Desert Dash 2022: Triumph at the toughest MTB race in the world with a special fully

The tuning effort paid off. Karl-Heinz Leidel, known as Charlie to his mates, finished in sixth place and won the over 50s classification with a time of 17:16 hours. Here he explains his tuning measures on his Cannondale Scalpel. And they go far beyond the bike itself.

The Desert Dash is advertised as an MTB race. It is not a real, pure MTB race. After four participations with good results, I thought more about the bike for this time. The route covers 394 kilometres, mostly on gravel roads. A gravel bike would be my first thought. However, the ground is loose and deep in places. Therefore, thicker tyres are a must. Due to the enormous distance, a fully is recommended. The constant jolting on the washboard-like tracks is otherwise quickly tiring.

The route profile is flat over long stretches. A few sections with gradients of up to 20 per cent have to be mastered after around 100 kilometres. Low weight and a wide range of gear ratios bring advantages.

The speed of the best cyclists is around 25 kilometres per hour, which is usually ridden into a strong headwind. The absolute air resistance is therefore often significantly higher. Aerodynamics is an issue. An aero bike with a steep seat angle and triathlon bars would be good. However, aero bars are not permitted under the regulations. The riding position must not be too sporty, you always have to be able to react on the bumpy tracks. In the second half of the race, there are always acrobatic stretching exercises by riders whose backs no longer want to take part in the shaking. In case of doubt, ergo before aero applies here.

I thought a lightweight aero gravel bike would be ideal. That's not available off the peg. So I built one for myself. The bike looks so special that it could be the bike of someone who watched Mad Max too often in their youth.

THE CANNONDALE IN DETAIL

• Frame: Cannondale Scalpel, 100 millimetre suspension travel
• Fork: LAUF carbon leaf spring fork, light and responsive. The 60 millimetres of suspension travel are more than enough
• Drive: Shimano GRX 800, gear ratio 36 x 9-46 with power meter
• Impellers: Syncros Silverton 1.0. Super light with aero spokes for low wind resistance
• Cockpit: Wide flared gravel handlebars with double-wrapped bar tape to soften the small, hard bumps on the road
• Seat post: Redshift, can be folded forwards by 50 millimetres, creating a steeper seat tube angle. This makes it possible to lie on the handlebars for long periods if the route allows. Aerodynamics.
• Lighting: Moving the light far forwards prevents glare when riding in the lower handlebar position.
• Tyres: Conti Race King Protection Tubeless. I ride them with only 1.3 to 1.5 to bar. That increases comfort.

You can also gain advantages in terms of clothing with a little skill. I rely on a tight-fitting racing combination, an aero-optimised Giro helmet and aero covers over the shoes. These also prevent sand or stones from getting into the shoe.

BIKE: Was the tuning effort worth it?

Karl-Heinz Leidel: Definitely. The race went well. 6th place overall. Victory in the Ü50 age group.

What part did your Special-Fully play in this?

A big one. The conditions were extreme. The headwind in the first half of the race was fierce. This was the main reason for the whopping DNF rate of 50 per cent at the solo starts. The bike was the perfect choice, my race tactics were more centred on the bike than on me.

What was the specific effect of the tuning?

I had noticeable advantages on many sections of the route. Wherever I was riding into the wind, I was able to go one better, close gaps or shake off riders. Whether downhill, on long straights or slightly uphill. I saved energy where others had to invest more.

Which remodelling measures have had the greatest impact?

The key point was the gravel handlebar in combination with the Redshift seatpost. Folded forwards, the saddle is 5 centimetres further forward and 12 millimetres higher. This makes it easier to hold the lower handlebar position. You sit firmly in the saddle instead of just on the tip. This made it possible for me to beat the wind a few times.

My motto was: I also only cook with water, but I can score points with a better cooker.

Towards the end of the race - from checkpoint 4 to Swakopmund - I closed a gap of 7 minutes on the rider in fifth place. Unfortunately, I couldn't hold off the rider half my age for long when he countered. The bike let me ride more effectively. Unfortunately, it didn't make me any younger. (laughs)

Will you be riding the bike at home in Germany?

No. I sold the bike in Namibia to my dealer colleague and friend Mannie Heymanns. He really wanted it. Let's see whether my idea is adopted and whether other bikers will soon be riding an aerodynamic gravel bike.