Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Freewheeling => Racing => Topic started by: vorsprung on 28 November, 2013, 02:13:15 pm
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I see there is a start list for 2014 on the site now
http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/
Spot the names you know.
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Quite a few in there. Some surprise me.
Interesting to see Ultan's name in there as well. Expect the Rapha bivvy-bag to make an appearance in their summer 2014 collection. ;D
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And it's full.
Should be good fun for everyone.
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Bugger!
Missed it! :(
Must say that I'm impressed that this event has filled up with 100 riders in a few days though.
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Get thee on the reserve list!
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I could have got in. I'm just not sure I can commit to it.
Sure, if I really wanted it, I'd do it.
Thing is that I work in a warehouse and there are two of us. The other guy always has two weeks off in August and we sort of agree that I won't. It means that he burns off a lot of his leave and I take whatever I like.
Sure, I could get in first and probably win the argy bargy. Or I'd seriously consider just resigning and finding another job after the race. Easy to do when you're a low wage earner in a very large developing town like Milton Keynes.
BUT I'm also in the process of trying to get another job. First as part time to supplement my current job, but better still if I can go full time and quit my current job.
This new job, if I do it, is part of my plan for doing and funding the year mileage thing, so that comes first and I don't want to stuff that up for a lesser jolly this year.
Seeing the 2014 event fill up so fast gives me confidence that it won't vanish in the not too distant future, so I could get to have a go at this, or something very similar in a few years time, even if not in 2014.
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Hi, New here,
Im in, number 037. Gulp :thumbsup:
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Hi, New here,
Im in, number 037. Gulp :thumbsup:
Excellent, well done on taking the leap to enter! That's a big step alone. Sounds like it should be one hell of an adventure.
What does [V] mean on the start list?
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Think it identifies those that entered last year
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One of the lad from my LBS (Iain) nearly made it last year (Got to Turkey). Sadly, work means although he got a place this year, he's had to take himself off the list. Hoping to get him out for some audax to make up for it.
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Well done and welcome. :thumbsup:
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Some well made docu-film type thingies here,
http://vimeo.com/80636312
http://vimeo.com/81821776
http://vimeo.com/82465189
http://vimeo.com/83397300
Rights of passage stuff, from the blunt end. The footage from the Stelvio will remind us all of our own hard times. Powerful stuff.
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Excellent videos really enjoyed them.
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I'm riding this- can't wait!
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It looks like there might be a couple of last minute entries available if anyone wants to join us for a quick spin to Istanbul ;D
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Interesting loading option. They both have all their panniers etc on the front.
Some well made docu-film type thingies here,
http://vimeo.com/80636312
http://vimeo.com/81821776
http://vimeo.com/82465189
http://vimeo.com/83397300
Rights of passage stuff, from the blunt end. The footage from the Stelvio will remind us all of our own hard times. Powerful stuff.
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Interesting loading option. They both have all their panniers etc on the front.
I thought that.
Is it more aero 'cos it more closely replicates the ideal "tear drop" shape ?
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It is easier to ride out of the saddle with front panniers than with rear panniers. Generally fewer front wheel problems (compared to rear) too.
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:thumbsup: looking forward to becoming a blue dot follower again, and joining in with follower chat. I'm going down to the start to send off 4 friends on their epic journey
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What time do they start does anyone know? The website just has "Saturday"
I doubt I can make it (helping at start of WCW600) - but would like to if I can.
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I'm planning on seeing the start and helping on WCW too.
It starts at 8am from Westminster bridge. So should be do-able, especially if we can skive off a bit early.
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yes, the start is at 8:00am. i went to the briefing yesterday, but it was over by the time i got there (had to be at another place before). spoke to a few riders, the excitement in their eyes is contagious!
i'm planning to go to the start, do some photos and do a ride to dover (and back).
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Number 87 and ready to roll!
The tracker is online now on the main web page
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Bon Voyage to all the riders!
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And they are off...
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Having completely forgotten about this I saw a rider kitted out like an adventure racer on the A20 this morning. I probably should have shouted some encouragement.
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Flaming heck Josh Ibbett is going some.
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I see that rider no 12 (Daniel Jessee, USA) is busily riding along the A5 autoroute.
I wonder if he'll get away with pleading ignorance when the gendarmerie find him?
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The dots ain't blue but this one is even more gripping than the TransAm. Love the choice of Channel crossing. Seemed to make little difference for the ladies but a lot for the men's race. Kristof stamping his authority already and only a few hours from The Stelvio.
I want to ride this next year....reckon they'll need more slots though as I see a lot of people saying the same thing! Saying it and doing it are apparently quite different though
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Twitter follow ,#tcr2014 for some racers onside comments on their travels.
Josh Ibbot (waterlogged dead garmin) and Rich Dunnet (5 puncs and dead pump) are have trouble keeping up with that machine out front.
