Not that I was in the race even, but I just had to bail from breck due to a busted rear deraileur hanger. I'm hooked on the CT though, and already planning how to do it better next year. I learned a lot and will see you all on the trail next summer. Good luck to everyone still on the course.

Good effort mike-- even without a finish, you still got to ride some amazing trail!

Was it tough getting back to denver with your bike from where you bailed or are the buses from salida petty easy to figure out?

You guys are amazing. I got a rental car from DIA but am dropping it off in Denver so I'll be in the city lOoks like. I'm happy to buy a big ass breakfast and throw down cash for the ride guys-- thanks so much!!!!

Can anyone give me a lift to the start on Friday morning? Im happy to pay cash if youre going that way already! Shoot me a message if you can help me out. Im staying in Boulder and dont want to add that many extra miles to my trip-- Im already a long enough shot to finish as is, I need all the help I can get!

If not, are there any shuttles in the area that would ride me with my fully assembled bike anywhere close to the start? Everything Ive found so far says my bike has to be boxed or they wont take me.

Thanks

Been thinking about this a lot, but lets say a racer gives up in BV-- how the heck can someone find a way back to the front range Boulder/Denver area from there? There seems to be no one in the area doing 1 way car rentals, and public transportis non-existent. As an out of stater, who sees BV as a logical bail out point if one doesnt feel ready for the 200 miles of no resupply to Silverton, I am perplexed as to how I might be able to get back if I call it quits there. Hitchhike and hope??? Bike back to breck (if the bike isnt broken, and Im not too tired) and get a shuttle?

No, no plans to ride 285 during peak traffic. Not brave, just aggravating and unsafe. I'm starting from the other side (Durango), so no traffic that weekend. I see when I get to 285, but will try to time it outside traffic hours (very early morning or night and also before the following weekend). Now have a brand new shiny red Salsa Mamasita frame.

Gotcha. I misunderstood. Thought you were leaving Durango to drive to Denver that day. Riding the other direction sounds killer too

Good luck everybody and I probably still see most of you on the trail. Not the superfast crowd because my frame cracked and needed to be replaced, so I won't get going until probably Friday evening from Durango.  

Youre a brave man to be planning on riding the 285 detour on a busy weekend. I might see you on the trail-- Ill be starting sometime between Saturday and Monday. If I hit 285 on the weekend and it's too scary I might just say screw it and hitch my way to Kenosha; Im not flying all the way out to CO to ride on the highway anyway. Ill be on a white Knolly Endorphin with a Lefty.

What post offices did you guys mail stuff to? I was thinking mailing a package to BV with a bunch of "delicious" dehydrated MRE type items, protein bars, NUNN, etc... and was wondering which post offices you found most useful to mail stuff to? Do I just write the address of the post office and c/o (insert your name here), or do I have to call and tell them Ill be doing this so they are expecting it? I guess theyll hold it for what, 30 days?

Any comments on how bad the smoke is right now at various places along the trail?

Has anyone had any luck putting Toby's GPX files onto their DeLorme GPS? How did you do it? I put the SD card in my computer and copied the files onto it but cant get them to show up on my GPS. Anyone have any tips? (Im using a macbook)

BTW, thanks for the file Toby!


EDIT: Im an idiot. Forgot to add it to the waypoints folder-- I accidentally added it to the tracks folder. AWESOME resource.

THanks for the tips. Although, you guys didnt really have any insulation below you so I can see why youd be cold. Using Hennessy's 3 oz overcover and some type of pad underneath I  bet itd be a lot warmer. My main concern isnt the cold (I am a very warm sleeper), just wondering if Ill have a problem finding adequate trees each day to set the hammock up on or if Im better off with a tent. I dont like the idea of a tarp tent-- mosquitoes have a way of finding me unless I am in a sealed environment of some sort (tent, hammock with bug net, etc...)

Im still debating on how to get my bike from the east coast to CO. Has anyone successfully fit full suspension mountain bikes with wheels in a serfas hard case?

Anyone doing the CTR, or an ITT of the CT using a hammock for sleeping or are there some really long stretches where I won't have trees to hang on? Im debating on what sleeping system to use and I am not a good sleeper so need to be comfortable to make my ride a success. Anyone heard of somebody using a hammock to bike the whole thing?

Also, Ill be starting my ride a few days after the official race starts. Anyone else planning on a late start? Im getting a one way car rental from Durango to get back. If anyone else finishes at the same time I do I am happy to take someone else along with me back to the Boulder/Denver area.

Thanks for the replies. The advice on lights sounds good. I picked up a pair of the Pearl Izumi X alp Elites and, honestly, am not too impressed with their grip on platform pedals. The shoe is real stiff, and the sole quite rockered so it only contacts my platforms in maybe two places and gets virtually no grip. Very comfy, but I feel like Im going to slip off the pedals at any second. I might just try to give the CT a go in five ten impacts, or maybe just some new balance hiking shoes if I cant find anything more bike specific. Anyone running the X Alp elites on platform pedals with success?

What are you guys using for lights on the CO trail this year? Headlamp? Handlebar mounted light? One light that does both? Im currently debating many options for bright as heck vs long lasting battery life and more. Lots of options on the market now, just wondering if anyone on here had strong opinions on one vs the rest of the pack. Im currently on the fence for some type of Niterider, or the Gemini Olympia but the latter seems super heavy.

Also, on a totally unrelated question, what type of shoes did you find best for the CTR? I imagine Ill probably be walking somewhere around 1/3-1/2 of the trail so it almost seems more reasonable to me to just wear a good pair of hiking shoes and deal with them as being not the best on the bike. But then again, I havent done a ride this big before so Im not really sure. Oh yeah, and I use flat pedals (Point One Podiums).

Thanks