whose the loon signed up for the transcontinental race?
Discussion
Should be a good one, I'm keeping a close eye on another mate who was leading it last year till his neck gave out, he's putting in the miles fo sure. Personally can't think of anything I'd rather do less, but its very captivating watching the little dots on the map move closer to the end!
I loved watching the race unfold last year. It's quite addictive. This year each rider is being encouraged to use a unique hashtag so it should be easier to find updates and content across all channels for the rider(s) you want to follow.
The race has attracted some big names. All previous winners, established ultra-distance monsters, more 24 hour champions, RAAM winners etc. James has got to be a contender based on last year's showing. I won't be challenging for the win but I do want to put in a respectable performance.
My first challenge is managing the knees. I managed to flare them up on the London-Bilbao ride when the saddle kept slipping and they've not been happy since. An easy century on Sunday had them grumbling. I have a lumpy itinerary this weekend and then it's all about recovery for the final three weeks. If I can nurse the knees over the Alps then I'll be very happy. All the Ibuprofens!
The race has attracted some big names. All previous winners, established ultra-distance monsters, more 24 hour champions, RAAM winners etc. James has got to be a contender based on last year's showing. I won't be challenging for the win but I do want to put in a respectable performance.
My first challenge is managing the knees. I managed to flare them up on the London-Bilbao ride when the saddle kept slipping and they've not been happy since. An easy century on Sunday had them grumbling. I have a lumpy itinerary this weekend and then it's all about recovery for the final three weeks. If I can nurse the knees over the Alps then I'll be very happy. All the Ibuprofens!
I have to admit i knew nothing about this race/torture trip
I was just reading on Strava
"The Transcontinental Race: A New Frontier
Alain Rumpf "
f
k me Gruffy , You really are nuts 
Really looking forward to you're blog though & please keep us all posted on what's happening when & wherever you can.
Good luck mate
I was just reading on Strava
"The Transcontinental Race: A New Frontier
Alain Rumpf "
f
k me Gruffy , You really are nuts Really looking forward to you're blog though & please keep us all posted on what's happening when & wherever you can.
Good luck mate
My friends all know I'm doing a big ride to Turkey and think I'm crazy. Then they usually ask how many days it lasts for and I have to point out that it's a non-stop race. Then they usually start shaking their head. Then they ask about meeting me en route to give me food and I have to tell them that it's unsupported. Then it's usually a question about hotels, where I point out they're too slow and I'll be sleeping rough. "Oh wow, so you have a tent then?". Once I've explained what a bivvy bag is and that a sleeping bag is too bulky and that I'm only sleeping for a handful of hours anyway they're usually wide-eyed and a little concerned. To be honest though, the ridiculousness of it all is a big part of the appeal.
http://www.jlaverack.co.uk/transcontinental-jack/
If I get a chance I'll aim to post a more detailed kit list to my blog before the race, but that covers the basics.
If I get a chance I'll aim to post a more detailed kit list to my blog before the race, but that covers the basics.
Randomly stumbled across this thread and have just been reading your blog - simply amazing. If I was wearing a hat, I'd take it off to you.
Cancer took my wife far too early and as I'm really not equipped to contemplate anything like this, I've made a little donation to what is a fantastic cause. And I'd encourage anyone else who reads this thread to do the same.
God speed Gruffy - stay safe
Cancer took my wife far too early and as I'm really not equipped to contemplate anything like this, I've made a little donation to what is a fantastic cause. And I'd encourage anyone else who reads this thread to do the same.
God speed Gruffy - stay safe
Edited by pincher on Wednesday 13th July 23:54
k-cancer-socks.htmlGruffy said:
http://www.jlaverack.co.uk/transcontinental-jack/
If I get a chance I'll aim to post a more detailed kit list to my blog before the race, but that covers the basics.
That bike looks great - enjoyed the write up about why certain design decisions were made. If I get a chance I'll aim to post a more detailed kit list to my blog before the race, but that covers the basics.
Good luck - we will be following you on-line.
pincher said:
Randomly stumbled across this thread and have just been reading your blog - simply amazing. If I was wearing a hat, I'd take it off to you.
Cancer took my wife far too early and as I'm really not equipped to contemplate anything like this, I've made a little donation to what is a fantastic cause. And I'd encourage anyone else who reads this thread to do the same.
God speed Gruffy - stay safe
That's not a small donation. That's a whopper. I'm honoured to ride for your wife Cancer took my wife far too early and as I'm really not equipped to contemplate anything like this, I've made a little donation to what is a fantastic cause. And I'd encourage anyone else who reads this thread to do the same.
God speed Gruffy - stay safe
For anybody who hasn't read the blog, I'm raising money for Cancer Research UK and I'm hoping to encourage everybody who enjoys the content to make a small contribution. The sobering reality is that cancer is set to directly affect 50% of us alive today. Statistically speaking that's you or your partner; it's one of your parents; it's half your friends; half your kids. This fight is for all of us so I ask you to think of it not as charity but as an investment in the people you care about. If every reader of the blog were to throw a single £1 into the pot we'd be raising a phenomenal amount and bringing forward the date by which can finally say we've beaten cancer.
I worked out that it'll take just under 1 million pedal strokes to get to Turkey, so I'm hoping to raise at least 1p for each of them, totalling £10,000. When the race gets properly tough it'll be impossible to drop my head when I remember that each pedal stroke might be helping to save a life. Every penny counts so absolutely every contribution is valuable, however modest.
Just Giving page
I think the slipping seat post was largely a result of the Muc-Off carbon grip paste I was using. It seemed to turn quite slimy and slippery, contrary to what I'd have expected. Maybe the titanium seat tube and the carbon seat post isn't appropriate for grip paste? I don't know, but I've cleaned it all off and it seems to be holding OK now.
I just published another blog entry on my final weekend of proper training before the taper begins.
Aiming high in the Dolomites. The Mortirolo, Gavia and Stelvio passes.
Aiming high in the Dolomites. The Mortirolo, Gavia and Stelvio passes.
Gassing Station | Pedal Powered | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff