#ratngx — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #ratngx, aggregated by home.social.
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and by the magic of veloviewer. A nice little infographic on my recent ride...
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and by the magic of veloviewer. A nice little infographic on my recent ride...
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Re previous toot. Just to be clear. When I entered this race I knew I would be last. Same for every race I've ever entered (6 started, 2 finished). I know I'm not quick, but I can just keep going when I need to. I also often get less sleep, in return for more time spent moving. I don't enter these races to win. I do it to see if I can.
Also out of spite. I was told I was too fat to race and I should give up my space for someone more deserving... But that's a different story.
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Re previous toot. Just to be clear. When I entered this race I knew I would be last. Same for every race I've ever entered (6 started, 2 finished). I know I'm not quick, but I can just keep going when I need to. I also often get less sleep, in return for more time spent moving. I don't enter these races to win. I do it to see if I can.
Also out of spite. I was told I was too fat to race and I should give up my space for someone more deserving... But that's a different story.
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My official position in the race? Last.
Sean (cap 84) technically came in behind me on the short course, but because he started on the long version, then changed, he's classed as a finisher, but with no time. Leaving me in the position of Lantern Rouge.
I'm nothing if not consistent. In 2019 I finished the road version of the race in last place doing the 1930km in 199 hours 50 minutes. I also came second...
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My official position in the race? Last.
Sean (cap 84) technically came in behind me on the short course, but because he started on the long version, then changed, he's classed as a finisher, but with no time. Leaving me in the position of Lantern Rouge.
I'm nothing if not consistent. In 2019 I finished the road version of the race in last place doing the 1930km in 199 hours 50 minutes. I also came second...
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Less than 30km to go. Which means I've passed the 1200km mark. Am very sore, very hot, and really want to just finish. Unfortunately I have very little energy so am just plodding along as fast as I can. Hopefully less than 2 hours to go.
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Less than 30km to go. Which means I've passed the 1200km mark. Am very sore, very hot, and really want to just finish. Unfortunately I have very little energy so am just plodding along as fast as I can. Hopefully less than 2 hours to go.
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There are a couple of hills on the last part of the course. Nothing major, biggest is 40m. But right now a speed bump feels insurmountable. I fully expect to walk up all of them.
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There are a couple of hills on the last part of the course. Nothing major, biggest is 40m. But right now a speed bump feels insurmountable. I fully expect to walk up all of them.
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Stopped off for second lunch. Looks like about 45km to go. Unfortunately most of it is into the wind. On the plus side, it should also mostly be in the woods where it's cooler, and the wind has less effect. I'm measuring temps of 32°C. A lot of the route has been out on the open with no shade.
When I leave here I'm hoping it's about 3 hours plus stops to the finish. Hopefully this is the last big stop.
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Stopped off for second lunch. Looks like about 45km to go. Unfortunately most of it is into the wind. On the plus side, it should also mostly be in the woods where it's cooler, and the wind has less effect. I'm measuring temps of 32°C. A lot of the route has been out on the open with no shade.
When I leave here I'm hoping it's about 3 hours plus stops to the finish. Hopefully this is the last big stop.
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Found a kebab shop for first lunch. Everywhere else in this town seems to not serve food before noon.
The Dutch don't really seem to do breakfast as a meal to eat out. Which can make mornings on races like this really hard.
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Found a kebab shop for first lunch. Everywhere else in this town seems to not serve food before noon.
The Dutch don't really seem to do breakfast as a meal to eat out. Which can make mornings on races like this really hard.
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Three dotwatchers cheering and clapping as I approached. Apparently it was a guy who'd been dotwatching all week, and his parents had just arrived, so he brought them out to cheer too. They were really friendly.
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Three dotwatchers cheering and clapping as I approached. Apparently it was a guy who'd been dotwatching all week, and his parents had just arrived, so he brought them out to cheer too. They were really friendly.
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Having done the suncream stop, and had second breakfast there. I get a few km up the road and find a supermarket. I can't pass up the opportunity to resupply. So now I'm having 3rd breakfast before I start a proper push. 120km to go. Probably about 8 hours riding plus stops.
