Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: simonp on 09 October, 2015, 03:22:02 pm

Title: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 09 October, 2015, 03:22:02 pm
Entry information and control details for 2016 will be announced this month. http://reportage.transcontinental.cc/?page_id=108

I've taken the enormous step of signing up to the mailing list.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TigaSefi on 09 October, 2015, 04:38:14 pm
So have I but I don't have the required balls of steel to race hours upon hours for 10 days to the end! Props to people that enter for real.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 09 October, 2015, 04:45:55 pm
So have I but I don't have the required balls of steel to race hours upon hours for 10 days to the end! Props to people that enter for real.

10 days for 4239km? Well to be fair it's only 20 miles a day more than I did for PBP.

I'd expect to be looking at 15 days or more.

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 October, 2015, 05:29:51 pm
Belgium to Istanbul again? I'd be almost irresistably tempted to make a Leigh-Fermor special and take almost as long as he did (that was something like 18 months, on foot).
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 09 October, 2015, 05:39:41 pm
Nothing about the route has been published yet. I understand the intention is to find ways to make it more extreme so that aerobars are no longer used.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: LittleWheelsandBig on 09 October, 2015, 06:24:12 pm
I don't think they can make it that extreme. The race across the middle of Oz back in the day and about 30% dirt roads had the racers using aerobars on MTBs. The weight penalty is less nowadays.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 09 October, 2015, 06:44:14 pm
I think the org made a joke about this last year. My reading was that he doesnt truly care about aero-bars, but he wanted riders to have to think about their setup
i.e. not use an off-the-peg TT bike or tourer.

He could very easily just ban the things if it's a style issue :P
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Exit Stage Left on 09 October, 2015, 08:16:30 pm
It's a fine line to tread, tri-bars aren't legal in France, so the organiser has to point out to the entrants that they are fully responsible for knowing the law, likewise racing in Switzerland. The riders are completely self-sufficient, but they have to sign over their media rights, and there's sponsorship.

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 09 October, 2015, 09:38:45 pm
I thought aerobars were OK in France as long as you weren't in a mass-start event...?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 11 October, 2015, 07:07:41 pm
I thought aerobars were OK in France as long as you weren't in a mass-start event...?
Yeah, that's what I thought - and I think the race doesnt go thru Switzerland (at least not in 2015).

ESL: do you have some sort of axe to grind here?  :-\
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Byronius Maximus on 22 October, 2015, 01:12:07 pm
I think the org made a joke about this last year. My reading was that he doesnt truly care about aero-bars, but he wanted riders to have to think about their setup
i.e. not use an off-the-peg TT bike or tourer.


If true, that's rather disappointing to be honest; for what had always come across as a very inclusive event, with riders of all abilities getting recognition through their Twitter feed and other publicity, it would be a shame if it forced people into having to make investments in specific bike set ups and turning it into and almost elitist event. I'd like to think it's something I'd enter one day in its current guise, but would be less keen if it just turns into something that tries to maximise people's chances of failure. Perhaps I'm reading too much between the lines!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 22 October, 2015, 03:36:13 pm
My PERSONAL (possiblybly wrong) reading is that a range of bikes would work quite well, but if you WERE entering to win, and buying a bike specially for the event, you wouldn't be best served by anything off-the-peg.

So its still quite inclusive, but not well suited to the cheque-book racer (if that mnakes sense!).

[The unfortunate side-effect has been that almost everyone seems to use the same luggage ! ]
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 22 October, 2015, 03:49:05 pm
The biggest issue I've been aware of is the tyre shredding that occurred on the Assietta. I'm not sure what a workable solution for this is. The bike I'd likely use can only handle 25mm tyres at best with mudguards. I could probably use 28mm tyres without, but I might regret that. At least as it's a no-draughting race, no-one is going to be bothered by that except the rider.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 22 October, 2015, 03:59:10 pm
As you say,  guards arent all that essential on this event (Did I actually write that? Pass the soap!!! )

But there are plenty of tough tyres available in 25mm (e.g. M+). Or you carry a spare tyre. The riders have to weigh up all these options.

(You could even walk that section after using up your penultimate spare tube/tyre and still get round OK.)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rabbit on 22 October, 2015, 04:05:41 pm
I may have just put myself on the email list..........

I have some serious reading and pondering to be doing.

The biggest issue I've been aware of is the tyre shredding that occurred on the Assietta.

Can you clarify the issues a little here?  What was the surfacing?  I'm on a 25 mm only bike - although I have ridden on a fair amount of off-road gravel tracks now. 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Aunt Maud on 22 October, 2015, 04:10:27 pm
It's a dirt road section through the mountains in Northern Italy.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 22 October, 2015, 04:10:36 pm
its something like 15km of gravel. Quite a lot of stuff on the web,  e.g.

http://www.cycling-challenge.com/strada-dellassietta-strada-militare-colle-delle-finestre/

Looks fecking awesome to me! (but it may not be in the 2016 route)

/notsimon
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 22 October, 2015, 04:23:44 pm
https://twitter.com/gareth_baines/status/626022474887602182

Gareth is OTP and finished 7th according to the leaderboard on the transcontinental website.

A pic from Gareth on the Assietta.

https://instagram.com/p/5q8OR9jymh/

I think calling it 'gravel' doesn't do it justice.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 October, 2015, 05:26:38 pm
To say it's "a very inclusive event, with riders of all abilities getting recognition through their Twitter feed and other publicity," is only true for a extremely limited sense of "all abilities". You already have to be amongst the, so to speak, elite of the amateur, to contemplate such a race.

[The unfortunate side-effect has been that almost everyone seems to use the same luggage ! ]
Isn't that to do with Apidura being one of the sponsors?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 22 October, 2015, 06:14:54 pm
To say it's "a very inclusive event, with riders of all abilities getting recognition through their Twitter feed and other publicity," is only true for a extremely limited sense of "all abilities". You already have to be amongst the, so to speak, elite of the amateur, to contemplate such a race.
Lets hear your proposals for a 2200km unsupported event.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 October, 2015, 07:00:47 pm
Why should I have any? And if I did, they'd probably be similar to the Transcontinental; it's in the very nature of such an event that it will only be suitable for a small number of very fit and adventurous people – that's my point.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 22 October, 2015, 07:37:00 pm
Define "very fit".

Then define what level "inclusive" starts at.

I'd say its suitable for a very large number of people if they prepare for it. It has no barriers of race, class or gender. They've made it as cheap as possible. (Compare with something like RAAM or L'Etape.)

How EXACTLY would you like it to be MORE inclusive? There are other events for those who train less, or who are less "adventurous".
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 October, 2015, 07:50:09 pm
I wouldn't like it to be more inclusive. As I said up there, I don't think it would be practical to make it less demanding in terms of fitness and adventurousness (except perhaps by introducing a separate category for electric bikes, but that would probably run into other problems). Providing support vehicles or prebooked accommodation, for instance, would fundamentally change the nature of the event (and possibly make it even more demanding in terms of fitness by shifting the emphasis from self-sufficient riding to long-distance unpaced racing).

"Inclusive for an endurance sporting event" is not the same as "inclusive".
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 22 October, 2015, 07:55:53 pm

"Inclusive for an endurance sporting event" is not the same as "inclusive".
So what did you bloody expect??

It IS an endurance event!!! I thought that was pretty much a given in this thread ...  ::-)

After all, "inclusive" will always be a relative thing. Go on, argue your way out of that one; I'll give you 10 internet debating points ...
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 22 October, 2015, 09:07:24 pm
I really don't think there's anything to argue out of or into, matt. Nor am I quite sure why you're getting so worked up about this one word (when it wasn't even yours in the first place). Of course it's an endurance race. Of course it therefore is limited in who can take part. If it's pedantic of me to point this out, your pedantry is arguing over what counts as "fit" and "inclusive" has exc eeded even mine!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 22 October, 2015, 10:48:33 pm
Anyone want to talk about the race?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rabbit on 23 October, 2015, 07:33:09 am
Yes me

Definitely me

Even if it is just to stop me actually considering it seriously  :hand:
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 23 October, 2015, 09:44:59 am
https://twitter.com/gareth_baines/status/626022474887602182

Gareth is OTP and finished 7th according to the leaderboard on the transcontinental website.

A pic from Gareth on the Assietta.

https://instagram.com/p/5q8OR9jymh/

I think calling it 'gravel' doesn't do it justice.
Fair point. And don't forget the cows:
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D88rxOwP17s0&ved=0CCgQuAIwA2oVChMIoYz7m5nYyAIVgkYUCh0txgLc&usg=AFQjCNEJtcfwgDWvCJ8qpnREKkpbkrItrw
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 23 October, 2015, 11:00:16 am
Also this.

https://instagram.com/p/5pZLv6IF2e/

Of course as the 2016 route is still under wraps, none of this may be relevant. It might be worse.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 23 October, 2015, 11:35:32 am
Some more OT-but-inclusive bollox:
(click to show/hide)

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 23 October, 2015, 12:03:35 pm
Also this.

https://instagram.com/p/5pZLv6IF2e/

Of course as the 2016 route is still under wraps, none of this may be relevant. It might be worse.

(https://scontent-lhr3-1.cdninstagram.com/hphotos-xfa1/t51.2885-15/e35/11355971_848036138607281_1146125196_n.jpg)

That sure is pretty!  I'd fancy a bit of that some time. 

Going to be fascinating to see what the next route iteration will be.  I share some of the concerns of Byronius in that adding more hoops to jump through, or turning them into flaming hoops, whilst interesting and challenging; riding 4000+km in a couple of weeks is plenty enough of a challenge for the vast majority of us out there!

As a small aside - I think Mike has something to do with this (200km race, alleycat style (4 controls to be hit in any order you want)) - http://valleycat.cc/ - there are a couple of YACFers on the start list.  Good luck to all the riders!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rabbit on 23 October, 2015, 12:46:53 pm
Yup, that gravel road, that's just up my street and the kind of shizzle I love  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 October, 2015, 04:25:55 pm
Anyone want to talk about the race?
Soz! (I actually find the Transcontinental far more interesting to follow than, say, PBP or TdF)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 23 October, 2015, 04:34:38 pm
Some more OT-but-inclusive bollox:
(click to show/hide)
(click to show/hide)

But talking of pedantry generally: I note the absence of a 'what colour valve caps for Transcon' thread!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Aunt Maud on 23 October, 2015, 04:45:11 pm
Really!!......It's good to get that bollocks out of the way.

I'll admit to being a keen TCR follower and it's the only cycling related "thing" that I have ever followed on a daily basis.

So Go rabbit and Go simonp.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: zigzag on 23 October, 2015, 08:50:27 pm
thoroughly recommend it - a great adventure across many different countries! these days it's even more exciting as due to higher numbers you'll bump into more riders along the way. it was a fairly lonely race when i did the first edition in 2013, learned lots about myself and how kind and helpful people are when they see you all knackered and vulnerable - grateful for such moments!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 23 October, 2015, 10:44:39 pm
Was unaware you'd done it. Another yacfer. I have to admit to having major doubts about entering as I am pretty much done by the end of PBP and LEL in terms of mental reserves.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: zigzag on 23 October, 2015, 11:22:31 pm
your brain recalibrates to the distance in the same way as it does in audaxes (after 200 audax even a 50km trip home seems far, but 200k into 600 those same 50k aren't a problem at all). it was around 1200k when i reached stelvio pass - i thought to myself "it's a pbp distance and i'm not even tired", still twice as much left to go. i wonder if teethgrinder also feels that each day as not big of a deal when compared to the monumental task ahead.

my tcr account (http://reportage.transcontinental.cc/?p=836) fwiw.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: DrMekon on 24 October, 2015, 07:09:04 am
I'd love to do TCR, but the time off / parenting pass required is a big barrier. One of the guys in my LBS made it to Turkey in 2013, but not the finish due to 2 x rtas. The "busy roads" zigzag mentioned sounded hectic.

I'll be very jealous of any of you doing it.

BTW, If you want navigation challenges and adventure closer to home http://www.highlandtrail.net/ might suit. I'm doing at least a couple of MTB ITTs next year getting a lot out of them, whereas was feeling a bit stale about audax.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 24 October, 2015, 08:47:28 am
https://twitter.com/transconrace?lang=en

30th july 2016 - entries open in Nov
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rabbit on 24 October, 2015, 10:09:35 am
I'd love to do TCR, but the time off / parenting pass required is a big barrier. One of the guys in my LBS made it to Turkey in 2013, but not the finish due to 2 x rtas. The "busy roads" zigzag mentioned sounded hectic.

I'll be very jealous of any of you doing it.

BTW, If you want navigation challenges and adventure closer to home http://www.highlandtrail.net/ might suit. I'm doing at least a couple of MTB ITTs next year getting a lot out of them, whereas was feeling a bit stale about audax.

 :thumbsup:  looking at that myself
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Andrew on 24 October, 2015, 11:40:48 am
I have total admiration for anyone that does it. Total.

I first heard of it maybe 3 years ago, and I've seen pics and reports etc. I can honestly say that whilst it's a challenge that I feel is within (one helluva) reach, there is no way I'd even kid myself into signing-up. I just haven't that kind of dedication and fortitude - hence my admiration for those that have.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 24 October, 2015, 12:05:39 pm
An interesting feature of 2015 was the sizable minority who plugged on to the finish waaaaaaay outside the official cutoff. Some were riding at what I'd call "touring" pace - 100mile-a-day stuff, possibly slower.
This is well within the ability of ... well, most healthy cyclists with a winter/spring of reasonable mileage behind them. Possibly even less than that.

It seemed like folks were still getting their cards stamped; I'm not sure if anyone failed to be classfied as a finisher. It all seemed quite a fuzzy area :/ I'm also not sure if any entrant vetting occurs.

Anyway; there does _seem_ to be scope for less "elite" riders to just give it a go. Assuming you have the TIME budget to trudge to Istanbul at your own pace! (although I guess you could always just stop when your annual leave runs out and head for the nearest station/airport).

(two big things currently stop me - I'm not a sufficiently good loner, and there seem to be some long unavoidable stretches on verrrrry dull (and sometimes quite scary) roads. Some folks seem to have different wiring and are more suited to these things. It has certainly inspired me to take a trip at some point to some of the roads they use :) )
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Byronius Maximus on 24 October, 2015, 04:38:03 pm
Ooops, didn't mean to start a debate here. All I meant by 'inclusive' was that all competitors seem to be held in the same high regard by the competitors, but I guess you have a point, Cudzoziemiec, in that the barrier to entry is still pretty high!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Byronius Maximus on 24 October, 2015, 04:38:58 pm
my tcr account (http://reportage.transcontinental.cc/?p=836) fwiw.

Looks good, I'll have a read at some point. My first thought is that you appear to have travelled impressively light!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: zigzag on 25 October, 2015, 12:20:08 am
my tcr account (http://reportage.transcontinental.cc/?p=836) fwiw.

Looks good, I'll have a read at some point. My first thought is that you appear to have travelled impressively light!

riding/racing such a long and hilly way and carrying lots of stuff makes little sense, so i only chose what i thought i'd need, and took half of that (and still could go lighter but did not want to tempt the fate).
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Salvatore on 25 October, 2015, 03:50:29 pm
There's an entertaining and informative 2-hour interview with two German riders here (http://velohome.de/velohome-138-tcr-special/).  In German.