Some interest in who will reach Stelvio first, Kristoff or the event car :D
Interestingly the amount of riders riding together is causing questions about riding to the "spirit" of the event, particularly with guys riding with partners vs solo females in the lead female race.
Same here, want to pull the pin and enter next year, hovered over the enter button this year but had other stuff to tick off first. PBP as a warm up too ::-)
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No 4. Mikko Makipaa seems to have gone somewhat off piste. Or maybe he has a cunning plan ...
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He's never one to follow the well troden path, he was the only one who took the ferry to Dunkirk too.
The race to Stelvio is nothing up, will the event car get there first
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Jack: I got one massive step closer to actually doing this, or something similar, when I was discussing it with Mrs.SJR and she said 'that'd be just your kind of race, why don't you do it next year?'. GREEN LIGHT!
What's with the Shanahan chap from Sheffield who is 2nd but not 2nd, if you see what I mean? Interesting track history - does he have a helicopter?
Agreed about the buddying up. Not in the spirit, for more than a quick chat maybe. We saw this on TransAm too I seem to remember.
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Yes tracker seems to get out of the support vehicle in Paris and then head out towards the leharve riders. Weird but not a true mileage reading of a racer.
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In the absence of ian_oli news, this guy is my current 'favourite': https://twitter.com/themartincox/status/
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Miko and Adrian O'Sullivan seem to be a little bit lost, or the have abandoned and decided to do something else instead...
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In the absence of ian_oli news, this guy is my current 'favourite': https://twitter.com/themartincox/status/
Oh you are so fickle in your support!
Ian seems to be moving very well - average moving pace of just over 21 kph and about to reach 800km and now heading for the big mountains and the second checkpoint.
There seem to some tracking issues with a few people's trackers not having reported in for over a day. However, there are still riders reporting in recently that are still in the environs of Paris, which is a long way back!
Kristoff with 7 and a half hours stopped so far and a moving average of 26kph and done about 1350km (an unsupported LEL in around 3 days....)
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A couple of photos (https://www.flickr.com/photos/thesloth94/sets/72157646332588892/) and video (http://youtu.be/kQgrCkYPoUA) from the depart on Saturday
Good to see you there zigzag & good job keeping an eye on them down to the coast :thumbsup:
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It looks cool on top of the Stelvio
http://www.solda2000.com/webstelvioen.htm
haven't managed to catch anyone on camera yet. (if there pointing the right way)
To me it looks like the fight has gone out of Rich Dunnet, hes letting Josh get away in 2nd, and 4th is closing in, Adrian Sullivan.
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good to see you too, thesloth! i have re-posted your video on the fb support board.
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To me it appears that @onebigpedal is through CP2. But third behind Allegaert and Ibbett, or do we count Mika who the leaderboard says beat Allegaert to the Stelvio?
Confusing tracking. Preferred the Transam graph but not possible I guess as no definitive route on this ride.
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The mileage leaderboard dosent really work for this event, you could have done 200 miles extra, but be way off course with poor navigation. It's all about reaching the checkpoints and the time given there.
Mika's random course looks hard work but more fun :'(
Pippa Handleys doing real well; almost top 10
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Four and a half days and it's MOP time as the middle of the pack seems to be converging on the Stelvio. Guess that's about right for half distance-ish. Allegaert's lead looks completely unassailable. Only 8 hours downtime in the first 100 hours or more. Animal, machine but definitely not human. Some amazing rides and some horrible weather it seems.
Bugger Pros and GTs, this stuff is far more exciting.
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I am now a fan of this marvellous event! 2 bits of the website have sucked me in:
- watching the rider tracker playback @ x1024. Brilliant watching routes diverge, then rejoin at checkpoints. &
- the race blog page. In particular the write-ups of 2013 http://reportage.transcontinentalrace.com/?p=508
(Zigzag's report is pretty good too.)
Its much more audaxy in spirit than I thought. Of course this bunch of badasses* put my little ride round Scotland into perspective :-P
So I'm hooked. Good to see ian_oli firmly in midpack. If anyone is in contact, pass on my best wishes.
*(c) Audax Ecosse
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It'll be interesting to see if the three chaps going down through Italy will fare better or not. At least they'll get a good night's sleep on the ferry on the Adriatic. Knowing the area I'd guess that they'll board a ferry to Dubrovnik. The climb to Mont Lovcen is a very, very nasty one. I couldn't go up there when I was in Macedonia in 2006 because it was not open yet (in april), the descent to Kotor is steep and a lot of switchbacks. This could be the hardest climb of all.
