Ultracycling

Hmm thanks. I remember that people on singletrack quite resented the yuppification of some of these events - although wiggle’s dragon ride is the one that comes to mind and I grant that is a very different thing to a community run audax. I am looking for something to do in my holiday and I’m wondering (without malicious intent) laterally.

For TCR or similar big unsupported race, it would be annoying if there was loads of others filling up the same hotel room along the road etc. though of course everuthing might always be already taken anyway by someone. And it's nicer to not have too many riders on the same road as drafting is forbidden, though there's almost 300 participants anyway.

In PBP in 2015 there was a rider who said he had been sick or something and couldn't do the qualifiers in time but wanted to enjoy the atmosphere of the event, he had been there before so knew what to expect. He didn't go to the controls, just cafes and hotels along the roads.

Indeed. One person amongst 5000 (on something PBP) isn't going to change anything.

10 people on a 300 person event, as you say, may start to have a noticeable effect for some.

The danger is that if it gets known that it's ok to tag along without entering the insignificant number that did it before may become significant to the detriment of the event itself.

There has been the odd Audax that the organiser decided not to put on again because of non-entrants riding, even though they used commercial controls. The ride had a limit on the number of entrants due to what one cafe could reasonably cope with (even with extra staff) and when many more people than expected turned up (many riding without entering because they missed out on an official place) they were swamped and refused to be a control for the next year. No controls = no Audax.

I'm sure things like Ride London 100 plan on there being a certain number of people who just jump on the route and ride it. If it becomes a significant problem I expect they'll start to do something about it.

Indeed.
There was lots of drama a few years ago in Oulu, in Finland, when people turned up on audaxes/brevets but didn't pay for it and rode without the card. The organizer that was responsible for pretty much every ride there was, got fed up and it stopped organizing the events.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0B2DaEpfRe/

what happened ?

https://theradavist.com/2019/06/tour-divide-race-part-4/

https://theradavist.com/2019/07/salsa-terminates-jay-petervarys-contract/

Good call from Salsa I reckon. He sounds like a weapon

I get a bit lost with all this stuff; who is the goodie / baddie and what ethical lines they each are accused of having crossed.
But I guess it should add a bit more spice to the battle between Jay and Lael at srmr - or make it more likely that one or both of them will scratch beforehand.

Are you planning on that kind of km/day in TCR? Enjoyed reading anyway, well done amazing achievement :)

Just gonna leave this here https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2015/10/an-open-letter-to-jay-petervary.html

Maybe it will do JP good to be a privateer for a bit and forget about selling flat brim hats. Or maybe he's just an asshole regardless. It's very subjective. Personally I don't like the guy, he's a salesman that is prepared to cheat to get coverage for his sponsors, that's shit.

Was what Lael was doing totally fine? I'm not so sure. Is everything the same when you get your own personal film crew along, including your partner?
If Lael had not blatantly cheated to win TABR I would be more inclined to give her the benefit of doubt.

wait, what? Cheating?

I had to laugh, RATN linked a video that shows several instances of riders drafting.

The terrain will be slower, I'll need to sleep more and still the fatique will slow me down, but I'll ride at somewhat similar intensity. I think 558km/day average is more than anyone has ever done in TCR so that will be a challenge :)

yep, more intensity than previous TCR I meant to say. Good to hear.

Was it at the start (there was a distance it was accepted) or were they pairs?

There were definitely arseholes hanging onto my wheel until I swung over and told them to "piss off, it's a non-drafting event". Sheepish looks. No comments.

I personally dont think it is fine at all... Didnt think it was okay when Abdullah Zeinab had much the same in the IndiPac.

Still can't find what Jay did? Get a derailleur from someone?

Read the articles above. Form an opinion.

AZ didn't have a film crew did he? There were people filming but they weren't his people.

Also, I don't see the problem with how Lael's crew were filming the race. She did take the piss in TABR though.

It was along the first body of water, at about 50km. 4 in a line, and then camera to face with a grin.

Yeah, at the start that's after I'd told the two guys glued to my wheel to fuck off. I was quite near the front so there must've been loads more pacelines going on through the field. Tricky with fixed route, mass start and no draft policing bikes like Ironman.

The second World 24hr I raced was a fucking draft fest for the top 3. Almost glad I had to bail on that race.

How did she take the piss in TABR? I've not heard anything about it, just interested in gossip.

Yea especially on those paths, was thinking about riding it next year. Much more sellable to the gf than any others ATM.