WOW Cyclothon 2013 - race around Iceland in the midnight sun!

My overseas driving permit lasts for 9 months but I think I might want some sleep in between legs. The other option is to ask mrsrichoking if she fancies driving <<< Aussie hoon.

^^ Oh and J, I will get some pics up of the goldtecs. They are delicious!

^^^^ is everyone a 24 hour tt master then.....gtfo

No night riding. No excuse. Solo or GTFO >>>

Iceland is lovely by the way so if you have some cash this would be an awesome way to see the country.

Kind-of probably definitely in:

• jadias
  
• richoking
  
• upstart
  

Fixed or geared?

I think an all-fixed group would be awesome but given Iceland's propensity for shitty weather (especially wind) I think we all have to agree that a lot of suffering is going to be on the cards, and that we're all ok with that. Also that we're not going to win, but I think that's probably to be expected anyway, short of some sort of disaster that prevents the other teams from turning up.

It would also entail building/bringing one or two fixed MTBs or CX bikes. So yeah.

I'd be up for fixed but I'd like to see a route profile first! I have a pompino that'd cover the fixed CX part

I know Iceland is pretty mountainous but is this true along the coast as well?
And I'm rocking a Cotic Roadrat with plenty of tyre clearance.

Kind-of probably definitely in:

• jadias
  
• richoking
  
• upstart
  
• eyebrows
  
  

Fuck it- if the timing fits (which I will check later this week)- this is exactly the sort of stupid thing I'd be interested in doing/ training for.

I'd be up for fixed but I'd like to see a route profile first! I have a pompino that'd cover the fixed CX part

I think it'll be relatively flat. There are definitely hills but from what I've driven (the southern section from Reykjavik as far as the glacial lagoon at Jokulsarlon, north from Reykjavik to Snaefellsnes) I don't remember any of them being particularly monstrous.

should be fine unless you end up on this segment :)

http://www.hobart10000.com/segment-gradient.php?SegmentID=1451946

Okay so to get a feel for what people are signing up to, I'd like to throw some simple calculations together.

• The course is 1332km/832.5m long.
  
• At an estimated speed of 30kph/18.75mph this would take 44.4 hours (44 hr 24 min).
  
• Assuming that one can maintain this pace for a 2 hr shift and that all other variables remain constant, then each of the 4 riders will need to put in 5.55 2 hr shifts, covering a distance of 60km/37.5m per shift.
  
  

Obviously some wild assumptions have been made here, such as incline/decline, head winds and terrain all remaining equal, not to mention each riders own stamina. Something to chew over.

You make a good case for using gears...

Do you know when registration for this opens/closes?

I've just asked. I can't imagine it'll be very long from now - they confirmed the 2013 event in late September.

The idea of doing this fixed sounds awesome. I'm definitely available, but I'm not any sort of fast. Mrs Earthloop says she'd love to be a support driver.

Mrs Earthloop says she'd love to be a support driver.

Lots of logistics involved in this sort of thing, but I have an outline of how it can be made to work in my head ... 7 months away is both a 'long' time and just round the corner!

Support driver would be wicked. I have a friend who has also offered, potentially, which would make the two. She gives wicked massages. Mrs Earthloop, without being too forward, how are your massages? ;)

Realistically, given how knackered my knee is from doing 130 km fixed two weeks ago, I don't think that's gonna work for me. Preexisting injury and everything. I'm looking at road bikes. How would you guys feel about doing it geared (I think this is sane).

Kind-of probably definitely riding:

• jadias
  
• richoking
  
• upstart
  
• eyebrows
  
• Earthloop
  
  

Kind-of probably definitely driving and massaging:

• Mrs Earthloop
  
• Anica (jadias' friend)
  

Reading the UCI regulations I fear a fixed team may not be workable anyway:

Bicycles used in road events must be fitted with an efficient braking system that acts on both wheels (either simultaneously or independently) operated by two brake levers. The use of a fixed gear in competition is prohibited.

Need to check that they'd class this as a 'road event', but yeah.

http://www.uci.ch/Modules/BUILTIN/getObject.asp?MenuId=MTkzNg&ObjTypeCode=FILE&type=FILE&id=NTI0MDY&LangId=1

No probs doing it geared

Sounds awesome

Geared it is then. I'm still in.

Mrs Earthloop, without being too forward, how are your massages? ;)

Well, we have a daughter (lets call her Fruitloop) in training as a sports therapist, so me giving massages is a little redundant around here. I can be trained up on how to make you all whimper and cry as much as she does.

Realistically though, you are not going to get much in the way of a massage until the race is complete. Vehicles have to stay with a team apart of pitstops with a max duration of 20 mins. One who really really wants a massage could argue that a 20 min pitstop is enough time for a leg massage, but a 20 min pitstop means that it will take about 40 mins to catch up to the team rider (depending on how many teams/cyclists are on the road - i'm just going on how long it takes it to find Earthloop on the road after the start of the rides he does around here and after the little 'entertainment breaks' we take along the way).

What sort of support vehicle does the team have in mind for this adventure? Are we looking for rider comfort during their non cycling periods or minimising expense?

I'm thinking probably a van of some sort, since it's going to need to take bikes and riders, plus allow for rest.

I'm thinking probably a van of some sort, since it's going to need to take bikes and riders, plus allow for rest.

a camper van would be ideal, although costly. bikes could go on a carrier at the back, and the riders would at least be able to lie down for their rests. if we could get out one a microwave instead of a hob, we could have hot meals for the riders too which would be nice. about two hundred euros a day though.

would need to check what level of licence is needed to drive them though, and bear in mind that nipping into a grocery store is not easy with a larger vehicle. grocery store parking lots barely cope with my hilux :(

As great as your massages would undoubtedly be, I'm not sure they would be all that necessary after only 2 hours in the saddle. If I was knackered I think I'd be more interested in catching some Z's!