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

I've commuted all winter on sector 28s. One puncture that wouldn't reseal at more than 30psi. Otherwise fine. Quite nice tyres but probably not the longest life.

How many miles on them?

Yeah, I think you mentioned them to me already. I dunno, I think I'll just stick with PRO4s and deal with any shit that happens (I need to update my tyre boot kit). Since I'm not taking my full winter sleep kit, I'll almost certainly take a spare tyre with me. 260g of insurance.

Only volunteering at the registration this year, but starting to get a real pang of jealousy of not taking part. That will soon go when I remember just how grim it can get.

*edit - grim yes, but it was also the best thing i've ever done in my life and fundamentally changed my outlook on life for the better since doing it.

just how grim it can get

rocks back and forth

In winter you wanted to do this, hippy
In winter you wanted to do this, hippy
In winter you wanted to do this, hippy

Not many, that was taken in May, Roubaix is April I think.
I was really annoyed at the time, sent them back with strongly worded emails. Retrospectively I’m now more thinking perhaps on a “lesser” they’d have cut through. That was the worst but there were a few, more on the front.
Not sure if that ramble is helpful :-)

I think I'm more concerned about tyres than I need to be. I know I can fix tyres but I hate babying the bike around to avoid issues in the first place. I'm gonna stick with the Pro4s and carry a spare 28mm through to maybe CP3.

The decent on CP2 is my major worry

I pinch-flatted on the Slovakian parcours descent two years ago and spent ages in a bike shop trying to fix the issue with three dudes trying to get a tyre on. In the end my SuperThumbs™ prevailed but it wasn't half annoying/stressful.

Another thing I thought about was using the GP5000 TL version but running with tubes. They have a sidewall that's similar to the PRO4s in thickness but might roll faster, even with a tube installed.

#analysisparalysis

All packed, not sure if I’ll start with it all.
4 inner tubes... Arm Warmers and Screens.
Otherwise feels quite lean.

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Is the globe a backup in case of GPS failure?

Anyone want to come and fit my dyno lights? @frank9755 I hear you're an expert at this...

:P

Nope this is for gps back up

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That little decathlon backpack is nice to have for shopping, good piece of equipment!

So without water bottles total weight of luggage and bike comes to 15kg...

Yes, I'll show you the best way to fit a dynamo.

You can also have the gp5000 TLs that are in my garage to see if your super thumbs can get them on a wheel.

Madness. That's how much my tourer weighs unladen

Done.

Mine setup is normally >18kg I think.

You can also have the gp5000 TLs that are in my garage to see if your super thumbs can get them on a wheel.

I'd give them a go.

Do you have any new 32mm you want to sell?

I'm riding the 35mm gp urbans someone mentioned here earlier. Same rubber as gp4000 but sturdier casing. Looks like it's the same tyre as the narrower grand prix, almost as fast as gp4000. But wider. I've kind of promised myself to use something wired than 28. Though these are only 33mm actually.

I got food poisoning or something on thursday, spent a night throwing up and had a bit of fever yesterday but it seemes have gone past now.

Yes, sure. They've been fitted but never used.
But they're the toughest tyres I've ever tried to mount. They're the ones I broke a rim trying to get on. However it's tyre /rim combinations, they may go better on yours.

I was originally planning to use them but they were too hard to mount - I wouldn't be confident I could do it by the side of the road - so I've gone back to Pro Ones

Also time off the bike has meant I’ve managed to put 2kgs on making a round 80.
A rare instance to be happy to have gained weight!!

They sound interesting but I think max width on the Mason is 33mm. I'd like wider but it's getting late in the day to find something that'll calm me down and fit.