whose the loon signed up for the transcontinental race?

[Gruffy]

I was given a 9L Apidura saddle pack for the Adventure Stories prize but I've not had a chance to use it yet. It seems well put together and the fact that it's a dry bag would be a real bonus in some situations (like during my race). The webbing could be handy too but for my particular race setup there are too many bells and whistles. My 3L saddle pack was as small as I dared to go and it did stand out. Most riders used a larger saddle pack.

The popularity of the Apidura kit could stem from their sponsorship of the race. It could also be enjoying the snowball effect of being the 'obvious' choice for people like me, who come to ultra-distance with a lot to learn and shortcut by doing what previous racers have done. There are so many TCR riders using Apidura that it feels like a safe bet.

I can't remember the specific complaint now but I do remember one rider grumbling to me about the saddle pack. It might've been 'packing faff' but please don't quote me on it.

[adamwri]

Gruffy said:

I was given a 9L Apidura saddle pack for the Adventure Stories prize but I've not had a chance to use it yet. It seems well put together and the fact that it's a dry bag would be a real bonus in some situations (like during my race). The webbing could be handy too but for my particular race setup there are too many bells and whistles. My 3L saddle pack was as small as I dared to go and it did stand out. Most riders used a larger saddle pack.

The popularity of the Apidura kit could stem from their sponsorship of the race. It could also be enjoying the snowball effect of being the 'obvious' choice for people like me, who come to ultra-distance with a lot to learn and shortcut by doing what previous racers have done. There are so many TCR riders using Apidura that it feels like a safe bet.

I can't remember the specific complaint now but I do remember one rider grumbling to me about the saddle pack. It might've been 'packing faff' but please don't quote me on it.

Good to hear, thanks. I went Apidura for ease, despite seeing your Alpkit stuff. They seem to be stocked intermittently, whereas the Apidura stuff I wanted was available. Hopefully no such faff myself as have a 300km day scheduled in as a dry run pretty soon.

[Gruffy]

Had to share this beautiful moment from my slow Boris bike ride last night. Apparently I'm a 'fair-weather cyclist'
https://twitter.com/darrenfranks/status/7683760252...

[williredale]

Gruffy said:

Had to share this beautiful moment from my slow Boris bike ride last night. Apparently I'm a 'fair-weather cyclist'
https://twitter.com/darrenfranks/status/7683760252...

It was a lovely evening for a ride though.

[Gruffy]

I think it's going to take longer to write about riding to Turkey than it did to actually ride to Turkey. Day 1, here http://wp.me/p6RY6c-1U3

[ALawson]

Darren did you keep a video diary, hand notes, notes via phone or are you going to piece it together from tweets you did, historical tracking data and photos? I can imagine some days merge into one considering the Vitamins, lack of sleep and general fatigue.

[SoliD]

Gruffy said:

Had to share this beautiful moment from my slow Boris bike ride last night. Apparently I'm a 'fair-weather cyclist'
https://twitter.com/darrenfranks/status/7683760252...

If only you had a camera to film this moment.

[tr7v8]

Great write up.

[Gruffy]

ALawson said:

Darren did you keep a video diary, hand notes, notes via phone or are you going to piece it together from tweets you did, historical tracking data and photos? I can imagine some days merge into one considering the Vitamins, lack of sleep and general fatigue.

I thought about keeping notes but it's just too impractical. Instead I take photos. They're enough to trigger the memories and bring a richer recollection than just words alone. Then I have my Twitter history and GPS files to help. I'm sure I'll be missing some stories but there's so many to tell that a little bit of forgetful auto-editing probably isn't a bad thing.

[omgus]

williredale said:

Gruffy said:

Had to share this beautiful moment from my slow Boris bike ride last night. Apparently I'm a 'fair-weather cyclist'
https://twitter.com/darrenfranks/status/7683760252...

It was a lovely evening for a ride though.

That is great.

[Gruffy]

It's odd what strikes a chord. Having just raced across Europe, the fair-weather tweet has proved to be one of the most popular things I've ever posted. If I'd have been quicker to respond it would've apparently become an article on road.cc too.

Anyway, here's Day 2 of the blog write-up, which includes what might be the funniest line I've ever written. http://wp.me/p6RY6c-1Ze

[astroarcadia]

Gruffy said:

It's odd what strikes a chord. Having just raced across Europe, the fair-weather tweet has proved to be one of the most popular things I've ever posted. If I'd have been quicker to respond it would've apparently become an article on road.cc too.

Anyway, here's Day 2 of the blog write-up, which includes what might be the funniest line I've ever written. http://wp.me/p6RY6c-1Ze

Enjoying the write up - thank you.

[Gruffy]

Day 3 https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2016/... out of France and up into the high mountains of the Swiss Alps.

[esuuv]

Great write up as ever - having read your blog i'm tempted to sign up for a Valleycat, although I think the idea appeals more than the actual ride would!!

[Marcellus]

a great read Darren!

[Gruffy]

esuuv said:

Great write up as ever - having read your blog i'm tempted to sign up for a Valleycat, although I think the idea appeals more than the actual ride would!!

You'd be surprised. I've not done a Valleycat but if my achilles weren't still broken I would be all over it. It's said to be much more of a social thing than anything racy. I bet it's awesome fun. The camaraderie on the TCR was phenomenal and that was a race. It's basically some good people doing cool things on bikes in awesome places.

[Gruffy]

Apologies for the lull in updates. I've been swamped with selling, buying, renting and planning. But I'm back on the case and here's Day 4's write-up, covering roads which might be familiar to many PHers. To my mind this is where it starts to get interesting, where things start to go wrong.

https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2016/...

[K50 DEL]

Great write up for day 4 Darren, don't leave it so long before day 5 please lol

[Marcellus]

Another goodie Darren,.

(btw the beep, beep, boop gates are the continuation of the electic fences aren't they? So they can keep cattle in but let cars/bikes through?)

[TSCfree]

Firstly well done Gruffy. I didn't follow the race but the excellent write up is proving more than inspirational helping plant my own adventure seed.