TPRNo1 photos on Flickr

16 3

Nearly on top of the Pyrenees! Regarding Pyrenees passes it doesn’t get much higher than the Port de Cabús (at 2305 m above sea level) leading into Andorra via a very challenging climb from the small Catalonian village of Alins through the Valle Tor which transforms right before Tor into very technical and steep gravel. I reached the top right as the sun was about to set.

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Fast auf dem Dach der Pyrenäen! In Bezug auf Passüberquerungen gibt es nicht viel höheres als den Port de Cabús (mit 2305 m über dem Meer), der als sehr anspruchsvolle Kletterei von dem katalanischen Alins durch das Valle Tor und von Tor an über einen sehr technische und steile Gravel-Weg nach Andorra hineinführt. Ich erreichte die Passhöhe gerade als die Sonne begann, hinter den Bergkämmen zu verschwinden.

Main by Torsten Frank

9

Current mood: black and white but with light shining on the horizon. Had a nice city trip yesterday in Frankfurt. But what else can I currently do? Now I’m 4 weeks (actually a few days more) into not cycling. The first 1 and a half were nice and actually planned since the time directly after the TPRNo1 lend itself perfectly for a complete season break. Sadly I catched a flu right after I was about to start my training again. Well, that was probably not too bad either since my left knee got a bit more of a banging as I wanted to admit. But that nasty cough which held me awake in the last week wasn’t nice at all. To make matters worse, I’m now over the full two weeks it usually takes to fully develop, irk me and then also fully vanish. Last two nights were way better, though. While I won’t be able to start training on schedule for Tuesday I hope at the end of the week I can start again. Maybe I’ll get my new bike also at the end of this or hopefully at the start of the week after the next. We’ll see.

Shadowselfie Pano by Torsten Frank

9

Shadow selfie of sorts in this panoramic shot. What lovely light on this plateau before the last bit to the top of the pass. Also a very welcome breather after the relentless climbing so far. Port de Cabús. Can you spot the moon?

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Eine Art von Schatten-Selfie in diesem Panorama. Was für ein tolles Licht auf diesem Plateau vor dem letzten Stück zur Passhöhe. Gleichzeitig eine sehr willkommene Atempause nach dem erbarmungslosen Klettern bis dahin. Port de Cabús. Könnt ihr den Mond sehen?

Drifter CapNo52 by Torsten Frank

8

This is the bike I rode and how it got rigged up before the Transcontinental Race No 8. You know my No. 22 Drifter. With it’s normal full Sram red etap AXS 2x drivetrain I just recently swapped the 10-33 red cassette for a force wide 10-36. Works like a charm w/o exchanging the normal red RD. This brings my lowest gear ratio down to 33 front and 36 back. Nifty especially for my shape of this year. Profile Design Aerobars on a handle bar mounted on a redshift sports shockstop stem form my tried and tested comfy cockpit where this year the navigation is provided by Garmin. I’ll use my usual DT Swiss Wheels with a SONdelux Dynamo hub. Initially I was going to mount Conti GP 5000 in 30 mm width but reconsidered and will go with Panaracer Gravelking Slick TLC 700 x 35c tires. That’s a nod to long and probably gnarly CP 4 parcours where we also have to cope with quite a bit of altitude difference. As well as to the #TPRNo1 where these tires were quite fit for the task.

Main bag volume will be provided by my Tailfin Aeropack in the rear. Out front I use the cyclite Handle Bar Aero Bag. I aerotested this configuration and it is really fast. Unlike the rider ;-)

On top and below the top tube I run prototype Tailfin bags.

I’ll use the kLite Bikepacker Ultra as my main light. It too, is already tested in actual bikepacking racing by me and this is a revelation in dynamo lighting. Together with my Forumslader charger it provides much needed peace of mind that whereever I go and regardless whether there will be a hotel or a bivy up ahead I’ll have light and means to power my devices.

Autumnal Tor Valley by Torsten Frank

8

This was the beginning of the gravel section just before the small and infamous village of Tor. After already a lot of climbing in a deep and mostly shaded gorge aside this brook over tarmac and a bit of concrete here the valley opened a bit and let the sun in again. That section was actually really harmless to ride and quite beautiful. The real challenge would await just behind Tor. But what a rewarding challenge which eventually bring me on the top of the Port de Cabús and into Andorra. Right at sun set. This was at the same time the highest mandatory pass of the race with 2305 m above sea level. This makes the Port de Cabús one of the highest Passes in the Pyrenees.

BTW, I just published my first article about the Transpyrenees Race covering my approach on the race, comparing it to the Transcontinental and the Three Peaks Bike Race and indulging in all around data nerdery. Find the link here: torstenfrank.wordpress.com/2019/10/18/why-the-tprno1-was-...

