Desert Dash

[sias]

For the Solo dudes, what is you plan to get to the first support point? All lights, drinks/mix, bars and gel to get you through 175km. I carry a small saddlebag with 2 bombs and plugs.

 

Are you guys taking warm clothes for the first 180km? No, it usually only starts getting cold from about CP 4 but it's bearable if you don't get cold easily. A thermal top worked for me last time.

I have been told that you dont need to pack much, and that the water points have good food. True, as said above, just the normal bars and gels for 175km.

So just take your light, two bottles, mix to top up and some food you might want? That about sums it up, yes!

[sias]

Solo guys:

What are you eating/drinking at your support vehicles? Pasta and Coke.

I'm thinking soup and kfc at CP3 The smell of KFC at CP3 will have me puking in no time!! I can hardly get anything in at that stage and have to force myself to eat something. I think that KFC will come and re-visit you before the waterpoint, unless you are used to it.

ProNutro CP4 & 5 From what I've read, one should stay away from protein and fibre on events like these as they require more "effort" to digest than carbs. My energy drink has some protein in it and it doesn't upset my stomach. Carbs and fat stores will be the main energy source we use (I think) so I would try and get as much carbs as possible.

[partydave]

Did stage 6 as a part of a race this weekend. Had no issues with the sandy bits. Had quite a bit of pressure in my tyres as well

[Warthog whisperer]

Did anyone do stage 5 recently? I want to know how bad the sinkplaat is !

[partydave]

Yes, feedback from a group that did stage 5 and 6 yesterday is that the last 30km is pretty severe 

 

Edit: more feedback

 

"Stage 5 is fast, averaged 25kmh until corrugation. Wind picked up a lot. Stage 6 also had a lot of wind on Nonidas route."

[Warthog whisperer]

Yes, feedback from a group that did stage 5 and 6 yesterday is that the last 30km is pretty severe 

Ummmm, as usual!!!. 

[partydave]

Updated above.

 

If the wind we've been having at the coast the last 2 months is anything to go by, please prepare yourself. It's unrelenting, worse I've seen in years. Was also quite wet Saturday morning to Goanigontes. Makes for cooler weather, thank goodness 

[Warthog whisperer]

Updated above.

 

If the wind we've been having at the coast the last 2 months is anything to go by, please prepare yourself. It's unrelenting, worse I've seen in years. Was also quite wet Saturday morning to Goanigontes. Makes for cooler weather, thank goodness 

I have done a lot of training in the wind in Windhoek....I am ok with the wind. Just need a lot of patience and you will be ok!

[partydave]

I have done a lot of training in the wind in Windhoek....I am ok with the wind. Just need a lot of patience and you will be ok!

Great stuff. I think the wind is going to catch a lot of guys nearer to the coast this year

[Warthog whisperer]

Great stuff. I think the wind is going to catch a lot of guys nearer to the coast this year

That is the reason that you need to finish as early as possible!

[partydave]

Won't help you much, as I've mentioned, the wind is like nothing I've seen in years. Constant howling from early in the morning. If you're treading towards the 24 hour mark, you're going to have a bad time

[Warthog whisperer]

Won't help you much, as I've mentioned, the wind is like nothing I've seen in years. Constant howling from early in the morning. If you're treading towards the 24 hour mark, you're going to have a bad time

  Ok, well, so will it be then, I had a lot of valuable lessons in wind training the last few months, patience will be on the cards!!

[partydave]

If the wind blows from the front, just cycle backwards. Problem solved

[Pulse]

Won't help you much, as I've mentioned, the wind is like nothing I've seen in years. Constant howling from early in the morning. If you're treading towards the 24 hour mark, you're going to have a bad time

Not exactly what I want to hear, but so be it

[sias]

If the wind we've been having at the coast the last 2 months is anything to go by, please prepare yourself. It's unrelenting, worse I've seen in years. 

 

Wind - keep your head down, take a lighter gear and just keep going. It is what it is, there's nothing you can do about it...

[Frank71]

Did anyone do stage 5 recently? I want to know how bad the sinkplaat is !

I did stages 4 and 5 Saturday. The last stretch of 17km before the turn-off to Goanikontes, checkpoint 5, is horrible. Best to try to stay on the extreme side of the road when hitting the bad parts, as there are sometimes a very thin sandy channel without so much bone rattling corrugation. It is, however, still nothing compared to the stage 4 stretch on the connection road between the D1982 and C28. This Dash will be the last time that I ride that stretch with a hard-tail.  

The wind was, as always pumping from the front. A blessing in disguise as it kept the heat down a bit to the lower to middle 30s. When standing still the temperature spiked up to 39/40. Due to riding with a head-cold, I took it slow, so can't comment on whether stage 5 is fast. The stretch next to the pipeline is relatively ok and the sandy patches not as bad as rumored.