Ultracycling

Looks like Josh Ibbett is riding it next year

There's six people on the lost dot Homepage.

What I know about costs of running a business that doesn't seem too high.
No idea how much work all of it actually is, and what the sponsors contribute.

But they have a pretty full on job for the duration of the race, that's a given.

I'm not saying it's too high but that it's a lot higher than it used to be.

Probably it was too low to begin with, and I agree it's hard work: there are easier ways to earn a living, but the expansion of the cost base shows how it has changed from what it was in the early 'grassroots' days.

I seem to remember tcrno5 was £250 so this year's is quite a but more.

Stealing routes off the internet: £0
For everything else, there's Mastercard

Indypac was free to enter for the first, and only official, edition (although Jesse put a good bit of his own money into it). Since then it's been an unofficial event run on a Facebook group, so still no charge to enter as no organiser to pay. But it still has tracking and feels like a proper event.

I assume the tour divide is similar (but correct me if I'm wrong).

I don't begrudge people making a living out of doing something people want and are happy to pay for, and I've been very happy to pay for every event I've entered. However organisers may not always add as much value as they might think they do as there are some great events that manage without them.

What would generally be the biggest cost when putting on these type of events? Insurance? Trackers?

Media production 🤣

Perhaps volunteers cost covering would be up there.

Oh interesting, that makes sense.

Presumably for lost dot staff salaries must be a significant cost.
I expect similar for nc4000 and some of the other big events.

~8 crew / photographers in hire cars following the race, Air BnB costs for them per night of the race plus volunteers accommodation at the various controls, per diems and food, various freelance media crew on day rates...that'd stack up for sure.

Anyone that familiar with this area? Nice enough? https://dutchbikepackingraces.com/. I don't know that area at all but the dates would work quite well for me.

I have entered the Wild West Country which is 800km:
https://theperfidiousalbion.cc/the-wild-west-country/

It’s my first multi-day event like this. I have done JOGLE over 8 days but on that we had a defined start/end of the day with prebooked accommodation. Obviously on this kind of event it’s all up in the air.

As a beginner for this kind of thing, any tips for the sleep/rest aspect? I’m looking to finish, not compete, so I’m leaning towards trying to stay in a hotel at least one night and then bivvy one night as a bit of a gentler intro to ultras.

I did this one this year. Absolutely superb route, and a really well organised event.

I decided to use airbnbs, and sleep better and travel lighter. I did it in 60hrs something with two sleeps.
Because its not that long a route, I figured it was silly doing one night bivvy and one night in a hotel, because you're just carrying a load more kit just for the sake of 3 hours tossing and turning/sleeping. Either bivvy both nights or hotel both nights would be my advice.
Have fun!!!

That’s a good point!

There’s a travelodge in Barnstaple I was aiming for for one night, so I’ll see what else is available further on.

can't you just use booking.com (or similar) as you start to tire and book as you go along. I mostly did that in Italy last year as a sort of balance between my optimistic time planning and pessimistic legs

Yes. I've ridden a lot in the hilly area to the east of Cologne - Bergisches Land and Sauerland - as my mother in law used to live there. It's lovely riding, quiet roads, decent climbs (not mountains), smooth surfaces, light motor traffic, etc.

I've also ridden in most of the other areas but not so much. They're petty flat. Quite a lot of cycle paths, which are often good, sometimes mediocre. Still pleasant riding though.

I would definitely have considered it if the dates had worked.

Ok thats good to know, thanks Frank.

Saw a doco on this Tour Des Stations Ultimate 1000k on GCN and I'm posting here because it'll save me bookmarking it or whatever.

https://tourdesstations.ch/en/ultimate1000/

1000km, 26k metres elevation, 120h limit, pairs category.

Anyone changed/upgraded their aero bars recently? I'm looking to try and reduce the weight a bit of my current set up so I guess looking at a carbon option. These Zipp Vuka carbon ones look quite good https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Zipp-Vuka-Clip-Above-Bar-Mount-with-Vuka-Carbon-Evo-Extensions_234077.htm?variations=colour:Black,option:110mm&sku=771996 although I can't actually see what the weight is anywhere for them. Anything else I should be looking at? Needs to be compatible with shimano end shifters.

Currently got a pair of Pro Missile alloy ones which have been fine for the most part but they're reasonably heavy at 484g and I've never found the pads that comfortable.

Was thinking of upgrading the bars as well(Pro Vibe alloy) but at 240g I'm not sure there will be anything significantly lighter.

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I'm not sure carbon aero bars will save much weight, sometimes bizarrely they are heavier than alloy
I reckon there's an argument that the vukas are more aero, but I don't think it's worth it given it'll be harder to mount accessories on their weird shape

I've got both the Zipp Vuka Alu and Zipp Vuka Carbon bars. I bought them because I was being a bit of a tart - I can't imagine there's much of a performance difference though the shape of the carbon bars is presumably a little bit more aero than round tubes. I think they were a bit lighter but can't recall how much.

Straight gets you low for that aggressive aero position. 125 grams.
Vuka Race bend places the wrists at a more natural bend to help riders remain in their tuck to optimize aerodynamics. 135 grams.
Race Vuka Shift, features the innovative Race bend. What’s more, the Vuka Shift moves the shifter closer to the rider’s hand by almost and inch by mounting the shifter directly onto the extension, which helps allow riders to shift easily from their aerodynamic tuck. 145 grams.

https://mytriathlon.co.uk/zipp-aerobar-extension-vuka-carbon/

Zipp aluminum Vuka Alumina Evo provides the perfect fit for any rider, regardless of size or riding position. Vuka Alumina Evo are available with a 70mm (176g) or 110mm (180g) rise.
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/zipp-vuka-alumina-evo-bar-extensions

The Vuka Evo Carbon 70 or 110mm rise extensions, which weigh 140g and 142g respectively
https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/zipp-vuka-vuka-carbon-evo-bar-extensions

So, yeah, feck all, like 20-40g.

You could save half of that by chopping your bars down under the arm pads.

Ok thanks both. @hippy did you get on with the pads with the Vuka? Looks like you can get quite big riser blocks for these which I like.

Yeah, I like the Vuka oval/round pads. I think I actually used them on my Shiv for a while because they were better than the Spesh pads and my Pro pads (or maybe it was the Stealth - my TT bike upgrades are fading from my memory).

Ok good to know, thanks

I'd imagine you couldn't clamp the arm rests onto the carbon section of the aero extensions.