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A ferry? I thought this was a bicycle race (and yes, I realise they had to use a ferry to cross the Channel)
As far as I could remember from last year (there was no control at Mount Lovcen then) some riders went down through Italy and then via the ferry, most riders went down the Dalmatian Highway and a few went more inland, a longer and flatter route along the Sava and Danube. I'd personally go for the Sava-Danube version, my memories of the Dalmatian Highway are maybe a bit too much coloured by tales of the aid convoy truck drivers from the Balkan wars.
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I think there is only 1 ferry a day, so the true racer would not consider it I reckon.
It all adds to the colour of the event watching the spiders web expand across Europe.
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I think there is only 1 ferry a day, so the true racer would not consider it I reckon.
It all adds to the colour of the event watching the spiders web expand across Europe.
Is this just a metaphorical comment?
I don't see a view showing more than one rider's route - just positions. (Or full route for just 1 rider!)
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If all ferries other than channel ferries are out there's some people sitting in Ancona right how'll be mighty disappointed in the morning. Wonder what the rule is hats off to Kristof for making good on the miles missed! Top bloke
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http://reportage.transcontinentalrace.com/?page_id=126
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I think there is only 1 ferry a day, so the true racer would not consider it I reckon.
It all adds to the colour of the event watching the spiders web expand across Europe.
Is this just a metaphorical comment?
I don't see a view showing more than one rider's route - just positions. (Or full route for just 1 rider!)
When I go to http://www.transcontinentalrace.com/ I see a map of the current positions including a box over N.Africa with a play button that sets the maggots awriggling. There is also a speed controller to make them wriggle faster. You just have to imagine the spider's web.
Edit to add: Further investigation shows that those with poor imagination can click on the 'T' button above the map to show the riders' tracks.
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I've seen last year's race, plotted on a map with all the routes on it.
Back to the ferries - it seems that Kristof took an "illegal" ferry ride today, and then doubled back so that it wouldn't be taken into account:
https://twitter.com/sportingkneads/statuses/499949918652743680 (https://twitter.com/sportingkneads/statuses/499949918652743680)
So there must be rules about which ones you can use or not.
Thanks, I was wondering what that was all about. Saw his rather odd route when looking at the tracker earlier. (I don't do twitter)
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There are rules about what can and cannot be used. Eurotunnel is against the rules according to one of the riders I was chatting to at the start. Ian Oli said he was using 2 ferries.
That Kristof bloke is going well!
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So there must be rules about which ones you can use or not.
There are, and the ferry Kristof Allegaert took was even explicitly banned in the rules.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-2ebbkD-bIvE/U-0eQU6jsyI/AAAAAAAAAvE/GITvRlCAByA/w702-h394-no/10600404_704981999537563_4708080550278276253_n.jpg)
via (https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=704981999537563)
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For the spiders web view, go to the tracker far right.
Select the map layers blue tab
Tick the all riders tracks
The breadcrumb tracks of every riders route will show up, really shows up the route choices, and the navigation fun had by some
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If I understand the Italian in the Facebook link correctly he allready was on top of Mount Lovcen when he heard about the illegal ferry ride. So that's not only the extra distance but also about 2000m of climbing to be done twice.
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Ian's last 24 hours have been a lot slower, with a 10h stop last night. Per
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Ian's last 24 hours have been a lot slower, with a 10h stop last night. Per
Chatting to Ian at the start, I got the impression he was treating it more as an Audax than trying to race. He was planning on two weeks.
I doubt that he's the only one.
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Yep - I think that's always been Ian's plan. Around 220-230km a day was the number that comes into my head.
Heck of an adventure!
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When I click the play button now it doesn't seem to run all the way to the current position, only up until Allegaert is in just reaching Croatia/Slovenia. Anyone know why this is? I'd like to confirm my feelings that the guys who went to Ancona actually made faster progress to Split than those who took the Croatian seaboard route. My feeling is they gained a good few kms that way. Race for 2nd place is getting pretty close - +/-30km only. I also wonder whether the leader is catchable, seems an odd choice of route in the last 24 hours or so, in addition to the backtrack he had to make. Winding about a bit when seemingly faster routes to Bulgaria are on the map. I'm no expert mind!
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I think he is avoiding Kosovo and Albania.
Heading north the way he is enables him to dodge some mountainous areas and pick up valley routes all the way into Turkey.
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2nd place got a little closer last Night because Josh snapped a gear cable and did a period of single speed running, then had trouble finding a replacement. reported all good now and back up to climbing speed.
Rich Dunnet is a Diesel engine compared to Josh's tuned high power engine though so we shall see.
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When I click the play button now it doesn't seem to run all the way to the current position, only up until Allegaert is in just reaching Croatia/Slovenia. Anyone know why this is? I'd like to confirm my feelings that the guys who went to Ancona actually made faster progress to Split than those who took the Croatian seaboard route. My feeling is they gained a good few kms that way. Race for 2nd place is getting pretty close - +/-30km only. I also wonder whether the leader is catchable, seems an odd choice of route in the last 24 hours or so, in addition to the backtrack he had to make. Winding about a bit when seemingly faster routes to Bulgaria are on the map. I'm no expert mind!
You might get a good idea tomorrow, as Leading lady Pippa has done Croatia and had about a 90 mile lead over Gaby in second. Gaby has taken the Ferry route. Guess a lot depends on your timing.
I saw a message today that Andrew Allday was there this morning, so effectively he has a 24 hour stationary penalty.
Although personally I'm finding it hard to consider Gaby in second place as she has traveled the whole route with her partner, which has got to be considered as support not available to the other competitors, while the other ladies are truly solo. Not in the true spirit of riding solo.
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Agreed re: Gaby although I noticed earlier that the other half's tracker now shows him as a long way behind. Seriously chicked by his own missus....hmmmm, glad it's not my ego.
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So Gaby may turn out to have been the Sherpa in this instance!
I prefer not to look at this as a race, and more as a shared adventure, but I understand your pov, SJR.
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Generally in races there are no rules to say you cannot ride in the company of others in the same race (unless a TT), is this different Jack?
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Steffen Streich is really catching up now. He took the Ancona ferry and is now in northern Albania. He's a lot faster as he used to be wwhen he rode LEL in 2001.
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Generally in races there are no rules to say you cannot ride in the company of others in the same race (unless a TT), is this different Jack?
The race blog from last year discusses this. Its a good read!
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RAAM has a "no draughting of other competitors" rule and they start alone or with their team.
Transcontinental was a mass start when Big Ben chimed 8.
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Whats going on with Paris Michel ? Looks like a flight direct from Paris to Athens but not showing as scratched.
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I think Paris Michel was listed earlier as withdrawn but continuing with ride, or something similar.
MattC: Agree with your point too. I would certainly expect to be able to ride alongside and chat for some periods of time on a ride like this. A shared adventure, as you rightly state. However, if there is some prize or kudos associated with being 'first lady' in this event, billed as a 'race' then Gaby Leveridge has perhaps to admit that that cannot be her, or Jane Chadwick if it comes to it (not likely I don't think).
Anyway you slice it a fascinating adventure for all concerned, even those of us just watching.
Seems the Ancona ferry has worked out as a timesaver for the majority of those using it. It has also given them a great chance to recharge themselves. Streich has not stopped since he rolled off it nearly 30 hours ago! I think he may be almost on 'home turf too' judging by one or two of the comments posted (part Greek??)
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Seems the Ancona ferry has worked out as a timesaver for the majority of those using it. It has also given them a great chance to recharge themselves. Streich has not stopped since he rolled off it nearly 30 hours ago! I think he may be almost on 'home turf too' judging by one or two of the comments posted (part Greek??)
Steffen is German but he moved to Greece some time after riding LEL quite a few years ago.
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Whats going on with Paris Michel ? Looks like a flight direct from Paris to Athens but not showing as scratched.
emotional support, route planning and the plain confidence of being secure, its in effect exactly the same result as if you had a support vehicle but never used it. it changes your the way you approach the ride knowing you have back up.
if Gaby had ridden solo her route and pace would be vastly different.
Pippa has really struggled with the weather and being on her own
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as an example check out the different states of the ladies in this video, titled where did you sleep from the top of the Stelvio.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=663344973735374&set=vb.415996748470199&type=2&theater
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He's won it! But it looks he's on his own, CC vehicle still miles from Istanbul.
Hello Kristof if you're reading yacf to kill time.
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Chapeau!
Slightly embarrassing that he will have finished without official cameras etc. to catch the moment, but he was so far ahead that I guess the logistics of it were all too much for the orgs.
I am going to have to give this ride a go.
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congratulations to Kristof! i think i've seen him posting as "xxx" on this forum.
some brilliant photos from the event camera crew: http://www.wjst.de/images/index.php?pic=central/2014Transcontinental (http://www.wjst.de/images/index.php?pic=central/2014Transcontinental)
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Chapeau!
Slightly embarrassing that he will have finished without official cameras etc. to catch the moment, but he was so far ahead that I guess the logistics of it were all too much for the orgs.
I rather like it - probably pure accident, but it shows the event isn't just a race focused on the winner.
I doubt he's the kind of guy to have a strop about it :-)
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Top job by that man Allegaert, truly a machine. Just checked the trackers and there was precisely 250m between Dunnett and Ibbott in terms of distance to finish. Damn that's close, especially as their routes are so far apart.
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Top job by that man Allegaert, truly a machine. Just checked the trackers and there was precisely 250m between Dunnett and Ibbott in terms of distance to finish. Damn that's close, especially as their routes are so far apart.
I'm guessing that's going to be a sleepless night for both of them tonight, could come down to who negociates the istanbul traffic the best.
