Ultracycling

Looks neat. The price difference would pay for a lot of finish beers :)

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36420925

There is only the 85cm limit so it can be a cube. So no need to do things to make it narrow like turn bars, take pedals off.

I would either turn the bars down so the aerobars are pointing down, or just take them off as not too big a deal.

For me, discs are the main issue as I know nothing about them! I deliberately had my front one fitted with the hose routed externally so I think I could just unbolt it if needed, and snip 2 cable ties, to get the fork out, which I don't think would be a massive deal.

Could just ride the route any time I want. Just like the social aspect of a bunch of stressed/tired bike nerds on one route :)

Sure - as for every organised but non-race ride.
When you do a solo / DIY no-one can hear you scream.

That looks like a wonderful route.
I don't get this super randonee thing though, it seems to be basically a Perm, no?

Mine runs in the fork but I think if you take the bars off the steerer you can get them near enough the caliper to remove the fork - they just won't come all the way away from the bike because of the hydro line through the fork. Now you've got me rinko curious...

Are there 'proper' rinko bags that keep wheels separate from frame, etc?

160 registrations but only 100 spots

Given they sold out pretty quick last year its surprising they say they didn't expect it!
It's not hard to get a proper entry system set up rather than relying on Google forms. It's charming that their setup is really basic but it would save them a bunch of work sorting through 160 applications and managing it all manually. Something like RiderHQ will do the payments and manage waiting lists, and doesn't cost that much.

If they're limited to 100 though, maybe the cost/benefit isn't worth it.

Easy enough to ignore last 60 entries. Maybe they'll run it a few times, get sick of the admin and try to bump numbers, implement entry system.

Interesting - that might be easier than messing around with the caliper.

Yes, there are special bags, but on most of them you just strap the wheels to the side of the frame. The bags are not structural, they are just covers.

https://euro.montbell.com/products/list.php
https://www.renehersecycles.com/shop/equipment/bags/ostrich-l-100-rinko-bag/

Other things people use are covers for the discs, spacers for disc brakes, a cover for the cassette...

Some people just use a sheet to wrap the bike in. Key thing to me seems to be having a shoulder strap fixed to the bike, not the bag, so it is relatively easy to carry.

In Germany it seemed quite common to just use a bin liner and tape. I did this when I had to DNS the TCR in Austria and plenty of others were doing it, and it was fine. But it wouldn't work on Eurostar, which is the main issue.

Alternative is early train to Dover + ferry instead of Eurostar. Or even overnight ferry to Harwich-Hoek. Slower but less rinko stress!

And @hippy na belchen is just a permanent so no racing and stuff but counts in audax points. Always thought it was interesting.
And as nice as black forest is, Jura is nicer.

Mittelgebirge classic now have to look at 160 people? Where there any questions or requirements? I totally get it when you do a we want to encourage diversity or something like that filter, but it shouldn't be random.

You sure? One third is in Switzerland!
Maybe if you stock up in Laufenburg and don't stop in Switzerland at all.

Last year they were sold out in 6 days. While that is pretty quick it is quite different when 160 people apply in the first 4 hours. :) So I can imagine they didn't expect it to be thàt popular.
And they run a pretty basic organisation so I think they don't want to set up extra systems for automation.

I can’t help think the rules on bikes on the Eurostar are so stupid. Surely the current system doesn’t save much spare compared to just a normal bike on the carriage? Has it always been like this?

cost/benefit

You can either swallow the cost, which would be small compared to their revenue, or click a box and it adds the cost to the entry fee!

I do it for our reliability and it is well worth it. Actually I think Ian uses it for the Willesden one too.

I'm surprised they haven't tried to squeeze a couple of dozen more in, given popularity. The start location means its easy for a lot of people to get to.

Alternative is early train to Dover + ferry instead of Eurostar.

7:07 AM
St Pancras International
southeastern Dover Priory
1 hr 7 min (4 stops) · Platform 12
7:14 AM
Stratford International
7:25 AM
Ebbsfleet International
7:45 AM
Ashford International
8:14 AM
Dover Priory
8:14 AM
Dover

6am, 1hr ride to St Pancras and then 1hr train to Dover then ferry.
Then you have to sort trains out on the other side. But means no disassembly (assuming you can take bikes on southeastern Dover Priory).

I'm assuming it's an insurance limitation.

You sure? One third is in Switzerland!

Good point, well made. I meant the entry. Didn't consider the rest of it.

My point is, if you have a basic organisation, it is a lot easier to outsource the entries. If you have more resources you can manage it in house, TCR-style.

They now have a fair admin job to do, sorting through all those entries. Even writing 60 rejection emails will take time.

Interesting that it took a few days last year, I didn't know the details, just when I went to look at it not long after it had opened it was sold out. I guess in that case they could watch it and turn the tap off. This time they probably didn't look for a couple of hours and it had gone crazy!

I can’t help think the rules on bikes on the Eurostar are so stupid.

Because the rules on bikes on Eurostar ARE stupid.

Multi-modal transport is the future, not fucking, electric cars.

assuming you can take bikes on southeastern Dover Priory

You can, going against the rush hour - I've done it both ways recently.

I'm assuming it's an insurance limitation.

It may well be. In the UK the main cut off is 200 for CUK event liability. The other important factor is the size of the hall they have.

I've done it both ways recently.

Kinky.

What's the story on the other side though - getting to Germany from Calais I guess you just train to Paris and it's a similar trip as before.

There's TGVs but I wonder if there's an intercity route so again, no bike deconstruction.

Has it always been like this?

It was better pre-Brexit. Basically Brexit has fucked the tunnel from a passenger point of view.

They now need a lot more space at the stations because they need to do more passport checks. That means they can't run as many trains, but people still want to travel so the trains are full, and they have put the prices up to compensate.

Also full trains means they have more luggage, so less space for bulky stuff like carry-on bikes. I assume the 85cm is so that anything put in the rack at the end of the carriage won't stick out and block the gangway. I can't see any other reason.

With bikes they are paranoid about the VAT / import situation - me going to Belgium, buying a cheap bike and importing it. I don't know why they are more worried about it than the airlines but it seems they are. They are slowly bringing back the whole bike service, but making it stupidly expensive.

It needs government to make a rule that they have to carry complete bikes for a low fee - like £10. But I can't see that happening. Would have been more likely if it was all EU, the sort of thing the Commission would get involved in, but UK govt, not likely.

TGVs all have different bike rules. You can take whole bikes on some but you can go up to 120cm on any in a bag/box - which would mean both wheels out but nothing worse.

See here. https://www.freewheelingfrance.com/planning-a-trip/bikes-and-french-trains.html

"Bagged or boxed bikes on TGVs: Bikes can travel free of charge on all TGVs if they are bagged or boxed. You simply place your bagged/boxed bike in the luggage area as you would a suitcase. The size limit for bagged/boxed bikes is 120cm x 90cm but I've never heard of anyone's bag being measured or anyone being stopped for an oversized bag."

All of this, which just means where I'd previously have picked train travel to get to the EU, I'm now flying. Because they've removed all the benefit of using a train from my travel scenarios.

TCR won't allow just everyone to rock up and ride, they indeed filter all the entries. But I think MGC doesn't. So I would think they can just make 2 maillinglists, 100 in, 60 out, and mail the "you're in, pls pay" and "sorry, waiting list for you" mails and be done with it.

But I'm not an organiser, so probably wrong.