Transcontinental Race (London - Istanbul) - #TCRNo4

I see Emily Chappell :(

If it makes you feel better I've finally caved in and I now change my Garmin units to miles when racing long TTs. Beard yes, mudguards, no.

PBP doesn't have a first control until 220k in, so I might get a pound shop bum bag and fill it with food to get me to the 220k control and then ditch it.

Café des Sports in Chateauneuf-en-Thymerais is a classic place to stop for a quick stock up (sandwiches, pastries, coffee). It's about 70km into the ride and is open 24 hours during the first day(s) of PBP.

There's food available at the Mortagne-au-Perche control (140km), it's only an official control on the way back so you don't need to get your Brevet card stamped there on the way out but there's nothing stopping you going and eating there (school canteen type thing in the main hall). The route takes you straight past it (and possibly even through) on the way out.

But I don't think the fast lot will stop at either of these places.

I heard about that place on yacf but I'm trying to avoid stops, at least initially while everyone is moving relatively fast, ie. what you said in your last sentence :).

@hippy are you racing PBP, or just bimbling?

I'm smashing it in the face with a line-caught Haddock.

Basically, I don't know. I'm starting in Group D (45min after the first bunch has left?) and I'm going to hang with any groups I think are going fast enough but I'm not going to blow myself up trying to catch the first wave in Group A where all the 'winners' will be from.
I am planning to ride it relatively quickly though and try to minimise stops. I also want to see what the second night without sleep is like as I've only ridden 30hrs sans-sleep before.
I won't be taking any illegal stimulants like the front runners. I will sleep if I think my riding is dangerous. I won't have support.

Ah yes, I don't know a lot about PBP, but I do remember someone saying that some people had support... Seems outside the spirit to me.

Willie be able to follow your dot like we did for transcontinental?

Ah yes, I don't know a lot about PBP, but I do remember someone saying that some people had support... Seems outside the spirit to me.

Many riders have friends/family with camper vans parked up at/near the controls which is within the rules, but support between controls is prohibited (but tricky to enforce so it does happen).

Self-sufficiency varies between people. Carry all your own food/water? Made your own bike? Etc.

Caffeine.

My protein do the 200mg tabs. They're great.

But you've probably got some ready already.

All the French and most of the Conti riders have support from the sounds of it. Doesn't really fit in with the audax thing but then apparently the winner (yes, it is a race, no matter what anyone tells you) received a car. Also, unlike British audax this one is signed, has some marshalls, has car-neutralised start to get you out of town and the controls are massive with beds and food and mechanics and all kind of stuff. It's a weird hybrid of sportive and audax.

Bought all your own food/water? Purchased your own bike?

Yes, yes I did.

I have a bag of caffeine powder that I do 10g lines of before 10s for shits and giggles.

Caffeine has limits though. It won't get me through 2 days. Well, it might be I don't know yet. Knowing how fucked I was during the night of the 600k, I really doubt I'll make a second night without sleep, but I'm gonna give it a go.

20min power naps are enough, I'd set my timer on phone for 23 min, so I got a full 2in sleep! And caffeine. You'll be alright.

When I say no sleep, I mean no naps.

If I definitely need to though I will 20min power nap and see how I go after that.

I'll probably just leave my phone off until I need to use it as an alarm.

Fixie skidder 13th

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Yeah, he's got some stories and grit.

Joseph Todd is in Turkey!

Leo Tong at CP4!

@skinny Fuck!

http://lecol.net/blogs/news/44912005-transcontinental-2015-summary

And that's about half of it!

Hope it read okay. My brain still doesn't work.

Excellent piece. It hurt just reading it.

Excellent write up.

tl;dr

Great write up