Anyone ride mountain bikes? Trials?

Cape -epic 2 person team R45,900-00 per team

(a ,local back of pack rider . ie. non competitive rider a Barry Warmback on 18 March 2013 at the Absa Cape Epic.randomly tested positive for anabolic steroid Stanozolol/ winstrol) It's bad enough when podium winners dope but now WTF these oldies in MTB events. How may of these oldies are juicing?


Cape pioneer 2 person team R21, 900-00
Ride the Rhino Renosterveld (resolution health) 2 person ( between R4,000- 7,000) Juniorz pay cheaper R4000
Sani to c (sponsored by nedbank private wealth)

Sani2C entry fee increase over the last 4 years – what CPI figures do they use – must be the greed index

2010 R7 090
2011 R7 960 (+12.3%)
2012 R8 916 (+12%)
2013 R9 840 (+10.4%)
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Cape Outback 2014 stilbaai R7 500 single rider
Marrick 2 person R3900 or R2000 single rider

Rhodes Xtreme was R2500 per rider in 2011

Tohellandback R1300 per person

Transdraak R1700-00 per single rider R 3 600 for 3 riders

Storms river traverse Between R4000 tent and R8000 room per solo rider

Tankwa trek R4500-00 single rider Team R8600-00

36One R 1150-R3350

So looking at the average stage race it's well over 1000K per person just for registration and in some cases includes accomm (usually a tent) and meals and a serious rider will need to cover several of these a year.

The rider still has to travel to the event, take time off to train for the events, and all the expenses add up
It's no wonder most of these races are organised by South African Banks, financial companies and upmarket medical aids.

Can someone tell me that your average twentysomething cyclist can afford this stage racing?

And the average bike costs R45,000+ so factor that in.
 
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@Froot do you remember that Cycle lab and Bowman cycles and others were implicated in price fixing scandal. People have short memories, These retailers were never punished or did they get a slap on the wrist? Did they evr apologise?. I bought a Giant and boy did I overpay. I never rode it and could not even get three quarters of what I paid over on cyclehub. Eventually I let it go at under half what I paid at an independent bike shop in Kenilworth and only because someone needed a bike for the Argus.
I now resolved never ever to buy a bicycle in SA again. I also know quite a few people who brought bikes in Germany - real high end stuff and brands that aren't available here. The numbers of people bringing bikes in privately is more than you may think. Just ask the bike retailers how business was for the past 3 years yet the stage races are oversubscribed and sold out...
 
Skandalis said:
Stage racing isn't the be-all end-all of mountain biking.
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That's not the point. The point I am making is that it's a domain reserved at the moment for juiced up rich old farts and young mountain bikers who could go on to greatness can't get an opportunity to participate due to the expense.
 
Hosehead said:
That's not the point. The point I am making is that it's a domain reserved at the moment for juiced up rich old farts and young mountain bikers who could go on to greatness can't get an opportunity to participate due to the expense.
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The same applies to most minority sports in this country.

But you don't need a top of the line, R50k bike to have a good time out on the trails.
 
Skandalis said:
The same applies to most minority sports in this country.

But you don't need a top of the line, R50k bike to have a good time out on the trails.
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Orly name some of those other minority sports that dont have sponsorship programs in place. (unlike mtb)

Even a rock bottom trail bike's price will take your breath away.
 
Skandalis said:
The same applies to most minority sports in this country.

But you don't need a top of the line, R50k bike to have a good time out on the trails.
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It depends what you like riding and how you like to ride, Skandalis.

I gave up racing many years ago, partly due to the cost, but I still enjoy various types of riding.

These days I take on shorter distances, but still indulge in highly technical riding. This is both very taxing on the bike and myself and a lot of the terrain I ride requires a certain type of bike. A lesser one would not permit and wouldn't cope. My rig is now quite old, but I can't afford to replace it with something of similar stature.

...all too often though I see guys who could do with a bike worth a fraction of the value they've spent, but status and credit cards count. Sadly, those of us who could do with those bikes, can't access them.
 
Hosehead said:
Orly name some of those other minority sports that dont have sponsorship programs in place. (unlike mtb)

Even a rock bottom trail bike's price will take your breath away.
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Name one minority sport where government develops or sponsors talent. Sponsorship normally comes from the private sector. Cycling is no different.

RE price. Buddy of mine picked up a lekker 2nd hand trail bike for 7k the other day. Good deals are out there. You just need to know where to look. Buying a new trail bike in SA is a different story all together, since there's no real market here.
 
Merlin said:
It depends what you like riding and how you like to ride, Skandalis.

I gave up racing many years ago, partly due to the cost, but I still enjoy various types of riding.

These days I take on shorter distances, but still indulge in highly technical riding. This is both very taxing on the bike and myself and a lot of the terrain I ride requires a certain type of bike. A lesser one would not permit and wouldn't cope. My rig is now quite old, but I can't afford to replace it with something of similar stature.

...all too often though I see guys who could do with a bike worth a fraction of the value they've spent, but status and credit cards count. Sadly, those of us who could do with those bikes, can't access them.
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Understood & fully agree.

You have some mighty fine trails in Kzn though that almost warrant that type of rig.

EDIT: RE your last paragraph: Once the guys run out of talent, you can buy their kit on the cheap. :twisted:
 
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Is there people in SA that does custom built frames? This should be cheaper in theory, right?
 
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