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Just fitted the Porcelain Rocket Albert to my bike in preparation for the Highland Trail Race end of May. Great design, easy to install, and feels really solid.

Think it really depends on the rubber compound. Those Clement XPlors lost a lot of air when I first set them up tubeless (they aren't supposed to be used tubeless), added some more stans fluid and after a week or so, they stopped losing air. Quite a few bubbles on the sidewalls where the fluid had been seeping through.

I enjoyed that, and it makes me like him more, he clearly pushed hard a really hurt. Excited to see what he can do to the round the world record.

I also quite liked that those Ethiopian kids beat him with sticks.

The rating is a limit, not a guide. 90PSI sounds bloody uncomfortable for days in the saddle. I don't find I get much pressure loss unless it's over months, but that's probably cos i run them tubeless.

90PSI! I had the Xplor 40c and ran them at 35-40PSI

+1 TF Tuned.

You can't. Just drink your way across 'merica.

I think he was too embarrassed to appear on the podium.

JP is showing as finished on Track Leaders. but replaying trackleaders shows that his sulk cost him 2nd and 3rd place.

Sulky sulky.

Good work Josh. I bet JayP is utterly pissed off!

Cheer up mate, it wasn't that bad.

Your face at the end said otherwise! Yeah, the the lack of variety, and the nature of gravel is that you descend for 2 mins and climb for 20+ mins. Tedious. Combined with most riders barely being capable of more than a grunt as they pass, there wasn't even conversation. Glad I got to ride with you for most of it, otherwise it would be been a lot more miserable. From stop 3, I just had to get finished, I was thoroughly hacked off by that point.

I think the larger gentleman on the Open Up just captured a lot about the event really. One for the scenesters.

That's my happy face!

You're right, I know plenty of people really enjoyed it. But they probably enjoy prancing about like tropical cocks trying to impress one another. I like riding alone, or in small groups, and with friendly people!

Each to their own I guess. I've done events with 100 odd riders and it was fine. Maybe it's the combo of 800 riders, being a non-race with timing chips (so a race), and almost being on road bikes, so attracts a certain type of rider.

.

Oh, and there was one water crossing on the route, a small maybe 8' wide ford. I came around the corner and people were fannying about, taking off their shoes and socks, and trying to climb rocks to get through. I just rode it, it was hub deep and had a firm bed, easy peasy. People the other side putting their shoes and socks back on were astounded.

It's only water.

Proof

It was...

...awful. I managed to get a conversation out of ONE rider, out of hundreds that I rode alongside throughout the day. Lots of wankers in racing mode. Just call it a fucking race, cos it basically is, timing chips etc etc. People are jizzing themselves about the food stops, but they basically had Energy Drinks, shit crisps, haribo and pork pies. Where's the real food? Where's the veggie stuff? Oh yeah, they had bananas, which weren't ripe.

The course was OK, but the countryside was pretty uninspiring, and all looked the same after about mile 3. The highlight of the event for me was leaving at the end.

Sportive is another word for "corporate wankfest". Giving out products people don't even really want, nannying the riders. There were marshals telling me to slow down on descents FFS. I have eyes and brakes you dicks. I thought at first maybe I was particularly grumpy because I'd had a migraine for 2 days beforehand. But no. I'm still just as grumpy about the whole thing. The cycling industry has become an awful shallow peacock show that people pay to go and watch, and partake in.

Reiver even took my picture and want me to pay £6 for it. The most annoying thing is that I look happy in the photo, and I wasn't.

Yep, sail-guy is Jay Cheatervary.

@skinny yeah maybe.

I'm just glad Josh is thrashing Petervary!

I rode the Dirty Reiver at the weekend. I never do organised, corporate events like that, and it reminded me why. 700 (maybe 800) riders, bad manners, people tossing gel sachets on the floor, literally hundreds of them. People cutting you up on corners, etc etc. There was even a ~150kg dude riding an Open UP with a jersey that said "Hill Killer" on it. Lolz.

Never. Again.

Validation!

Glad I could validate you.

I rode with my friend Andy at the weekend, hadn't seen him for ages, he's doing TransAm too. Interested to see how he gets on, he's done heaps of MTB stuff (TD, HTR, Tour Aotearoa etcetc)

All the more reason you should ride MTBs, you're going slower!

It doesn't normally bother me that much, but those vast stretches in the US, it really got to me.

Yeah, doubt you'll need merino base, I think your 'add on top' approach is right for the US in summer. I experienced some chilly nights, and when it did rain, it was cold. But daytimes I was getting up around 45ºC all the way from southern Montana to Mexico. I was also super glad to have a buff with me to cover my face when there was loads of dust (less of an issue on pavement I guess) and also to cover my ears when endless wind was giving me a headache and generally driving me mental.

I'm currently haemorrhaging cash in prep for the Highland Trail. Just got the last Porcelain Rocket Albert seatpack that works with dropper posts. New carbon tarp poles, new bivvy, new waterproof shorts. SPOT subscription, Rapha Bibs. Ouch.