Rovaniemi 2019

[fatbikephil]

From previous years it seems that about a quarter of the field are Brits.

Just got an accommodation email from the race partner but it reminded me about bike bags.

If you look on the Finnair site it says that they only accept "hard" bike cases but we used the ChainReaction bike bags last year without problem. I suppose they don't want bikes in CTC plastic bags Fill in the form on their website and rather than paying during that process they contact you and confirm your bikes are booked on board and you can either pay then or when you check in. From memory I think it was €60 per bike but can't remember if that was each way or for both the out and return flights together.

Bob, are you flying from Manchester? There is a direct easy jet flight from Gatwick but I'll need to fly down there so paying for the bike twice....

[whitestone]

Yes, Manchester for us with Finnair, hence earlier posts about stopover time. Not sure what timings you'll have with other flights.

[voodoo_simon]

Who’s ready?

Who could have trained more?

Can’t wait now, two weeks on Saturday...

[fatbikephil]

Pretty much, but now both my knees are playing up leaving a big question mark over the whole thing. Typical as my training has been spot on thanks to the cold snap over the last few weeks.....

[fatbikephil]

Just about everything needed, barring a few tweaks depending on the weather forecast.
Handles sweet as so looking forward to the nadgery bits

[voodoo_simon]

That looks a great setup, almost minimalist for Rovaniemi!

I’d be resting the knees for now and if they play up on the race, then it’s a trip of a lifetime, so you’ll be grand

[fatbikephil]

That looks a great setup, almost minimalist for Rovaniemi!

I’d be resting the knees for now and if they play up on the race, then it’s a trip of a lifetime, so you’ll be grand

that's the plan with added drugs....

[whitestone]

OK, here's my setup. It's just mocked up for the shot so one or two bags/harnesses might look a bit loose



I've not fitted the pogies (Revelate Williwaws) just to be able to show things.

[99percentchimp]

Thanks for sharing set ups. Both look pretty minimalist and neat kit/set ups; good luck out there both

OK, here's my setup. It's just mocked up for the shot so one or two bags/harnesses might look a bit loose

I've not fitted the pogies (Revelate Williwaws) just to be able to show things.

Do they work well with the sweep of the Jones bars on your set up? Do they have bar end plugs to hold them in place that turn then in a bit?

Love to see them fitted too. Cheers.

[whitestone]

Thanks for sharing set ups. Both look pretty minimalist and neat kit/set ups; good luck out there both

OK, here's my setup. It's just mocked up for the shot so one or two bags/harnesses might look a bit loose

I've not fitted the pogies (Revelate Williwaws) just to be able to show things.

Do they work well with the sweep of the Jones bars on your set up? Do they have bar end plugs to hold them in place that turn then in a bit?

Love to see them fitted too. Cheers.

Aagh! Just put everything away



It's not the sweep of the Jones bars that's the "problem" with pogies but the loop or more specifically the point at which the loop is welded to the main bar. The Williwaws (and I assume other pogies) come with a foam "bung" that is shaped to wrap around the bar and gear/brake cables. The length of the pogies is such that the inner end of the pogie is situated right on the bars' joint. The pogies do come with end plugs and there's a elasticated cinch type loop inside the pogie to attach to the plug - a bit hard to describe but when you see it, it's obvious how it works.

Here's the inner end that should have a foam bung but it's not too bad with the fabric cinched up using the velcro straps.



Just thinking: my bars are 720mm wide, it's possible that the incompatibility is mostly with the original 660mm wide bars. With narrower bars the cinch point on the pogie would be right over or slightly inboard of the joint.

Most of the kit is really for when you stop, either at the checkpoints or if you have to bivy. For most of 2017 I wondered why I was lugging it around but when it's dark and you are slowly plugging away through the forest and you haven't seen anyone for over an hour you are glad to have it "just in case". The saddle bag has spare clothes like a duvet which is handy if you get a mechanical.

[99percentchimp]

Many thanks for taking time on that Bob and the photos too, much appreciated

I see what you mean about the inboard hole and junction on the 720s as well - make perfect sense now I've seen it on the wider bars.

Good luck on the ride.... I'd love to have a go too.

[voodoo_simon]

Some pics from 2017 to wet the appetite


The start line, always a good mix of runners, skiers and bikers with a wide variety of setups


The first river, it goes on and on (especially on the return leg!)


Coming up to checkpoint 2. Think Wales and fire roads, with added snow!


CP 6, the only inside shelter during the R150. Cosy!


Dovebiker at CP 6, the nicest fire you'll never want to leave!


Normally a good push section but in 2017, it was rideable

[johnnystorm]

Not during the race but just before Christmas 2018:

RollOutdoors-winter-5497-Midres.jpg

(118.74 KiB) Downloaded 31 times

[fatbikephil]

Forecast on meteo is -9 to -13, light snow showers and some sunshine.
Seeing those pics defo geeing me up for this!

[voodoo_simon]

Packed!

All gone in, just got to add in some spare casual clothes

It’s defintely less stressful (read, a lot less) packing for a foot race than a bike race

4 more days in work, and then two days off before we fly out

[Dave Barter]

Can we track you mad buggers anywhere?

[whitestone]

Can we track you mad buggers anywhere?

No SPOT/tracker requirement for the 66km and 150km races, only the 300. I'm sure when Ian Barrington did it there was a trackleaders page so maybe there was a requirement then but I can only find pages for the 300 race.

[gairym]

Not long until the off now and the conditions are looking a bit 'challenging'.

Warm temperatures, windblown trails and more interesting weather to come.

Good luck everyone and stay safe out there!

[whitestone]

Fek me! Putting a bike together in -20C is interesting

Had to bend the chainring into shape as it had been knocked during the flight. Have brought a spare but the wrong tool to change it seems to work ok

[99percentchimp]

Best of luck, stay safe (don't let Jack Frost have a nip) and have a laugh... looking forward to the post match analysis

[whitestone]

Don’t know how Simon got on but the 150 was much tougher conditions than last time.

Winning time was 12hrs but quite how I don’t know. Phil (htrider) got third in just over 16hrs, Mike Collins came sixth in just under 19hrs and I came seventh in just under 20hrs. Another Brit came fourth, first woman was fifth. Only ten finishers so far. Cath is still out riding.

Very warm with soft snow and lots of overflow on the lakes

[voodoo_simon]

14 hours 9 mins for me and Mrs-Voodoo on foot (66KM)

Took a wrong turning at the end and cost us that sub 14 hours. Was hoping for a sub-12 hour race but soft snow and overflow was a problem (honestly, it wasn't the tired, under-trained, heavy legs that made us slower )

Right, off to find a coffee/cake shop

Will update more later on

[Richard G]

I really want to do this next year... I have to remember to make plans for it (normally I do all my planning in December / January, which is too late for this).

[whitestone]

Cath finished in 29:09

Edit: the first woman back is marked as UK on the roster so it’s actually five out of the top seven

[Richard G]

Awes0me.