Just got back from the 2011 Desert Dash 24 hour MTB Enduro in Namibia. A great event with Trevor Seinen finishing second and Andrew Payne in a hard earned fourth place.
Here are some "pre" and "post" race photos - it wasn't possible to take photos during the event while driving a mini-bus taxi through the Namib Desert at night, so please forgive me.
Photo captions and race report to follow ASAP, hopefully before Father Christmas climbs down the chimney.
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| "Payne, Payne. come in. Over." |
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| "Repeat after me. You are a doos. Over." |
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| Bike unpacking after low flying in a mini-bus from Windhoek Airport. |
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| Lights provided by our generous sponsors Hope Lights. |
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| Out the box, bubble-wrap off, almost ready for action. |
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| The steed is ready after a bit of TLC by Tokkie Bombosch and Ziggy at CycleTech. |
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| View from our balcony at Arrebusch Guest Lodge in Windhoek. |
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| Another view from our balcony at Arrebusch Guest Lodge in Windhoek. |
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| Taxi to Soweto, I mean Swakopmund. |
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| Just prior to Thursday's leg loosener. The "Beast" playing with his beloved Endomondo. |
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| "Hurry up Payne. Get of the shithouse - I wanna go riding." |
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| Andy-Pandy emerges somewhat lighter for a 30km ride around town. |
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| Look closely - those shoes are not very clean. |
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| We finally emerged out of the ghetto to ride the first stretch of stage one. |
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| Their legs look thin, hey? |
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| Payne pissing again while Trevor photographs some wildlife... |
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| ...not. Baboons waiting to pounce on the settlers. |
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| Plugs, bottles and drugs. |
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| They call him Mellow Yellow. |
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| "Hoping" for a great race. |
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| The steed ready for the dust. |
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Andrew: "Bailey, what is the Beast doing?"
Jason "He is on Endomondo. Are you?" |
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| Andrew's steed ready for the trip from Windhoek to Swakopmund (and a brief diversion towards Angola). |
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| I know you are riding for Daiken-GU this season, but really. |
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| Cooling of BEFORE the race. |
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| Thursday night briefing at the Windhoek Golf and Country estate. |
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| The Beast hitting some booze to ease the nerves. |
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| "Who the hell is this Emilliano Ballardini?" |
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| Spare back wheel, cluster and spanner lent to us by our friends at Cycle Tech. |
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| Sustenance packed. |
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| We made it to the first checkpoint in time, but not after the camper van on the left had its wheel spanner fly out in front of us at 80km/hr. |
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| A familiar slight: Beastie on the left. Andy on the right. Cooler bag in the middle, even in the middle of the night. |
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| A gentle reminder after the following diatribe: "Bailey, if you put an apple in my right pocket I will @#$% you up." I wonder who could possibly say that? Answers can be sent to 0800-take-a-chill-pill-china. |
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| Swakopmund late Saturday afternoon. |
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| Swakopmund late Saturday afternoon #2 |
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| The Beast getting his "podium-strut" ready for the awards ceremony. Are there any melons under those arms? |
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| Andrew bravely held on to fourth place after deciding to see if he could ride to Angola. |
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| Second place. |
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| All the training was worth it. |
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| The "flying Italian" Emilliano Ballardini. |
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| Emilliano Ballardini: a very relaxed fellow who took up to 15 minutes during his pit-stops. He even fell off his bike when leaving Checkpoint 3. Don't ask me how. |
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| The first four places: Uwe Schmidt (3rd), Emilliano Ballardini (1st), Beast (2nd), Sandy Andy (4th). |
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| "My one's better than yours." |
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| The Beast wears his like jewelry while Andrew holds his like a ninja star (I gave him a demonstration just prior). |
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| The Namib Desert meets Cannondale. |
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| 20 minutes in the street and there you have it: ready for another 340km. |
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| Shine that chain stay boy. |
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| "I feel like an ice-cream." |
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| The vehicle stickers found a new home. Check that strut. |
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| What are these two going to do without each other next year? |
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| Airport bound #1. |
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| Airport bound #2. |
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| Airport bound #3. |
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| Airport bound #4. |
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| Airport bound #5. |
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| Airport bound #6. |
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| Airport bound #7. |
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| Airport bound #8. |
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| Dune 7. |
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| The Beast approaches in order to get some sand to take back to Tanika and Cameron. |
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| A heavy security presence. |
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| You cannot park here. |
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| Palm trees planted by Barend Mathewson over 20 years ago while in the Air Force. |
