North Cape 4000
Yesterday I signed up for North Cape 4000.
A 4000km bike race from Turin to North Cape, which is the northern most location in Europe reachable by road, in 13 - 25 days. We’ll be travelling through Italy, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland.
Its something I’ve been pre-occupied with for the best part of half a year. I’d be walking to work, cooking, or brushing my teeth, and thinking what it’d be like to cycle the routes. Planning my sleeping gear, looking for parts and components for my bike to make is suitable for the ride. And generally not focusing on what I probably should have been at the time.
I’m under no illusion that I’ll be finishing in 13 days, I’m even confident I’ll make it in the 25 days. For me that’s not the draw. I want to push myself out of my comfort zone, physically, mentally and socially. A challenge.
This challenge will be full of problems, I’m sure, punctures, finding water and water, getting lost, finding places to sleep, and sleep deprivation. Some of these I may struggle with, but struggle or not there’ll be no choice but to face them head on. Dealing with those problems is a skill I think I’ll benefit from in a wider context.
My first big ride of 100miles to Edinburgh, filled me with this wonderful feeling of possibility, of being able to go anywhere, do anything, on a bike. Its a drug, and I’m addicted, I want to regain that feeling and push it to my limits.
Thinks I need to do before the race:
- buy a flight,
- buy more bike packing bags
- decide on sleeping solution (swinging towards hammocks)
- buy aero bars
- more puncture resistant tyres??? (tubeless???)
- research bike laws in European countries
- book cat into cattery 😭 😿
- get married 💍
So not much.
For a flavour of what the race will be like: