Trans Am Bike Race / TransAm / TABR

That is one lightweight setup

It is, isn't it?

I would want to carry more water for one thing. Plus it gets cold over there, so need warm gear, no?

I take more on a day ride lol.

Looks like he started with more and sent stuff home.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CtmOSmgNu7c

Can't say I like that strategy.

Chapeaux to Omar, that besides being such a sports champion is always on the first line for promoting safety for any cyclists out there on the streets. And if you have ever ridden a bicycle in Rome and the surrounding areas you know what I mean....

Slick setup on Omar.

I can't abide by all these skinny people in races though. We need something like the UCI 6.8kg rule for riders. Let's say 85kg min for the blokes :)

He might've had more at the start and ditched it once out of the mountains. Anyone got pics of him at the start?

Yeah, exactly. That's what I did.

I also posted back a 28T cassette that I'd swapped for 32T after killing some tendons early on with calf guards.

Yup

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That's me on an overnighter 50k out 50k back.

All in the same boat....

Evan went super minimal the whole race when he won it.

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I think that, apart from fitness and beeing crazy eerm mentally strong, this ability to not bring anything is really important in long distance.
You really need your routines nailed down and be comfortable with nothing.

Jesse did too

Used a rucksack for food / drinks, etc.

You really need your routines nailed down and be comfortable with nothing.

Sure, you need to be able to do without creature comforts, but most advice is to take stuff if you think you might need it. Time saved from leaving out 1/2 kg of spares or tools is pretty small compared from the time lost when you need whatever it is to fix something.
Knowing where to draw the line is the key thing!

I mean, what do they carry, one Softshell, tissues, emergency blanket, chewing gum?
Wash bibs every day? Maybe a spare part of socks?
I kind of know how it works, but it amazes me.

The moment you have spares and tools and all the zipties whatever with you there is no space in those two tiny bags!

If you're going for the win, you can get rid of all the stuff that will allow you to finish.

I was always going for a finish + highest place so I would pack everything that would get me to the finish, short of being put in hospital or the bike snapping.

I just can't spend all that time and money, fly to the USA and then DNF on day two because of some basic bitch thing I should've carried. That's not me.

Most people go for, and get, the win with far more kit than Omar / Jesse.

It looks cool to have small bags. Jesse admitted he packed his kit down really small for the photos and to make an impact on the other riders at the start. But it is risky, and the gains are not that great

Christoph Strasser travelled pretty heavy on tcr last year. As a pro he couldn't afford to risk not winning.

I took more than Omar on my 600 this week!

Most of the guys I've seen packing very light seem to think it's a race to 1000mi mark. They DNF and never appear again.

If the rucksack is food and drinks... what's in the things on the bike?

Is that just a single change of clothes and virtually no tools?

https://www.curvecycling.com.au/blogs/blogs/35160261-jesse-carlssons-curve-belgie-disc-and-pack-list-for-trans-am-bike-race

hippy's link has the info, but no change of clothes, just spares, tools, a few wires, some creams and personal care stuff, waterproofs, and minimal sleeping kit.

When I'm packing I divide everything into

• tools and spares
  
• electronics
  
• personal care
  
• clothes
  
• sleeping kit.
  
  

I have one plastic bag for each and decide how much of each to take depending on weather, etc

So no change of clothes means they have a very limited bottom flora/bugs/animals down there…

I normally take two pairs of knicks these days - two different sizes or brands but when I did TransAm I didn't bother with a change. You're either riding or sleeping so don't really need spare clothes - just warm layers in the west.

I have usually taken two pairs of shorts. If you get soaked it's good to have a dry pair the next morning. On indypac I forgot one pair so just had one and didn't have any issues. Mike always just used one and many others do.

I'll wash them in a hotel every few days. Doug Migden says his strategy is to take two pairs, wear the first pair for the first week, bin them and wear the second pair until the end.

I used to believe the stuff you get told about how important it is to have clean shorts every time you ride, but it is clearly not supported by experience.