Max Menzies (117 -1) of the Menzies Cycle Engineers team is riding the 2015 ABSA Cape Epic with his brother Edmond. The real special thing is that he’s taking on the challenge on a rigid single speed…
Here’s how it’s gone so far.
Prologue
Nice ride where we took it easy… got some strange looks from people on the route supporting the riders wondering why I was doing 6 revolutions per minute going up those 2 big climbs. The real stuff starts tomorrow…
Stage 1
Monday was an Epic day as it offered the traditional hard long stage. A chilly day with rain, but we got through after I had one unplanned dismount at the 75 km mark trying to adjust my glasses on a fast descent. Must remember not to do that again! It seems I am the only nutter on a SS bike at the Epic this year, beside some chaps on fat bikes (geared)
Stage 2
Tuesday offered an opportunity for most to have a slight recovery as It was a little shorter. Nasty headwind. Great single track, an awesome day. So far so good, I seem to be able to make the cut off each day by an hour which bodes well for the week. I am continually asked to stop for photo’s each day by the foreigners participating as they think this bike of mine is quite ridiculous.
Photo by: Cherie Vale
Stage 3
We had rain & cold on Monday, Tuesday was windy. Today was a monster day – hot, sandy and windy. We came in at 9.24, beating the cut off by 1.5 hrs but I was broken. That bike of mine took a telling on my body, I am worried about tomorrow which is traditionally a tough day. Everybody looked shattered when arriving at the finish line. So poked I missed supper and went to bed…
Stage 4
Thursday started off quite a fast, most folk a bit tender from yesterday. Not a lot of talking as most riders had their heads down and put out on the pedals. The latter half of the route thru some bone jarring descents that nearly had me wishing for a gum guard. The magnet of the weekend is pulling me now, just must get thru tomorrow. three more days, I can do this…
Stage 5
Is there ever an easy day at the Epic? This was a brutal day, heads were down and chatting was minimal as we left Worcester for Wellington covering 121km and 2500 elevation. The descent at the end of the day was particularly hard on my arms… struggled to hold on. This event is clearly not made to ride on a hard tail, let alone a fully rigid steel bike. We sitting in position 476 GC out of 600. Holding on like all the warriors in the back chutes, the magnet of Sunday working it’s magic – Isabelle and Moya waiting for us at Meerendal . Joel Stranky at dinner said it was his hardest stage of all the years he has been taking part.
Stage 6
After today’s stage we have been in the saddle for 51hours & 5 minutes and 470 GC position, I guess at least 50 teams are DNF already. Our shortest day today, a punchy 71 km and 2000 elevation. In the chute in the morning i got to chat to Rian Mansar who gave me some kudos and it really only dawned on me then what i might achieve if reaching Meerendal on Sunday. This event is so tough – always chasing the clock to make the cut off and then get bike done, massage, laundry, next days nutrition and kit ready plus wolfing down down food to replenish the diesel engine. Diner hall is followed by a retreat to the caravan and then lights out around 9.30 – my best time of the day.
With a bit of time to spare and looking back at this past week I am amazed I have made it. TransCape the month before got me nicely tuned up for the Epic, without it I am not sure I would have it through this week. It has been a grueling event with no easy days, even tomorrow’s run in back to Meerendal will be a 7 hour ride.
Stage 7
What a hard days ride in, we did a 7 hour final ride. I was poked as the week has just smashed me. Over 90km on the final day is a big ask, headwind plus two massive climbs. I had very little gas left in the tank. When reaching Meerendal and the family was waiting, a little worried we had taken so long it was just too much and I cried like a baby when Paul announced us in and that I had accomplished this on my steel rigid single speed bike. Would I do it again? Wounds still too fresh… let’s see…