Sad to hear one rider Evangelos Voulgarakis No 97 has been hospitalized in Vereno by a car, but heart warming to see the racers and communities response to help, two racers are with him, amazing people.
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That's a shame. Second casualty. Such long hours and high mileages in our densely populated continent make it inevitable though I guess. Glad he's got company.
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Whats going on with Paris Michel ? Looks like a flight direct from Paris to Athens but not showing as scratched.
emotional support, route planning and the plain confidence of being secure, its in effect exactly the same result as if you had a support vehicle but never used it. it changes your the way you approach the ride knowing you have back up.
if Gaby had ridden solo her route and pace would be vastly different.
Pippa has really struggled with the weather and being on her own
I humbly suggest that it is Gaby who provides support to her male partner, Ben. She is at least as strong a cyclist as Ben and has trained for this for months.
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Agreed....her progress alone seems almost to have been quicker.
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Allegaert's feat has reached the Belgian press. He was going to be interviewed on music station Studio Brussels [StuBru] this afternoon, so I tuned in -- only to hear a toe curlingly bad prepared interviewer, who clearly had not a clue whom he was interviewing, and why.
Kristof Allegaert still suffers from swollen feet, and the pain in his hands. But he had had no saddle pain.
Still like to know how many flat tyres he had, considering that everyone complaints about those. Last year when Allegaert won by as big a margin he had no flat tyre at all.
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no punctures for Kristof, there's a brief interview on the tcr fb site:
https://www.facebook.com/transconrace (https://www.facebook.com/transconrace)
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Whats going on with Paris Michel ? Looks like a flight direct from Paris to Athens but not showing as scratched.
emotional support, route planning and the plain confidence of being secure, its in effect exactly the same result as if you had a support vehicle but never used it. it changes your the way you approach the ride knowing you have back up.
if Gaby had ridden solo her route and pace would be vastly different.
Pippa has really struggled with the weather and being on her own
I humbly suggest that it is Gaby who provides support to her male partner, Ben. She is at least as strong a cyclist as Ben and has trained for this for months.
Looks like Pippa Handley has chosen to win the thing, so as to head off any controversy :-P
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Ian_oli's tracker seems to be a bit on the blink - he's taken a more northerly route than many, through Serbia rather than Albania.
Amazing stories coming from all the riders.
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Made it to our local rag - rather impressed.
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Another Yacf'er, Shell or Mike Sheldrake, only has 167kms to go as of this morning.
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Ian_oli's tracker seems to be a bit on the blink - he's taken a more northerly route than many, through Serbia rather than Albania.
I think he's deliberately stayed incognito. He seemed to pick the ropiest tracker from the start, and claimed that Orange screwed up his roaming coverage. No updates in InterWeb land since yesterday, but now this:
The Transcontinental @transconrace 3h
There's 46 names currently on the finish sheet, Ian Oliver will be next in. Nick Dodd is also on target to finish for the party #tcr2014
9:54 AM - 23 Aug 2014
I think Nick Dodd is from Reading. Good ole Brits bringing up the rear. I know nothing about Nick, but his facebook feedumajig has been pretty funny during the race.
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About half the field in on the 13th day of the ride. That makes it all the more manageable for mere mortals to give it a go another time. If there are enough people riding on a 14-21 days schedule that'd give enough company for doing it at brisk touring pace.
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About half the field in on the 13th day of the ride. That makes it all the more manageable for mere mortals to give it a go another time. If there are enough people riding on a 14-21 days schedule that'd give enough company for doing it at brisk touring pace.
Completely agree. Definitely feasible inside the 14.5 days for anyone who has finished a 600km audax (or preferably a 1000+). I hope Ian won't mind me saying this, but he demonstrates this rather well!
I reckon I've got the legs for this, but I wouldn't want to be on my own for that long. All the tweets and FB updates in the world wouldn't fix that. Not to mention the H*lme*t rule.
Maybe we need to run it as an audax, drafting allowed ...
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Ian really must be there by now!
He tweeted about riding along the hard shoulder of a motorway.
Hurrah!
I think this is an achievable ride for most experienced Audaxers within the 14 days (allowed? I know they have a party etc. tonight, so I guess I sort of see that as the cut-off, but there are a lot of people taking it considerably slower and still moving). Of course pedalling 250km a day is in many ways likely to be the easiest part of the challenge. As mattc says, the solitude will be hard to deal with, let alone the challenges of keeping the bike going, fuelling yourself, finding shelter etc.
A truly amazing adventure. I suspect the French ride gets in the way, but I have a strong desire to give this a shot in 2016.
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Ian has just finished, " in time for a piss-up" via Twitter :thumbsup:
Mike Sheldrake, Shell OTP has also completed.
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Fabulous! Well done to all the riders!
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Completely agree. Definitely feasible inside the 14.5 days for anyone who has finished a 600km audax (or preferably a 1000+). I hope Ian won't mind me saying this, but he demonstrates this rather well!
