Transcontinental Race
Discussion
Looks like an awesome thing to do.i watched this a few months ago:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eajqrrTtCvg
really interesting about mental and physical fatigue on long distance rides. i'm not sure why you'd do it to yourself. he was supported as well. admittedly you a travelling a shorter distance, but carrying all you own stuff i am sure you will be taking a similar toll!
good luck if you do do it...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eajqrrTtCvg
really interesting about mental and physical fatigue on long distance rides. i'm not sure why you'd do it to yourself. he was supported as well. admittedly you a travelling a shorter distance, but carrying all you own stuff i am sure you will be taking a similar toll!
good luck if you do do it...
It kicked off over the weekend and I've been following their tracking dots again. http://trackleaders.com/transconrace15f It's fascinating seeing just how little non-pedalling time some of these guys are capable of.
As for bike choice, I was stunned to see Ultan Coyle rocking a full TT bike https://instagram.com/p/5jS4ZtnDWV/ First thought was that it's a brave choice when the route includes a mandatory pass over the 'gravel' Colle della Finestre. Turns out he's paying the price for it now as he basically walked the descent and lost serious ground on the leaders. I don't think a TT bike is going to make enough difference on the remaining route to pay back that debt.
Josh Ibbet seems to be sporting barely any luggage at all. Fast and light, taken to extremes. In fairness, he doesn't seem to do 'stopping' so probably no spare clothes, no sleeping kit and the bare bare minimum of tools, spares and fuel.
The first challenges for my entry are n+1 (or more accurately: s-1) and fitting in appropriate training/preparatory rides. I'm trying to wangle a pass for two or three 3-day weekends over the next year to try audax distances, but I doubt I'll get any more than that. I'm hoping that I'll learn 90% of what I need to know about kit and how my body reacts by doing 400/600/800km rides.
If it wasn't for the inclusion of the gravel pass I'd simply soften the fit on the Canyon, perhaps swapping the wheels for something more suitable. I'll see what they're proposing for 2016 before making any bike decisions.
As for bike choice, I was stunned to see Ultan Coyle rocking a full TT bike https://instagram.com/p/5jS4ZtnDWV/ First thought was that it's a brave choice when the route includes a mandatory pass over the 'gravel' Colle della Finestre. Turns out he's paying the price for it now as he basically walked the descent and lost serious ground on the leaders. I don't think a TT bike is going to make enough difference on the remaining route to pay back that debt.
Josh Ibbet seems to be sporting barely any luggage at all. Fast and light, taken to extremes. In fairness, he doesn't seem to do 'stopping' so probably no spare clothes, no sleeping kit and the bare bare minimum of tools, spares and fuel.
The first challenges for my entry are n+1 (or more accurately: s-1) and fitting in appropriate training/preparatory rides. I'm trying to wangle a pass for two or three 3-day weekends over the next year to try audax distances, but I doubt I'll get any more than that. I'm hoping that I'll learn 90% of what I need to know about kit and how my body reacts by doing 400/600/800km rides.
If it wasn't for the inclusion of the gravel pass I'd simply soften the fit on the Canyon, perhaps swapping the wheels for something more suitable. I'll see what they're proposing for 2016 before making any bike decisions.
Get up here to Scotland Gruffy for a few days. Endless challenging roads with not much traffic and changeable weather conditions. Good test for solitude survival in wilderness too, you can wild camp anywhere. Drive up and back overnight, ride a 1000km self supported lumpy loop over 3 days...
Forget the Canyon though. Luggage, guards, fat tubeless tyres.
Forget the Canyon though. Luggage, guards, fat tubeless tyres.
It's seriously impressive. There's a long way to go but he's looking very strong for the win so far. I wouldn't have believed you could sustain that pace for a week or more if Allagaert hadn't shown it to be possible twice already.
Somebody has coded this up to illustrate riders' rest patterns http://45.55.173.141/transconrace15 Personally, I'd be happy to be among the fastest of the riders who are sleeping a few hours every night. Partly because I don't think I could sustain the leaders' strategies but mostly because my pass won't extend to a week's recovery after the race.
Somebody has coded this up to illustrate riders' rest patterns http://45.55.173.141/transconrace15 Personally, I'd be happy to be among the fastest of the riders who are sleeping a few hours every night. Partly because I don't think I could sustain the leaders' strategies but mostly because my pass won't extend to a week's recovery after the race.
I am not planning anything as adventurous, just some local touring of Salisbury Plain and the New Forrest with some nights out. Current top of the wishlist is this: Niner RLT Steel
Off to Vegas on Thursday and the US price list is very tempting.
Off to Vegas on Thursday and the US price list is very tempting.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff