Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

I was in a bad place just before dawn on Sunday after too much cycling and not enough sleep, but comments like yours came to mind and I dug myself out of trouble.

Knowing that other people suffer with problems but manage to keep on going really helps put things in context. So thank you for sharing.

I've been busy with a house move and renovation project but my Day 4 write-up is finally up. From CP2 and into the Alps proper, featuring a cameo from @skinny.

https://t.co/46R5jzXtKu

Day 5-6 were where the problems crept in and I suspect that'll make for the most interesting reading. I should be able to get through these a bit quicker now.

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Nice write up. That dessert looks good!

Start Geraardsbergen - CP1 in Clermont-Ferrand
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-1/

CP1 Clermont-Ferrand - CP2 Grindelwald
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-2/

CP2 Grindelwald - CP3 Alleghe
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-3/

CP3 Alleghe - Motel Kiwi, Bosnia
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-4/

Motel Kiwi, Bosnia - Bosnia/Montenegro border
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-5/

Bosnia/Montenegro border - Hotel S, Berane, Montenegro
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-6/

Berane, Montenegro to Hotel Macedonia, Lake Dojran
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-7/

Macedonia to the FINISH!
http://thehippy.net/blog/transcontinental-race-tcrno4-part-8/

Nice.

No, I didn't go THAT far south.

Lovely read(s). The German phrase you meant was (going out on a limb here) "Essen und Trinken". Also, it's Clermont-Ferrand.

I'd love to see a TCR starting in Galway or somewhere like that. Officially, Europe ends at the Urals to the east. This could be alternated with a north-south route in which the use of ferries could be expressly forbidden.

#armchairdotwatcher
#gloryinsuffering

Most Western point of Mainland Europe (i.e. not including random small islands) is Cabo da Roca in Portugal.

Certainly, that's another possibility. I wasn't aiming for the most westerly point, as Galway is far from the most westerly in Ireland.

Not the way I say it, it's not, O Liver Sheek.

Island/Ireland = pedalos!

Good one! It's reassuring to hear of other people losing their marbles in the zone of insanity between that last hill and Eceobat. There must be some kind of black hole around there...

Yeah, I was flipping between suicidal and ecstatic window licker. On the ferry it was all back to normal, save for an inability to walk properly.

I need to read all yours now. I started, but wanted to wait until I'd finished writing mine and you'd finished your lot.

Thanks - really enjoyed reading these.

Oh and I brush my teeth every morning. Just cycling along. Kind of a ritual. It makes me feel 100 times happier and better. Like I've cleaned my whole body.

This is reminiscent of one of my old man's pieces of imparted wisdom from when he was doing loads of survival training in some fairly grim places - Brushing your teeth always makes you feel better.

Brushing your teeth always makes you feel better<

Not after you've used it to clean your chain

Cleaning my chain made me feel much better than cleaning my teeth. Cleaning my teeth hurt, cleaning my chain stops the squeaking and makes it feel like you're going faster and smoother. MMM.... smooth

What was the rain jacket you and Skinny had? My Rapha is well and truly done, at the perfect time of year. If it worked on 4000km with the storms you all encountered it probably fits the bill!

Rab Flashpoint.

I do like my Rapha jacket but that's more of a cold weather one - it's too big for TCR.

Did you like the Rab? I was originally going to not go down the cycling specific jacket route but was worried about packability?

when does the application form come out for next year? anyone? If you could Pm me about it that would beyond helpful!

packability. You know the rab packs smaller than a fist.

It's a climbing jacket. I'd probably lose the hood and I'd like hand pockets but it worked well.

Look at the website. Nov, something is happening.