Having completed this years event in 12 days based on a training regime of mainly 400km+ Audax I would agree that from a physical perspective it's feasible for those that can comfortably complete a 600km ride. The ride obviously does present challenges that you don't often get on UK rides though; dog attacks, crazy driving ( at least four were knocked off and hospitalised), figuring out navigational workarounds when your route unexpectedly turns into a motorway or gravel track and finding accommodation / food, to name a few. I found that dealing with that on my own was often quite stressful and was far more difficult than the physical aspect of keeping the pedals turning.
The overall experience was fantastic though and there is an immense amount of satisfaction to be gained from taking part. The cameraderie amongst the riders when you did occasionally bump into them was very strong and there was a wonderful atmosphere around the whole event. Definitely recommended for the well prepared, self reliant rider.
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^^^^^
Well done Chris, would like to read more!
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Was there a final FINAL cutoff? I couldn't see anything in the rules or rider info stuff. But it seems that plenty of folks were expecting to arrive many days late, and nobody has suggested they are out of time.
???
I've been looking at the "riding speed" figures, and it doesn't look much lower for people arriving around now, from those completing in 11/12 days. Sort of 20-22ish.
Interesting ...
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I wonder how many entries this event could potentially have. It already fully subscribes within about a month and I think it could easily double in size next year, if that's the way it wants to go.
I also wonder if there will be a growth of this kind of event. I know it's the sort of thing I'd like to do and doubt that I'm the only one.
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I wonder how many entries this event could potentially have. It already fully subscribes within about a month and I think it could easily double in size next year, if that's the way it wants to go.
I also wonder if there will be a growth of this kind of event. I know it's the sort of thing I'd like to do and doubt that I'm the only one.
It'll be interesting to see how it grows and whether there will be further challenges created by others.
This and the recent ride across the states are right up my street, and I plan to ride to Istanbul in 2016 (I'd love to do it next year, but the French ride will eat up much of my leave and energies as we give it a go on the tandem)(I have also suggested a go at the Transcontinental on a tandem - slightly in jest - it wasn't a well received suggestion!).
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I was one of those lucky ones who took part in this year's event and I'd recommend it to anyone who feels able. To give you some sense of the physical challenge, I averaged just under 285km per day and just over 10,000' of climb, completing the trip a few minutes over 13.5 days. Many of you are far stronger riders than I am and without a doubt this event is within the reach of the average UK Audax rider. I'm 56, work full time and ride regularly at weekends but not huge distances. I have ridden a few Audax rides this year, mostly 200's, a few 300's and one 600. My total mileage before the Transcontinental was just over 8,000km since Christmas, so nothing exceptional. I completed the BCM in just under 36 hrs.
However, I agree with Chris P, this event presents some unique challenges and is about much more than the riding. You need to be self-reliant and resourceful in sometimes very arduous circumstances. I found the task of maintaining a focus on riding for long periods was very challenging. After three or four hours trying to hold a tightrope line on the edge of a carriageway with lorries blasting ship-horn hooters and thundering inches past like express-trains, I needed a break. It seems that Kristoff, as well as being a supreme athlete, can maintain this high level of focus, even when extremely sleep-deprived.
I chose the feral option, sleeping rough on all except one night. This meant I could be more flexible about where my day ended and removed the need/time to seek out a hotel. However, this option needs care to ensure you sleep well and stay dry. Fortunately, I'm quite skilled in this and had good kit but I met others who clearly hadn't much previous experience in sleeping rough and some had a hard time as a result.
This was the greatest ride I have enjoyed and became the adventure I was looking for but I'm not sure I will do it again. In particular, some of the roads were far from enjoyable, nothing like a UK Audax route. They were sometimes grim, very poor surfaces and dangerous traffic (and of course there were the infamous dogs).
Mike Hall has created an event based on a fantastic ethos of self-reliance, integrity, simplicity and mutual support. The camaraderie between riders, the organisers and the blue-dot followers brought an unexpected and remarkably powerful dimension to this event. I hope that all of this survives into the future but it is inevitable that the event will change in character. I dare say Mike is wrestling now with the challenge of whether to expand the event and if so, how to retain its unique character but I doubt it will ever be the same from one year to the next. Mike compares the event to the earliest days of the Tour de France and look how that's evolved! If you think this is for you and want to experience the incredible qualities and rewards of The Transcontinental, I'd get an entry in sooner, rather than later.
Shell (Leicester Forest CC)
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I got in last Saturday after 14 days and 10 hours. My Garmin said 3306kms and 36000 and something meters climbed.
Like all the very long distance rides I have done - PBP excepted - I found it frustrating to pass through interesting places without the time to stop and explore, but the Swiss National Park, Bolzano, Ravenna, the whole stretch from Split to Montenegro and on into Peje (Pec) in Kosovo, Plovdiv and Edirne are all marked down to revisit another time.
