Fantastic ride and great report..

Once the hike a bike has been embraced the possibilities are endless.

When's the next trip?? I'm Itching to get another epic planned.

paul.e

Gusset to a 12t from Ison.

Go for profile hubs and use a bmx style driver maybe an option…. do them in ti too :)

Yeah its definately do able as a road bike… about 10 hours straight driving from Calais.

Was a great race and wish i could go back this year… look at extending trip and going to watch tour in France.

Yeah did it last year too…

http://shoestring-racing.blogspot.com/2009/07/salzkammergut-road-trip.html

Steve, plans have changed and i have to go to Leeds uni for some test work for an upcoming race.

Sounded like a good ride too.

MSR Carbon reflex 2 … light, pretty roomy and stood up to a kicking in a gale in Inverie so gets my vote.

So you are just riding out in one direction??

Any idea on distance?? suppose i could jump on a train back to Manchester depending how far it is

Yeah i think i used the peaks as a general starting point but will ride pretty much anywhere within an hours drive or a direct train.

barca2, so whats your plan??

And still no indication that this will be available to buy on DVD :(

Well shout me if you change your mind… practise getting that Jones through tight as hell switchbacks… i borrowed an Ellsworth Moment for the week.. longest bike in France at the time and it just wouldn't turn tight 180 bends.

I think you just have to get your head into it being a long week… 10,000m of climbing over the stages, saying that there was a massive mix of ability but as only special downhill stages count the transition riding was real sociable.. most of time.

Chainline, think that endo will save you a little… seriously though if you wanna bike i'll loan you a long travel hardtail for the week… we can do a trade at Kielder 100.

All in it was an amazing week… i bought the GR5 trail guidebook soon as i got home and will be doing it in its entirety at some point… i wanna go back for sure…

..need any volunteers Ash/Melissa??? :)

Never ridden any of this route so not sure it would be one for me… i know at least one of the Genesis team will be doing it:)

Would like to ride it for sure just not sure i'd wanna race it.

A time needs to be set down for this route. definately alpine style.. i know a few very good riders are eyeing this up but someone needs to get on it.

I was lucky enough to do it in 2009…

– be prepared for long sustained climbs so make sure bike choice is suitable.
– Fit the BIGGEST brakes you can get on your bike.. the descending is technical and lengthy.. longest stage being 14km of singletrack descending.. little brakes cook quickly.

Chainline, i would seriously rethink the rigid choice… i rode/raced everything else this year fully rigid singlespeed but this simply would not have been fun on a rigid.. rideable yes… just not as enjoyable.

You are lucky guys as this is a great place to ride… some of the transition stages alone rate near the top of my all time best rides

The webcast isn't the Race across the sky film…. from what i can find out its gonna be released as a dvd in the new year sometime.

There is a massive demand for this to be released.. take it you've seen trailor???

I'm setting up to do the hottest, coldest and highest races in the world… Arrowhead 135 in feb, then Yak Attack in March and then Simpson Desert Challenge Sept…

Definately gonna be back to do Kielder 100 if its doesn't clash and try and break the top 10..

…then in 2011 i will be mostly curled up in a ball recovering from 2010..

I checked stock level at work of shimano and Lake winter boots.. the mw80 and lake winter boots were both out of stock but madison have the mt91 gore tex boot in at last..

I know my shop as a few pairs of mw80's but biggest size being 43:(

Plumber, Bag is a custom job by Nick at Alpkit.

Mister P, cheers.. your bikes photographed at back of Madison MK building?

My 'Geneses' …

If anyone wants one of these particular pieces of history the shop i work in seems to have 3 or 4..

The rack is a Bonty one but may com off in favour of a more traditional rack.

I have seen those Neos overshoes… i've gone for Canadian military winter boots… look very similar to a baffin boot.. comfort rated to -40 and reasonably priced.. was gonna go with a few pairs of wool socks underneath these boots…

I am hoping i can go very light at Arrowhead but will be taking a few extra cogs to try days before race.

I have a deal with Conti as i ride for Genesis so WTB is out for me… should have taken a pic of rear stays with tyre in.. its pretty close but as you say snow there doesn't pack like the British slushy stuff so i can run with very little clearance

Aidan, did we speak at SSUK09?? Ratio is based on what previous SS racers at Arrowhead have used but i hear what you are saying.. luckily i'm taking bike to France in January to ride properly in the snow so will see wat happens there.

