ABSA Cape Epic 2023 | A Rider’s Perspective
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- čas přidán 30. 03. 2023
- The ABSA Cape Epic is the most televised mountain bike race in the world and is considered the “Tour de France” of MTB’ing. It attracts the very best riding professionals from around the globe, as well as aspiring amateur riders wanting to test themselves against the best of the best.
The race must be completed by a team of two riders, who, depending on the route each year, need to complete a distance of around 700km, and around 16,000 meters of vertical ascent, over an 8-day period.
The 2023 edition of the race took place in and around Bellville, Hermanus, Grabouw, Somerset West, Stellenbosch and Paarl, in the Western Cape of South Africa.
Join us for a stage-by-stage look into what this mountain bike race is all about, and why it is considered ‘EPIC’.
Special thanks to Ronald Tweedie, my riding partner for this race (and general adventure buddy), and of course Karen Cumming, my greatest fan.
All footage shot on a handheld, GoPro Hero 8 Black.
Graeme, WOW! Thanks for putting this together. I watched every stage last year in the comfort of my lounge room here in Australia. I thought the Pro’s had it tough. This video really shows the heart and soul of this great event. The Cape Epic, the Tour de France, of MTBing. Good on ya for continuing on as a solo rider. Well done mate. Hope you have another crack this year.
Hey Jeremy - grateful for the comment and the feedback - so rewarding to get these comments. Yes, its a proper race, that's for sure. I thought that a "Riders Perspective" was important for others to see - obviously we all train hard, and we're just as passionate about MTB'ing, but we're not professionals in the true sense of the word - and this little project allowed me to show others what its all about. Hopefully getting them to maybe consider entering too. I won't be riding the Epic this year unfortunately - but I will be down in the Cape around that same week with some fellow MTB'ers doing our own MTB tour - in some of the same locations that the Epic will be visiting this year. May pull out the GoPro and doing a little recording too ;-) Take care...
What a great attitude 🙌!!
Ha - thank you Mike. Thanks for watching...
Great video, the epic was crazy. The wet and cold stages were insane but we made it. Only the ones there understand, how it was. Saludos desde México
Indeed - a crazy, testing few days on the bike last year. Thanks for your comment and for watching. Are you getting ready for this year's edition of the Cape Epic?
@@graemecumming Nope we decided to make a real effort and preparation for 2025. Already working on ,2025.
@@ReyciclismoMTB - nice, plenty of time to make it count properly...good luck with the training in that case. Hope to see you there!
Excellent insight into the challenges of the Epic, superb video.
Thanks Rory. Glad you enjoyed. 👍🏼
Well done Graeme. You are very brave to enter and finish alone in those conditions. Thanks for a great video. Always nice to see the other side of this Incredible race and journey!
Thank you MrGrantve - glad you enjoyed the video. Yeah it was a tough ride - but like many things in life I guess, it’s those tough moments that last a lifetime. Thanks for your comment - always appreciated.
Hi Graeme, I´m "Bruno from Portugal", as you said in your video. Stages 5 and 6 were definitely a truly epic challenge, especially on Saturday. Apart from that, sleeping in the tents in the wind and rain, with mud everywhere, was something I didn't expect. Like you, I also finished the Epic alone because unfortunately, my partner broke her arm in stage 4. Now that it's all over, I remember many moments, people, and stunning landscapes and I almost feel a peak of nostalgia, but I don't think I'll be back any time soon :D. Wish you the best and see you one of these days...
Hey Bruno - so good to be reading this - thanks for the comment. Well done on finishing the race - it’s not easy riding solo - and sorry to hear about your partner.
I know the feeling of nostalgia well - as tough as it was, it was an incredible ride - I felt so ‘alive’ in some of those moments. It’s hard to describe to other people - but I know that you’ll understand what I mean.
Take care - and I hope to see you again on a trail sometime soon. I think I mentioned to you in that brief section up the hill, that I rode the TransPortugal in 2015 and 2022. I love your country too - some great riding memories there.
Hi Graeme, having worked at the ABSA Cape Epic for the past 8 years this is the first time I have seen a riders perspective, thank you Man, great video! and wow Stage 6!!!
