Top 50, we better, top 40, doable, top 30….oof! So Northern Monkey aka Matt bridge, harbinger of hurt, had set us some straight forward goals, I liked these, I agreed. I’m a 4 time vet of Transalp, this is Bridgey’s 3rd, so we are wise, respectful of the event and the raft of ups and […]
Archives for July 2013
Transpyr Stage 8. The sting in the tail.
As we were each handed 2 dry pieces of toast and a cup of coffee for breakfast, I wondered how my tired legs would get me through the final stage of 86kms and 2300 metres of climbing. No one expected an easy last day, but the official timing was to stop at the 55km mark…perhaps […]
Transalp: When it all falls into place
Having a good day on the bike is a brilliant experience. You rail corners, you feel good on the climbs, there are no wrong turns, and the weather is great. Having a good day on the bike while racing is a more unique experience, especially when it’s in a paired stage race. Yesterday was a […]
Transalp mixed: Be careful what you wish for
The first stage of Transalp had a simple enough profile. Two big climbs then a 40km false flat section. But simple profile graphics, these things you use to get your head around the coming day, to prepare, they don’t mean much in the dust and the gravel and when you’re surrounded by 40 or 50 […]
Transpyr penultimate stage.
One of the great pleasures of riding a stage race, particularly in a foreign country, is arriving in a new town and then finding the best café, bakery, bar or churreria. Stage 7 of the Transpyr ride was a vast contrast to the difficult and technical stage 6 that saw many riders finishing just in […]
Up and down the leaderboard @Transpyr Stage 6
Team marathonmtb.com @ Transpyr 2013 had a cracking ride over stage 5 to finish first mixed pair and take the title of “most improved performance” on the overall leaderboard. Stage 6 was a different story with a day marred by crashes, wrong turns and flat tyres. A very tough day on the bike for all […]
10 things you need to know about Euro racing
If you’re an antipodean coming to Europe to race for the first time like Imogen Smith, you’re probably prepared for big hills, dramatic landscapes, and hard racing. But here’s a few things Imo picked up that you can’t prepare for… 1. Eurobombing The way Euros descend on gravel is so distinctive there’s actually a special […]
Nienke’s Euro Blog: Xterra France – A Charbonniers Charm
I endured a little hiccup on the train in Switzerland where I was oblivious to the fact that there are trains where bike’s are forbidden and almost ended up with 150 Euro fine and a night in jail! I confused the guard by telling them I was from Australia but presenting a Dutch passport. The […]
Transpyr Stages 4 and 5.
At the pre-race briefing for Day 4 riders were advised that today they would encounter some “funny trails”, and that perhaps today would be the hardest stage. An overnight storm gave riders their first taste of mud for the tour so far.. The British contingent revelled in the familiar conditions, but for many the slippery tracks […]
Transalp: Building rapport before the race
Part of getting older and more experienced with your riding and racing is recognising your habits and patterns. Be they good or bad, at least when you are aware of your strengths and weaknesses it’s easier to work with or around them. I’m a creature of habit, and from the outside it would seem like […]