Ultracycling

Yeah, I'm thinking about that too. Have tried to go to morocco a couple of times so it would be a good motivation.

Does it? Like most races I've not looked close enough. I just get excited and start clicking "Enter" buttons.

I've never been either. I'm trying to get the missus involved but I'm not sure she's keen on a race and she's not done anything off-road.

I was only going by the fact it goes through 2 deserts and Cabo de Gata Natural Park which is the only region in mainland Europe with a true hot desert climate (according to wikipedia) - the lack of magnums and orangina on route concerns me.

For you, coming from Oz, all those deserts might seem normal but coming from Northern Ireland I deal with wet and cold better.

Cabo de Gata

Did that in Transiberica. Wasn't too bad but I was worried having already fitted my spare tyre I didn't have another one if it failed. I'm thinking of finding a set of 650B rims and building them up for gravel use..

Fair enough. I hate the cold and wet. But living here you just have to get on with it or you'd never ride!

Is there any indication as to rough time of year for the Badlands race?

TBC

Jonas Deichmann and Philipp Hympendahl riding from North Cape to Capetown. Target is 18.000km in 75 days.
https://jonasdeichmann.com/cape-to-cape/

Race to the Rock was retrospectively terminated in Alice Springs.
Riders couldn't get permits to do what seemed to be the only safe route to go on to Uluru. As Jesse was already a few hours past there - and presumably was the one who discovered the issue - that meant that he had already won.

Why didnt they have permits before?
Weird

There's a long discussion on Facebook. It's land owned by aborigines and they decided they didn't want to give out permits to lots of riders. They didn't give a reason.
it hadn't been a problem for Jesse and Sarah when they did their recce.
the view was that they may not have wanted to encourage people to take risks in remote territory with the possibility of someone being into trouble.
I don't know if you can apply for them before or if you have to rock up and ask.
there are a few areas in Australia that are like that, aboriginal land. I think on indypac there are some bits what you would need a permit to go off the main road.

Ruska day three, four, five and six. The first finisher has reached Hammerfest today. And there has been snow.

Did you get snow last couple of years? Always looks to have a good vibe this race.

There was snow in Lapland just as we started the ride from the south coast in 2017, but it was gone when we got there and last year the first snow came just couple of days after the time limit, but there hasn't been snow during Ruska before. The temperature has been at or just below zero though.

Long post from Sarah on facebook explaining a bit more fully:

DAY ELEVEN REPORT

It’s been an eventful day. Despite recents updates, there are still twelve riders on course. The race continues, although the finish line has been adjusted.
After Jesse arrived in Hermannsburg yesterday, he had a choice of two roads. Finke Gorge or Mereenie.
Jesse was always going to take the Finke Gorge loop, it is slow going, but that was the challenge. We watched as he started to head in, and then stopped about 5 kms later. The road leading to the Finke Gorge National Park was badly destroyed. More sand and tourists had made the road near impossible for a bike. Very different to when we rode it a month ago.
Assessing the risk level, Jesse came back to Hermannsburg to speak with the locals. They confirmed that no rain for a year, wind and tourists had indeed destroyed the road.
The greater concern is that on the other side of Finke Gorge is another 25 km sand bed, one that we rode on the recon, and it was a very slow process moving over sand dunes. The chances are this road would be in worse condition too.
This stretch is 100 kms long, in these conditions where walking comes in play, it could mean 2 days at least for some riders. Walking isn’t too hard, lugging a packed bike is tough! Constantly hunched over, back bent, and your arms and shoulders tired from pushing. Moving slowly means zero chance of being able to charge electronics with a dyno wheel as well, that means no light in the evening. There is also no resupply, phone signal, and it’s getting hotter. The next resupply would not be for another 200 kms after this section, in Curtain Springs.
So Jesse came back to Hermannsburg and called me to say he was taking the Mereenie loop. I agreed it was the right decision as the risk is too high on Finke. The Finke Route was always going to be tough, it’s why we had the second option on Mereenie to give riders a safer option.
Jesse was all set to go when the permit seller at the Hermannsburg store came back, took the permit from him and said ‘no bikes allowed.’
Jesse had researched this, he spends hours and days and months researching every detail. There was nothing eliminating cyclists from using he road. Turns out it was only introduced recently, the website had not been updated to reflect this also. Only last week it was contested in court, and lost. It appears to be tied in with the time and duration of a single trip, on this part of road. One of which a cyclist can’t do fully. At the end of the day it’s a landowner decision, and we will not go against that or break the law, or any cultura beliefs.
So this is where making a safety call comes into play. In any of these races, all the riders need to make decisions that keep them safe.
Over a course this long riders will have to work out what to do when confronted with various challenges. Road and trail closures, floods, fires, snow and heavy traffic have all been encountered in previous editions of this race, amongst other challenges. That’s just life in Australia. To stay safe riders will sometimes need to stay stationary for a while, or look for alternative passage.
Riding the Finke loop is too high risk and irresponsible.
The backup option is NO LONGER an option, riding this road would be breaking the law.
So the next option would be backtrack to Alice (for Jesse), then every rider take the Stuart Highway until you can rejoin the course. The speed limit on the Stuart Highway is 130 kms, there are road trains, caravans and every other kind of vehicle. The shoulder isn’t consistent either, parts of the road narrow leaving little room for two cars let alone a bike. I’ve been pushed off this road personally from passing traffic and the force created when they pass you.
We consider this option to be too dangerous, and it goes against the design of this course as far as keeping riders safe on route to Uluru.
So after some heavy discussion we decided to draw the line at Alice. Riders may continue, but this will not be on us.
Jesse has since turned off his tracker, his ride is listed as finished, but he is still riding back to Alice as we speak. (He is not in Yulara, it has him there as I listed him as finished).

