Trans Am Bike Race / TransAm / TABR

Yes. Also theres a lot of shit on those shoulders, wire from blown out tires, glass etc. I'd seriously consider tubeless.

Not one of these...

I considered tubeless for TCR and I'm kinda glad I didn't bother. I think I'll maintain that position until circumstance dictates otherwise (ie. I've run out of tubes and patches in Bumfuck, ID). Hmm, does the race go through Bumfuck? Does it go through Idaho?

The 2017 route is (currently) 5k shorter than this year's route. I tracked it down to:

Yes goes through Idaho, and many variants of bumfuck.

*reminisces about Idaho - it was stunning, also amazing Pancakes and Huckleberry Sauce in Cambridge, Idaho

Pancakes

As I explained to some other, more famous, ultra nerds last night - the main reason I'm wanting to race this.

Get in my belly!

The waitress called them "saddle blankets" which was very appropriate.
Eat steak in Wyoming and Montana, it is cheap and very good quality.

Steak? Ain't nobody got time for steak.

Seriously though, if I make the start and I'm not crippled by saddle damage after two days I'm not going to be eating sit down feeds. I've been told there's a poor garage:diner ratio on the route so if I'm eating service station shite for two weeks I dunno, I guess I'll probably have the same issues as last time and be forced to eat 'normal' food.

Time to design a steak holder for the bike...

Not sure about that, there are plenty of gas stations and a lot do hot food, in the really rural areas particularly.
The service at diners was almost always v.rapid in any case, particularly if you just grab a take out.

Michael Wacker and Lee Fancourt are both racing next year.
Michael had a nightmare with knee problems that it transpired were due to a slight misalignment of his chain ring due to a loose bolt. He only discovered this after he was forced to retire.

I met Michael on TCR after some trippy shit went down when I napped in a bus stop somewhere in Bosnia.
We chatted for a bit and he went to get water than some locals gave me free beer. I consider him to be a good luck charm :)

The 2017 route is (currently) 5k shorter than this year's route. I tracked it down to:

Looking at that map and the way the river is a lot wider at the new crossing point, you might save 5km but you'll get a bonus climb with it...

"(Jun 2016) In Cannon Beach, Mike's Bike Shop is closed."

Removed one POI from the map...

Only 200 more to go....

For the first of 12 map files...

:S

TABR entry feed paid.

Just need to rebuild the bike, get over the flu and lose about 20kg in the next 6 month's training.

"Pre-race meeting: As in years past, there will be a semi-official pre-race meeting the day before, this year Friday June 2nd at 5PM at the Astoria Column and then at Fort George Brewery at 6PM to 8PM".

Brewery? That's me fucked then.

Norblad Hotel is directly opposite the brewery ;) A few people made a night of it, I was woken at 2am to the most awful rendition of Valerie.
The climb up to the monument is tough in the heat, most common question "Is it all like this!!!??" Its a rude awakening to the dreamers.

That's a good idea... put a brewery at the top of a fucking big hill.

I think I've just formulated my training plan...

Shit, I've just gone and highlighted all the brewpubs in the town.

At least I arrive with a couple of days buffer so I should be able to work off the hangovers before race start.

Brewery is at bottom of hill, you start racing up hill, then realise how fucking long and steep it is but cant possibly endure the shame of walking , get to the top where Nathan will take the piss and you sweat like a rapist, then blast straight down to pub, get drunk/ eat pizza/talk shit.

Its a lovely little town, has a big walmart a couple of miles north for essential last minute shit.
Bike shop is good and friendly, but carrys little in the way of tires or other spares- Portland is your friend for that.

Is Norblad worth it for 4-5 nights or is it a one-night novelty and should I go sleep somewhere cheaper (like in my bivvy)?

What I want to do is load up a UK gpx route with loads of POIs and see how it handles it.
It'd be cool to use the Adventure Cycling POIs as waypoints or something that at least shows up on the screen if I'm looking for accom or a bike shop but I'm worried the Garmin will choke under the weight of those extra data points.

There is a camping ground out of town- Michael Wacker stayed there, think he had problems with chipmunks or something trying to eat his bags and or bike.
Personally Id stay at the Norblad, on the basis that you will be doing lots of slumming it later, plus easier to sort your shit out/build bike etc.
They have dormitory rooms that will make it cheaper.

Nah, that's cool. If I book it now while I still have a job I'll not need to worry about the cost later :)

There are other travel lodge type places that may be cheaper, you are doing it right booking early. The advantage of the Norblad is its location, its very central and nice. I was super lazy and wanted to conserve energy, i.e. no bike time. A few of the stars spent most of their time prior TTing up and down Main St psyching everyone else out