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 30 October, 2015, 04:58:43 am
Have also taken the tentative step of signing up for the newsletter - in truth though, I'm unlikely to enter for 2016 due to personal and work time constraints. For 2017 though, assuming it keeps to roughly the same format, I'm very keen.

TBH - if they do make it a bit more "rugged" for want of a better term, I might actually almost relish that. I'm half way towards thinking of a Road+ or CX bike anyway, and that would make it a definitive decision. The Burls Ti has been superb for Audaxing, but who doesn't want an excuse for a new bike now and then!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: vorsprung on 30 October, 2015, 10:38:39 am
Yes me

Definitely me

Even if it is just to stop me actually considering it seriously  :hand:
+1
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Byronius Maximus on 30 October, 2015, 12:20:08 pm
my tcr account (http://reportage.transcontinental.cc/?p=836) fwiw.

Looks good, I'll have a read at some point. My first thought is that you appear to have travelled impressively light!

riding/racing such a long and hilly way and carrying lots of stuff makes little sense, so i only chose what i thought i'd need, and took half of that (and still could go lighter but did not want to tempt the fate).

Completely agree - but saying that you'll travel light and actually managing to do it to the extent that you did are two very different things! Impressive.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 30 October, 2015, 02:07:16 pm
http://bikepackersmagazine.com/transcontinental-race-releases-2016-controls/?utm_content=buffer132a8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Controls are out.

Interesting to see the Puy de Dome on there - there's such hit and miss information about when you can climb it these days.  I hope to pass it on a ride next year and will try and time it to pass very early in the morning to hop up it and tick it off.

(not riding the TCR, but paying close attention to all ultra-racing as I plan a go at TransAm in the next couple of years)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 30 October, 2015, 02:20:56 pm
(not riding the TCR, but paying close attention to all ultra-racing as I plan a go at TransAm in the next couple of years)

Now you're talking! .... although TCR is before that on my list
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rabbit on 30 October, 2015, 03:35:39 pm
It all sounds so dreamy and wonderful looking at those controls

Sweeping vistas, stunning mountains, historic Turkey

*note to self: it will involve pain, suffering, pain, legs feeling like they are going to fall off, no sleep, bad traffic, pain, weeping saddle sores...........
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 30 October, 2015, 03:38:01 pm
(not riding the TCR, but paying close attention to all ultra-racing as I plan a go at TransAm in the next couple of years)

Now you're talking! .... although TCR is before that on my list

Project for 2017 or 18. Have blessing from Mrs JB, just need to work on business partners (and working out if I am even capable of giving it a good go!).

Anyway, Transcontinental controls look superb.

Very interesting and I look forward to seeing who throws their hat in the ring
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 30 October, 2015, 04:17:15 pm
Project for 2017 or 18. Have blessing from Mrs JB, just need to work on business partners (and working out if I am even capable of giving it a good go!).

Anyway, Transcontinental controls look superb.

Very nice.  TransAm also looks a heck of an adventure.


I have blessing from SWAMBO for 2017 ... trouble is, I'm itching to enter for 2016 which will go down much less well ... ;)

Ho hum .... now twiddling thumbs wondering whether to play by the rules or jump in and just book it.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rabbit on 31 October, 2015, 10:18:58 am
I am actually really close to entering. 

I am going to take today to ponder it, speak to friends and then make a definite decision whether to put in an application or not. 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 31 October, 2015, 11:11:52 am
I am actually really close to entering. 

I am going to take today to ponder it, speak to friends and then make a definite decision whether to put in an application or not.

Nice one. Event details sound superb so far. Unsure if not ending in Istanbul is a positive or negative yet, although reading accounts that last leg in did sound busy and not overly pleasant. Ending in Troy does have a certain charm too I guess.

Gut feel plays a big factor in whether to enter - so don't rationalise it too much.

Mine is saying maybe wait for 2017 as per original plan. I have a busy year ahead as is and it'd be a shame to skimp or rush preparing for such a major adventure.  Will sleep on it another night or two tho.


Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 31 October, 2015, 11:23:05 am
go for it - at the very least it will make a change from riding round Wales :P


reading that link I didnt see any mention of bad surfaces - did I miss anything?

Also, they seem to use "parcours" to mean the mandatory route sections near certain controls. Am I reading this right? Is this an established  use of the word?

Rob, you're right - finishing at Troy gives it an almost mythical feel :) I hope there are no unforeseen issues for the riders.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 31 October, 2015, 01:11:55 pm
reading that link I didnt see any mention of bad surfaces - did I miss anything?

I guess they decided extra hills as opposed to gravel to add the difficulty this year

Also, they seem to use "parcours" to mean the mandatory route sections near certain controls. Am I reading this right? Is this an established  use of the word?

I also wondered that - in fact I went to look up the word to make sure some usage of it meant "route". Came to same conclusion as you. I guess with normally free routing between controls they use this to distinguish mandatory sections. It always make me tend to think more of off-road or gravel trails though, perhaps there's an element of that suggested here too?

Rob, you're right - finishing at Troy gives it an almost mythical feel :) I hope there are no unforeseen issues for the riders.

Just looking at the sort of luggage I'm likely to end up with, I suspect it might be easier and lighter just to ride the wooden horse there!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 31 October, 2015, 02:25:44 pm
They have track record for ensuring that riders approach certain controls from one side or whatever.  The 70km section around the Furka Pass looks amazing (and does indeed appear to be mainly traffic free: https://goo.gl/maps/ASUwwrHNYGn and also might feature around 3000m of ascent in that 70km so properly mountain).

There's no suggestion yet of non paved surfaces that I have seen.

I think if you register you may have access to better information on what they need you to do around each control.

All looks great!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: swiss hat on 31 October, 2015, 03:43:25 pm
There's no suggestion yet of non paved surfaces that I have seen.

The parcours section from Grindelwald over the Grosse Scheidegg is a single track road, tarmac but a bit rough in places with 15-20% gradients, and is only used by a few local tourist coaches - no other traffic is allowed. After descending to the valley there's a good alpine road over the Grimsel Pass. I rode this in Sept whilst on the Eiger Sanction 7 x 200km perm. My route continued to Brig and the Simplon Pass but the Furka Pass road looked EPIC. The 3 passes on the parcours top out around 2000m so good for mountain goats.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 31 October, 2015, 05:30:48 pm
They weren't lying about a race for Grimpeurs ....

Your challenge for the evening. Find a route from CP2 (Furka Pass) to start of parcours for CP3 (Passo san Pellegrino) which involves less than 8,000m of climbing. The direct route I quickly plotted was something like 350km with 8,900m of climbing. So just over a quarter of PBP, and almost as much climbing - and that's just between the middle checkpoints.

Holy crap - gonna need some stronger knees (assuming I'm even brave enough)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 31 October, 2015, 05:44:27 pm
Ouch.

That is significant!

That will need some luck with weather as well, makes for challenging night riding potentially (for those who are not planning to be in bed very much!). Some of those hotels look nice though! Big £££ I expect though.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 31 October, 2015, 06:04:33 pm
That is significant!

I know - and before that you'd have done Grosse Scheideg and Grimsel Pass, and after that you still have to get to CP4 - which is also in the mountains.

That will need some luck with weather as well, makes for challenging night riding potentially

Tell me! I spent a few summers in the Alps. I can count on one hand the number of days when we did not get storm clouds roll in around 4pm, followed by some brief but heavy thunderstorms and downpours going into the evening. Fast descents in the dark and wet, on a heavily loaded bike with not-that-powerful rim brakes, and probably hands with some amount of palsy and so can't pull hard on them either ...

... maybe I'll stay in bed today and ride another day ... ;)


Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Aunt Maud on 31 October, 2015, 08:36:33 pm
Looks like something not to be underestimated.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Veloman on 31 October, 2015, 09:29:59 pm
Fully agree with the comments regarding weather for the Alpine parts of the ride after spending many weeks over many years being subject to horrible storms that prevented me mountaineering.  You could cycle is such conditions, but awfully unpleasant and a tad exciting when considering the safety aspects as RobW has alluded to.

But not a problem to those intrepid cyclists within the AUK fraternity!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 01 November, 2015, 05:37:22 am
Sadly no attempt in 2016 for me. Was always going to be tight on time, but the choice of an Alpine route made the decision rather easy in the end. Definitely not an edition you want to go in under-prepared and try with the hope of winging it. Back to Plan A and keep sights on 2017.

Good luck getting a place to all those registering and applying. Should be a truly epic edition through all those passes
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TigaSefi on 01 November, 2015, 08:23:11 am
I am out too! Way too much climbing even for me! Good luck to everyone entering:)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 03 November, 2015, 08:20:09 am
Although I've decided not to attempt this one - I'm very interested in what kind of routing and climbing those who are come up with.

Obviously the racers won't want to share their secrets, but anyone else just aiming at a finish - even just in outline.

I did a *very* rough sketch from CP1 through to Cortina just beyond CP3, and came out to round 950km with around 21,000m of climbing. That was not much more than a RideWithGPS auto-route, which is clearly not something you'd actually use without serious research and refinement. I suspect the auto-route version is shorter, and that climbing might reduce a bit at the expense of extra distance. Of course I'm also trusting RWGPS measurements too - although we use it a lot here in SA, and distance and climbing come our reasonably close to what a Garmin reports on the actual ride. Climbing is often estimated on the high side by RWGPS though.

Just an interested by-stander really - although I doubt that the organizers will make 2017 any easier, so it's definitely interesting to see how people map this one with an eye to the next.

Edit - to me how you approach/break down this section seems to be a key element of the challenge for this one, hence the interest. For me, the above could easily represent 4 days of riding with maybe 5,000m+ per day. Of course it wouldn't even out like that in practice, there'd be a couple of very heavy days in the middle with more climbing and a lot less distance.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 03 November, 2015, 08:40:07 am
Gears. Lots of gears.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 03 November, 2015, 08:41:48 am
Gears. Lots of gears.

Heck yes, them too!

;)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 03 November, 2015, 09:55:04 am
I did a *very* rough sketch from CP1 through to Cortina just beyond CP3, and came out to round 950km with around 21,000m of climbing
Gears. Lots of gears.

Quite something!  It is a little less climbing per km than the Super Randonnee I did in the Pyrenees (15000m in 600km), but not by much!  250km a day in that sort of terrain sounds a reasonable target (I am sure the pointy end people will still be clocking 300km+!), but will still be incredibly tough no doubt (the biggest day on the SR was 240km with around 6700m of ascent - the reality was it was 190km with 6700m of ascent as the last 50km of the day were a descent.  That was one of the hardest days on a bike I have ever had for sure).  Could I do that 4 days in a row?  Heck of a challenge for sure.

Really quite intimidating climbing figures and the desire to travel ever lighter will be strong I would suspect.

Going to be fascinating and I suspect we will see quite a few scratch once they get up there.

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 03 November, 2015, 10:06:23 am

Quite something!  It is a little less climbing per km than the Super Randonnee I did in the Pyrenees (15000m in 600km), but not by much!  250km a day in that sort of terrain sounds a reasonable target (I am sure the pointy end people will still be clocking 300km+!), but will still be incredibly tough no doubt (the biggest day on the SR was 240km with around 6700m of ascent - the reality was it was 190km with 6700m of ascent as the last 50km of the day were a descent.  That was one of the hardest days on a bike I have ever had for sure).  Could I do that 4 days in a row?  Heck of a challenge for sure.

Really quite intimidating climbing figures and the desire to travel ever lighter will be strong I would suspect.

Going to be fascinating and I suspect we will see quite a few scratch once they get up there.

Agreed - I am also fascinated by seeing how this one unfolds. I'm near certain it would have been beyond me in terms of where I am now and how much stronger I could get by then given available preparation time. That's not going to rule out a certain amount of FOMO for a while of course ... would love to have been able to give it a proper go. OK, I'll be honest - a lot of FOMO!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 03 November, 2015, 10:11:59 am
In the parallel universe where I enter TCR:I think I might ride (almost) non-stop thru the easier sections. Then treat the mountains as a chance to catch up on zzz, while dodging storms and recovering from monster climbs.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 03 November, 2015, 10:21:29 am
I think I might ride (almost) non-stop thru the easier sections. Then treat the mountains as a chance to catch up on zzz, while dodging storms and recovering from monster climbs.

Is that a statement of intent Matt?  You in?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 03 November, 2015, 10:25:11 am
God no! Lets stamp out that rumour before it gets going.

I think I'm more likely to do a veeeeeeery long audax in similar terrain. dunno for sure; my thoughts on this stuff change a little every year, depending on what I've achieved and/or flopped at ...
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 03 November, 2015, 06:55:52 pm
Class Facebook post from Darren Franks:

Here's my map of TCR4. Please don't steal my route!
(https://theadventurecapitalist.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/tcr-no4-route.png)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 03 November, 2015, 07:21:18 pm
Class Facebook post from Darren Franks:

Here's my map of TCR4. Please don't steal my route!
(https://theadventurecapitalist.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/tcr-no4-route.png)

Brilliant!

Almost the same as mine - except I can't draw nearly as nicely as this. Oh, and the part where I chickened out ;)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 25 December, 2015, 08:14:22 am
Just found out that I've got a place :-)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: RobW on 25 December, 2015, 08:25:01 am
Just found out that I've got a place :-)

Congrats. Time to start studying maps!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 26 December, 2015, 07:36:39 am
Good stuff Frank and I look forward to following your dot this summer!

Well done, I believe they had around 600 applications for 300ish places. 

Now go get the miles in!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Tim Hall on 26 December, 2015, 10:54:11 am
Just found out that I've got a place :-)

Congrats. Time to start studying maps!
IIRC, zigzag admitted his route planning was something like looking at a road atlas the night before he started.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 26 December, 2015, 12:01:36 pm
I've pretty much got my route planned already!

The way it is this year, there is much less scope for different route variations than in previous years, so I'd expect most people will follow a very similar route (unless I've missed something, that is). 

I'll no doubt fine-tune it over the next few months. 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: zigzag on 26 December, 2015, 12:40:49 pm
Just found out that I've got a place :-)

Congrats. Time to start studying maps!
IIRC, zigzag admitted his route planning was something like looking at a road atlas the night before he started.

when i first looked at the route options i realised it would take me weeks to study them by zooming down to street level and making a virtual recce. i decided there are better things to do with my time and planned the route couple of days before the ride. the only downside was that it took me through the mountain tunnels in austria and italy (illegal and v.dangerous on a bike), so i had to use slow cycle paths meandering around the valleys, adding about two days to my initial schedule.
best of luck Frank!!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 27 December, 2015, 11:43:49 am
Go Frank and enjoy it!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TigaSefi on 27 December, 2015, 08:00:49 pm
Well done Frank!! Have mega fun!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: alexb on 28 December, 2015, 04:01:41 pm
How about Torino-Nice, for us real world types... It's just been advertised on the TCR Facebook pages. No entry fees, timing or prizes, but a similar controlled route focused approach over 700km. Starts in September.
torino-nice.weebly.com

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 26 January, 2016, 07:09:59 pm
They weren't lying about a race for Grimpeurs ....

