Shebeen Posted September 26, 2014 Posted September 26, 2014 this are kiffness to the power of radiculous. where there any pro photogs there, am just thinking of the possibilities for jawdropping night pics.
Skubarra Posted September 26, 2014 Posted September 26, 2014 May the spirit of this event never change ... and may the masses never discover this event, so that there will be place for me, my other half, my brother and his son on Easter weekend 2016. Very good write-up, you totally convinced me to put this on my bucket list, now to get my wife to start cycling!
Titanium Rocket Posted September 26, 2014 Posted September 26, 2014 Cat-i Can I ask a really doff question? Why are the cycling stages ridden in thr dark? I know that area well, and that is pure sacrilege. It's like game viewing in the dark; just one dimesional and so limiting. I don't buy the reason that "it's too hot", not like these are ultra-distances. Just curious...
cat-i Posted September 26, 2014 Author Posted September 26, 2014 Cat-i Can I ask a really doff question? Why are the cycling stages ridden in thr dark? I know that area well, and that is pure sacrilege. It's like game viewing in the dark; just one dimesional and so limiting. I don't buy the reason that "it's too hot", not like these are ultra-distances. Just curious... Titanium, the last stage to Sendelingsdrift was in daylight. The others was by the light of the full moon. And even if 70 is not an ultra-distance, the sand (especially on day 3) made it much harder than the distance or vertical ascent suggests. It really was hot in Hobas - the 'prolog' sundowner-ride started at 6; I finished the 2 litre that I had with me before we arrived at the sundowner-stop 23 km in. The second stage started at 5; we were in the swimmingpool with cycling shirts on till about 20 minutes before we had to leave. The evening started with a short climb of about 2 kms, and by the time we were at the top, shirts were dry and we were hot. On a 60-70 km stage there would be 2 waterpoints and one feeding station - and it was only the last two days that I didn't need to fill up at every station. As it was, the waterpoints ran out of ice on the first 3 nights, and only by the fourth day could they get the amount of ice right. I think logistically it's just easier to supply enough water to prevent dehydration. That said, we only really cycled in the dark for an hour or so on the last night stage, after sunset before the moon came up - and I loved the unreal-ness of that stage. By then we all were comfortable cycling without lights, and we only switched it on when there was particularly bad corrugation or sandy patches. The other nights we would have an hour or 2 of daylight, and then a full moon; so you could see the landscape around you - all of it. If you wanted to explore, there was enough time during daylight hours - at least at some of the campsites. At Hobas they arranged game tours (they provided the vehicles), nature hikes, and there was also a cycling group. We chose to do the hike. We were for a full day at AiAis, and the afternoon and day after the paddle there was enough time to explore the koppies around the area. But it really was hot. The first time it got a bit cooler was on the second-last day.
cat-i Posted September 26, 2014 Author Posted September 26, 2014 this are kiffness to the power of radiculous. where there any pro photogs there, am just thinking of the possibilities for jawdropping night pics. Shebeen the place was absolutely magical by the moonlight. I didn't have a tripod with me ... but even non-professional pics with a proper tripod would have been jawdropping. There were a camera crew with; haven't received correspondence about the pics yet, but the slideshow at the finish had some nice shots in.
cat-i Posted October 10, 2014 Author Posted October 10, 2014 Some pics of this year's ride on their website. Not a whole lot of night-pics, but giving a good idea of what the experience was like: http://www.desertknights-mtb.com/photo-gallery
kunjani Posted November 27, 2014 Posted November 27, 2014 And THIS is probably why it's your favourite part of the world, DJR: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yyVMkz33kt4/VCBlYcv3JaI/AAAAAAAABss/ff5UWICOqWg/s1600/DSCF7499.jpgHow would the FATBOY tyre bikes do in that terrain? Nice in sand but what about possibility of cuts in rocky areas?
flymango Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 So looking forward to this - we are 6 couples doing the event from 12 - 18 September 2016.
cat-i Posted January 14, 2016 Author Posted January 14, 2016 Oh Mango I'm already jealous - this is the ideal ride to do with a bunch of friends. Can't wait for your ride report and pictures!!
flymango Posted January 14, 2016 Posted January 14, 2016 Oh Mango I'm already jealous - this is the ideal ride to do with a bunch of friends. Can't wait for your ride report and pictures!!Thanks for your report and pictures - it's already got us all excited. I might PM if you don't mind regarding packing, bike maintenance, cleaning of cycling gear, lights, charging, etc.
cat-i Posted January 15, 2016 Author Posted January 15, 2016 I forgot all about this - too many toys and too many places I haven't seen. But I'll certainly put list on the 'bucket-redo' list now - thank you for reminding me
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