I was there on Friday afternoon and took some pictures.  Sent them to the TD admin, which in turn issued this communique:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1A15MQwmtIVYxHzARSb0-6PwEwd49wLec24Qw_stMVuw/edit#slide=id.p

I didn't try the ford, cuz... well... I didn't have too...

I assume pictures 3 & 4 are the local snow conditions. 

Any Banff Locals on here that would let me park my truck at their house for the duration of the race?  A northbounder will pick it up.

-Les

Anybody Camping in Banff? I'm looking for someone to share a camp sight with.

I'm camping with a few riders, if you're interested in joining us.  Shoot me a PM.

Les I am trying to make grand depart however since its this late and i dont want to fly finding a ride is looking slim.
But if all else fails I have backup plan to go Northbound.

Sorry man, Jill told me you were looking for a ride.  I'm all booked up and loaded for the trip north.  If a spot opens up I'll be sure to let you know!

Hey Mark,

Dude 4 times on the AZT750??!!  Even Jill says you're nutz!

You mentioned Northbound for the Divide.  If you go North I'll looking for someone to drive my truck back to Colorado. 

-Les

I was trying the catch Marshal Bird and Jill Hueckman. I was right on their asses. But I was running on fumes and they were sleeping in hotels basically.

Just for the record...Jill didn't stay in any hotels during the 2012 AZT.

I'm in Gunny, so not going to make it for beers. But I would love to car pool up there somehow. The key is the car, it would be a long shuttle, unless you want to Yo Yo that shit like Billy......so yeah one way rental car/van not sure how hard that would be, or someone to drop us off ?
I am up for ideas and making it work, would be cool way to get there!
Jefe

Hey Les, (Jefe, Montana, and/or Slowride),  I'm in Denver too! I just bought my ticket before this carpool ride conversation happened, but I would totally be down to carpool. If you think that's a possibility I may look into canceling my flight. Wanna get together for beers sometime and hash out some details? Anyone in CO for that matter? I am ITCHING to get out and ride, the weather is just now starting to get rideable again! -Andrew

Jefe, Montana, Slowride, Rashasha and anyone else,

We're still a few months away but here's my initial plan:  I'm driving to Banff from Denver sometime the first week of June (flexible there).  Leaving my truck in Banff and riding south with the grand depart.  A buddy of mine is going northbound, leaving his vehicle someplace to be determined near the Mexican border.  He'll drive my truck back to Denver.  I'll drive his car back to Denver.  I can carry 6 bikes and 6 bodies, if necessary, with plenty of overflow room for gear in my Chevy Silverado.  I was thinking a stop at Glacier National Park (or other points of interest) for some riding along the way but I can scrap that if people want to head straight to Banff.  If that sounds interesting to anyone, shoot me a PM and let's make some plans.

-Les

If you guys need a third person to share in the gas let me know, I'd definitely be up for saving some money on airfare as well. In Steamboat Springs here.

I'm driving up from Denver as well.  Might be leaving a week or more early though.  Would love to share gas costs if the timeline works.

-Les

I decided this year that I wanted to try and do the CTR in 2014. So I'm riding as much as possible and planning to ride even more as soon as the weather co-operates. I did some bike packing this past summer, and I'm planning much more this spring and summer. I have no illusions of winning or even being competitive with the majority of the field but thru riding the Colorado trail at a quick pace just sounds like too much fun to pass up. My main goal is just to finish and right now I'm thinking of having a goal of roughly 50 miles a day or so with a goal of finishing in 10 days. Of course if I'm feeling it, I'm always open to riding more each day and finishing sooner. My question is, is it worth participating in the CTR if I'm going to be going so slow. Also I wasn't sure if the CTR has a maximum time allowed.

The CTR is anything you want it to be.  If you want to be part of the grand depart and tracked with the group, Go for it!  No one will dismiss your effort no matter how long it takes you to finish.  Do your thing and smile everyday!  It'll be an expereince of a lifetime!

-Les

I have a question about the GPX (TD) files to download, how many are there? I read Cjell's blog and he was all worked up about too many files and how complex it was?

Thanks!

Steve

Steve - I was able to download the entire TD route (as well as other routes) in a single file on the eTrex30.  No disrespect to Cjell but he is a bit different in his ways. 

-Les

Can one of the veterans give me some insight into navigation.

jnos - Navigation is the least of your worries.  With GPS these days, all you have to do is load the course and follow the purple line.  The Garmin eTrex series seems to be the most popluar.  I'd recommend getting one now to use and get familiar with it before your run in 2015.  I've taken cues sheets and never used them.  Packed the data book and only glanced at it at night to see what the next day had in store.  I'll take the maps for TD this year but they'll be for information purposes to plan water and food each day and not for navigation.   Best of luck on your journey.

-Les

Any race on this route should include mandatory soaking times.

Would it be feasible to do this route in late March or April? 

So....When does the race start?   

 

Sheila-

YES!! YES!! YES!!
You showed some unbelievable guts to find the motivation within to leave Flag twice and push on to Utah. You are a phenomenal lady.
Congratulations.

-Jill H.

Bravo Sheila, Bravo!

That took some impressively serious motivation to head north out of Flagstaff a second time. Go Sheila!

I agree 100%..Wow, Sheila. I am so stoked to see her pushing on! Be strong. The canyon doesn't suck until just after Cottonwood.

-Jill

Positive energy directed to Sheila.
Mantra: I will finish this stupid thing. 

Sheila's Quote of the day:
"Why do they make a bike race on single track that no bike can be ridden on."

That's what I wanted to hear!!!  Rest up Sheila.  I guarantee every bikepacker on the planet is rooting for you!  Positive energy by the truckloads are pouring into your veins.  Don't worry about the time.  That's not what this is about.  Conquer the beast!  rest up and finish this!  You can do it!!!!!

-Les Handy

Finished the 750 at 10pm last night. In summation, ouch! Body and bike barely survived.

Well done!  Well done!

-Les

Les, what kind of GPS are you using?  I've got an Etrex30 and after reducing it to 9500 trackpoints, it loaded up correctly.

I have an eTrex30 also.  Must be too many points.  I can't use Topofusion either since I only have a MAC.  Martin emailed the files of each day's route so I'll give that a try when I get home.  Betting that will work fine.

Thanks for the help!  Without the GPS I might as well ride around in cricles all day.   

-Les