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

Whatever he's doing, it isn't the Transcontinental Race.

#TINAR
Hope he doesn't feel too guilty taking a place from someone who would have given it their best shot!

Edit - I can't deny he is a good photographer:
https://www.instagram.com/nmatthews73/

That justgiving page doesn't exist any more which is odd. I checked a mate's page from 5 years ago and it's still there so maybe he didn't finish it after all. Obviously there's a myriad of reasons you don't complete events.

Nm... bit of strava stalking and it seems he did complete... https://www.strava.com/activities/620902779/overview

Guess he's just chilling out a bit

Nothing to say he didn’t. His social media points to lots of bike packing. Early in the TCR he spoke of trying to get to CP1 before it closed and also of getting there far slower than planned. He was hit by storms early on.

His first day covered 170km in 13.7 hours. His second only 82km in 5.3 hours. Day 3 was 157km in 12.2 hours and Day 4 83.4 km in 5.4 hours.

Given that one needs to hit around 250 km a day to attend the party and 200 km a day to complete the race in three weeks, he was way off pace very early.

Last year he tried to enter and was speaking of 16 days. That was what was needed for the party.

If anyone is on Facebook, perhaps they could stalk him there and let us know.

I can.
Whilst the stuff in the images is good the constant use of bad HDR is making me a bit nauseous.

Who’s bold enough to pose him the question on instagram?

It’s all a bit El Greco.

He has recorded much on Strava this year but has clearly done some significant rides in the past. His daily commute at the end of last year looked to be around 30km each way, not far off his current daily average.

I feel there is something more to his story. To be frank, if I was going to go cycle touring for a couple of months with around 50 miles a day to ride, I wouldn’t choose a race like the TCR. Why not meander somewhere less challenging and more beautiful?

@skinny I think that you are the one person with the credentials. Just phrase it pleasantly.

I volunteer Clive

Tom Is Not A Racer?

Thanks Tom but I think that a question from James is more likely to elicit a response.

No no. I never get involved in such things. I must be above possible disrepute.

I'm sure there is a reason, and a story. Which I am equally sure will be fascinating.

This Is Not A Race

http://tinat.cymru/

Yes - agree that's a bit much, although I didn't know what it was called!

If anyone is on Facebook, perhaps they could stalk him there and let us know.

Couldn't see anything on there

I must be above possible disrepute.

I'll keep those photos safe then, don't worry...

He hasn't reported any physical issues has he? Maybe he has some personal/mental issues? Maybe he got the sulks after his Garmin died? I'd still love it to be that he's WFH on the sly..

https://web.archive.org/web/20161111140012/http://www.howdoyoucelebrate25yearsinbusiness.com/training-diaries/posts ?

he's WFH on the sly

Can't think of a more likely reason

If the death of his Garmin upset him, a more usual way of dealing with it would be to scratch rather than stretch the ride into 50 days.

Sure. I wonder what he does all day: route planning?

If passing by where I live is any indication, several hours in maccas.

Who in their right mind would spent several hours in a maccas for any reason other than using their internet? Definitely sounds like he's working to me.

It’s a fair point. I’d struggle to explain to my boss why my working from home happened at 9pm on a weekend though. Maybe he had some overtime to do :)

Someone appears to have asked him the question.

Neil Matthews probably has no idea he's now the focus of this thread, he's lit up the end of the race. Shame they already give out the awards. Can you meet him when/if he comes through your way @cybernck? #NeverEverQuit