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OPINION

My 300km Tripster

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A few tweaks to make it ready for a long old slog across Southern Britain

So tomorrow I'm off on the second part of my Super Randonneur journey. I can't do the Heart of England 300km any more so instead I'm riding back to my mum and dad's house in East Bergholt, which is more or less exactly 300km if the various mapping websites are to be believed. I'll be on my Tripster ATR, because that's a cracking bike for a long old ride. 

It's not the first time I've done this. Last time was a sunny day tailwind smashfest with Trev to hide behind for half of it, and I rode my Genesis Equilibrium. It ended up being over 350km that day thanks to some dubious routefinding but I've learnt some lessons from that. I'll be on my own this time though. A bit fitter, though.

I've got the route in the Garmin and i'll be back-up recording on my phone. It's a DIY Audax so I've submitted my route and I have to give them a GPX file to show I've done it. No GPX, no dice. So best to make sure there's a fall-back option. I'll be carrying a battery pack too as the Edge 1000 won't do 300km on one charge.

Aero bars aren't really for being aero, although they do help with the headwinds. It's more about having another position, and it's one that's quite comfortable on a bike with non-aggressive geometry like the Tripster.

The Charge Spoon is back on. I've tried many saddles but none are quite as comfy for me over long distances as the spoon. And yes, that's a limited edition Carradice Barley bag in wax-proofed Harris Tweed. Thanks for noticing. Number 4 of 16, since you ask. It's got a jacket in it, and a spare tyre and gear cable, some zip ties, a bunch of tools, a jubilee clip and a couple of inner tubes. Plus there will be many sweets and snacks.

Wheels are Novatec R3 Disc; they're on test, along with the Continental GP4000s 28mm tyres. Not that I'll spend much time going fast enough to reap any aero advantage.

It'll probably be dark by the time I roll in so the excellent Cateye Volt 1200 is fitted. I've doubled up on the back lights too.

That's it! I'll let you know how it goes.

Dave is a founding father of road.cc, having previously worked on Cycling Plus and What Mountain Bike magazines back in the day. He also writes about e-bikes for our sister publication ebiketips. He's won three mountain bike bog snorkelling World Championships, and races at the back of the third cats.

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20 comments

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CXR94Di2 | 8 years ago
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I use Anker. . But there are many offering capacity of 10000 mA upto 20000 mA. Best to get one with several outputs so can charge multiple device. Oh and price of what you want to pay.

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wheelz | 8 years ago
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What battery pack do you use, im dong the C2C on the trans Pennine trail, and my Garmin edge wont last either!

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picko | 8 years ago
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Hi Dave - what mudguards are you using and what do you think of them? I use my ATR as a winter trainer and I've already had a set of brick lane bikes alloy fenders snap on me (after less than 500 miles), so I'm looking for a replacement

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Tintow replied to picko | 8 years ago
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picko wrote:

Hi Dave - what mudguards are you using and what do you think of them? I use my ATR as a winter trainer and I've already had a set of brick lane bikes alloy fenders snap on me (after less than 500 miles), so I'm looking for a replacement

They look like Tortec Reflectors which are awesome. I've used SKS before (all snapped) but the Tortec's are way more solid.

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picko replied to Tintow | 8 years ago
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Thanks Tintow - I'll give them a tickle.

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dave atkinson | 8 years ago
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ride was ace, btw. save for the 6am to 8am bit which was wet and cold and dark, and i couldn't feel many of my fingers. after that the sun shone and it was a big ring smash all the way to suffolk.

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bigmel | 8 years ago
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looking good - I use a Spoon but yours is definitely more nose down than mine. I'll try your setting once and decide I was right all along  21

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Joelsim | 8 years ago
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Looks great Dave, enjoy

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racyrich | 8 years ago
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Does the saddle really slope down like that? Don't you get triceps ache constantly pushing back against the inevitable sliding forwards?
300km - a nice day out  1

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dave atkinson replied to racyrich | 8 years ago
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racyrich wrote:

Does the saddle really slope down like that? Don't you get triceps ache constantly pushing back against the inevitable sliding forwards?

yes. and no. just works for me, i don't fall off it. i'd love to have it scrupulously and exactly level but four hours in my lower back would be screaming at me  4

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therevokid | 8 years ago
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Thanks for the info Dave ... currently have a use alien which is a
right ball ache to adjust "on the fly".

the Web pages actually say "no longer in production"  2

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rjfrussell | 8 years ago
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hiya- what seatpost do you have on the Tripster?

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dave atkinson replied to rjfrussell | 8 years ago
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rjfrussell wrote:

hiya- what seatpost do you have on the Tripster?

it's a Spin titanium one

http://ridefullgas.com/spn-precision-speed-metal-titanium-seat-post-31-6mm/

says sold out at the moment though

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therevokid | 8 years ago
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good luck Dave. i too am suffering some tweed envy there  1

btw ... what seat post is that ? Looking for a nice one for my
ti gran fondo and that looks to fit the bill !

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bikebot | 8 years ago
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I think I'm suffering from Harris Tweed envy.

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themartincox | 8 years ago
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What's the rear rack for? seems a bit overkill for a light mount?

No feedbag out front at all?

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dave atkinson replied to themartincox | 8 years ago
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themartincox wrote:

What's the rear rack for? seems a bit overkill for a light mount?

No feedbag out front at all?

i took the rack off in the end. normally run a pannier, it's my day-to-day bike

nah, no feedbag. i have pockets and they just get in the way

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GREGJONES | 8 years ago
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That looks like a lovely ride, I hope the weather hold out for you. On a secondary note, i got my first carradice yesterday, I wish I'd thought of it before, it's perfect for audax rides.

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othello | 8 years ago
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God luck Dave  41

What gearing are you using?

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dave atkinson replied to othello | 8 years ago
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othello wrote:

God luck Dave  41

What gearing are you using?

It's Rival22 hydraulic, 52/36 and 11-32

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