Anyone done / doing this event?

What bike did you / would you go for?

http://www.velovert.com/articles-velovert-magazine-n-219

Matt gives some good advice in his Trans-Provence article in this month’s issue of Singletrack magazine

Did it on an Intense 5.5. Worked great but maybe a very slightly slacker head angle might be nice occasionally.

Doing it again on either the same 5.5 or if I somehow manage to scrape the pennies together maybe an Intense Tracer.

Having ridden it my personal perfect bike for it would be something with a head angle of 68-69ish degrees and 5-6 inches travel upfront. Something not much over (or even less than) 13kg would also be nice due to the amount of carrying involved. With those figures your choice whether you go fully or hard tail… You’ll get beaten up a bit on a hard tail though!

My Spicy was ace ;] Think carefully about tyres IMO…. (still thinking carefully three months later here :P)

Maxxis Ignitors obviously.

As for tyres go for tubeless (not much thorns but lots of rocks) up front something like a 2.35 high roller for cornering grip and a fast rolling rear such as a larsen (you wont find any mud)

bike wise the perfect combo will be alight 5-6 inch travel bike… yes there is climbing and hiking, but the times stages are downhill so you need the suspension….there is a lot of rocks…

But enjoy it, having been guiding and living in the area for over 5 years the riding is stunning and very little known, that is until now you will be seeing a lot of this area in the press…

If you want my opinions on tyres and bikes…

As for tyres, go for tubeless (not much thorns but lots of rocks) up front something like a 2.35 high roller for cornering grip and a fast rolling rear such as a larsen (you wont find any mud)

An interesting one, this. I personally wouldn’t go tubeless after having seen how many problems there have been with it on T-P. The guy who came 4th in 2010 would without doubt have been 2nd if it hadn’t been for his constant problems with tubeless.

I’d say something like a single-ply 2.35″ Minion on the front (probably supertacky), and a 60a Larsen on the back, dual-ply if you’re looking to kill the descent and but still limit your chances of a flat.

bike wise the perfect combo will be alight 5-6 inch travel bike

I’d agree with that. Relatively slack HA will help too if you’re wanting to put good times in on some of the more intimidating special stages.

the timed stages are downhill

Ahem – mainly downhill 🙂

so you need the suspension

A guy came 7th overall on a Chameleon in 2010. He was finishing in the top 3 on some of the more rocky and technical stages too! Seriously, whilst a full-susser will be kinder to your body, and faster in certain situations, you do not NEED one.

there is a lot of rocks

Towards the coast, yes. Huge sections of the route earlier in the week are no more rocky than the central French Alps (i.e. there’s a lot of dirt too, not just rocks… it’s a varied week terrain-wise!).

I did it on a rigid, but wouldn’t recommend it

Ash would know but in support, whislt the rocks are a vivid memory to me, the earlier part of the week was heaven and I did not think too rocky at all, lots of fairly smooth swoopy, slidey, dreamy singletrack…oh here I go again.

I have a bike to do it again…but I agree 5-6 inch front and back, give the body a rest, blast the downs, steady on the ups.

My Jones was 31lb and it was fine carrying, I personally think 30-34lbs would be ok but from what I saw reliability is more important than weight, obviously within reason.

On tyres, I ran tubed and did not have any punctures from the trail. Having said that, tubeless but with a tough tubeless tyre, should be fine.

Interestingly my great big 4in Larry tyre was brilliant on some of the loose, of which there was a fair bit and amazing in terms of braking grip in the forest, I would be tempted to go big on the tyre front, 2.35 rear, 2.5 front., I really noticed the difference when I only had a a ‘mere’ 2.35 front on the Remedy for a day.

Anyway, for now just think how much your gonna love it and don’t skimp on the training!

I’m debating concentrating next year on fitness and riding ability with a view to entering this in 2012, toyong with the idea of an Alfine’d Hardtail, or is that just plain stupid?

I’ve done it on an Alfined hardtail

Was ace!

Thanks Ash, that’s me sold on it then, only question now is when’s entry for 2012 opening?

Ron – registration for next year opened on Monday and all the places were gone by today! So I guess for 2012 registration will be about this time next year.

PS. Do it – you won’t regret it!

