Trans-America Bike Race

[Marcellus]

Darren, you're a f@@king loon, I fear some sleepless nights just us dot watchers given the time difference...... are you doing this one for Charidee ? if so have you changed your notification chime of donations

[Gruffy]

Yeah, I am now a proper official ambassador for Cancer Research UK. I'll be putting up a fresh JustGiving page shortly, aiming to smash the amazing amount we raised two years ago. Sadly the donation notification sound can't be changed and will still sound like bolts falling off the bike.

[pidsy]

As someone who isn’t really into cycling I can hold my hands up and say that I admire what you are doing.

I will be watching and reading with interest!

Awesome achievement at the end!

[jrb43]

Gruffy said:

It’s Klymit’s Inertia X-Lite. I considered going for the half frame but it’s worth going full length to elevate and insulate your legs. The skeletal nature also means your sleeping bag (or my half bag and jacket) lofts into the spaces instead of just compressing underneath you.

Thank you - that's very helpful indeed.

[anonymous-user]

Gruffy said:

Jacobyte, the Di2 has a couple of benefits. Ulnar palsy (loss of feeling and strength in the hands and fingers) is almost guaranteed in ultra-racing and electronic shifting means I can still shift easily when that sets in. It also allows me to have shifters on the aero extensions, so I can stay in an aero position for longer. In theory the Di2 should only need recharging 3-4 times during the race but I'll likely recharge it every 3-4 days regardless. I can do that off a battery pack or, in an emergency, directly from my dynamo. I plan to use hotels at least every 3-4 days anyway.

BoRED S2upid, there's nothing waiting for us at the finish point. No party. There's a soft-limit of 30 days purely down to tracker rental agreements, but I hope to be much quicker than that.

Don't worry, I have plenty of Sudocrem, Assos chamois cream, ReSkin patches and some new swear words in the vocabulary. I've still not cracked the whole saddle thing yet. As I type this I'm heading off to collect an SMP test saddle. 3 weeks to go and I'm trying new saddles

Interested to hear your thoughts on the SMP saddle. I use one and I know that Mark Beaumont does too (both of us on the Pro). I also know E65Ross here uses one (Stratos from memory). If you get the correct one for your sit bone measurements (they make too many variants imo), it might just do the job for you.

[Jacobyte]

Gruffy said:

Jacobyte, the Di2 has a couple of benefits. Ulnar palsy (loss of feeling and strength in the hands and fingers) is almost guaranteed in ultra-racing and electronic shifting means I can still shift easily when that sets in. It also allows me to have shifters on the aero extensions, so I can stay in an aero position for longer. In theory the Di2 should only need recharging 3-4 times during the race but I'll likely recharge it every 3-4 days regardless. I can do that off a battery pack or, in an emergency, directly from my dynamo. I plan to use hotels at least every 3-4 days anyway.

Thanks, makes perfect sense then, particularly with the ability to place shifter buttons right where you want them.

Be careful in those hotels, you might end up looking too clean.

[R1gtr]

Stupeo said:

Good luck Gruffy. I will be dot watching and stalking you on social media.

Me too, just added you on Instagram.
I would love the balls (and fitness) to attempt something like this.
Best of luck.

[stripy7]

Good luck. I did this a couple of years ago, the isolation can be tough, particularly as mobile reception is pretty bad outside of towns. The section near Lolo Pass dosent even have a landline for a hundred miles.

Although as a consequence people will look out for you. I lost count of the times I was sleeping by the side of the road and woken by passing strangers asking if I was ok.

Also Americans really “get” this event since cross country travel is part of their national psyche. When you talk to people on the route you see their eyes light up at the enormity of what you are doing.

Edited by stripy7 on Saturday 12th May 14:15

[Max5476]

Gruffy said:

If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm

What happened at the end! Did you make it to the party? Your blog has made an excellent read over an afternoon, but it finished on Day 13, I need to know what happened at the end.

Ultradistance races sound absolutely mad, I don't think I would be able to complete one, I like comfy beds and showers to much, let alone all the cycling.

[BoRED S2upid]

Max5476 said:

Gruffy said:

If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm

What happened at the end! Did you make it to the party? Your blog has made an excellent read over an afternoon, but it finished on Day 13, I need to know what happened at the end.

Ultradistance races sound absolutely mad, I don't think I would be able to complete one, I like comfy beds and showers to much, let alone all the cycling.

Pretty sure he did he MTFU took a st load of pain killers made the party then came home and had a knee op. Or did I make that up? It was damn impressive.

[CoolC]

BoRED S2upid said:

Max5476 said:

Gruffy said:

If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm

What happened at the end! Did you make it to the party? Your blog has made an excellent read over an afternoon, but it finished on Day 13, I need to know what happened at the end.

Ultradistance races sound absolutely mad, I don't think I would be able to complete one, I like comfy beds and showers to much, let alone all the cycling.

