Tackling the TransContinentalRace - Cycling 4200km through Europe with Matt Spooner

My guest today is Matt Spooner, who recently completed the Trans Continental Race - a 4200km non-stop bike ride from Roubaix in France, down to Istanbul in Turkey. Apart from the start & finish, there are 5 checkpoints and several compulsory sections known as parcours. There are also some roads which are banned, generally because they are unsafe for the riders. After that the route is completely open to the choices made by the riders. This event isn’t just about cycling for many days. It’s also a logistical challenge and a heaven for any one who likes planning.

 

This is a podcast that was recorded in 2 parts. In the first half you’ll hear me having a short (30-minute) conversation with Matt while he is actually riding his bike through Greece, about 3/4 of the way to his destination. We chat about:

• Route selection and how that's working out
• Some of the problems he has encountered along the way
• Equipment choices 
• Daily nutrition on the road.

In the second half, Matt and I are speaking a few days after he has finished the event. We then reflect on his overall performance and also:

• Whether executing the plan is more satisfying than the time and position
• His decisions to stop and sleep in a hotel each night versus camping by the side of the road
• Why finishing an event like this is more about being able to eat as much as you can than having a high FTP
• More about equipment choices 
• Mindset for tackling TCR

 

To find out more about Matt, please visit the following social media channels

Instagram - matt_still_tri_ing

Facebook - matthew.spooner.927

LinkedIn - Matthew Spooner

 

If you haven’t yet seen the documentary about the Transcontinental Race, I can highly recommend it:

Onboard the Transcontinental Race

 

Some links to topics covered in the podcast

Diet

Efficacy of Popular Diets Applied by Endurance Athletes on Sports Performance: Beneficial or Detrimental? A Narrative Review

"I recently read this paper, it's a nicely balanced review of multiple different research papers into different diets. It's a good resource for people who are interested in the best diet.”

 

Books

The Endurance Diet: Discover the 5 Core Habits of the World's Greatest Athletes to Look, Feel, and Perform Better - Matt Fitzgerald

I also really enjoyed The Rise of the Ultra Runners by Adharanand Finn - I identify myself very strongly in this book."

 

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