Wait... are you... still reading...? Should I continue then? Wait, before I do start, it is about cycling, not skiing, or snowboarding; just in case if you were wondering.
The Japanese Odyssey, tomorrow (or October 31st 2018, for those not reading today...) it starts. 2600kms around the southern half of Japan, 50,000m or so of elevation gain... 10 days to finish... 10! Two or three ferries, 472 mountains (not really, just checking you are paying attention... but lots), washed out roads, no support, no beds, no food or water stations - just Checkpoints, no medical, no tracking (yes, I am lying)... and a partriiiidge in a pear tree. Sorry, I mean on a bike.
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| 'My thoughts are with you...' Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo. |
"You're a fork in Sane..." That was Ana; it was 10pm, -6.5 degrees, snowing heavy, 1700m elevation, Big White road on a Friday night. Fork in sane? Not sure what she was on about (she (and John) have a number of restaurants... maybe it was a cutlery analogy... maybe...) and I have no idea where Sane is... Anyhow, Ana was the fifth person to stop and ask if I was okay - one guy didn't even ask, just stopped 50m ahead, got out of his car and started prepping his bike rack... "I'm okay but thanks" I told him. Ana, was the Fifth of maybe seven people who passed me that night - true you don't expect to see a cyclist riding up a mountain, on a Friday night, during a blizzard. Of course some people just ignore the 'idiot' on the bike... my boss for example - Bibbidy Bobbidy Boo, (real name, honest) the assistant director at Big White Ski School. My buddy... not, you understand, my best buddy...
That was three weeks ago, and yes I was training. Actually by the time Ana stopped, I can't deny I was ready to call it... Cold...? OMG - I had those booty overshoes on, but they were neoprene, wet-suit material, the stuff that soaks and uses body heat to create a warm barrier... unless the water freezes... not surprising really considering the wind-chill factor... if only there was a handy dandy chart somewhere...
Not that I could go that fast anyway... my gears had also frozen so I could not select the fast one...
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| I copied this image all by myself - true story. |
The bike.
I have a Giant TCX - it is a carbon cyclo-cross bike; like a race bike but slow... Oh, and it has some mods...
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| Does this bike make my saddleback look big,,,? |
6% more distance is 6% more work. If you ride mountains you know, if you don't...
Cassette -
11-46, changed from 11-42. The bike is loaded with 12kg of gear, riding mountains hitting 25% grades... no one ever said my gears are too easy... did they Craig Lloyd?
Dynamo Hub
I need light, I need power to charge my phone, my bike computer, my power banks, my rear lights, my mobile wifi hub, my flashlight, camera. I need power. The hub will run my front light and I can also charge items whilst riding. Realistically I'm only charging power banks, and then charging the electronics from the banks.
Seat.
I tried four, I finished up with a Sella SMP drop nose - 16 hour days... I like to choose my seat the way I choose my TP - comfy bum in mind, durable, and able to take a lot of crap... well 'abuse' but that didn't fit my joke.
TT bars.
They reduce weight on the saddle (I did say 16 hours...) they reduce wind resistance - this directly equates to speed, 2-3km per hour... 16 hour days, 10 days... it is the difference between finishing in 10 days or 11... Woohoo! Well, doesn't that sound like I know what I'm talking about? Ha! No... saw it on TV I did.
Chain
Ultegra 11 speed. Cos it is sexy... oh and pretty cheap.
Disc brakes with 160mm disc.
Tires
WTB 47mm Byways (tubeless), big, fat, comfortable with low rolling resistance and some gravel tread/capabilities. And they have tan sidewalls so they look cool... which you will agree is the most important bit, yes sir.
The only other thing really are the pedals - I have Garmin Vector 3, yes they are Fork In expensive but I need to monitor my power output... to ensure I'm not working too hard... we wouldn't want to do that now would we?
