In regards to Matt,

I have sent him two e-mails in the last month, I have not received a reply yet but I am sure I will here from him eventually he is a busy guy. I am concentrating on logistics now; until that is done I don't need anything from Matt unless there is route changes from the official ACA maps.


 

Hey Phil,

Sorry to hear your not racing this year, I will check into those tires! I ma riding on three wheels with Schwalbe rubber probably SmartSam Tubeless Evo DD.

Hey Kurt and Phil,

What are you guys thinking about a tire choice now that Grand Depart is looming closer, anything new looking good? I am on a trike so I have a definite advantage, with three contact points taking the load and I am historically very easy on tires. I am always open to suggestions.

Anyone taken a look at the BigApple twin brother BigBen slightly deeper and textured tread looks like it might be suitable. Although I have no experience with the gravel and stones of the TDR or GDMBR. I have Schwalbe: Racing Ralf, Rocket Ron, and BigApple in stock so will probably try these here in Oregon first.

LOL

I have been testing the Schwalbe Rocket DD Ron, tubeless with DocBlue (stan's)  last several days, I don't ever get flats but have chucked tires. I have been trying to flat these tires hitting railroad tracks , curbs, riding rail side in sharp deep quarry gravel, going through thorns and glass. So far they are perfect and even with extensive street use there holding up very well.

I want to try the Nobby Nic next.

Just got a iPhone how do I listen to and get the podcast, not tech savy at all.

@JpariZ I am from a budget stand point in the same boat as you a budget of around $2000.00 including new gear I need to purchase. Which is why I initially wanted to do the ride on my tandem trike. I can share resources with a tandem partner, and use less gear. I can't get my passport renewed in time for TDR but am considering doing GDR (is anyone even doing the GDR Scott?).

I have a car and driver to get me to the start, and camping gear if you were interested in doing the GDR on a tandem trike. Warning recumbents use different muscles and unless you are an inline skater, cross country skier, or long distance runner you would be riding yourself into shape for first 2 weeks. But no wrist, back, butt, ore forearm pain.

This could be great for me as I am supposed to do the TDR this year but do to passport renewal issues was planning a late year ITT or a GDR. We also have not received the pre-production sample trike yet. This sounds like a pure road race so logistics, equipment requirements, and costs could be much higher.

You can't camp just anywhere in many states so lodging costs will sure to be much higher. It could be worth exploring more. My body is already use to long road races and double centuries. I can use any of our existing trikes on the road without expense of something new; including the sociable tandem trike.

I have updated my info on spread sheet, passport issues have required me to start later, and new bike still not here yet. I will try to make the Grand Depart of the GDR in Roosville, MT. this will come down to logistics.

Still no new trike yet, and my passport won't be hear for 2 weeks so I am officially delaying my attempt for this year. If anyone is doing a delayed ITT please message me if your interested in riding with someone.

@Woody I will check with trackleaders than.

If I can't get the passport situation resolved, I may have to meet everyone at the GDR start in Rooseville.

@BoBM Thanks I saw that one on website looked like a good way to go with the cell link.

Hi everyone,

I am just checking in after hearing from Matt today. I am still planning on racing but having passport issues.  I need to get a Spot next week which one do you all suggest? Sounds like I need extra batteries with me as well.

New trike is still in Taiwan being built so will ride something different, but it will still be a trike. Don't have enough time to acclimate myself to a two wheeler. Lots top do next week getting all my gear and sorted to a new trike.

My experience with Achilles tendon issues has always been cleat placement. I also have had last few years pain in knees so thinking it was my pedals I went back to toeclips and pain is gone. I checked with a biomechanics PHD/trainer friend and he said it is becoming very common with long time riders that don't have enough float in there pedals and more common with mashers like me.

So I am running MRP PowerStraps and took the big ring off my bike to force me to spin, I am now going faster with less pain issues!

I am not worried about the bears its BigFoot that scares the hell out of me!

I know a few of you have met her and know her but has anyone heard from Deanna since she got to Paris all of her blogs are out of date and I haven't heard anything. Also haven't heard from Adrian "super vegan" as well. Phil-Rad, David any word?

My buddy runs a flip flop with two chain rings so he gets a bailout gear and a normal gear all on the same chain length. But he is a monster on SS cross bike anyway.

moved to SS thread.

Darn, looks like the new TRIKE won't be available in time to train, and get acclimated to it. So I am faced with riding something from the current stable or god forbid buy something retail to use on the TDR.

Hey if they allow drafting I am having my riding partner tour his sociable tandem trike velomobiel with electric assist the same time as the race. I will just follow along behind him for 2764 miles.