Trans-America Bike Race
Discussion
After the Transcontinental I figured what I really needed was a longer race, so in 3 weeks time I'll be lining up in Astoria, Oregon, to race 7,000km across the US on the Trans-Am Bike Race. This time round I'll only have one language and currency to deal with. The race crosses the continental divide 9 times, so the temperature swings quite wildly from -6C to +45C. As with the TCR it's non-stop, solo and unsupported.
The current record is 17 days, 8 hours and 58 minutes. I won't be threatening that but I'll be looking for a strong performance, applying everything I've learnt over the past two years. They say you learn more from your mistakes than from your successes, so I've learnt a lot.
The race will be fully tracked again, with each racer carrying a GPS tracker. I'll post up details of how to follow the action once they're confirmed, but I'm sure it'll be via Trackleaders as usual.
I'm unlikely to be posting here during the race itself ( Instagram and Twitter though) but I'll add some detail to my build-up and of course come back after the race to add more colour. In the meantime here's a quick look at the kit I'll be using, because who doesn't love geeking out over gear?
If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm
The current record is 17 days, 8 hours and 58 minutes. I won't be threatening that but I'll be looking for a strong performance, applying everything I've learnt over the past two years. They say you learn more from your mistakes than from your successes, so I've learnt a lot.
The race will be fully tracked again, with each racer carrying a GPS tracker. I'll post up details of how to follow the action once they're confirmed, but I'm sure it'll be via Trackleaders as usual.
I'm unlikely to be posting here during the race itself ( Instagram and Twitter though) but I'll add some detail to my build-up and of course come back after the race to add more colour. In the meantime here's a quick look at the kit I'll be using, because who doesn't love geeking out over gear?
If you want to catch up on my Transcontinental Race the write-up starts here:
Transcontinental: The storm before the calm
Wow, amazing. Massive respect and st of luck in your attempt.
Remember reading about this event in the Richards Ultimate Bicycle Book when I was about 8 and finding it mind boggling.
Love the kit photos. any more details on the bike build? Looks very optimised for long distance events like this- aero, durability and comfort.
Remember reading about this event in the Richards Ultimate Bicycle Book when I was about 8 and finding it mind boggling.
Love the kit photos. any more details on the bike build? Looks very optimised for long distance events like this- aero, durability and comfort.
It was stumbling over a thread about you doing the TCR which started me following that, that led to IPWR and now I'm going to have this as well. With the regular bike racing as well I'm running out of time to ride...
All the best, for those that don't already, follow him, he's a good writer / photographer.
All the best, for those that don't already, follow him, he's a good writer / photographer.
Lufbramatt, that may have been the RAAM (Race Across America) you read about. That's got a long history but it's slightly different from the Trans Am Bike Race (TABR). Their course is 'only' 4,800km and they use full support crews. We're not riding quite as quickly but TABR is 7,000km and strictly unsupported. The lines are blurred but I think of RAAM as a purer test of an athlete, with unsupported racing testing the athlete and the man/woman.
You can find more details on my specific build at J Laverack's website Transcontinental Jack. I've changed a few components recently as the bike is now 2 years old and has done 'some miles'. There's a bit more detail on the current configuration on this Instagram post, but I'll also try to add a detailed blog entry before the race.
snobetter, I think it's great that these big ultras fit so neatly into the calendar. Giro (May), Trans Am (June), Tour (July), Transcontinental (August), Vuelta (September). I love watching the grand tours but dot-watching the ultras is something else.
JPJPJP, I don't think Kristof has ridden the Trans Am yet. Possibly because 3 weeks in June is tricky for a teacher. It's a shame. I'd love to race against him again now that I've got a bit more experience. He's still the benchmark.
Thanks for the kind words guys.
You can find more details on my specific build at J Laverack's website Transcontinental Jack. I've changed a few components recently as the bike is now 2 years old and has done 'some miles'. There's a bit more detail on the current configuration on this Instagram post, but I'll also try to add a detailed blog entry before the race.
snobetter, I think it's great that these big ultras fit so neatly into the calendar. Giro (May), Trans Am (June), Tour (July), Transcontinental (August), Vuelta (September). I love watching the grand tours but dot-watching the ultras is something else.
JPJPJP, I don't think Kristof has ridden the Trans Am yet. Possibly because 3 weeks in June is tricky for a teacher. It's a shame. I'd love to race against him again now that I've got a bit more experience. He's still the benchmark.
Thanks for the kind words guys.
Happy to answer questions on the build if you've anything specific you're keen to know.
I'm also giving a talk at BOXPARK Shoreditch on Tuesday evening (with the bike) for anybody in London. You need a ticket but it's free and I think there's even free beer. Tickets via Eventbrite.
I'm also giving a talk at BOXPARK Shoreditch on Tuesday evening (with the bike) for anybody in London. You need a ticket but it's free and I think there's even free beer. Tickets via Eventbrite.
jrb43 said:
Who makes that bed roll? I would be very interested.
It’s Klymit’s Inertia X-Lite. I considered going for the half frame but it’s worth going full length to elevate and insulate your legs. The skeletal nature also means your sleeping bag (or my half bag and jacket) lofts into the spaces instead of just compressing underneath you. That's some excellent packaging, I look forward to following the dots.
I notice you have electronic shifting. As you're self-supported in the wilderness I'd be concerned about re-charging, or even software/hardware failure. Are there upsides beyond the snappier gearchange that mitigate the risks, such as preventing your hands getting tired after many days of constant shifting?
I notice you have electronic shifting. As you're self-supported in the wilderness I'd be concerned about re-charging, or even software/hardware failure. Are there upsides beyond the snappier gearchange that mitigate the risks, such as preventing your hands getting tired after many days of constant shifting?
I was wondering what the next challenge was going to be. How is your ass going to cope with 7000km’s?
Is that a stretcher in the third photo? Talk about unsupported you even have to take a stretcher for them to carry you on.
All the best I enjoyed your antics during TCR.
Is there a cut off like there was with TCR? A post race party to aim for?
Is that a stretcher in the third photo? Talk about unsupported you even have to take a stretcher for them to carry you on.
All the best I enjoyed your antics during TCR.
Is there a cut off like there was with TCR? A post race party to aim for?
Jacobyte, the Di2 has a couple of benefits. Ulnar palsy (loss of feeling and strength in the hands and fingers) is almost guaranteed in ultra-racing and electronic shifting means I can still shift easily when that sets in. It also allows me to have shifters on the aero extensions, so I can stay in an aero position for longer. In theory the Di2 should only need recharging 3-4 times during the race but I'll likely recharge it every 3-4 days regardless. I can do that off a battery pack or, in an emergency, directly from my dynamo. I plan to use hotels at least every 3-4 days anyway.
BoRED S2upid, there's nothing waiting for us at the finish point. No party. There's a soft-limit of 30 days purely down to tracker rental agreements, but I hope to be much quicker than that.
Don't worry, I have plenty of Sudocrem, Assos chamois cream, ReSkin patches and some new swear words in the vocabulary. I've still not cracked the whole saddle thing yet. As I type this I'm heading off to collect an SMP test saddle. 3 weeks to go and I'm trying new saddles
BoRED S2upid, there's nothing waiting for us at the finish point. No party. There's a soft-limit of 30 days purely down to tracker rental agreements, but I hope to be much quicker than that.
Don't worry, I have plenty of Sudocrem, Assos chamois cream, ReSkin patches and some new swear words in the vocabulary. I've still not cracked the whole saddle thing yet. As I type this I'm heading off to collect an SMP test saddle. 3 weeks to go and I'm trying new saddles
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