The morning ride

I'm busy testing kit at the moment. This morning I heading out when it was minus 2 degrees and was delighted to feel in control of my body temperature. I'm focusing hard at the moment to ensure that when I go out riding I don't sweat at all so I adjust my effort level and clothing appropriately. I've never really had to think too hard about that before but when it's minus 30 degrees, just slight perspiration could mean the end of my race.

Next week I'm meeting with Haglofs to discuss clothing and to kit myself out with the very best. I need layers for riding in minus 10 degrees and minus 40 degrees as well as clothing for when I'm stopped at minus 40 degrees.....so much to think about.

I'm getting very excited now!

Weather in Irkutsk

I'm starting to study the weather now. Makes me feel cold just looking at it! I'm rather pleased though that by the time I'm out there racing, there will be 12hrs of daylight each day.

It's chilly tonight

At 1am last night I was on skype chatting to Chris Pike who lives in Chicago. In 2010, he and 5 friends circumnavigated Lake Baikal and he was kind enough to share some of his knowledge with me. 

Today I've been busily removing my back break as he explained it's not going to be of much use to me in Siberia, particularly when the disk gets clogged with ice and snow and I don't expect to be using it must anyway. I'm very pleased to have removed a 1lb or 2 from the bike also!

I've also decided to subjected the Qoroz bike to a night in a freezer (pictured above) to see how it fairs. I'm pretty sure all will be fine.

I'm still trying to decide on the pulk, pannier or go fast & lite options. I met with a friend of mine last night, an experienced Arctic runner who has kindly lent me her pulk to see what I can do with it. The concern I have is that if strong winds get hold of the pulk, I'II be off the bike in a flash as it will have no traction. I was rather pleased when Chris said that even he, an experienced mtber, fell off his bike 50 times in one day due to the winds.....that won't make me feel so bad when I hit the deck for the 100th time! 

Loading up the bike!

Following my training session this morning I spent a few hours trying to work out how I'm going to carry all my kit on the bike. So far I've strapped the tent & sleeping bag to the handle bars, the roll mat on the top tube, food, fuel and cooker in the frame bag and warm clothes behind the seat. Where I'm going to put the shovel and ice axe I'm still not too sure! I haven't tested it yet so not sure how balanced it is...that's tomorrows job!

Siberian Black Ice Race - Lake Baikal Preparations

I can't actually believe that something I've been thinking about for the last year has finally become reality. Last week I sent in my entry fee for the Siberian Black Ice Race and I now have a confirmed place!

7 weeks to go and training is well underway. I'm running and cycling for about 3hrs a day and yesterday I collected the Qoroz Titanium bike which I shall use to get me across the lake as fast as possible.

It's a 600km race across a frozen lake in - 40 degrees. We've got 18 days to complete it but I'm hoping for between 7-10 days. The more I find out about the conditions, the more accurately I can set a target!

I went on a 30km road ride today to work the ice studs properly into the tyres and luckily enough the roads were icy and the snow began to fall so it was good training conditions also. I was happy with my clothing, footwear and gloves (having said that is was only -2 degrees!)

I've been spending hours a day on the internet researching kit and clothing and how I'm going to get it all to fit on the bike, is anyones guess! At the moment there are 3 options, panniers, towing a pulk or loading up the handlebars and using a large seat bag. There seems to be pros and cons with everything so I guess I just need to get testing.

Next big challenge is working out whether I can actually ride on ice at all and hence I'm trying to organise with Cardiff Ice Rink to let me come and cycle round in circles until it begins to feel natural!

Working out what boots to wear is becoming problematic as I've been recommended to get minus 100 degree boots because with cycling your feet are still and hence freeze very easily. Problem with this is that a boot with these properties weights a ton and is bulky so doesn't make for easy cycling.

I've been fortunate enough to be introduced to some very knowledgeable people so my note book is filling up nicely with lots of good tips that I would never have thought of!