Pan Celtic Race - 4th July

[Lightning Phil]

The Pan Celtic Race starts this Sunday with sign on tomorrow.

Long route just under 2,000km, and short route just over 1300km. There are 90 riders on long route and 34 on short route. You may recognise or know some of the riders.  Listed in the manual together with start waves.

https://www.pancelticrace.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/PanCelticRace2021_RiderManual.pdf

Tracking is here

https://pancelticrace2021.maprogress.com/

Dot Watcher feed

https://dotwatcher.cc/race/pan-celtic-race-2021

Bike porn in the race

https://dotwatcher.cc/feature/bikes-of-pan-celtic-race

[Feanor]

Thanks for that.

I see a clubmate of mine at rider #036.

[grams]

The guy on the Brompton is a friend of mine. He genuinely prefers it to other bikes he's tried.

[Lightning Phil]

Saw his bike on the bike porn page.  A Brompton converted to 12 speed. I’ll likely add him to my list to watch other than my friends I’ll be watching.

It’s always interesting seeing bike choices and how much luggage riders choose to take. Varying from tents and essentially touring setups to just a bivvy bag and warm jacket.

[He’s off again]

The bikes are interesting.  Lots of gravel bikes.

[Lightning Phil]

A nice spread of riders already

[Lightning Phil]

Here is Stuart Blofeld and Elliptigo at the start in the heavy rain.



James Houston on the Brompton is now 13 miles ahead of Stuart.  Meanwhile Mary Jane Watson and Donna in the pairs short route are 9 miles behind. So far the short and long routes have been the same.

[Socks]

Interesting to see the bikes and luggage arrangements.  Nobody using traditional racks and panniers, is this a fashion thing or do frame bags and packs have some sort of advantage? 

[Lightning Phil]

Interesting to see the bikes and luggage arrangements.  Nobody using traditional racks and panniers, is this a fashion thing or do frame bags and packs have some sort of advantage?

In theory more aero. But I think it’s just the trend and a number of riders using lighter bikes that don’t have rack mounts.  Weight balance may be better, don’t know.

Stuart is described as mid pack on Dot Watcher. Which shows that aero or lightweight aren’t the whole story on such rides. Rider fitness and ability to ride for long periods including at night time just as key.

[grams]

There’s a (probably overestimated) weight and aero advantage and their lower capacity encourages you to bring less stuff.

Obviously cancelled out if you strap junk to every corner of your bike.

It also means you can ride whichever bike you like and it usually feels nicer to ride than panniers.

[Frank9755]

Most people copy what others do so it is mainly a fashion / conforming thing.  Panniers are certainly not aerodynamic, but - while plenty of people have weighed them - I don't know that anyone has ever aero-tested a Carradice! 

The downside with many bikepacking bags is poor accessability - you have to tip all your stuff out on the road to find something you need.  With careful planning of packing you can largely get round that.

One bike has a tailfin rack but I didn't spot any 'normal' racks.

I can't decide if riding a Brompton on an event like this eccentric or disrespectful.

[Lightning Phil]

Stuart on the Elliptigo has pulled 58 miles ahead of James Houston on the Brompton.  This will be down to different amounts of sleep last night. Mike Sheldrake is another 80 miles ahead of Stuart. Mike reported stomach issues last night and looks to have stopped for most of it, but is now on the move again.

Chris Pitblado has made good inroads into the lead of long route race leader Angus Young last night. Now 38 miles behind.

[JonBuoy]

Mike Sheldrake is another 80 miles ahead of Stuart. Mike reported stomach issues last night and looks to have stopped for most of it, but is now on the move again.

Good to see that Shell's tracker is moving again.  When I read the DotWatcher comment yesterday I did think that it was missing an 'h' 

At the end of close last night, Shell was third place but now sits in 20th position.

[grams]

I can't decide if riding a Brompton on an event like this eccentric or disrespectful.

He's had various other bikes and given up on them. It's not some "haha I'm going to do this tough ride on a shit bike for attention" shite like I indulge in.

[Lightning Phil]

Love Jenny Graham’s profile response to bivvy or B&B question

“Public toilets of the south west”

[Lightning Phil]

Stuart Blofeld has finished the long course

[Clemo]

I came across a chap on the cycle path between Caernarfon and Menai last Friday it was dark and it looked as if he was stopping to water the scenery. As I was on a 600km DIY at the time just assumed he was doing something similar, it wasn't until I saw another whilst I was sat on a bench on the northern end of the Menai bridge that I thought hang on what event is going on. It wasn't until Monday I found out that this was on and the two chaps I had seen were competitors whom were nearly at the end.

[perpetual dan]

I met a rider who'd had to scratch on the train home the other day, but failed to ask his name. Maybe I'll see him around town.

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