Transamerica Bicycle Race 2017 | Squat the Planet

Transamerica Bicycle Race 2017

duderino

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A week ago, I started bicycling on the Transamerica Bicycle Trail. On June 3rd, the 2017 Transamerica Bicycle Race started. On Sunday, June 4th, I made it to Mitchell, Oregon and stayed at the Spoke'n Hostel. While I was there, lots of racers from the TBR were stopping by. The hostel was giving all the racers free spaghetti, water, and other services. I spent most of the day on Monday greeting the racers when they arrived, and showing them around the hostel.

This year, there were 130 racers, which is a big step up from the 50 that entered last year. This is the fourth year of the race, and every year more and more people are joining.

I left the hostel at 6 pm and caught the bus to Dayville, Oregon. When I arrived in Dayville, I headed to the Dayville Church which doubles as a hostel. I was the only one there when I got there, but around 10 pm, some of the racers started showing up. A total of 4 racers ended up at the church. There was Laura, from Latvia, Patrick, from Belgium, John, from Liverpool, and Mike, from Lad Vegas. The others went to sleep around 11 pm, while I hung out with John until about 12:30. He was a pretty funny guy.

We all woke up around 5:30 am. I made pancakes for John, Mike and myself as the others had their own food and declined. Patrick and Laura left first with John following about half an hour after them. I hung out with Mike until around 8:30 am when he headed out as well.

Overall, it was an awesome experience, and I met a lot of cool people.
 

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Tude

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A friend of mine from a bicycing forum I'm on won his bracket a few(?) years ago on the trans am. 6 man team that trained year round for it. Forget what they called team work outs - something like the murder train - and they posted their training vids on youtube. Anyway - they raced it several years and then finally won, and my friend retired. Lots of work! Have fun on your trek!!
 
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Tude

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Tude

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@Tude
I've been using trackleaders.com to follow the people I met. They aren't going to win, but it seems like they've been keeping to their goals.

Been a bike race junkie for years - even working my local crits and omniums (we were within a HAIR of establishing Tour de New York till some government funding was withdrawn - we had 3 tv stations coming, sponsors etc etc - oh well - was on the team build for years - we are now back to a crit with international teams) and watching the first tour de france via live streaming was awesome - even better sitting in a suite in the office in July with boss with speakers on high. Most wonderful. Tour de Italia is great for a live stream as well as Tour de California.

Love the races as well as the TT's. Had our first official TT here and I had best marshal spot - right as they came off the ramp.

Anyway - It would be very cool if you people are out any way along the route to be able to see the rider(s) and their entourage. :) I have several friends who have traveled Europe to view sections of the Tour de France, and then even riding some of the nasty mountains that were involved. Yeah bike junkies :)
 

duderino

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Been a bike race junkie for years - even working my local crits and omniums (we were within a HAIR of establishing Tour de New York till some government funding was withdrawn - we had 3 tv stations coming, sponsors etc etc - oh well - was on the team build for years - we are now back to a crit with international teams) and watching the first tour de france via live streaming was awesome - even better sitting in a suite in the office in July with boss with speakers on high. Most wonderful. Tour de Italia is great for a live stream as well as Tour de California.

Love the races as well as the TT's. Had our first official TT here and I had best marshal spot - right as they came off the ramp.

Anyway - It would be very cool if you people are out any way along the route to be able to see the rider(s) and their entourage. :) I have several friends who have traveled Europe to view sections of the Tour de France, and then even riding some of the nasty mountains that were involved. Yeah bike junkies :)
This was pretty much my first experience with racing besides watching the documentary "Inspired to Ride" about the first Transamerica race. I'm brand new to touring as well and had never ridden more than 20 miles before. I did my first 30 mile day today with over 50 pounds on my bike. Towards the end of today's ride, the heat was climbing into the 80s. I was stoked when I reached my destination. Eventually, I want to shoot for 60 mile days, but I'm starting slow. Most people have told me it gets easier after the first couple weeks. I think I'm going to lighten my load tomorrow and send some things home. Still contemplating whether or not to ditch the u lock. Haven't used it yet, but it might come in handy at some point.
 
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Tude

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@duderino - Hey the bulk of the Trans Am pack are going thru AZ atm - and they are going right through where my friends bike club is located. Many pictures here on the Bull Shifters fb group.

https://www.facebook.com/BullShiftersBicyclingClub/

Hey also wanted to add - when I was doing more long distance - I researched (when I had decided on a route) where the bike shops were - and also the bike clubs along the way. Questions and sometimes emergency help can come from contacting the clubs. This club is great on helping people out through their with through AZ.
 
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duderino

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Do any of y'all have the maps for the transam? I just got a job doing conservation work in Utah and I'm in Louisville right now, Google is telling me to head back to Chicago and then over to Utah
Check the library on this site for free gps coordinates of the transam. Haven't used em, so I can't say for sure if they work. I have the paper maps, but no way to scan them. The Adventure Cycling Association website has rough outlines of the maps on their interactive map network if you can't find anything else.
 

pcflvly

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I rode twenty miles of the divide trail south of West Yellowstone on my way east last month and met a sixteen year old boy competing in the Divide race from Banff to Mexico. He said if he finished that he'd be the youngest person to ever complete it.
 
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duderino

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I rode twenty miles of the divide trail south of West Yellowstone on my way east last month and met a sixteen year old boy competing in the Divide race from Banff to Mexico. He said if he finished that he'd be the youngest person to ever complete it.
Nice. I want to ride the divide someday.
 

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