Transcontinental Race No. 7 - TCR7 - #TCRN07 - 2019

My big fear is that my daughter gets annoyed with me for being away for an extended period, which she may well do (also a bit worried about missing out on a couple of weeks of her growing up).

It's all a balance. Sometimes dad rides across countries, and sometimes he stays at home and cooks dinner. Probably the most useful thing to do is try to encourage your wife to spend time on her own stuff, so she can be a role model too, and not turn into a resentful crazy lady.

Could do with a couple of extra months in the year, though.

If they are a bit older (1-2), leaving behind some pre-made activities could be a good call. A map they can stick dots on, calendar cards they can turn over, a Duplo bicycle and tent, that kind of thing. Not least because keeping a child entertained for a week without a break is really fucking hard and pre-created stuff that slots into a routine & answers questions makes it a bit easier.

Good idea - she'll be two by then, so I could maybe do some things like that to help a bit. I can also do some Skinny-style videos from on the bike and upload them via hotel wifi so she can see me - although I might look a bit rough so she might think I am a bear.

@gillies, @GoatandTricycle
Just adding to previous post re finding time with young children, the bigger issue for my wife was training time, rather than event time. Basically she hates it if I disappear for a full day each weekend and she is left being the entertainer all day. So what we agreed was that I'd only do one weekend day per month - possibly two half days if it's TTs - and maybe one full weekend in May or June. So I need to mostly focus on turboing. If work is not too busy, I'll clear a half or full day through the week to do a longer ride, going into the evening as well.

I think i have an agreement like that in spirit, if that always in reality. I mean I could get up at 4 and ride 150km and barely miss much of the day.

The problem for me (training wise) is that my boy (15 months) has slept about 5 times throught the night, ever. It's really hard to find motivation (or patience/forgiveness from the other half) if you've been running on barely a few hours sleep for over a year.

So I’m the primary carer. Although my wife is currently on 6 months maternity leave, returns in May. I’m taking a pretty similar approach to you @frank9755 have signed up for the Kingston SR series.
For me I need this balance and I’ve realised since going part time I’m lacking goals and sense of achievement. My wife is maybe 75% supportive of it. She is worried about something happening to me (she has lost both of her parents) so maybe a bit above the usual anxiety, I’m also as a result very safety conscious.
She also has a very demanding job, which is going to make the three weeks of cover tricky. My parents have both offered help, the one time it’s helpful they are divorced and remarried. They are relatively young but are anxious about long periods looking after a will be 3.5 yo and 9 month old. I need to work out how this is best handled for everyone concerned. I feel quite selfish about doing it, but also it motivates me to do everyday things better.

Have you sought 3rd party help with sleep training?
I’ve always been fortunate so far with how ours have slept.

got an NHS sleep specialist coming on monday

afraid they are just going to tell us to let him cry it out, which we've tried and it hasn't worked.

Maybe they’ll give you strategies to help. Best of luck

If you are in the UK you are welcome to dig in our parts bins and also I'm happy to help with positioning...... surely there is enough forum love to cobble something together?

That's really tough with sleeping (writing as a long term insomniac who has been awake since 3am and just given up trying to get back to sleep!). We had some issues last year but nowadays she sleeps fairly well. My wife joined a Facebook group run by a sleep consultant which was helpful (can give details if you like). One of our friends got her to come round for advice and they found it helpful but we never needed that. I'd be surprised if they said'cry it out' as I don't think that is favoured nowadays, but I'm not an expert.
I agree, it's impossible to go out on your bike when sleep has been bad. Last year I entered four or five TTs on Sunday mornings but we had bad nights and I was both too tired and felt I couldn't leave it all to my wife so I DNSd all but one of them.
I hope you get useful help from the consultant. It's hard to believe it when sleep is not going well but, at some point, it will get better, and it might be soon.

Thanks very much Scherrit for the offer!

Flights are a bit tricky...

Why are they tricky? I fly with norwegian air altho it is not a direct flight so a little worried bout that.

I want direct as I’m a bad flyer.
All very early flights 06:00 ish from London (not London) so think I might fly as early as Tuesday. Have you booked?

Yes, I have. Get in 10pm on the 24th. Slightly worried about bike going AWOL but was in a hurry to book as apparently peak holiday season in Bulgaria.

Ok, think I’ll book tonight.
Due to arrive 8pm ish on the 23rd.
Yeah bike travel is a worry.

Booked any accommodation?

Yup. Booked via booking.com. £25 a night a think. I pay on arrival.

not in. bugger it. have applied to volunteer tho. hopefully see some of you lot at the start for a massage*

*massage not guaranteed.

Where?
Start seems unclear to me at least.

Near Lake Burgas. I haven’t paid yet so can always cancel if it is too far from the start.

Yes, all the locations are a bit vague at this point!

There was a rumour that the start might be 20km up the road in Nessebar.
And we don't know the starting and finishing points of most of the stages, so can't really route plan for most of the way yet (although these can change even quite late in the day opening up / closing down route possibilities).

I hope that the revised manual brings a bit more clarity soon, but I'm not expecting it as they are going to be busy on TPR entries now. We might not get the Alpe d'Huez parcours defined until late spring when someone nips over and has a look at the options.

The flights are not bad. Morning only on the Weds but there's an afternoon flight on Tues or Thurs. Otherwise, it might not be the worst place you'll sleep that week:
https://www.sleepinginairports.net/sleep-guide/sleeping-in-london-luton-airport.htm

I've taken a bike on Wizzair before and it went fine. But there might be loads on the most popular flights which could increase the risk of it not getting on - so best to check in early!

apparently peak holiday season in Bulgaria

Article in the paper the other day saying that the Brits are all going to Bulgaria this summer as Greece is now too expensive
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jan/13/brexit-brings-surprise-boost-bulgarian-resorts

I’ve booked the early afternoon flight from Luton.
Adds a bit more to the childcare cover which is my biggest priority/ concern at the moment. Especially as my Nan has deteriorated quite significantly, meaning my mother is providing a lot of care for her. All feels a bit selfish at the moment.

Loads of coaches from London to Luton pretty much all night should mean you won't have to sleep at the airport unless you want to get into the swing of things early.

I think I'm going to book one of the Wizz Air flights given that Luton is infinitely more convenient for me than Gatwick. Plus all of the Norwegian flights have connections which will just increase the risk that my bike doesn't make it.