Your challenge for the evening. Find a route from CP2 (Furka Pass) to start of parcours for CP3 (Passo san Pellegrino) which involves less than 8,000m of climbing. The direct route I quickly plotted was something like 350km with 8,900m of climbing. So just over a quarter of PBP, and almost as much climbing - and that's just between the middle checkpoints.

Holy crap - gonna need some stronger knees (assuming I'm even brave enough)

Over the years I've spent a lot of time in the Dolomites mountaineering. A couple of years ago I walked north to south across the Dolomites from the border with Austria till the mountains petered out.  You'll cross some great passes to get to those checkpoints. I came down to  Passo di Giau on my crossing, and cyclists who made it up there looked shagged, and that is without any gear on the bike, 29 hairpins and just under a 1km of ascent do that I guess. No plateaus round there, it's climb, descend, climb terrain. 

Good luck!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 28 July, 2016, 05:41:08 am
I'm off to Belgium today - then heading south tomorrow night.
Did anyone else from YACF end up entering? 
If you'd like to follow dots, the tracking site should be here http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16 (http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16)
I won't post here but will try to do the odd update on Twitter (@frank9755)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 28 July, 2016, 07:03:28 am
Best of luck Frank! I hope it is an amazing adventure. Enjoy yourself even when it is not enjoyable.

Go go go!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 28 July, 2016, 07:59:09 am
Yeah, we're on the 8:04 to Brussels with two other riders. See you in Geraardsbergen.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 28 July, 2016, 08:22:31 am
Yeah, we're on the 8:04 to Brussels with two other riders. See you in Geraardsbergen.

I've got another day of not working to do before my train tonight - see you tomorrow!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 28 July, 2016, 08:32:49 am
Try not to knock MORE miles off :P
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 28 July, 2016, 01:33:51 pm
Best of luck Frank! I hope it is an amazing adventure. Enjoy yourself even when it is not enjoyable.

Go go go!

Thanks Marcus.  I am sure there will be such times!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 28 July, 2016, 01:35:21 pm
Try not to knock MORE miles off :P

I don't mind the miles ->> , it's the metres ^^ that I want to knock off!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 29 July, 2016, 05:50:09 pm
Watched the film last night. Have a great race. Look forward to hearing the stories.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 29 July, 2016, 07:46:11 pm
...
Did anyone else from YACF end up entering?  ...

I don't think she's on here, but many people here probably know her, or know of her, Emily Chappell (https://twitter.com/emilychappell) is doing it too.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Somnolent on 29 July, 2016, 11:10:54 pm
And they are off !
Frank appears to be comfortably mid - pack, a little further west.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 30 July, 2016, 12:14:48 pm
Josh Ibbett scratches after 300km due to back pain.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 30 July, 2016, 12:20:32 pm
It's a little amusing, how spread out they are, after 15 hours.

(http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/TranscontinentalRace2016_After15Hours.png)

You can tell that there's no required route!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 30 July, 2016, 12:43:09 pm
Paul Sweenie in a vehicle, believed to have scratched as well.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Canardly on 30 July, 2016, 04:32:10 pm
Josh Ibbett scratched. Didn't he win it last year?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: inappropriate_bike on 30 July, 2016, 05:08:20 pm
Josh Ibbett scratched. Didn't he win it last year?

Yes. Shame we won't see him battle it out with Kristof this year.

Some other good places for updates are this Twitter list with many of the riders and the official race account - https://twitter.com/buro9/lists/tcrno4 - and the LFGSS thread tracking 9* of their riders (and others) - https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/228045/

* https://www.lfgss.com/comments/13128829/
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 30 July, 2016, 07:34:47 pm
...
Some other good places for updates are this Twitter list with many of the riders and the official race account - https://twitter.com/buro9/lists/tcrno4 - and the LFGSS thread tracking 9* of their riders (and others) - https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/228045/

...

Ah, and Frank's Twitter feed is the same name as his account here ... <doh> ... :facepalm:
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 30 July, 2016, 07:37:24 pm
 A couple of early bolters looking to make CP #1 in a oner. Looking like they will clear 600km in the first 24 hours travelling at North of 30kph :o

A gaggle of riders converging around Auxerre, maybe to bed down for the night.
Loads of riders have burned through 300 to 400 km day one. Impressive.

A couple of guys seem to have gone sightseeing in Paris??

The weather forecast en route looks pretty good.

Which of the leaders will stop and rest first?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 30 July, 2016, 09:26:37 pm
Kristof climbing the Puy after CP#1.
Will he rest or crack on?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: inappropriate_bike on 30 July, 2016, 09:42:51 pm
Kristof is actually a superhuman so you can ignore him.  :thumbsup:

I'm slightly surprised at the people only doing 300-400k in the first 24 hours to be honest. Seems more like Audax rather than race pace. Given that the race is oversubscribed maybe they need qualification events.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: nikki on 30 July, 2016, 09:43:39 pm
...
Did anyone else from YACF end up entering?  ...

I don't think she's on here, but many people here probably know her, or know of her, Emily Chappell (https://twitter.com/emilychappell) is doing it too.

Just in case there are folks here who aren't watching the Arts and Entertainment board (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=97867), Emily is speaking at an event I'm organising in Birmingham. All being well, it'll be a week after she's completed TCR and it'll be where the stream-of-conciousness recollection of everything that happened starts to get sorted out into the bit that comes before the writing.

I am of course using this to claim that dot-watching all day is in fact bona fide actual work.
F5.

Currently 11 tickets remaining: https://linksandshifts.eventbrite.co.uk

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Greenbank on 30 July, 2016, 09:55:27 pm
Kristof is actually a superhuman so you can ignore him.  :thumbsup:

I'm slightly surprised at the people only doing 300-400k in the first 24 hours to be honest. Seems more like Audax rather than race pace. Given that the race is oversubscribed maybe they need qualification events.

I think they actively go for a cross section of entrants.

They let in anyone who is a serious contender and then fill up the rest with a mix of people.

Can't see a problem in that as long as everyone who thinks they have a real chance at #1 gets a shot.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 30 July, 2016, 10:36:44 pm
Kristof is actually a superhuman so you can ignore him.  :thumbsup:

I'm slightly surprised at the people only doing 300-400k in the first 24 hours to be honest. Seems more like Audax rather than race pace. Given that the race is oversubscribed maybe they need qualification events.

Well, 'only' 3-400km a day is way above what is required to finish in time for the finishers party!

The beauty of these races is that many of the best stories come from those towards the back end of the field. (And the back end of the field will be doing a lot less than 300km/day).

Those doing 'only' 3-400km a day are doing something truly awe inspiring and I for one have nothing but respect for them. Not sure I could do it, but I intend to find out sometime.

Anyway, I shouldn't feed the troll and all that.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 31 July, 2016, 08:29:10 am
(This troll doesnt even seem very well informed of what he grunts. )

following with interest, there will be some great stories, no doubt.

Good thing they've had the sense to pick some good weather, eh Marcus? ;)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 31 July, 2016, 08:49:39 am
Some of the riders have already had some big storms to contend with.

Forecast of very tough conditions in the mountains. low temperatures and lots of rain.

It isn't meant to be easy though. Even at 'only' 300 a day.......
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 31 July, 2016, 08:57:10 am
James Hayden has not scratched, but has a chest infection and will rest at CP1 before continuing.

Gutted as he has worked so hard for this attempt after last year's issue with the neck.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 31 July, 2016, 09:43:54 am
Earlier this week I watched the video of last year's race.   Loving the photos and race blogs coming out. Hippy doing a bit of off road out west. Brilliant stuff.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 31 July, 2016, 12:05:25 pm
Some twitter highlights -
hippy @firsthippy 3h3 hours ago
Don't tell hotel guy but I used his scissors to cut off my pubes to tape raw bits. Raining now! #TCRNo4 #TCRNo4S142 In bus shelter, jacket.
Rose McGovern @RoseMcTweets 4h4 hours ago Villeneuve-sur-Yonne, France
When you think you are holding a steady pace in the right direction but actually your @GarminUK has frozen! #TCRNo4 #cycling @PrimalEurope
Matt Brady @allotmentlad 5h5 hours ago
I'm worried for the poor mosquitos. What are they going to eat tonight when I'm not there? #TCRNo4
Chris P Dennis @chrispdennis 14h14 hours ago Domats, France
Managed to wheel my bike around lidl picking up supplies today; only got a very minor bollocking. Result. #TCRNo4 #TCRNo4S146 @transconrace
hippy @firsthippy 22h22 hours ago
Carrefour lunch. Such yum much taste. Shorts seem to have turned penis into mince. Bit earlier than expected. :S #TCRNo4 #TCRNo4S142
Darren Franks @darrenfranks 22h22 hours ago Auxerre, France
A much-needed McStop. The belly demanded feeding and my arse was simply begging for mercy. It is not 'lovin it'
robjordan @robjordan Jul 30 Coincy, France
#TCRno4 #TCRNo4s061 Oh and refilled water bottles via stealth incursion into campsite. I think I like this game!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 31 July, 2016, 12:53:01 pm
Paul Bernd and Kristof are basically neck and neck out front passing through the town of Tournus. Paul has taken a more direct route though, so covered the distance more quickly allowing him an extra 2 hours rest (to Kristof's one hour stop!) Who will crack first and sleep?
Their average moving speeds have dropped back from a mind blowing 32 kph to 27.5. Maybe early tailwinds, elevation or fatigue perhaps.

Ultan Coyle, who I think started late, is moving swiftly up the pack.

Mid pack riders have covered around 500 km or so. They have rested  (ballpark 10 to 12) hours and are moving at 22-25 kph.

Anyone have the race #'s of the guys on YACF?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 31 July, 2016, 12:58:20 pm
Update, Kristofs tracker just kicked in again. He's got 32 km on Paul.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: inappropriate_bike on 31 July, 2016, 01:00:39 pm
Those doing 'only' 3-400km a day are doing something truly awe inspiring and I for one have nothing but respect for them. Not sure I could do it, but I intend to find out sometime.

Anyway, I shouldn't feed the troll and all that.

Genuine surprise, not trolling. I'm also hoping to race it in the future which is why I'm watching carefully what's required to be competitive.

I know averages will be lower over the whole 2-3 weeks but this was day 1. For some comparison (although obviously not great because of weather and climbing differences):

333k Market Rasen 943 of 1091 riders (86%) went through within 24 hours
399k Pocklington 537 of 1091 riders (49%) went through within 24 hours

So when I said Audax pace, not race pace, I literally meant exactly that.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 31 July, 2016, 01:06:42 pm
Neil Philips #172 may be one to watch. He is up the sharp end but has managed 9 1/2 hours off the bike so will be better rested. He's moving faster than the other leaders.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 31 July, 2016, 05:39:45 pm
Bernd scratches.

The contenders are dropping like flies this year!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 31 July, 2016, 05:52:20 pm
And we have our first epic tale:
Some twitter highlights -
hippy @firsthippy 3h3 hours ago
Don't tell hotel guy but I used his scissors to cut off my pubes to tape raw bits. Raining now! #TCRNo4 #TCRNo4S142 In bus shelter, jacket.

hippy @firsthippy 22h22 hours ago
Carrefour lunch. Such yum much taste. Shorts seem to have turned penis into mince. Bit earlier than expected. :S #TCRNo4 #TCRNo4S142
great stuff!

Thanks for that Phil, keep up the scooping  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 31 July, 2016, 06:02:26 pm
A few riders taking a more Southerly approach to check point #2.
Looks initially hillier. Maybe they plan to skirt Lac Leman from the South?

Sorry to hear about Bernd, any news on why?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 31 July, 2016, 06:41:23 pm
Er ... can someone point me to the tracker site?

(I've been round in circles of various pages of the official site; reportage, race info ...  to no avail. I'm sure its under my nose somewhere! )
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rob on 31 July, 2016, 06:51:20 pm
Er ... can someone point me to the tracker site?

(I've been round in circles of various pages of the official site; reportage, race info ...  to no avail. I'm sure its under my nose somewhere! )

http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 31 July, 2016, 09:55:26 pm
No updates on the state of hippy's knob though.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: inappropriate_bike on 31 July, 2016, 10:04:07 pm
No updates on the state of hippy's knob though.

It's currently in 12th place unless he left it behind somewhere!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 01 August, 2016, 10:00:22 am
More Twitter highlights

 hippy @firsthippy 6m6 minutes ago
 Rwgps anger at least made me forget saddle. So threw glasses on ground too. ‪#‎TCRNo4‬ ‪#‎navfail‬ (includes picture of forest trail)

Gavin Scott @GavJScot 2h2 hours ago
 Sudocreme and wet bib shorts really shouldn't feel this good, should they? #tcrno4 ‪#‎tcrno4s13‬ ‪#‎simplethings‬

Matt Brady @allotmentlad 4h4 hours ago
 You know you're dehydrated when you've a fine Pain au Chocalate but your body won't produce enough saliva to eat it successfully #TCRNo4

hippy @firsthippy 7h7 hours ago
 Late night cctv footage from unmanned service stations across France is me with hands down shorts. #TCRNo4 ‪#‎TCRNo4S142‬ Chamois cream! Filth

Mikko Mäkipää @mkpaa 8h8 hours ago
 "I'll wake up at 2 am or when it gets too cold" - wake up was 0:56. #TCRNo4

Rose McGovern @RoseMcTweets 14h14 hours ago
 Stumbled upon a medical festival, pretty cool. Or I'm really tired. ‪#‎TCRNO4S136‬ ‪#‎journey‬ ‪#‎happytrails‬ #Primal Europe Ltd

Rose McGovern @RoseMcTweets 14h14 hours ago Souvigny, France
 When cycling through France watch out for Sword fights #Tcrno4s136 ‪#‎medival‬ ‪#‎travel‬ #happytrails

@emilychappell: Cockpit with meringue. #TCRNo4 ” Whoop . So cool. (includes picture of handlebar meringue)

Matt Swain @swainjjmatt 15h15 hours ago
 Bonkers almost got run over by group of 10 cows running loose on the road narrowly avoided only in #TCRNo4 ‪#‎tcrs156‬

Jack Thurston @jackthurston 17h17 hours ago
 For a rider in 4th place in the race @PhillipsNeil's almost 8-hour snooze-fest is very impressive. #TCRNo4 ‪#‎fresh‬

Darren Franks @darrenfranks 28m28 minutes ago
 "I have wifi at my home!" Failed to mention it was at the top of a 14% hill. There's not enough climbing in #TCRNo4

Emily Chappell @emilychappell 37m37 minutes ago
 I do not think a single piece of footage will exist from this race in which I am not eating. #TCRNo4 ‪#‎Chappetite‬
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 01 August, 2016, 12:32:39 pm
Thanks Phil, I don't twit so keep em coming.

Kristof is through the CP2 climbing section and still riding with less than 3 hours stops since Friday night. WTF!
A few of the riders behind him have actually covered similar mileage but by less direct routes. Some of them have banked upwards of 10 hours rest though.
Surely Kristof will have to hole up soon?

