Ultracycling

I can't wait. Could well be best race of the year.

Indeed, the surroundings seem spectacular and the culture interesting. And no terrible traffic to worry about. But I suppose it's not really possible for me to ride that this year as I'm planning to ride that other unsupported road race through Europe, the inaugural Northcape-Tarifa. Lots of places on the route I'm looking forward to ride. Like the mountains in Spain. And the whole route actually. It also passes through my city, like a kilometer from my home.

Is that the really long one? Looks interesting indeed.

Yep, about 7200km, though the whole detailed route hasn't been published yet. Col d’Iseran, Galibier, Pico del Veleta(about 3400m)... Andi Buchs is organising it, he's ridden tcr, tabr and ipwr so probably knows how to plan it. There's others from tcr too, like Matthew Falconer and Steffen Streich. And some that have been in raam I think.
http://www.northcape-tarifa.com/

If I don't get in to TCR (and don't get finally seduced by SRMR) I'm thinking of doing Northcape-Tarifa as far as Nice (it's an official finish after 5000km) which is as much time as I'll be able to get off. It would be fun to ride in the north with long days, and the big alp climbs would be good. The bit I'm least excited about is riding the length of Finland which looks relatively flat and unpopulated. @Samuli, what is Finland like for riding - are there other attractions I'm not aware of (other than your house)?

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?

I'll just have to make sure I finish TABR under 20 days so I can get back in time to start this ;)

Seriously though, want to ride this but it's going to have to wait for another year, assuming it runs yearly, as I've unfinished business with the USA.

Rudolf?

"Route Norway/Finland checked. End of September, beginning of October the route till Helsinki was riden on bike and checked. On some parts more reindeers as cars. Beautiful scenery, lakes, forests, long distances between services, a pleasure for long distance rides. Going back end of March and continue to inspect the route to Germany. Next: Spain"

Org says it should be manageable on a 35 mm cx bike but recommend bigger for some extra comfort

Sounds like a job for the PX Stealth then. 25s should do it :)

Well yeah, reindeers. It can be the most dull part of the trip for some, but there are lots of pretty forests and lakes, and the open landscape and fells in the north. And the experience of riding through Lapland can be quite different than any other road race like this, it can be remote like the mtb races. I think there was only two places to stop at during 320km on the last day of Ruska ride across Finland. Would have been even less with wrong timing. Here's Mikkos photos from that. Southern Finland is more dense.

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...

Org says it should be manageable on a 35 mm cx bike but recommend bigger for some extra comfort

What bike are you taking?

I'll just have to make sure I finish TABR under 20 days so I can get back in time to start this ;)

It would be a good way to fill that annoying gap between TABR and TCR

Got it. There's no guarantee they'll do the top-20 thing again (although finishing 20th I hope they do!).

rough track in Macedonia on 2016 TCR

and 2017... and probably 2018... :)

Your bike is a CX frame isn't it? I got 35s to fit in the Kinesis but it was tight so it's not practical if there's any chance of grit/mud.

I knew you'd come around to the dynamo way... whether you like it or not :P

New Bike Time? :)

Well yeah, reindeers. It can be the most dull part of the trip for some, but there are lots of pretty forests and lakes, and the open landscape and fells in the north. And the experience of riding through Lapland can be quite different than any other road race like this, it can be remote like the mtb races. I think there was only two places to stop at during 320km on the last day of Ruska ride across Finland. Would have been even less with wrong timing. Here's Mikkos photos from that. Southern Finland is more dense.

Mikko takes good pictures. It looks pleasant enough but, as you say, not so exciting. In decent weather that might be pretty good. What might the weather be like - what is the risk of a week of headwinds or a week of solid rain...?

Recovery is for wimps.

When's the Nat 24hr next year?

I wonder how little time I can be at work while still being paid something.

Your bike is a CX frame isn't it?

It is. Canti brakes so plenty of tyre clearance room. But discs would be best for this so probably would be better to get a new frame anyway, thinking about it.

I'd use a dynamo if it made sense to do so. Of course there's no need in Europe, or places where finding enough charging points is not a concern, such as the Nullarbor. But on this, I'm not sure if there are hotels. OTOH, with no mobile signal, my power requirements would be lower, I could probably get by with just one recharge. So probably wouldn't need a dynamo after all :)

I wonder how little time I can be at work while still being paid something.

Top tip: if you set up your own business it is surprisingly little. But can you not just do stuff on your phone while you are riding? For example, you could save up all your emails from this year and take 2 weeks to clear them all when you are racing, instead of doing Twitter. Most would have sorted themselves out by then in any case.

You DynoTease™

I have two disc dynamo wheels doing feck all at the moment with the dead Kinesis so you're welcome to borrow. Actually if you want a rigid mtb you could borrow the Inbred. It weighs about as much as I do so it'll be perfect for those little Kyrgy climbs ;)

Haha I do actually have my own business but it would never work like you'd hope. I didn't bill a client for 6 months this year because I was far more interested in my CTT, TABR and TCR spreadsheets than my income ones! I am still working my way through my accounts back to Dec last year! :S I hate dealing with money - I just want to have enough of it that I don't need to care about it.

more reindeers than cars

Sounds like an open invitation to reindeer doping.

At least when there's nobody around it's not a problem if you don't speak Finnish.

Fans of GoochNet aka "Twitter" would be upset if I just worked my way across the US. I'm not sure how effective my pacing would be while trying to debug something. Just think how bad my aero would be with a laptop on the handlebars...

The weather can be anything really. That should about the best time to do it, but that doesn't guarantee anything.