Accessorizing :)
You know, bags n' stuff. Cos I'm carrying a cutlery load of stuff... (I was gonna say fork In, but this needed a description bigger, better, faster, more... Two points for the first to name the band.)
Sleeping gear.
- Sleeping bag - goose down, -2c
- Thermal mat
- Bivy bag
- Blow up pillow.
Spare clothes
- T-shirt - merino wool
- Socks bike, x2
- Climbing pants - cos they are lightweight and a sexy yellow colour.
- OR shirt - technical light weight.
- Lightweight NB shoes - actually these are women's, as there is no men's version - I look sweet.
Spare bike gear
- Bib shorts - for those Tom Dumoulin moments.
- Cycle shirt, cos.
- Socks,
- Cycling gloves - regular.
Cold weather clothing.
- Packable puffy - goose down again.
- Waterproof jacket - Hump, a little heavy, but durable.
- Windproof vest.
- Knee warmers
- Arm warmers.
- Cycle hat
- Thermal hat
- Neck warmer x 2 - one doubles as my towel.
- Mid temp, leather palmed ski gloves.
- Warmer packs 3x foot and hand.
- Booties
Spare parts
- 1x inner tube. Running tubeless... fingers crossed.
- Three air cartridges and adaptor... I plan on only having three tire incidents.
- Tire plug kit...
- Spokes x2... I plan on... I know I've already used that joke, shut up.
- Pump
- Chainlinks
- Spare batteries.
Tools etc
- Multi bike tool with chain breaker.
- Mini multi tool
- Knife
- Gorilla tape
- Electrical tape
- Zip ties
Lights
- Three usb rechargeable rear lights - they last, and are bright.
- One Knog light/powerbank combo...
- Exposure Revo dynamo light.
Electronic equipment
- Mobile wifi router
- 20,000 ma powerbank
- Knog thingy/powerbank 5,000 ma
- Tiny powerbank with tiny flashlight - 1,000ma
- Wifi router came with its' own powerbank - not sure but guessing around 5-10,000ma
- iPhone 7
- Wahoo Element bolt.
- iWatch
- Wahoo Tickr - HRM
- Charging cables and plugs
- Ear phones.
First aid and Washing
- Lightweight basic first aid kit
- Toothbrush and toothpaste
- Floss
- Razor
- Breath thingies
- Painkillers... strong.
- Asthma puffer
- Vitamins
- Lip balm
- Chamois cream.
Other stuff-
- Credit cards
- Cash
- Drivers licence
- Sunglasses
- Bike lock.
- Waterbottles and cages x2
- Glasses - cos I'm old and going blind.
- And TP...
- Food.
Dude...! I know right, a shit load of stuff... and I gotta carry it.
- Saddle bag.
- Frame bag
- Top tube bag x2
- Handle bar roll
- Accessory bag.
- 2 light mounts.
- One phone mount
- One Wahoo Element mount.
So... that is it. Well for now anyway... In the next instalment of 'you're a fork in Sane' we'll talk about not panicking when your wheels don't arrive, or your dynamo hub... or even more fun, the airline losing your transport and accommodation for the next 11 days... also known as your bike bag.
I usually do one of those smart witty sign off things, you know plugging my company... some links, some calls to action... you know the 'pro' stuff. Today...? Well... I just can't be buggered.
Tell me what you think of the gear list... oh, yes, and those that have those complaints, the email address as always is idontcare@goaway.com
Wait... not gone yet, here are some random pics to try and make it look a little better.
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| I found this place yesterday... and... finders keepers. |
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| Rubbish pic #1... what do you mean delete it? |
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| Some idiot thought this was the Nihonbashi bridge... Ha! I am so embarrassed. |
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| Tree... but you probably worked that out. |
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| Bike around Tokyo event - it looked cool, I wanted to do it... |
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| Another potential Nihonbashi Bridge... |
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| Road... with Trees... |
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| Belgium in Japan... hmmm... Stella. |
And finally rubbish pic #2... but don't worry, I did delete that one.
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