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Having done the suncream stop, and had second breakfast there. I get a few km up the road and find a supermarket. I can't pass up the opportunity to resupply. So now I'm having 3rd breakfast before I start a proper push. 120km to go. Probably about 8 hours riding plus stops.
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It's finally warm enough to take the leg warmers off. Which also means it's time for slip slap slop on all exposed skin.
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It's finally warm enough to take the leg warmers off. Which also means it's time for slip slap slop on all exposed skin.
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Have made it to Zandvoort and the start of the final GPX track. Quick stop for first breakfast before I hit the trail again. Am not looking forward to the headwind.
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Have made it to Zandvoort and the start of the final GPX track. Quick stop for first breakfast before I hit the trail again. Am not looking forward to the headwind.
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Made it to my hotel with half hour before check-in closed. Even had a tailwind for most of the last 40k. Achieved speeds I had previously only dreamed of on this race. Had to detour at IJmuiden as all the locks were open on the end the route goes through. Added a few hundred meters into the wind. Alarm is set for the middle of the night. Plan is get going early & try to get to the finish ~155km away. No horrible terrain to worry about. Just Dutch mountains and a weeks worth of fatigue.
#RATNGX -
Made it to my hotel with half hour before check-in closed. Even had a tailwind for most of the last 40k. Achieved speeds I had previously only dreamed of on this race. Had to detour at IJmuiden as all the locks were open on the end the route goes through. Added a few hundred meters into the wind. Alarm is set for the middle of the night. Plan is get going early & try to get to the finish ~155km away. No horrible terrain to worry about. Just Dutch mountains and a weeks worth of fatigue.
#RATNGX -
Have realised tonight is hopefully my last night of the race. I don't need to wash my shorts, I've got the pair I washed last night to wear tomorrow. This makes hotel routine a little simpler.
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Have realised tonight is hopefully my last night of the race. I don't need to wash my shorts, I've got the pair I washed last night to wear tomorrow. This makes hotel routine a little simpler.
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If I've done the maths right, there's less than 200km to go. I've got a hotel booked in 50km. Gonna try to hit the road early tomorrow, and go for the finish. Gonna be hot and headwindy.
It's weird noticing how my body is adapting over the last week. My arse has stopped hurting so much. I get the occasional sting, but nothing like the earlier pain. Not sure why. I've never felt this good at this stage of a race. I don't understand it.
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If I've done the maths right, there's less than 200km to go. I've got a hotel booked in 50km. Gonna try to hit the road early tomorrow, and go for the finish. Gonna be hot and headwindy.
It's weird noticing how my body is adapting over the last week. My arse has stopped hurting so much. I get the occasional sting, but nothing like the earlier pain. Not sure why. I've never felt this good at this stage of a race. I don't understand it.
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Texel was both not as bad as I feared, and utterly fucking bonkers. At one point the route went over a dijk, but there were no steps, just a 45° scramble. Then on the other side, a barbed wire fence. Which then decided my rear inner tube needed a go faster hole... So I had to sit in the baking sun and swap the inner tube. Then there was the dijk with stairs...
After that I found a cafe for lunch, then raced hard to get to the ferry.
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Texel was both not as bad as I feared, and utterly fucking bonkers. At one point the route went over a dijk, but there were no steps, just a 45° scramble. Then on the other side, a barbed wire fence. Which then decided my rear inner tube needed a go faster hole... So I had to sit in the baking sun and swap the inner tube. Then there was the dijk with stairs...
After that I found a cafe for lunch, then raced hard to get to the ferry.
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Win. Found a bakery. Time for second breakfast. (Yes, long distance cyclists are basically hobbits). It's 15km to the lighthouse, which is the last bit I'm really worried about. It's a sandy walk along the beach, it's gonna be slow. Then it's nearly all good surfaces back to the ferry. But with more wind. Texel is beautiful.
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Win. Found a bakery. Time for second breakfast. (Yes, long distance cyclists are basically hobbits). It's 15km to the lighthouse, which is the last bit I'm really worried about. It's a sandy walk along the beach, it's gonna be slow. Then it's nearly all good surfaces back to the ferry. But with more wind. Texel is beautiful.
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And just like that. The worst part. The bit I had been nervous of doing is over. The MTB pump track through the dunes was worrying me since I saw a photo of it from one of the earlier riders. It was surprisingly ridable. The MTB single track through the woods was less ridable, but fun. I watched the Aussie rider crash in front of me at one point due to not unclipping fast enough. Makes me really appreciate my flat pedals.
