TRIED &
TESTED Tried & Tested by THE MODERN ATHLETE TEAM
The Absa Cape Epic is called epic for a reason . It ’ s a gruelling eight-day mountain biking stage race covering 617km , with 16,500m of vertical ascent . That is twice Mount Everest in a week ! But what most people don ’ t know is that the Epic is an eating race , too . The weeks and months that lead up to Epic are filled with worries , not only about the bike , but nagging thoughts like , “ Have I eaten enough ?” Competitors must consume unholy amounts of calories daily to replace what they burn , to fuel up for the coming stages , and falling behind on your nutrition can mean dropping out of the race . That ’ s a leading reason why almost one-third of the teams that started the 2024 Epic didn ’ t finish the event .
Being able to monitor your nutritional intake is therefore of utmost importance to Epic riders , and that ’ s why , in the run-up to this year ’ s race , My Ultra Life , the sole distributor of Ultrahuman products in South Africa , teamed up with two riders who could really put the company ’ s Ultrahuman Ring AIR and Ultrahuman M1 to the test in one of the most gruelling events on the calendar .
The Gear
The Ring AIR is a smart ring that monitors your sleep , movement and recovery through an array of sensors built into the ring , including a temperature sensor , a PPG ( photoplethysmography ) sensor , and a motion-sensing IMU ( inertial measurement unit ). By capturing signals from your finger , these sensors collect data , which is then processed to provide you with metabolic insights and a comprehensive understanding of your body ’ s dynamics .
The Ring AIR is crafted from durable titanium and further reinforced with a tungsten carbide coating , which you can wear on your index , middle or ring finger . The ring is rechargeable , with a battery life of four to six days , and it interfaces with iPhones operating on iOS 14 or newer , as well as Android devices functioning on Android 6 or subsequent versions .
Info at your Fingertips
Our wear-testers put the Ultrahuman Ring AIR and Ultrahuman M1 to the test in one of the most gruelling events on the calendar , the Absa Cape Epic , and showed how this cutting-edge gear can help an athlete to deliver their best performances . – BY SHANNON FOGDEN
Air and applied the glucose sensor to my left tricep area . I must add , my race partner was horrified at the sight of the needle and got a little queasy watching me apply it .”
“ The continuous glucose monitor , or CGM , is what I was most excited about , as this was a new dataset I had never seen or used before ,” says Benno-Lutz van der Merwe , a university student , triathlete and mountain biker . “ This CGM was convenient , had minimal interference with any of my movements , and we had immense ease of access to the data , even amidst the gruelling conditions of the race .” ( Sidenote : CGM devices are not allowed during racing by the UCI , but many pro ’ s use them to assist in their training and recovery nutrition .)
The Preparation
When Benno breaks down his Epic prep , the reality of taking on South Africa ’ s toughest bike race becomes clear . “ Planning for the
Epic is a big task . Getting things sorted , such as kit , nutrition , mechanics , massages and accommodation , is the start of a long list we have to tackle . Luckily , we had an accommodating team around us to help us with all the off the bike logistics , but we still had questions , like how much carbohydrate should I take per hour , how much sodium is enough , what must I eat in training , and am I sleeping enough ? These factors can make or break your race before you even cross the start line ,” says Ben .
That ’ s where he says the Ring AIR really showed its worth . “ The smart ring only weighs 2.4g , and in a sport where weight is everything , this makes a huge difference .
The M1 is a continuous metabolic fitness tracker that helps you measure the impact of food and activity on your body in real time , through glucose as a biomarker . Applying the M1 patch to your arm allows you to improve your diet and exercise based on real-time measurements , as you can track your glucose in real time . Additionally , you can set it up to send you activity prompts via your smartphone , when your glucose levels rise or dip .
The Riders
Our two testers were both keen to try out the new technology . “ I was thrilled and intrigued to be allowed to test-drive the Ultrahuman platform during the Epic ,” says Jarrad van Zuydam , a sports physician and Chief Medical Officer at Strove . “ So , two days before the start of the race , I swapped my wedding band for the UH Ring
Image : Courtesy Quinton Store
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