Transcontinental 2016

[steveindenmark]

This is my second year of following this and I am an avid dot watcher. You can keep your TDF and all the money. Every single person who does this ride is a hero in my book. There are maybe half a dozen "Racers" in the entire field. Then there are the "Lets see if I can complete it group" who quickly turn into the "Lets see how quickly I can complete it group". But not all of them. A lot remain as the "Lets see if I can complete it group. Then there is the "Lets see how far I can get" group. Then there is the "Lets see if I can get to the first CP" group. Of course we have the "Lets go for a bimble in France group and finally "What the hell are we doing here group". The last group is the only thing every rider has in common at one stage or another.

They all have stories to tell and I would think the back markers have better stories to tell than the racers.

Love the photo of Emily. She looks really pleased with herself.

So who needs a partner for next year? No racing about. Just a steady trip through the countryside :O)

 

[rich p]

Cough cough splutter

I just Google drive Mcnair Shirts.


Very nice though

Blimey! That's more than I've spent on shirts in my entire life

 

[velovoice]

Poor Johanna! Occupational hazard, I guess.

 

[velovoice]

 

[velovoice]

And Furka Pass? Holy F*ck!
View attachment 137356

And if the photo alone wasn't enough to scare you... Emily's last reading is: climbing steeply at 14.1kph (!!) with an estimate of 5 hours to climb the next 61km to the Control.

 

[Hill Wimp]

I don't believe these people are real

 

[velovoice]

From the guy currently in 89th:

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'd be doing too. #lyingdownonthejob

ETA: I seem to recall this guy has done really really well on TransCon in the past.... It ain't over til it's over, as they say.

 

[velovoice]

I suddenly wondered/worried about weather conditions particularly temperatures. Relieved to find this. Most riders' routes have them skirting the edge of the hot spots.

 

[velovoice]

It appears Frank has just reached CP2.

 

[velovoice]

 

[steveindenmark]

Well done Frank. Nice views coming up ahead. ;O)

Frank suggested that next years route may not be down towards Turkey. Has anyone heard of anything?

 

[velovoice]

Well done Frank. Nice views coming up ahead. ;O)

Frank suggested that next years route may not be down towards Turkey. Has anyone heard of anything?

I think the "doubt" is natural given the current political situation in Turkey, but a lot can change in a year. (No, sorry, haven't seen anything definitive, just the same rumours you've heard I think. Guess we'll wait to see what Mike Hall says once this year's event is done.)

 

[Dogtrousers]

The Tandem Men (see Tandem Men thread) just rode through Turkey. They checked in to a hotel when the coup happened, as per FO advice but mainly to please their mums. They then carried on noting that none of the general populace seemed to think it very noteworthy.

 

[Aperitif]

Catching you up, Frank... keep going!

 

[rich p]

I cycled the bit from Merano to Bolzano once. It was downhill which I'm sure Frank will enjoy!
Attaboy Frankie.