Transcontinental Race No. 7 - TCR7 - #TCRN07 - 2019

Trains run all night but, if it's both of you, makes sense to get a hotel. Unless you want Mal to have a bit of authentic TCR experience by kipping in the airport toilets?

Other airport options:
I did look into Varna, which isn't far away up the coast, but it's only Wizzair as well so no point in going there.
Sofia is quite a long journey and not that many flights.
Istanbul is the next nearest big airport. Would have plenty of flights but it would mean dealing with the crazy bus station so I ruled that out.
@bananaskid is flying into Bucharest which is a couple of day's ride away - but he probably hasn't told his boss in Melbourne about it yet so might not be able to come at all ;)

Yeah, but heading into central london to catch a train back out west isn't how i roll.
Hmm, could cab/bus to Brent Cross and get train but the less stressful option is airport hotel.

Sure, no point going into central London to catch a train that stops at West Hampstead. I'd go for hotel if I were you

Starting to get there with the cockpit.
Thanks @hippy for the bridge works a treat!

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Looks good.

Changed booking to the morning flight and we had a free night at the hotel near the airport so locked that in. Looks like this is sorted... until they change it again.

Cool - what day are you going?

Bridge looks good.
I need to cut a bit more off the handle of the old mop I have lying around in the garage and make myself a new one of those, when I run out of other things to do!

Same day, just few hours earlier. Think it was Tues.

Thankfully I already had a piece of display plastic already mostly done. Just had to file its edges a bit to get a better fit with the weird shape extensions and I'm back in business. RaTN is going to be another big test of kit I've never used before... I foresee pain.

Not sure if that means I should get komoot or if it just does what osmand already does.

Just spent a couple of hours updating my draft routes with the new info.

It's going to be a tough one! Might be more climbing than 2016 by the time I've got the final parcours detail in. And it will probably be a bit longer than 2016, with a lot more slow off-road sections. Another factor is the Saturday morning start is now confirmed, so we're already 8 hours behind. At least we get two of them back going East to West.

I made the party by a day and a half last time but I'm not taking anything for granted with this.

Has anyone sorted out their insurance this year, any recommendations?

Don’t we only gain one hour?

Yes. I was thinking of Turkey which is another hour on.
Thanks for telling me now so I wasn't relying on it later!

Has anyone sorted out their insurance this year, any recommendations?

I recommend that you don't waste time looking at British Cycling's policy. I just re-joined specifically to use their travel insurance and it doesn't cover cycle racing. WTF!

Okay, thanks. I am currently looking at Adventures (who I used last year), Yellow Jersey and DogTag. All around the same price. Also looking at insuring the bike with either of a couple of companies Laka or Bikmo. Yellow Jersey do both but will not allow the bike to be insured so far ahead.

Thanks - I'll try one of those.
I'm only bothered about compliance with the rules.
ETA definitely doesn't cover TCR any more - I asked them yesterday and they said no.

I’m with Bikmo bike and covered for racing. It’s insured for a value rather than market value. Also a load of other bits. Not cheap but I’ve heard positive experiences of claims.

Covered for racing by Bikmo? That's who BC uses and it excludes racing. Or do they have a different policy?

there is a race level cover which I think should do it, although I am still looking at all the options.

I've just gone with Snowcard.
£55 for their Adventure Plus level, which specifically states it covers 'cycle touring - road racing'

hmm making me doubt myself now.
I emailed before, and there was no repatriation cover but rereading it doesn’t say I’m covered.
Although the key facts suggests I’m covered as long as my appearance fee is less than £5000.
I’ll email them again once I’m up on what is required by TCR