Category: cycling

BeMoreMike, cycling, Rides, TCRNo5, Transcontinental No. 55 Comments

TCR No 5 – The Start

Matt Falconer

Having completed the TCR just one year previous, you would have thought I would have been much more prepared second time around. I basically left a load of stuff to the last minute and ended up panicking right up until midnight on the day before travelling to Brussels. Work was really busy in the last few days and I ended up having to work Arizona time for some of that week. As much as there was last minute packing, I’d actually done a good job of lining everything up ahead of time. My route was in a much better shape. My kit was, and has mostly been … Continue reading TCR No 5 – The Start

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TCR No. 5 Kit List

Matt Falconer

I’ve been struggling to write anything about my TCR experience this year. Last year the words flowed fairly freely, and I was keen to get everything documented so I had a record of the adventure. This years write up is coming, but it’s just taking a little longer to process it into something that I’m happy with. For now, I thought I would leave you with a kit list – everything I took with me to Belgium for the start of the TCR, the things I sent home from the start (thanks Thimothy, beers next time you’re in G!RO), and some of the things that didn’t … Continue reading TCR No. 5 Kit List

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Dot Watching The Transcontinental Race #TCRNo5

Matt Falconer

Action For Kids – Donate now! First things first: I’m riding the TCR in aid of Action for Kids charitable trust again this year, so please take a moment to follow this link to donate! http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/matthewfalconer  Action For Kids has been helping transform the lives of young people with physical and learning disabilities, across the country, since 1991, through the provision of mobility equipment, learning, training and support. This is a fantastic charity, and your donation can make a big difference! Dot Watching – what is that?! Dot watching is how you follow me on the Transcontinental Race. There is no TV coverage, no radio, but there … Continue reading Dot Watching The Transcontinental Race #TCRNo5

cycling, Rides, Training, Transcontinental 20164 Comments

Stupid me #1

Matt Falconer

It’s amazing how much you can learn in the first few days of the Transcontinental Race, things that you would have thought you might have picked up before hand. I decided to make a list of some of those points in the hope that I’ll remember them for TCR No. 5. At least that is the hope! Failing that, it makes for an entertaining list of stupid or funny things that I did, or should have done, or that just happened during the race. I’ve a feeling this is going to be a long ish list, some funny, some just plain dumb, others a little concerning … Continue reading Stupid me #1

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TCR No 5 Training Update – Feb to May

Matt Falconer

It’s been a little while since I’ve posted, and there’s a lot that has happened in that time. I thought I would share some of the things I’ve been up to as part of training for the TCR (aka just having fun riding my bike… mostly), and then give an overview of where I am in my training and preparation. The Curve Belgie Spirit The first thing to mention is I managed to build up my ‘adventure’ bike at the end of February. I’d trained an awful lot over winter on a fabulous Colnago aluminium CX bike, clocking up over 4,000 km since December, but it … Continue reading TCR No 5 Training Update – Feb to May

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Follow the IndyPac! #IPWR

Matt Falconer

This Saturday, at 6 am Perth time 18th March (Friday 17th 2200 GMT) sees the start of the inaugural Indian Pacific Wheel race. Set in Australia this is a solo unsupported bike race from Fremantle (Perth), WA to the Sydney Opera House, NSW covering 5,491km across some of the toughest terrain Australia has to offer. From the long straight desert roads of the Nullabor Desert, The Great Ocean Road in South Australia, to the Australian Alps approaching Sydney; this is going to be an incredibly tough race. What’s more, the line up for this race is arguably one of the strongest ever for an ultra-distance bike packing race. … Continue reading Follow the IndyPac! #IPWR

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Heading for Some Mac n Cheese

Matt Falconer

Its time to take my new TCR machine on a test ride to my mums for some macaroni cheese. She makes the best. Trick is, she lives 430km away in St. Davids, in South West Wales. You can read all about my trip for Mac n Cheese last year here: TCR Training Ride This year, I’ll be riding my new bike from Curve Cycling that I bought from G!RO Cycles, a Ti Belgie Spirit built with most of the parts from the old bike. I’ve had a couple of rides so far and I’m seriously impressed. I’ve been riding with a huge grin on my face most of … Continue reading Heading for Some Mac n Cheese

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Looking Forward

Matt Falconer

So, here we are. Another calendar year has ticked over, and there are plans to be made. This year everything leads towards the Transcontinental Race No. 5. Yep, that’s right, after last years race I caught the bug for this sort of thing. Many are surprised I’m going back for more, but I couldn’t be happier that I’ve been accepted back in. I will be using my place in the TCR to raise money and awareness for the amazing charity, Action For Kids. The race is a huge commitment, and there will be over 6 months of training, planning and preparation to get me to the start line. Action … Continue reading Looking Forward

cycling, Rides, Transcontinental 2016Leave a comment

2016 Round Up

Matt Falconer

What a year. Politics and celebrity deaths aside, for me it’s been all about the Transcontinental Race. It is more than that though, to think of everything I’ve done to get me there and then beyond; its been incredible. Most of this I’ve blogged about in previous posts but it’s worth mentioning again the amount of fun I’ve had preparing for the TCR while riding with a great bunch of mates. If you want to see those TCR posts, start here View this post on Instagram #dawnraid #ridewithmates A post shared by Matthew Falconer (@b1rdmn) on Jul 19, 2016 at 12:22am PDT These guys have been … Continue reading 2016 Round Up

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TCR No. 4 Part 7: The Final Push to Çanakkale – Part 2

Matt Falconer

Greece: Shortly after as dawn was breaking I made it to the border. I was starting to flag a bit, but there was a certain euphoria at having made it through the night and into Greece. This started to catch up with me and in the early morning sun, and I began to nod off. I decided enough was enough and pulled into a field to sit down for a short snooze to shake the fatigue. A dog barking in the distance snapped me back into waking, realising that it could be a TCR rider approaching. Time to hop on and push on. The short cat … Continue reading TCR No. 4 Part 7: The Final Push to Çanakkale – Part 2