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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 10 Report

Posted February 11, 2022 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 1 Comment

Tuesday June 15, 2021: Out of bed just before 5am. Another morning dominated by a sense of optimism. I am still riding high from yesterdays amazing day through Yellowstone and past the Grand Tetons. I definitely feel like I am entering a new stage of...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 9 Report

Posted February 4, 2022 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 4 Comments

Monday June 14, 2021: Up and at em' at 4:30am, on the road at 5:20am. I was in really good spirits, ready and raring to have a red hot crack. I put this overwhelmingly positive mindset down to a couple of things. I was hitting...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 8 Report

Posted January 26, 2022 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 3 Comments

Sunday June 13, 2021: My alarm was a lot more generous than it was the previous morning, rousing me at 7am vs 1am. I know which one I would prefer but I was instantly in an anxious state, like I had slept in and was...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 7 Report

Posted January 20, 2022 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 8 Comments

Saturday June 12, 2021: My alarm jolts me from a deep sleep at 1am. A deep sleep only recently achieved thanks to what seemed like a constant arrival of vehicles throughout the night. They must have also been taking advantage of the large roadside layby to...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 6 Report

Posted November 7, 2021 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 2 Comments

Friday June 11, 2021: Alarm at 5:15am, out the door by 6:12am. A standard 1 hour transition from bed to bike that I would like to reduce by half at some point in my self supported ultra distance cycling "career". This morning it was acceptance...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 5 Report

Posted October 29, 2021 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 0 Comments

Thursday June 10, 2021: Given that I had hit the sack last night with the mind set of possibly taking a rest day, I had not packed my bags and I had not set an alarm. I woke gently from a very satisfying slumber at...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 4 Report

Posted October 21, 2021 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 0 Comments

Wednesday June 9, 2021: An early finish means an extra early start the following day. Or does it? Not on this occasion it doesn't, although my alarm did play its part. It dutifully jolted me from a fitful slumber somewhere in the 4 bracket...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 3 Report

Posted October 10, 2021 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 2 Comments

Tuesday June 8, 2021: Day 1 sucked. Day 2 was better. What would Day 3 bring I pondered to myself as I faffed around my hotel room. Ablutions, leftover gas station vittles, packing up and getting dressed. All conducted at a snails pace with ample interruptions...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 2 Report

Posted September 29, 2021 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 0 Comments

Monday June 7, 2021: Up and at em' just after 5am. Not as early as was the pre-race plan for "up and at em's" but that plan was very much on ice for the time being. Given how crap I felt yesterday it was going...

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2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 1 Report

Posted September 16, 2021 in 2021 Trans Am by Mark Croker 4 Comments

Sunday June 6, 2021: I woke before my alarm. Standard practice on the morn of any big life event, for most I would assume...

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I AM WRITING A BOOK

Yes I blogged about my 2017 Trans Am experience but there is so much more to be said. It is taking a while but it is absolutely going to get done. Should you want to receive updates on how the book writing is going please sign up below.

About Me

Hi, my name is Mark and I am a cyclist, a MAMIL Cyclist. I ride my bike whenever and wherever I get the chance. It is the means by which I keep my recalcitrant waistline under relative control. It is my hobby. It is my passion. It is my therapy. It now feeds my creative outlet in the form of this blog.

That is the short story, the longer (much longer) story is here.

markecroker

Day 24......Kentucky almost nailed. Oh, and I'm i Day 24......Kentucky almost nailed.

Oh, and I'm in the process of earning my post office wings.
Who needs a Yorktown finish... Who needs a Yorktown finish...
Day 27: I can't believe I am typing this but I am Day 27: I can't believe I am typing this but I am out of the race 

Long story short there was more wrong with my bike than just the broken derailleur - all diagnosed at the bike shop this morning. Best efforts were made to fix all but 1 lingering issue with gear shifting persisted. I have electronic shifting which has been superb to date but when something goes wrong / ie when the "computer says no" a fix is a real challenge. 

I got a lift back to the route but the next 30ks was not fun / borderline unsafe. 

Endurance cycling is all about enduring, ultra endurance even moreso.

Even though I  can almost smell the sea air I simply do not have what it takes to endure riding the bike as is for another 600 odd kilometres.

I'll be writing / posting more but for now I would like to thank everyone for the support. It has been incredible, at times has brought a tear to my eye and has been a key part to getting me 95% to the finish.

Whilst I am devastated i am satisfied that I have done all I could have done. I have left it all out on the road. I have had an extraordinary experience and met some amazing people along the way.

Now I get to see my family......can't wait!
Day 20.....yep I did some maths.... Day 20.....yep I did some maths....
Day 26 - my race almost came to an end today. Lon Day 26 - my race almost came to an end today.

Long story short:
My rear derailleur pretty much exploded / sheered right in half, one half jammed in the spokes of the rear wheel 
I thought my race was over.
It started to rain.....hard.
Hitched a ride back to a country store I had just been to for supplies.
Rang around 'local" bike shops - the most appropriate to my needs was 50 miles away.
Scott (pictured) offered to call his wife so she could manage the store for the arvo and he would drive me to the bike shop ( at least a 2 hour round trip).
Bike shop didn't have the required parts but will be swapping out from an employee's bike on the morn.

I should be back on route tomorrow afternoon.

Southern hospitality.........wow!
Day 13: up up and over the continental divide for Day 13:  up up and over the continental divide for the last time.....
There's been an "off racin'" sign on the social me There's been an "off racin'" sign on the social media booth which has left not much time outside ride, eat, sleep repeat. I 've been chasing 10th place -  came within 15ks which blew out to 150k back to 60k and now will blow out further as I gotta call it. 947ks in 3 days is about my (current) limit. I need some extra rest.

WW you have won this battle but the war will resume at some point 😄.

Here's snaps from Monday 3 days ago....I seriously cannot workout what day in the race that makes it....
Cracking family day out riding bikes at the "Penns Cracking family day out riding bikes at the "Pennsylvania Dutch Farm to Fork Fondo" @farmtoforkfitness. So proud of the little fellas who put their heads down and banged out 20ks (Sam) and 50ks (Max).....Melissa also on a bike that is not really up to scratch for this type of riding.
I'm coming home baby altho it ain't a sprint to th I'm coming home baby altho it ain't a sprint to the finish. There is more climbing in the last third of the course than the first third.

I've never done more climbing in a days riding....
#Vanlife experiment.....Take 1 #Vanlife experiment.....Take 1
Load More... Follow on Instagram
I AM WRITING A BOOK

Yes I blogged about my 2017 Trans Am experience but there is so much more to be said. It is taking a while but it is absolutely going to get done. Should you want to receive updates on how the book writing is going please sign up below.

Recent Posts
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 20 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 19 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 18 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 17 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 16 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 15 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 14 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 13 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 12 Report
  • 2021 Trans Am Bike Race Day 11 Report
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