Trans Am Bike Race / TransAm / TABR

I didn't really find it much of a faff to be honest. Maybe 10 lungfuls of air without really trying and push it inflated into the bivvy. Then undo the valve while laying on it, slide it out, roll it squeezing out the air, then roll it again and into bag. It's all done while sitting in the bivvy. Then roll up the bivvy. It made such a difference I'm seriously tempted to take one on TABR even after doing TCR with no sleep pad.

I'm the same - I tend to prefer urban sleeps - Welsh towns seem to have a nice bus stop to use and quite a few have large public toilet blocks, though I didn't actually make use of any of them.

Yeah, I'm torn. Having ridden TCR without one I know it's possible but TCR had a lot more options for hotel sleeps than back country USA will.

Don't bother with the sleep mat. You'll be so tired, you'll sleep anywhere. Similarly, a down jacket is unlikely to be necessary. Didn't use mine at all last year.

Ok, no sleep pad. Did you bivvy much? What did you sleep in?
I've probably asked you this already but I've forgotten and changed my mind so many times I've lost track of why I'm doing what now anyway. I recall you said there's hotels in the mountains did you save the bivvying until Kansas onwards?

West Yellowstone, just as an example is currently at -2degC. I reckon it's worth taking the jacket. If something breaks and I'm forced to walk to the next town or something then it could come in handy.

I bivvyed 70% of time, used a Rab bivvy made from event- it was too hot from day 1.

West Yellowstone wont be -2deg in a months time.

How's your cuban fibre bivvy btw?
I've ordered one from Borah but still waiting for it to land.

I've only used it in Oz and it was too hot there. I can't really use it here because it's not waterproof and I'm not setting up a tarp and it's probably too cold too.

Have you got a firm route planned out yet? I'll be following along virtually from here in Denver, CO.

Hippy will be along shortly, but it's a defined route: the TransAm Trail
That takes a lot of the pre-work out of it (but still need to plan for where to get supplies, sleep, etc).

Ah, righto then. Ezpz!

Unless a storm rolls in, this region should be fine weather-wise. Winter fizzled out early this year.

The race route is whatever Nathan posts on https://transambikerace.com/resources/

It's almost the same as the TransAm Trail as Frank says but there are normally some differences from the tourist route so the distances aren't exactly the same.

Think someone has done comparisons between them for last year's race route:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3xian8e630irnr5/TRANSAM16%20Route%20Check.doc?dl=0

The route kinda skirts Denver, probably closest at Silverthorne 66mi away.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16506754

I'm riding.

There will be a storm.

Weather hates me.

Yeah that'd be the high point. Good luck mate, it'll be an adventure.

High point is Hoosier Pass- try not to embolism going up it ;), nice bit of down hill afterwards, then very flat from Pueblo onwards.

Yeah, ~3000m.

I should be fine, what with growing up in that well known mountainous region of Oz, moving to that 'city in the sky' known as London and having genetically thick blood (the bad kind).

If I make the downhill it should be fun...

What other shit slowed you down that I should try and avoid?

Stopping for fluids- best strategy for dealing with the heat is carrying a camelback bladder in your frame bag, fill it with ice and water (gratis from fast food outlets). Have the hose running out of the frame bag and suck it like you did your mums teat.
Be sure to blow the water back into the bag after each suck, that ensures there's no water in the hose to heat up.

Carry some Aloe Vera and lots of sunblock- every inch of my exposed skin was covered in tiny blisters.
If you start pissing and shitting blood- honey seems to work.
The gas stations sell runny honey in small plastic bear shaped squeezable containers- its rocket fuel just keep chugging it.

Heres one of the little dudes.

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Never bothered blowing the water back - it makes the cool stuff taste that much nicer :)
Not a bad idea though. Ice is good call too. Will see how hot everything gets in the frame bag, but I'm not counting on ice so will deal with whatever I find.

What's the aloe for? After you've got burned?

I'll be using arm sleeves again and probably my knee 'warmers'. It's going to be the backs of my calves and my neck and ears that cop it. Maybe my nose a bit too. I'll wear a cap - I was thinking of cutting the top out of one so my head can still breathe.

The only reason I'll shit blood is trying to pass a 5-day block of gas station 'food' as a solid, dehydrated brick. I expect it will be fun.. Pissing blood? Not had that before. New-found joys to look forward to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNxBOmV9tUY

Yes aloe for burnt skin. Use a bandana to cover back of the neck. I didn't take a helmet, most people didn't wear them cycling uphill.

The bear was my equivalent of Tom Hank's "Wilson".
I was borderline psychotic towards the end.

Don't flirt with the receptionists at Motels - they will knock on your door later, actually probably just unique to me that one, youll be ok.