FNB Desert Dash 2014 - Advice

[Disco man]

Missed it last year, but I'm in this year!

The idea with this topic is to ask those who has done this special event to share/give some of their experiences/advice too the first times. Anything that helped you reaching the end, training that helped, all the do's and don't forgets, the support crew what must they be aware of, duel or hardtail,bike spares to carry with you or with the crew, tyres en tyre pressures, kit(new bib on every stage?) at day and night(how hot and cold), lights and batteries, nutrition and food(on the bike and between stages)

Anything that will assist and help the first timer in reaching his or her dream.

 

Best regards and good luck with the training!

 

http://www.desertdashnamibia.com

[GingaNinja28]

Are you riding solo or part of a team?

[dirtrider]

It is only 300 and a bit km . Normal spares (a Tube , hanger) will be fine . You meet up with your support team at every CP so no need to carry your picnic basket with . Proper light does help a lot . 

[nonky]

"Checkpoint 4 - Bloed Kopje"

.

There will be blood, sweat and tears...

[NJvZ]

The first stage is the toughest. Might get some head wind so tri bars will help or sit in slips. The corrugation on the road can also get irritating so plan around that. Good lights and extra batteries. Make sure to eat at each check point and change into fresh clothes. Good tunes!! it gets lonely out in the desert. 

[Baster_Klong]

As far as I know, Tri bars are banned as of this year, or at least that was the announcement done last year, corrects me if I’m wrong. I saw one of the riders break his collar bone down the Us pass on tri bars. Come prepared for some nice climbing in extremely hot conditions as the race kicks off at 3 in the afternoon and a lot of the racers are no prepared for the heat. Other than that, I recommend a good buff (it’s very dusty because of the support vehicles) and good light front and rear (you are not allowed to ride without a functional rear light).  As for your bike, Show up with what you have, You can do the race on a HT or DS, 26er , 29er or 650b’er, as long as you have trained well you will enjoy the ride.

[Slowbee]

thought they did away with the support vehicles ?

[DikBuffalo]

Only for the solo competitors, first time you meet your support team is at checkpoint 3, 178km in

[dirtrider]

Ok that changes things a bit them . Take two water bottles 

[sias]

Not much sand, 99% reasonably good district dirt roads.

Checkpoint 1 and 2 has no support vehicles for the solo riders, only from CP3 onward as buffalo said.

The race is not won on stage 1 but you can definitely hurt yourself very badly in stages 1-3.

It is hot on stage 1, very hot and you climb 80% of the time.

29er would be preferable.

You will need to carry your light and battery from stage 1 as it got dark just as I was leaving CP2 last year at around 19H30. Have a spare battery ready at CP4 and 5.

Good music for 3am in the middle of nowhere when you are at your most vulnerable.

No tri-bars.

I rode in one set of clothes for the whole race, but you can change if it suits you.

Don't underestimate a bowl of warm water and a washcloth to wash your face at every CP.

In the five attempts, I have never had a flat wheel or any other technical issue, apart from my own weakness and stupidity.

[Warthog whisperer]

All depends if you do Solo or Team, start slow and end strong.

[sias]

All depends if you do Solo or Team, start slow and end strong.

Or in my case, start slow and end slower...

[Disco man]

Are you riding solo or part of a team?

2 man team GingaNinja28

[sias]

2 man team? Then aziko ndaba! (no problem!) You go flat taps, rest, and then flat taps again. Repeat to the finish...

Next year come and ride the "Real Dash"...

[GlockG4]

I am also doing the solo. I am really nervous. I would appreciate any advice on how too keep my bryton rider 60 powered aswel as my light, if at all possible without having too sell an organ.

[GlockG4]

I am also doing the solo. I am really nervous. I would appreciate any advice on how too keep my bryton rider 60 powered aswel as my light, if at all possible without having too sell an organ.