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Das war der Beginn des Gravel-Abschnitts kurz vor dem kleinen und berüchtigten Dörfchen Tor. Nach bereits einer Menge Kletterei durch ein tief eingeschnittenes und enges, schattiges Tal über Asphalt und etwas Beton, immer neben dem rauschenden Bach öffnete sich das Tal hier auch wieder etwas und liess die Sonne hinein.

Dieser Abschnitt war noch total harmlos zu befahren und auch recht schön. Die wahre Herausforderung wartete hinter Tor auf uns. Aber was für eine lohnenswerte Herausforderung das war. Sie würde mich schließlich genau zu Sonnenuntergang auf die Passhöhe des Port de Cabús und nach Andorra hinein bringen. Der Port de Cabús war gleichzeitig der höchste in einem Parcours vorgegebene Pass des Rennens. Seine 2305 m Höhe über dem Meer machen ihn auch so zu einem der höchsten Pässe in den Pyrenäen.

Übrigens habe ich auch gerade meinen ersten Artikel über das Transpyrenees Race veröffentlicht, in dem ich meine Herangehensweise an das Rennen schildere, es mit dem Transcontinental und dem Three Peaks Bike Race vergleiche und mich generell in grundlegender Daten-Verliebtheit ergehe. Diesmal in Englisch geschrieben. Folge dem Link: torstenfrank.wordpress.com/2019/10/18/why-the-tprno1-was-...

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Hotel nights by Torsten Frank

12 2

For the #TPRNo1 being a race in the autumn with fewer daylight hours and cold nights, even when not at altitude, I opted for 100 % hotel accommodation since I don’t like to burden myself even with the negligible weight (and for me not so negligible volume) of an ultralight sleeping bag. I had my normal sleeping setup with me nevertheless. Consisting of my ultralight sleeping mat, my borahgear bivy and on top of that an emergency blanket which would have helped me in a pinch. Because I knew villages with open hotels would be few and far between. It was at times a bit challenging but then again worked even better than I had imagined. So I had every night a nice warm shower and a good nights rest in a real bed which helped immensely. And I found it was quite efficient, too. On top of it I could bring my bike in on every room I had which was also very convenient. Especially the Spanish hotels were very relaxed in that regard. That’s real hospitality as I understand it. :)

24 hour Coke by Torsten Frank

10

A typical picture for bikepacking races: a bike at night at a gas station. Not so typical for the Transpyrenees Race as you would be lucky to find any station at all in the small places the race route would lead us through. And if there were any they typically wouldn’t offer the services, i.e. food, which we would seek from them and wouldn’t open for longer hours then normal shops in the first place. The only thing „24 hour“ about them would be automated tanking by card payment. For this station at Martinet I knew that it would feature a Coke vending machine. Something I conveniently already knew from my route planning of this years Three Peaks Bike Race where I researched already the N-260 between La Seu d’Urgell and Puigcerda as one option. In the #TPBR2019 I choose my other alternative via Ax-les-Thermes and the Port d’Envalira. For the #TPRNo1 my planning clearly showed the southern route out of Andorra and thus avoiding the arduous climbing over the Port d’Envalira as the clearly faster option.

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Ein typisches Bild für Bikepacking-Rennen: Ein Rad in der Nacht an einer Tankstelle. Nicht so typisch allerdings für das Transpyrenees Race. Denn das führte uns durch kleine Orte und einsame Gegenden wo man glücklich sein musste, überhaupt eine Tankstelle vorzufinden. Geschweige denn eine, die auch tatsächlich Essbares verkaufen würde. Und auch länger aufhaben würde, als normale Läden. Das einzige "24 Stunden" mäßige an solchen Tanken waren die rund um die Uhr verfügbaren Zapfsäulen.

Für diese Tankstelle in Martinet wusste ich allerdings, dass sie einen Cola-Automat vor sich stehen hatte. Etwas, was ich praktischerweise schon von meiner Routenplanung für das Three Peaks Bike Race wusste, für das ich bereits die N-260 zwischen La Seu d'Uurgell und Puigcerda als eine Option untersucht hatte. Im #TPBR2019 wählte ich allerdings die Variante über Ax-les-Thermes und den Port d'Envalira. Für das #TPRNo1 zeigte meine Planung allerdings klar, dass die südliche Route aus Andorra heraus und so den langwierigen Anstieg über den Port d'Envalira vermeidend die schnellere Option war.

Shrouded in Clouds by Torsten Frank

9 2

Even on the kind of miserable Wednesday where I had to cover the most part of the Raid Pyrénéen there was beauty in parts of the landscape which could actually be seen. While I was very keen on finally reaching the next valley and with it hopefully the first real re-supply of the day and finally a warm beverage after already crossing the Col de Peyresourde and now the Col de Val Louron-Azet I just had to briefly stop to take in this amazing scenery of the village of Azet in the Hautes-Pyrénées mystically covered in wisps of clouds.

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Auch am wettertechnisch sehr mäßigen Mittwoch, an dem ich den größten Teil des Raid Pyrénéen bewältigen musste, bot sich Schönheit in der Landschaft. Zumindest in dem Teil, den man tatsächlich sehen konnte. Während ich es kaum erwarten konnte, endlich den Talboden und so hoffentlich die erste Versorgungsmöglichkeit des Tages und ein warmes Getränk vorzufinden, nachdem ich bereits den Col du Peyresourde und nun den Col de Val Louron-Azet überquert hatte, musste ich einfach für diesen Anblick stoppen. Das Örtchen Azet in den Hautes-Pyrénées nahezu mystisch durch Wolkenfetzen verschleiert.

Col de la Llose by Torsten Frank

7

This amazing view made me hit my brakes instantly. This is basically the west side of the Col de la Llose. Coming from the east it’s a nice road but rather unspectacular and feels more like a middle mountain range road. The first part of the descent has nearly the same characteristic but made real fun to descent. In the small village of Ayguatébia-Talau I stopped to put on arm warmers and then continued… until this corner where this view opened. Wow! After a small climb along the stretch of the road you see at the lower left the loooong descent towards Olette continues. It felt endless! All the time running along the narrow and winding D4 alongside the gorge of the Cabril. Views galore but you better hold your eyes on the road since in this stretch there were frequent grit patches in some curves and barriers between you and the deep gorge not really that existent or high. The complete descend brought us 1.240 m nearer to the sea level from the top of the pass over 24 km of small and quite road.

Gravel up the Bjelasnica by Torsten Frank

10

So, who’s up for some gravel this year? Or ponders how one should tackle the diverse gravel parcours this years bikepacking events like #TCRNo7 #TPBR2019 or #TPRNo1 seem to offer? Maybe like this nice 12 km stretch I rode (ok, halfway pushed up 😜) to the summit of Bjelašnica which featured as CP4 in the #TCRNo6? Then head over to my newest article on optimum tire choice for road bike, ultracycling-events and bikepacking races:

torstenfrank.wordpress.com/2019/03/18/der-optimale-reifen...

(it’s only available in German for the time being)

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So, wer ist für etwas Gravel in diesem Jahr? Oder fragt sich gerade, wie der die diversen Schotter- und Offroad-Sektionen angehen soll, die in den Bikepacking-Veranstaltungen dieses Jahres, wie TCRNo7, TPBR2019 oder TPRNo1, besonders gefragt zu sein scheinen?

Vielleicht wie dieser 12 km Abschnitt hier den ich zum Gipfel des Bjelasnica befahren habe (oh, die Hälfte hochgeschoben ;-)). Das war der CP4 des letztjährigen TCRNo6.

Dann nichts wie rüber zu meinem neuesten Artikel zur optimalen Reifenwahl für Rennrad und Gravelbike - insbesondere für Brevet und Bikepacking-Rennen:

torstenfrank.wordpress.com/2019/03/18/der-optimale-reifen...

Drifter Sunset at the Rocher de la Vierge by Torsten Frank

9

So before I get to many #nobikesnolikes I guess it’s time for some bike bling or even bling bikes again.. ;-)

So see my @22bikes Drifter on the evening before the start of the #TPRNo1 in front of the famous Rocher de la Vierge at sunset overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. While I don’t went downright dipping my wheels into the Ocean I wanted to at least have a first look at the sea after I just was around the Campanile and the Skate Park all day, arriving in Biarritz, getting registered, briefed, buying stuff (a.k.a. food) for tomorrows start and stuff.

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Bevor ich noch zu viele #nobikesnolikes bekomme, ist es wohl wieder Zeit für etwas Bike Bling bzw. für bling Bikes. ;-)

Deswegen hier mein No. 22 Bicycles Drifter am Abend vor dem Start des #TPRNo1 vor dem Berühmten Felsen der Jungfrau in Biarritz zum Sonnenuntergang über dem Atlantik. Während ich mich nicht zum Strand herunterbemüht habe, um die Räder in den Ozean zu tauchen, so wollte ich doch wenigstens einen ersten Blick auf das Meer werfen, wo ich sonst den ganzen Tag im Umkreis des Campanile und des Skateparks verbracht hatte: Ankommen, Registrieren, Briefing, Einkaufen (Verpflegung für den Tag morgen).

No. 22 Bicycles Drifter by Torsten Frank

9 5

My Drifter is also a shape shifter. The Drifter-Shifter… 😄

I nearly got the feeling that no two photo sets show it in the exact same configuration…

This is it in the road setup. Basically pulled out of the transport box of the return flight from the #TPBR2019. Removed some of the reflective stickers but not all. Also left the protective foil along the bag contact areas on the frame since in a month it’s already the next bikepacking race in the Pyrenees ( #TPRNo1 ). Still have the dynamo front wheel in but undid all the cables. Removed the aerobars, wrapped new bar tape (@sramroad please make the blip box connect to the Derailleurs parallel to the normal road brake shifters so I don’t always have to unwrap the bar tape to connect the clic buttons to them) cleaned it and already continued comparing three saddles over the last week. Settled on the Brooks Cambium C13 Carved instead of the also very nice Selle San Marco Shortfit for the moment.

Speaking of shapeshifting I will now switch the wheels and pedals to the gravel setup to get the bike ready for the @votec_gravelfondo.

My Drifter is also a shape shifter. The Drifter-Shifter… 😄

I nearly got the feeling that no two photo sets show it in the exact same configuration…

This is it in the road setup. Basically pulled out of the transport box of the return flight from the #TPBR2019. Removed some of the reflective stickers but not all. Also left the protective foil along the bag contact areas on the frame since in a month it’s already the next bikepacking race in the Pyrenees ( #TPRNo1 ). Still have the dynamo front wheel in but undid all the cables. Removed the aerobars, wrapped new bar tape (@sramroad please make the blip box connect to the Derailleurs parallel to the normal road brake shifters so I don’t always have to unwrap the bar tape to connect the clic buttons to them) cleaned it and already continued comparing three saddles over the last week. Settled on the Brooks Cambium C13 Carved instead of the also very nice Selle San Marco Shortfit for the moment.

Speaking of shapeshifting I will now switch the wheels and pedals to the gravel setup to get the bike ready for the @votec_gravelfondo.

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Mein Drifter ist auch ein Shape Shifter. Das Drifter-Shifter… 😄

Ich habe fast das Gefühl, das keine zwei Foto-Sets das Rad in derselben Konfiguration zeigen...

Das ist es im Straßen-Trimm. Ich habe es im Grunde nur aus dem Transportkarton vom Rückflug vom #TPBR2019 gezogen. Einige, aber nicht alle, der dafür geforderten Reflective Stickers entfernt. Die angebrachte Schutzfolie im Bereich der Taschen-Kontaktbereiche habe ich dran gelassen - in einem Monat ist schon das nächste Bikepacking-Rennen in den Pyrenäen (#TPRNo1). Aerobars abgeschraubt, neues Lenkerband gewickelt (Ach komm schon, @sramroad, bitte bekomme es hin, dass man die Blip Box parallel zu den normalen Schalt-/Bremshebeln verwenden kann, so dass man nicht jedesmal das Lenkerband neu wickeln darf, wenn man die Click Buttons an letztere anschließen möchte), das Rad gewaschen und direkt mal weiter mit Sattelvergleichen gemacht. Habe mich jetzt für den Moment für den Brooks Cambium C13 Carved anstelle des mir auch sehr gut gefallenden Selle San Marco Shortfit entschieden.

Apropos Shapeshifting: Kaum fotografiert wurden direkt schon wieder die Laufräder und Pedalen gewechselt, um das Rad in den Graveltrimm zu wechseln und fertig für den Votec Gravel Fondo zu machen. :)

Bewaldete Hügel by Torsten Frank

5

It started with rain but once of the south side of the main ridge of the Pyrenees we got to enjoy the Spanish sun and the blissful small and quiet roads deep in the hinterlands of Aragón. These are a few sights from day 1 and the Parcours 1 of the @transpyrenees race. They are all from the Alto Echo between Anso and Echo in Aragón, Spain.

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Es startete mit Regen. Aber als wir erst einmal über den Pyrenäenhauptkamm die Südseite erreicht hatten, durften wir die spanische Sonne und die segensreich ruhigen Straßen tief im aragonischen Hinterland genießen. Dies sind ein paar Aussichten von Tag 1 und vom Parcours 1 des Transpyrenees Race. Sie sind alle vom Alto Echo zwischen Anso und Echo in Aragón, Spanien.

Estany De Montcortès by Torsten Frank

5

The nice view onto the Lago de Moncortès on the Parcours A "La Pobleta de Bellveí".

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Die schöne Aussicht auf den Lago de Moncortès im Parcours A "La Pobleta de Bellveí".

Col de Jau Cloud Pano by Torsten Frank

6

Continuing my loose flashback series to the Trans Pyrenees Race. What a great display on the sky as I was cresting the Col de Jau, leaving the Pays du Catalan which expand beyond the French and Spanish borders and crossing from the Pyrénées-Orientales into the Aude.

No. 22 Bicycles Drifter by Torsten Frank

7

My Drifter is also a shape shifter. The Drifter-Shifter… 😄

I nearly got the feeling that no two photo sets show it in the exact same configuration…

This is it in the road setup. Basically pulled out of the transport box of the return flight from the #TPBR2019. Removed some of the reflective stickers but not all. Also left the protective foil along the bag contact areas on the frame since in a month it’s already the next bikepacking race in the Pyrenees ( #TPRNo1 ). Still have the dynamo front wheel in but undid all the cables. Removed the aerobars, wrapped new bar tape (@sramroad please make the blip box connect to the Derailleurs parallel to the normal road brake shifters so I don’t always have to unwrap the bar tape to connect the clic buttons to them) cleaned it and already continued comparing three saddles over the last week. Settled on the Brooks Cambium C13 Carved instead of the also very nice Selle San Marco Shortfit for the moment.

Speaking of shapeshifting I will now switch the wheels and pedals to the gravel setup to get the bike ready for the @votec_gravelfondo.

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Mein Drifter ist auch ein Shape Shifter. Das Drifter-Shifter… 😄

Ich habe fast das Gefühl, das keine zwei Foto-Sets das Rad in derselben Konfiguration zeigen...

Das ist es im Straßen-Trimm. Ich habe es im Grunde nur aus dem Transportkarton vom Rückflug vom #TPBR2019 gezogen. Einige, aber nicht alle, der dafür geforderten Reflective Stickers entfernt. Die angebrachte Schutzfolie im Bereich der Taschen-Kontaktbereiche habe ich dran gelassen - in einem Monat ist schon das nächste Bikepacking-Rennen in den Pyrenäen (#TPRNo1). Aerobars abgeschraubt, neues Lenkerband gewickelt (Ach komm schon, @sramroad, bitte bekomme es hin, dass man die Blip Box parallel zu den normalen Schalt-/Bremshebeln verwenden kann, so dass man nicht jedesmal das Lenkerband neu wickeln darf, wenn man die Click Buttons an letztere anschließen möchte), das Rad gewaschen und direkt mal weiter mit Sattelvergleichen gemacht. Habe mich jetzt für den Moment für den Brooks Cambium C13 Carved anstelle des mir auch sehr gut gefallenden Selle San Marco Shortfit entschieden.

Apropos Shapeshifting: Kaum fotografiert wurden direkt schon wieder die Laufräder und Pedalen gewechselt, um das Rad in den Graveltrimm zu wechseln und fertig für den Votec Gravel Fondo zu machen. :)

Drifter above the Lake by Torsten Frank

6

My 22 Bicycles Drifter above the Lago de Moncortès. Here the first Code Box for the passive controlling of the lettered parcours was situated. There were numbered parcours around the manned checkpoints and lettered parcours A to F which had such passive controls (besides the Raid Pyrénéen.

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Mein 22 Bicycles Drifter oberhalb des Lago de Moncortès. Hier war die erste Code Box für die passive Kontrolle der "Buchstaben"-Parcours platziert. Es gab nummerierte Parcours um die betreuten Kontrollpunkte herum und Parcours mit Buchstaben von A bis F, die solche passiven Kontrollen aufwiesen (bis auf den Raid Pyrénéen.

Aragonische Pyrenäen by Torsten Frank

5

It started with rain but once of the south side of the main ridge of the Pyrenees we got to enjoy the Spanish sun and the blissful small and quiet roads deep in the hinterlands of Aragón. These are a few sights from day 1 and the Parcours 1 of the @transpyrenees race. They are all from the Alto Echo between Anso and Echo in Aragón, Spain.

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Es startete mit Regen. Aber als wir erst einmal über den Pyrenäenhauptkamm die Südseite erreicht hatten, durften wir die spanische Sonne und die segensreich ruhigen Straßen tief im aragonischen Hinterland genießen. Dies sind ein paar Aussichten von Tag 1 und vom Parcours 1 des Transpyrenees Race. Sie sind alle vom Alto Echo zwischen Anso und Echo in Aragón, Spanien.

Cockpit and light set-up frontal view by Torsten Frank

7 2

Two photos I made in last years TPRNo1 to document my lighting system to which I evolved over the last road centric ultracycling races. Last year I switched already in summer for the TPBR2019 from a purely battery pack oriented set-up to a hub dynamo powered one. And I'm rather fond of it because it makes me completely self-sufficient. If I don't want to stop overnight in a hotel I don't have to. But I still can charge all my devices and have always light - even if days into the race and riding through the night. The peace of mind this provides is a big bonus in itself.

So last year I chose the SON Edelux II front light. It has a nice reflector and a nice beam. But it is StVZO compliant which means it's street legal in Germany. While this is a good thing it also means the beam shape has to comply to some restrictions so to not daze oncoming traffic. What's good for the oncoming traffic is to the detriment of my own range of vision and awareness of obstacles at the very edge of the beam.

And apart from that if you are riding reasonably swift (i.e. already on a plain and certainly on a slight or even steep gradient) the range of the beam could be wider.

Then you also have the fact: if you would be very slow (more a concern for offroad riding uphill) or even hiking you would need a battery powered light nevertheless.

And the 3rd point is: every vital system you have (and lights are vital else you could only ride in daytime) needs a redundant backup. That is a battery powered light for a hub dynamo system.

So all that means: In my battery powered set-up my Lupine Neo was my main light and was mounted on the center bridge on the tip of my aerobar extensions. There where you see now the SON Edelux II mounted.

My redundancy option then was a separate battery powered light (the Supernova Airstream) transported inside my handlebar bag (only retrieved in case of need).

Now last year with the SON my new main light is the SON Edelux II now taking the center spot. But I kept the Lupine Neo. And decided to make it also fixed. I went down into the bend of my right extension where it neither collides with my grip nor gets shadowed by my hands. Im rather fond of this position. It's a small footprint GoPro-Cable-tie mount. And the diminuitive Neo has a special mount for this. Sweet.

It's permanently mounted because I use the Lupine Neo as my "high beam". I.e. every time when I'm outrunning the visibility range of the SON Edelux II beam. This is for every descent (safe for ones with really frequent tight corners and thus slow speed) and also for normal pace on the flats as long as I'm confident having enough battery juice left).

That is already a really sound and nice system. But I still thought it left something to be desired. How capable can a dynamo powered light really be? Can't I have both? Sufficient throw when going fast and but also well defined and wide enough at low speeds? And if that is not (yet) combinable with the German StVZO by the industry (or they don't see the market for this yet) then so be it. Because of this I approached Kerry Staite from kLite last winter and ended up purchasing his kLite Bikepacker Ultra Lights. I got both because I wondered which would be better for me and my diverse needs. So I took the MTB version with me to the Atlas Mountain Race and plan to use the Road version instead of the SON Edelux II for the upcoming Three Peaks Bike Race.

Still want to make another night time test of all 3 lights (SON and the 2 kLites), though (only did a quick first impression comparison of those last winter and was already impressed by the kLites).

View from where I ... by Torsten Frank

3

This was the first picture I made after the start of the Trans Pyrenees Race. I used the Hashtag #FromwhereIpee. Because that's exactly from where it was. Yepp - I was all focused on efficiency at that time (and besides, it had rained on the north side of the Pyrenees anyways). This was already in Parcours 1 of the TPRNo1.

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Das war das erste Foto, dass ich nach dem Start des Trans Pyrenees Race gemacht hatte. Ich habe den Hashtag #FromwhereIpee benutzt. Weil es genau von dort gemacht wurde. Yepp - Ich war komplett auf Effizienz konzentriert an dem tag (und außerdem hatte es auf der Nordseite der Pyrenäen sowieso nur geregnet). Das war schon im Parcours 1 des TPRNo1.

Drifter an der Siegquelle by Torsten Frank

5 3

My custom titanium Allroad and Gravel steed: the No. 22 Bicycles Drifter at the spring of the River Sieg in my home region of Siegen-Wittgenstein in Germany.

Custom frame, raw finish. Matching King Cages.

Matching titanium seat post, 0 setback

No. 22 Bicycles fork and stem, burgundy

Build with SRAM red etap AXS 2x12, 46/33 front powermeter crank, 10-33 back.

HUNT 30 Carbon Aero Disc Wheelset, shod with WTB Riddler in 37x700c

Xpedo M-Force 8 Ti Titanium Pedals

Brooks Cambium C13 Carved 145 All Weather Carbon Saddle

complete as shown: 8.4 kg

The bike stil rocks some protective tape on the frame and reflective stickers on fork and seat stays from the last bikepacking race. Because the next race is just around the corner: #TPRNo1 in October.

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Mein custom Titan Allroad- und Gravel Gefährt: das No. 22 Bicycles Drifter an der Siegquelle. In meiner Heimatregion Siegerland und Wittgenstein.

Custom Rahmen, raw finish. Dazu passende King Cages.

Passende Titan-Sattelstütze, 0 setback

No. 22 Bicycles Gabel und Vorbau, burgundy

Aufgebaut mit SRAM red etap AXS 2x12, 46/33 Leistungsmessungs-Kurbel, 10-33 Kassette.

HUNT 30 Carbon Aero Disc Laufradsatz; aufgezogen: WTB Riddler in 37x700c

Xpedo M-Force 8 Ti Titan-SPD-Pedale

Brooks Cambium C13 Carved 145 All Weather Carbon Sattel

komplett: 8.4 kg

Das Rad hat immer noch diverse Schutzfolien am Rahmen und Reflex-Aufkleber auf der Gabel und an den Sitzstreben vom letzten Bikepacking Rennen. Denn das Nächste ist auch schon wieder bald: das Trans Pyrenees Race No1 im Oktober.

Four solaire d'Odeillo by Torsten Frank

6

I was surprised and very pleased to find this unusual structure when approaching the begin of Parcours B in Odeillo. I originally thought it was a thermic solar power plant but learned at home that it was in fact a solar furnace. So it’s using concentrated solar light not to heat a fluid which then acts as a heat storage or producing steam to drive a generator turbine but to produce very high temperatures in in very pure pollution and contaminant free environments for a wide range of research fields. It is the Odeillo solar furnace and is in fact the world's largest solar furnace! Wikipedia knows that it is 54 metres (177 ft) high and 48 metres (157 ft) wide, and includes 63 heliostats. It was built between 1962 and 1968, and started operating in 1970, and has a power of one megawatt.“ In this way it can produce a temperature of more than 3.000 degrees Celcius!

And you thought one can’t be all techie and nerdy while on a bikepacking race! ;-) For this occasion I even whipped out my Sony RX100 instead of just my iPhone X which I was using mostly throughout the race.

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Ich war überrascht und sehr erfreut, diese ungewöhnliche Struktur zu entdecken, während ich mich dem Beginn des Parcours B in Odeillo näherte. Ich dachte zuerst, dass ich hier ein thermisches Solarkraftwerk vor mir hatte, lernte dann aber zu Hause, dass es sich in der Tat um einen sogenannten Sonnenofen handelt. Dieser nutzt das über Spiegel konzentrierte Sonnenlicht nicht, um ein Medium zu erhitzen, welches dann als Wärmespeicher dient oder über Dampferzeugung eine Turbine anzutreiben, sondern um sehr hohe Temperaturen in einer sehr reinen und ungestörten Art für eine Vielzahl von wissenschaftlichen Disziplinen zu erzeugen.

Es ist der Solarofen Odeillo und in der Tat der größte der Welt! Wikipedia weiss dass er 54 meter hoch und 47 m breit ist und 63 Heliostaten beinhaltet. Die Bauzeit war von 1962 bis 1968 und seine Inbetriebnahme war 1970. Die damit erzeugte Hitzeenergie beträgt ein Megawatt. Damit können Temperaturen über 3.000 Grad Celsius erzeugt werden!

Und ihr dachtet, man kann in einem Bikepacking-Rennen nicht technikbegeistert und nerdy sein! ;-) Zu dieser Gelegenheit habe ich sogar die Sony RX100 herausgeholt, wo ich doch sonst fast ausschließlich mit dem iPhone X im Rennen fotografiert hatte, um schneller zu sein.

Friedhofstor by Torsten Frank

5

That was literally on the last few hundred meters of the Raid Pyrénéen Parcours of the #TPRNo1. What a rich decorated portal! I just had to portrait my trusty steed in front of it.

Casartelli Memorial and Drifter by Torsten Frank

5 2

The Memorial for Fabio Casartelli on the place of his fatal crash near the end of the Col de Portet d'Aspet in the 1995 Tour de France. I actually saw it nearly just from the corner of my eye while whizzing past and thought "Oh wait - that must be the Casartelli memorial", stopped and walked a bit back up to look at it. What a tragic death it was then. And ironically literally just 300 m before the road would tilt up again for the Col de Menté.

Finisher Party at the Plage de la Milady by Torsten Frank

4

So now I’m home from the Transpyrenees Race and beginning to sort through the pictures. Albeit deliberately quick with my photo stops and also mostly just using my iPhone for quick snaps instead of my Sony RX 100 III I ended up with 1070 shots in Lightroom. 1070 sparks of wonderful memories from this amazing inaugural edition of the #TPRNo1. So let’s start with the end - a few photographs from the Finishers Party on Friday evening on Milady Beach in Biarritz. What a great place to share the stories of the road! Thank you Lost dot for coming up with another very rewarding race experience and opportunity for coming together as a bikepacking and endurance cycling family. Greetings to all friends - old and new. Let’s hope we’ll soon meet again!

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Nun wo ich vom Transpyrenees Race nach Hause zurückgekehrt bin, startet das Sortieren der Bilder. Obwohl ich diesmal bewusst knapp mit meinen Fotostops umgegangen bin und auch fast nur schnelle Schnappschüsse mit meinem iPhone anstelle mit mit meiner Sony RX 100 III gemacht habe wurden es am Ende doch 1070 Fotos in Lightroom.

