Ultracycling

Yeah, I get what you mean, but I'd have extended it a bit and worked on my tan. I've got mates in Dubai too so would've seen 'em.

shorter

Much shorter?

It looks quite a bit shorter. When I saw rodney was on it I thought he'd fucked up and made a wrong turn.

From their faq.

Is the route mandatory?
– Yes. The route includes some slight improvements from last year’s edition based on a recon ride done last October. An optional GRAVEL route will still be TOLERATED after AD DARIZ village before heading to Al Hamra

Dumb question: do you lot usually take two pairs of bib shorts for a multi-day/week bikepack race? Like a wear and spare? I've read mostly two, but do some racers go with only one pair as it being one less thing to carry?

I've done both. Taking two is nice because you can switch if one is giving issues (I use pairs that have different chamois designs) and it's possible to double up if your undercarriage gets real bad. You're also more likely to get a second pair clean and dry compared to if you're limited to one.

Thanks hippy, My question is for touring-purposes, but with the intention of lightening the load as much as possible. One pair of bibs seems a bit too minimal, but thought I'd consult you racer-types here. Remember Skinny saying something about taking two bib shorts last year.

As Hippy says - I've also done both.
I took two on TCR and it was a godsend when I went for a shit in the bushes in Italy and got loads of really sharp hayseeds in the pad - unwearable. I meant to take two on IndyPac but forgot the second pair and managed fine. Shorts are pretty bulky so it's tempting to avoid taking a spare. But if you have room, why not.

Skinny took two pairs as I think he found one would stretch too much (or more likely he'd get too skinny!) so it didn't fit well. I've done TCR and TABR with one pair and managed ok but since the weight/space savings aren't great (they squish innit) will probably take two in future because mine definitely stretched during the race. Touring, no brainer, at least two.

Thanks Frank, Hippy, I was watching this unpacking video
of Josh Ibbett and was surprised at just how much he had packed in there in terms of things to wear. Realise that was 6 months / huge range of weather conditions.

Touring, no brainer, at least two.

That's sorted then.

Mike just used to take one. He reckoned what made them stretch was when you used too much chamois cream and it got inbetween the fibres. On his first tour divide he had to stop for a day as his had stretched, then he washed them to get the cream out and they were good to go.

I don't use chamois cream so it's not that.
Touring I'd take one, you're not racing so have plenty of time to wash them properly and let them dry.

It's not chamois cream it's pulling them up and down for the 20 shits/day, plus all the adjustments to alleviate the pain, that does it.

I took one on TCR and found they wore in!

Have any of you ultra's used the Apidura Racing Saddle Pack? Saw it in Condor the other day and quite liked the size of it. I have the small Expedition one and find it swings a bit.

Yeah, I was quite involved with the development and testing of it over the last year or so and used a prototype on TCR no 6. Pretty much the perfect size for racing and no sway

Interesting....what could you get in it?

During the race: 2 inner tubes, synthetic down jacket, arm and knee warmers, gloves, tool kit

Really helpful, cheers

The Long Wait for Justice for Mike Hall:
Final Report Due 699 Days After Mike’s Death

After 699 days, the results of the ACT Coronial Inquest into the death of Mike Hall will be delivered in Canberra’s Coroner’s Court on 28 February 2019 at 9:30 am. Family and friends have been waiting a long time for this.

Mike Hall was struck from behind and killed by the driver of a car on 31 March 2017 while riding his bicycle in the Australian Capital Territory south of Canberra. Eighteen months later, a three-day Coronial Inquest was held from 24-26 September 2018. So far, no charges have ever been laid against the driver who struck and killed Mike.

Cycle are hopeful that the ACT Coroner’s final report and the recommendations: 1) will have a positive impact on the future safety of cyclists in the Australian Capital Territory; 2) will call for changes to how the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the local police force in Canberra, investigate crashes involving cyclists; and 3) will reassure Australians and future international visitors to Australia that our justice system is strong and delivers justice both to offenders and for their victims.

Cycle will have representatives in attendance, and will inform our readers on the final report and its recommendations. Readers are welcome to share this information.

It is Cycle’s position, having attended the Inquest and carefully studied the evidence presented: a) that Mike Hall was riding his bicycle in full compliance with ACT Road Rules and was doing nothing wrong; b) that the driver who struck and killed Mike Hall was by his own admission distracted, was driving a vehicle with inadequate headlights (over-driving), and was likely exceeding the speed limit; and c) that the investigation by the AFP had serious flaws.

By Heath Ryan

Don't know if you can see the video but Jason Black, 2nd, says they are riding at 35kph avg/32ow. Is that even possible? :)
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1078415855688939&id=593437137520149

He may have been at 320W at some points but he wasn't doing it then. Maybe he was talking about a climb? Or maybe he's using Stages :)

From here "4 hours at 4 W/Kg with less than five percent heart rate drift is a gold standard for general aerobic capacity at the U23 European level"

At a guess Jason looks like he is around 80kg, so in short, probably not possible for him to be riding like that for hour after hour, without looking out of breath.

320W for 35kph at that weight is shit on the flat too. :)

Anyway, quick rule of thumb, never trust a bike racer's numbers, especially ultra racers and especially during an event.

Thanks for the opinions on bibs all. Super useful.