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

I guess the bike and the race number makes it fairly self-explanatory. Just wondered about the reactions you get if someone discovers you when they're not expecting it.

I was just thinking I'd feel anxious depending on finding somewhere like that when I actually needed it (due to not having my own shelter). I'm definitely not used to looking for it though

I presume when they get over the initial shock they'd ask for an autograph or a selfie if they're really bold.

I would.

I'm just a cyclist sheltering from the weather. Most people are pretty nonplussed about a soggy solo rider. Normally I'll be in places away from public view but sometimes I just don't care. Most people are concerned - I've tried to nap on a patch of grass and without fail, 10min later, no matter how few cars have been through, someone will come past and think I've crashed. Took me ages to explain to someone one night I was "just stretching" and I was ok. It was 5am and I was lying on some grass beside the road trying to get a powernap.

There's often luxurious bus stops and all kinds of rest stop shelters especially in the mountains and around small villages and in front of churches and possibly abandoned houses etc. if it looks like it might rain. And usually it doesn't rain that much.

I think I'm pretty ok nowdays at finding stuff to shelter in. If it's truly spartan terrain you can just keep riding but it's amazing what you see as a solution for shelter. I've slept in or on all kinds of stuff.

usually it doesn't rain that much

Vive le France! :P

He's on it now.

I made my comment a bit tongue in cheek - naturally the clothing and sleeping gear is highly personal. I guess most helpful is to see what kind of bike maintenance stuff the more experienced rides choose to take. Cannot prepare for everything as for example Mikko had his rear hub (powertap) busted and had to buy a new wheel to finish the race.

You can't cover every risk, and it is a big mistake trying to do so. But you can reduce the risks by making sure your kit is either recently maintained or new.

I wouldn't take a powertap hub. Too risky and unnecessary weight + not very useful data. My PM battery went at the end of day 2 and I had spares but didn't bother replacing as it would have taken me an extra minute!

You don't have a race number. The bike could be anything.
You hear the odd story of riders being moved along, but more often than not they get shown somewhere better to sleep.
When you are tired it is amazing how quickly you can find somewhere good enough to sleep.

Yeah, I'm also in the "no way I could afford it" camp. Well, if it was half the length and only Bulgaria and Serbia - then perhaps :D

As a contrast, for my own 1000 km race you only have to get to the start line, almost everything else is included in the measely starting fee.

What do you do about the bike and stuff though? Do you lock it? I'm quite paranoid for leaving my bike out of sight ever and anywhere, let alone being asleep.

I've slept in or on all kinds of stuff.

You cad.

my last sleeps were in a church toilet, a bin store and someone's car garage.

How about when you're racing though? :))

Interesting Fiona only had a sleeping bag? Wondering what would happen if she encountered heavy rain etc. and was a good distance from anywhere. The top riders seem to pack incredibly minimal for both TABR and TCR.

@GoatandTricycle due in within the hour. G'wan son!

Allmost there! He's enjoyed a nice downhill there too, here's the profile for the finish parcours:

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Traveling is expensive, the entry is not cheap, insurance and doctors note and all that, but all in all it hasn't been incredibly expensive for me. I've done my two previous TCRs on a Surly Steamroller with a good and reliable parts bin setup and big part of my gear has been second hand or ortherwise cheap. In all of those three TCRs together I've only once paid to sleep indoors. I often buy food from shops as it's pretty fast, selection convenient and it's cheap if you're not in Switzerland. I did buy a new bike last year and have upgraded some gear, mostly as they wear out, and try to buy good where I can, but it's not about the gear really, if it just works. The weather is mostly pretty nice and you don't need a lot of gadgets.

Looks like @GoatandTricycle has made it. Awesome effort, well done.

I've a lot of time for your attitude towards it

If you don't have the right gear and don't find somewhere to stay, it's best to keep riding.

It's much less of an issue for faster riders. Where you are likely to get caught out is in the mountains and the fastest riders tend to be so much quicker up the big mountains =less time between towns

I took a cafe lock this year but didn't use it at all during the race. I did in burgas and after I had stopped.
Best not to leave your bike anywhere risky. Petrol stations and shops in small towns feel pretty safe. I would lock it if I went into a big supermarket or stopped in a city, but I never did either.

The current lanternes rouges, 250b - Marie Lou Vanassche and 250a - Els De Cler are closing on the CP4 parcours and then the dash across France. I suspect that they may not reach CP4 by the end of tomorrow but they should be close. They are certainly tenacious. Really hoping they manage to finish within 28 days.