Rabbit, there's no doubt you could finish this, in fact you'd be a strong contender (its run as a "race"). I rode it last year and although I'm dithering at the moment, I wasn't put off and have an entry in for this year as well. I'm a very unexceptional audax rider, although I did up my mileage ahead of last years event (I rode about 5,000 miles in the first half of last year and I'll bet you're somewhere in that region). Last year around 90 riders started and I think around 50 finished in time for the post race party, including four women who all placed well up in the rankings. For those at the front its clearly a race for places, for riders like me it was a race against the clock to get there before the party and for a few it was just a matter of getting there, however long it took. You can make of this event whatever you want, but unless you're in the top flight, speed is not as critical as good organisation, resourcefulness and mental resilience. I certainly rode it like a multi-day audax, rather than a race. Long and steady got me there and while it was a huge effort, I never felt any real doubt or extreme pressure. Its a fantastic adventure and as long as you don't mind roughing it and have the mental determination, its well within the capabilities of a solid audax rider. Its difficult for me to comment on the specific issues facing a female rider but I don't think its anything like as risky as some might think. I had lots of blasts of horns and shouts from passing cars but I eventually came to the conclusion they were all friendly. The wild dogs can't be avoided but are more bark than bite and I had no trouble finding somewhere to bed down each night that was out of sight and felt safe. The scariest moment I had was when a grasshopper jumped into bed with me. I did ride some awful roads with heavy lorry traffic thundering past, too fast and too close. This was the most unpleasant aspect of the event for me and definitely the most dangerous but I think this would be difficult to avoid entirely, so you either put up with it or bail out but it only applies to a limited part of the journey. Its principally a solo, unsupported event and best described as an adventure race but last year several riders ignored the "rules" and rode as pairs or groups. This year there's a specific category for pairs, so the option exists to team up with someone for security and mutual support. I was uncertain about whether to commit to the ride last year. My heart said "do it" and he head kept doubting my capability and pointing out how selfish and indulgent it would be. Then one day I told myself to clear away all the negative thoughts and just get on with it and that was that. I'm so glad I made that decision, its certainly the most powerful experience I've had on a bike and of course the cycling is just the skeleton on which builds an experience of ever-changing places and people, beautiful views, shifting economies and cultures, all wrapped around a struggle with your inner-self. I was left with a strange feeling afterwards that "something had changed" and certainly it has altered my perspective about what is possible. Its not for everyone but I hope you give it a go.
