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I've not really looked too much at it but is it 'proper' MTBing? Or is it a lot of double track? ie. the shit quality roads I'd end up riding on TCR anyway. What would the right bike be - rigid mtb, hardtail, dualie, CX bike or road?
Are you definitely going to race TCR next year?
hippy-
Org says it should be manageable on a 35 mm cx bike but recommend bigger for some extra comfort
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I've not really looked too much at it but is it 'proper' MTBing? Or is it a lot of double track? ie. the shit quality roads I'd end up riding on TCR anyway. What would the right bike be - rigid mtb, hardtail, dualie, CX bike or road?
Are you definitely going to race TCR next year?
My first choice is to do TCR but (not being a top 20 finisher) I'm at the mercy of the ballot/s.
I don't think there is any, or very much, actual technical single track on SRMR that would challenge anyone who does any actual mountain biking. I think a lot of it is double track, probably mostly better than the rough track in Macedonia on 2016 TCR. I could ride it on my TCR bike, which I expect could take 35mm ok. I'd need new wheels with more spokes and - shock, horror - a dynamo. But Nelson doesn't recommend it, he suggests a rigid MTB or a gravel bike (whatever they actually are) with 40mm on.
I've done lots of stuff like that in Albania and also Wales on my Super Galaxy, which takes 35mm (maybe I should just take that - it rides well over boulders), and it is fun. But it might not be fun for more than a few hours, and the long, rough descents on drops would probably get a bit much, and my lack of MTB skillz would most likely lead to skin loss or worse.
It does sound like fun though...
Heldring
frank9755
I'd like to do that it lots of ways. Would be really interesting to go out there, and fun to be a pioneer in the first event before it gets too mainstream. The cool guys are doing it this year instead of TCR for those reasons, but it just looks a bit too hard core / MTB for me, so pretty much certain I won't try to get a place. I also prefer here-to-there routes, like TCR, TABR, IndyPac, etc.
But I expect I'll hugely regret not entering it when it comes round, especially if I don't get a place on TCR. My heart wants to do it but my head says you haven't got the right bike, that massive climb on the first day would be too much, you'll get eaten by wolves, etc, etc.