HISTORY
Namibian Mannie Heymans, aka Mister African,
leads the charge with teammate, Karl Platt, on
tiny 26-inch hardtails in the inaugural 2004
Cape Epic. The pair won overall by 20 minutes.
n 2004’s fi rst edition, 29ers weren’t even a thing and the standard wheel size for mountain bikes was 26 inches. In 2018, 26-inch
wheels were extremely rare. Many of those early bikes were hardtails, particularly among the elite riders, but now 94% of the fi eld
is on full suspension bikes. By comparison, that number in 2007 was 69%. Then there are things that have become commonplace
since 2004 – carbon fi bre frames, disc brakes, tubeless tyres, much wider handlebars and 1x drivetrains. So how do riders who
competed in 2004 feel about the changes, and which ones do they believe have been most signifi cant?
DICK MORKEL says the major changes have been wheel
size evolution, the progression of drivetrains (from 3x7 to 1x12)
and the introduction of carbon fi bre frames and components.
Dick says, “The new bikes are defi nitely better – but not in
relation to their cost! In 2013 Dean Guilatt rode a 26-inch Scalpel
into 82nd place in GC and 18th in Masters. His was the only
26-inch bike and he reported no diff erence in performance to
29-inch bikes.”
He adds, “There has been a huge change in skills
requirements and trail improvements over the years. The UCI
rules have also changed. In 2004 the frames and wheels were
marked. You had to fi nish with the same wheels and frame
that you started with. Outside assistance of any kind was not
allowed. In the stage between Riversdale and Swellendam
I broke a saddle bolt. I cut a piece of steel wire from a fence
and fashioned a temporary fi x. Later we found a farmer’s barn
and scrounged around until we found a bolt that fi tted.”
110 | MTB | The Untamed African MTB Race
EPIC/SPORTZPICS
This year will mark the
16th running of the Absa
Cape Epic – a period
that has seen massive
changes in the sport of
mountain biking and,
in particular, the bikes
that participants ride.