year she was coached by Lynda Wallenfels, who herself is an accomplished endurance racer. Did you two create this race to have another experience like the Great Divide in your backyard?
Yes, pretty much. We have enjoyed this style of racing as much for the adventure of getting out into new areas as for the competition. We’ve adopted rules very similar to those of Tour Divide, and timed the event to coincide with other self-supported events in the Western US and also to make a viable “shakedown” for somebody who might be thinking of racing Tour Divide. We designed the route in such a way as to showcase some of Southern California’s best features, such as the close proximity we have to mountains, desert, and ocean.
I’ve heard you changed the course to add more singletrack, thus changing the minds of some folks who were maybe looking to do it on monstercross type rigs. What type of bikes do you expect to see out there?
I’d expect to see a mix of monstercross bikes as well as traditional mountain bikes. A lot of the entrants are from California, and Monstercrossers haven’t really caught on as much here as in other places. That said, I’m legitimately undecided as to which bike I’ll be riding. It’ll be either my drop bar 29′er or my singlespeed. How did the idea come about? At the shop, over dinner, on a ride?
A little of all that. Mary, Dave See and I had ridden a lot of these lesser known areas and got to thinking that Southern California was ready for an event like this. We got to talking with some other guys. Chad Leptich and Rich Wolf in Julian and Guy Sutton in San Diego all had a lot of knowledge to contribute. The route really took on a collaborative effort that everyone got stoked about, each of us putting in our local knowledge to make it the best route possible.
Do you see this as a growing trend, these self-supported multi-day races? If so why?
It’s definitely a growing trend. Multi-day riding & racing is fun for so many reasons. There’s a creative side to it; picking out your technical gear and developing your ride strategy. And there’s the whole aspect of communing with nature and getting the heck away from the rat race, even if just for a day. It engages both sides of the brain and soothes the soul too.
What were the five most important things in creating the course? What was on your must-have punch list?
There was a punch list. 1) mountains 2) desert 3) ocean… and to a lesser extent, 4) population center, and 5) rural areas with funky roadhouse bars. Ha! These things are all the “real” Southern California. We don’t have anything like the Arizona Trail or the Colorado Trail out there waiting for us to ride it. Rather than lamenting that fact I figured we should flaunt it. Where else can you find such a diversity of riding and also watch the sun set over the ocean?
Do you prefer veteran entrants, or anyone is welcome to try it?
These self-supported gigs can be pretty Darwinian: riders will either make it or they won’t. For the most part, everyone is welcome. We do the best we can to inform people of the potential dangers and let them make their decisions. This stuff favors experience, but I try not to be elitist.
Will there be neutral support along the route, i.e. local bike shops?
Yes, there are some bike shops along the route, but they are few and far between. The first 200 or so miles are pretty remote, with no bike shops that I know of. Water and food will be tough to come by for most of the route, except for San Diego and along the Pacific Ocean. The ride requires a high commitment level and competence right off the bat.
During your recon did you check out what was available to eat from local gas stations and so on along the way? What was your favorite purchase?
Gas stations are always good for carbs and salts, and the occasional piece of fruit, but I grab my proteins from burrito places and the like whenever possible. It’s slim pickings for most of the route, but there are some gems along the way. I’ll hopefully swing though Little Italy for a calzone and a beer.
How much of it did you ride in one shot?
I’ve ridden bits of the route in maybe 150 mile sections. To my knowledge, no single person has ridden all of it. There’s still a stretch I haven’t ridden myself.
Friday April 27th, 8am
400ish miles
Absolutely, positively, (delightfully?) NO support.
Starts and ends in Idyllwild, CA @ The Hub Cyclery
SPOT satellite tracker use is mandatory.
GPS navigation is strongly recommended.
Time Limit for the Stagecoach 400 is 5 days.
For more information on the Stagecoach 400 visit socalenduro.wordpress.com.
Rubberized Knob Talk
Tires… pretty much a necessity when it comes to riding. I have the following criteria for a tire.
- It must be an “all -round” tire. I use Stan’s goo and I don’t want to be re-gooing and changing tires every freaking weekend.
- Rolling resistance. No one likes to hear the whirl of knobbies on dirt. I mean pavement is one thing, but if I hear “the whirl” on dirt. UG!
- Must play well with Stan’s (or your favorite tubeless goo).
- Oh yeah, it needs to be a 29″ tire. Do they even make 26″ tires anymore? (I know they do, I was being a jerk).
While no tire is going to perform perfectly in every condition, I like a tire that comes close. For my mountain bikes I have been using the Maxxis Ignitor* with success for a few years now (much to the chagrin of my friend Dahn “you’re STILL using those tires n’at?” he says way too often). Well, the Ignitors have been good to me- I roll them in wet and dry conditions, on gravel on pavement and everything in between. I leave them on A. Because I am a creature of habit. B. I am lazy. C. They have worked fine, so why rock the boat? and D. I am lazy (yeah, I know I said that twice, but I am REALLY freaking lazy!).
So that’s is me. I am open to suggestions for new rubber so hit me with your best shot tire geeks post a replay here or hit this status update on Facebook. I am looking to find something that might be a little be faster (especially for the dry to sandy conditions of Michigan). But given my laziness… I probably won’t change anything soon.
*For the record, Maxxis is in NO WAY affiliated with XXC Magazine or xxcmag.com (not for lack of trying, but they ain’t). But if they want to our ad rates are cheaper than a $5 hooker. Just sayin’.
Equinox Snow Challenge 2012
Friend, contributor and XXC Podcast Co-host Ben Welnak checks in with a preview of the Equinox Snow Challenge 2012.
This has been the winter of fatbikes and there is no better way to end the winter riding season with a real challenge. The Equinox Snow Challenge, held annually since 2007, has added a fatbike category to the normal ski and run categories. The race is set to start at 10am on Saturday, March 24th at the Rendezvous Ski Trails in West Yellowstone, Montana. Skiers, runners, and cyclists have several categories to choose from, including 3, 6, 12, and 24 hour divisions for soloists up to relay teams up to 8 members.
The Equinox Snow Challenge is a unique fatbike race. The Rendezvous Ski Trails normally host several national caliber ski events annually. This is a one-time opportunity to ride fatbikes on the trails, which are open to skiers only from November through May. Race director, Sam Newbury really loves the area’s fatbiking potential, stating that “West Yellowstone is referred to as the ‘Moab of fatbiking’ by many. There are over 500 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in the Gallatin National Forest and the adjoining Targhee National Forest, both of which share boundaries with Yellowstone National Park, which provide ample exploring.”
The race organizers wanted to explore alternatives for skiers and bikers to share winter trail resources. They wanted to run an event that supports the local community, while providing an arena for participants to challenge themselves to new levels. It is meant to be a grassroots type event, rather than a “glossy industry event”. To maintain the feel, they will have a potluck, small crowds, and maybe a prize if you win. “You might get a prize if you win, you might not. It is not about the fame- it is about personal limits. You won’t get a timing chip, but you will get a pen to write down your teammate’s time. The regulars usually bring a pony keg of homebrew to share and everyone brings canned food for the Food Bank,” Newbury explains. There will be some sponsors on site, including demo bikes by Surly and Salsa. There will also be a Twenty2 Cycles Bully fatbike available to test ride before the race. They are also working on having a mechanic available. Several ski sponsors will also be on site to join in the fun.
Wondering what the conditions will be? The bike course will be a 4-6 mile loop on groomed nordic ski trails. The course will be separate from the skiers for the first eight hours, then, depending on conditions and numbers of users, the race organizers my consolidate the race onto one trail. The trail map can be found here rendezvousskitrails.com/trailmap/. The bike course is the “Volunteer Loop” plus the “Drew Ski CutOff.” Weather averages for the end of March are relatively warm, with highs in the uppers 30’s and lows in the teens, so racers should be able to enjoy springlike temperatures.
The organizers ask that all riders use fatbikes such as the Surly Pugsley, 9:ZERO:7, Fatback, Salsa Mukluk, or the Twenty2 Cycles Bully, and others which have 60-100mm rims and 3.7-4.7 inch tires. Other bikes will be accepted only if they are not impacting the trails more than a floatation bike. This may be the case during the depths of the evening, but is very unlikely during the typically warm spring daytime temperatures. If you don’t have a fatbike, you can rent, borrow, share with teammates, or sleep and ride when it is fast!
The Challenge is expecting a successful inaugural bike race. There are currently 15 registered riders and they are expecting 25-30 by start time. So far they have three 12 hr soloists, one 12 Hour duo team, two 24 hour teams, four 24 hr solos, and three 24 Hour combo teams. Racers are coming from around the west to check out the unique event, including people from Albuquerque, Durango, Denver, the Seattle area, Salt Lake, Jackson, Missoula and Bozeman. Currently there are 55 skiers registered and they expect 80-100 on race day.
If you are in town early, be sure to stay off the ski trails. The Forest Service doesn’t want any bikes on the trails until race day. You are invited to ride all of the snowmobile trails around the area if you’d like to get in some good local riding. Freeheel and Wheel (freeheelandwheel.com) is the shop in town. If you want to stop in, check out their goods, or just warm up with a cup of coffee, they are on Yellowstone Street near the park entrance. If you are driving from the south and want to talk bikes with a very committed fatbike shop or need to rent one for the race then you should check out Fitzgeralds in Victor, Idaho (www.fitzgeraldsbicycles.com).
For more information, check equinoxskichallenge.com. If you have any questions about the race or registration, please contact Sam Newbury at equinoxsnowchallenge@gmail.com.
Video: 2012 Cape Epic Profiles
Here are a few more amazing team previews for the coming Cape Epic. Each one of these teams is a contender for a podium spot at this year’s Cape Epic. Check ‘em out…
Team Bulls
Karl Platt
Stefan Sahm
Team 360Life
Kevin Evans
David George
Team 36ONE/Songo/Specialized
Christoph Sauser
Burry Stander
I’m really hoping there are more of these coming, I’m really enjoying them. Of course watching them isn’t allowing me to get much work done but they sure are stoking the fire for today’s ride!
