FLASH-POINT BLOGGER: THOMAS RATSCHOB

Two weeks ago, i reached my biggest goal ever. i finished the TourUltime. thats race like the famous RaceAcrossAmerica. 4'069km around france with 50'000m to climb. All who have ridden both said, that the TourUltime was the harder one.
I finished the race as second in 10 days an 2 hours. That was now really the hardest thing i've ever done. but after the race, we have to say the it should be possible to do faster again.
If i'll do something like that again, i don't know. I would like to ride something like that again. but the organisation before that race and generally, to pay so a lot of money to take part of a race like this, that i don't like to do again. Not now, but we wanna see what the time will bring us.
Now i take the training very much easier. I ride only when the weather is good. Next friday, maybe, i'll do a little ride over some passes again. the flashpoints are mounted and are waiting to go out....

sorry for the delay.
For some weeks (or was it now months ago) i let my tubular-racewheels on the bike. last week, i changed the wheels finally again. now i'm riding again with the FP's.
They are so d*** good in the flat. in the mountains they are a little bit heavy, but for the training is that no so bad ;--). But in the flat, they are so fast. And the sound, i missed it a little bit. A real good noise, they make.
Myself, i've done some races in the last two months. one in south of france. there i rode 600km with 11'000hm in 25,5h. the other one was the europeanchampionship here in switzerland. 720km in 25,5h. And last week, i rode a 24h-challenge in germany, where i've won last year. This year, one was better again. But with the second place i'm happy to. 742km with nearly 9'000hm in 23.45h. That was not so bad.
Now, i'm ready for my biggest challenge, the TourUltime. 4'000km nonstop. A race such as the RAAM, but here in europe.
More informations you'll find on my own page http://www.ratschob.li
enjoy your rideThomas

so, know i could say, i know how the FP-wheels really are. i rode them now for some thousends of km. i rode them in flat, in the mountains, in the rain. and it was always a good ride with them.
well, i have some lighter wheels which are better for climbing. the FP are very heavy. neary 2kg is to heavy for good climbing wheels. i have another set tubular-wheels with 1200gr. is easier to climb with them. but we could say, that the FP are starting in another class. my tubular-wheels cost so much as 3 sets of FP. really another class.
and we know, the FP are called as 'workers-zipp'. and there for, they makes here job great. they are stiff and solid. also aero. but i think with flat aerospokes, the wheels could be made more aero again.
its very nice to ride with the FP. so faster you ride, so better is the sound. the make a nice noise, when you ride faster.
in fact, i'm very happy with these wheels. stiff, solid, aero. but no the best wheels for climbing. very good in this price-range.
so then, go we out for another ride.