Dusk to Dawn: Team Division

We've added a Team division to the Dusk to Dawn Ride.  The primary reasons we've included this offering are:

  1. Safety:  Riding with a team ensures that you won't ever be riding alone.
  2. Cost Savings:  The team gets to share the cost of a single SPOT tracker; only one rider on the team needs to have a SPOT - because, by definition, the team has to stay together.  Instead of the SPOT costing each rider $50; if you spread the cost of a single unit between 3 - 6 riders so the individual price is between $9 and $17.

Team Definition & Rules

Dusk to Dawn teams are very simple:

  • All team members ride together.  Start, finish, and at all the designated Dutodari stops the team has to be together.  One of the reasons for this is the SPOT tracker.  If a rider get's dropped, we wouldn't be able to track that person; that's against the rules.
  • The team has to be 3 - 6 riders.
  • You provide the team members: find 2 - 5 cycling friends that are up for the funnest mixed-terrain challenge; then sign up.

Sign up to learn all the details for a Dutodari team now at bikereg.com!

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Sunset - Twilight - Dusk - Night

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The Dusk to Dawn Ride begins at sunset.  This is just the beginning of a long procession to the dark. 

The passage from day to night is a process - not an event.  Nothing is ever simple about the transition from light to dark.  It’s never black and white.

These are the four most common aspects of the transition from light to night are:

  • Sunset is the moment when the top most surface of the sun dips under the horizon.
  • Twilight is the time between sunset and dusk.
  • Dusk is the moment when the sun reaches 18 degrees below the horizon.
  • Night begins when twilight ends.

And of course there are three layers of dusk.  More on this later.

Night Equipment Test Ride

Overland Base Camp's Dusk to Dawn Ride is coming up soon - on June 20.  It's a unique all-night mixed-terrain ride that's not to be missed!

Getting prepared for this ride is always tricky because it's not easy to replicate the conditions of riding all night long, unless you ride all night long.  Regardless, we're doing a shorter equipment test ride that's open to all comers.

On Wednesday evening, May 27, Overland Base Camp is leading a mixed-terrain dark ride.  It's open to everyone - whether you've registered for the Dusk to Dawn or not.

When:  Wednesday, May 27 departing at sunset - 8:10 pm.  Doors open at 7:30.  Rain Date:  Friday, May 29, same time and place.  We don't ride trails in the rain.

Where:  Rolling from Ride Studio Cafe in Lexington, MA

Ride Details

  • Ride Time:  3 hours.  We'll be back around 11:15 - 11:30 pm.
  • Distance:  About 30 miles
  • Terrain:  Mixed.  About 50/50 pavement vs. dirt
  • Elevation Gain:  Not much; about 1,500 feet
  • Ideal Bike:  Cross type.  33c+ tires with some tread

Requirements to Join Us:

  • Register for the ride.
  • Make sure you've signed Ride Studio Cafe's rider waiver.  If you've already done this in the past year, you're all set.
  • Fuel up before the ride.  If you haven't eaten a fairly substantial dinner prior, you're going to have a rough time around 10pm.
  • Headlights that'll last 4+ hours.  While we intend the ride to be about 3 hours, if we have flats, mechanicals, or any other issue, 3 becomes 4 fairly quickly.
  • Taillight.
  • All the usual ride requirements from Ride Studio Cafe - or any smart ride.
  • A bike appropriate for the terrain:  1)  33c knobbed tires, or larger; 2) clipless pedals
  • A super positive attitude about a challenging and disorienting ride.

We hope to see you there!  Make sure you've registered; it takes 30-seconds.

Carpe Noctem.

Dusk to Dawn Ride Options: Continous & Campout

We've added a division for the Dusk to Dawn Ride!  Some people have requested a shorter, more humane option; here it is:

Campout Division

All aspects of the Campout division are identical to the Continuous division, with these exceptions:

  • Shorter:  The Big Fire dinner-breakfast station at about mile 55 is the Campout Finish, whereas the Big Fire is a stop along the way for the Continuous Division.
  • Sleep:  At the Big Fire you can get some rest, and even some sleep.
  • Provisions Transported:  You provide Overland Base Camp with whatever overnight gear you'd like to have a the Big Fire.  The popular items tend to include:  tent, sleeping bag, change of clothes, toiletries, and whatever else you need for a few good hours of sleep.
  • More Time to Eat:  You can probably eat a lot more than riders that have to head back out on the trail after a feed break.
  • More Feeding Opportunities:  You will probably have time for a breakfast before the van rolls on home.
  • Easy Ride or Van:  We have two options to get you home:  1)  a road ride route for those that want to ride the rest of the way back to the start at Ride Studio Cafe; or 2) a van ride back to the start for those that ate way too much food for dinner or breakfast.

Choose

Since the registration price for both Continuous and Campout are the same, you can choose your preferred option when you get to the Big Fire - choose to sleep or keep riding.  However, the decision making will be a lot better if you've provided overnight gear to OBC prior to the event.  Once you register you'll receive all the details you'll want to know for both divisions.

Join us for this unique event!  Register for The Dusk to Dawn Ride at bikereg.com.

Dusk to Dawn Custom Cycling Cap

This is the cap we designed for the Dusk to Dawn Ride early registrants.

The Dusk Patrol has created a new concept in cycling caps:  a high visibility reflective fabric stripe sewn onto a lightweight linen custom made cycling cap.

Dusk Cap Details

  • Retail Price:  $45.00.  The cap is included in the event fee for early registrants.  When they're gone, they're gone.
  • Limited Edition - for first registrants only; when they're gone, they're gone.  If you don't sign up for the Dusk to Dawn Ride, you won't ever get one.
  • Designed by Overland Base Camp with some unique features:
    • D -> D logo
    • Reflective silver stripes for visibility
  • Made in North America by our friends at Red Dots Cycling
  • Summer weight linen to help wick sweat and keep you cool in the warmest climate.
  • Available in two sizes:
    • Small/medium is 21" - 22.5"
    • Medium/large is 22.5" - 24"

Note:  We strongly recommend that, when riding, you always wear a helmet.  This cap, while awesome, is not a replacement for a helmet.

We hope to see your Dutodari stripe on the night trail!