Trans-America Bike Race
Discussion
Gruffy said:
I don’t want to jinx it but I think my body has been teased out of recovery mode and back into race mode. I’m switching to night riding to escape the insane heat of the day. It’s still mid-20s and just as humid but better than high-30s!
What an idiot. Totally jinxed it. Clearly just the caffeine talking!The fatigue and tiredness is next level. During the first week I barely even yawned on 3-4 hours sleep. Didn’t seem to need much sleep during the first days in jackson either. Then I was sleeping 10 hours a day until I got rolling again. Full recovery mode.
It may be the heat but I’m massively more tired after 3 relatively small days back than I was at the end of a week of proper racing. I guess it makes sense. I wouldn’t choose to race 1400 miles in a week, rest for another and then do it all again.
Yesterday was a short day, made shorter by frustrating mechanicals. This morning I slept through my alarm and missed the cooler hours of the morning. It’s 10:30 now and already hot as balls. The course ahead is spiky as hell, with 200-400m climbs all day. Temps have been 10-15F higher than typical since Missouri and the heat just bear hugs you on the climbs. Your kit is always wet. Always soaked through with sweat. The descents are brief respites where it feels, for just a moment, like it’s only 25-30C.
The big show I was hoping to put on simply isn’t happening. This is just getting it done now.
Gruffy said:
What an idiot. Totally jinxed it. Clearly just the caffeine talking!
The fatigue and tiredness is next level. During the first week I barely even yawned on 3-4 hours sleep. Didn’t seem to need much sleep during the first days in jackson either. Then I was sleeping 10 hours a day until I got rolling again. Full recovery mode.
It may be the heat but I’m massively more tired after 3 relatively small days back than I was at the end of a week of proper racing. I guess it makes sense. I wouldn’t choose to race 1400 miles in a week, rest for another and then do it all again.
Yesterday was a short day, made shorter by frustrating mechanicals. This morning I slept through my alarm and missed the cooler hours of the morning. It’s 10:30 now and already hot as balls. The course ahead is spiky as hell, with 200-400m climbs all day. Temps have been 10-15F higher than typical since Missouri and the heat just bear hugs you on the climbs. Your kit is always wet. Always soaked through with sweat. The descents are brief respites where it feels, for just a moment, like it’s only 25-30C.
might be the heat but more likely the body, there's a reason grand tour GC guys find back to backs hard and they get 5-6 week recovery not 5-6 days
The big show I was hoping to put on simply isn’t happening. This is just getting it done now.
The fatigue and tiredness is next level. During the first week I barely even yawned on 3-4 hours sleep. Didn’t seem to need much sleep during the first days in jackson either. Then I was sleeping 10 hours a day until I got rolling again. Full recovery mode.
It may be the heat but I’m massively more tired after 3 relatively small days back than I was at the end of a week of proper racing. I guess it makes sense. I wouldn’t choose to race 1400 miles in a week, rest for another and then do it all again.
Yesterday was a short day, made shorter by frustrating mechanicals. This morning I slept through my alarm and missed the cooler hours of the morning. It’s 10:30 now and already hot as balls. The course ahead is spiky as hell, with 200-400m climbs all day. Temps have been 10-15F higher than typical since Missouri and the heat just bear hugs you on the climbs. Your kit is always wet. Always soaked through with sweat. The descents are brief respites where it feels, for just a moment, like it’s only 25-30C.
might be the heat but more likely the body, there's a reason grand tour GC guys find back to backs hard and they get 5-6 week recovery not 5-6 days
The big show I was hoping to put on simply isn’t happening. This is just getting it done now.
Just reminding people of the link should they want to donate!
http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/my-arse-hurt...
http://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/my-arse-hurt...
I'm sad to share the news that John Egbers, one of four riders hit by cars during the race, has succumbed to his injuries and died yesterday. He was struck from behind by a 'distracted driver'. It was horrific enough to hear that he was paralysed but his condition deteriorated over the subsequent three weeks and his body gradually lost the fight. His heart stopped yesterday and he couldn't be revived. I met him on the road a couple of times and was blown away by his energy and strength. He did not go easily. RIP John.
I have been guilty of using of my phone at the wheel. I will think of John and his poor family if I'm ever tempted again. Hopefully anybody reading this will too.
If anybody is moved to support his family they will benefit from the GoFundMe page set up to help with his medical costs https://www.gofundme.com/john-egbers-medical-expen... but I know they'll also be grateful for any efforts that help to shift attitudes towards using phones while driving, that might prevent similar tragedies.
I have been guilty of using of my phone at the wheel. I will think of John and his poor family if I'm ever tempted again. Hopefully anybody reading this will too.
If anybody is moved to support his family they will benefit from the GoFundMe page set up to help with his medical costs https://www.gofundme.com/john-egbers-medical-expen... but I know they'll also be grateful for any efforts that help to shift attitudes towards using phones while driving, that might prevent similar tragedies.
I met one of your compatriots a couple of weeks ago. He was doing it on behalf of the Firefighters Fund, or something similar.
Nice chap, on a specialised with Zertz inserts. (I didn't get a chance to have a proper look, it was at the firestation open day, and the boy wanted to sit in a fire engine.)
Nice chap, on a specialised with Zertz inserts. (I didn't get a chance to have a proper look, it was at the firestation open day, and the boy wanted to sit in a fire engine.)
Cheers Simon. Yeah, I've been Gruffy here for so long that I can't bring myself to change it.
I'll be following up the feature with state-by-state blog entries at some point but it takes me a while to find the time for those. There's a set of daily 'story highlights' at the top of my Instagram profile - https://www.instagram.com/darren_franks/ - that take you a bit deeper. Or 'follow' the blog - http://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/ - to get a heads-up when the Trans Am blog entries start appearing.
I'll be following up the feature with state-by-state blog entries at some point but it takes me a while to find the time for those. There's a set of daily 'story highlights' at the top of my Instagram profile - https://www.instagram.com/darren_franks/ - that take you a bit deeper. Or 'follow' the blog - http://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/ - to get a heads-up when the Trans Am blog entries start appearing.
The blog write-up has started. I'm trying a slightly different format from previous race write-ups, figuring that if I tried to do daily entries I'd never get to finish it. So we're going state-by-state, starting with the first 1,000km of the race, through Oregon.
Trans Am Bike Race blog - Oregon
I'll try to remember to post up here when there are updates but you can also 'follow' the blog itself.
Trans Am Bike Race blog - Oregon
I'll try to remember to post up here when there are updates but you can also 'follow' the blog itself.
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