Ultracycling

Not sure if this is best here, or in the gravel thread. But anyone else riding the Frontier 300 in a couple of weeks? https://frontier300.cc/

I'm not but I did it last year. excellent type 2 fun, if a little full of sportive choppers

Worth doing as a DIY or more fun because of others/timing chips?

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/39548629

I reckon DIY might offer some improvements, certainly I'd try and skip the hikeabike section. I'm sure there are aspects that were included to accommodate the number of riders too. Taking it more easy over two days and camping in Kielder would be cool

It'll be my first foray into riding that kind of distance, so I'm appreciating the 4x aid stations and ability to have a bag taken to the end point rather than having to carry all my shit. Am sure that more hardy veterans of this kind of thing will guffaw into their #audaxhotel hovels at the thought of such luxuries. In some ways it feels a bit of a shame to go all that way and not explore more of the area, but there's always next time

last year was the first one iirc, and I think there were a few things learned the hard way. Pizza at the start and snacks etc along the way was v good, but I arrived to find the promised burrito van closed. I finished mid pack so was unprepared for the total lack of food at the finish and very unimpressed by this, couldnt sleep for hunger

Fair.

I just collect routes with a mind to one day ride them.

Transatlantic Way starting 5am on Thursday in Derry, Ireland.

http://trackleaders.com/transatlantic23f.php

I'll be doing last minute bike checks tomorrow pre briefing if anyone on here is riding come say hello.

Uba third in Unbound XL and next Friday at the start of Tour Divide. The man is a machine.

Saw his Insta but couldn't work out what place he finished in. That's pretty mad given the profile of that race. What was Lachlan Morton racing and where did he finish? Any ideas?

Here are the results: https://www.athlinks.com/event/174195/results/Event/1034618/Course/2303299/Results

Lachlan was 3rd in the 200miler.

Ta

18 days 15 hours 27 mins

New women's record but I have it on good authority she was going for the overall.

Anyone else on here doing the Solstice Sprint this weekend ?

Yep

Update having ridden the F300 over the weekend. Marvellous day out, blessed with good weather and not so many midges. Rolled out of Rockcliffe about 4.15am and into Druridge Bay 15 hours later. Would have been a very long day if wet, but the trails were in peak dusty condition and set well for a reasonable pace. 4 quality aid stations set out by the organisers meant that I ended the ride with most of the food I'd brought with me. Though if I never have to taste any of the Rawvelo drink powder flavours again that would be too soon. Well catered for at the end with quality pizza/burger trucks and pop-up bar.

The route itself is a mix of wide fire roads through managed forest, linked by minor roads. Not much in between though there was a 25 minute hike-a-bike section through a very overgrown and steep path at about 95 km, where we became fly/midge prey. Slightly disappointed that the route itself was only 291km so if I was to do it solo I'd probably try and loop in some extra trails and then cut across more directly to the east coast.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctm5vhtsGQF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Nice, I'll be on an orange Mason at the start. Feeling ready for the off ?

No, silly question. You?

I’ll be on a white CAAD10 and wearing a forum jersey.

Ha, fair. Yeh, not entirely.

I need to sort out my insurance tonight, and decide if I'm carrying sleeping gear or not. Looking forward to getting going really.

I’ve got insurance through Wiggle. Just carrying a bivvy, cotton sleeping bag liner and down jacket in place of a full sleeping bag. Not expecting it to be cold.

Not expecting it to be cold.

Me, every time I lay cursing and shivering in a bivvy overnight :)

Heatwave in Belgium last week, and one night it was literally freezing (-0,4°) in a spot in the Ardennes.
So taking my sleeping bag for an ultra in August in that region, don't care what the forecast says.

Any other recommendations for short term insurance cover ?

Jesus. Where were you? It was sweaty every single night last week here (little further south admittedly)

Luckely I wasn't there but it was on the news. https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/06/15/tropische-dagen-hitteperiode-in-het-hoogdal-van-buetgenbach-e/
Admittedly, it's a bit of a freak combination of events and geography, but still :)