Arrowhead is colder than Idita hence the reason i'm doing it and hopefully going will not be soft.

Spd's may get used yet but i have got the option to use some -40 winter boots so i'm probably gonna go with them

any more advice appreciated

The bag was made for me by Alpkit using old Gourdon bags… very environmentally friendly…

The bike was built for Arrowhead 135 in February and if all goes well i will use same set up for Simpson Desert Challenge in September/November..

Twinklydave, the bike will never have to know the horrors of riding around a grassy field.. its been built for greater things:) I leave SITS all to you :-)

On ice yeah spikes all the way… just ordered a set for a customer at my work who is bored of falling off on the cycleways…

On snow its all about flotation… Surly's Endo tyre isn't a very aggressive tread at all but is stupid wide and combined with extra wide rims is king on snow.. but you need a wide as hell frame:)

It has to be carefully packed… i use a few dry bags to gather my stuff into smaller parcels then arrange then to minimise rub… When i have salopettes etc on though i will rub on it but its no issue

What you mean by snow tyres?? Spikes?? Spikes not needed on snow… Could have done an 3.7 Endo on the front but went to trouble of getting a 135mm spaced front fork from Sandmanbikes.com so wanted to keep the ability to swap front and rear wheels..

This is true… more worried about feet and hands at this moment in time 8O

I've taken on board Organisers recomendation for ratio of 32/20 .. then i've optimistically stuck an 18t on the other wheel just in case.

I don't spend alot of time out the saddle when i ride.. perfected turning the pedals at 10rpm though :-)

Yeah i wanted to do an Endo or Larry on the front but then i couldn't easily swap the wheels..

Maybe stick one on for shorter rides

Why not SS for snow?? SS is all i ride so never considered gears… not that popular but certainly not a first :-)

Aidan, cool.. i'm also building a semi fat SS snow bike so will post that when its finished.. not much has been..

Aidan, where was that pic taken?? Idita??

Mid build pic and currently running 0:16 … if royal mail get on it i should have the rest of the parts by the end of the week..

I like it.. I like it alot… :D

Wonder what i can do.

paul.e

What about the music in the van Rob?? You gonna tell everyone about that too… Sam is also being a little quiet too as he was the worst offender..

Props to Bri for having a diverse enough ipod to satisfy even these strange puppies

dave360, enjoyed our additional road work up the col de chateau neuf :-)

wish i'd done it on a hardtail for sure… was quite a few there.

This race was a great experience… i've never ridden such sustained technical singletrack.. as more of an endurance racer i was expecting the climbing element to be dumbed down by the uplifts but after a few days i was glad the vans were taking the sting out of the tail of these big big hills..

Can't recommend this enough as an event… very well organised… food was unf**king believably good and trail and evening banter was second to none..

I'm already planning a return trip to this area after being shown the way by Ash and Melissa and their event… i don't think entries will be available for long after they open so would probably register interest now with Melissa…

For those there this year.. how punishing was that 14km sigletrack descent?? and how good was that free for all down the landslide??.. that needs a mass start for sure :)

Me and a friend have been researching a similar trip using packrafts… the route is done… just need someone to make a cheaper version of a Alpaca raft then it can go ahead but unfortunately believe me when i say hat there is NOTHING similar to the packraft out there unfortunately..

Eric Parsons stuff is a great inspiration

No singlespeed for me..

At last minute a kind donation from a friend has seen me with a loaner Ellsworth for the week… weighs 3 x what my SS does and is longer than my car but should be fun.. not my kind of racing so will be concenrating on enjoying the trails and taking some good shots..

Is anybody else flying from stanstead at stupid o clock on saturday morning???

Salzkammergut is unfortunately not a made up name.. its a crazy endurance race in Austria.. unfortunately i only got to do 150km of it this year as they stopped it due to severe weather conditons but the full deal is 208km and 7000m of climbing

Hmm… seems like a lot of tyre debating.. you sure you guys aren't secret cross country racers?? :D

Think i am gonna have to break from the norm and come fully rigid… rode it at Salzkammergut this year etc so pretty sure i can get myself down just maybe not as quick… although think i will try and get some HUGE tyres sent to me today:)