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

Yeah, I saw that was the case for people who didn't climb the entire route. What I was unsure about was any ruling on keeping the bike fully loaded at all times, or whether people who had left kit at the bottom but completed the route had been penalised. Sounds from Frank and Hippy that it was clearly prohibited to do so, but not necessarily penalised in this instance.

I know from dotwatching in 2017 that they look at all that stuff in detail. That's why the final results take so long to come out

I haven't looked up the results but do you mean this?

That's what I was remembering, thanks. Looks like he (cap #214) got a 15.25 hour penalty.

That's the girl's job. I will saved my getting lost for the race.

It's pretty hard to tell if they stash their shit in the woods and no one sees it, but if you're spotted, you WILL be grassed up. Did they penalise Bjorn 12 minutes for leaving his cleat cover up the mountain? :) I should've picked that up. Of course it was one of us - only TCR riders are idiot enough to be walking up there in Speedprays.

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember that in 2016 it was said to be allowed in the briefing, but a bit of a cunt thing to do to leave the bags down when climbing to Giau. As there was that race within a race to be the fastest on the parcours climbs. Don't know if anyone did it. Then in 2017 I remember it was definitely forbidden and I think at least on rider got a penalty for that.

And whether something is in the rules or not, the racers are the ones who shape the culture. So I think we should be very clear on not trying to find tricks/loopholes.

EDit: Meant to write Giau but wrote Grappa for some reason.

I'd fucking laugh it if someone tried that and then had their bags stolen. :)

TBH I didn't know it was against the rules when I rode in 2016, but there wasn't anywhere obvious where it would have been enough help to be worth the trouble - maybe the first control, or the Giau, where I backtracked, but I didn't think of it in any case.

However in 2017 I believe it was mentioned in the briefing. Given it was mentioned, that kind of settles it.

IMHO the rules are a bit of a weakness in these events. Mike wanted it to be principles-based rather than rules-based, which is fine, but all the questions that crop up on Facebook show that there is need for a few more rules to give new people a bit more clarity.

Culture is important but it can't do it on its own as different events have different rules (Example: in IndyPac I met Vasiliki when she had ridden 80km the wrong way. We crossed so she is behind me. But she was at the next roadhouse when I got there. She must have got a lift - there is only one road and she didn't come past me. On TCR that would probably be DQ but on IndyPac it wasn't against the rules - you only need to ride each bit of the route once and can hitch a lift back to where you left the route).

The danger with this approach is that you have the old timers like us who have done a few and who think we know the principles, but new people don't and so feel a bit excluded, and it can act like a barrier to put new people off - which is exactly what Mike would not have wanted.

The other danger is that it can stifle any innovation. People come up with great ideas on how to go faster by doing something that nobody said they can't. But if there is a principle that says something like 'don't try to be a smart arse and do anything that everybody else doesn't d0' then nobody will ever try anything different.

It's the kind of discussion which really needs to be had with Mike - and which I think he would have enjoyed - but, alas, that is not an option.

Indeed, tho in a way it might be entertaining to do a race where everything is allowed. Use illegal border crossings (unofficial gravel crossings are tempting, but it wouldn't be fair for others to brake the law, as it's in the rules you must obey it the local laws) share hotel rooms and even ride in a group for a while, then try to do a breakaway later. Dump things you don't need anymore along the course and finish with an empty bike. Book everything before the race. Ride on motorways and through every red light like you were in an alleycat etc.
But that would be a very different race to TCR. And where would it end. Taking ferries. Trains. Cars. Flights.

The danger with this approach is that you have the old timers like us who have done a few and who think we know the principles, but new people don't and so feel a bit excluded, and it can act like a barrier to put new people off - which is exactly what Mike would not have wanted.

Good point. Though I think it isn't too confusing.