I participated on TP using a full sus trek fuel – the only time I EVER passed anyone was when they were squatting down by a bike trying to fix some tubeless nightmare! Practise map reading. Practise carrying your bike. If you are tech proficient rider the best thing to do is just get as fit as possible this will enable you to get max enjoyment from the event. Even if you are not a techy whizz (like me)the scenery is stunning whether you are pushing/carrying your bike or riding it. Be prepared for stressful bits and exhausted bits and elated bits and whoopy screaming can’t beleive I just did that bits.Best bit? The whole dammed thing (but it weren’t ‘alf ‘ard!)

I’m all signed up for this year. Slightly concerned I might die on my arse as my ‘lightweight do it all cross country bike’ is a 2007 Specialised SX trail weighing in at about 36 pounds. A mate has similar issues with his Cannondale Gemeni (that really does ride like a dog up hills)

I used to do 2-3 hour rides round Snowdonia keeping up with XC boys on it and I’ve carried it up the Miner’s Track to ride down Snowdon and things didn’t seem too bad, but am I deluding myself?

Planning a new set of wheels and a 1×10 set up to save some weight.

The wife has offered me the loan of her shiny new Zesty 314 but i’m scared I might break it.

Any thoughts?

Maxxis Ignitors obviously.

Wrong
maxxis super tacky HR 2.35 front and Crossmar/larsen rear. Both with tubes and in lust or dual ply if you’re heavy on the wheels.

as for bike I would use a cadabra or a genius or a meta 5 plastic or a orange 5 or a dune (they are the fashion bike to have this year) or a trance or a hustler or any 130 mm travel bike. Between 13.5 to 15 kgs will do. You want to be able to finish the week. Not stop mid race because you’ve broke your steed.

If you’re strong and of sufficient stamina to ride a 30-ish pound, slacker headangled 6″(150mm)-ish travel “all-mountain” rig around all day, then you’ll get more out of T-P than on a steeper-angled “trail” bike. IMHO.

Eyore, 36lb might be pushing it a tad, but if creative weight saving can get you down to 32-ish, and you’re fit, then I say go for it 🙂

Do it on your roadie and show everyone your awesomeness 8)

*wonders if i can fit in your suitcase*

If you’re strong and of sufficient stamina to ride a 30-ish pound, slacker headangled 6″(150mm)-ish travel “all-mountain” rig around all day, then you’ll get more out of T-P than on a steeper-angled “trail” bike.

Sorry if that’s slightly confusing. Basically, if you have the fitness & strength, then 6″ and slack is better than 5″ and steep 🙂

eyore: Its not the weight per se but the angles to climb. I have ridden a lot of the TP and raced in TP. I did it on a 34lb Meta 6 but stupidly in 68 degree head angle.

You’ll need to be really strong on the SX.

Regarding Tubeless: All tubeless are not the same. I got a puncture on one of the long stages (Donkey Darko). Tubeless sealed enough to keep some air in the tyre. Runnign light tyres (tubeless or not) will be an issue.
I’d recommend a WTB Bronson (2.3)/Wolverine(2.2) combo (and I reckon the person who wins 2011 will be on that….0=)

Rob

R.H. Sno 2, you’re a VISIONARY 😉

I felt it in my waters

Do you reckon the winning bike will be black and white and made of plastic too? 😉

Thanks for the input ash.

Hmm, did some weighing and calculating and reckon that with new wheels (flows on pro 2 evo), carbon AM bar and binning the front shifter/derralieur/rings for 1×10 setup I can lose about a kilo.

The other thing to change might be the brakes – currently have hope moto 6 Ti’s with 200mm rotors which are over half a kilo each including the levers. Not sure what to replace them with though as they’re quite good and never fade (even with me dragging them all the way down at Fort Bill) Anyone want to buy a pair?

Will be doing the first three days of the transwales as a warm up so that should give me an idea.

Answers on a post card please.

PS if you haven’t read this you probably should….

The Picolax Thread Returns

My 2 pence from last year! Tubeless works a treat in my opinion. Only one puncture on the sharp techy rockfest that was the last stage on day 6 I believe. I ran an Ardent 2.25 front and Crossmark 2.25 rear on my Turner RFX – Fair to say that combo was spot on (as long as it stays dry!!).

eyore – get that SX on the slimfast. The novelty of a 36lbs bike will be wear a bit thin by day 2!If you need a good light set of brakes then consider the formula RXs (did not put a foot wrong last year for me)

Looking forward to seeing how this years goes!