Author Archives: .max

Shifting and ratio

15 Monday Aug 2016

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Shifting with SRAM eTap was also quite a risk, as the max. allowed size of the rear cassette was 28 teeth. I tried to install the GOAT LINK, that lowers the position of the rear derailleur but also further out. That means the reach of the derailleur was taken further out so that the 10th and 11th cassette gear could not be reached anymore. So, the GOAT LINK was no option anymore. I took the risk and ordered a cassette with 32 teeth. The required 6mm between derailleur and cassette could not be realised anymore, but it worked.

Chainrings came in 50/34, rear cassette with 11-32.

Although Jeff and Josh were coming with 42 teeth in the rear, I was confident to get through any conditions with my ratio.

I only had to walk twice, once 20meter in Italy, getting out of a village on a mini small and stiff road towards passo di san pellegrino.

Second time had been the border crossing from Bosnia into Montenegro on the R432a, as it was my initial idea. too stiff too much gravel.

I brought two spare pairs of cleat, one I returned back home!

I brought four fully charged batteries and the charger for eTap. I did not recharge any after I replaced the batteries, a risk, but also some time saving as I did not stay at places for long enough time to charge anything. After entering into Turkey one of the two installed batteries gave up, so I have to kill my front derailleur and keep the rear one going. This one lasted until Canakkale.

Brakes and converter

15 Monday Aug 2016

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The only weak point from the first point had been the converter Doppelmoppel (Trickstuff) to convert from mechanical levers to hydraulic brakes. The solution itself is elegant and seems to work under most conditions. As I had to replace my first Doppelmoppel because one of the cylinders was not turning back into zero position, I had a warning. The replacement piece arrived immediately so the exchange could be realised very quickly. But there had never been any explanation about the reasons for that failure. Riding a bike anywhere out of nowhere, I need to know about every single screw and why it is on that position.

The break pads had been extremely noisy during the race, at some point the cylinders did not move back into zero position, again. I had to get into Montenegro and Kosovo without proper brakes. This brought me close to scratching, but as the Kosovo day had such nice riding conditions, I stopped at the first auto mechanic that I have seen and we could solve the situation for this moment. If this was according to Trickstuff, we will find out, soon. As I checked out their manual on the road, there was nothing mentioned about my conditions.

Cranks

15 Monday Aug 2016

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This bike had been firstly configured for Transcimbrica (Race around Denmark), in early March. Race conditions had been special, low temperatures, loads of sand, rain and snow.

I had to give up this race due to technical failure in the early morning of the second day. The non drive side crank arm came down. The story with THM is never ending and still ongoing, as this failure was discussed before, and my questions had not been answered by THM, before the race. Only after and at that time things already happened. The saddest customer service ever. As this failure totally damaged my frame, the value of this clarification is pretty high. Cervelo themselves let me know that this frame is completely damaged and they can offer a crash replacement which was still crazily expensive. I sent the frame to a carbon doctor who saw himself as capable and experienced to repair the bottom bracket section completely. It took some weeks, but when the frame came back, right in time for Hardcro (Race around Croatia) I was more than happy but not yet confident. A new crank was ordered to replace the Clavicula, which is going to be replaced on my other bike soon, just by principle after experiencing the worst customer care, ever. Rotor 3D+ was the latest selection and with my neighbours help I could easily install the pressfit bearings into the frame. For Hardcro everything worked out, except the selection of the tires. I had roughly six flats in Croatia and I also had to replace a tyre, all punctures had been snakebites. At that time I chose Conti 4 Seasons and Conti 4000,  I had serious trouble to get them installed into the rims from Duke Baccara as the tires slipped out of it, if the pressure with high enough but still too low for racing. For TCR I decided in the very last weeks to go for Schwalbe Marathon Plus, way heavier but their advantages should rule. Having the same serious trouble in getting them installed, I still sticked on them. This choice had been a wise one. The only puncture I had was out in the burning sun of Greece. I could ride my bike with the flat to the next village without damaging the carcasse of the tyre. I was frightened to break the tools when I changed the tube, but finally everything worked out really really smooth.

 

Bike conception

15 Monday Aug 2016

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For this was the most challenging thing of all, until the day of the race.

As I started a concept about the perfect bike in late 2015, including frame design and gear into its last pieces, it was a long way to go until things worked out, as I was wishing.

Various frame concepts had been in my mind, from a custom welded Factory Five frame, via some endurance geometries from the US (forgot about the name right now) to the newly presented cervelo line C. I tried to do some investigation and the new series, which was not really easy. As in our household there are more than only one bike, there is also another Cervelo R3 in action, which I really really love. So some experience was already existing, good preconditions. Hanno, one of my Heidelberg friends who is a passionate cyclist, also on a Cervelo S5, helped my with getting in touch with Cervelo for some more details and technical clarification on their technical realisations and details.

I went through all components in the very details, compared everything and spent hours and days in selection of components and making them match in theory.