I mixed hotels, ranging from very basic to posh, with feral. I found two nights out in a row was enough for me and by the way the hotel staff were staying out of smelling distance from me in Peje, enough for everyone else too.
I found three stretches very tough. Over the Fluela in Switzerland because of the wet and cold and its extended steep stretches. I got to the little town of Zernez just over the other side and decided to stop for the night, which meant I had no realistic chance then of catching the Ancona Split ferry on the planned Friday. I don’t regret this as it started to pour with rain again. I took the next pass on the way to Stelvio in the morning when it was almost freezing, but completely dry.
My plan for bad weather in the Alps was to buy clothing locally. This was a flawed strategy - in the small places en route to Davos it was a struggle to find a suitable shop and when I did the three times UK price for an item put me off. I eventually settled for a roll of bin liners, only to find at the top of the Fluela that they were half height (wtf). The kind lady in the cafe gave me newspapers to stuff inside my jacket.
I avoided the Kosovo-Serbia border as there was a good chance of not being allowed through, so had to go through the northern suburbs of Skopje. Laid out like Milton Keynes but with psychopathic driving - not fun. Still grumpy about it, there was a long stretch in the dark towards Bulgaria which was almost devoid of human life. This is the one time I found the ride doing my head in, but eventually villages returned and I found a hotel for the night (10 euros!) in a small town. The next morning as I rode out of town I saw a sign saying "Sofia 124" and knew for sure then I would finish.
Like most riders, I found Turkey surprisingly hard, especially as crossing the border felt like crossing a sort of finishing line. Mostly it was long undulations along the E-80 Motorway - which was tedious though I cheered up when offered the chance - declined - of man-on-man bj action. Rather than cut across the city I took a northerly route along a newly built dual carriageway that had much steeper and shorter undulations into the face of a very stiff headwind off the Black Sea. So stiff that I had to pedal downhill and at one point I realised I had done 4km in 30 minutes. The frustration of being so close but so slow almost had me in tears, not helped by the enormous numbers of gravel trucks (new building is going on around Istanbul on an epic scale) passing at speed within inches.
Otherwise some rough and some busy roads, some stretches where I could not follow the planned route for some reason or another and slow bits with some navigation problems going through big places like Paris and Zurich and the endless sprawl of resorts around Rimini. Apart from that, enjoyable and occasionally, like the flatlands of Italy, boring. I ground slowly up the Stelvio, but it looks worse than it is as a steep ramp is usually followed by a gentle one.
In terms of preparation, I have ridden 9000kms this year before the event, 8000 since March, mainly commuting (17 miles a day) and rides of 200-300kms. The Highlands, Glens and Western Isles Audax was almost a dress rehearsal and I learned a lot - like take much less - from it. I took a lot of care over route planning, bought good lightweight kit for the feral stuff and ensured my trusty titanium steed had new componentry, where needed, that would last the distance. Perfectly OK, but used chain, tyres and cables were replaced and the new ones tested the weekend before the start.
I only had minor problems en-route. I had two punctures, some problems with light connections which were tricky to fix in the dark, especially after I had lost my reading glasses and my chain came off a few times. I eventually worked out why, but didn't fix it. I put on new brake blocks for the Stelvio and in the pouring rain on the way down, found they were useless. At the first hairpin, I went gently off the end and onto the grass. The rest of the way I had to grip the brakes hard, till it ached, till I got to drier conditions near the bottom. Annoying as the old pads had worked perfectly down a wet Fluela descent. I added a rucksack to my luggage in Troyes and for this sort of ride it was invaluable as a larder and as a place to quickly bung or retrieve clothing layers. In the hotter parts I tied it to my tri-bars during the day.
I had no body problems, except temporarily for my feet and ankles over some very poor surfaces, and I was able to sit in comfort all the way. As I write this a week later, I am still getting random attacks of the dozies and my legs feel tired. My resting heart rate is still higher than normal. I have a fantastic tanline on my legs and I lost 4kg. Oddly, I started getting leg cramps only after I got home, perhaps the effect of being on a plane.
Food and drink were rarely a problem. A couple of early morning bonks fixed when bakeries opened and I absolutely hated warm water and Nuun mix out of my bottles by the end. So much so that I threw the bottles away right at the finish. I virtually stopped eating bland carbs like bread and some days my diet was ice cream, chocolate, cheese and salami. Schweppes Tonic, which seems to be popular across the Balkans, became my drink of choice.
