Author Topic: The Transcontinental Race 2013 (Read 10621 times)

zigzag · « **on:** 01 August, 2013, 02:19:29 pm »

hi fellow yacf cyclists!

as some of you are aware i'm going to start my longest ride/race ever starting on the 3rd of august 8am from westminster bridge (come @7:30 to say hi!

) and finishing in istanbul rumelihisari fortress, turkey. the route will take me through france, belgium, switzerland, italy, austria, slovenia, croatia, serbia, bulgaria and turkey (about 3260km total). this a self-sufficient and unsupported race, so we (~40 riders) will be carrying all our stuff with us, arrange accomodation (or a hedge/ditch...), food etc.
there will be two checkpoints at geraardsbergen belgium and at the top of the stelvio pass (2757m/9045ft) in the alps. race cut-off time - 14days.
you will be able to follow our progress via www.transcontinentalrace.com
or by downloading an app on your smartphone from http://app.bluedot.mobi/
also via facebook and twitter
the bike is almost set up (duct tape ftw!), legs are as ready as they'll ever be, last few days were fairly hectic, but having a day off on friday to have some rest before a big start.
the whole thing looks daunting, but i'll give it my best shot!

(i can see another forumer mkpaa is on the start list as well - see you on the road mate!)

p.s. can i ride it as a dyi x gps audax?

Andrij · « **Reply #1 on:** 01 August, 2013, 02:47:55 pm »

Good luck!

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #2 on:** 01 August, 2013, 02:51:30 pm »

All the best Zigzag! What a challenge! I take it you're not doing it on the folder

I'll be keeping an eye on your progress. Keep safe.

zigzag · « **Reply #3 on:** 01 August, 2013, 02:56:01 pm »

thanks guys, i'm doing it on my usual audax bike (no racks or panniers), but it will look "interesting", at least at the start of the race!

Karla · « **Reply #4 on:** 01 August, 2013, 03:06:16 pm »

Bon route et bon courage! I'm not sorry I decided to focus on the Mersey rather than this, but I still wish I could be joining you - the route looks awesome. Keep us updated when you can.

clarion · « **Reply #5 on:** 01 August, 2013, 03:06:47 pm »

Best of luck!

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #6 on:** 01 August, 2013, 03:50:21 pm »

It sounds like an amazing adventure - that you probably won't have time to enjoy till it's finished!

Good luck and, ooh, westerly winds.

Swarm_Catcher · « **Reply #7 on:** 01 August, 2013, 07:28:22 pm »

Good luck zigzag, I'll keep an eye on your progress.

Mikko, mkpaa OTP and from Finland, is doing this also (he finished LEL today!).

Will be great to follow you both.

PAC · « **Reply #8 on:** 01 August, 2013, 07:50:32 pm »

Sounds like a fantastic challenge....Good luck

Pip · « **Reply #9 on:** 03 August, 2013, 12:09:24 am »

Hi Rimas, I can't make the start, but good luck to you, I'm sure that you will do well

Regards Pip

marcusjb · « **Reply #10 on:** 03 August, 2013, 09:14:25 am »

I had wanted to get to the start, but life is getting in the way.

Best of luck zigzag, it will be an amazing adventure.

Ride safe and ride fast.

DrMekon · « **Reply #11 on:** 03 August, 2013, 12:26:38 pm »

Will be thinking of you - you are great fun to ride with; the other riders are lucky to have the pleasure - hope they can keep up!

Laid Back Rich · « **Reply #12 on:** 03 August, 2013, 03:56:21 pm »

I went to see him off, photo here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/87831957@N00/9427135261/in/set-72157634909203895

more photos later

Von Broad · « **Reply #13 on:** 03 August, 2013, 04:11:55 pm »

Salvatore · « **Reply #14 on:** 03 August, 2013, 09:49:17 pm »

Quote from: twitter

The Transcontinental ‏@transconrace 6m
Flemish local Kristof Allegaert first to CP1 pic.twitter.com/6JYkL3KjZW

Kristof once gave me a waffle.

Laid Back Rich · « **Reply #15 on:** 03 August, 2013, 10:13:08 pm »

more photos from the start here

the glamorous lady in the 2nd shot is Juliana Buhring who holds the women's round the world record; the glamorous lady in the 3rd shot is zigzag's wife

you can follow riders' progress here

L CC · « **Reply #16 on:** 03 August, 2013, 11:00:28 pm »

zigzag first at CP1.

Richard Dunnett, (Diss CC), who rode the round the world last year 3rd man in, 43 minutes behind him.

Do they sleep or ride on? How does it work?

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #17 on:** 04 August, 2013, 11:22:52 am »

Zigzag is Flemish? For some reason I thought he was from Devon!

marcusjb · « **Reply #18 on:** 04 August, 2013, 12:46:48 pm »

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 04 August, 2013, 11:22:52 am

Zigzag is Flemish? For some reason I thought he was from Devon!

Neither.

He is Lithuanian.

And going well so far!

Salvatore · « **Reply #19 on:** 04 August, 2013, 02:03:30 pm »

Quote from: fboab on 03 August, 2013, 11:00:28 pm

zigzag first at CP1.

Richard Dunnett, (Diss CC), who rode the round the world last year 3rd man in, 43 minutes behind him.

Do they sleep or ride on? How does it work?

The 'race flow' chart at the bottom of this page suggests several slept at 300 km, and others for shorter periods elsewhere. It looks as if Mikko, fresh from LEL, didn't stop at all.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #20 on:** 04 August, 2013, 02:15:54 pm »

Quote from: marcusjb on 04 August, 2013, 12:46:48 pm

Quote from: Cudzoziemiec on 04 August, 2013, 11:22:52 am
Zigzag is Flemish? For some reason I thought he was from Devon!

Neither.

He is Lithuanian.

And going well so far!

So was it Zigzag or the Flemish local who was first to CP1? Confused! Not that it matters, really.

Salvatore · « **Reply #21 on:** 04 August, 2013, 02:26:14 pm »

It was Kristof from Kortrijk (or possibly Rimas). Apparently there were plenty of cobbles in the first bit, which will have suited Kristof. BTW he's registered here as xxx. He holds the record for the 4800km Tour de France Randonneur of 13 days 2 hours 15 minutes.

L CC · « **Reply #22 on:** 04 August, 2013, 03:27:04 pm »

I read it that zigzag was there after 13:38 and Kristof 13:58, with Diss's Dunnett 14:19.

/ready to be corrected.

clarion · « **Reply #23 on:** 04 August, 2013, 03:35:46 pm »

Quote from: Salvatore on 04 August, 2013, 02:03:30 pm

The 'race flow' chart at the bottom of this page suggests several slept at 300 km, and others for shorter periods elsewhere. It looks as if Mikko, fresh from LEL, didn't stop at all.

Is that the right link?

Salvatore · « **Reply #24 on:** 04 August, 2013, 04:27:44 pm »

Quote from: clarion on 04 August, 2013, 03:35:46 pm

Quote from: Salvatore on 04 August, 2013, 02:03:30 pm
The 'race flow' chart at the bottom of this page suggests several slept at 300 km, and others for shorter periods elsewhere. It looks as if Mikko, fresh from LEL, didn't stop at all.

Is that the right link?

Oops. Link corrected. Correct link.