After some weeks the main parameters had been clear, Cervelo C5, Sram eTap and Trickstuff Cleg 4 brakes with Doppelmoppel adaptor and a Clavicular crank from THM. This should get the main configuration of my perfect bicycle. It took weeks or months to  realize my configuration as some parts were only available in the US and others had a really really poor customer service.

Summary about riders and co

15 Monday Aug 2016

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And there were the riders, that I met from time to time. In the early days there had been more riders, the closer I got to the finish line the less people I have met.

In France it was almost crowded by people and it was not really easy to get relaxed. The more we headed on the more relaxed I got. Also I turned away from the idea of looking at this thing as a race way more to a ride.

I had my three boys from Shanghai and we chatted regularly. In the early days I also met with Josh and Jeff sometimes, by chance. At least for me as I did not know where the other dots had been moving.

For me it is still a bigger things to get rid of the racing gene.

  • Taking a rest and someone passes, usually meant to finish my rest quickly and catch him again.
  • Seeing some riders upfront, usually meant to eat them. Even this did not make any sense at all. Luckily during the last days I was almost happy to meet people, having a small chat, riding a while together.

The riders I met most had been Jeff and Josh in the beginning.

Also Gerkö crossed my way for several times, but he was already in France talking about scratching from the race, so it is quite possible he did not make it to the finish line.

Already on the second day, I met James. I think we met the most during this ride, had some talks, rests and drinks together. In Andermatt we invaded the cemetery of a church to have a good rest after a rainy descend from Furka. The last time I meet him was the CP04 Durmitor.

Frank was the rider I met second most on the roads, anywhere. We spend longer times together on the roads. We met in almost every of the countries after Italy. During the early morning towards Canakkale I met Frank for the last time really struggling with his tiredness on the road.

With Patrick I met first at CP04. We spent time for dinner together. Then we met again in Greece, for breakfast and he helped my out with his medication, as I was still suffering from my achilles pain. This was kind of salvation for me as I could carry on cycling from this point. The night before I did only stopp to do some lymph leg massaging to relax my feet, but not sleep. Then we met again during the biggest heat close to Viotopos lake for lunch. During that time I repaired my only flat. It had been a great company as we all come down to the level or real persons and not what we used to be in our daily lives. I can only speak for myself, but try to interpret this to some of the other riders.

During the last night ride from Alexandroupolis to Canakkale, I met Dario and also Emily for the first time. As I had a special arrangement with Nico early the next day, I had to carry on. Carl woke me up during one of me two or three short stops in Turkey, but also he carried on.

Bela, I think we met three times, before the race, before and after CP04. He reminded myself that we already knew each other from hardcro, which I did not remember, unfortunately!

I would have loved to spend some more time with all these people in Canakkale but to be honest, I am sure the best and most special time is the time out on the roads!

Thanks to all of you, that made me enjoy these days so much.

A big thank you also to Anna and Mike and all your supporters as Leo, Jamille, John, etc. pp. You all made this experience possible!

I am more than happy to join you again, as soon as you decide to go for the next round!

 

Thanks a million times!

Best wishes

.max

Summary about the ride

15 Monday Aug 2016

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All in all this had been the craziest thing I have done on a bicycle, so far.

About a week before the race started I decided not to follow the weather forecast anymore, in general. I’d say this made my life a lot easier during the ride. I had my route planned and I did not intend to change this routing plan. Actually there is no bad weather, there are only wrong clothes.

For my ride and my timing there have only been three or four times of rain, more or less heavy.

  • Getting up to Grimselpass
  • Getting down from Furkapass
  • Getting down from the alps over to Trieste
  • Crossing Istria at night

The first days in France and Switzerland had all just been about getting used to climbing, with more or less fun. Having a huge mountain to be conquered or having several smaller ones that are just in the way, for mentally this makes a difference, a big difference. You wanna get forward but there is another climb that slows you down, again. The significant temperature differences also made me kind of sensitive, as I was only wearing the cycling shorts, and no knee or leg warmers. This might lead to a minor change in selection of equipment for a potential next ride.

For getting out of Italy and Croatia this had been a combination with heavy thunderstorms and I did stopp over for several hours, as I have some special connection to thunderstorms, which I did not want to meet again during this ride.

Wind in Croatia had been a bigger issue that finally cost me at least half a day, therefore we prepare buffers.

With entering Macedonia in the early morning heat came up. To be honest I expected the heat way earlier and I had the greatest respect. Finally I only had two days of real heat, nevertheless on the second day, due to a un-careful planning of one route, I had to suffer in the heat, as I had to correct my routing by climbing up an unattractive mountain west of Alexandroupolis. It was just too much and I had to recover from that activity for some hours.

Weather was the big thing to be discussed to influence the race in advance.

Border crossing was my big uncertainty, so I spent some more time on that. Everything went smooth, others had to return from their prepared route to another border checkpoint. As I already had that experience, I really wanted to avoid that situation.

