CALLING Desert Dash veterans

[no calves]

This will be my first Desert Dash and doing it solo. I have done my first TB when I was 17 and the 2nd TB(Trans Baviaans) last year age 19. both times we made it in the top 50 but all results aside. I have a few questions I hope some of you might help me with.

 

1. Training: How many hours is enough? I want to do this thing properly and will be building with the 100miler, Trans Baviaans, Double Century and then the DD. I don't want to overdo it between the races.

 

2. Nutrition? I am using perpeteum and 32Gi at the moment. Will ride with that and a camelback in the DD, however i see the checkpoints are not far apart so is a camelback really work the weight? And is there any other nutrition tips?

 

3. Spares: What spares to carry other than the usual? I normally have a multitool, tube, bomb, goldlinks and a packet of crucial bolts and a spare cleat. What spares must be with my support?

 

Any other info will also be very much appreciated.

 

Reason for all the questions is that i see there was only one under 23 rider that entered solo last year and didnt finish.... I am doing the event @ age 21 and 1 month young and not so wise..

 

Thanks Francois

[no calves]

Tyre Choice? was thinking of Killer Bee's is size 2.4 for added volume? if they fit my frame other wise a 2.0 on the rear

[Musashi]

Having completed one DD, I would not call myself a veteran, but maybe I have a few tips that can help.

 

1. If you've completed the TB, you shouldn't have too much problems with the DD. The DD is basically the TB plus another 100km flat at the end. I train on average 10 hours a week and didn't have any problems completing the DD.

 

2. Nutrition is very personal. I would recommend that whatever you use on the TB you should use on the DD (unless you know that it isn't working for you). Very important though (and one mistake I made last year): the first 2 to 3 hours can be very hot and you get very thirsty. Dilute your drinks or carry a bit of extra water. I used my normal mix and had serious problems drinking too much sweet stuff too quickly. I rode with two water bottles and if the drinks were more diluted, shouldn't have had any problems. There are water points halfway through each stage as well so a camelbak isn't really critical.

 

3. Your normal spares are fine. The race is really a "roadie" race - there are no technical sections and everything is dirt road (except a few patches of tar). Punctures shouldn't be a problem, but carry plugs and a tube in case. I would also recommend spare chain links/ master links and a chain breaker.

 

4. Your regular tyre choice should be fine. I ran my tyres a little soft (no risk of pinch flats) as there were a bit of sand, but apparently Mannie used very hard tyres. I think it is personal preference.

 

Now for some questions you didn't ask but I think may be useful:

 

5. Dust is a major problem on the route. In the TB, vehicles follow a different route to the riders. On the DD, they follow the same route. As a result you regularly get vehicles coming past you and the dust hangs in the air. At times visibility is down to a few meters. Last year I used a spare buff to pull over my nose and mouth. This year I'm considering a dust mask (those white ones you get at builders warehouse).

 

6. The challenge of the DD is the time in the saddle. I think 17 hours is a good time (20 km/h average), but even that is very long. Make sure you are very comfy with your saddle.

 

7. If you have any knee problems, chances are the DD will bring it out. I'm still sitting with a right knee that is giving me problems. I want to see if somehow I can strengthen my knees before this year's DD.

 

8. Get good lights. If you've done the TB, you probably have a good light already, but with all the traffic, the red light at the back is crucial. I'll be using two or three.

 

If you're doing the 100 Miler, you're probably based in the Cape somewhere. I've got my training split in two sections: for the TB, one week off and then the DD. Let me know if you want to join me.

[dirtrider]

This will be my first Desert Dash and doing it solo. I have done my first TB when I was 17 and the 2nd TB(Trans Baviaans) last year age 19. both times we made it in the top 50 but all results aside. I have a few questions I hope some of you might help me with.

 

1. Training: How many hours is enough? I want to do this thing properly and will be building with the 100miler, Trans Baviaans, Double Century and then the DD. I don't want to overdo it between the races. Did it solo many years ago with minimal training , and my 23h47m time shows that

2. Nutrition? I am using perpeteum and 32Gi at the moment. Will ride with that and a camelback in the DD, however i see the checkpoints are not far apart so is a camelback really work the weight? And is there any other nutrition tips? Since your support vehicle carry most of the stuff take lots of food . On the bike the normal energy bar but in the vehicle I had pasta and hotdogs

 

3. Spares: What spares to carry other than the usual? I normally have a multitool, tube, bomb, goldlinks and a packet of crucial bolts and a spare cleat. What spares must be with my support?The normal stuff , BUT people do get punctures !!

 

Any other info will also be very much appreciated. Remember that you can have all 4 seasons in one day , we had rain , heat , very cold and a head wind the last 20km into town . Sand is not really a problem but you do get the odd patch . The rear light as mentioned is very important , we had a very nice moon and I used my light on the lowest setting through the night except going down the pass which at full speed in the dark is great fun

 

Reason for all the questions is that i see there was only one under 23 rider that entered solo last year and didnt finish.... I am doing the event @ age 21 and 1 month young and not so wise.. When I did the race we only had 9 solo riders and only one did not make it , if your mind is right there will be no problems .

 

Thanks Francois

[no calves]

anybody in the CBD area training for this?? i am gatvol of being alone on the bke in the cold and dark from 5-8 in the mornings

[Flea]

Hi - agree with the previous comments.

If you came top 50 in TB, then speed is not the issue - if you can stay on the bike you will finish - so check those knees etc. Mentally different to TB as you ride by yourself, generally against yourself, unless you are racing for a win (age group etc)

I got a sidewall puncture and so a tube is good to take - would be really unlucky to have 2 so does not need to be slimed.

If you did a top 50 TB then you should do about 16 hours for DD? Lot depends on how things go and the weather.

 

Nutrition - get your vehicle to carry hot food - need the change. I had soup and coffee - Clicks sell instant heating cups of them, else take a thermos. The change is what you are after....

 

Dust is your biggest pain - last year there was a full field, so over 200 cars pass you - almost every stage. If I did it again I would look at skiing or moto-x goggles for the first 3 stages, after that there is not that much traffic - my eyes were red for days after.

 

Train on an IDT, this will get you ready for the long sections of flat - constant peddaling. Maybe move your IDT into the garage and turn off the lights so simulate the hours spent on your own - paint a little red dot on the wall in fron of you and chase that for 3 hours

[sias]

+1 What everyone said.

Don't be tempted to go hard in the 1st two stages - it will come back to bite you in the last stages.

Try and get down the pass before dark.

Two bottles should be fine per stage. I took only one bottle on the first stage and got my back-pack at the first checkpoint. I got my lights at the 2nd check, just before it got dark.

Having done all the races you mentioned should have you more than ready for the DD.

Oh yes, one last thing: Get a 29er! I rode a KTM hard-tail 29er and that thing chucked on those roads!

I'm still considering doing it again this year...

[obree]

fill your shoes with sand, then go training!!!

[DaLoCo]

fill your shoes with sand, then go training!!!

[Musashi]

If you did a top 50 TB then you should do about 16 hours for DD? Lot depends on how things go and the weather.

 

 

To give you an idea, last year I did the TB in 10:48 and the DD in 16:51, training averaged 10 hours a week.

 

I'm out in the northern suburbs if you're interested in some evening night ride/ weekend training.

[AfricaMike]

So how did it go? i've been offered a place on a team for the 2012 event so thanks for all the advice above. I've done 4 Epics but this will be my first mega-mile single day (even though it'll be on a team.....)

[sias]

Looks like No Calves finished in either 18:44 or got a DNF, depending on his surname...

I managed a 19:23.

Cactus - if you've done 4 Epics, the Dash should be a walk in the park...