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

Training is cheating.

New BB inbound. Hope my BB tool fits.

New bibs inbound. I was alerted by my mate that he could see my anus on Sunday. Don't think they'll last the ride home let alone go the distance.
Bibs are like my shoes at work, I operate a one pair only policy.

I was alerted by my mate that he could see my anus on Sunday

What you and your mate get up to in the privacy of your bedroom is of no concern of ours. I'm not sure how it related to TCR though.

It's comments like this that make me a little sad that I clearly don't have any really close friends...

I'm sure if you asked nicely enough...

If you follow me from Canary Wharf to Catford this afternoon, you can see for yourself. Such is the seriousness that it required next day delivery.

You are just trying to cover your arse now

I wear MTB shorts so I can keep wearing my see-through knicks.

I don't want to make @skinny jealous

I'm going to take my bike at the shop tomorrow and walk out with a new one later in the day. Oh the joy :)

Pics or or didn't happen

True thing.

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Is that a custom Rapha frame bag I see?!?

One of a kind.

Pretty sure you’re not allowed a sail, mind. Though it actually looks more like a dry suit for a giant slice of pizza.

Zipp Vuka clips? Surprised you haven’t had any issues over the thousands of miles covered - the bolts/threads seem to be made of Brie. At least mine seem to be.

Pretty sure you’re not allowed a sail

They make an exception for him, he's so skinny.

No reflective tyres? :)

Yeah I have but will fit them Saturday so brand new.

Yeah. None at all.

Those bars are 3 years old now also. Only bit that not new as they’re all custom and cut up for me.

Could drop 1200 meters of climbing if a try a dodgy looking border crossing...

Walking over Montenegro tunnel...

Don’t do it.

Which border are you looking at? I’ll tell you if it’s ok.

R432 from Bosnia onto the R-6 in Montenegro
https://goo.gl/maps/R8tmgUjXBWU2

Looks like some racers tried during TCR4 but got a no-no

Would there be much gain from going that way, even if you could get across?
You'd miss a stunning ride down the Tara Gorge to Pluzine, which was one of the highlights of 2016!

Edit- I've just read you think you could avoid 1200m of climbing, which would be a good reason to investigate it. I'd be surprised if it's that much in practice. The back roads can often be hillier than they are recorded to be. And the amount of climbing down the Tara Gorge, where you are often on bridges high above the actual ground level, then tunnels cut through the mountains, might be over-stated.

Edit again- just looked at it on RWGPS and it only gives me 500m elevation saving for an extra 7km. And it has a real saw-tooth profile on the stage to Pluzine, which is not how the road actually is. I'd say it's not worth the risk and, TBH, may well be slower even if you could get across, given it will be on rougher roads