Hey Gordon - thanks for your comment - great to hear that you enjoyed the video. It was a tough and memorable ride, especially stage 6 as you say…I’m just glad I have the memory on video to watch from time to time and to share with others. Take care. 🚴😉
Thank you so much for sharing, fantastic job, well done man 💪🏽😎
Thanks Bahador - great to read comments like this. Appreciate that you took the time. 👍🏼😎
Thank you very much for this. Really interesting and good to see how the Epic is behind the pro's. That Saturday was something special...🥵
You’re welcome Patrik - glad you enjoyed watching. ‘That Saturday’ was definitely one of the hardest days of riding I have ever done - and I’m sure most riders will say the same thing. It’s also a day none of us will ever forget - and we can look back at it now with smiles on our faces.
enjoyed your video Graeme, well done on completing a tough Epic. It's nice to see what the real Epic riders have to endure.
Thanks Deon - yeah it was a tough week of riding, but very memorable now. Appreciate your comment - and hopefully will bump into you at one of the races in future. Take care.
Just watched this again…proper display of grit, determination , positive mindset and just taking it all in my man. Well done once again. Fucking tough elements to deal with in last years Epic. Solid performance 💪🏻
When we entering Chrome?
Well done - you have some bragging rights! Done a few of these, one as a lone ranger from day 1. I am very glad to have watched this on the TV, hectic conditions to ride in!
Thanks Tom - anyone who has ridden this race can fully appreciate what this sport has to offer. And as you will know, the solo aspect can be an additional challenge on its own. Well done to you for completing a few of these epic rides too - and thanks for watching and commenting. Much appreciated.
Hi Graeme - this was my 10th Epic working as a media guy / photographer. Congratulations on finishing this one, especially as a lone rider, and great job on the video. Wonderful to see the perspective from outside of the UCI pro's, loved it !
Hey Jeff - thanks man, appreciate taking the time to drop a comment here. I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the content - there's so much professionally produced content around this race, but very little actual "amateur" perspective - so I'm glad that this one resonated with you. As for the work you do at events like this, well done, the pictures tell amazing stories too - thank you.
Hallo Graeme, stunning footage and commentary of the 2023 Epic. I ended up watching the full 44min on a big screen.
Did you mount the GoPro on your bike or how did you manage to film the shots facing yourself?
Thanks Wouter - appreciate the comment and thanks for watching. I actually just had the GoPro in my back pocket of my cycling jersey everyday - and when I felt like I could take a hand off the handlebar, I’d pull it out and hit record. There were some sections where I had to quickly grab the handle bar and cling to the GoPro with my fingers - but most of the time it was pretty manageable and allowed me to show various angles pretty easily. I have used a mount before - but found it very limiting in terms of commentary, other riders, surroundings etc.
Well done! Tough conditions indeed.
Thank you. Sounds like you also rode - congrats to you too. One for the memory banks!
@@graemecumming unfortunately not lucky enough to have done Epic. I was there from the Prologue till Stage 2 with the Epic Trippers #sheuntamed ladies. Rode a bit of the race and spectated. 😊
@@whysherides7686 Aah, ok…well, glad you got to see and ride some of it. All the best.
Hi Graeme. Thanks for the nice docummentary :) . You didn´t sleep in the tends? How do you reserve hotels\houses during the week? Any particular site? Thanks in advance.
Hello Filipe - thanks for your comment - I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the video.
No - we didn't stay in the race village - we booked accommodation in nearby towns. The easiest thing to do, is to wait until the route details are confirmed for the race, and then have a look at which towns the race visits. You can then use booking.com or a similar website to search for accommodation in, or close to that race village town. The biggest issue may be transport to the race village and back to BnB, but if you find a place that is within walking/cycling distance, then its not a problem. Alternatively, you can try to get the BnB to organise a taxi/shuttle for you, or you can rent a car. If you have a supporter travelling with you, the best is to rent a vehicle for the week and get your supporter to take to to/from the race village each morning.
Hope this helps.
@@graemecumming Awesome tips. Thanks Thanks Thanks for the help :)))
Throughly enjoyed that mate good to see the Epic from the amature pov "wet windy and muddy" lol a typical English winters day out on the bike only the sub zero temps were missing 🤣czcams.com/video/A-Ktu0-n3fE/video.html well done it was truly an epic ride 👍
Thanks Top Cat. Yes - fully appreciate that UK weather throws some testing conditions at you most days. 😎
@graemecumming czcams.com/video/EOsXMkySQeg/video.html we often have the opposite in summer but then its too hot for many 😁 I was brought up in Kenya and S.A. from 12 to 22 yr old so I love it. Even went out riding when we hit a record 40°C last summer ☀️ so yes we can have all extremes here 😁 that vid is a compaltion from last summer you might enjoy it maybe a side a England you dont see so much or maybe you do if you have experienced it I dont know but most people seem to think that is always grey and raining here sometimes its not 😁🤣