Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

^ Needs to be black and white with some BOLD TYPOGRAPHY.

Rapha thread>>>

Blown away by your ride James - you're the same age as my eldest son and I mentioned your ride to him last night. Rendered him speechless for the rest of the evening, which isn't such a bad thing.

I could be interested in some sponsorship though my company - nothing bike related but if some simple sponsorship cash is something that might help then we should talk.....

Epic, that picture sums it up very well. As close to the early Tours as you can get over hundred years later.

https://instagram.com/p/5_0OLqIF5q/

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Thanks that's very kind! I am just daft enough to ride my bike a lot!

And yes I need some help, I sold everything to find this year so next year I have nothing more to sell! I'll pm you.

Yeah some awesome finish photos emerging that capture the raw emotions involved.

It is all the salads at Earth in Kentish Town!

These pictures are so powerful, well done to the photographer, more so to the subjects.

Leo Tong #13 Almost halfway between CP3 and CP4.

Joseph Todd #89 in Macedonia with just under 800 km to Istanbul

Gareth Baines #37, 262 km from end and likely to get a top 10 finish.

Lee Pearce #29 412 km to go

Stephane Ouaja #152 (fixed rider) 444 km to go.

Baines looked the weaker of the three ferry people in Italy and stopped for a while where he was caught by Ouaja who kept pace with him after they landed until relatively recently. Baines is riding exceptionally well. (As are they all).

Of the back markers, David Coulton appears to be continuing although only passing Milan. Three others are still in Slovenia.

To be honest, these are the riders that I am following with the most interest with that nagging thought "could I?"

How old is the oldest rider?

I met a 67 year old guy riding 160k a day from portuagal home to Poland when I was away in May. He looked fitter and stronger than I. Anyone can do it, just need to be there mentally.

Was 2nd place a tie between 17 and 124? Just noticed the times on the photos.

They made mistake. Ultan 4th.

Alexandre's time was 11h 7h 30m, they forgot to account for CET. The time on his photo is wrong.

Anyway, even if 2nd was a tie then he's still 4th.

I am only 57 (well 58 in a month) and would hope I could do a 100 mile a day ride over reasonable terrain for quite a distance provided I slept in decent beds. Even slowly, that is 10 hours a day on the bike and 14 hours to recover. It was the lack of sleep and absence of recovery that struck me about your adventure. Not sure I could manage that.

Riding alone, and alone 24 hours a day, didn't the lack of company get to you?

Yeah, me being thick - Ultan would have been 4th anyway, even with a tie for 2nd, duh ...

On Track leaders, "Straight Tracking Distance Covered" is that actual distance ridden or just drawing a straight line point to point?

just drawing a straight line point to point

The rule of thumb is to add 20% to get a rough idea of the real (wiggly) distance covered.

Nope. I'm a loner and happy alone. Music is nice. But I just enjoy being outside and free and moving. I always train alone. I can go weeks and have without taking to anyone.

The thing that amazed me at the start was the mix of people, from skinny tanned guys to older less fit but just as energetic and willing guys. Anyone is capable with some mental strength. Or anyone is capable of trying and trying is all that counts. Guys = men and women.

Rooting for Gareth as he is a fellow Bristol South CC rider and an all round good chap!
Really hoping he can make it top 10.