I just had my battery replaced this week, specifically because I didn’t think my phone would make the distance (iPhone 12 mini). Initial tests seem positive to go the whole race, but will still run it in low power mode for the day and have a mag safe battery at Aid #2, just in case.
Some high level course intel in this video (below). Kudos to Paige for working on her mechanical skills after the DNF last year. A lot of the pros know zero about how bikes work or how to fix them (especially the ones coming from road). I can’t remember who it was, but one of the world tour pros was saying he hadn’t fixed his own flat in over 10 years before coming to gravel. Sounds like it took Paige 30 minutes to put a tube in during her practice session, so hopefully a lot more practice followed. No follow cars on race day…
Mine did pretty well during my pre-rides. Several sections of the North course have zero cell service, which can actually save battery. Good coverage or no coverage is good for battery life. It’s the marginal coverage that drains battery the quickest because it’s constantly trying to establish a connection with a tower it can see but struggles to connect to.
Matej Mahoric said something similar in a recent interview - I think the velonews article posted up-thread?
After seeing his interview from the TdF last year, I can’t help but want him to do well at Unbound.
I’ve wrapped my timing plate around my head tube in other races, and it worked OK. For those plates, there was a strip of foam stuck over the timing strip, keeping some separation between the timing strip and my frame. (I only realized this after SBT, after trying to figure out why the SBT plate didn’t work).
Welp….i just got tossed a curve ball. My middle daughter just tested positive for COVID and we were all together on Thursday for my youngest daughter’s HS graduation. She was definitely coughing a bit then, so I have definitely been exposed.
On top of that, she and my oldest daughter were our support crew. Gonna have to scramble to pull together a Plan B, assuming I don’t test positive between now and then.
Im supposed to have my aunt and uncle there. I might be able to help. We just can’t be hours apart into feed zones
I also have a house of people that might have someone to help.
You have a week. It’s an outside event. Test daily. You should be tapering any way. Consider crew for hire. You got this.
Also, consider an individual time trial rather than riding in the peloton.
Fingers crossed here. It’s such a crap shoot with different strains, whether you’ve had it before, how much exposure time, etc.
Last year, we went to a wedding week prior (that I really didn’t want to go to for that reason) and my wife got really sick (likely covid, but not sure) and I somehow managed to avoid it. The waiting game just sucks and every slight scratch in the throat or sniffle was freaking me out. It all worked out, hoping your situation plays out well.
Yeah, the biggest question will be my older daughter and whether she tests positive (they live together downtown). The middle daughter would absolutely be fine by race day ( or even travel day), it will just depend on the older one now.
It’ll be what it will be…can’t control it now. We’ll probably sign on with a crew for hire as a backup. If the girls can make it, great. If they can’t, at least we’ll have a backup plan.
The biggest bummer for now is that I was supposed to go see bleachers tonight with the older daughter. Been looking forward to seeing them live for awhile now, but gonna have to pass for now (or go solo, which I’m not too interested in right now).
Been working 16 hour days, barely time to ride. First day off in a week and a half and I felt like garbage out there. I wrap up this stretch on Tuesday night, hope to feel more like myself by race day and banking on the hay being in the barn.
If its that wet we will all need narrow tires
Yep, I regret running 43’s last year when I KNEW that 38’s (Gravel King SS+) shed sticky mud pretty well in concert with my frame. So glad I’m not there this year though. Training load going into Leadville is about all I think I can manage.
Yeah, but just think how much a 600+ TSS day at unbound would help push that CTL up…
I’m doing some bike prep tonight and I’m gonna swap out my 47’s for 42’s based on current forecast. That might be enough to ensure it won’t rain so I can swap back to the 47’s next Friday.
I just finished packing up for the drive. 42s and 47s on different wheels. Y’all are making me think I need a 3rd set with 38s.
Cx 33 tires
I’m bringing wheels w/ 47’s (measure 45), 650b x 2.1, and 38’s.
Game time decision.