Ultracycling

After reading his book, I think he's trying to avoid Iran and more particularly Pakistan. He had a teally shitty time there last trip.

Yeah, although a lot of his troubles from that first trip would've been avoided by having handlers/helpers. So, if he's supported around the globe, presumably he could've removed the need for his troublesome police escorts, etc.

Then again, having a follow car could cause him other issues - that's more people he has to get through border controls and more chance of stuff going wrong. ie. if all his shit is in the car and it loses him or breaks down...

i wonder if his negative experiences were enough just to put him off it entirely, helpers or no.

I'd wonder if it just that he'd be a little too close to Syria/Iraq for comfort. That part of the world is just a little bit more dangerous than it was last time!

Good point. Maybe as simple as 'hey I've not done this route before' or 'less climbing? ok!' but conflict/bullshit avoidance is a good call.

Going through Russia saves him about half a dozen border crossings from his previous route, so probably buys him at least an extra day of cycling instead of stood around trying to get through borders, if not more

and currency/language differences.

Isn't that what the four people in the camper van are for?

Hi!
Do you guys prefer a road or a TT position for hours on the saddle? Looking Josh's setup for 2015 TCR, he's pretty much into a time trial position and I wonder how comfy / realistic it could be for my 15 hours a day on the saddle.

Both. Variety is the spice of life.

I did 323Km and 4900m climbing in one hit yesterday. Quite a lot of gravel/rail trail, and some really rough off-road bits thrown in. Wasn't fast, and lots of faffing changing layers cos the weather was so changeable, but was lovely anyway.

Think that's the most I've done in a day, esp with that much climbing. I probably did more in 24hrs on Tour Divide, but I was so out of it, I don't remember. Legs are tired, but OK. I'm hungry today!

https://www.strava.com/activities/928388768

You need a saddle that is comfortable for both positions. Trial and error.
@hippy is a good source of advice on saddles not to use!
I use an old Specialized Tritip as it works for me. But it's pretty personal.

All saddles are good... until about Day 3.

I used your trim-and-tape method quite extensively on IPWR. Worked quite well as a pain-reduction method.
Was thinking of you while I was doing it ;-)

Thoughts of my undercarriage have helped millions of people around the world overcome fear, prejudice, depression and erectile dysfunction.

#prayforthegooch

Re Mark Beaumont, Russia is flat but, according to laid-back Rich in his RTW book, the road surfaces are utterly shite, so an aero position would be challenging / impossible.

Do we know what bike he is using? A recumbent would make sense.

I reckon 240 miles per day, which is almost 400km, is a big ask. As well as borders, road surfaces and other stuff it will depend on the wind (borders are not usually an issue for a bike - push in at the front - but the support car would get held up). I don't know how strong a rider Mark B is nowadays. Someone like Kristof A or Christoph S could do it. I expect @hippy or @skinny could as well. Obviously Mark has done all the set-up work and got support and sponsorship, which is a major task in itself, and must reckon he can do it.

road surfaces are utterly shite

Same as India, no?

I'd get distracted by all the airport bars I'd walk past...

Besides which, I have a mortgage to pay and I'm already taking the piss with TABR and TCR in one year.

I wouldn't mind having the around the world record. But think I'd want it unsupported, even if that's not a record.

I want a few other things more first.

240 miles a day supported is different to 24o unsupported. Not to diminish 240 miles.

I'd be doing it on a tt bike with disc and all. And then a road bike for climbing.
Camper van to sleep in.

Don't underestimate the advantage in time savings supported can bring.

Except most Guinness distance records don't let you swap bikes.

What about wheels?
Swap wheels then.

Yeah, you can swap wheels.

I'm using a beloved SMP or my lovely San Marco Concor carbon.

Sure, it's one thing to be able to do it and another thing to want to do it, and a third thing entirely to be arsed to put all the sponsorship and support together. And actually doing it is a fourth thing!

240 miles per day on UK-type roads wiht TT bike and no luggage would be achievable for an average TCR / TT rider like me. But I wouldn't fancy being able to get 240 day in day out if the road surface was shit, as it would slow me down and the bumps mean an aero position is impossible as it's too painful. And if there is a constant head wind - like there was on the Nullarbor a couple of weeks ago - then 240 would be hard as well.

He posts his rides on strava, this was yesterdays first leg:
https://www.strava.com/activities/928333008/overview

Looks like he is still sponsored by Koga, which is what he used for his across Africa trip

Mark's jaunt down to the South-West today:
https://www.strava.com/activities/929699297
351km