In addition, I’ve touched on how conditions out here change regularly. One day a road can be perfectly smooth from a recent grading and rolling. One week later it’s covered in heavy sand and chopped up by tourist traffic. Some roads are full closures for this reason, and with warnings to even 4WD travellers.
An even more important thing to remember in these cases is, IT’S JUST A BIKE RIDE. This isn’t about who is the toughest, who can go longest without resupply, who can walk their bike 100 kilometres. It’s about making good decisions and staying safe.
I’m absolutely gutted over the decision that was made. I’m upset for the riders that have put so much time and energy into this, some of which still have no idea what transpired yesterday. But they are still racing, and that’s exciting!
But mostly, I am saddened that Jesse didn’t get the finish he really deserved.
Jesse rode an incredible race. What it took for him to get out there after the past couple of years difficulties, is something most people won’t understand. And to see him showing everyone he is still one of the best in the world was a wonderful thing.
Plus countless hours, weeks, months, and money spent on making sure this course was perfect, even riding it in full to double, and triple check there were no roadblocks.
So congratulations Jesse, for an incredible ride and win. Will be sure to celebrate as soon as possible.
Jesse will be flying to Uluru today, where I am already. Hopefully we can sort a live video to talk to him about the win, yesterday and his whole experience.
Meanwhile, thank you for all the messages of support.

Some of that scenery! Woof!

Unfortunate anti-cycling bullshit from the landowners but the race orgs have done the right thing. Props to Jesse for such a strong ride - I really thought his racing days were over.

Link to Jack Petersen's spreadsheet with events listed

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSh_UaCz6RGs43prmwnkZS0Mtn7YTxByXFqiqg9NQi7cSK26aNry6dDZYhhGrnvFtyTMlJIt7hAVj1l/pubhtml?fbclid=IwAR2hPjAWVtHJpyv9ccmP6X8Mz8V1vm4LgqpoNwMfvJv6MQpc7WJiJ93GIW0

Doesn't include Atlas Mountains? Ah, I'm not filling a form out to submit it.

NC500 and Torino Nice Rally are on my radar any other suggestions for similar distance/ difficulty?

Do you know anyone who did the All Points North? I fancy trying something next year and this is the only one that is in the UK and that would (possibly, maybe) suit me.

I think I'm going to pass on Atlas Mountains so I can save my time off for Spanish property hunting. I'm also aware that I flew too much this year so might look for more local options next year. The gravel bike is nearing completion though so that opens up some other events to me. Grinduro and all that nonsense..

I know some of these people...
http://www.allpointsnorth.cc/apn19/2019-riders/