[Closed] Dorset Gravel Dash

It's a long day.

A really good day out.
It roughly goes:

Bacon butties, hills, cliffs, woods, technical loop, a thousand bumps, big hill, tremendous cake stop, descend, hill forts, forest, dunes, cliffs, finish, beer.

I've signed up for the 50:50 which goes:

Bacon butties, hills, cliffs, woods, technical loop, a thousand bumps, big hill, tremendous cake stop, descend, set-up tent, eat stew, drink beer, talk nonsense, poke fire, sleep, hill forts, forest, dunes, cliffs, finish, beer.

Must be the time of year, but I immediately thought of smoked salmon and dill.

I've signed up for the Big un. I hope the water / mud is below axle level like it was on the first year....it's a cracking day out......

In for the 50:50 here as well

In for the 100, hoping to better this years time!

I'm just hoping to finish! Longest ride I've done so far is about 60 miles.

Don't worry you will all finish. I think we have had four guys not make it, in total over 3 years.

The technique is take it easy, and eat and drink every 20 mins, don't stop, and down mars milk shakes in a oner.

"and eat and drink every 20 mins"

oh good you're organising a cake stop then.................:)

Did the 100 last year (slowly) but doing the 50:50 this year as the overnighter sounded like a good laugh from the reports, plus an excuse to spend another day in that part of the world, which i really liked.

Charlie, Are there places on the route to buy food or do riders carry everything for 100 miles themselves?

It's my first time at the Gravel Dash this year. How does your advice above

eat and drink every 20 mins

- Expect no marshals on route, expect no food stops (but I may sort something).

I carry everything, and treat the cake stop as a welcome bonus.

I'm in for the 50:50. Been meaning to get back into bivvying/bikepacking so this should spur me into action!

Charlie, Are there places on the route to buy food or do riders carry everything for 100 miles themselves?

It's my first time at the Gravel Dash this year. How does your advice above

eat and drink every 20 mins
reconcile with the statement below taken from the Gravel Dash website:
- Expect no marshals on route, expect no food stops (but I may sort something).

I think it's fair to expect riders to carry enough food for 100 miles, although there are plenty of places to stop & buy stuff. I recall a rather good chicken liver pate in a pub just before a big climb, at the top of which was excellent cake.

50/50 as a first time bikepack/bivi experience here as well. I think some practice might be in order...

I just got the last place in the 50/50.

If anybody has a place and can't make it, please let me know as my brother is keen

Thinking about the 100. It's all in my old territory and almost goes past my parent's house...guess i better make my mind up quickly!

I suppose I ought to.

1st time 50:50 and will be at the back as intend to carry the kitchen sink with me too.

Just found this in a slim tome called 'Darzit Born 'N' Darzit Bred', by Beau Parke, and thought of this thread:

Purbeck blue, and Purbeck green,
Purbeck misty, times unseen,
Purbeck silver, 'neath the moon,
Purbeck black when shadows loom.
Purbeck where the deer run wild,
Where-by poachers-oft defiled.
Purbeck, bastion of the plains,
Granted farm folk peace from Danes,
Cruel marauders cursed your height
When repelled with arrowed might;

Purbeck, permanent and proud,
Let us sing your praises, loud!

(I hope the author won't mind me copying it out here, it seems appropriate...)