Fast forward 15 years
to the 2018 Absa Cape
Epic where Ariane Lüthi
and Githa Michiels ride
29-inch full-sus carbon
machines.
NICK COYNE rode the first Absa Cape Epic on a 1994
Kona Cindercone with a steel frame. He remembers the
biggest differences being V-brakes! It was the last time
for those – 2005 bikes had discs. He also remembers no
tubeless tyres with sealant and several punctures. Other
notable changes are wider handlebars, even on XCO bikes
(“I still use the Kona as a city bike, and the only nice thing
about the narrow handlebars is the gaps I can squeeze
through in traffic”), and the fact that suspension performance
has become so good (“not many hardtails around these days”)
with bikes being expected to handle much gnarlier tracks.
BRETT SACHS rode a KHS full
suspension bike in the founding Absa Cape
Epic. He also notes the major changes
to be wheel diameter increase (“rolls
easier over corrugated roads”), drivetrains
(“simpler, lighter and less likely to drop
or damage a chain”), less pivots in rear
suspension with flex in stays and increased
use of carbon fibre in frames and wheels
(“lighter and faster is good, but the cost
not so much!”).
PATRICK DONOVAN is of a completely different view. He rode his “beloved”
Giant XTC to finish the 2004 event and believes the developments over the years are the
consequence of bike manufacturers’ research and development departments “trying to
be productive and trying to sell more bikes”. He explains, “The gullible consumer is conned
to go out there and max his credit card on what he believes is a better product. Are the
new bikes better? I don’t believe so. I think Caliper or V-brakes are better than disc brakes
and easier and cheaper to service; with tubeless tyres there are still endless tyre issues;
full suspensions are a waste of leg power, heavy, not easy to service, noisy and expensive;
and 29-inch tyres? Really?!” Patrick concludes, “I guess you could compare the new
mountain bikes to the new so-called off-road vehicles. If you’re way out in the bush and
you have a breakdown, what you going to do, call your mom?”
The Untamed African MTB Race | MTB | 111