Trans-America Bike Race
Discussion
After the Transcontinental I figured what I really needed was a longer race, so in 3 weeks time I'll be lining up in Astoria, Oregon, to race 7,000km across the US on the Trans-Am Bike Race. This time round I'll only have one language and currency to deal with. The race crosses the continental divide 9 times, so the temperature swings quite wildly from -6C to +45C. As with the TCR it's non-stop, solo and unsupported.
The current record is 17 days, 8 hours and 58 minutes. I won't be threatening that but I'll be looking for a strong performance, applying everything I've learnt over the past two years. They say you learn more from your mistakes than from your successes, so I've learnt a lot.
The race will be fully tracked again, with each racer carrying a GPS tracker. I'll post up details of how to follow the action once they're confirmed, but I'm sure it'll be via Trackleaders as usual.
I'm unlikely to be posting here during the race itself ( Instagram and Twitter though) but I'll add some detail to my build-up and of course come back after the race to add more colour. In the meantime here's a quick look at the kit I'll be using, because who doesn't love geeking out over gear?
If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm
The current record is 17 days, 8 hours and 58 minutes. I won't be threatening that but I'll be looking for a strong performance, applying everything I've learnt over the past two years. They say you learn more from your mistakes than from your successes, so I've learnt a lot.
The race will be fully tracked again, with each racer carrying a GPS tracker. I'll post up details of how to follow the action once they're confirmed, but I'm sure it'll be via Trackleaders as usual.
I'm unlikely to be posting here during the race itself ( Instagram and Twitter though) but I'll add some detail to my build-up and of course come back after the race to add more colour. In the meantime here's a quick look at the kit I'll be using, because who doesn't love geeking out over gear?
If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm
Lufbramatt, that may have been the RAAM (Race Across America) you read about. That's got a long history but it's slightly different from the Trans Am Bike Race (TABR). Their course is 'only' 4,800km and they use full support crews. We're not riding quite as quickly but TABR is 7,000km and strictly unsupported. The lines are blurred but I think of RAAM as a purer test of an athlete, with unsupported racing testing the athlete and the man/woman.
You can find more details on my specific build at J Laverack's website Transcontinental Jack. I've changed a few components recently as the bike is now 2 years old and has done 'some miles'. There's a bit more detail on the current configuration on this Instagram post, but I'll also try to add a detailed blog entry before the race.
snobetter, I think it's great that these big ultras fit so neatly into the calendar. Giro (May), Trans Am (June), Tour (July), Transcontinental (August), Vuelta (September). I love watching the grand tours but dot-watching the ultras is something else.
JPJPJP, I don't think Kristof has ridden the Trans Am yet. Possibly because 3 weeks in June is tricky for a teacher. It's a shame. I'd love to race against him again now that I've got a bit more experience. He's still the benchmark.
Thanks for the kind words guys.
You can find more details on my specific build at J Laverack's website Transcontinental Jack. I've changed a few components recently as the bike is now 2 years old and has done 'some miles'. There's a bit more detail on the current configuration on this Instagram post, but I'll also try to add a detailed blog entry before the race.
snobetter, I think it's great that these big ultras fit so neatly into the calendar. Giro (May), Trans Am (June), Tour (July), Transcontinental (August), Vuelta (September). I love watching the grand tours but dot-watching the ultras is something else.
JPJPJP, I don't think Kristof has ridden the Trans Am yet. Possibly because 3 weeks in June is tricky for a teacher. It's a shame. I'd love to race against him again now that I've got a bit more experience. He's still the benchmark.
Thanks for the kind words guys.
Happy to answer questions on the build if you've anything specific you're keen to know.
I'm also giving a talk at BOXPARK Shoreditch on Tuesday evening (with the bike) for anybody in London. You need a ticket but it's free and I think there's even free beer. Tickets via Eventbrite.
I'm also giving a talk at BOXPARK Shoreditch on Tuesday evening (with the bike) for anybody in London. You need a ticket but it's free and I think there's even free beer. Tickets via Eventbrite.
jrb43 said:
Who makes that bed roll? I would be very interested.
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. 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
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
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.
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.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).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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
http://bit.ly/CRUK-challenge-free-tickets (eventbrite)
We’ve crossed the first time zone. Now on Mountain Time, UK -7 hours. Crap nights sleep in a post office. 4 hours of broken and uncomfortable rubbish. Went to bed very hungry having climbed the last mountain without food and water. Slow start this morning as I need to refuel for a long day of headwind and mountains.
