Trans Am Bike Race - June 7th, 2014

[Nathan Jones]

I wanted to put this out there, I'm doing an ITT of the ACA's Trans America bike route next year and wanted to make a call to others who would like to race.  So here it is. 

http://www.transambikerace.com/
http://facebook.com/transambikerace

Hit me up if you'd like some more info but it should be pretty straightforward divide format racing.  I still need to mark off the splits.  Also feel free to let me know if you have any input or suggestions.  Scott said he'll throw it up on trackleaders so folks can dot watch to their hearts content.

Hope to see you in Astoria!

[Nathan Jones]

For those who like the taste of pavement, I'd like to point out that the start list is growing.

http://www.transambikerace.com/sign-up/

[pickupel]

Hey,

I guess all the action has been on facebook over this event — I thought I'd take up the gauntlet and bring the party over here! The Trans Am Bike Race looks set to be the major event of 2014 for me. I'd put my name down for racing the Divide, having had to withdraw from that event due to injury in 2013, but this has really captured my imagination and I can't pass up the opportunity to be involved with the inaugural edition.

I raced the 2013 Transcontinental and had an awesome time with a great bunch of people, I loved being part of something new — something that was unpredictable and unprecedented. Honestly, I can't wait to have a similar experience racing across the USA next summer; who would say no to over 4,200 miles of unsupported racing? I'll be tracking all my training, preparation, and gear selection for the race on my website — if you're interested head to www.edwardpickup.com

It would be great if we could turn this thread into a forum for riders to chat, talk tactics, and get hyped for the race. So come on, who else is racing?

Ed

[retrodirect]

Hi Ed.

I must have met you on the transcon.

Looking forward to this one, went into the transcontinental totally unprepared, have learnt a lot of lessons for this one. I want to go faster. Currently checking weatherpatterns on weatherspark.com to figure out what kit to be taking/ how much discomfort can i can bear going ultralight.

Regards,
Colin

[pickupel]

Hey Colin,

Yep — I remember you from the Transcontinental. We had a chat about the scale of your map at the finish line party. Definitely learned a lot on the Transcontinental — want to use that experience in this race. Will probably keep most of my kit the same, maybe go with a lighter bivy bag and add an extra jacket. The Trans Am will spend much more time at altitude than the Transcontinental did; I've spent a good bit of time riding in the Rockies and they can get really cold, even in June.

Might keep warm gear with me until Pueblo, CO (a fairly major city) and post it home there. I've spent a number of years living in the Eastern US and would expect it to be fairly hot / humid.

Getting very excited about the race — bring on next summer!

[Longtrailahead]

I believe that this thread will pick up steam here very shortly, so no worries on that. I think that as the event draws even closer, that you will see much more talk taking place, surrounding this event. Regardless of pavement or not, 4,233+ miles of self supported racing is just that, and most certainly deserves a discussion here in this forum. I as well, are most excitingly looking forward to taking part in this inaugural event, since I believe it will turn out to be one super amazing experience to be part of.

[pickupel]

If anyone monitoring this thread is on the fence about joining in, I've started to put together a list of some of the defining moments from my 2010 tour of the Trans Am Trail. Check it out to get a taste of what you could be in for...

bit.ly/19ERPLh

[pickupel]

Second half of my list of best Trans Am memories is now up. If you need some more motivation to sign up for the 2014 race, or want a taste of what you could be in for: http://bit.ly/16PJun6

[Nathan Jones]

Good reading, bummer to hear your ride through the gorge was so rough.  The gorge is always kind of a mixed bag anyway, it's pretty but there's a lot of traffic.  You'll have much more fun next year crossing the cascades via McKenzie Pass, it is top freaking notch to say the least.

[Nathan Jones]

I did a write up of my Oregon ITT of the Trans Am back in August.  It's should be at least mildly interesting to those looking at racing next year.

http://www.giroprotagonist.com/recap-of-oregon-trans-am-itt/

[pickupel]

Nice one Nathan! Looking forward to riding the Oregon section of the Trans Am next year — should be spectacular. The Columbia Gorge was a bit rough in 2010, but on a ride that long you sign up for a mixed bag and take the good with the bad. Just hope it's mainly tailwinds next year!

