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Cape Epic 2007 – Hard Tales
(Big Al talking...)
 With
hardtail/full suspension debate still raging on and Kevin
Evans appearing on SuperCycling stating that a full suss
would have been a good idea on this Epic, why would the
average guy still be raving about his Raleigh Team Carbon
hardtail?
The simple answer is 2 KG. I
saved exactly 2kg between my full suspension RDS9 and my new
hardtail. Yes, I can stand to loose 2kg off my body weight
but somehow, that loss does not seem to translate into
upward climbing speed. When your bike feels light under you,
even at the end of a 7 hour stage, you feel less fatigued.
Well I do, anyway.
This was the first year in my
3 year Cape Epic career that I felt I was able to hold my
partner’s wheel on the climbs, and dare I say even take the
lead on a few ascents. Sure he was ahead on the technical
descents, but nothing that had him stopping to wait for me.
I believe that the descending capabilities of full
suspension bikes are overrated. The benefits I experienced
when riding a full bouncer were felt more on technical
climbs than on descents. And speaking of the technical
climbs, I was able to ride as much with the hardtail as I
was able to on my full suspension. There were times when the
back wheel would get bumped off track. But I am happy to
trade that small incident for the direct transfer of power
that you feel with the hardtail.
Does the body fatigue more?
Well, this is very difficult to measure. After days of
riding for hours your body feels it! Is it more or less on a
full suspension? I really can’t say. My lower back took
strain, but that has always been a problem for me. In fact,
this year I probably felt it less. But that was due to the
pilates and upper body work that I did in my training.
I think that carbon is a
great material for a hardtail. And the Raleigh is a great
bike. The bike definitely irons out a lot of trail
vibration, it doesn’t act like suspension in any way, but it
does give a smoother ride. I will be riding the hardtail for
a long time now. Until I can get the ultimate full suss, I
will be smiling along on my hardtail.
What is the ultimate full
suspension? Let us start with; 2 Bottle Cages 10,5 kg Then
we can talk…
Cape Epic 2007 - What
technical route & what descents? (Other Al talking...)
 I
was really happy to be riding a full suspension Raleigh RDS
9.0. I was riding the new 2007 XTR trigger shifters and disc
brakes with DT SWISS 1540 wheels on tubeless Crossmark tires
with a Rock Shox REBA world cup fork up front and the FOX
RP23 at the back.
The bike performed like a true racing
machine without a moments trouble. All it needed was a bit
of cleaning and some lube everyday and off it went. No gear
problems, no mishifts, the shocks didn’t even need to be
re-pumped. A cut sidewall on day 1 was as bad as it got.
The downhills on this bike with the new RP23 FOX shock were an
absolute pleasure. I just flicked the propedal off at the
start of the downhill and off I went. I felt so confident on
the serious technical stuff and often got to rest a bit on
the less technical tracks as the suspension worked and I
just sat down. I finished everyday with practically no body
pain and even the longest most difficult descents left me
feeling fine and ready for more. With the technical loose
climbs that we had I was happy with the added traction from
the suspension. I have done one epic on a hardtail and now
two on a full suspension, and will ride a full suspension
again. I will live with the weight penalty and carried a
camel back. The confidence and comfort on the downhills is
the real clincher for me. Maybe on the portages I was wishing for a
slightly lighter carbon hardtail, but that was where it
ended.
 Don't
think all the pros are all riding hardtails, a few of the
European teams were on full suspensions. If you are a pro
like Christoph Sauser you can ride a prototype modified full
suspension bike that weighs in at the sub 10kg mark, with
prototype wheels, seat post, saddle, cranks etc, just about
the only off the shelf part on his bike was the grip shifts.
The Cannondale team were on Scalpels, Christophs old ride.
These guys ruled in the technical climbs because of the
suspension.
But for us mere mortals it
will be a trade off of weight vs comfort and handling, that
that is a very personal thing. But rest assured as the
weight comes down more and more will be on full suspension.
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