Desert Dash

[partydave]

Stage 1 can be a bit of a beach that time of day....

[sias]

But with you  living in those parts I'm sure you'll have done a recce of the whole route in no time! Should make a nice training ride.

The hottest I measured was 40°C one year!

[Speeltyd]

Entered as team. Great!

[Pulse]

I think the new 2-man format will help the solo guys a bit.  At least the 1st half will have more riders suffering together

[sias]

The solos will do well to stay clear of any teams, except if they are superstrong and going for a sub 17. The teams (most of them, even the slower 2man teams) still go way too fast for the rest of us solos and you only end up hurting yourself later on in the race when the other team members are snoring away in the cars... You can wave when you go past...

[Pulse]

The solos will do well to stay clear of any teams, except if they are superstrong and going for a sub 17. The teams (most of them, even the slower 2man teams) still go way too fast for the rest of us solos and you only end up hurting yourself later on in the race when the other team members are snoring away in the cars... You can wave when you go past...

I think I like to retract my previous statement...

 

I absolutely agree with you, trying to stick with teams will kill the solos later during the race

[partydave]

One of our regular group riders, in his 70s, did the solo last year. Very strong rider, fitter than about 90% of our group. Missed the cut-off my 7 minutes

 

Just some motivation for your training

[Pulse]

I had a really bad race last year, and can only hope for better luck this time 'round.

 

One thing I did realise on stage 3 is that my training ill prepared me for those silly little hills...

[Philip.]

I had a really bad race last year, and can only hope for better luck this time 'round.

 

One thing I did realise on stage 3 is that my training ill prepared me for those silly little hills...

Have you seen those hills in the day? I have, and with doing the solo this year those silly little hills are making me very nervous..... 

[Pulse]

Have you seen those hills in the day? I have, and with doing the solo this year those silly little hills are making me very nervous..... 

Luckily I haven't, BUT those things broke me!

[Warthog whisperer]

I was very fit last year, and should have done my 5 th solo.......!!

Well, I broke my leg 5 days before the Dash!!! I was snot en trane when the Dash started. Well, leg is coming on, I am training well again, and realy hope I get the chance to finish my elusive 5th solo this year!

[sias]

Pulse, I don't know where you withdrew last year, but 90% of the solo DNF's are in the first 100-130km and usually just into stage 3 (well, me in any case). The guys go flat taps, riding with teams etc. in the first 2 stages and then realize very quickly what's what when they tackle 3. The real race begins when you tackle stage 4 and it gets flatter and you have to keep pedaling. 

My main goal is to get down the pass with some daylight left and then just to survive the night and get to Bloedkoppe with some legs left and make it to Swakop before 15:00!

[DikBuffalo]

You guys are forgetting the 12 Apostles at the end of stage 2....just as bad as stage 3. You can get over excited thinking the water point is just ahead, attack those and you will pay for it early on in stage 3.....keep that high cadence under FTP.

 

 

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[Pulse]

Pulse, I don't know where you withdrew last year, but 90% of the solo DNF's are in the first 100-130km and usually just into stage 3 (well, me in any case). The guys go flat taps, riding with teams etc. in the first 2 stages and then realize very quickly what's what when they tackle 3. The real race begins when you tackle stage 4 and it gets flatter and you have to keep pedaling. 

My main goal is to get down the pass with some daylight left and then just to survive the night and get to Bloedkoppe with some legs left and make it to Swakop before 15:00!

 

I stopped at the end of the 3rd stage...

 

I had a bad stomach mug in the week leading up to the race, and even considered not flying in at all. Ended up going, but even after supper at the race brief I still felt off. Race day I decided to go for a slow 10k ride to see how I felt... Wasn't too bad, but went to see a Doc, just in case, (can't remember his name, but is also a regular at the Dash). He cleared me, and said I must just take it as it comes...

 

Just after the start of the gravel on stage 1 I had to pull over to puke a bit... NOT a nice experience with so many km's still ahead. At the end of the 1st stage I could at least keep some food in, and start to drink regularly.

 

As I approached the middle of the 3rd stage I realised that that its insane to try and finish. Puled in at the end of stage 3 at around 01.30AM, and called it quits...

 

Was sick for about 2 weeks after with pneumonia, more stomach issues, etc.

 

Just hope that I can go into the event this year in better shape.

[sias]

You guys are forgetting the 12 Apostles at the end of stage 2....just as bad as stage 3. 

 I cal them the 12 mother f....ers! I've seen quite a few people walk some of those!

[Warthog whisperer]

You guys are forgetting the 12 Apostles at the end of stage 2....just as bad as stage 3. You can get over excited thinking the water point is just ahead, attack those and you will pay for it early on in stage 3.....keep that high cadence under FTP. Yep, the 12 Appostels can break you if you don't respect them, some of them is parmantig, and others langdradig!! The problem is that you only get like 20 - 40 seconds rest before you take on the next one.

 

 

 

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