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Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:06 pm
by voodoo_simon
You could always hire one in Rovaniemi, know of two girls over the years who have done so (and they both won their events too!), so a good option if you want to race but not necessarily have the embarrassment of owning a fat bike :lol:

27.5 seems to becoming the norm now in fat bikes over 26” but both will work. I’ve run 26 x 3.8 when I’ve been out there (not too any great success mind :wink: )

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2020 10:44 pm
by whitestone
FLV wrote: Sun Feb 16, 2020 9:04 pm I'd like to do the 150, maybe further one day.
But.. have never been able to justify a fatbike.

I take it 29x3.0 is no good? Is 26x4 the tyre? Or is even bigger better?

Ta
Like most of these events they specify a minimum tyre width of 3.8".

What you can actually ride really does depend on conditions - 2017 might as well have been gravel roads and there were only the two "Pain in the Ass" sections that were, deliberately, unrideable last year there was much more unrideable stuff and the rest was hard work as it felt as if your brakes were permanently on.

If I had to take only one pair of tyres that would handle whatever conditions I might find then I'd take something around 4.6" that was studdable (I'd take a box of studs as well obviously). In Geilo this year the 45nrth Dillinger 5 seemed very popular probably because it matches the above requirements. Also 4.6" just happens to be the largest tyre my frame will take.

Ian's got about 20km of track then he's on the river back to the finish.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 12:25 am
by Taylor
Think he might be temporarily misplaced.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:22 am
by redefined_cycles
In the interests of ongoing spotting (and so maybe Ian can look back at where he was UK time later on and hopefully give an update as to what was going through his mind), at this time, Ian is shown as being at 258km.

Not long left :smile:

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:58 am
by voodoo_simon
CP 29 coming up and it’s a very steep push section. Won’t be fun with a heavy fat bike (was bad enough walking it on the R66!).

Then that leave just 20KM or so along the riverbed, the final river bed section always killed me! I reckon it’s taken me twice as long on the return leg over the out leg :cry:

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 9:17 am
by whitestone
Taylor wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 12:25 am Think he might be temporarily misplaced.
Just looking at his trace and comparing it to the aerial view on Google maps I reckon he bivvied in a laavu at the northern end of the lake near cp-27. A quick bit of searching shows it's called Ahvenlampi - https://www.tulikartta.fi/paikka.php?id=7320

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 10:27 am
by Taylor
That makes more sense.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 12:48 pm
by whitestone
voodoo_simon wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:58 amThen that leave just 20KM or so along the riverbed, the final river bed section always killed me! I reckon it’s taken me twice as long on the return leg over the out leg :cry:
Looks like the river is hard going or Ian's knee is giving him jip. Looking at his trace since he got on the river his typical speed has been 3-5km/h. Once you get closer to Rovaniemi there's a lot more traffic (snow mobiles, skiers, etc.) on the river so should be a bit quicker going.

Quite possible there's been some snowfall as the other riders are going at a similar pace.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 2:50 pm
by voodoo_simon
Has Ian finished?!

An hour ago he had 10km, so very possible that his tracker hasn’t updated?

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:02 pm
by whitestone
voodoo_simon wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 2:50 pm Has Ian finished?!

An hour ago he had 10km, so very possible that his tracker hasn’t updated?
Currently shows him at or around the last CP and not updated for 90mins. He's going to be there or thereabouts even if he's just walking.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:13 pm
by Ian
Chuff me, that was hard!

Headlines; 2 days 6 hours 7 mins. 3rd place. More than half the field DNF’d due to the conditions.

Longer version: you’ll have to wait a bit, but I kept a video diary so you can see first hand the gradual deterioration of self as the race evolves.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:16 pm
by Bearbonesnorm
Well done Ian - I couldn't think of owt worse to do on a bike :wink:

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:17 pm
by whitestone
Chapeau!

Well done Ian. :-bd :YMPARTY: :YMPARTY: :YMPARTY: At least the beers aren't too expensive there. You deserve one or two.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:22 pm
by Wotsits
Well done Ian, great result! :-bd

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:36 pm
by Taylor
:-bd

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:07 pm
by Boab
Congratulations on finishing! Looking forward to seeing the video...

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:13 pm
by gairym
Amazing effort in tough conditions - hardcore!!!

Now get yourself a hot bath and a nice mug of cocoa :-bd

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 4:48 pm
by sean_iow
Chapeau Ian, looking forward to the long version :smile:

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:38 pm
by Dave Barter
Nice one Ian and looking forward to the video

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:50 pm
by voodoo_simon
Fantastic Ian, well done and a great effort :-bd

Dave Barter wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:38 pm Nice one Ian and looking forward to the video
Anyone else think Dave should head out there and make his own video in those conditions :lol:

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 6:19 pm
by redefined_cycles
Well done Ian :-bd

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 6:35 pm
by Ian
Bearbonesnorm wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 3:16 pm Well done Ian - I couldn't think of owt worse to do on a bike :wink:
Similar amount of pushing to the 2015 BB200 :wink:

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 6:39 pm
by Ian
Dave Barter wrote: Mon Feb 17, 2020 5:38 pm Nice one Ian and looking forward to the video
I’ve taken some cues from your film making, but without the swearing as my two young kids will want to watch it.

Also, came into town for some food. Browsed the menu, read the descriptions and ordered an Ilmari. As soon as the plate arrived, I thought I’ve just order a fish pizza!
But it’s ok :-bd

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 6:40 pm
by Richpips
Well done Ian.

Re: ROVANIEMI 300

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2020 8:42 pm
by voodoo_simon
Also, came into town for some food. Browsed the menu, read the descriptions and ordered an Ilmari. As soon as the plate arrived, I thought I’ve just order a fish pizza!
But it’s ok :-bd
The Tex mex in town is good for food.

Have you returned to the pizza place you and Nigel shared a pizza?!