Ultracycling

I find the oval shape more comfortable

There are bars that have a bit of round section for stem and accessories and then a bit of flattened top for aero and comfort. I have Fsa wing pro compact, I think there's others like that too. Though personally I find it mostly irrelevant.

I think those are what I have on my Tarmac. The ultra bike usually has the cheaper alu version but they're basically the same thing. FSA Omega or something similar.

The wing pro I have is alu too, I have used clip-ons with it a lot.

Maybe it is alu as well, just a more expensive version of the Omega? I'll go and scratch it to see what colour it is underneath the white paint :)
It's on my normal road bike so I never clip anything on to it save for Garmins and Exposure lights.

I think I have an Omega on another bike too, that's round.

Ah, yeah, same bend, not the wing shape. I was saying earlier I use normal round bars on my ultra bike because funky shapes are a pain.

Yeah, these wings have enough of the round section beside the stem for a light or clip-on, but that's it.

I've got 6-7 months of unemployment/ part-time work ahead of me so I've decided to give this ultracycling thing a go, for better or worse. Didn't make it into the TCR (aim high right?) so I've signed up for the NorthCape4000 (Turin -> North Cape in Norway), and now the clock is ticking to get my rig set up and tested before the summer.

I'm thinking of going with the saddle/frame/bar bag combination, possibly with a top tube bag for food. Are there in stores around London that stock a range of bikepacking gear? It would be nice to compare some of the bags in the flesh, I've been scrawling through reviews and comparisons and not really getting anywhere.

Condor has a good range of apidura and ortlieb stuff.

I think condor has apidura stuff. Restrap used to sell through Evans, I think.

Brick lane bikes stocks restrap and there is also a shop in deptford whose name i cannot remember which does.

Sweet, I'll check them out, thanks.

Anyone have experience with Alpkit stuff? Looks cheaper than Apidura, but still lightweight and UK made. Only shops they seem to have are up north though.

I have the alpkit fuel pod top tube bag. That is pretty good.

I have the restrap saddle pack. It is quite good. However, a bit which allows the strap to be threaded through to secure the dry bag broke when i was trying to secure it, forcing me to tie a knot in it for the rest of the trip. Also, because i have my saddle quite low, the seat post clamp wore an indentation into the saddle holster meaning it hangs to one side. I might consider replacing it with an apidura one. I get the impression apidura is better constructed than alpkit, although I do not know this for certain.

Is there a forum recommended chamois cream for back to back long days in the saddle. I've always used whatever was on offer, but I'd like to settle on something I know that works for me and has some antibacterial properties as well.

@cjr

Sudocreme is common, cheap and thick so won't wash out when it's wet.
Conotrane is harder to find but is slicker than Sudocreme and still lasts pretty long.
Double Day stuff is probably thinner still, don't think I've tested it over really long stuff.
One day I'll make a DIY option ala Keith Bontrager's mix.
I use Assos when I'm given it for free, I wouldn't buy it.
I've used the O3 stuff and it was expensive and didn't do anything special.

Slightly on topic, what were those plaster blister type patches called again?

I don’t use any.

I use conotrain if I get sores or open flesh.

I’m all for keeping the area clean and clear. Putting chammos cream on is a recipe for dirt in the chammos if you’re not washing for days on end.

wading

Ultratriathlon thread >>>

Speaking of a dirty chamois... some sort of, kinda, now and then decent rider has started making notes about a certain race...

http://jamesmarkhayden.uk/tcr6/d1/

I know he's too shy to post his own stuff so I'm doing it.

Slightly on topic, what were those plaster blister type patches called again?

Reskin
https://www.reskin.eu/
Never used them but curious as some people do swear by them.

I generally use something on longer rides (200km+) but don't find much difference between any of them. Vaseline is as good as anything, but it can rot lycra so need to use sparingly.

Yeah heard a few make very positive comments, unsure myself.
I'm guessing they are like Compeed plasters?

I use the Assos cream on longer rides served me well.

Ok so not at all like compeed, judging by the video.
I'm going to order some. I think getting them on might require some practice haha

I use them cut them in half and just place over the open wound. Stay on for 24h and are like a second skin. Worth their cost in comfort.

Do you get the cycling specific ones or a different shape or roll?

I ordered those reskins too, but they arrived too late last summer so I didn't have them with me and still haven't tried. I did try compeed plasters. That was a horrible horrible experience. Bloody horrible. But I managed to heal by going back to the usual Assos cream and was rather comfortable again for the rest of the race.