GaryvdM Posted October 27, 2014 Author Posted October 27, 2014 First bit of info for the 2015 edition: http://us6.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6449313680bbffb8a31db02ae&id=711f5a0147&e=9b411b7201
Slowbee Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 Certaiinly an interesting one. Might go on my list after PBP and RAAM hey RAAM, have you looked into this ? It is on the bucket list for sure!
walkerr Posted October 27, 2014 Posted October 27, 2014 PBP 2015 for me, then hopefully/maybe RAAM 2017 if I still have the spirit and legs. Who knows, could be a transcontinental beyond, lot of riding between now and then though.
Slowbee Posted October 28, 2014 Posted October 28, 2014 PBP 2015 for me, then hopefully/maybe RAAM 2017 if I still have the spirit and legs. Who knows, could be a transcontinental beyond, lot of riding between now and then though.how you selling this past the Mrs and what job do you have to pay the dollars ?
walkerr Posted October 28, 2014 Posted October 28, 2014 how you selling this past the Mrs and what job do you have to pay the dollars ?Yeah, the Mrs part was tricky - especially after getting the go ahead for PBP next year. Had to lay down some ground rules, one of which is the family get a break of a year from my endurance ride obsession. So any RAAM attempt would be 2017 earliest. In practice, I wouldn't be able to do it sooner anywhere. Raising dollars? Oh yeah, that'll be a big mountain to climb for sure. One goal at a time though. First is a successful PBP. Then if that goes well, next focus will be 1 or more RAAM qualifiers. In parallel with those we'll start worrying about building a crew and raising funds.Those aren't problems for now though - will start worrying about those from Sept next year.
GaryvdM Posted October 28, 2014 Author Posted October 28, 2014 Raising dollars? Oh yeah, that'll be a big mountain to climb for sure. One goal at a time though. First is a successful PBP. Then if that goes well, next focus will be 1 or more RAAM qualifiers. In parallel with those we'll start worrying about building a crew and raising funds.Those aren't problems for now though - will start worrying about those from Sept next year. An advantage of TCR over RAAM is because TCR is unsupported, it's cheaper.
walkerr Posted October 28, 2014 Posted October 28, 2014 An advantage of TCR over RAAM is because TCR is unsupported, it's cheaper. True - but when you've been bitten by a bug, then alternative rides just don't quite fit the bill however appealing they look. RAAM is, well RAAM .... Edit: - which is not to dis TCR at all. Also very appealing either instead of RAAM if it's unattainable for me, or after RAAM assuming I still have money/permission/motivation
Slowbee Posted October 28, 2014 Posted October 28, 2014 The RAAM has become a huge motivation for me, more so than the PBP Every since being a little cricket rider and reading my first cycling magazine, I have always dreamed of the RAAM. What qualifiers could there possibly be in SA ? *edit* walker you riding the DC again?
walkerr Posted October 28, 2014 Posted October 28, 2014 The RAAM has become a huge motivation for me. Every since being a little cricket rider and reading my first cycling magazine, I have always dreamed of the RAAM. What qualifiers could there possibly be in SA ? Yep - that little cricket is burrowing away in my brain too. Nearest qualifiers are in Europe or India at present sadly. I guess it's not impossible one could be run here - but when I looked into it a few things caught my eye The qualifiers are 400 miles (approx 640km) and must be non-drafting - so effectively a very long TT event much like RAAM. That alone I think will be an issue - would enough people be interested in such an event locally to make it viable to stage. The other part I read is that to count, a qualifier has to be based around an event that has been run at least once previously. So there'd need to be a practice event run that wouldn't count prior to actually being able to run a qualifier. I wonder how flexible this aspect is. I know the NZ qualifiers grew out of the Lake Taupo race, but which then got lengthened and proper RAAM rules applied. So maybe even something like an existing Audax 600 could be adapted to count - since it would have at least been run once before.Having already taken on the task of local PBP qualifiers - I'm both tempted and also a bit wary of jumping in and trying to organise local RAAM qualifiers too. But I'm meeting one of this year's RAAM riders in London in a couple of weeks and she's offered to introduce me to the RAAM organizers - so who knows, could well make some enquiries. I have the perfect stretch of road in mind - long, featureless, hot and boring. Just like the US desert and mid-west *edit* walker you riding the DC again? Sadly no DC for me this year - focus is 100% on PBP qualifiers now, which are 8th Nov and 7th Dec. Have promised the family to maximise our weekend time by not doing too many other weekend events.
walkerr Posted October 28, 2014 Posted October 28, 2014 With some rather uncanny timing - I got back to my PC for a quick check this evening before signing off, and I see they've posted TCR 2015 details: http://reportage.transcontinentalrace.com/?p=1191
GaryvdM Posted October 29, 2014 Author Posted October 29, 2014 Checkpoints for 2015: The start will be on the famed cobblestone farm tracks of Belgium, the first checkpoint will be on the bald summit of Mont Ventoux. The second checkpoint will be on the Strada dell’Assietta, requiring riders to ride a 40km section of alpine gravel track on the French-Italian border. The third checkpoint at Vukovar will draw racers away from the comfortable Croatian coastline onto more remote Balkan roads. The fourth and final checkpoint before Istanbul will once again be on Montenegro’s Mount Lovcen.http://blog.brooksengland.com/wps/the-next-crazy-venture-beneath-the-skies-transcontinental-race/
walkerr Posted October 29, 2014 Posted October 29, 2014 TCR could well be making it's way onto my list if RAAM isn't feasible for me
GaryvdM Posted October 29, 2014 Author Posted October 29, 2014 Strada dell'Assietta: Should be doable on 25 road tires.
walkerr Posted October 29, 2014 Posted October 29, 2014 Or even 28s - I'm a big fan of wider rubber for long rides. Conti even do GP4000s now in a 28, although for a ride of this length I'd reckon the GP 4 seasons would be a better bet Edit: - flip that looks awesome though!
GaryvdM Posted October 29, 2014 Author Posted October 29, 2014 Or even 28s - I'm a big fan of wider rubber for long rides. Conti even do GP4000s now in a 28, although for a ride of this length I'd reckon the GP 4 seasons would be a better bet Edit: - flip that looks awesome though!My frame is not wide enough for 28 :-(. Might have to get a touring bike.
walkerr Posted October 29, 2014 Posted October 29, 2014 My frame is not wide enough for 28 :-(. Might have to get a touring bike. Surely that's a prime factor in selecting an event - as a way to justify a new bike I reckon I can probably justify at least 2 extra bikes for an attempt on RAAM ...
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