TransRockies.com

chris f ellis · Newbie Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 7

Hi, I?ve a handful of questions about the TR route and equipment, any comments would be appreciated.....

In general what is the terrain like, grass hard pack, shale, fire trails, rocks/boulders and so on - is it very rough on just certain sections or certain days?

What about the severity of climbing, is it steep or long and steady climbing?

Has anyone from the North of the UK rode the TR, if so how does the terrain compare to the Pennines, Lakes or the Peak District?

I understand folk have rode the TR on various MB set up's including rigid - I?d appreciate any comments from someone who has rode rigid, how did you find it?

Thanks,

Chris

Simon · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 4:51 am Post subject: What to expect

The TR offers a dizzying variety of terrain. Everything from some great singletrack (Days 1, 2, 4 and 7) and long slogs on fire/forestry roads (Days 3, 4, 5, and 6) to bits of boring pavement (Days 2, and 7)

The biggest problem about giving advice about what to expect along the route is that the route is subject to change, often at the last minute. So, although the start and finish in 2008 will be the same as 2007, the routes of the stages may change depending on weather, fires, floods, wildlife etc.

That being said, you can expect some long fireroad climbs. Not too steep, but relentless. There will be hike-a-bike. (Days 1, 2, and 4). Some technical descending. (Days 1, 2, and 4)

I've done the race 4 times, all on my GIant NRS 1. Not a tonne of rear travel, but enough to give my back a rest. Would I do it on a hardtail? I have a Norco steel hardtail that I've been riding since 2002. If I had to, I'd ride it on that bike. Steel is more forgiving than aluminium and more importantly I know how the bike performs under virtually any conditions.

chris f ellis · Newbie Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks Simon,

A the moment I (well my team mate and I) are planing to ride fully rigid, its the bike i ride here and am most comfortable on. I sort of expect a bit of punishment but being beaten up every day and then having to sleep on the floor in a tent is worrying me a little. As long as its not rocks and bolders and cobbles and so on for the full distance then we should be ok.

Hootess · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 5:48 pm Post subject:

I was glad of my suspension. The fire roads over there aren't always as smooth as the ones we get in the UK - they can have what I call a "washboard" surface - i.e. ridges that lie across the direction you are travelling.

My bike had suspension that I could control from the handlebars, so I was able to turn it off for the climbs, and then back on for the decents, and traction control for the "Washboard" roads.

There were a couple of fully rigid bikes last year though, and they seemed to manage fine.

As for the climbing - it's generally long but only certain sections too steep to ride. If you can get a really hilly peak district ride in, then imagine that all the uphill was in one go, rather than up and down, then you should get the idea. We went over to the Pyrenees for a week in May last year which was really useful to get used to the long climbs, but they are more gentle in the Pyrenees.

Simon · Last edited by Simon on Sun Mar 09, 2008 10:23 am; edited 1 time in total

If you are anything like me you won't need to be concerned about sleeping. I was so knackered that I dropped off straight away. The only thing that woke me up was other riders getting up in the morning. (And of course the occasional train in Sparwood and Elkford,)

chris f ellis · Newbie Joined: 18 Feb 2008 Posts: 7

Thanks Simon,

Unless TR provide a tent with a matress or a load of me favorite beer i won't be a happy camper, hey ho

Hootess · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject:

Matresses and beer really weren't important until we reached Fernie. As Simon says, you will be so tired that the ground will be really comfortable - honest! We did take short Thermarests with us, but I really didn't notice if I rolled off it in the night.

oltenbiker · Newbie Joined: 01 Dec 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Switzerland

I'm European too (Swiss) and last year I found out, how rocky the Rocky Mountains can be. Full suspension is highly recommended in my opinion.

Whytebike · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:42 pm Post subject:

Obviously I should get out less, but I happened to recently to ride the same piece of rough terrain on both a hard tail and a week later on a full suspension bike. Now my hard tail is a Ti frame with Sid race forks,and I have ridden it thousands of miles, so I know it well. But to my surprise my full suspension bike was faster and more comfortable over the same trail. Now I knew it was going to be more comfortable, but I never thought faster till I proved to myself.

So I unless you think you will no longer need your knee caps, testicles, ankles or wrist joints in a few years time, I would ride the TR on a fully rigid.

beamers · TR Forum Friend Joined: 13 Mar 2007 Posts: 59

I rode the TR in '02 on a Pace Hardtail, some would say the Pace is one of the stiffest of hardtails. In true Jey Boy style it had nice thin, 1.8 Panaracer tyres on it offering little in the way of bump protection.

The Pace Airforce 2 forks lost their pressure on Day 1 (due to a faulty seal which was of course unobtainable in the Rocky Mountains).

To all intents and purposes it was fully rigid.

My left hand took months to recover from the beating, my Ulnar nerve took a real hammering. I was unable to grip door knobs for months afterwards. I have used Spesh BG gloves and grips ever since.

That said there we quite a few people in the race last year who were riding fully rigid, some even singlespeed, 29ers. They seemed to do quite well. They would have had a real advantage of the race had been wet.
_________________
Mark

Veteran of TR 2002 and TR 2007

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29873838@N04/sets/72157607499101986/