Pretty sure he did he MTFU took a st load of pain killers made the party then came home and had a knee op. Or did I make that up? It was damn impressive.

Yes, he made the party.

From a WhatsApp chat -
"Gave everything for the Khilitbar ferry. Blagged my way on FOC. Rode into ramp as it was pulling away. Pulled into port just after the two pairs. Rode around one pair and finished in between them both. All given same time. Have that!!!!"

[Gruffy]

Max5476 said:

What happened at the end! Did you make it to the party? Your blog has made an excellent read over an afternoon, but it finished on Day 13, I need to know what happened at the end.

I have one more entry to write, which I'm hoping to do this week. I made the party but it was quite a day and I can't wait to write it.

[Gruffy]

stripy7 said:

Good luck. I did this a couple of years ago, the isolation can be tough, particularly as mobile reception is pretty bad outside of towns. The section near Lolo Pass dosent even have a landline for a hundred miles.

Although as a consequence people will look out for you. I lost count of the times I was sleeping by the side of the road and woken by passing strangers asking if I was ok.

Also Americans really “get” this event since cross country travel is part of their national psyche. When you talk to people on the route you see their eyes light up at the enormity of what you are doing.

It'll be interesting comparing it with the TCR. That's so varied - which has it's own challenges - but Europe is pretty dense so you're never struggling for resources. Except France (at the weekend) and Switzerland (national holiday).

I think I'm fine with isolation, though this will be an extra week beyond the TCR, so I guess that's unknown territory. That said, I did hit Twitter pretty hard during the TCR and it sounds like that won't be possible during long stretches. I've a handful of good audiobooks downloaded and will just have to tap out the miles on those days. Fortunately I don't drink much water but I've added a third bottle all the same and I'm considering adding a stem cell food bag in front of the head tube, if I can mount it cleanly. I should be capable of bridging the biggest gap, which I understand is 175 miles.

Edited by Gruffy on Sunday 13th May 21:30

[stripy7]

I don’t remember it being anywhere as long as 175 Miles between watering points- even TD wasn’t that bad. But it will be hot and you will need a massive amount of fluids - consider taking a bladder.
Don’t stress about saddles (although I did exactly the same).

[Gruffy]

One of the racers (not a veteran) has put together a stage profile for each state and reckons Grangeville to Lolo (other side of the pass) has limited services for a 176 mile stretch in Idaho. Hopefully that's pessimistic but I've read about using garden taps and possibly packing water purification tabs. I figure I can pick up a water bladder en route if it becomes necessary.

I rode LEL on this saddle and don't remember it being too bad. 400km last weekend, with the shorts I plan to wear, left me a bit shredded, hence the sudden panic. It's still the default choice but I want to do everything I can to be as confident as possible.

[Fluffsri]

Ive not heard of your event but I shall be following! I had the pleasure of being a member of support crew in 2002 for the RAF/BAE systems team that won the RAAM that year. The 4 riders were machines, 3000 miles in 6 days and at the half way point we dropped to 3 riders due to a broken arm. Anyway the solo guys are nuts, lots of them knock it out in 9 to10 days plus.

All the best Gruffy, if youre going through the mountains watch for the Coyotes lol. We had one chase a rider!!

[Gruffy]

I don't know if I could handle the supported stuff like RAAM. Going unsupported adds so much variety and adventure which breaks up the monotony. I suspect, to me, that would feel like a marathon turbo session.

Rather than the coyotes I'm a bit more concerned with not disturbing rattlesnakes while setting up my roadside bivvies or attracting bears with my breakfast stash.

[Fluffsri]

Gruffy said:

I don't know if I could handle the supported stuff like RAAM. Going unsupported adds so much variety and adventure which breaks up the monotony. I suspect, to me, that would feel like a marathon turbo session.

Rather than the coyotes I'm a bit more concerned with not disturbing rattlesnakes while setting up my roadside bivvies or attracting bears with my breakfast stash.

Ref Rattlesnakes, on the RAAM we only encountered one and our photog found it, never seen him run so fast lol. Did have some good advice off an old boy though, when walking in Rattlesnake country never be the 3rd person! 1st wakes it, 2nd piss.es it off and third gets it! LOL

[Harpoon]

Gruffy said:

If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm

Thanks for the link - I read it all during a really boring conference call yesterday, an excellent read.

Did my longest ever road ride last Saturday (185km), so nothing but respect for the ability to churn out the distance on the longest days (especially when your backside is in tatters).

Will certainly be following your new adventure.

[Gruffy]

I'm giving a little presentation in a few hours at BOXPARK Shoreditch, if anybody is in the area. A few stories from the Transcontinental and bit of insight into prep for the Trans Am. It's totally free and I think there's even free beer. There's also talks from other endurance-based Cancer Research ambassadors on ultra-running, rowing and bicycle touring. I'll be there from about 6pm but it kicks off properly at 7.

http://bit.ly/CRUK-challenge-free-tickets (eventbrite)