This conversation reminds me of an article on the TAW that I recently read https://www.bicycling.com/culture/a25654814/transatlantic-way/ which despite being in a high-profile magazine clearly illustrates that these (heavily sponsored and with a film-crew in tow) riders had pre-booked all their accommodation, sent supplies ahead etc

Pro Gear Tip
“We pre-shipped a change of clothing to ourselves every two days so we had fresh kits, and food and drink mix. We also had basic repair supplies, tools, quicklinks, tubes, spare cable and housing, one spare cleat. We had enough tubes for us to each get two flats apiece... we pre-shipped tubes as well. What we didn’t use, we shipped to the finish. Having such a minimal setup made for quick arrivals and departures.” — Matt Roy

That 'locals only' border crossing in TCR4 pissed me off. I found it, it was quicker, I asked about it, but took the legit border instead because the rules say 'laws need to be obeyed' which should have eliminated that border as being as option and DQ'd anyone that used it. You can't say, all laws have to be obeyed and then ignore stuff like that. But having raced a tonne of these events most people it seems are breaking the rules in some way. Fuck it, I try and race legit and if I finish a few spots down, then so be it.
Someone talking to me was suspicious of the top-10 Italians in TABR the first time I raced it. One or both of them just popped up in front of him after 'tracker issues'. #trainznotgainz
Riders have told me to my face they've booked 5 days of hotels in advance. The Lael/Evan paired riding thing. People getting phone calls telling them where to ride, or weather conditions and when to ride or booking stuff for them. So much outside assistance must go on.

I think I saw a discussion on Facebook about this where Adrian said that what they did was not against his rules. He was blaming himself for not being more specific about the rules.

I wouldn't have thought that was allowed but you're allowed to ship stuff ahead in TABR so perhaps it's expected this is the case too?

I guess it depends how it was arranged because there's only the following rule that might prevent it?

Riders must complete the full course from start to finish.
Riders must be fully self-supported and not receive any private outside assistance.
Drafting is prohibited. Exception – registered pairs.
All forward travel must be by bicycle.
ferries allowed if stated
All riders are required to carry provided GPS tracker.
Riders must follow the designated Wild Atlantic Way route between control points.
No insurance, no helmet, no ride.
It is expected of all riders to know, respect and observe local laws.
Riders must act in the spirit of adventure, speed and above all fun.
All riders must take a mandatory continuous 3 hour stop in every 24 hour period. Excluding two 24hr periods not back to back. Meaning not one after the other.
All riders need to light up like Christmas trees during darkness hours. and display some form of hi-vi during the day and reflective gear at night ( helmets, tape, bags, jerseys, bands, vests, flags, anything at all that improves your chances of being seen. make an effort.)

IMHO the rules are a bit of a weakness in these events.

Generally if you're having to ask a question it's wrong.
And just ask yourself is it it in the spirit of the race, fairness. The answer Will be clear.

If they shipped them to hotels/POs then I guess it's fair game (with his rules). They're not private are they?

droping bag at the foot of a climb. jesus wept.

A guy on IndyPac asked me for a cable tie. And I saw with my own eyes a TCR rider give another rider a battery. Luckily I finished above both of them.

What irritates me is that the penalties have not tended to reflect the advantages gained. In 2016 I was level with another rider at Skopje. I rode down that gravel hell in Macedonia. I got a pinch flat on it which I would not have got on the road. He rode down the motorway. He got a 2-hour penalty but finished half a day ahead of me, because my extra time riding not only took more than 2 hours longer, it pushed me into needing an extra day. The penalties don't factor that in.

The answer Will be clear.

But the answer is different depending on which event you are doing. eg posting stuff ahead is a no in TCR, ok in TABR and TAW

If they shipped them to hotels/POs then I guess it's fair game (with his rules). They're not private are they?

That's what he said, but he kind of regretted not having made it against the rules.

Yeah, I looked at that crossing in TCR4 too when planning, but decided to not use it for the same reason. Some of the people that tried to use it didn't get through though and lost time rerouting.

There was some grouping in NCT too, and asking for advice on bike shops to use. And something in NC4000 too. One racer from the latter found me along the route of NCT close to where he lives, really nice guy, but insisted I'd come to eat and sleep at his home. Not right, I think.

All kinds of things going on, but it's good to talk about the spirit openly, might make it more established.

Luckily I finished above both of them.

But other people didn't and that's shit for them, being 'beaten' by someone who wasn't prepared enough for the race.

Agreed.
That quote is not something I said btw.

The penalties don't factor that in.

Mike was angry with that motorway shit. I 'feel' that the penalties increased in recent years but I'm not 100%.