My biggest point, I was looking forward to the most, had been all the people. Before the race I might have said, all the different people. Now, after the race I have to admit they are not different at all. They are individual as we have them around everyone of us, every day.

Friendly

  • Belgium
  • French
  • Swiss
  • Italian
  • Slovenian
  • Croatian
  • Bosnian
  • Montenegrin
  • Kosovarian
  • Macedonian
  • Bulgarian
  • Greek and
  • Turkish.

Stopping and asking for help anywhere you got help. The people are more than willing to help, if it was the directon, water, food or also some food. The more I headed towards the East, the arms were open, even though language had been a classical hurdle, but only for the first few seconds. Everything could be solved anywhere. People are nice to us riders, open and helpful. Looking into the past, they have not been so nice to their neighbours.

It just took time to get through Switzerland, with their special way of treating their guests, I always had the feeling of not being welcome, from entering the country until getting out of it to Italy, with one exception. After descending from Grimselpass, I met with James and we stopped in a nice hotel in Gletsch, for having some hot teas and soups before getting up to Furkapass during the night. These guys had been really pleasant and helpful. Also in Andermatt we jumped into a small bar, after midnight, and they still offered us some ovomaltine and tea. After the night in Andermatt I promised myself to make it to Italy for a nice and warm breakfast on the next morning.

 

One other thing, they all had in common:

Nobody that wanted to know about what we were doing there, could believe what we were doing.

The Heat and heading into Canakkale

12 Friday Aug 2016

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As I had to find a way out of my situation yesterday just before entering Alexandroupolis, I lost my mind and a lot of time.

The sun really shot me down yesterday while I tried to get out of this hot pot.

After I finally found my way to Alexandoupolis I laid down on the street and fell asleep immediately for about two hours. The sun was just dawning and the clock was ticking. It was almost 2100, Nico and I had plans for next day 0900. 12 hrs left for a little more than 200kms. It got clear that this is going to be a chase as I would need some shorter rests in between.

After only three hours of hard pedaling, 2357, I reached the border to Turkey. Polite officers proceeded quickly although the Turkish border crossing contains five check points.

On the ride to the border I met Dario, Frank and also Emily. I pushed forward as Nico was waiting. So literally the last two nights had been sleepless.

After my second rest I started my chase to Canakkale. Nico let me know that there were no re-booking options for the evening or next day, so no alternatives available. Preconditions had been not so bad, slight tailwind and not too many cars. The Turkish dogs -that are pretty big- had been relatively lazy at night, but well organized. The lazy one barks, the others can be prepared. Longer legs means higher max. speed.

The motorway from Ipsala towards Canakkale was desgined in cooperation with my navigation planning skills; it took every peak in sight. As the battery for my front derailleur dropped pretty early after the border, means no good climbing ratio.

So the chase began when the sun came up. A disgusting nescafe was basis for my staying awake. Still tired from the second almost sleepless night, I slowly raised my bpm with help of my cadence. Some parts of the roads were in an amazing shape, others the direct opposite. I was really astonished that I still had reasonable reserves. I shouted a rhytm to myself and paced me up to velocities I did not ride during the entire race before, only downhill.

Getting to the border and the chase to the ferry at 0800 had been the fastest section of my race; the last passages of the race.

Just got on the ferry at 0755, with breakfast. Arrived in Canakkale at 0820, welcome committee  (Kristof showed me the direction, standing in the middle of the roundabout, thank you) and a huge kiss from Nico.

Quick shower and then directly back onto the ferry. Our transfer bus to Istanbul was waiting on that exact same ferry.

It is some kind of unfortunate as it would have been great to talk to the riders, again. As we do so during riding it is not so bad, not being present! Enjoy your party tomorrow. We have just landed in Frankfurt. The plan worked out 100%!

I gonna update the last days here, as in between riding had the major focus and feeding the blog is not just some work for seconds. It requires your concentration, either less on the road, less for eating or less for sleeping. That is the choice you have to make. Sometimes typing things into the blog is an equal to talking to people, for example if you are lying anywhere outside at night!

Skopje – Burek rules

12 Friday Aug 2016

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Good morning from Macedonia. After cycling through Kosovo hills and mountains for hours my achillies went on strike, although I wanted to pedal through the night.

I had a rest at an UCK memorial. Around six I got up, as I had to walk down some stairs, I was really afraid to fall as my feet are able to walk anymore, bicycle only.

I took about a rough hour until my feet accepted me as their boss, again. Then we went into the hills between Kosovo and Macedonia, crossed the border and headed into Skopje. Although I would love to see something of this town, I decided to find the shortest way through, as traffice was getting more and more and warmer as well.

Now, 0900 I am having breakfast with Börek, espresso and water. Rebecome a börek fan!

After breakfast I gonna head towards the border. Not pushing too hard, find a good/ acceptable flow.

Picture follow, even if I did not take a lot!



These guys deserve a separate story.