[Beardog]

Where is your website Nathan? I am somewhat interested but am also planning a 1000 mile loop over the two highest roads in the world in Kashmir for late June and early July. Is this a sub 20 day possibility? Is this for sure and where do I research the route, times, etc. Might be a bit boring after the AlCan this year without grizzlies and wolves and NO SERVICES -- but seems intriguing.

[Nathan Jones]

Beardog!

http://www.transambikerace.com/
http://facebook.com/transambikerace

It's a for sure thing at this point.  Myself and several others are on the sign up list.  It's the Trans Am touring route across the US, the ACA has the deets on it but there's also plenty of info on the site. 

A rough gpx file is here.  http://www.transambikerace.com/TransAm.gpx  I'm piecing together a higher resolution file slowly but surely!

As for times, I'm guessing 15 days is probably about the fastest anyone could do it.  20 days is aiming high but is certainly within the realm of some folks.

I'm still kicking myself for not being able to make the ALCAN, stupid life with all its "obligations"!

[Beardog]

Nathan--count me in one way or another-if I can switch my Kashmir trip a bit I will join the group on June 7 otherwise I am looking at last week of May and an ITT of sub 20 days--that should be good enough for the 50 and over record I would guess.....yes, you should have joined us on the AlCan - all one of us-me--a bit harder with a bit more hills than I suspected--I imaging this will be some of the same until you cross the Mississippi but at least we will have prevailing tail winds- instead of the headwinds I had on the AlCan --

[Nathan Jones]

Kick ass, yeah hope it works out, either way sounds like you've got some good riding ahead of you next year.  I think the real surprise for folks is going to be the hills in the east.  There are some pretty serious rollers from Missouri to Virginia that are going to be rather trying I suspect. 

Are you ITTing in Kashmir or touring?  Either way sounds rad.

[Beardog]

touring with my wife--the road climbs over 15000 feet several times and is only open 3 months a year--as long as the bombs from Pakistan are not flying she is in--if not I may be seeing how fast I can ride it--I rode the US east to west as a youth and it was a big mistake--anyone who thinks Kansas is flat is also in for a shock--I underestimated badly the number of climbs on the AlCan that led to some real frustration on long rainy days as you get no momentum at all into the wind--live and learn or live and live--all ok with me--is there a trick to posting a photo BTW I cant seem to post anything beyond a text---I want to show the folks out there a real ultra rider--a man named Dan I met at the Sasquatch Inn my last day about 150 from Dawson Creek--he was 82 with Parkinsons and osteoporosis and rode the entire AlCan without assistance except his son in law would pick him up each day and take him to a lodge and then back to where he stopped--truly an amazing guy---

[Nathan Jones]

Are you using the quick reply to post beardog or hitting the reply button.  If you just use the quick reply you can't pick an image.

[Beardog]

I keep trying with a regular replying and it does not want to attach my photos- I think they are just too big or something--here is a quick link though that Dylan sent me after I finished about a biker over by Watson Lake and why you should not ride with a rack and panniers ---


http://www.newsminer.com/news/alaska_news/wolf-chases-cyclist-in-yukon-rips-up-tent-bag/article_15ab6e94-ea5e-11e2-9c49-001a4bcf6878.html#.Ud8PqccXJ8Y.facebook

For now I am going to likely ride the same bike as the AlCan but a bit lighter with a durable tire- say a gatorskin 25--on the AlCan I rode with 28's that barely fit especially with mud but did not flat once and had zero mechanicals--huge difference than other ultras I have ridden--a pound or two I am thinking will not slow you too much on the smoother roads in the lower 48-thanks for setting this up BTW - now I have something good to dream about while training all winter--

[Nathan Jones]

For those interested in a higher resolution version of the route, this is not the final official version but it is very close and should make for good planning.  Topofusion puts the mileage at 4,183 and the climbing at 211,000 feet.

http://transambikerace.com/TABR2014.gpx
http://transambikerace.com/TABR2014.kml

[DocTrike]

@Nathan I will need to get with you some time soon to get all caught up and educated on GPS and how all that works. We had a loaner GPS last year on the TDR but we never used it, just went off the ACA maps but we had so many detours those weren't much help.