Transcontinental Race
Discussion
It looks like I've negotiated a pass to enter this in 2016. I suspect I'll be siring a sprog shortly afterwards so this may be my last opportunity for a while. Thoughts now turn to n+1 because as much as I'd like to ride my Aeroad I think the task requires something a bit more durable and capable of taking larger tyres.
As it stands I think budget will be limited (no idea where to start though), but if I have a good winter that may change. My plan is to travel light, maintain a good average speed aiming for 300-400 km a day and work on making stops as efficient as possible. I will almost certainly have to cross the Alps and there may also be trails. Dynamo hub is essential. Guard mounts also a big plus as while I may not use them for the TCR they're likely to be used afterwards for urban/winter/audax duties.
The Croix de Fer seems like an obvious starting point, but I read that it's a bit heavy? What else should I be looking at?
As it stands I think budget will be limited (no idea where to start though), but if I have a good winter that may change. My plan is to travel light, maintain a good average speed aiming for 300-400 km a day and work on making stops as efficient as possible. I will almost certainly have to cross the Alps and there may also be trails. Dynamo hub is essential. Guard mounts also a big plus as while I may not use them for the TCR they're likely to be used afterwards for urban/winter/audax duties.
The Croix de Fer seems like an obvious starting point, but I read that it's a bit heavy? What else should I be looking at?
Edited by Gruffy on Monday 27th July 23:53
As said id aim for a strong frame with good gearing options and tyre clearance, I have a steel Raleigh Clubman which would be perfect for this
Was looking into this, would love to do it, but with a young (and older) family no chance for the next few years.
I wouldn't worry about weight too much, a few extra pounds on the frame and wheels will be bugger all with even minimal kit. I've never met an unhappy Genesis owner!
Have you done many 200 mile rides back to back? That would be my first worry, not so much the fitness, more the punishment from being on a bike so long.
Was looking into this, would love to do it, but with a young (and older) family no chance for the next few years.
I wouldn't worry about weight too much, a few extra pounds on the frame and wheels will be bugger all with even minimal kit. I've never met an unhappy Genesis owner!
Have you done many 200 mile rides back to back? That would be my first worry, not so much the fitness, more the punishment from being on a bike so long.
Good starting point. Seen the Tour de Fer?
Whatever it is, have clearance for Compass Barlow Pass 38c Extralight tyres Gruffy. Tubeless <50psi (Std Stans tape/valve/jizz mtb setup). Sublime on and off road. Light but Fast and grippy as f
k, resilient and basically like rolling on little fluffy clouds.
If you're looking at regular long distance stuff you could go full Jan Heine* and spec 650B wheels with Compass 42c tyres.
Proper metal mudguards http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/accessories-c11/mudg...
*Bicycle Genius. Fill yer boots https://janheine.wordpress.com/category/components...
Whatever it is, have clearance for Compass Barlow Pass 38c Extralight tyres Gruffy. Tubeless <50psi (Std Stans tape/valve/jizz mtb setup). Sublime on and off road. Light but Fast and grippy as f
k, resilient and basically like rolling on little fluffy clouds.If you're looking at regular long distance stuff you could go full Jan Heine* and spec 650B wheels with Compass 42c tyres.
Proper metal mudguards http://www.tritoncycles.co.uk/accessories-c11/mudg...
*Bicycle Genius. Fill yer boots https://janheine.wordpress.com/category/components...
Git.
I'd check out the previous entrants bikes before looking at bikes, people use all sorts of things and I do think that the typical audax bike is now just tradition and those sort of long distance rides can be done on pretty much anything taking road condition into account, if you plan a route that is mostly sealed surface road stuff, why limit yourself. Most entrants appear to have a blog with bike pictures.
I also think the development of on-bike storage solutions has improved such that rack mounts possibly arent necessary for these events, as mtbs dont have rack mounts, there is a whole market out there for them to go on bikepacking adventures. check out https://www.alpkit.com/bikepacking
Check out a blog by a guy called Josh Ibbett, this was his set up for one long distance ride from Slovenia to Brighton... i'm not necessarily recommending a carbon monster bike like this, just saying that its not necessarily essential that you have something that looks like the archetypal touring spec bike with racks and things.
This is a really good thread for inspiration/kit ideas too. I'd look at what sort of kit you want to take then choose the bike based on the kit and luggage. If you can fit everything you need in the alpkit bags, why go for something with rack mounts at all?
STW bikepacking link
I'd check out the previous entrants bikes before looking at bikes, people use all sorts of things and I do think that the typical audax bike is now just tradition and those sort of long distance rides can be done on pretty much anything taking road condition into account, if you plan a route that is mostly sealed surface road stuff, why limit yourself. Most entrants appear to have a blog with bike pictures.
I also think the development of on-bike storage solutions has improved such that rack mounts possibly arent necessary for these events, as mtbs dont have rack mounts, there is a whole market out there for them to go on bikepacking adventures. check out https://www.alpkit.com/bikepacking
Check out a blog by a guy called Josh Ibbett, this was his set up for one long distance ride from Slovenia to Brighton... i'm not necessarily recommending a carbon monster bike like this, just saying that its not necessarily essential that you have something that looks like the archetypal touring spec bike with racks and things.
This is a really good thread for inspiration/kit ideas too. I'd look at what sort of kit you want to take then choose the bike based on the kit and luggage. If you can fit everything you need in the alpkit bags, why go for something with rack mounts at all?
STW bikepacking link
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 8th July 15:38
TwistingMyMelon said:
Have you done many 200 mile rides back to back? That would be my first worry, not so much the fitness, more the punishment from being on a bike so long.
