... and physical book is in the works (I'm proofing it right now).

Hi Scott,

Please let us know if the paper Version is available. Hopefully I am able to order it here from Germany!

Michael

Anyone get any word on where to post for the Cordillera for 2014?

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php?topic=10540.msg65978#msg65978

What are the two orange routes through New Mexico on Trackleaders? Just acceptable alternatives or what?

The orange routes are the fire reroutes from the last year TD. But just an alternative in case of a fire closure of the original route.

The turn at S Fk Poorman Ck claims another victim ...

Exactly the same spot where I got lost last year. If you don't keep watching continuously your GPS you're getting lulled by these big forest roads.

Hi,

"70" is more south of Rawlins. More or less paralleling HYW 80. To get there you have to take either the 130 via Saratoga or the 789 west of Rawlins.
I remember there was an ongoing construction at last year TD. This road got a place under my top 10 crappy TD sections.


    Michael

If I see all the pics here I can only say: Weatherwise we were really blessed last year. Unbelievable!

Hi,

I would like to wish all riders of the annual TD the best for the upcoming challenge. Don't forget - The hardest part is not the physical fitness that you've trained for - it will be the mental battle you're not able to train for!
Have a safe trip!

        Michael

Hi,
I am out, definitly. I am sitting in the train back to Tyndrum. Hope to get there in the evening.
The why question? If I am starting in a race like this I expect to make some progess. First day 100 miles in almost 15 hours. Yesterday 60 miles in just about 10 hours in real nasty weather. Fitness for my personal level was quite good. But maybe not good enough for this countless boggy sections. I've got the notion I was more pushing my bike than riding it. And I don't expect any improvement for the next days. My deepest respect to all those who are going to finish the race under those really bad conditions.

Michael Gruenert

@Michael
I read this a little bit late, because I am quite busy to pack the entire stuff together for the race.
Just for a backup – I have got a complete dynamo hubed front wheel with a SON 28 and 9mm standard axle on an American Classic rim. I built it up for the TD last year but decided in the end to keep the things more simple and went with researchable batteries. So the wheel is more or less new and unused. The drawback – never tested. It runs with a Rocket Ron with no sidewall protection at all and is set up as a tubeless ready system. In the case of the cases you just need to chance the tire and line in an inner tube.
I’ll travel on Thursday by car to Tyndrum and will arrive in the evening (hopefully, if I will manage driving on the wrong side of the road  ). I’ll stay in the Tyndrum Inn. I also pack the pole shoes for the dynamo hub and some wiring. If anything will go wrong with your wheel built up this would be a possible fall back solution. But in this case –You better not finishing in front of me  

Kind regards

Michael

Thanks for the great pics. Ok, the event keeps top placed on my bucket list for next year!
Is a Hartail Ok or a Fully the better choice?

       Michael

Hi,

Anybody here with some impressions from the race? Some pics? How is the course? Difficulties? Resupply possibilities? Dogs???
I am thinking about to join the race next year. Obviously not an easy event because half of the field dropped off. Especially in the south, progress seemed to be very slow - just from the side of the blue dot watcher though. 
Thanks!

          Michael

Ok, when I am reading about all the obstacles in this race it become more and more a big Kinder Surprise Egg to me, maybe the curse of a non resident.

Is there any section on the route that is "easy"? This is a serious question. Or are there sections that are easily ridable at night without the fear of getting lost or injured?

        Michael

Ok, Alan. I got it! 

Remember gear caches are against the rules so anyone thinking of leaving stuff at Oykel Bridge and heading around this loop super light please don't, you will need all your kit out there all of the time.

Very good that you mention this point, because exactly that was my intention behind my question. I'wasn't aware that this is against the rules, sorry. I don't wanna start a discussion here about any rules, but what is the reason behind it? I see no harm in leaving for example the whole sleeping kit in Oykel Bridge and pick it up again when I come back, assumed I get an early start and I'm able to complete the loop until the late evenning. Is it for safety reasons? Just for the case that something unforseen will happen en route?
One further aspect is if I don't start with a sleeping kit at all and just rely on B&B's, what in my optinion could really work and what I am taking into account, I would do the loop super light too.
I don't know why but unfortunately my dilemma is, that I'm not a tent sleeper. I'm not getting a wink of sleep in this tiny huts and it doesn't matter how tired I am. But at the other hand I fear it could be a big mistake to let the whole sleeping kit in my car in Tyndrum.

Michael   

Hi,

do you think the loop can be done in one day? Assumed the weather isn't too bad. It's about 110mi, isn't it? 

    Michael

Due to a mild winter there is a much higher chance of midges...be warned! Best repellent for me is "smidge" some people like avon skin so soft but I personally don't.

Can I buy the Repellent in Tyndrum or do I have to order the stuff in advance? I have still some "OFF" left, but I don't know if it will work or not?

Just two questions from my side.

1. Credit Card or cash? I guess in the tiny villages cash is the better choice, isn't it?
2. Just for the case - water from streams: Is it portable after treatment (no filtering only purification tabs)? 

Thanks!

Mavic Scree, is my choice for a shoe with a stiff sole and excellent walking performance. Gore-Tex Membran make it breathable and waterproof for small showers of rain. For more rain I wear it together with seal skinz socks. What I really hate are wet feet and I really haven't got a clue what to do with the river crossings at the route. In that case I am a pussy  . Now I am thinking about to take some extra lightweight bathing shoes. Ok, it will be a time penalty every time I am going to cross a stream putting off an on the shoes again. But for me that's worth it.  

      Michael

Definitely something for the top three of my bucket list. But my wife ... ?? 

Hi,

Not really sure what tires I should run on the trail. My first intention is a Maxxis Crossmark at the rear and a Maxxis Beaver at the front. Any experience with this or other tires in the HTR? I know the Crossmark very well because I used it at the GST and the TD already. But I am pretty unsure what to use at the front.
Thanks!

Michael