#101 has scratched after being taken out by a drunk driver. sad.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 01 August, 2016, 12:45:25 pm
Just catching up. Shame Josh Ibbett has packed, would have liked to see him race against Kristof.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: cygnet on 01 August, 2016, 01:28:42 pm
I just twigged that George Marshall in team 210 is the same George Marshall who finished 5th in the 24hr a week ago.
 :o
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 01 August, 2016, 01:35:05 pm
I just twigged that George Marshall in team 210 is the same George Marshall who finished 5th in the 24hr a week ago.
 :o
Quite a handy domestique to have.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rob on 01 August, 2016, 02:00:21 pm
I just twigged that George Marshall in team 210 is the same George Marshall who finished 5th in the 24hr a week ago.
 :o

Bloody hell.   I just about returned to walking properly by Saturday afternoon.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Andrew on 01 August, 2016, 05:01:06 pm
Jesper Sorensen (48) seems to be having fun.... or directional issues.... or both. Anyone any ideas?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Greenbank on 01 August, 2016, 06:58:25 pm
Jesper Sorensen (48) seems to be having fun.... or directional issues.... or both. Anyone any ideas?

The guess elsewhere is that he swung by CDG to buy flights home, then went touring in Paris (Eiffel Tower) etc.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Soaplady on 01 August, 2016, 07:08:11 pm
I've been watching this on Trackleaders with fascinated interest and I have a question, please, for those who actually do very long rides. How is Kristof doing it? He's way out in front and appears to have had very little sleep or time off the bike in nearly three days. How is he managing it? Obviously some of you know him or know of him and I've discovered he's called "the Machine" which explains a lot, I guess. I'd be grateful for some insight. I'm genuinely curious...
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Greenbank on 01 August, 2016, 07:46:50 pm
He's got a good engine and doesn't need much sleep.

Neither thing is something you can really train or choose to have.

He's just found something that he's naturally good at, and he's done lots of similar things so he's got the experience not to make significant mistakes.

It helps that he seems to have a lot of mental determination too.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: inappropriate_bike on 01 August, 2016, 07:47:08 pm
Before the race he said on Twitter that he'd cycled 25,000 km since the first of Jan this year. So some of it will just be crazy levels of conditioning.

He has also probably done more riding on the routes the TCR covers than most people so I imagine his navigation is usually pretty good and he'll be more relaxed about the route and local challenges. (Food? Water?)

No idea about the rest - personally I need more sleep than that!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Greenbank on 01 August, 2016, 07:56:56 pm
Ha. I had 58h on a bike since 1st Jan before last weekend's 24.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 01 August, 2016, 08:04:52 pm
I just twigged that George Marshall in team 210 is the same George Marshall who finished 5th in the 24hr a week ago.
 :o

Bloody hell.   I just about returned to walking properly by Saturday afternoon.
The 210 team appear right at the end of this (and I think briefly earlier on too): https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=mRX3K7lX5x0

It's a good film, but bloody infuriating not getting interviewee's names etc! But I think this is first of many,  presumably they will do polished versions after the dust settles ...

I loved that Mike makes them walk up some steps to the checkin desk - no roadside molly-coddling, or waiting for them out in the cold/rain :P
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Oranj on 01 August, 2016, 08:55:46 pm
More links:
Race blog: http://www.transcontinental.cc/blog (http://www.transcontinental.cc/blog)
Daily videos by Francis Code: https://www.youtube.com/user/franciscccccc?feature=em-subs_digest (https://www.youtube.com/user/franciscccccc?feature=em-subs_digest)

There must be an official photographer, but I've not caught that link yet, save for a few portraits on the home page.

After apparently suffering the agonies of the damned Hippy has stopped the night at CP2, being caught by late-starting Ultan. Frank is somewhere midpack, and Emily Chappell is leading the women, in a very unassuming way. I saw her give a talk at a local village hall seemingly years ago, after her first cross-continent trip, she really caught the bug in the meantime!

Tricky bit next, navigating through the alpine passes. Kristof has yet to have a significant stop I think, but he's being tracked by Bjorn, who has had at least, ooh a couple of 2-hour kip stops. Interesting to see the tactic of Neil Phillips, currently 5th, who's had a couple of decent 8-hour stops already but is riding faster through the days.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 01 August, 2016, 10:48:48 pm
Photog is Camille McMillan
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Oranj on 02 August, 2016, 08:03:18 am
Francis Cade caught up with Hippy. 3:15 onwards here: https://youtu.be/9gdi0EpmocM?t=195 (https://youtu.be/9gdi0EpmocM?t=195)

He seems to be on the move again this morning. Although I'm sure he thought he lost a lot of time when he stopped at Grindelwald, many other riders have also had their first big sleep stop. He's still 14th. Frank has had an overnight stop somewhere in Switzerland, making good progress and 53rd.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 02 August, 2016, 08:24:06 am
Tricky bit next, navigating through the alpine passes. Kristof has yet to have a significant stop I think, but he's being tracked by Bjorn, who has had at least, ooh a couple of 2-hour kip stops. Interesting to see the tactic of Neil Phillips, currently 5th, who's had a couple of decent 8-hour stops already but is riding faster through the days.
IF I'm reading his Speed vs Time graph correctly, Kristof has had 3 decent stops:
Hours 26-31, 51-55 & 76-82 (i.e. early hours of this morning).

All eyeball estimates!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 02 August, 2016, 09:05:35 am
On guy got by a sprinkler system whilst trying to doze!

Lars Jørgen Jensen‎ :  The best TCR "do not sleep to long" place. All set for three hours in the bag. My alarm was on and woke me at 5am. Dozed off and then the automatic watering went on.....I was up in seconds and got my gear out of the war zone. ‪#‎TCRNo4S009
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 02 August, 2016, 09:07:48 am
He-he!

The guy that slept on the Clermont-Ferrand football ground caught my eye too (was that a screenshot that someone posted on FB? I don't have access right now).
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 02 August, 2016, 09:18:10 am
He-he!

The guy that slept on the Clermont-Ferrand football ground caught my eye too (was that a screenshot that someone posted on FB? I don't have access right now).

Yes, that was on FB, someone posted an aerial shot showing a TCR tracker position stationary in the middle of the football pitch.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 02 August, 2016, 09:23:23 am
In the latest blog.

Charles Batho (159) must be playing the long game, because despite completing most of the flat without aerobars, he's now getting them fitted for the mountains - hopefully they'll be of benefit to him on the descents!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 02 August, 2016, 09:26:06 am
Look who has moved into second place, closing on the leader

only 50kms away... Björn Lenhard (026) must have had his Weetabix. While most of us today have struggled through our 9-5 jobs, Bjorn has put in an exemplary performance, passing Alexandre Bourgeonnier (002), Carlos Mazon (060), Ultan Coyle (004), Neil Phillips (172) and Nelson Trees (080). No wonder Kristof is still pedalling hard
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: andrew_s on 02 August, 2016, 09:47:26 am
I see there's a write up on the Inner Ring
http://inrng.com/2016/08/the-transcontinental/
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 02 August, 2016, 09:54:19 am
Darren's Arse is talking to Darren - brilliant

https://twitter.com/DarrensArse/status/760387146075217920
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 02 August, 2016, 09:57:21 am
Look who has moved into second place, closing on the leader

only 50kms away... Björn Lenhard (026) must have had his Weetabix. While most of us today have struggled through our 9-5 jobs, Bjorn has put in an exemplary performance, passing Alexandre Bourgeonnier (002), Carlos Mazon (060), Ultan Coyle (004), Neil Phillips (172) and Nelson Trees (080). No wonder Kristof is still pedalling hard
I note that the routes taken have just split into 3 (after Tamins). Kristof took his own path, and Bjorn (026) took a different route to everyone else. Maybe he's gained miles while dodging metres (climbing!) ?

And where is rider 77 off to??
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 02 August, 2016, 10:00:00 am
I know that ascent figures need to be taken with a pinch of salt, but if this is anywhere close to true, then, well, fuck, that is an astonishing figure:

Day 3
22:00 - 21:55 Aug 1st
Track / Route: 294.5 / 359.3 km
Climbing: 15164.0 m
Moving: 24.0 hours, 15.0 km/h

(Allegaert's numbers taken from www.frrt.org)

I've climbed like 6500-7000m in a day in the big mountains. OK, not a full day's work like Kristof, but if I were racing, I could still not imagine that getting much beyond 10000m in a day and that would truly hurt.  That is mind-blowing.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 02 August, 2016, 12:24:22 pm
Me and the missus cycled around Bolzano last year. There is a great system of bike paths along all the valley floors in that neck of the woods. I guess the riders will use them too. (though they may be pretty clogged with families of cyclists this time of year) Apples (orchards) and cider all along the bike paths for hungry/thirsty riders.

I loved the riding around that area so much that we are booked to do the Munich to Venice cycle path route next month. After seeing the TRC route for this year we are going to take a couple of days at Cortina so I can do a climb of the Passo di  Giao. It will be from the other way up, but cool to see the road in real time that the riders are taking now.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 02 August, 2016, 12:47:29 pm
Look who has moved into second place, closing on the leader

only 50kms away... Björn Lenhard (026) must have had his Weetabix. While most of us today have struggled through our 9-5 jobs, Bjorn has put in an exemplary performance, passing Alexandre Bourgeonnier (002), Carlos Mazon (060), Ultan Coyle (004), Neil Phillips (172) and Nelson Trees (080). No wonder Kristof is still pedalling hard

2 kph faster and 15 hours more sleep. I can't see Kristof holding him off for long.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: chrisbainbridge on 02 August, 2016, 01:21:30 pm
Morbihan
Thread hijack. Will you do a write up. My wife and I were thinking of romantic road,Wurzburg- Fussen then join the Munich to Venice and do about 1000km in a month.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 02 August, 2016, 01:57:12 pm
Morbihan
Thread hijack. Will you do a write up. My wife and I were thinking of romantic road,Wurzburg- Fussen then join the Munich to Venice and do about 1000km in a month.

Happy to.
we've been asked by the Firefly adventure team to be one of the months posts. (Oct I think) so we will be taking pics and doing a write up en route.
It will probably be on this link below but will post here too.
http://www.fireflyadventureteam.com
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Oranj on 02 August, 2016, 03:00:55 pm
Looks like Hippy is heading for the southern, flatter, but much longer route (in fact he tweeted as much "Soft southern route for me. Ciao Grazi.Prego #TCRNo4").

I found there's a fair bit of informed discussion on the relative merits and demerits of taking this route on the LFGSS forum: https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/228045/?offset=2900 (https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/228045/?offset=2900)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Karla on 02 August, 2016, 03:56:24 pm
I'm watching his progress with interest as I'll be covering the same ground in the other direction (and at half the pace) in a couple of weeks.  Currently I've opted for the northern route; that might change depending on how tired I feel. 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 02 August, 2016, 04:56:06 pm
... And where is rider 77 off to??

He seems to be following broadly the same routes as everyone else, currently, but where is 142 going?  He looks like he's following the same route as Control Car 1 used to get to CP3 (which is displayed in orange).

(http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/Transcontinental_Rider142_50percent.png) (http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/Transcontinental_Rider142.png)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 02 August, 2016, 05:05:59 pm
... And where is rider 77 off to??

He seems to be following broadly the same routes as everyone else, currently, but where is 142 going?  He looks like he's following the same route as Control Car 1 used to get to CP3 (which is displayed in orange).

(http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/Transcontinental_Rider142_50percent.png) (http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/Transcontinental_Rider142.png)

142 is a fat bastard that doesn't like hills, but he is flipping quick on the flatter stuff.  So this might be a genius move (though he has tweeted that he ended up on/near a motorway, so maybe not!).

As per Oranj's post above, there's a lot of good discussion on Hippy's penis and arse progress on LFGSS
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 02 August, 2016, 06:41:21 pm
Surprised by the South routers choice.
 From what I remember the valley floors around South Tyrol were pretty gentle. (Bolzano and Merano)
Thats a big old diversion to take.
Maybe it kicks up either side of that neck of the woods.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Soaplady on 02 August, 2016, 06:54:58 pm
Thanks for the insights and explanation after my question t'other day. I shall continue to dot-watch with fascination.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 02 August, 2016, 07:04:58 pm
Kristof is just about to roll into Lienz.
We stayed there last year on a Backroads cycling trip. They put you up in the Grand Hotel right on the river. Its all cocktails, massages and fancy buffet breakfasts.
Whats the bets on Kristof holing up there for a scrub up?
They probably have a complimentary parking valley for your bike.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: PeeJay on 02 August, 2016, 07:27:51 pm
Darren's Arse is talking to Darren - brilliant

https://twitter.com/DarrensArse/status/760387146075217920

Other body parts are also joining the conversation https://twitter.com/DarrensBalls/status/760513232884887552
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 02 August, 2016, 07:31:05 pm
Forget the Lienz stop, Kristof has blown right by and is still trucking. He's like a 24/7 Stannard/Tony Martin composite.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: fussballclub on 02 August, 2016, 09:26:30 pm
Riding over the Strelapass at night on a road bike must be the most audacious route yet.

http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16i.php?name=Stephane_Ouaja (http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16i.php?name=Stephane_Ouaja)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 02 August, 2016, 09:33:31 pm
Riding over the Strelapass at night on a road bike must be the most audacious route yet.

http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16i.php?name=Stephane_Ouaja (http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16i.php?name=Stephane_Ouaja)

was just looking at that. Intriguing.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Oranj on 02 August, 2016, 10:01:03 pm
Photog is Camille McMillan

Thanks, I tracked down her Instagram feed https://www.instagram.com/camillejmcmillan/ (https://www.instagram.com/camillejmcmillan/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: martind on 03 August, 2016, 08:52:32 am
Photog is Camille McMillan

Thanks, I tracked down her Instagram feed https://www.instagram.com/camillejmcmillan/ (https://www.instagram.com/camillejmcmillan/)

She is a bloke!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 03 August, 2016, 10:15:06 am
Photog is Camille McMillan

Thanks, I tracked down her Instagram feed https://www.instagram.com/camillejmcmillan/ (https://www.instagram.com/camillejmcmillan/)

She is a bloke!
Camille John McMillan.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Oranj on 03 August, 2016, 10:26:44 am
She is a bloke!

My bad.

Who knew?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 03 August, 2016, 10:34:04 am
For Kristof fans, here are some facts about him:

 Kristof eats bullets and nails as snacks
 He wears sunglasses so that his eyes won't hurt the sun
 Kristof's jersey is actually made from a cloth they found in the meteorite he hatched out of
 His day job is to power Belgium's national grid on his turbo
 And so on

(copied from yesterdays blog)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 03 August, 2016, 10:51:12 am
She is a bloke!

My bad.

Who knew?
If you watch the documentary from last years race, he's the guy with the moustache.

EDIT- He's the first person in the film - https://vimeo.com/176424978
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 03 August, 2016, 10:55:54 am
... And where is rider 77 off to??

He seems to be following broadly the same routes as everyone else, currently, but where is 142 going?  He looks like he's following the same route as Control Car 1 used to get to CP3 (which is displayed in orange).

(http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/Transcontinental_Rider142_50percent.png) (http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/Transcontinental_Rider142.png)

142 is a fat bastard that doesn't like hills, but he is flipping quick on the flatter stuff.  So this might be a genius move (though he has tweeted that he ended up on/near a motorway, so maybe not!).

As per Oranj's post above, there's a lot of good discussion on Hippy's penis and arse progress on LFGSS
Hippy's moving average is now a click faster than the leader!


(#77 was briefly tracked on a cable car route, but did indeed return to normality. I shall stop being distracted by random GPS errors <writes 500 lines> ...   )
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 03 August, 2016, 11:00:20 am
(#77 was briefly tracked on a cable car route, but did indeed return to normality. I shall stop being distracted by random GPS errors <writes 500 lines> ...   )

As I understand it, the website 'guesses' what roads they are likely to have taken - a tracker only checks in every 5? 10? minutes depending on how they're set (my SPOT is set to 10 minutes), so the website makes a guess at how those check-ins are connected.

Ivan of ACH did all the clever work on this site, so he'd be the one to explain it better (and probably tell me off for using the word guess, rather than "complex algorithm").
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 03 August, 2016, 11:24:23 am
You don't fool me - I think he went for a cable car ride. /OccamsRazor
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Jabba on 03 August, 2016, 02:13:58 pm
Has Mike Hall checked Kristof for a motor  :o ??? ;D

He now appears to be about 300+km ahead of the nearest rival and Bjorn seems to have slipped back.  Or to really rub it in he's a whole country (Slovenia) ahead of the pack!!!!!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 03 August, 2016, 04:04:19 pm
... but where is 142 going?  He looks like he's following the same route as Control Car 1 used to get to CP3 ...

142 is a fat bastard that doesn't like hills, but he is flipping quick on the flatter stuff.  So this might be a genius move ...

He's moved a fair bit east, so definitely was quite fast on the flat stuff, but is now progressing northwards towards CP3.  I guess it remains to be seen how steep that route is going to be, compared to the "straight through the mountains" route used by most.  A few other riders are also taking a similar approach to him, but not necessarily waiting until they are quite as far east as he was, before turning to the north.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 03 August, 2016, 04:31:25 pm
Looks like it should work out quite well for him.  Just outside the top 10 by the looks of it.

Contender James Hayden, who had to rest up early on with a chest infection, is flying along and is targeting a top 10 finish still.  Stunning.

And as for Kristof.  Well, we're seeing magic happen!  Mind-blowing.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Ivo on 03 August, 2016, 10:10:45 pm
Just to put things into perspective, Kristof already passed two frontlines of the 90-ies while the others are still in area's where there has never been a glimpse of war at all.
Is Björns tracker dead? He hasn't been moving for a while on the Free Route tracker
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 03 August, 2016, 10:31:47 pm
Bjorn has reported breathing difficulties as I understand it.  Been to see a doctor, but clearly slowed down a lot currently.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Jabba on 04 August, 2016, 09:00:33 am
Apart from the 'Machine' that is Kristof it looks like the outstanding rider currently is James Hayden who is now ~10th on the road after a massive push through the mountains  :o :o
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Fidgetbuzz on 04 August, 2016, 11:20:37 am
I find the whole thing quite confusing .. at the front there are superhumans and at the back there seem to be guys going for a gentle tour .. making progress at about my speed.  What do we speculate is the motivation of the riders at the back ??  Just to take part .. even tho they have a very solitary ride .. how much does this cost them to do .. and why not just ride a long continental tour , even possibly with mates, having a great time .. why enter this event??
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 04 August, 2016, 12:05:09 pm
Quote
I find the whole thing PBP quite confusing .. at the front there are superhumans and at the back there seem to be guys like Fidgetbuzz  going for a gentle tour .. making progress at about my speed.
Does that help at all?  :)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 04 August, 2016, 01:43:13 pm
As i understand it, there is a finisher's party on next Saturday. That is 15 days from the start.

That is the goal for many. Make the party.

That is still 250-300km per day, so really big distances.

Of course some don't make it in time for the party, but I am sure they have a wild adventure.

The guidance on TransAm is anything more than 40 days and it is starting to look like touring.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: simonp on 04 August, 2016, 01:45:51 pm
Audax minimum pace at that distance is 200km/day so that target is considerably more challenging.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 04 August, 2016, 01:53:44 pm
I'm sticking my hat into the ring next year.
I'm totally enthralled by the the whole event.
I know that starting places are hard to come by but its worth a shot.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 04 August, 2016, 02:21:58 pm
I may also throw my hat in the ring. TransAm interests me more, but this could be a good test run. I am also trying to do another long solo ride and have a couple of projects I am working on with that.

I have just begun the process of quitting and selling my part of my main business, so may have more time next year. Though I am also starting a new business up and I am intrigued as to how that will grow (or not). So who knows!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Fidgetbuzz on 04 August, 2016, 03:47:39 pm
Quote
I find the whole thing PBP quite confusing .. at the front there are superhumans and at the back there seem to be guys like Fidgetbuzz  going for a gentle tour .. making progress at about my speed.
Does that help at all?  :)

Well yes and no Matt. All PBP entrants have ridden a 600 in time .. so the 90 hour limit is achievable for all entrants .. even tho they know they are not riding at speeds comparable to the leaders  .. but here the back markers seem to have been riding for about 3 1/2 days and stopped for about 2 days.. this is not similar to  the back of PBP.. and at the moment it does seem as if many will not make the 10 day limit and they will know that now ( although maybe my guess at their performance is incorrect ) .. so why they doing it ?? still my query??
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: clarion on 04 August, 2016, 03:51:06 pm
Frank's made CP3
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 04 August, 2016, 04:04:21 pm
Quote
I find the whole thing PBP quite confusing .. at the front there are superhumans and at the back there seem to be guys like Fidgetbuzz  going for a gentle tour .. making progress at about my speed.
Does that help at all?  :)

Well yes and no Matt. All PBP entrants have ridden a 600 in time .. so the 90 hour limit is achievable for all entrants .. even tho they know they are not riding at speeds comparable to the leaders  .. but here the back markers seem to have been riding for about 3 1/2 days and stopped for about 2 days.. this is not similar to  the back of PBP.. and at the moment it does seem as if many will not make the 10 day limit and they will know that now ( although maybe my guess at their performance is incorrect ) .. so why they doing it ?? still my query??

There is no limit.

15 days is a guideline target and reaching Turkey in time for the party is the aim for a large chunk of the riders.

Why does anyone do anything?

I entered the 24 hour TT national championships - I wasn't expecting to win, or even get a podium place.  Why did I bother?  To find out how far I could ride a bike in 24 hours and have a bit of an adventure along the way.


There are some real back-markers yes.  Some may have bitten off more than they can chew, some may have known it might take them 20 days to complete, 30 even.  But look at last year's results - everyone who did the ride through the checkpoints is listed:

http://reportage.transcontinental.cc/?page_id=2409

David Coulon took 34 days to ride the event.  I bet his personal adventure is just as interesting as those at the sharp end.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 04 August, 2016, 04:33:15 pm
I'd add that there are usually a few stragglers waaay off the back of PBP; a much smaller %age than on TCR, and rarely finishing in such extreme multiples of the winner's time.

But the scale is very different; TCR has a much higher "scratch" rate, and riding (say) a 600k is just a tiny window on riding 4000km. So more riders will be unprepared.

Plus the route of TCR is far more attractive than PBP if you are just out for a nice (long) ride. I _personally_ would not want to spend 8 days riding the PBP route, when I could ride somewhere much nicer for a week. But crossing the alps and Yugoslavia, with just a bivvy bag? That sounds fun!

So; they're the same ... but very different!!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Gareth on 04 August, 2016, 05:21:57 pm
First time I've watched TCR since the first one, how its grown, I'm finding it hard this side of the screen!

Great blog here - http://www.transcontinental.cc/blog   
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 04 August, 2016, 06:09:37 pm
There is a rough leading break of about 25 riders now exited from the Dolomites and heading South. They have all done at least 1,600 km.

As a very rough guide I see that as riding 300km a day (6 days) with a 200km "get out of jail free" card to count against the steep mountain sections.

If they are still in good nick, as the terrain becomes more rolling and less grimpy they should probably start knocking out 300+ km days to stay in contention. Perhaps more towards the end when all-nighters will be ridden to jump up the leader board.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 04 August, 2016, 06:37:45 pm
First time I've watched TCR since the first one, how its grown, I'm finding it hard this side of the screen!

Great blog here - http://www.transcontinental.cc/blog   
Thanks.

You can see what a tough event this is: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e03aab7da24fcf36e00d86/t/57a28268cd0f687001616bdd/1470268012247/?format=1500w
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Ivo on 04 August, 2016, 06:40:42 pm
What surprises me at the sharp end is that only Kristof took the easy sleigh ride through the Sava valley while the others are scaling their way through the coastal mountains. The Knin area is at least as landmine infested as the northern bit, the part they're going to hit north of the Bosnian border is even more devastated (although the upper Una valley is superb cycling territory). I just hope that none of them chooses an empty  pockmarked building with graffiti as a place to bed down tonight....
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 05 August, 2016, 08:51:19 am
First time I've watched TCR since the first one, how its grown, I'm finding it hard this side of the screen!

Great blog here - http://www.transcontinental.cc/blog   
Thanks.

You can see what a tough event this is: http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e03aab7da24fcf36e00d86/t/57a28268cd0f687001616bdd/1470268012247/?format=1500w

(http://static1.squarespace.com/static/56e03aab7da24fcf36e00d86/t/57a28268cd0f687001616bdd/1470268012247/?format=1500w)

Goodness knows what evil thoughts Mike is having for next year's parcours based on this test run!

I await next spring's discussion on which life jacket is lightest and most multi-functional.  I am already seeing that life jacket = mattress.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 05 August, 2016, 11:00:25 am
So Ivan's tracking website has Kristof estimated to finish at 9:21 on Sunday morning.

That is just mind blowing.

His average route speed (so far) is 19kph - that's a solid speed for a mid-pack finisher on a 200km (10.5 hours).  But for nearly 4000km?!  Just amazing.

The star of the pointy end has to be James Hayden though - up into 6th place.  Of course, a huge case of 'what if?', but an incredible recovery and shows just how good he is.

Many entertaining characters on Twitter - Hippy and Darren Franks have been keeping me amused.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: clarion on 05 August, 2016, 11:32:20 am
That is astonishing.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 05 August, 2016, 11:37:28 am
Out of interest, has Kristof ever raced against Mike Hall?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: ian_oli on 05 August, 2016, 04:44:07 pm
Puzzled by Kristof's route today.

There is a pass from Rosaje in Montenegro that he went through around 8 ago hours from the time of this post that gets you into Kosovo quite quickly. And Kosovo is really flat and has nice wide roads that you feel safe on and gets you to Montenegro in a few hours, even at my pace when I did it in 2014. Instead he is going in more or less the wrong direction.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Gareth on 05 August, 2016, 04:59:38 pm
Puzzled by Kristof's route today.

There is a pass from Rosaje in Montenegro that he went through around 8 ago hours from the time of this post that gets you into Kosovo quite quickly. And Kosovo is really flat and has nice wide roads that you feel safe on and gets you to Montenegro in a few hours, even at my pace when I did it in 2014. Instead he is going in more or less the wrong direction.

Kristoffs heading to Nis to get on the dreaded '8' to Plodviv, he'll no doubt cross in to Turkey at Erdine then hang a right. Its the same route he's used for his previous TCR's.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 06 August, 2016, 11:30:36 am
So Ivan's tracking website has Kristof estimated to finish at 9:21 on Sunday morning.

That is just mind blowing.

Yep, astonishing pace. Incredible lead over the rest of the pack as well.

I've been keeping an eye on Ultan Coyle and George Marshall, because they're the ones I know a bit, having ridden with them both before. Ultan is going very well indeed, near the front of the pack. I presume he's using a more suitable bike this year than the full TT rig he was on last year.

George seems to be mid-pack. He also did the Mersey 24 last week as well and finished 5th with 498 miles, so I wonder if that has taken it out of him a bit.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 06 August, 2016, 11:47:16 am
Ah, I see George has already been mentioned upthread...

I just twigged that George Marshall in team 210 is the same George Marshall who finished 5th in the 24hr a week ago.
 :o
Quite a handy domestique to have.

I once rode back with him to London from a photo shoot in Essex. He was the photographer, so was lugging all his camera gear as well. Two of us were struggling to hold on to his wheel for mile after mile. The only reason we were able to keep up at all was because he had an achilles injury that was slowing him down.

George was also the photographer I commissioned to shoot Steve for a piece on the mileage record last year. He does lots of stuff for Rapha as well.

I wouldn't be surprised if he was planning to ride home from Turkey afterwards.

Anyone interested in Camille McMillan may like to know about his new book, Circus (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Circus-Inside-World-Professional-Racing/dp/1911162039), an anthology of some of his pro cycling photography. It's great. I know him vaguely too. Quite a character.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: IanDG on 06 August, 2016, 12:21:45 pm


Yep, astonishing pace. Incredible lead over the rest of the pack as well.




He was a whole 'Serbia' ahead this morning when I looked at the tracker  :o
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: ian_oli on 06 August, 2016, 04:21:52 pm
Puzzled by Kristof's route today.

There is a pass from Rosaje in Montenegro that he went through around 8 ago hours from the time of this post that gets you into Kosovo quite quickly. And Kosovo is really flat and has nice wide roads that you feel safe on and gets you to Montenegro in a few hours, even at my pace when I did it in 2014. Instead he is going in more or less the wrong direction.

Kristoffs heading to Nis to get on the dreaded '8' to Plodviv, he'll no doubt cross in to Turkey at Erdine then hang a right. Its the same route he's used for his previous TCR's.

I still reckon he's taken a longer route than me - I too went through Plovdiv/Edirne, but avoiding all but a few Kms of the bad bit of the dreaded route 8, but he's so far ahead it hardly matters. The following pack are using Kosovo by the look of it. I wasnt in Kosovo very long, but stayed in a 4 star hotel in Pec for 50euro B&B and saw a hand grenade among the roadkill.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 06 August, 2016, 09:27:44 pm
And James is now in 4th and closing in on 3rd
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 07 August, 2016, 02:03:51 am
James to pull a monster and make 2nd place?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Jabba on 07 August, 2016, 09:27:25 am
James has obviously had to back off overnight and catch up on sone sleep so is 4th about 100km behind 2nd place but what a comeback  :o :o

'The Machine' looks set to finish in the next couple of hours probably a day ahead of everyone else, what would have it been like if James hadn't had his issues  ;D
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 07 August, 2016, 12:06:09 pm
And he's in! (well on the ferry)
The machine stopped briefly this morning at a gas station to put some oil in his new, then smashed out the last few kms.
Massive chapeau. What an achievement!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 07 August, 2016, 12:44:36 pm
What a guy.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mrcharly-YHT on 07 August, 2016, 03:36:00 pm
Can we hire him instead of building Hinkley?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Salvatore on 07 August, 2016, 05:27:27 pm
Kristof is a YACFer

https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?action=profile;area=showposts;u=873
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 08 August, 2016, 02:21:52 pm
Neil Philips is almost home and dry.
Top ride.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Robh on 08 August, 2016, 03:25:16 pm
Can someone who knows more about this please convince me that Emily hasn't taken the wrong road on leaving Checkpoint 4? Her tracker worries me.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 08 August, 2016, 04:48:43 pm
Can someone who knows more about this please convince me that Emily hasn't taken the wrong road on leaving Checkpoint 4? Her tracker worries me.

That is a little odd, isn't it.  As far as I can tell, everyone else went north for a while and then eastwards, whereas she's gone south, and now west.

Maybe she has slightly unusual plans for a stop, well off of the route that others are using, but she is only a few miles away from crossing her own route!

(http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/small.php?size=500&file=Emily_TCR4_20160808.png) (http://balius.sp.ph.ic.ac.uk/~timo/stuff/Emily_TCR4_20160808.png)
Emily Chappell's route in red.  All riders routes in light blue.  Click for bigness.

Slightly strangely, Trackleaders does not have a time for her at CP4, but she was there, according to her own Tweet (https://twitter.com/emilychappell/status/762662642725031937).
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Tim Hall on 08 August, 2016, 05:21:37 pm
According to Rebecca in The Other Place, it's all about dodging busy roads:

Quote
Interesting strategy here, as Emily goes back to pick up the "goat track" option. She appears to have decided to hug the coast somewhat, the other obvious* options being either a slow zig-zag route through the mountains or the terrifying truck-driver roads of Bulgaria (which Kristof used but are apparently mythic in their levels of terror, especially at night).
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 08 August, 2016, 06:53:30 pm
So it's a tactic not lostness? That's good. And she does have experience of the trucker roads from her round the world trip, so might want to avoid them from that –though she always speaks highly of lorry drivers' hospitality. Anyways, if you zoom in on her route there's a spur up into the mountains off M18 (which I assume is a main road itself) to a place called Gorne Polje (= Upper Field, though it looks flatter than the other side of the valley where the M18 is) and then she rejoins the main road. Perhaps she went to visit someone/thing/where?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Robh on 08 August, 2016, 08:57:36 pm
According to Rebecca in The Other Place, it's all about dodging busy roads:

Quote
Interesting strategy here, as Emily goes back to pick up the "goat track" option. She appears to have decided to hug the coast somewhat, the other obvious* options being either a slow zig-zag route through the mountains or the terrifying truck-driver roads of Bulgaria (which Kristof used but are apparently mythic in their levels of terror, especially at night).
Thanks Tim. All is now clear.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 August, 2016, 12:49:55 pm
It looks as if she's heading for Greece now!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 09 August, 2016, 01:03:36 pm
James Hayden, Neil Phillips, Carlos Mazon and Peter Sandholt have all finished now. Looks like Geoffroy Dussault, Ultan Coyle and Nelson Trees will be next in - according to Trackleaders, Ultan is 53km from the finish, the other two are within 10km behind him. On a race of this scale, that's practically a bunch sprint finish!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 09 August, 2016, 01:48:05 pm
Who are the contenders in the womens race?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 09 August, 2016, 01:51:52 pm
Who are the contenders in the womens race?

As far as I can see from the leaderboard, Emily Chappell was the first woman through CP4 - a couple of hours ahead of yacf's Frank. Trackleaders is showing Emily as being 548km from the finish, with an ETA of Thursday evening around 7pm.

Charlotte Dequevauviller came through CP4 17 hours after Emily. Don't think any other women have reached CP4 yet unless there are one or two I've missed on the leaderboard.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 09 August, 2016, 02:03:27 pm
Who are the contenders in the womens race?

As far as I can see from the leaderboard, Emily Chappell was the first woman through CP4 - a couple of hours ahead of yacf's Frank. Trackleaders is showing Emily as being 548km from the finish, with an ETA of Thursday evening around 7pm.

Charlotte Dequevauviller came through CP4 17 hours after Emily. Don't think any other women have reached CP4 yet unless there are one or two I've missed on the leaderboard.

Nice one.

As proven with the Camille thing, I didn't just want to read the leaderboard and assume gender...  ;D
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 09 August, 2016, 02:04:38 pm
Looks like Nelson Trees has just overtaken Ultan Coyle! Although it seems that Ultan's tracker isn't updating as often as Nelson's so I'm not sure. Both are due to finish within the next 90 minutes or so - around 3.30pm UK time.

ETA: latest update shows Ultan ahead of Nelson again.

ETA: official twitter feed says Nelson is leading.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 09 August, 2016, 02:58:18 pm
Ultan still in the lead according to latest tracker. 6km to go...
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 09 August, 2016, 03:10:33 pm
Both appear to be waiting for the ferry in Eceabat now.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 09 August, 2016, 03:53:25 pm
It looks as if she's heading for Greece now!

I'm trying to guess whether she'll go north or south of Lakes Ohird and Prespa.  South may be slightly less mountainy, but is probably a bit further.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 09 August, 2016, 03:57:49 pm
Ultan and Nelson get the same finishing time.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 09 August, 2016, 06:56:12 pm
It looks as if she's heading for Greece now!

I'm trying to guess whether she'll go north or south of Lakes Ohird and Prespa.  South may be slightly less mountainy, but is probably a bit further.
Maybe between the two? If she goes south of both, she will be in Greece!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 09 August, 2016, 07:37:32 pm
Who are the contenders in the womens race?

As far as I can see from the leaderboard, Emily Chappell was the first woman through CP4 - a couple of hours ahead of yacf's Frank. Trackleaders is showing Emily as being 548km from the finish, with an ETA of Thursday evening around 7pm.

Charlotte Dequevauviller came through CP4 17 hours after Emily. Don't think any other women have reached CP4 yet unless there are one or two I've missed on the leaderboard.
I think Johanna (141) is well up there (CP4 2 hours ago -ish).

There was a ... "lively"* discussion, involving Mike Hall, a few days ago about making the gurrrls' dots pink. Which would clearly make the race-within-the-race more visible. For good or bad - discuss!


*but good-natured :)
I actually though that his best tactic would be to make the GUYS' dots pink.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Karla on 09 August, 2016, 08:44:40 pm
I've (quite by chance) been touring the opposite way up a section of the route, so I've made a couple of forumite spotting.

Yesterday : Hippy, in Kosovo
Today: Frank, in Montenegro

We get around on here ...
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 09 August, 2016, 09:50:45 pm
One of my mates was doing a ride recce for the TorTour last week (nutter) and said he saw about a dozen riders with strange bike packing gear in Interlarken and there about.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Mr Larrington on 10 August, 2016, 01:21:44 am
Just cyclists larken about.

The ultra-lightweight o e that packs into its own pocket, thanks.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: JonBuoy on 10 August, 2016, 12:48:27 pm
Does anyone know why Peter Sandholt appears in 156th place with 2063k to go on FRRT.com but is marked down as finished ?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: cygnet on 10 August, 2016, 05:49:15 pm
Temporary GPS Glitch?

Incidentally the IvanScience is projecting everyone's route to Canakkale through Edirne (probably using Google-walking) which for the coastal route riders is adding on ~155km to their Estimated DTF.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 10 August, 2016, 08:54:11 pm
There was a ... "lively"* discussion

Where?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: zigzag on 10 August, 2016, 09:39:57 pm
congratulations hippy on finishing, what an entertaining ride (on this side of the screen at least!), half a distance of the trans-am (is it still on ;) )

keep going Frank, just a bit of greece and a corner of turkey left!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 10 August, 2016, 09:41:55 pm
Yep. Massive hats off to hippy for the most amount of tweets ever sent during a bike race.

A top ride.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 10 August, 2016, 09:45:35 pm
It looks as if she's heading for Greece now!
I'm trying to guess whether she'll go north or south of Lakes Ohird and Prespa.  South may be slightly less mountainy, but is probably a bit further.
Maybe between the two? If she goes south of both, she will be in Greece!
So, she went North of both of them, and then straight(ish) across to Thessaloniki, which seemed the logical route.

I suppose that she'll now have to more or less follow the Control Car's route, up towards Kavala, and merge into the same route that almost everyone else has taken to the finish.

She still appears to be well in the lead as the first female finisher.  I think Jayne Wadsworth (assuming that's another female rider!) is her nearest competitor, and she appears to be about 2½ countries behind Emily at the moment.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Ivo on 10 August, 2016, 09:48:55 pm
Yep. Massive hats off to hippy for the most amount of tweets ever sent during a bike race.

A top ride.

Johanna has an impressive amount of Facebook posts and is still on the road.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: cygnet on 10 August, 2016, 10:54:11 pm
Jayne is 3rd woman on the road I think. Now she's got her tracker fixed as well.
Well done hippy. Entertaining as well as a massive ride.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 11 August, 2016, 09:40:58 am
Emily and Frank to finish today?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: rob on 11 August, 2016, 09:46:56 am
Emily and Frank to finish today?

Frank's wife has been posting updates on Facebook.   Last couple of days have been a bit tough and he now expects to finish on Friday.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 11 August, 2016, 01:28:35 pm
Top ride Hippy.
Hope to meet you next year if me and the Mud Puppy get a slot.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 August, 2016, 01:41:02 pm
How frequently does the ferry run? Frequently enough that it's not a factor or do riders end up waiting till the next day?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: citoyen on 11 August, 2016, 02:24:18 pm
How frequently does the ferry run? Frequently enough that it's not a factor or do riders end up waiting till the next day?

Seems to be quite frequent and round the clock. I googled for the timetable the other day and found some info here: http://www.canakkaletravel.com/feribot.htm
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: cjm on 11 August, 2016, 02:35:39 pm
The shorter ferry from Kilitbahir doesn't seem to run as frequently/late at night as the Eceabat ferry, and only a couple of people have taken the Gallipoli ferry which looks like a shorter route.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 11 August, 2016, 02:36:55 pm
I wish we had buses and trains that regular!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: teethgrinder on 11 August, 2016, 08:48:35 pm
Emily Chappell reckons she has about 100 miles to go and seems to be feeling tired, so I'd guess at an early morning finish, before dawn at best.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 12 August, 2016, 07:17:30 am
Looks like Frank and Emily are waiting for the ferry now. Awesome stuff. I think Emily must have been employed by the Albanian tourist board as she took a different route to most, and far more beautiful it seems!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: alexb on 12 August, 2016, 07:36:25 am
Looks like Emily is home and first woman. Amazing. If you haven't found her audio blog, go search it out, it's great.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 12 August, 2016, 10:23:40 am
her audio blog

 ???
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 12 August, 2016, 10:24:37 am
I liked this interview with Kristof. Some wise words for people thinking of entering next year.

http://road.cc/content/news/200576-kristof-allegaert-tcr-those-who-can-suffer
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 12 August, 2016, 11:21:09 am
her audio blog

 ???
I googled audio blog. It returns stuff like this:

The high-end audio blog. The technical issues, deep psychological aspects, and just pure joy of using hi-fi to pursue the ultimate listening experience

HTH ;)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Robh on 12 August, 2016, 11:39:06 am
her audio blog

 ???
Try https://audioboom.com/jackthur


Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: D.A.L.E. on 12 August, 2016, 11:45:47 am
her audio blog

 ???
Try https://audioboom.com/jackthur

dank je
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 12 August, 2016, 03:42:18 pm
Nice little article on TCR

https://avauntmagazine.com/the-transcontinental
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 13 August, 2016, 12:18:51 pm
It will take me a while to sort this one out in m$y head but I put up a few early thoughts on Cyclechat:  http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/transcontinental-2016.190629/page-21 (http://www.cyclechat.net/threads/transcontinental-2016.190629/page-21)

About 4 posts down
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 13 August, 2016, 05:41:37 pm
Chapeau Frank!

Well done.

I can only have a small idea of what is going through your head as you finish.

Great ride.

Enjoy the party!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Peter on 13 August, 2016, 06:03:32 pm
Frank, I look forward to seeing you enlarge upon this:-

"your shorts get stripped away to reveal a more simple purpose beneath"

Well done

Peter
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 15 August, 2016, 09:47:37 am
I'm really impressed by all the people still struggling towards the finish several days after most of the field has got there. It must be hugely tempting just to pack it in and go home and/or wandering wherever, but they don't. No 228 Alberto Varni for example, currently just past Rijeka with an estimated 1500km to go.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 15 August, 2016, 01:17:44 pm
Thanks for putting your thoughts out Frank, its been enthralling watching you all on your respective journeys. Massive chapeau.

Emily Chappels audio recordings are such a raw descriptive insight into her experience. She paints with her voice. If any of you haven't listened to them (there is a link further up the thread) I highly recommend you spend half an hour with her.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 15 August, 2016, 04:20:35 pm
I enjoyed listening to Emily's updates. They gave a pretty accurate picture of how things felt, and an authentic mix of good times and bad times.
I met her at the finish, as we ended up coming in on the same ferry, having leapfrogged each other during the previous few hours. We were able to compare notes on how hard the last stage was, mentally. However she's a far stronger rider than me and would have been a good few places higher if she'd chosen her route with a touch more care!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: JenM on 16 August, 2016, 09:01:51 am
Nice write up about Emily Chappell's ride

https://totalwomenscycling.com/lifestyle/emily-chappell-winning-transcontinental-bike-race-feeling-strong-powerful-unstoppable-83822/?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=twitterfeed#VQX77zXsWKYILJxL.97
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Cudzoziemiec on 16 August, 2016, 10:43:06 am
That was a good read. But they say
Quote
She finished knowing she’d comfortably taken the top spot on the podium, as well as being 11th overall from hundreds of riders – male and female.
Whereas the tracker says she was 40th overall.  ???
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 16 August, 2016, 12:29:56 pm
Yes, the 11th is wrong. Official places won't come out for a while. The tracker should be more or less right but subject to some shuffling depending on which people got to the ferry first and also penalties for people who used motorways or banned tunnels, etc
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: JenM on 17 August, 2016, 09:38:11 am
Emily Chappell's post race interview:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lO70LDKPytM&feature=youtu.be
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 17 August, 2016, 10:35:51 am
congratulations hippy on finishing, what an entertaining ride (on this side of the screen at least!), half a distance of the trans-am (is it still on ;) )

keep going Frank, just a bit of greece and a corner of turkey left!

Cheers man, I had a horrible/great time. :)

I've swapped saddles already and have 12 months to experiment and find one that works. TransAm definitely on the cards next year.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 17 August, 2016, 10:37:02 am
Yep. Massive hats off to hippy for the most amount of tweets ever sent during a bike race.

A top ride.

Spanks. There would've been more but the crappy Three SIM I had didn't work in half the countries I was in and they killed my data connection for the last three days even though I had plenty of allowance left (as I found out when I rang them in disgust to cancel it).
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 17 August, 2016, 10:37:44 am
Top ride Hippy.
Hope to meet you next year if me and the Mud Puppy get a slot.

I'll be the one NOT using an ISM PN 1.1 saddle :)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 17 August, 2016, 03:48:14 pm
Top ride Hippy.
Hope to meet you next year if me and the Mud Puppy get a slot.

I'll be the one NOT using an ISM PN 1.1 saddle :)

I'd give my left nut to get a place in the race next year.  Sounds like you gave one of yours during the event this time round. ;D
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 17 August, 2016, 04:06:26 pm
Top ride Hippy.
Hope to meet you next year if me and the Mud Puppy get a slot.

I'll be the one NOT using an ISM PN 1.1 saddle :)

I'd give my left nut to get a place in the race next year.  Sounds like you gave one of yours during the event this time round. ;D

Right arse cheek and half a knob. For everything else, there's Mastercard.

I'm going to kick its head in next year... I reckon MikenAnna will have me back.
I didn't intend it (I only started tweeting so I'd have something to remember bits of the race afterwards) but I think they were quite enthralled in my Battle with the Saddle™.

 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 18 August, 2016, 10:49:33 am
Here's the first chunk of my race reports. Hopefully I can actually maintain enough mental capacity to finish writing it all up...

http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-1/
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 20 August, 2016, 08:14:53 pm
Brilliant Hippy .
now crack on and get it finished! ;D
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 21 August, 2016, 01:20:43 am
Brilliant Hippy .
now crack on and get it finished! ;D

http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-1/
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-2/
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-3/
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-4/

Still going though. I could be less verbose but then you could just read my twitter feed so what's the point.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Auntie Helen on 21 August, 2016, 06:34:25 am
It's a great read, thanks!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 21 August, 2016, 02:41:09 pm
Nicely penned. . That was bed time reading to the missus last night.
 She was amused too and awaits the next chapter. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: marcusjb on 21 August, 2016, 03:02:10 pm
Top stuff Hippy!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: DuncanM on 21 August, 2016, 08:03:06 pm
This is really good - keep them coming. :)  :thumbsup:
Cheers
Duncan
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 21 August, 2016, 10:10:54 pm
Enjoyed those including part 5. If you want to find out where your photos were you can geo tag them using the gpx tracks you have. Basecamp can do it, as can other software.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TigaSefi on 21 August, 2016, 10:11:41 pm
Like it Hippy
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: TimO on 22 August, 2016, 03:57:04 pm
According to the Trackleaders website, there appear to be five people still going.  Rather oddly they appear as only three markers, so I presume that's because there are two pairs as well as one single racer?  it must be a hard slog to be that far behind, but all dues to them for keeping going.

If I am reading it correctly, then Cheng-Hui Hseih, No 92, is that lone rider, and appears to be spending as much time not moving as she is riding.  Since, she is apparently cycling back to Taiwan, this 3800km stretch is just over one quarter of the way home, and I don't suppose she expected to be rushing!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: clarion on 22 August, 2016, 04:45:49 pm
Hearing Emily Chappell's account in a different context yesterday was fascinating.  A recording was made, but I have no idea whether/how that will be available.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: quixoticgeek on 22 August, 2016, 07:54:48 pm

Looking at the kit that people were carrying on their bikes, and the fact that Kristofs bike only weighed 12kg all up. Do any of the competitors carry bike locks? or do they just take the bikes in to the rooms when in hotels?

Also, Did Kristof actually sleep at any point on that ride? Amazing stuff.

J
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 22 August, 2016, 09:54:52 pm
I had a cafe lock.  I didn't always use it.  Some people didn't bother.  Just like audax, really.
I also took my bike into hotel rooms.  Most people did although some said they weren't able to.  I would have (and did) insist/ed.

Kristof rode for the first 2 days without sleeping but afterwards I believe he got 4-5 hours per night.  His main strengths are that he is fast on the road and has everything sorted out so that he wastes almost no time on faffing.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Phil W on 22 August, 2016, 10:05:51 pm

Looking at the kit that people were carrying on their bikes, and the fact that Kristofs bike only weighed 12kg all up. Do any of the competitors carry bike locks? or do they just take the bikes in to the rooms when in hotels?

Also, Did Kristof actually sleep at any point on that ride? Amazing stuff.

J

Kristoff was travelling much lighter than the others. I saw a post on it somewhere. No bivvy equipment, a small bag on the handlebars and a frame bag I believe.  Quite a few weren't travelling all that light looking at their setup.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 22 August, 2016, 11:41:03 pm
I had a small lock and didn't use it much. I may not bother with it again. ~100g

My bike was around 16kg without food or water so say 19kg loaded. It's a Kinesis 4S Disc frame with strong, well-built wheels, wide rubber, powermeter, Di2, aerobars - built to finish TCR, not to win, I would say and it is also now my commuter/winter training bike although I haven't sold my old Kinesis 4S yet. I also had down jacket and bivvy and a range of cold weather options, ie. 3 pairs of gloves, 2 pairs of shorts, rainjacket, hand warmer gels, etc.

In Europe I'd not bother with that stuff again and I'd ditch some of my three spare lights! for a more powerful head torch or helmet light like Exposure Joystick.

If I had a clue and planned better I'd ditch the bivvy and down jacket - I only used it once when I got caught in the storm and arrived in PLuzine at 3am with no food, water or shelter. #likeaboss

Did KA ride through the first two nights? I thought he was on a 4-5hr sleep schedule every day? I've not bothered looking at any race data, I was just happy to finish!

Next time though I will be racingz for placingz so look out. Probably TransAm though.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: quixoticgeek on 23 August, 2016, 12:54:51 am
I had a small lock and didn't use it much. I may not bother with it again. ~100g

My bike was around 16kg without food or water so say 19kg loaded. It's a Kinesis 4S Disc frame with strong, well-built wheels, wide rubber, powermeter, Di2, aerobars - built to finish TCR, not to win, I would say and it is also now my commuter/winter training bike although I haven't sold my old Kinesis 4S yet. I also had down jacket and bivvy and a range of cold weather options, ie. 3 pairs of gloves, 2 pairs of shorts, rainjacket, hand warmer gels, etc.

What tyres did you run?

Did you see anyone running 26" wheels at all ?

Quote

In Europe I'd not bother with that stuff again and I'd ditch some of my three spare lights! for a more powerful head torch or helmet light like Exposure Joystick.

How did you power all your lights/gadgets?

Quote
If I had a clue and planned better I'd ditch the bivvy and down jacket - I only used it once when I got caught in the storm and arrived in PLuzine at 3am with no food, water or shelter. #likeaboss


So you mostly slept in hotels ?

Quote

Did KA ride through the first two nights? I thought he was on a 4-5hr sleep schedule every day? I've not bothered looking at any race data, I was just happy to finish!

Next time though I will be racingz for placingz so look out. Probably TransAm though.

I love the idea of the TCR, but I've not even done a 50k audax yet, so it may take me a year or 3 to build up to it. It also means I'm starting from a blank slate.

J
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 23 August, 2016, 06:39:30 am
The bivvy vs hotels is the main difference in kit.  Kristoff always uses hotels and so doesn't take sleeping kit.  However, I recall that Josh Ibbet, who won last year, slept out most of the time.  I'd say maybe 80% of people took bivvy eqpt but quite a few didn't.

The 2-3kg in weight doesn't make much difference to speed in itself but, the more luggage you have, the more time you spend unpacking and re-packing it. 

For TransAm I wonder if you could rely on hotels or would have to camp out some of the time?  I'm pretty sure Mike Hall has bivvied when he has set his records.

I didn't see anyone with 26" wheels.  They would make the bumpy bits even worse.  Most people used dynamos.  I managed with AAs and battery packs, which worked fine but meant I had to manage my phone battery by keeping it on aeroplane mode most of the time (so didn't tweet like a canary - unlike some peeps with dynamos!)

I think KA rode a good way before his first stop, but I've not checked the data either, so that could be wrong.  But he, and all the top riders, have a sensible sleep schedule for the bulk of the ride.  If you ride all night, you just knacker yourself out for the next day.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 23 August, 2016, 08:47:59 am
I do believe that part of the Kristof myth is this riding through the night business!

http://trackleaders.com/transconrace16i.php?name=Kristof_Allegaert

Pretty sure he slept for about 4 hours every night*, EXCEPT the first one (with a midnight 10pm start, no-one was likely to sleep). A quick look at the tracker suggests the first stop was at CP1 - the dots are perhaps 10miles apart at:

Code: [Select]
- Point #290 received at: 12:04:39 AM (CEST) 07/31/16
 (23 days, 9 hours, 5 minutes ago) (1:02:04 since start)

- Point #293 received at: 04:51:27 AM (CEST) 07/31/16
 (23 days, 4 hours, 18 minutes ago) (1:06:51 since start)

Then at midnight 2 days in, a few hours into Switzerland, right by lake Thunersee.





*The speed vs time graph has now been ruined by re-scaling, but it was easy to see during the race.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 23 August, 2016, 09:30:16 am
Yes, that's probably right. There is some junk statistic going round that says he only stopped for [a short period] in the first x days. I think that it is just wrong but has confused lots of people.

It was a 10pm start. A surprising number did sleep the first night, but not people at the sharp end - or me!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 23 August, 2016, 10:02:31 am
I believe the junk statistic came from reading the rider summary tab on the tracker screen - that tended to give almost no hours stopped  for every rider! Maybe cos your tracker had to give two EXACTLY identical positions to register as stopped?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: seraphina on 23 August, 2016, 10:16:25 am
Really enjoying the writeups, thanks hippy!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 23 August, 2016, 11:52:45 am
Did you see anyone running 26" wheels at all ?
How did you power all your lights/gadgets?
So you mostly slept in hotels ?

I didn't see many people at all. Maybe there were some 26ers.

2 LiIon battery packs, some AA and AAA batteries + SP dynamo + D1 Igaro USB charger on the bike + USB wall charger in hotels

From memory, slept in:
Checkpoint hotel at CP1, 1hr
Tried to bivvy but to cold in near Swiss border, 20-30min of shivering
Hotel at CP2 (didn't need to but saddle issues were killing me), feckin' hours!
Hotel in Verona (nice), ~3hrs?
Hotel in Pordenone (nice), ~3hrs?
Powernap in bus stop maybe in Bosnia or just before entering Bosnia?
Motel Kiwi in Bosnia (check self in at 3am), ~3hrs?
Bivvy at parcours start in Pluzine, Montenegro as everything was closed, ~3hrs?
Hotel Macedonia, just before Greek border, 2hrs?
Bus stop sleep somewhere in Greece, no idea time
Bivvy in bus stop somewhere else in Greece, ~3hrs?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 23 August, 2016, 11:57:02 am
The bivvy vs hotels is the main difference in kit.  Kristoff always uses hotels and so doesn't take sleeping kit.  However, I recall that Josh Ibbet, who won last year, slept out most of the time.  I'd say maybe 80% of people took bivvy eqpt but quite a few didn't.

The 2-3kg in weight doesn't make much difference to speed in itself but, the more luggage you have, the more time you spend unpacking and re-packing it. 

For TransAm I wonder if you could rely on hotels or would have to camp out some of the time?  I'm pretty sure Mike Hall has bivvied when he has set his records.

I didn't see anyone with 26" wheels.  They would make the bumpy bits even worse.  Most people used dynamos.  I managed with AAs and battery packs, which worked fine but meant I had to manage my phone battery by keeping it on aeroplane mode most of the time (so didn't tweet like a canary - unlike some peeps with dynamos!)

I think KA rode a good way before his first stop, but I've not checked the data either, so that could be wrong.  But he, and all the top riders, have a sensible sleep schedule for the bulk of the ride.  If you ride all night, you just knacker yourself out for the next day.

James carried a bivvy and came 4th after he had a day or more out and rode from 139th so a bivvy can be quick. Hotels can slow you down - more faff, more comfort = more time.

TransAm will definitely require more bivvy time and will likely have bigger temp range so I might need to think about different sleep kit.

I had so many power options - if I had a proper data connection I'd have tweeted a lot more! :)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 23 August, 2016, 12:54:09 pm

From memory, slept in:
Checkpoint hotel at CP1, 1hr
Tried to bivvy but to cold in near Swiss border, 20-30min of shivering
Hotel at CP2 (didn't need to but saddle issues were killing me), feckin' hours!
Hotel in Verona (nice), ~3hrs?
Hotel in Pordenone (nice), ~3hrs?
Powernap in bus stop maybe in Bosnia or just before entering Bosnia?
Motel Kiwi in Bosnia (check self in at 3am), ~3hrs?
Bivvy at parcours start in Pluzine, Montenegro as everything was closed, ~3hrs?
Hotel Macedonia, just before Greek border, 2hrs?
Bus stop sleep somewhere in Greece, no idea time
Bivvy in bus stop somewhere else in Greece, ~3hrs?

I had a similar mix, but it looks like I generally slept a bit longer than you. 
My strategy was to either ride or sleep and do v. little else so I think I had longer night stops and spent more hours riding than most people, but my riding speed was lower than others I encountered, ie they kept overtaking me!

Also as well as night sleeps I also had naps when I got the dozies through the day - on benches, in parks, in fields, etc.  I decided I would stop when I felt that there was a risk of nodding off while riding.  So I probably did that every other day.

My stops were:
Bivvied at a campsite by the Loire that I'd used before - reasonable sleep, 4-5 hours
Bivvied by the road somewhere in Burgundy - c.3 hours, didn't sleep much and got cold, and wet from lots of dew in the morning
Hotel at Neuchatel (5 hours) great sleep
Bivvied at about 1700m altitude on the way up the Gothard Pass.  2 hours - best sleep I've ever had.
Hotel by Lake Garda, c.5 hours - good sleep
Bench in a town somewhere in N. Italy about 50km on from Passo Giau.  1.5 hours, hardly slept a wink. 
Bivvied in bus shelter in Thunderstorm near Rijeka (Croatia) - c.4 hours.  OK sleep.
Hotel at Bihac in Bosnia, c.5hours, good sleep
Hotel at Kiselic, 25km before Sarajevo, c.5hours, good sleep
Bivvied in bus shelter 25km past Skopje, c5 hours, crap sleep (was looking for hotel and discovered one 200m further on in the morning)
Bench somewhere in northern Greece. c.1.5 hours
Bench in Turkey about 80km short of the finish, c 1.5 hours. 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 23 August, 2016, 01:41:54 pm
I had a similar mix, but it looks like I generally slept a bit longer than you. 
My strategy was to either ride or sleep and do v. little else so I think I had longer night stops and spent more hours riding than most people, but my riding speed was lower than others I encountered, ie they kept overtaking me!

Also as well as night sleeps I also had naps when I got the dozies through the day - on benches, in parks, in fields, etc.  I decided I would stop when I felt that there was a risk of nodding off while riding.  So I probably did that every other day.

My stops were:
Bivvied at a campsite by the Loire that I'd used before - reasonable sleep, 4-5 hours
Bivvied by the road somewhere in Burgundy - c.3 hours, didn't sleep much and got cold, and wet from lots of dew in the morning
Hotel at Neuchatel (5 hours) great sleep
Bivvied at about 1700m altitude on the way up the Gothard Pass.  2 hours - best sleep I've ever had.
Hotel by Lake Garda, c.5 hours - good sleep
Bench in a town somewhere in N. Italy about 50km on from Passo Giau.  1.5 hours, hardly slept a wink. 
Bivvied in bus shelter in Thunderstorm near Rijeka (Croatia) - c.4 hours.  OK sleep.
Hotel at Bihac in Bosnia, c.5hours, good sleep
Hotel at Kiselic, 25km before Sarajevo, c.5hours, good sleep
Bivvied in bus shelter 25km past Skopje, c5 hours, crap sleep (was looking for hotel and discovered one 200m further on in the morning)
Bench somewhere in northern Greece. c.1.5 hours
Bench in Turkey about 80km short of the finish, c 1.5 hours.

After the saddle debacle I was pushing the sleep dep a bit until I realised I was unlikely to catch the small group in front (who knows though, really) and then I lost data and the ability to follow the race so I didn't care any more and just slept whenever I needed to.

I also had a powernap on a bench down south, near Garda maybe, before Verona.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Salvatore on 23 August, 2016, 02:17:55 pm
Mikko Mäkipää (mkpaa otp) has a flickr album of 23 (so far) bikes used at  Transcontinental 2016,  and another album of his experiences of the race.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mkpaa/albums

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: cjm on 23 August, 2016, 03:08:31 pm

From memory, slept in:
Checkpoint hotel at CP1, 1hr
Tried to bivvy but to cold in near Swiss border, 20-30min of shivering
Hotel at CP2 (didn't need to but saddle issues were killing me), feckin' hours!
Hotel in Verona (nice), ~3hrs?
Hotel in Pordenone (nice), ~3hrs?
Powernap in bus stop maybe in Bosnia or just before entering Bosnia?
Motel Kiwi in Bosnia (check self in at 3am), ~3hrs?
Bivvy at parcours start in Pluzine, Montenegro as everything was closed, ~3hrs?
Hotel Macedonia, just before Greek border, 2hrs?
Bus stop sleep somewhere in Greece, no idea time
Bivvy in bus stop somewhere else in Greece, ~3hrs?

I had a similar mix, but it looks like I generally slept a bit longer than you. 
My strategy was to either ride or sleep and do v. little else so I think I had longer night stops and spent more hours riding than most people, but my riding speed was lower than others I encountered, ie they kept overtaking me!

Also as well as night sleeps I also had naps when I got the dozies through the day - on benches, in parks, in fields, etc.  I decided I would stop when I felt that there was a risk of nodding off while riding.  So I probably did that every other day.

My stops were:
Bivvied at a campsite by the Loire that I'd used before - reasonable sleep, 4-5 hours
Bivvied by the road somewhere in Burgundy - c.3 hours, didn't sleep much and got cold, and wet from lots of dew in the morning
Hotel at Neuchatel (5 hours) great sleep
Bivvied at about 1700m altitude on the way up the Gothard Pass.  2 hours - best sleep I've ever had.
Hotel by Lake Garda, c.5 hours - good sleep
Bench in a town somewhere in N. Italy about 50km on from Passo Giau.  1.5 hours, hardly slept a wink. 
Bivvied in bus shelter in Thunderstorm near Rijeka (Croatia) - c.4 hours.  OK sleep.
Hotel at Bihac in Bosnia, c.5hours, good sleep
Hotel at Kiselic, 25km before Sarajevo, c.5hours, good sleep
Bivvied in bus shelter 25km past Skopje, c5 hours, crap sleep (was looking for hotel and discovered one 200m further on in the morning)
Bench somewhere in northern Greece. c.1.5 hours
Bench in Turkey about 80km short of the finish, c 1.5 hours.

How much time did you spend looking for food, or was there always something on the route?
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 23 August, 2016, 05:01:18 pm
I never went off route to look for food. I always passed something eventually, so no non-riding time.

Quite a bit of riding time was spent looking for shops an checking if they were open, though. 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 23 August, 2016, 05:26:25 pm
I went off-route a few times for food and drink and wasted time with other places that weren't serving. Something else I can improve on in future.
Got used to it eventually but in the early stages I was a bit stressed about it getting darker and me still not finding food/water, having planned a long night's riding.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 23 August, 2016, 05:50:14 pm
Actually I'd forgotten but I did waste some time on the first night in France looking for water.  I had plenty of food but was getting thirsty around 2am.  I went looking round the back of churches, and searched a few petrol stations, for taps - all to no avail.  I did see other tyre tracks in the grass round a couple of churches, so wasn't the only one looking there. 

I probably lost half an hour looking for water, before I lucked out and found a boulangerie on my route which was open at 4:50am.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 23 August, 2016, 05:54:53 pm
I went off-route a few times for food and drink and wasted time with other places that weren't serving. Something else I can improve on in future.
Got used to it eventually but in the early stages I was a bit stressed about it getting darker and me still not finding food/water, having planned a long night's riding.

I always made sure my food bag was full at the end of the day so I had enough to ride well into the night.  In France, I found a Lidl just before it closed at 7pm on the Saturday night.  Given it was Sunday the next day, I made sure I left there with my food bag full plus 6 bananas and a pack of 10 chocolate croissants stuffed down my jersey!  I needed it all as I didn't pass anything else open until almost lunchtime on the Sunday. 
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 23 August, 2016, 05:57:06 pm
The food issue is one thing thats going to need some logistical thoughts for me if I am lucky enough to get in next year.
I'm one of those annoying twats that doesn't do well on wheat.
Its not the easiest thing to work around in the boonies but doable and supplementing with a couple of dozen protein bars lugged along with me for when I'm really snookered would be the plan.  Shit loads of potatoes/chips/nuts etc  is the current roadside fuel of choice when currently on biggie rides.

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 23 August, 2016, 06:00:06 pm
boulangerie on my route which was open at 4:50am.

You lucky lucky bastard! Lack of decent food and drink in France... has left a sour taste in my mouth ;)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 23 August, 2016, 06:02:46 pm
I always made sure my food bag was full at the end of the day so I had enough to ride well into the night.  In France, I found a Lidl just before it closed at 7pm on the Saturday night.  Given it was Sunday the next day, I made sure I left there with my food bag full plus 6 bananas and a pack of 10 chocolate croissants stuffed down my jersey!  I needed it all as I didn't pass anything else open until almost lunchtime on the Sunday.

Well that was the problem wasn't it. What is the end of the day in France. By my reckoning they've all gone home at about 2pm... :P

It wasn't all their fault though, I'm sure I probably past a few places thinking "ooh it's too early to refill now, there'll be something else" and of course there wasn't.

9pm pizza window was my best find in France. Oh, there was a bakery on the first morning that did Paris Brest. Had to have one.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: cjm on 23 August, 2016, 07:08:53 pm
I spotted these on the facebook group, I can't seem to find the post now though...

https://m.flickr.com/#/photos/mkpaa/sets/72157671644429160/

Its pretty interesting seeing the setup and kit people used.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 26 August, 2016, 06:02:37 pm
came across your part 1 blog on the trans con FB page Frank. Cheers for that.looking forward to reading the other sections as they are penned.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 26 August, 2016, 06:16:53 pm
Thanks - I meant to post a link here - here it is:

https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/26/my-transcontinental-race-2016-part-1/ (https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/26/my-transcontinental-race-2016-part-1/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hatler on 26 August, 2016, 06:29:07 pm
Neat. Keep us posted here when you add more instalments.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 27 August, 2016, 07:14:38 am
Neat. Keep us posted here when you add more instalments.

Thanks; here's part 2:
https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/transcontinental-race-2016-part-2/ (https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/transcontinental-race-2016-part-2/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hatler on 27 August, 2016, 08:49:38 am
Good stuff !  I'm familiar with a few of the places you mention, but only from the inside of a car. Great adventure on a bike.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 27 August, 2016, 07:05:52 pm
Indeed it was!
Here's the next bit:
https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/transcontinental-race-2016-part-2a-the-mountains/ (https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/transcontinental-race-2016-part-2a-the-mountains/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: JohnR on 27 August, 2016, 08:24:40 pm
Good write-up Frank, patiently waiting further updates  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 27 August, 2016, 11:03:20 pm
Thanks - here's the next bit:
https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/transcontinental-race-2016-part-3-italy/ (https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/08/27/transcontinental-race-2016-part-3-italy/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 31 August, 2016, 08:55:00 am
Next bit: Bora, bears and byrek in Croatia/Bosnia:
cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/­08/30/transcontinental-race-2016-part-4-­storms-scars-of-war-a-friendly-dog-and-b­ears-in-the-forest/ (http://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/­08/30/transcontinental-race-2016-part-4-­storms-scars-of-war-a-friendly-dog-and-b­ears-in-the-forest/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 31 August, 2016, 07:30:03 pm
Great stuff Frank, and very descriptive.
Man that was tough reading about the dog.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 03 September, 2016, 03:19:37 pm
Yes, the dog was pretty heartbraking.  I did a bit of research into the prospects for it, and the many animals in similar circumstances across Eastern Europe, and that didn't make me feel better. 

I've now done the Bosnia and Durmitor massif stage:

https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/transcontinental-race-2016-part-4a-bosnia-and-montenegro-byreks-and-a-stupendous-limestone-gorge/ (https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/09/03/transcontinental-race-2016-part-4a-bosnia-and-montenegro-byreks-and-a-stupendous-limestone-gorge/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 04 September, 2016, 10:32:31 pm
Start Geraardsbergen - CP1 in Claremont Ferrand
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-1/

CP1 Claremont Ferrand - CP2 Grindelwald
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-2/

CP2 Grindelwald - CP3 Alleghe
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-3/

CP3 Alleghe - Motel Kiwi, Bosnia
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-4/

Motel Kiwi, Bosnia - Bosnia/Montenegro border
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-5/

NEW
Bosnia/Montenegro border - Hotel S, Berane, Montenegro
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-6/
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 04 September, 2016, 10:33:31 pm
Here's my next bit: meeting Greg on a big climb in Montenegro, a delightful trip through Kosovo, rough roads in Macedonia and rough dogs in Greece:

https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/09/04/transcontinental-race-2016-part-5-3-countries-in-a-day-macedonian-roads-and-greek-dogs/ (https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/09/04/transcontinental-race-2016-part-5-3-countries-in-a-day-macedonian-roads-and-greek-dogs/)

Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: JohnR on 05 September, 2016, 07:05:02 pm
Sorry Frank, linky no worky.  ???

Ah, but found title  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: morbihan on 05 September, 2016, 08:23:58 pm
thanks for catching up on your blogs lads. Me & the missus still enjoying the reads.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 05 September, 2016, 08:45:04 pm
Thanks guys
And the link should now work
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 05 September, 2016, 09:01:29 pm
Start Geraardsbergen - CP1 in Claremont Ferrand
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-1/

CP1 Claremont Ferrand - CP2 Grindelwald
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-2/

CP2 Grindelwald - CP3 Alleghe
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-3/

CP3 Alleghe - Motel Kiwi, Bosnia
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-4/

Motel Kiwi, Bosnia - Bosnia/Montenegro border
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-5/

Bosnia/Montenegro border - Hotel S, Berane, Montenegro
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-6/

NEW
Berane, Montenegro to Hotel Macedonia, Lake Dojran
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-7/
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: mattc on 08 September, 2016, 06:12:09 pm
http://stories.strava.com/transcontinental-no4?slow=1

Enjoyable write-up - but loses marks for Yet Another repeat of the Kristof myth "stopping for 2 hours a day".

Nice below-the-headline para:

“My race partner scratched after three days. My Garmin crashed on day four. My sunglasses were blown off my face and flew off a cliff in a gale on the Croatian coast. I went through two front tyres. I destroyed my phone climbing the Grindelwald. My phone network cancelled my replacement phone when I was searching for a hotel in Kosovo. I got lost in the alps and had to walk 5km down a steep hiking path in pitch black. I had six flats. I tore my glute sprinting from stray dogs. I fell asleep on the bike twice. It’s an ordeal, not a bike race. You’re rolling with the punches.” –George Marshall
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 16 September, 2016, 08:31:39 pm
Here's the last bit of my TCR write-up

https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/09/16/transcontinental-race-2016-part-5a-the-final-hardest-stage-with-heat-dreams-ghosts-and-ferries/ (https://cyclingthere.wordpress.com/2016/09/16/transcontinental-race-2016-part-5a-the-final-hardest-stage-with-heat-dreams-ghosts-and-ferries/)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 28 September, 2016, 11:40:43 pm
Start Geraardsbergen - CP1 in Claremont Ferrand
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-1/

CP1 Claremont Ferrand - CP2 Grindelwald
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-2/

CP2 Grindelwald - CP3 Alleghe
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-3/

CP3 Alleghe - Motel Kiwi, Bosnia
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-4/

Motel Kiwi, Bosnia - Bosnia/Montenegro border
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-5/

Bosnia/Montenegro border - Hotel S, Berane, Montenegro
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-6/

Berane, Montenegro to Hotel Macedonia, Lake Dojran
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-7/

Macedonia to the FINISH!
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-8/
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hatler on 29 September, 2016, 08:45:08 am
Great read. Thank you.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Salvatore on 11 October, 2016, 09:06:40 am

Kristof Allegaert's writeup: https://allegaertk.wordpress.com/2016/10/10/2016-transcontinental-race-en-8d15h02m/

Also available in French and Flemish.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: alexb on 14 November, 2016, 12:37:54 pm
Have they sorted the results out yet? I saw Hippy's comment on LFGSS where he said he had been declared the winner as everyone else had been disqualified. I'm assuming this was tongue in cheek, but maybe not given all the shenanigans with switched off trackers etc. in the closing stages of the ride.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 14 November, 2016, 12:57:59 pm
Haha I was most certainly taking the piss. :)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Darren Franks on 21 January, 2018, 12:49:31 pm
Thread resurrection. I'm finally finishing my race write-up and have posted another three entries in the past few days.

Day 10: The Bosnian Rollercoaster (https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2018/01/03/tcr-day-10-the-bosnian-rollercoaster/)
Day 11: Get busy living (https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2018/01/04/tcr-day-11-get-busy-living/)
Day 12: You beautiful lumpy bastard (https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2018/01/21/tcr-day-12-you-beautiful-lumpy-bastard/) [*Not a reference to Hippy]

Or from the start

Day 0: The storm before the calm (https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2016/08/18/tcrno4-the-storm-before-the-calm/)

(https://theadventurecapitalist.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/durmitor-wide.jpg)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Karla on 21 January, 2018, 04:25:31 pm
Hey Darren, I recently got round to writing up the bit of my tour where I bumped into you at Pluzine.  Smile for the camera!

Crazyguyonabike: Before I enter Bosnia I must face ... THE DURMINATOR (https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=1mr&page_id=529574&v=61)

(https://www.crazyguyonabike.com/pics/docs/00/02/03/22/large/45.jpg?v=0)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Darren Franks on 22 January, 2018, 09:37:41 am
Nice read Karla. I remember our encounter, outside the convenience store that had so many good things on the shelves and the entire population of Pluzine in the checkout queue.

I must've got lucky with my route through Bosnia. Every blog I read talks about the horrendous roads but I got to ride some of the smoothest tarmac of the whole race there.
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: hippy on 22 January, 2018, 10:20:55 am
*Definitely a reference to Hippy

:)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Frank9755 on 22 January, 2018, 06:58:28 pm
I must've got lucky with my route through Bosnia. Every blog I read talks about the horrendous roads but I got to ride some of the smoothest tarmac of the whole race there.

By the looks of it you did the same route as me. Bihac-Sarajevo was a good road, but the traffic built up on the last stage and I had a hairy close pass by a horse box!
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Darren Franks on 29 January, 2018, 03:58:25 pm
The penultimate entry is now up. It includes a discussion on high-level farting so perhaps not one to read over your lunch break. https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2018/01/29/tcr-day-13-chemical-warfare/

(https://theadventurecapitalist.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/clouds-above-kosovo.jpg)
Title: Re: Transcontinental 2016
Post by: Darren Franks on 06 July, 2018, 06:22:21 pm
Bringing this to a conclusion, here's the final instalment (finally) of my TCR write-up.
https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com/2018/05/29/tcr-day-14-the-sprint-finish/

Work now begins on the writing up the Trans Am that's just ended. Due out in 2022 :thumbsup: