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Cape Epic training camps are an essential ingredient in
preparing for the Cape Epic. Everyone does them, so no matter
where you fit into the field you will benefit from attending
such a training camp. We have found that one of the best ways
to get the training hours in and to get your mind right is by
doing back to back riding days that simulate a couple of
stages at the Cape Epic. These multiple days are a great time
to test out riding strategies in terms of food, drinks, riding
with your partner and bike and equipment setup. It is also an
opportunity to meet some other riders who are going to do the
epic as well as some who have done it before.
This will be our third year running an Epic training camp.
All the riders who
completed the epic said that the training camp had been a
vital ingredient in their success. It was also great to be
riding at the Cape Epic and then see some familiar faces in
the middle of nowhere like old friends meeting up. Although we
will be able to provide some assistance and backup, riders
should be fully self sufficient, food, drink and mechanical
wise. The routes will have scheduled refreshment stops, but
they are not always reliable so riders
should aim to be self sufficient.
LIVE2RIDE Epic Training Camps
Epic Camp Ride Report
Epic Camp photos
The training camp took place for 3 days from 20-22
December 2007 in
the Western Cape. We were based in Langebaan, and rode
at various routes on the West Coast. All of the routes
were quite scenic and revealed some
great places to ride on the West Coast. It was hot and
windy which is probably not a bad thing because some stages in
the Cape Epic 2008 may well be hot dry and
windy. The weekend was 12 weeks before the start of the Cape Epic
and an ideal opportunity to get some long rides in and see
if the pre-season base training has had any benefit. It was
also a good time to test nutrition, equipment, clothing etc.
The route was similar to the
West Coast training
ride done last year. Details of the ride are:
Day 1: Koringberg area 100km 1300m ascent 100% dirt roads 2
steep climbs and technical singletrack descents
Day 2: Piketberg 120 km 2800 m ascent 70% dirt roads 3 big
climbs, 2 very technical downhills and 1 long jeep track decent
Day 3: Langebaan – St Helena Bay and Paternoster – Brunch
at Paternoster Lodge 70km 600m ascent 70% dirt
BBB Epic Camp Ride
Report
The BBB Epic training camp took place from 20-22 December
on the West Coast. The camp was based in Langebaan and hosted
by Team BBB and LIVE2RIDE, with sponsorship from BBB bike
Parts. This was the third successive year that these now
legendary training camps have been held on the West Coast.
Primarily aimed at riders entered into the Cape Epic and other
multi-day stage races, the training weekend is also just a
great opportunity to spend time on the bike and ride some new
trails.
Looking back on the last 3 days I am reminded of how
amazing mountain biking is in bring people from different
places together and how camaraderie and friendships can
develop out in the mountains. It is in fact the essence of
mountain biking, taking on challenges and beating them while
having fun and learning new things along the way.
As usual an interesting bunch of riders gathered in
Langebaan at 5am for the start to Day 1 which was a
100km ride into the Swartland region of Koringberg. There were
some locals from the west coast, Alan, Dolf and Kobus, Jane
and Andy from Cape Town, Albert from PE, the Durban boys Mike,
Paul, Andre and Bud and then Lloyd from the UK. This first day
had 3 main sections, a long gravel section to get warmed up
and get into the riding, followed by two tough ascents with
some steep but very enjoyable singletrack descents and then a
long gravel section back that tests the endurance, usually
with a bid of a headwind. Local farmer and Cape Epic finisher
Kobus met us after the first climb and descent into Koringberg
and joined in for the next section. It was great to have him
along as he shared some of his epic experiences with the other
riders. The climbs proved to be a good test for all riders as
they could see what their climbing legs were like while the
descents were an equal test for technical riding abilities. A
northerly headwind on the bay back made the going a bit
slower, but the cool air kept the heat at bay. Everyone
finished the day in around 7 hours, and two punctures were the
only mechanicals to speak of. Some ice cold drinks and local
Sandwich-Deli chicken mayo and tuna sandwiches were eagerly
consumed.
Day 2 was always going to be a really tough day with
almost 3000m of climbing to be covered in over 120km. This was
a real epic day with 3 big long climbs and 3 long technical
downhills. It started out cool and misty but by early morning
the sun was out and it did not relent. The first climb was
rocky initially and then steep and technical at the end so
only the super skilled Lloyd managed to ride it out while
everyone else had to do varying amounts of walking. At 36km
and 31/2 hours riding, after a loose and rocky steep downhill
we reached the first water point put up by super BBB back up
crew Belinda and Candice.
Next up was climb no. 2, a hot long and sometimes steep
dirt road pass up to Bo-Piketberg. This climb claimed a few
victims due to the incredible heat. There was some relief on
the top of the mountain with cooler air and some rolling
hills. We found our way through a maze like apple orchard and
then started the second downhill that was steep and badly
overgrown with fynbos. It felt like riding into an oven as the
temperature increased as we rode into the valley. A short tar
stretch and we reached the oasis of a water point under some
big bluegums. After 73km and 7 hours a mini riot ensued as
cold powerade, water and various other concoctions were
consumed to rehydrate tired hot bodies. At this point we met
up with Dolf and Kobus who had taken a slightly different
route.
The next and final section was going to be hot hard and
long. Some riders elected to take the shorter route back
around the mountain while the rest set off to tackle the steep
and blistering hot Versveld pass. After a last steep concrete
section we regrouped on the top and it was downhill time
again. There was not much time for rest as the downhills
required every ounce of concentration to stay on your bike.
But it was great to see how the descending skills improved in
just one day after these long downhills. The last stretch home
was tough as everyone was out of water, so we stopped off at
one of the Vineyards. The friendly country folk gave us water
and offered some fresh cold organic grape juice. This was a
real recharge and just what we needed to tackle the last 18km
home. After over 11 hours out in the saddle we all arrived
back safely. This typical epic day was made even tougher with
the incredible heat but it was inspiring to see how everyone
coped and learned to deal with such a tough day out.
Day 3 the last day was a lot easier than the
previous 2 days and so everyone really enjoyed the riding,
although there were some tender buts, and the corrugated
roads were a reminder of the many hard saddle hours over the
last few days. The typical west coast colder misty conditions
around St Helena and Stompneus Bay were refreshing after the
searing heat of the day before. As we approached Paternoster
the sun came out and we arrived to a picturesque fishing
village for breakfast. The Village breakfasts had been the
topic of discussion from the start of the day, so when they
were served there was little talk and lots of eating.
Epic Camp photos
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