Dotwatchers - TransAM featuring boners

[Dave Barter]

http://trackleaders.com/transam17

Let's all shout chickenlegs (Andy Lawrence) and Numpumbz (Jack Peterson) across America. All the best to both of them heading off today

[Richard G]

Nice. Hopefully they do well.

[Alpinum]

chickenlegs has an impressive amount of bikepacking races/events in his bag. And I only know of one unsuccessful finish, which was more an alternative programme to two ton of gravel. A long weekend in which we tried to ride a preliminary route of Ian's Cambrian Trail in rather shitee weather. chickenlegs rode the finished route in 2016. He has no unfinished business. Just new inspirations.
Best of luck Andy!

Best of luck to Jack too. It counts also when it comes from a stranger.

Take care and enjoy the journey

[mountainbaker]

Andy's doing great! GO ANDY!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Andy's going well. Fast approaching 1000 miles and running in 20th spot

[mountainbaker]

Just checked in on trackleaders, Andy's marked as a scratch

EDIT: Seems he may have Shermer's Neck

[Richard G]

Gutted, he was doing really well. :(

[Dave Barter]

I'm really gutted for Andy seeing that scratch. He is resilient as feck so it must be something really bad now rooting for Jack Peterson who is climbing up the leaderboard.

[Zippy]

I've just looked up Shermer's Neck Sounds a bit pants.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I think there was a story in Arrivee about someone suffering with this on the Wild Atlantic Audax ... recall he had to tie his head to his seatpost with an inner-tube or something very similar. It certainly doesn't sound like something shrugged off with a couple of vitimin I.

[Chicken Legs]

Disappointed to scratch, but pleased with getting into 13th opposition at the 2,100 mile marker.
It would seem that the problem with my neck stemmed from the collision I had with a car at the beginning of April and the muscle damage was not 100% recovered.
If you are not in perfect shape this race will highlight it.
Anyways I didn't get hit by a truck so all's good, on the way home now to look after my rubber neck and pick the scabs off my saddle sores

[benp1]

Well done Andy, very impressive effort!

[Richard G]

I know a couple of sufferers that actually start rides with their head harnessed. They know it's basically inevitable so they use as many preventative measures as possible.

[Bearbonesnorm]

I wonder whether the condition is made worse by 'road bikes' which generally have a lower bar position, meaning you need to tilt / hold your head back further / more?

... and superb effort Andy, you should be proper proud.

[Scattamah]

Good ride Andy. Sorry to hear about the scratch. See you back out in the hills when you're ready.

Greetz

S.

[Blackhound]

Noticed you had scratched this morning. Sorry to hear as you were going well.

Jack has been steadily moving through the field after a steady start.

[Blackhound]

Looking at the trackers this morning notice that the current leaders Evan and Janie are ahead of the current records of Mile and Lael.

[Dave Barter]

Sadly Eric Fishbein was hit and killed on the road yesterday during the race.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Terrible news Dave - RIP

[Richard G]

The last year has been terrible for this sort of thing. :(

[GregMay]

Sad to hear again. Sadly a major danger riding long distances on open roads with drivers who don't always expect you to be there.

[Chicken Legs]

Unfortunately the problem seems to be ignorance on behalf of non cyclists, deep rimmed wheels, gusting wind and not given cyclists sufficient room when passing at speed is a recipe for disaster, sadly it is not a surprise to me that someone has lost their life.
The section of road that Eric lost his life on was a long straight stretch of road and he should have been visible from some distance, but if circumstances as I describe contrived against him a collision is the result.
Should the race have been cancelled out of respect for Eric ?

[Bearbonesnorm]

Should the race have been cancelled out of respect for Eric ?

Difficult call - stopping the race won't bring him back and perhaps continuing could also be considered a mark of respect?

It's getting very sad though. It would be horrible if every big road based ITT claims a life.

[Alpinum]

As stated elsewhere, well done Andy. That night we texted I was in a special place and kind of felt as if we were sharing it. You'll soon be out and about again.

Horrible news about Eric. Sad stuff. Very sad.

Again.

Stupid fekn roads. Can't say it often enough. Well, it's the drivers, not the roads... but keeping off the roads will keep us away from traffic.

[Chicken Legs]

That night we texted I was in a special place and kind of felt as if we were sharing it. You'll soon be out and about again.

Thanks Gian, being in a special place is what its all about