Desert Dash 2018

[Busboy]

Hi All. Keen to have a crack at the desert dash. Anyone done it and can part with some info on the race pls?

I have distances / profile etc, just keen to know the overall difficulty of the route, any do’s and dont’s etc.

many thanks and kind regards

[sias]

What long races have you done? How strong are you? What is your aim - top 10 or just to finish in 24 hours?

[m-squared]

Are you planning on solo, 2 man or 4 man team entry?

 

Hardtail is a bad idea.  Full sus is the way to go.  Mainly sandy roads, no single tracks to speak of.

 

Make sure your support driver doesn't miss a stage end point!  Been there, done that, got the frigging tshirt.

[partydave]

Are you planning on solo, 2 man or 4 man team entry?

 

Hardtail is a bad idea.  Full sus is the way to go.  Mainly sandy roads, no single tracks to speak of.

 

Make sure your support driver doesn't miss a stage end point!  Been there, done that, got the frigging tshirt.

 

Hardtail is more than doable, it's just a little tender for a few weeks after

[m-squared]

Hardtail is more than doable, it's just a little tender for a few weeks after

 

My mate did it on his hard tail.  He didn't touch a bike for 6 months after 

[partydave]

My mate did it on his hard tail.  He didn't touch a bike for 6 months after 

 

I can relate, very close to a year of not wanting to hear "cycling"

[Ozzie NL]

I can relate, very close to a year of not wanting to hear "cycling"

Keen to hear your definition of "very doable"

[partydave]

Keen to hear your definition of "very doable"

 

Completed in a respectable time without shatter my spine

 

Edit: in a 4 man team, stage 1, 4, 5 and 6

[sias]

Edit: in a 4 man team, stage 1, 4, 5 and 6

Those were the "easy" stages!     

[partydave]

Those were the "easy" stages!     

 

Stage 2 is one of the easier ones....

 

I was talking more in the line of corrugation on a hard-tail 

[partydave]

And on that note, I fellow club member is doing the dash, solo, on a Spez Diverge 

[sias]

I was talking more in the line of corrugation on a hard-tail 

Then stage 4 is one of the harder ones, yes.

 

For a 4-person team a hardtail is do-able. 

For solo or 2-person team, get the dual suspension with lock-outs or brains. You'll thank yourself when you get to Swakop.

[partydave]

Then stage 4 is one of the harder ones, yes.

 

For a 4-person team a hardtail is do-able. 

For solo or 2-person team, get the dual suspension with lock-outs or brains. You'll thank yourself when you get to Swakop.

 

Think I may not have been clear. 

 

Is the Dash do-able on a hard-tail? Yes

Is it recommended? Absolutely not

[m-squared]

Then stage 4 is one of the harder ones, yes.

 

For a 4-person team a hardtail is do-able.

For solo or 2-person team, get the dual suspension with lock-outs or brains. You'll thank yourself when you get to Swakop.

I did a 2 man team. I think it was stage 4 that had that horrible corrugation that never seemed to stop. That was absolutely torture and I was on a full sus.

 

The Dash is doable on a hardtail but you will be looking for N + 1 after the race.

 

That feeling when you reach the finish at Swartkop and see the beach and ocean... Unreal.

 

Sent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk

[partydave]

I did a 2 man team. I think it was stage 4 that had that horrible corrugation that never seemed to stop. That was absolutely torture and I was on a full sus.

 

The Dash is doable on a hardtail but you will be looking for N + 1 after the race.

 

That feeling when you reach the finish at Swartkop and see the beach and ocean... Unreal.

 

Sent from my Mi A1 using Tapatalk

 

And stage 4 is pitch black, your light keeps shaking downwards. Eventually just turn it off and risk a tumble

 

No, I don't know why I'm doing it again

[sias]

Think I may not have been clear. 

 

Is the Dash do-able on a hard-tail? Yes

Is it recommended? Absolutely not

We are in agreement!

 

No, I don't know why I'm doing it again

Neither do I!    But I'll be on the line again when the gun goes off! 

 

Looks like the OP (busboy) has not been back to read up on the answers to his questions?