Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

So I did my last online kit order on Sunday so should all be arriving this week and then taking my bike in on Saturday for a thorough service.

I'm 70% done with the route, just trying to create some race notes with convenient hotels and 24 hour fuel stops.

The training isn't going that well but similar to last year. I've squeezed in a few turbos and such but I've been working 7 days a week for the last month trying to finance the race so times been limited.

Overall though I'm actually looking forward to this years race unlike last years. I know from last year I can do it so I'm just excited to get on my bike for two weeks and go through some interesting parts of Europe in some warm weather.

@skinny yours all going to plan? Happy with your training?

Yeah mate, just have fun. That's why we do not no!
I still need to write race notes, of good stop places.
Hopefully I'll have a beer waiting for you in Turkey! And any other forumunger finishing.

And yes, I'm bang on. Just hope the wind blows my way.

Head torches.
I don't usually use one but think I need one for this to spot bivvy sites.
Any recommendations?

Hippy recommended a tiny 27g Petzl one, which I tried on the DD.

It seemed pretty good but not sure the pull cord would survive a month of use.

Sounds good: does it come with a helmet mount or need to buy separately? If so, which one?

I can't remember which username, but one of the forum TCR racers writes this blog which has been linked a couple of times in this thread... I bookmarked it a couple of weeks ago but only just spent the morning catching up on a couple of stories and they really are great! Thoroughly recommended and good luck!

https://theadventurecapitalist.wordpress.com

The light is in two sections connected by a universal joint. The back section has a pull-out cord.

On my helmet this cord can be looped around a couple of the vents and the whole thing stays in place no problem, because it weighs nothing and the cord retraction tension is pretty high.

thanks - I've ordered one!

Don't forget extra batteries! They aren't rechargeable.

I believe @frank9755 owns that blog...

No, not me - far too lazy.
It's a guy called Darren Franks. He writes well. Nice guy; I rode with him on an audax a few months ago. He's only just started cycling so has jumped in at the deep end in entering the TCR and has done loads of training to get ready - and provide material for the blog. He was pretty quick; he was dropping me on the bigger hills, and I only caught him up as he tended to faff a bit at controls!

So, state of emergency:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/20/erdogan-bans-academics-from-travel-holds-first-post-coup-security-meeting-ankara-turkey

Makes no difference. Race will finish in Turkey.

Looks more likely to be in Greece now?

Happy to say my faff factor has been dramatically reduced since those early audaxes. I've learnt that you don't need to be quick (on the bike) you just need to be relentless and stay quick whenever you're off the bike.

Writing the blog has been a great experience so far. I wish I had more time for it. There are dozens of entries loosely penned that I'm struggling to find time to finish, but I'm looking forward to writing up the race itself next month.

Currently finishing in Turkey. They might change the finish but I've got flights out of Turkey so I hope they don't.

https://backpackinglight.com/petzl_e_lite_headlamp_review/

On the other hand, there's also state of emergency in France until the end of January 2017. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36842311

Just a title.
Makes no.difference.

Terrorism was and still is the biggest threat.

I've no issue going into turkey.
I'll be gutted if it doesn't finish there, on the Asian peninsula.

guess helps to avoid those wild/barking dogs that the forummonger mentioned being prominent on last year's ride!

Drivers were and still are the biggest threat.

ftfy

The only way we're not gonna end up in Turkey is if the UK government advices against travel and in that case flights will be cancelled/reimbursed/re-routed.

Word.
I have 2 rear lights and a proper hi viz gilet.

I have nightmares of being run over from behind, and just pray it's a quick death.

If I believed in a god, which I don't, but if I did I would request the opportunity to lift my crushed body up for one final violent attack that rendered the perpetrator unable to ever drive again.

I need to see if my old Cateye light works. Need a backup if the dyno fails.

Is anyone else struggling to get any work done between re-routing, sorting out last-minute marginal spending on new kit and generally being totally distracted by TCR thoughts?

No because every time I try and do anything useful some fucker gives me something else to fix/create/email a rant about.

I always suspected that was one incident followed by subsequent recurring hallucinations.