Transcontinental Race No. 6 - TCR6 - #TCRN06 - 2018

LOLd I'm normally too busy talking shite to eat much, then get to Belgium and drink too much on an empty stomach for proper race preparation.

Yeah, fair enough. I'd like to beat the missus to Greece but I'd need near 400k/day which is almost certainly out of my reach for me while still riding safely.

I’d love to be near 500km/day that’d be nice. Well when I say nice I mean absolutely horrific just let it end it hurts so much. But nice.

Last year was 450.

Nice.
I think I was around 350 in TCR4 and maybe 330 post-TABR in TCR5. I'll obviously aim for more but if my legs ain't moving they ain't moving, there's not much I can do about it.

What are everyone's routes looking like in terms of km and m? I need to add mine up, but it'd be interesting to see what everyone's on.

Shortest and least elevation I think.

I need to check again as I just did it in my head the other day.

Share yours and I’ll share mine!

Meant actual numbers from all our racers.
I need to kill off some of my test variations and then add up the totals.

I'll message you tonight when I've got the set.

I'm actually at just under 45,000m of climbing - unless i added wrong - so yeah a bit!

Just the little parcours is like 5000m+

I thought it was going to be less climbing this edition but numbers don't lie. Like it.

Can't wait to make use of my superior power to weight...

Hang on, I meant power to wait.

What goes up, must come down, but maybe you should fit a second disc brake on the front rim for stopping power.

Honestly, the lengths they go to to stitch hippy up. It's like making a Tour de France route for Romain Bardet.

160 front and rear is enough. Actually 140s would be enough but I have the 160s so they'll do.

If I can just tear myself away from the service stations before my 8th ice cream I would probably save a whole day.

Pretty sure I've got all my kit now.
Just a question on tools.
I've got a pretty comprehensive multi tool but sometimes see mentions, on people's ultra kit lists, of a small ratchet wrench type thing. Necessary?
Also, should I take a Leatherman? Never have before, but then again, never attempted anything like this before :)

I do but it depends what other tools you take. The more experience you have the more you can whittle it down but I'd rather have something and ride on than not have something and be stuck walking to the next town or worse. Example: all the ultralight packers on the startline that don't even make it half way in TABR.

You’ll want kmc quick links for sure.
Some gorilla tape and duck ties.

Leatherman maybe what will you use it for?

Spare brake pads, cleat and cleat bolts.

brake pads

I knew there was something I was forgetting :)

Maybe a gear/brake cable?

duck ties? Never heard them called that before.

I've never carried spare cleat bolts. I will have to pack some now because sure as shit I've thought about it they will all shear...

Not got any experience, but leatherman's a pretty heavy and would double up on tools with a multi tool. A small craft knife and a mini set of pliers would weigh a lot less.

I would go over my bike and check the multi tool covers everything that can possibly come loose/could need fixing. including garmin mount, lights etc

Replace your cables beforehand.

I took small multi tool with Allen key + screwdriver attachments (need for tracker), brake blocks, cleats, chain oil, tubes, patches, tyre levers, scissors, cable ties, tape, quick links, chain tool, spoke key. Probably nothing else.

Not got any experience, but leatherman's a pretty heavy and would double up on tools with a multi tool.

Have got loads of experience and like I said, it depends what tools you already have and which model leatherman you get. Mine doesn't duplicate anything and has come in very handy.

Not sure about the weight claim but Leatherman fold up - space is more of an issue than weight.

Pliers and knife are what I was thinking would be useful (after cable tying something to my bike a few weeks back and having nothing to get it off with).

I took all of that except spoke key. Leatherman pliers = spoke key :)

You can open zip ties with a pointy thing. reusable zipties make this easier. I would question why you were zip tying something to somewhere you later wanted to remove...