Transcontinental race 2019 #tcrno7 ajetaan Burgasista (Bulgaria) Brestiin (Ranska). Kontrollit ovat Bulgariassa, Serbiassa, Italiassa (osa reitistä Itävallassa) ja Ranskassa. Tapahtuma alkaa lauantaina 27.7. Mukana on neljä suomalaista.

Reitin pituus on noin 4000 km ja aikaa on 15 päivää ja 17 tuntia. Osallistujia on noin 300, joista suurin osa ajaa yksin ja noin 30 pareina. Osallistujat ajavat ilman ulkopuolista apua eli myös seuraajien internetissä antama apu on kielletty. Kannustaa saa, mutta osallistujille ei saa antaa apua tai tietoa, joka voisi vaikuttaa suoritukseen.

Suomalaiset osallistujat:

• Samuli Mäkinen (84)
• Katriina Heiskanen (124)
• Mikko Mäkipää (144)
• Laura Leppälä (163)

Tapahtuman etenemistä voi seurata (esimerkiksi) livenä, tapahtuman sivulla, Dotwatchersissa, Instagramissa tai Twitterissä.

Seuraamisessa kiinnostavia asioita ovat esimerkiksi kalusto- ja reittivalinnat. Lisäksi seurattavaa riittää ylipäätään siitä miten eri tavoin osallistujat lähtevät ajamaan Euroopan halki ilman ulkopuolista apua.

Same old story. Another year, another Transcontinental race and another kit list. Much the same, but quite a bit new too. I recommend you also read my previous entries from 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as I will refer to them. For a few more photos from this year check this link.

Over all it is the same old frankenbike. Tunturi F500 hybrid frame from 2003 with very few original parts. In a real frankenbike fashion it now has different pair of brake pads (Swisstop stopped making old V-brake model and I had one pair left) and, again, different quick releases.

The basics are SON hub dynamo, Powertap rear hub, Campagnolo/Shimano mix of 10 speed 50/34 cranks and 12-30 cassette. Tires are new 28 mm GP 5000s.

Lights are B&M IQ-X and Sinewave beacon. Also Lupine Piko as backup for downhills and gravely sections. Once again GoPro for downhills and other sections where I prefer not to stop or slow down for photos or videos.

Tail lights are 2 B&M Seculas and for blinding people also a Niterider solas.

There were quite a bit of changes from last year in terms of bags. Carradice saddlebag, Missgrape top tube bag and Apidura food pouch are old, but all the other are different. The frame really can’t fit any proper frame bag so I switched back to Deuter’s that leaves full access to water bottles. Or so I thought. Their model had changed since the last one and the (permanent) attachment strap happens to be at exactly same position with Missgrape top tube pack’s. Good enough, but looks a bit silly. I switched Alpkit accessory bag to Apidura’s fork bag as I happen to have plenty of space for everything this year. This bag rubs my feet a little less while pedaling and doesn’t add extra bulk. The new Apidura handlebar bag limits usage of handlebar a bit, but I kind of got used to using the aerobars and handlebars while climbing last year. It is mostly for food as the side pockets are easy to access on the go.

The dashboard had changed a bit with higher mounts for the aerobars. This time I have the remotes in place where they are, relatively, easy to access from aero position and while climbing with hands on the aero pads.

Symmetry is slightly better than last year.

I did quite a few changes to wirings. I remade all the connectors, wired lights in parallel and did quick release for the dynamo. Now I can use 0, 1 or 2 headlights and 0, 1 or 2 tail lights without doing any changes to wiring even though I lose a bit of the maximum light brightness. Both lights also have full length cables so that they can be easily attached directly to dynamo in case there are problems with the connectors.

Equipment on me has mostly been replenished since last year. New shoes as the old ones broke at Silk road. The new Fiziks don’t have any grip in the sole so I need to be extra careful when getting on the bike, but otherwise they are fine. Assos stopped making red gloves so I had to get white gloves even though I don’t think I fill finish with white gloves. Short sleeve merino jersey with PBP print this year so I had to pack arm warmers for the first time since 2015.

I’m using Polar Vantage M with optical heart rate monitor this time. Hence I don’t have a HR strap and Vantage’s battery life appears to be suitable for the purpose.

The Restrap tech bag happened to be exactly the right size for my charging equipment. Easy haptic feedback that I remembered to pack it and easy access as I will take them with me to nearly every significant stop. 3 micro-usb cables, usb-c cab, Lupine usb accessories and Vantage cable. 2 2x usb chargers so I can charge 4+ devices at once.

Also spare batteries and Powertap opener are in tech bag for easy access as I will eventually need them.

In the Apidura handlebar bag I have handsfree for listening to music and its pouch that can also be used for cleaning glasses and camera lenses. On the other side are cables and extra batteries that are needed while on the bike. Sinewave usb support cable and also a bit longer micro-usb and usb-c cables.
The larger compartment fits my ”civil” clothes.

The top tube bag has a spork and working glove, but most of it is used either for food or as a trashcan.

In the Deuter frame bag are the most likely needed extra clothes. Full finger gloves, toe warmers, merino buff and knee warmers.

More rarely needed spare clothes are in the Carradice bag. Long sleeve windstopper jersey, spare bibs and a pair of socks.

Also in the Carradice bag are some hygiene products and toilet paper. Also some plaster. This year I also did the ultimate weight save and cut my toothbrush.

Shampoo will again be used as a full body wash and for cleaning my clothes.

Still going through the Carradice main compartment. There are the required tools and spare parts. Much the same as last year. 2 spare tubes and tube repair kit. Multitool with added chain links and hollowtech tool. Btw. the Topeak chain tool’s ends also work as a presta valve core opening/closing tool. Just in case you didn’t know.

A new cleat, derailleur hanger, cable ties, spokes (are in the bag’s wooden support), nipples, tape and spare cables. For some crazy reason Mucoff doesn’t sell those tiny chain oil tubes, but does give them away for free.

My spare outer tire is this time under the saddlebag.

Some electrical spares are also in the Carradice bag and hopefully this pouch never needs to be opened. Spare Garmin, small power bank, spare phone and spare Lupine usb accessories.

In the left pocket of Carradice are chamois cream, sun screen, hand disinfectant and camera stand.

In the right pocket of Carradice are reflective vest, packable backpack and Petzl Tikka 2 xp headlight. Same as always.

In the Apidura pouch under the saddlebag is the sleeping gear. A small strip of 4x bubble wrap and a emergency blanket.

Talvipäivänseisaus-pyöräilyn 15.-16.12.2018 tulokset.

Tulosten ilmoitus lomakkeella. Korjaukset ensisijaisesti sähköpostilla randonneursfi@gmail.com

(päivitetty 25.2.2019)

Another year, another Transcontinental race. Here is my latest kit list. I recommend you read my previous entries too 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014 as I will refer to them. For all the photos see the album in Flickr.

Back to basics, so to say. After year with Orbea road bike I’m back to my frankenbike Tunturi F500 from year 2003. Original parts today being frame, headset, seat clamp and derailleur hanger.

I will ride the Silk road mountain race after Transcontinental so a few details are due to that. I have 3 Lupine batteries, 12-30 cassette and some other gear mostly due to using same bike 5 days after Tcr for a very different event.

Tires are this time Durano 28 mms. I took a little more robust quick releases. In real frankenbike manner there is a Shimano in rear wheel and Campagnolo in front. This is also the first year I’m riding without power meter. For simplicity and no need to change batteries, but also a chance to push too hard in the headwinds. Also a bit heavier SON original hub dynamo this time.

Camelbak podiums again like ever since I bought them. The Brooks saddle has travelled with me over 50000 km already.

Luxos U again as the main light. Lupine Piko R is for uphills and downhills. Remote for Garmin 1030 on the left hand side and Lupine on the right hand side. GoPro session for video as usual. I usually like symmetry and simplicity in my dashboard, but this time it’s completely gone.

I lost my Solas 2 last winter and replaced it with Solas 100 which is pretty much the same light. For all the good (very bright) and bad (easily gets wet) features. B&M Secula is again the main taillight powered by dynamo.

New helmet since last year as I left old one to a train to Thessaloniki last year. Some new shoes as I am using Shimano spd pedals this time. Otherwise the kit remains the same.

Spare cloths are in Carradice rear bag. Jacket, toe warmers, buff, leg warmers and spare shorts are the same. New gloves and wool spare socks were added since last year.

In the Alpkit drybag I have a bivy and sleeping pad (Neoair xlite). Big change from bubble wrap, but these are again needed after Tcr anyways so why not bring them to finish on my own. Same goes with the mosquito spray and hand disinfectant.

Hand disinfectant, mosquito spray, sun screen and Mucoff chamois cream. The same sh*t as Assos, but it just happened to be available in a shop once upon time. These are in left pocket of Carradice.

Tools are a little more scarce than previously as I dropped Power tap and shoelace tools. Otherwise nothing new here.

Right pocket has some plasters, packable backpack, Petzl headlight and reflective vest. Vest was renewed last year with some reflective cloth. I did it myself and you can see it from the result.

Then some spare everything. A Garmin 820, Sinewave beacon dynamo light, cables likely to break or get lost and a last resort power bank. Hopefully I’ll only need the Polar V800 charger once, but that might be wishful thinking.

In the Missgrape framebag I have chargers, spare tire, bicycle tool, universal tool, spare phone and basic hygiene items. Also Sbh-52 handsfree for listening to music will initially be there.

Missgrape top tube bag will have a work glove and spork. It and right side Apidura food pouch will be dedicated for food most of the time.

Finally the merino jersey’s pockets will have wallet, Xperia X compact phone, musette and Olympus TG-5 camera. Rightmost pocket with camera will also have some coins to save time during fast stops.