As some of you know, this 1000km, 20,000m climbing, 30% gravel self-supported ultra-cycling race in February didn’t end with a finish. This is Dawn’s DNF (Did Not Finish) report, picking up where Part 1 left off. In this part, published on May 5th, 2023, Dawn dives into the tough stuff, sharing her thoughts on not finishing and what she’d do differently next time.
Joining her to unpack the experience is her coach, Niel Copeland, who rode this race himself and reported on it for Dotwatcher.
They also explore an important topic: safety in the ultra-cycling world, especially for women. It’s a candid conversation about the challenges, lessons learned, and the realities of riding long distances alone.
A huge thank you to everyone who supported this journey:
- Edge Cycling for my amazing Curve Cycling GXR (AKA Kevin) bike.
- Oliver Tugirimana, my mechanic.
- The Intercontinental Fujairah for a fantastic post-race stay.
- Coach Niel Copeland for getting me race-ready.
Rwanda Cycling & Accommodation Resources:
- The Race Around Rwanda: www.theracearoundrwanda.com
- The African Rising Cycling Center: https://arcc.rw
- Clement House on Booking.com
- Nyungwe Nziza Ecolodge on Booking.com
🎧 Listen to the episode now
📸 Follow Dawn’s journey: @Dawnable
Further Listening & Viewing:
* EP 24 & 25: The Women of Race Around Rwanda (Part 1 & Part 2)
* EP 16: So You Want to be an Ultra Cyclist
* EP 16a: Ultra Eating with Coach Niel Copeland
* Juliet Elliott’s YouTube series on the Race Around Rwanda.
🤿 This episode is supported by Deep Dive Dubai
We hope you find inspiration and valuable insights in this raw and honest account. Don’t forget to check out Part 1 if you haven’t already.