This is day 10 of the race and my third day in Jackson, 50 miles off route. A replacement bike is expected to arrive tomorrow, whereupon I build it up and point it towards Virginia.
I had ridden the first 1350 miles conservatively and was feeling relatively fresh. My plan being to pace it cautiously and exploit the freshness when the time was right. The race is now over for me. A top 10 finish isn’t possible with 3-4 days out, but I will ride on because I’m nowhere near the targets I set for fundraising for Cancer Research.
I’ve spent the last two days organising a replacement and failing to find something I could blag to keep rolling. The rest of the time has been spent recovering. Proper, focused, professional recovery. I’m eating kale and drinking carrot-turmeric-black pepper FFS!
I have a hard stop for a flight on the 25th, which means I probably won’t make it all the way to Virginia, but I will try. No more caution with the pacing. I will need to doing 230-250 miles per day, but there’s whispers of snow storms in the mountains and tornadoes in the plains, which could scupper those targets.
Whether I make it or not I’ll measure my success by how well the Cancer Research fundraising goes. Www.Justgiving.Com/fundraising/my-arse-hurts
I had ridden the first 1350 miles conservatively and was feeling relatively fresh. My plan being to pace it cautiously and exploit the freshness when the time was right. The race is now over for me. A top 10 finish isn’t possible with 3-4 days out, but I will ride on because I’m nowhere near the targets I set for fundraising for Cancer Research.
I’ve spent the last two days organising a replacement and failing to find something I could blag to keep rolling. The rest of the time has been spent recovering. Proper, focused, professional recovery. I’m eating kale and drinking carrot-turmeric-black pepper FFS!
I have a hard stop for a flight on the 25th, which means I probably won’t make it all the way to Virginia, but I will try. No more caution with the pacing. I will need to doing 230-250 miles per day, but there’s whispers of snow storms in the mountains and tornadoes in the plains, which could scupper those targets.
Whether I make it or not I’ll measure my success by how well the Cancer Research fundraising goes. Www.Justgiving.Com/fundraising/my-arse-hurts
ALawson said:
To be honest they should be paying for a plane ticket as well!
Gruff, I assume the rules allow someone else to build the bike or will you be wielding the spanners and Di2 connectors yourself?
We can make use of commercially available services. The shops are busy though so I’ll do most of it myself, rather than lose time waiting. Gruff, I assume the rules allow someone else to build the bike or will you be wielding the spanners and Di2 connectors yourself?
I can’t back this morning too, before the shop opened. It’s now 11am here and still nothing.
Unfortunately the weather is turning too. After a week of fair weather and favourable winds it’s now headwinds and thunderstorms all through the mountains.
In the last 24 hours we also had two guys hit by vehicles in Kansas, close to where Eric Fishbein was killed last year. One of them was lucky and was discharged from hospital quickly. The other got himself a free heli flight to Wichita trauma room and is in bad shape.
I’m trying to stay positive here but reserves are running low, in every respect.
Unfortunately the weather is turning too. After a week of fair weather and favourable winds it’s now headwinds and thunderstorms all through the mountains.
In the last 24 hours we also had two guys hit by vehicles in Kansas, close to where Eric Fishbein was killed last year. One of them was lucky and was discharged from hospital quickly. The other got himself a free heli flight to Wichita trauma room and is in bad shape.
I’m trying to stay positive here but reserves are running low, in every respect.
I have a bike. I can’t make the full course in the time I have left so I’m mixing it up. Rather than ride to an undefined finish point and then travel to catch my flight home, tomorrow morning I’ll fly to St Louis and will race to the finish from there.
This means I’m scratching from the race, which was sadly inevitable having lost so much time. It also means I avoid riding the Kansas stretch that has seen two riders hit by vehicles in the last 24 hours and also claimed the life of Eric Fishbein in last years race. It seems like the sensible move.
I’m happy to say my dot will still appear on the tracking map and I will be riding as hard as I possibly (safely) can. The goal is to put on the best show possible and raise the maximum amount of money for Cancer Research. That’ll be my victory.
I appreciate all the support you guys have shown so far.
This means I’m scratching from the race, which was sadly inevitable having lost so much time. It also means I avoid riding the Kansas stretch that has seen two riders hit by vehicles in the last 24 hours and also claimed the life of Eric Fishbein in last years race. It seems like the sensible move.
I’m happy to say my dot will still appear on the tracking map and I will be riding as hard as I possibly (safely) can. The goal is to put on the best show possible and raise the maximum amount of money for Cancer Research. That’ll be my victory.
I appreciate all the support you guys have shown so far.
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