Mel
Guest
8th January Rest Day
Teamdesertrose.com
Report by Chris Evans
Well finally we have made it to the rest day in Nouakchott - the furthest we have ever got on the Dakar in 4 attempts. But it hasn't been easy!
We had the problem with Zippy's wheel breaking up early on in Africa that very nearly put us out and then last night we had another nightmare. Everything was going OK on the Atar Nouakchott stage. It was hard work but we were getting there when the nut holding my front sprocket broke off 60 kms from the end of the special.
It was impossible to fix the problem so the only solution was for Zippy to tow me. It was an absolute nightmare in the dark in the dunes and in all it took us 5 hours. I have never looked at my trip metre so much in my life. From the moment we first saw the orange flashing light of the end of special to actually getting there took us 1 and a half hours.
The guys manning the control at the end of the special couldn't believe their eyes when we finally got there - and they have seen a few things in their time. Then Clive and Martin came out in the assistance 4x4 to the end of the liaison to help us in.
Now they are putting new engines in both bikes while Zippy and I are trying to rest. My wrists are killing me and my left knee is very swollen after the bike fell on me while I was being towed but hopefully we will be ready to go tomorrow morning.
I think tomorrow will be a really tough day - the hardest of the rallye - and if we get through that I will be a lot more optimistic about our chances of getting to the end.
One thing is for sure - we would have got as far as we have it is hadn't been for our Meca System 525 EXC. They are so much easier to ride than our old 660 Rallyes especially in the dunes. Very occasionally the extra power of the old 660 would be usueful but 99% of the time we are better off on the 525 we are really pleased with them.
Report 2 by Andrew Neri.
An anxious night for those of us tracking Patsy's progress on the dakar.com website. She seemed to stop with 80km to go and Clive carry on.... I am pleased to report that both Patsy and Clive made it in just after midnight after "the most unbelievable day', which is a story of struggle and determination.
Patsy did crash with 80km to go, which effected her tracker but also left her with a sheered off front chain sprocket bolt and oil pouring from the engine. Unable to repair the engine was this the end of the line ? No ! Clive unbelievably towed Patsy behind his bike through soft sand and camel grass in the dark for 50km before the reached hard ground.
Patsy described it as "very scary", moving yards at a time before Clive's bike would get bogged down in the sand, digging it out and starting up again. This went on for an amazing six hours and all the time they were worried that they were putting too much stress on Clive's engine the electric start had already failed and he was having to kick start it and all this after riding 400km through what Patsy and many other Dakar veterans described as the "toughest sand day they had every known"
Patsy said they both had never felt so exhausted and were obviously very relieved to make it to the end of the special. "Its was very emotional and there were a few tears" she said. Even the race organisation staff at the end of the special could not believe that they had managed to get through under tow in such difficult conditions.
So 'rest day' today and for Patsy and Zippy a chance to catch up on vital sleep. But for Clive and Martin the Team Desert Rose service crew, an engine change and full overhaul for each bike. Ready to start all over again tomorrow.
Patsy did add that she would have liked to send more reports back, but with the early problems and running way down the order it was too difficult. But even after the ordeals of the last few days she feels good in herself and is ready for whatever the Dakar wants to throw at her.
Teamdesertrose.com
Report by Chris Evans
Well finally we have made it to the rest day in Nouakchott - the furthest we have ever got on the Dakar in 4 attempts. But it hasn't been easy!
We had the problem with Zippy's wheel breaking up early on in Africa that very nearly put us out and then last night we had another nightmare. Everything was going OK on the Atar Nouakchott stage. It was hard work but we were getting there when the nut holding my front sprocket broke off 60 kms from the end of the special.
It was impossible to fix the problem so the only solution was for Zippy to tow me. It was an absolute nightmare in the dark in the dunes and in all it took us 5 hours. I have never looked at my trip metre so much in my life. From the moment we first saw the orange flashing light of the end of special to actually getting there took us 1 and a half hours.
The guys manning the control at the end of the special couldn't believe their eyes when we finally got there - and they have seen a few things in their time. Then Clive and Martin came out in the assistance 4x4 to the end of the liaison to help us in.
Now they are putting new engines in both bikes while Zippy and I are trying to rest. My wrists are killing me and my left knee is very swollen after the bike fell on me while I was being towed but hopefully we will be ready to go tomorrow morning.
I think tomorrow will be a really tough day - the hardest of the rallye - and if we get through that I will be a lot more optimistic about our chances of getting to the end.
One thing is for sure - we would have got as far as we have it is hadn't been for our Meca System 525 EXC. They are so much easier to ride than our old 660 Rallyes especially in the dunes. Very occasionally the extra power of the old 660 would be usueful but 99% of the time we are better off on the 525 we are really pleased with them.
Report 2 by Andrew Neri.
An anxious night for those of us tracking Patsy's progress on the dakar.com website. She seemed to stop with 80km to go and Clive carry on.... I am pleased to report that both Patsy and Clive made it in just after midnight after "the most unbelievable day', which is a story of struggle and determination.
Patsy did crash with 80km to go, which effected her tracker but also left her with a sheered off front chain sprocket bolt and oil pouring from the engine. Unable to repair the engine was this the end of the line ? No ! Clive unbelievably towed Patsy behind his bike through soft sand and camel grass in the dark for 50km before the reached hard ground.
Patsy described it as "very scary", moving yards at a time before Clive's bike would get bogged down in the sand, digging it out and starting up again. This went on for an amazing six hours and all the time they were worried that they were putting too much stress on Clive's engine the electric start had already failed and he was having to kick start it and all this after riding 400km through what Patsy and many other Dakar veterans described as the "toughest sand day they had every known"
Patsy said they both had never felt so exhausted and were obviously very relieved to make it to the end of the special. "Its was very emotional and there were a few tears" she said. Even the race organisation staff at the end of the special could not believe that they had managed to get through under tow in such difficult conditions.
So 'rest day' today and for Patsy and Zippy a chance to catch up on vital sleep. But for Clive and Martin the Team Desert Rose service crew, an engine change and full overhaul for each bike. Ready to start all over again tomorrow.
Patsy did add that she would have liked to send more reports back, but with the early problems and running way down the order it was too difficult. But even after the ordeals of the last few days she feels good in herself and is ready for whatever the Dakar wants to throw at her.
