Transcontinental Race

Author
Discussion

ALawson

7,814 posts

250 months

Thursday 7th July 2016
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Well a dab of SG and I pumped the tyre up to 115psi, 75km 2hr 15 later and it had dropped to 80psi.

48hrs later still at 80, Malcolm reckons too much pressure will push the sealed "plug" out the tyre or it will find its equilibrium! I bought some patches to do the inside of the tyre but it seems ok to me. Cannot hear much sealant splashing around so will top up this weekend.

New chain today, bloody hell it makes a difference.

I found with the IRC tyres they sealed easily, just needed to roll them around to get sealant around the edges of the tyres.

K50 DEL

9,227 posts

227 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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So, with a few days to go before the start of this years epic, do we have any TCR riders amongst us?

Usget

5,426 posts

210 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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okgo's mate James Hayden is among the favourites I think. Worth a follow on Twitter, he seems like a nice bloke.

Celtic Dragon

3,161 posts

234 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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I don't think we have any TCR entrants this year, but I'm very interested to see how Emily Chappell and Shu Pillinger get on. Obviously Emily finished last year and is no stranger to this sort of thing (and openly said she can do better), however this will be Shu's first attempt, but is an out and out confirmed racer. The difference between the two, is Shu usually has a backup crew, as she is Britain's only female Solo RAAM finisher.

okgo

37,859 posts

197 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Usget said:
okgo's mate James Hayden is among the favourites I think. Worth a follow on Twitter, he seems like a nice bloke.
He's as strong as I have known recently. Also just spent a month at the top of a mountain training so should be going well...

K50 DEL

9,227 posts

227 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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okgo said:
Usget said:
okgo's mate James Hayden is among the favourites I think. Worth a follow on Twitter, he seems like a nice bloke.
He's as strong as I have known recently. Also just spent a month at the top of a mountain training so should be going well...
I followed James and Emily last year and Rishi as well, looking forward to dot watching again this year, and if Darren should read this...... shouldn't you be writing day 10?? lol

stripy7

806 posts

186 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Celtic Dragon said:
I don't think we have any TCR entrants this year, but I'm very interested to see how Emily Chappell and Shu Pillinger get on. Obviously Emily finished last year and is no stranger to this sort of thing (and openly said she can do better), however this will be Shu's first attempt, but is an out and out confirmed racer. The difference between the two, is Shu usually has a backup crew, as she is Britain's only female Solo RAAM finisher.
Yes Shu isnt great unsupported, she bombed out of PBP.

Its a shame Janie Hayes, 3rd in Trans Am this year, isn't racing or even Lael Wilcock (1st in Trans Am overall 2016, and female record holder for Tour Divide).

Celtic Dragon

3,161 posts

234 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Getting Lael to race in Europe would require some serious sponsorship in order to do so, for her it would be hideously expensive . I'd love to see what she could do with the TCR.

SixPotBelly

1,922 posts

219 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Celtic Dragon said:
Getting Lael to race in Europe would require some serious sponsorship in order to do so, for her it would be hideously expensive . I'd love to see what she could do with the TCR.
I dunno about needing serious sponsorship, CD. After all, one of the big ups to unsupported racing is there's no support crew to cover expenses on. You have to get yourself to the start and home from the finish, sure, but once you're there you're there, and the cost of feeding yourself in Europe can't be too dissimilar to the cost in the US. And it's not like a round trip air fare from the US to Europe is particularly expensive, certainly not compared to other routes.

snobetter

1,145 posts

145 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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Any MBUK readers from the 90's might be interested that Jo Burt (mint sauce) is doing it this year,

Celtic Dragon

3,161 posts

234 months

Tuesday 25th July 2017
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SixPotBelly said:
I dunno about needing serious sponsorship, CD. After all, one of the big ups to unsupported racing is there's no support crew to cover expenses on. You have to get yourself to the start and home from the finish, sure, but once you're there you're there, and the cost of feeding yourself in Europe can't be too dissimilar to the cost in the US. And it's not like a round trip air fare from the US to Europe is particularly expensive, certainly not compared to other routes.
I was more thinking along the lines of the free cash to do something like this. One of the blogs I read on her stated she's a part time fire fighter, so the salary difference is probably quite a big one, not to mention she's Alaskan. So travel differences come into play.

Gruffy

Original Poster:

7,212 posts

258 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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K50 DEL said:
I followed James and Emily last year and Rishi as well, looking forward to dot watching again this year, and if Darren should read this...... shouldn't you be writing day 10?? lol
I'm feeling the pressure and very keen to finish my TCR write-ups. I'll continue writing them but may hold off actually posting them while this year's race is still live. I'll be racing to Edinburgh and back this weekend so may not get to them for a few more days yet.

James would have to be the favourite for the race now that it seems Kristof isn't racing. That's a real shame as I was looking forward to watching that race play out. I've lots of friends to watch this year and expect good things from Matt Falconer and Andy Salnow. There's almost certainly going to be some fast unknowns in the field too. It looks like a beautiful course this year and I'm looking forward to the stories it produces. If life doesn't get in the way I intend to shoot for another entry in 2018, aiming high.

idiotgap

2,112 posts

132 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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snobetter said:
Any MBUK readers from the 90's might be interested that Jo Burt (mint sauce) is doing it this year,
My bike pictured yesterday

Zippee

13,442 posts

233 months

Thursday 27th July 2017
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idiotgap said:
snobetter said:
Any MBUK readers from the 90's might be interested that Jo Burt (mint sauce) is doing it this year,
My bike pictured yesterday
Lets hope that Summer is there to help him along smile

snobetter

1,145 posts

145 months

Friday 28th July 2017
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What's the best way to follow the race, official site of course, anywhere else, youtube channels etc? Be nice to see the depart tonight.

Celtic Dragon

3,161 posts

234 months

Friday 28th July 2017
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Facebook and other social media outlets for both the official race account and riders. social media is banned on the works machines so can't post links

Trackleaders for the dots of course

http://trackleaders.com/transconrace17

aspender

1,305 posts

264 months

Saturday 29th July 2017
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Unfortunately there has been a fatality within the first 24 hours. Rider 172 Frank Simmons involved in an RTA in Belgium where the driver fled the scene.

Must be the worst nightmares of the organising team come true so early on given how they've pulled together to keep the event on after the death of Mike Hall. I've a good mate racing this year and will be watching his dot even more now frown

anonymous-user

53 months

Sunday 30th July 2017
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Very tragic news, thoughts with Frank's family & friends

K50 DEL

9,227 posts

227 months

Monday 31st July 2017
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I hear the hit and run driver has now handed himself in to Belgian police....
Wishing a safe journey to all who are competing.

okgo

37,859 posts

197 months

Saturday 5th August 2017
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Hard to see passed James winning this now. Seems his approach was good this year.