Indian Pacific Wheel Race - IndyPac - IPWR

Franks right. Rider means racer in the context.

It's not the climb you get cold on, it's the descent.

Hotham is ~25k, which is like the Tourmalet except it only goes to 1800m and the gradients are less steep. Compared to the UK the roads are better so you get the descent over quicker and the temps are generally warmer than EU/UK and US.

My first post on the matter was "so long as you don't have to stop..."

Like I said, uncomfortable but not race-ending.

Lets find out if he buys more clothes...

"another jacket here" https://youtu.be/zSmWBT7Tngc?t=4m14s

It means other racer. Not other cyclist.

"another jacket" and... https://youtu.be/zSmWBT7Tngc?t=4m9s

I don't know where everyone is getting the idea he only has shorts and jersey.

Yeah I noticed that afterwards. It's still longer than I thought but my point was mostly the temps.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cch0tw4jVy0

Bad practice to have questions which need context and have ambiguity in wording. I felt like this year in the TCR application there was a lot of that, which made it more difficult than it needed to be.

Doesn't look very cold there. and he's rocking the drawstring :)

If you read the whole thing and not just one line, it's clear.

"With the introduction of the pairs category we can be firmer with what we regard as assistance, yet riders can still look out for the safety of one-another without having to drop out of the race altogether. 2015 Rules with regard to pairs and assistance between riders state that if one rider helps another rider then they can become joined as a pair and will get the same time when they finish.

On the whole riders should approach the race as if they were taking a completely solo trip across Europe, as if there were no race, as if there were no other riders and as if there were no contact with the people at home. In short they should do things for themselves.

So then, what did our applicants deem to be dedicated outside assistance, and does TCR HQ agree?

Another Rider Lending Me Their Pump.

Applicants answered: Yes: 48% // No: 52%

TCR Says: Perhaps the most even split of all the questions answered, the field is undecided on this one. However many bikepacking races are more sure when it comes to the sharing of equipment and it is generally forbidden. You may not of think it as assistance dedicated to one particular rider from outside of the race. Nevertheless sharing equipment is a no-no in self-supported races and it is in the Transcontinental too. Each rider must come equipped for their own race and not be reliant on others. They must prepare as if they were completing the task entirely on their own and no-one else were taking part in the ride, only then are they truly self supported. This applies to the sharing of information as it does the sharing of tools, clothing and food and this includes navigation."

I feel like you can remove any ambiguity by referring to racers and cyclists/riders/strangers. The fact that the result comes out 48/52 highlights the ambiguity, it's the only question where the majority of applicants disagree with TCR HQ.

"On the whole riders should approach the race as if they were taking a completely solo trip across Europe, as if there were no race, as if there were no other riders and as if there were no contact with the people at home. In short they should do things for themselves."

Perhaps the survey question was poorly worded but the answer and ruling is clear.

The race manual is also clear:

"Should any rider receive outside assistance from another rider in the race then this is classed as an assisted finish. These two riders will effectively become a pair and will receive the time at which both of their Brevet Cards have been stamped"

Abdullah 146km behind Kristof one f at the same time stamp. Going to be tight but can’t remember if Kristof stopped for a bit post Mike incident.

Contrary to well-established forum tradition, we've rather been ignoring the back markers. The two last-placed riders, who currently both seem to be staying at the Ceduna Motor Inn at 1,980km, are Henry Yates and Mrcycology.

I think the best rider name is Bombwhisky.

Bombwhisky and Iron Knob should meet at some point :) what a party that would be

Sadly, there's no rider called Iron Knob. Bombwhisky isn't too far away from Iron Knob, though, about 75km, so he should pass by there soon.

Abdullah:

My derilur hanger has come off the frame

...sounds like he's sorted something.

zip ties and duct tape ficks anyfink

"On the whole riders should approach the race as if they were taking a completely solo trip across Europe, as if there were no race, as if there were no other riders and as if there were no contact with the people at home. In short they should do things for themselves."

Yes, I have no qualms with the answer when you know the rider is a racer. Always easier to answer the question when you've seen the answer!

Pawel is laying down the hurt. He never seems to stop - and I seem to stop too often. Knee pain is back when my body cools down. I guess I should just stay moving but I find that quite hard (this is my first bikepacking race).

Apparently Pawel lost all his spare cogs though! All he has now is 17 and 18 tooth cogs on his wheel with a 46t chainring. Apparently he isn’t bothering to replace them either. The last 1500km is going to be interesting...

Interview with Pawel at top of Lofty (mine coming soon)

https://youtu.be/G6eCFwZQQCU

I must admit I think (it was 3.5 years ago now) answered that it didn’t count as outside assistance. I assumed that rider meant any other cyclist on the road, e.g. a touring cyclist lending your their pump was fine. I should have looked at the other questions as they always refer to rider but in the answers section racer and rider is used interchangeable. Had the question had racer in, I think without doubt more people would have deemed it as outside assistance.