Transcontinental Race No. 5 - TCR5 - #TCRN05 - 2017

Interesting route, hoping I can do number 6, just LEL planned for next year though. Think the second half of this route should be really interesting

Longer and flatter? Awww... I was really looking forward to climbing even more mountains.

I'd started ordering pints without whiskey chasers and downsizing my kebabs to only a Large.

yeah I got that part - just curious if you can think of any climbs/areas that you think would be well suited to a checkpoint.

Still gotta go over the alps twice!

Also really interested in doing this, @hippy what are the entry requirements? How do they determine who gets to take part?

There aren't really any requirements, they'll let some vets in and the rest will be a ballot based on a questionnaire thing where they see if you understand what the race is and isn't.

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/13296442/

<<< Captain Detour doesn't.

Meteora is an interesting place - worth staying a day or two and checking out the hill to monasteries. It's very hilly!

After finishing TCR most people don't seem so keen to push on anywhere in a hurry...

Understandable given they have just hauled themselves across Europe on a bike. Still, a very interesting place to hang out for a day or two to rest up (if you hire a car).

I've not looked but is there accom nearby? Where's the nearest bar?

I understand it's a monastery - Belgian monks are my favourite brewers :)

There seems to be wine tourism in Meteora and the area...

Looks like there might be lots of variation in the routes people choose and the countries they go through.

Wine? Out.

Oh ok then, you twisted my arm. ;)

Yeah, there's huge scope with this wonky checkpoint arrangement for variations.
Anyone Dot Watching is going to have a ball.

Excellent, thanks.

I must have missed it, as I thought I'd read it through on the half a dozen times I watched the video.

Just for the music you understand.

Routing questions - long flat and potentially boring?

or

scenic, shorter and much more climbing?

Depends on each rider but I'd take the former.

If you get bored you're doing it wrong.

Play to your strengths. I took a flat detour that added distance because I'm a strong rider on the flat. You need to weigh up the extra distance versus the climbing though and for that you need to know your speed up stuff vs. along the flat.

Greek monks went straight to the chaser - tsipouro. Food will be meat - kebabs Greek style.

There is accommodation in the main town though when I was there out of season it was very quiet.

Part of me wants the exciting roads, the sweeping vistas - seek out the biggest challenges cause when am I gonna get to ride there again?

But another part is thinking -well you're already going over a ton of mountains, why seek out extra pain when you can haul your 90kg body along the flat a lot more comfortably?

I really admired the dude who did the Stelvio even though he didn't have to last year.

Just not totally sure I want to be that guy.

You won't be short of experiences whichever way you play it. I'd stick to your strengths and try to race it the quickest way you can. Anything else and I think people should go touring instead. They'll enjoy it more and free up a space for somebody else who wants to race it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsipouro

Never heard of that. Sounds like Greek grappa. Could be fun. :)

It's a race.

Save your wishy washy namby pamby flim flam for your retirement cycle tour (Channeling Thin Blue Line).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l63RSzqpwHQ

Yes speaking of races., where are the results?

#taxi!

Yes but as long as you keep the "human sacrifices" i.e., people who are completely out of their depth (ref; Barkley Marathons). For entertainment purposes.

Fair points @hippy and @user65501

it is a race after all and whilst I don't think I can win, I hope to finish in <14 days. Flat it is!