I just check BL's Facebook page. Looks like he hasn't been racing for awhile now. 20 hours ago, he wrote: "Riding open class now, hitting race waypoints only."

Kinda like bikepacking's version of the hunger games! Last biker pedaling wins!

Yeah, but you've still got to get 12 hours of sleep each night--or else!

I'm also often drawn to investigate those dots that seem to stray off course, and this bushwacking by (BL) is one of the strangest things I've seen.

No kidding. I hope that he's OK. That is the most bizarre track that I've ever seen on the TD. As jryter suggests, it looks like a bear got his Spot or something. But that doesn't really explain the custom messages.

Just a guess here, but I'd be happy to take on a bunch of food beggars and private lodging poachers any day of the week and I'll beat em every time because while they're busy begging for food and water, or stopping short in dispersed communities to seek lodging, I'll be riding onward.

I gotta say, that made me SMILE. Yes, the shift key even got involved

I wish that I had the strength to simply out-ride the weenies like you do. Alas, I don't--and it really bugs me when I see people cutting corners (innocently or willfully). Maybe it's just my over-inflated obsession with equality. But it seems that a number of people share it--although they aren't usually so public about it.

...I thought the TM definition was somewhat settled back in the day...

For a growing number of racers, it has become an easily-deployed excuse to acquire water, food, shelter, supplies, etc. when convenient and desirable. If that's what you mean by "settled," then I suppose it is.

Nebulous and poorly-defined concepts are prone to a wide range of mostly-innocent but loose interpretations, especially by those new to the sport. Worse, they are easily abused by those looking for a means of justifying their their opportunistic impulses.

Since the pillar of most bikepacking races is "self support," I think that it's easier to just ditch the whole concept of trail magic rather than attempting to argue over every occurrence. Is it trail magic when you find a fresh Gu packet when you've already got enough food? Is it trail magic when you've planned poorly and found yourself out of water (and facing a 3-hour detour to save your hide), when a guy comes along on an ATV with a gallon of Dr. Pepper? Is it trail magic when you've decided to save weight by not carrying a spare tube, so you end up bumming one from another rider who was better prepared? Is it trail magic when a friendly rancher offers you a steak dinned, his guest cottage, and ride to town to get a new bivy bag? IS ANYONE ELSE TIRED OF PONDERING THESE THING?

Maybe it's time to recognize that trail magic is what it has actually become: a ticket to do whatever turns your crank. The precedent is clear and settled, right?

Or maybe there's still time to decide that the benefits of actually doing it yourself supersede the convenience of leaning on the vagaries of trail magic to justify the easy solutions to poor planning, bad luck, momentary weakness, etc. In other words, Do. It. Yourself. Dammit.

I want a race where there are no rules! Dirty tricks, hitching in the middle of the night, drafting, littering, stealth electric motors, tacks in the road, fist fights, a true made for TV reality show!

Gotta add combat!

Suggesting anything that doesn't fit the status quo always creates controversy. Helps to have thick skin.

Bravo Payton! I too, "hope that other people are thinking the same way."

But, just for the record, nobody will claim that you broke any rules by giving the other racer an asthma inhaler. As anyone who has asthma knows, it's a dangerous condition that regularly kills people. As I've said before, I believe that it should be REQUIRED to help someone who's experiencing a dangerous situation. You're the kind of guy who I would love to meet on the trail, especially if I needed help.

I have asthma too, and I'd DQ myself from a self-supported race if I needed to accept an inhaler. But I'd give a spare to any rider needing one in a heartbeat.

I'm a little surprised you like it Toby.

I'm all for different "grades" and styles of ultra-racing--as long as they are different events. Rather than forcing everyone to race in the same style, making different events that allow for different approaches is a great idea. It will probably reduce the kind of crap that we keep seeing in the big events these days. Want to race as hard as possible, with a strict interpretation of self-support and full-on sleep deprivation? Then the CTR is your bag. Want to race the Colorado Trail with mandatory sleep stops? Then start the Colorado Trail Stage Race. Seems likes a win-win!

Yeah, I like that rule!  It's called TOURING. 

I'm a fan of TOURING.    It hurts way less.

If you want a race like that, then start one. Just don't call it the Tour Divide.

...but when people start hollering about rule violations and that becomes the focus of the conversation then something needs to be done. We need to get back to what these events are all about, and that is the pushing one's limits, meeting great people, awesome experiences and lying in the woods late at night worrying about bears and other critters!

Much truth in that statement. I rarely ever think about the rules while racing, because I am out there to do it myself. It's a simple principle at heart, even with the many gray areas that inevitable arise. But getting from point A to point B without external intervention makes the stars just that much brighter, and the glowing eyes of mountain critters that much scarier. It is weirdly contradictory perhaps, but the best adventures often require esoteric limits, ethics, and rules. Climbing a hard route without pulling on gear is more satisfying than giving into weakness and grabbing a sling. Getting from Denver to Durango on the Colorado Trail is more rewarding then driving there on the highway. Running 26 miles through the city is more fun than taking public transit. The easier way often isn't the most fulfilling. Ultra-racing is about athletic effort, careful planning (before and during the race), and pushing limits. It's SUPPOSED to be brutally hard, which is why the failure rate is so high. Those who fall victim to their weaknesses are missing the point, selling themselves short, and demeaning the entire sport.

At no time did I consider it unduly harsh. I knew the rules when I lined up. I didn't have to dob myself in, but it wouldn't have been right not to DQ myself.

Now that's integrity!

I nominate Toby to be Judge Jury and executioner!

You might as well just wrap me in honey waffles and feed me to the bears!

I don't think that anyone has ever argued helping another rider is grounds for disqualification
 In fact, I think that it generally considered appropriate, especially when the receiver is in danger. In my perfect little world, I think that it should actually be required to help any other rider who is experiencing an emergency situation. But anyone receiving assistance, for whatever reason, is clearly not self-supported anymore, and should DQ themselves. Continuing to ride the route, outside of the race, is great though--so the experience could still be great. But all of this may be pretty much moot, since fewer racers seem terribly interested in pushing their self-reliance and independence lately, and nobody is enforcing the rules (or keeping track of finishing times and places aside from record-setting efforts).

What's amazing is that the types of infractions that I noted two years ago in my blog (http://tobygadd.blogspot.com/2012/05/ultra-racing-rules.html) are actually looking somewhat tame compared to what's happening these days. Seems like the "it's just for fun, rules are for pedants" mentality is winning out over the "Do. It. Yourself" ethos.

If past discussions are any indicator, those who don't like rules will soon chime in and complain that this discussion is ruining their buzz--and that rules discussions are a waste of time. I've never understood that response, but I think that it's becoming very clear where it's taking this sport...

I've caught a lot of shit for saying it, but ultra racing is losing its soul. Until a vocal majority take a stand, people are going to continue to dilute this awesome sport. Really nice to hear Max and Mark making some noise.

I am really impressed that so few racers are dropping because of the weather. Some really strong people out there this year!

I am stunned

I am really looking forward to watching you do this thing, Mark! Stay safe, and ride hard. I'm sending good thoughts your way.

Although Alex Harris didn't arrive until after 11 pm on Sunday June 15th, when everybody was in for the night [hence attached photo is from a friend in Lincoln] he did spend a couple of hours resting in Ovando and personally I want to thank two of our residents.  Thank you Tony!, who upon seeing Alex biking back and forth ran out with a few sandwiches for him and thank you Shaun! for allowing Alex to get a couple of hours sleep in your cabin and shuttling more food to him.  

Hmmm...

There are enough people that cut corners, without money on the line. Throw down a million dollars, and watch the scum rise to the surface. Lance Armstrong still has many admirers.