RaR, the Race around Rwanda, a 1000 kilometre gravel race around the East African country near the equator, starts at the beginning of February – and I’m registered …
I’m already very excited about what’s in store for me. I’ll be competing there as a solo rider, unfortunately Hermann doesn’t have time to join me.
Preparations are underway, as is the planning … I can’t estimate how far I’ll get each day and where I’ll find places to sleep (unfortunately my sleeping equipment stays at home … Rwanda is so densely populated that you never go unnoticed; and if I were to pitch my tent, I would probably be surrounded by around 20 friendly and helpful people … Tips from other riders: When riding through a village at night, it’s better to switch off the lights … so as not to announce the arrival of a ‘mzungu’. That means SON Edelux and Lupine PIKO and red light off!!!
Apropos: light + planning stress. My PIKO battery is acting up. It would be a disaster if my lighting were to fail, because in Rwanda it gets pitch black almost from one second to the next, punctually at 6 pm, as if someone were to flip the light switch, and it only gets light 12 hours later, at 6 am, in no time at all. This means that I will have to cycle in the dark for some time in order to be back in Kigali in time for the finisher party.
So light is vital for me. And I could pat myself on the back for not having thought of this earlier, as I already know about this problem from my Alps Divide. Water could have got in during my rain journey, I don’t know. Stress. Many thanks to Lupine for their uncomplicated help! The new battery has arrived!!!
As always with these races, I will have a tracker with me and the progress of all participants will be visible on a map.
You can follow the participants here:
