I had something like this in mind ($15) http://www.mekonomen.se/bil/tillbeho...rok-pa279825sv

Excuse my ignorance, but what is a 'style hauler'?

If it is something like I linked, it should be secure tied with a rubber band with hooks.

Trailer hitch:




Hitch mounted bike hauler/rack, instead of one that simply braces and straps onto the trunk:

Thanks fozzy, I learn something new every day. Never seen a hitch like that here at home.

9 days left before Vätternrundan.

I am actually feeling fitter/stronger than at any time during last season. I know this because I can smash any segment time I did last year when I go for it. I am however mostly just getting the miles in at a comfortable pace, since that way I don't really need any recovery time, thus being able to ride almost every day.

I will go for fast rides after Vätternrundan, as I don't think they are good for preparation.

My goal for Vätternrundan will be sub 11h, 1 hour faster than last year.

I will try to do less times in the food stops and try to latch on to some group holding about 30 km/h average. It should be very doable, but it depends on the weather, temperature and getting a suitable group on the fly.

For some reason I always have a hard time finding a group to latch onto when I do an organized event. The groups that pass me are too fast and the few groups I pass seem too slow. What I need is a group to pass me going about 1 mph faster than I'm going, and that never seems to happen.
I wish you luck on meeting your goal. I assume the 11 hour goal is elapsed time? Or moving time?

Thanks!

Elapsed time. I did it in 10h:30m moving time last year. Almost 1h:30 standing still, that should not be hard to reduce.

I will need a lot of gels bars with me this time, I am also hoping for a not too cold night (starting at 23:12). I prefer not to have a bunch of clothes with me I won't need in the morning!

I am struggling with this a little bit myself, for the TBP. Apparently those mountain passes are notorious for sudden rain storms in the afternoon, as well as climbing to such high elevations. I probably need a windbreaker / raincoat. I have one, but it is a little thick to fit in my jersey pocket. I am debating about a handlebar saddlebag, but I'm sure that will make me look like a rookie.

If I get lucky, I will be able to change the starting time to 3am or later. I will have a saddle bag with me, not much room there for anything else than spare tire, pump, gels and battery chargers.

I always feel a bit at unease riding trafficked roads, especially roads with little room for cyclists.
Tragic incidents like this just shows how vulnerable we are. http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/...raignment.html

Interesting you linked that from Sweden, internet has made this a small world indeed. I grew up in Grand Rapids Michigan, about 60 mile from where that occurred. My brother sent me the link as well. God save us from drunks and idiots.

Mechanical doping?

Boom, you just blew that scandal wide open

I have my iPhone in a water resistant casing clipped on to the handlebars and run Strava live while riding. With the display on the battery only lasts about 3 hours, dimmed about 6 hours, So on long rides i need to connect a charger to it.

Compared to a Garmin cycle computer, the phone does everything it does with a bigger brighter display. The only downside is the battery time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynLMfzLTc8M

who cares how you look. it has to work for you...

just as input, here's what i use on longer / higher rides:
- arm warmers (imho #1 in usefulness)
- a small / light wind jacket
- for lower temperatures: a cycling vest (like http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-694337853...ing-vest-4.gif)
- a buff (like http://media.chainreactioncycles.com...id=500&hei=505 )
- a running beanie that fits under the helmet (like http://cdn.gearpatrol.com/wp-content...ear-Patrol.jpg)

this all fits into my shirt pockets (together with some food, money, credit card and [often] a cell phone). sometimes i also push some of that into the 2nd bottle (if i only need one bottle).

of course i don't take all of this unless i expect cold / bad weather. but especially for longer downhills, it's very nice if you can put on another layer at the top (normally arm warmers + jacket + sometimes the beanie).

i always have a small saddle bag on my bike that just consists of a tube, co2 canister (+adapter) and tire levers.

thanks trontron,

It looks like temperature is going to be 12-15C or 53-59F at midnight and 35% chance of rain.

I already have the arm warmers.

I need to buy one of those cycling vests.

The cycling jacket I have is too big, it is for even lower temperatures and hard to fit in the back pocket, so I will be leaving that at home.

Upgraded my batteries and did 100km at 30km/h for the first time solo, this is about 10-15 minutes faster than what I have managed before, although I do usually ride harder terrain. It wasn't THAT hard, which is encouraging.

5 days left before Vätternrundan, now I will rest and maybe do 2-3 short rides(30-40km) at no more than about 25km/h and load up on the glycogen.

https://www.strava.com/activities/607075601

Good luck, have fun, etc.

Strava Subbed

I feel like we need a 2+2 club on strava

You are crushing lately sir

Was blown away by that 100km ride before i realized miles =/= kms. Still impressed tho

Excellent idea. Do we need a separate thread for names, logos, etc?

I dunno, maybe?