In Audax terms I'd say you need to be fit enough to do an 80 hour PBP - I am sure I was, but I rode it at a 90 hour PBP speed. I rarely really exerted myself, except for my night-time chased by dogs incident (I really did speed up there!) and the last hour or so when I realised I could make the party in time. I noticed my fat burning improving throughout the ride so I could get by on less and less and carbs and noticed how when I took in carbs I needed extra water for the glycogen - noticing this sort of thing a sign perhaps I was spending too much time on my own. Had I been back in my 20s I probably could have winged it like some of the younger riders did, but I needed the training and preparation.
As Chris and Shell have said it was much more than about the riding. I didn't meet other riders much, though Shell and I had a burger stand meal together near Dubrovnik - and none at all after Mount Lovcen - except early on and at the ferries, mountain controls and the end. When you did, it was instant camaraderie from the shared experience. At the top of the Stelvio I was there when George from Greece completed his second ride up (from the allowed side) and a group of Italians met their mates. At Lovcen lots of people arrived at more or less the same time. I was really pleased that before heading off to the airport on the Tuesday we were able to greet Jason Alcock and Martin McConnell as they finished. The lady who runs the Albergo Folgore, the control at the Stelvio, was helpful to us riders in a way that went well beyond what you'd expect of a commercial facility and a heartfelt thanks to her.
It was a fantastic experience and I am really glad I did it, but at 61 I don't think I want to do anything like it again.
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Chapeau Ian :thumbsup:
A ride on the wild side.
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Like Marcus, I'm very tempted to have a crack at this in 2016.
Chris, Shell & Ian,
If any of you could post a bike set-up/kit list it would be much appreciated. I think it would make interesting reading on how you tackled this kind of challenge and see how it fits with my current ideas on what I would like to take.
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Great stuff Ian! Quite some stats as well - long way and a lot of going up hills!
I will be picking your brain no doubt.
This won't fit into 2015 with touring in Thailand and the French ride - so it'd be 2016 before I could give it a go. The seed is sown and even if it didn't happen as part of this race, I will ride to Istanbul.
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Chris, Ian and Mike, thanks so much for sharing your stories, very uplifting indeed
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Riveting stuff.
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Fantastic ride Ian and a great write-up. I have to say, your experience and feelings echo mine in so many ways. It was a real pleasure meeting you and a joy to know that we both made it to the end.
"The seldom Killer", yes, happy to draft a list of kit with a few comments about value or otherwise. I'll post here in the next few days.
Shell
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Great reports from both of you, it sounds like you had one hell of an adventure. Very inspiring, thanks for posting.
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My blog of the race is here http://velocp.wordpress.com/transcontinental-race-2014/ (http://velocp.wordpress.com/transcontinental-race-2014/)
I will do a kit review separately.
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My blog of the race is here http://velocp.wordpress.com/transcontinental-race-2014/ (http://velocp.wordpress.com/transcontinental-race-2014/)
I will do a kit review separately.
Thanks, a great read.
It strikes me how many riders you met on the road. Were you simply in the bulge or did everyone else experience this?
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It strikes me how many riders you met on the road. Were you simply in the bulge or did everyone else experience this?
I suspect it was true for most riders, apart from the very fastest and slowest. Initially you meet quite a few people as the field sorts itself out, overtaking people who have gone off too fast or being overtaken by faster riders who have take different ferry routes etc. Obviously after the first few days you're just meeting people who are going at roughly the same speed.
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Great read.
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A great read, thanks for sharing it. :)
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Brilliant stuff Chris. Great read.
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Excellent read Chris. Very inspirational. Look forward to the kit breakdown too as considering something like this sometime next year.
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Chris, that was a monumentally great read. This bit had me rolling about in tears:
The main thing to realise about rural France is that it’s closed. In the unlikely event that you encounter a shop or any form of eating establishment it will invariably be shut, unless of course its a pharmacy and then it will definitely be open. All towns and even small villages have multiple pharmacies which are always open. So if you’re travelling across France with a serious medical condition you’ll be fine, just take your own food with you.
:thumbsup:
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Must admit that that bit had me chuckling too Pip! Because it's so darned true (around my way at least!)
What struck me about Chris's report was how achievable he made the whole adventure seem. Previously, I'd have thought 'no way' to something like this but Chris makes me feel it's something I could do.
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Teethgrinder asked how popular this event could possibly be....
I was waiting to sign up at 8pm GMT last night when the server crashed due to volume of traffic (I believe). Mike Hall put in a massive effort to find workaround solutions. I believe he even put down his beer for a few minutes. Eventually everything got back online, more or less. The upshot? 250 places available, including 150 solos and 100 riding as pairs. 350 applications by the time it had all righted itself. I think that may be a measure of potential popularity!
I've completed the questionnaire to the best of my ability, trying to exemplify the spirit of the race, and now just have to keep my fingers crossed until November 30th - when the announcement is made of who is in and who is not.
I sincerely hope I make the cut. If not I think I'll plan a little transcon style jaunt of my own for a couple of weeks at the same time.