Chocolate break. Then onwards!
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And just like that. The worst part. The bit I had been nervous of doing is over. The MTB pump track through the dunes was worrying me since I saw a photo of it from one of the earlier riders. It was surprisingly ridable. The MTB single track through the woods was less ridable, but fun. I watched the Aussie rider crash in front of me at one point due to not unclipping fast enough. Makes me really appreciate my flat pedals.
Chocolate break. Then onwards!
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Had a reasonably good night's sleep. Got up perhaps a little earlier than needed but I wanted to be absolutely certain I got the first ferry. I'm now waiting at the ferry terminal. The boat leaves in 25 minutes. Am feeling good. Nervous. But good.
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Had a reasonably good night's sleep. Got up perhaps a little earlier than needed but I wanted to be absolutely certain I got the first ferry. I'm now waiting at the ferry terminal. The boat leaves in 25 minutes. Am feeling good. Nervous. But good.
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That felt good. Washed my hair for the first time all race. The water pressure in this hotel is the best all race. Useful for cleaning my wounds too.
Time for bed. Alarm is set for the middle of the night so I can be sure to get the first ferry across to Texel. Am still nervous about tomorrow. It's the most technically difficult riding since day 1. I'm allowing the whole day to do the 80km distance.
For now tho. Sleep
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That felt good. Washed my hair for the first time all race. The water pressure in this hotel is the best all race. Useful for cleaning my wounds too.
Time for bed. Alarm is set for the middle of the night so I can be sure to get the first ferry across to Texel. Am still nervous about tomorrow. It's the most technically difficult riding since day 1. I'm allowing the whole day to do the 80km distance.
For now tho. Sleep
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Almost got taken out by some moron in a tank yank towing a trailer, didn't give me any space at all, just drove like I wasn't there. My wheel was maybe 5cm from the edge of the tarmac. I've had a couple of other near misses this week, but this is the closest.
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Almost got taken out by some moron in a tank yank towing a trailer, didn't give me any space at all, just drove like I wasn't there. My wheel was maybe 5cm from the edge of the tarmac. I've had a couple of other near misses this week, but this is the closest.
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Yay. An eetcafe. And it has a clean toilet. I can relieve one problem, and also have some much dinner.
Just 20km to go after I've eaten.
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Yay. An eetcafe. And it has a clean toilet. I can relieve one problem, and also have some much dinner.
Just 20km to go after I've eaten.
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Less than 30km to go. Time to remount, and get moving. Hopefully there's a snack bar in about 10km.
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Less than 30km to go. Time to remount, and get moving. Hopefully there's a snack bar in about 10km.
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This stretch of the route seems to be utterly devoid of any bars, cafes, or restaurants. Which is a problem cos I really need to pee.
On the plus side, have found the first shade in about 30km, a bench under a tree. Was starting to feel the effect of cycling in the full sun.
Expectedly I found a position on the saddle that didn't hurt too much and was doing good speed, until I hit some off-road and the bouncing made everything hurt again. Drink and chocolate break time.
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This stretch of the route seems to be utterly devoid of any bars, cafes, or restaurants. Which is a problem cos I really need to pee.
On the plus side, have found the first shade in about 30km, a bench under a tree. Was starting to feel the effect of cycling in the full sun.
Expectedly I found a position on the saddle that didn't hurt too much and was doing good speed, until I hit some off-road and the bouncing made everything hurt again. Drink and chocolate break time.
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Was struggling a lot with energy levels then realised I've been up since ~2am. After a snack from the supermarket I found, I curled up on a bench and napped for 40 minutes. Feel a lot better now. 60km still to go.
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Was struggling a lot with energy levels then realised I've been up since ~2am. After a snack from the supermarket I found, I curled up on a bench and napped for 40 minutes. Feel a lot better now. 60km still to go.
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Just had a 2km long stretch of block paving that shook things so much I've had to stop and get off the bike just I let my arse recover a little.
That hurt
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Just had a 2km long stretch of block paving that shook things so much I've had to stop and get off the bike just I let my arse recover a little.
That hurt