1070 Funken für wunderbare Erinnerungen dieser tollen Erstaustragung des #TPRNo1. Deswegen lasst mich mit dem Ende anfangen - ein paar Fotos von der Finisher Party Freitag abend am Milady Strand in Biarritz. Was für ein toller Ort, um Geschichten von der Straße zu teilen! Vielen Dank, Lost Dot, für das Kreieren einer weiteren sehr lohnenswerten Renn-Erfahrung und die Gelegenheit, um als Bikepacking- und Endurance Cycling Familie zusammenzukommen. Grüße an alle Freunde - alt und neu. Auf das wir uns bald wieder sehen!

Drifter im Gegenlicht by Torsten Frank

4

Backlit by the setting sun on the eve before the race. My Drifter. It worked flawlessly through rain and shine, climbing and bombing down descends. Or carefully braking down them when the surface was treacherous . Without a single mechanical. 😍

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Im Gegenlicht der untergehenden Sonne am Abend vor dem Rennen. Mein Drifter. Es funktionierte fehlerlos ob Regen oder Sonnenschein, im Klettern oder beim Herunterbrettern in Abfahrten. Oder beim vorsichtig herunterbremsen derselben wenn ihre Oberfläche trügerisch war. Ohne eine einzige Panne. 😍

Drifter Portrait by Torsten Frank

3

This is the bike I rode and how it got rigged up before the Transcontinental Race No 8. You know my No. 22 Drifter. With it’s normal full Sram red etap AXS 2x drivetrain I just recently swapped the 10-33 red cassette for a force wide 10-36. Works like a charm w/o exchanging the normal red RD. This brings my lowest gear ratio down to 33 front and 36 back. Nifty especially for my shape of this year. Profile Design Aerobars on a handle bar mounted on a redshift sports shockstop stem form my tried and tested comfy cockpit where this year the navigation is provided by Garmin. I’ll use my usual DT Swiss Wheels with a SONdelux Dynamo hub. Initially I was going to mount Conti GP 5000 in 30 mm width but reconsidered and will go with Panaracer Gravelking Slick TLC 700 x 35c tires. That’s a nod to long and probably gnarly CP 4 parcours where we also have to cope with quite a bit of altitude difference. As well as to the #TPRNo1 where these tires were quite fit for the task.

Main bag volume will be provided by my Tailfin Aeropack in the rear. Out front I use the cyclite Handle Bar Aero Bag. I aerotested this configuration and it is really fast. Unlike the rider ;-)

On top and below the top tube I run prototype Tailfin bags.

I’ll use the kLite Bikepacker Ultra as my main light. It too, is already tested in actual bikepacking racing by me and this is a revelation in dynamo lighting. Together with my Forumslader charger it provides much needed peace of mind that whereever I go and regardless whether there will be a hotel or a bivy up ahead I’ll have light and means to power my devices.

Finisher Party at the Plage de la Milady by Torsten Frank

3

So now I’m home from the Transpyrenees Race and beginning to sort through the pictures. Albeit deliberately quick with my photo stops and also mostly just using my iPhone for quick snaps instead of my Sony RX 100 III I ended up with 1070 shots in Lightroom. 1070 sparks of wonderful memories from this amazing inaugural edition of the #TPRNo1. So let’s start with the end - a few photographs from the Finishers Party on Friday evening on Milady Beach in Biarritz. What a great place to share the stories of the road! Thank you Lost dot for coming up with another very rewarding race experience and opportunity for coming together as a bikepacking and endurance cycling family. Greetings to all friends - old and new. Let’s hope we’ll soon meet again!

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Nun wo ich vom Transpyrenees Race nach Hause zurückgekehrt bin, startet das Sortieren der Bilder. Obwohl ich diesmal bewusst knapp mit meinen Fotostops umgegangen bin und auch fast nur schnelle Schnappschüsse mit meinem iPhone anstelle mit mit meiner Sony RX 100 III gemacht habe wurden es am Ende doch 1070 Fotos in Lightroom.

1070 Funken für wunderbare Erinnerungen dieser tollen Erstaustragung des #TPRNo1. Deswegen lasst mich mit dem Ende anfangen - ein paar Fotos von der Finisher Party Freitag abend am Milady Strand in Biarritz. Was für ein toller Ort, um Geschichten von der Straße zu teilen! Vielen Dank, Lost Dot, für das Kreieren einer weiteren sehr lohnenswerten Renn-Erfahrung und die Gelegenheit, um als Bikepacking- und Endurance Cycling Familie zusammenzukommen. Grüße an alle Freunde - alt und neu. Auf das wir uns bald wieder sehen!

An der D13 by Torsten Frank

4

My Drifter on the D13. Really enjoyed the return leg on this road, approaching the La Bastide Parcours for the second time. But this time in sunny weather. Many views on this road also. It’s like a balcony to the Pyrenées-Orientales.

Cockpit and light set-up oblique view by Torsten Frank