I haven't done any yet. Longest rides to date have been a few 200km rides, with some of those back to back. I coped perfectly well on those and I plan to up the distances over the next 12 months to fine tune position etc. Gruffy said:
TwistingMyMelon said:
Have you done many 200 mile rides back to back? That would be my first worry, not so much the fitness, more the punishment from being on a bike so long.
I haven't done any yet. Longest rides to date have been a few 200km rides, with some of those back to back. I coped perfectly well on those and I plan to up the distances over the next 12 months to fine tune position etc. I'd be wary of Metal Mudguards, as per Richards post, I had them standard fit on my bike, they were great, but they rattled on less than smooth roads, let alone dirt tracks. Then the catch broke, the guard jammed in my wheel threw me off and disfigured my face.... badly! I'd never fit metal guards again, only plastic, in case it happens again they will snap rather than jam the wheel, I was a complete mess.
If you are on facebook, then the Audax group has loads of great advice, as do the forums
The training will be a bit time consuming, hope your pass covers that! And you'll have to eat TONNES.
My 375km t'other day/night was 15 hrs moving (avg 24.7kph) + about 6 hours breaks, so comfortable touring pace. And flat. Felt fine afterwards, really not an ache or owt nor the next morning, even after the long drive home. I'd expect to want to put 20% more effort in on any kind of race.
Anyway, got on the bike the next day. Nothing there! Totally fatigued.
My 375km t'other day/night was 15 hrs moving (avg 24.7kph) + about 6 hours breaks, so comfortable touring pace. And flat. Felt fine afterwards, really not an ache or owt nor the next morning, even after the long drive home. I'd expect to want to put 20% more effort in on any kind of race.
Anyway, got on the bike the next day. Nothing there! Totally fatigued.
I may be a bit bullish but I'm hoping I can manage several 400km days during the ride.
The mental part is not entirely new to me. I also ski-tour and have had multi-day routes in the very worst kind of weather. The Tour de PH in May was in atrocious weather too. 24 hour kart racing etc. Mentally I think I'm the sort of odd personality that does OK. The hard part will be pacing. I don't need to rest much, even at fast speeds, and I've learnt in my other endeavours that endurance events are mostly about the moments in between racing. It will take serious discipline to wind the effort level back to a sustainable level for the TCR though.
I've no delusions about winning. As it stands I think I'd be targeting a 10-day time, but we'll see what the 2016 route looks like when it's published.
The mental part is not entirely new to me. I also ski-tour and have had multi-day routes in the very worst kind of weather. The Tour de PH in May was in atrocious weather too. 24 hour kart racing etc. Mentally I think I'm the sort of odd personality that does OK. The hard part will be pacing. I don't need to rest much, even at fast speeds, and I've learnt in my other endeavours that endurance events are mostly about the moments in between racing. It will take serious discipline to wind the effort level back to a sustainable level for the TCR though.
I've no delusions about winning. As it stands I think I'd be targeting a 10-day time, but we'll see what the 2016 route looks like when it's published.
You git and chapeau sir in equal measure!! Having watched a few vids and spoken to someone who was due to do this years event it looks like a very good laugh but tough as hell!!
I'd seek advice from people who have finished it as well as looking at this years for bike inspiration. Steel is a good call as it can be welded anywhere.
If you are on Twitter try @gofastergabby who did last years event. Finishers will have useful insight into what to take and what to leave.
I'd seek advice from people who have finished it as well as looking at this years for bike inspiration. Steel is a good call as it can be welded anywhere.
If you are on Twitter try @gofastergabby who did last years event. Finishers will have useful insight into what to take and what to leave.
richardxjr said:
The training will be a bit time consuming, hope your pass covers that!
Shhh, I'll deal with that later. A bigger problem is she doesn't realise it means another bike.richardxjr said:
And you'll have to eat TONNES.
It's a chore but I've been there before so it's at least a chore I'm familiar with. I may need to regain the iron stomach of my youth though as you can't afford the time to be too choosy on the race.richardxjr said:
I agree with the pace thing for you Gruffy 
Expect you're planning riding a few meaty audaxes, that's where you'll learn that sort of discipline.
I was originally targeting LEL in 2017 and TCR in 2018 but I recognise that looming fatherhood means I need to accelerate things. 200s feel quite comfortable already. Quite fancy a 300 and 400 as soon as possible - I reckon there are some lessons to be learned at that distance. I suspect 600s will be the point where the Aeroad is no longer suitable and will teach me what I should pack and what I can afford to leave. I can extrapolate from there. Expect you're planning riding a few meaty audaxes, that's where you'll learn that sort of discipline.
Think I'd be working towards something like a solo LeJog in 5 days attempt around Easter. The solo & unsupported part of the TCR needs plenty preparation of course.
What a fantastic excuse for trying and buying so much new shiny stuff! I'd get that new frame bit sorted pretty quick though. Steel for sure, guard and rack mounts as you say, plenty clearance, Brooks, USB dynamo, Avid BB7s, strong serviceable wheelset, it's going to be a long list!
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/genesis-to...
What a fantastic excuse for trying and buying so much new shiny stuff! I'd get that new frame bit sorted pretty quick though. Steel for sure, guard and rack mounts as you say, plenty clearance, Brooks, USB dynamo, Avid BB7s, strong serviceable wheelset, it's going to be a long list!
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/genesis-to...
Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 9th July 10:03
This may be my downfall. At best I can probably only squeeze in a 3-day weekend audax before the race. Day passes are rare enough. Multi-day passes are like hen's teeth. I'm frankly amazed she's agreed to the TCR, but I think it's a bargaining tool in the quest for kids.
With luck I'll be able to get the frame as winter arrives. I don't fancy subjecting the Canyon to a full winter anyway.
With luck I'll be able to get the frame as winter arrives. I don't fancy subjecting the Canyon to a full winter anyway.
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