Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

In relation to lights/ dynamo I used an SP dynamo with the Luxos IQ, this system incorporates a cache battery, I would definitely recommend the use of a battery with a dynamo, this gives a back up in the event of any failure too. Have at least one Garmin that has the ability to run off disposable batteries- Lithium are brilliant BTW, double the life of the normal variety and worth the extra expense.

Yes that's the one, use it for croissant holding purposes if its not hot. Frame bags wont foul knees if you are disciplined and keep them skinny, although thinking about you probably incline your knees in to be more aero?

I'll probably take the 1000 and an etrex and maybe even the 800 as a backup as well.

I tested this framebag empty and stuffed full and both touched my knees. I probably just have fatter legs/more inwards angled pedaling than people who get on with framebags.

I think a safer option is to not use a framebag or use the much skinnier/further forward Deuter. Pity because I like the waterproof hardiness of the Rev.

Good call- At night its helpful to have one garmin displaying elevation only. Personally I wouldn't use turn by turn either, it drains the battery and increases the risk of a freeze too.

Yeah but without TBT you have to keep looking at the map which is also meant to increase battery drain and also increases the risk of missing a turn.

Why do you display elevation? I wasn't planning on having them both running, just having one as a backup for when the other one inevitably fucks ups.

Consider a back to front top bag attached to the seat post/ top tube to increase storage options.

Only makes a difference if you are using the backscreen light- wear a head torch at night, then you don't need to.

Elevation helps psychologically, plus its easy to run silly gearing at night when you cant see slope, but maybe that's just me.

I have. I tried my current Deuter one there and my fat track sprinter thighs rubbed it.

What head torch do you have? I found that an 89g camera was too heavy to mount comfortably on my head.

The best cache batteries can hold about 50% more per gramme than the worst - http://www.sys-eng.co.uk/2016/04/power-to-weight.html

Lightweight LED one made by "Black Diamond", from Snow and Rock in Covent garden, runs off 2 AAA batteries. I don't wear a helmet which helps I suppose

Try other top bags, you want to minimise what you put in the under saddle bag to stuff you wont have to constantly get to- the less you access the better as they are generally a pain and are ideally loosened right off/taken off completely and refitted if you are taking stuff out/putting it back in.

Whilst I think of it- a few people on TABR drowned their di2 chargers, wrap it up well in a plastic ziplock bag!
Also I've always had really good life out of my Di2 battery but had to charge up every second day a couple of times on TABR on some particularly lumpy sections of Missouri/Kentucky when I was constantly shifting. I wasn't alone in this. James at the Newton bike shop reckons that the latest batteries aren't as good as the earlier ones. I managed to charge as I rode via my USB charger, so wasn't an issue but worth bearing in mind.

Mine is about 21g I think.

EDIT: 27g

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Petzl-E02-P3-Headlamps-Elite/dp/B008AUBOTS?ie=UTF8&ref_=pe_385721_128963601_TE_item

I know - it's why I had the Revelate to try.
I don't really know any other bags and it's getting late in the day to ask for custom.
Does anyone make a -skinny- full length ones?

Oh, we talking framebags or top tube bags?

Top tube, they are much smaller though so I wouldn't rule out a frame bag until you've tried every variant. The apidura annoyed me initially but with a bit of pummelling/centralisation was fine.

I've tried a couple of bag setups and think I'm going with this (from the back):
Apidura saddle bag (small) with only sleeping stuff and tools I hope not to use.
Pretty small triangle frame bag from eBay that fits perfectly in the 'V' between my two bottles (for clothes I need to access like arm-warmers, gilet, etc)
Alpkit top tube bag, right behind my stem. Handy place to put stuff that won't fit in a pocket.
Two bar bags - the first one is mainly for electrical stuff and medical bits and the second (zip tied to aerobars) is purely a nosebag, to be filled with food!

I've ditched my Alpkit frame bag as it interfered with bottles and TBH it didn't hold much anyway.
It was a close thing between Apidura saddle bag and a rack + rack bag, which is a bit heavier (340g for the rack) but is far easier to use with zips + side pockets, etc.

Two bar bags

What sort of bar bags - those kind similar to climbing pouches?

That's very kind of you but I bought a jra wheel and the hub -might- be arriving soon, so I'll probably have too many wheels shortly.

Tricycle it? :)

No, they're proper bar bags.
First one is a Decathlon one
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-bike-handlebar-bag-25l-id_5994533.html
Second one is a similar one from eBay, which has side pockets
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/QUALITY-COMPACT-BIKE-HANDLEBAR-BAG-carry-strap-phone-pocket-Velcro-bar-ROSWHEEL-/380705132920?var=&hash=item58a3cb5178:m:mEZIEJZGaoRxOtGeUwljLKw

They actually go ok together - better than you'd think. And I reckon two can hardly be any worse than one aerodynamically.

One other thing to consider- By far the most common mechanical on TABR was cleat failure, easily overlooked, so if yours are getting on a bit it might be worth changing prior.

Especially with PeedSplay shite.

So, if I still do this cunting race and don't use the new bike I need a different strategy for lights and electronics.

Is it possible to use a set of battery Exposure lights and then recharge in hotels every couple of days? I know Mike did this on TransAm but the USA is never short of convenience whereas Europe is a little more austere in that regard, ie. will I be struggling to find hotels and sockets for this shit?

I'll need another set of aerobars for the Tarmac.

I can use the Archetype wheels I used on PBP, they've only done 1250k in France.

Not sure how the poor old girl will handle me and all the luggage though - it's not really designed for strapping stuff onto.

Or I take the PX which has proven itself over shitloads of miles but lacks frame space for a framebag and with the aerobars doesn't have a lot of options for mounting other shit. Cockpit is also pretty short so top tube bag will probably get in the way.

Oh, gearing. I can get 32T on the Di2 but the other two bikes are 10spd cable so max out at a 28T. Might have to throw some pensioner cranks on. Compact crankset for a Spesh BB30?

Is the new bike not working out?
I'm using a hope V1 as main light with a cateye as backup (same as PBP and UK audaxes). I've just spent £45 on a stash of lithium disposable batteries to fuel the setup + my garmin. They're pretty light.