Transcontinental Race No. 8 - TCR8 - #TCRN08 - 2022

In terms of unsupported, are there any specific limitations on getting help with route planning, prior to the race. Or does the unsupported bit only apply once the race has begun?

This is what you can expect if you talk to @hippy about ride ideas.

It's a grey area. The race don't really condone it, but a lot disagree with that from a safety aspect. You should plan your own route, but imo should be able to discuss some things to aid with safety. Wheather or not you plan your own route, you'll still have to do the pedaling.

Fyi I often discusses routes with people, though I would plan my own, to try and get infomation on areas to help safety and best routes, be that people doing the event or locals.

Just adding to that, it's absolutely fine to discuss your route, or specific aspects of it, with other people as part of your research, in the same way that it is fine to go out and reccy bits of the route, if you live near enough, have time, etc. For example, I have a cycling friend who lives in Germany and I asked him about my route there. In the past, I've seen bits of my route come up as strava segments and seen people I know have ridden them, so asked them about them. And I remember the first time I heard of Kristof was when he posted on YACF asking UK riders for info on whether it was OK to ride on the A2 to Dover in the first TCR.

The restrictions there are relate to asking for help from other people who are also racing. Essentially if you just copy your route from another rider, you've saved a load of work which isn't really fair, or if you plan with a mate and do half each, then you've halved the work, etc. I can't see a problem with asking a specific question like 'is the xxx road ok to ride'.

It should be illegal to ride the Muur without completing a Belgian SR series, ie. 6% 8% 10% 12% ;)

A2 to Dover

Yes, but not the M2, even though it has a lovely wide shoulder :D

Can't decide what shoes to wear...

Just ordered some new ones
#lastminutepanictime

Alright Immelda? What's with you and shoes? You should be wearing the same ones you've spent the last 6 months wearing. Did they wear out or break or something?

True.
I've been wearing speedplay for the last 9 months but I want to use flat pedals as I don't want to walk in speedplay.
They do need new cleats, but that is not impossible.

Just get the full Speedpray covers or carry a pair of thongs

https://xeroshoes.com/shop/sandals/cloud-mens-barefoot-sandal/

That would probably be the sensible option.

Seriously. Different shoe setup right before 4000k ride is mad. You need a lot better reason than "I don't want to walk in cleats" to change pedal system. How much walking do you expect to be doing out of the 4000k?

Sure, when you put it like that.

I planned to stick to speedplay and would have if I hadn't forgotten the shoes when I went to Germany in June. But then I had to ride in flats for a week. That went OK, and I've not been able to ride a lot since, so I've actually ridden more in flats than speedplay in the last few weeks.
But I've changed the cleats now and maybe I'll stick with speedplay as they have gone well this year.

I'd still start with speedplay unless you were actually having issues with them. You could always carry or buy flat shoes for later if they did cause issues.

Good luck for the race. Any other LFGSS riders to follow in this one?

I still haven't decided on my sunglasses... and fine-tuning the playlists with the help of four sprogs. I'm getting a mix of TikTok soundtracks, Minecraft novelty tunes and Matilda the Musical.

^^ going to be a bumper year this year!

Will be at the start handing out trackers. Looking forward to this. Like so many events this year, it's going to be extra special because of the shitey last couple.

TikTok soundtracks, Minecraft novelty tunes and Matilda the Musical.

That's a DNF right there. Maybe even a DNS.

Tracker: https://www.followmychallenge.com/live/tcrno8

It's getting close. Hope everyone's last few weeks have gone better than mine.

I've only done one ride since mid June. First my wife was away so had to cancel a couple of weekend rides, then I got ill and finally, when I did go out on a ride last week, I got a self inflicted injury from forgetting to tighten up crank bolts. Result was my left crank came off on a roundabout. After I'd managed to work out what had happened, got off the roundabout and then got off the bike without falling, I realised I'd hit the bit above / behind my ankle on the axle.

It swelled up, so I've been RICEing it for the last week, as it has changed colour.

I'll do a little ride on it this afternoon. Physio reckons it should be OK for TCR, and I'm very lucky things didn't go worse when the crank came off.

I got a self inflicted injury from forgetting to tighten up crank bolts.

If you don't want to ride it you know you can just DNS, right? You don't need to try and injure your way out of it. Just go for a holiday in Belgium :)

Yes, if I can't get up the muur because my gears don't work I might have to stay there!

I'll send you a list of hippy-approved bars.

Look sharp fix up

https://bikepacking.com/bikes/2022-transcontinental-race-rigs/