Feel like I'm hogging the forum space. 

No Way! We really appreciate the photos Angler, especially when it is of one of "our" guys. Keep them coming.

Have to admit that for a first place rider [compared to previous years of focused "don't bother me" attitudes] he was the most animated, genuinely nice rider who was more than happy to talk to the locals.  We're cheering him on.

And he is doing it all on his own. The last few years the leaders have more or less ridden together, therefore having some company, at least until the Basin last year and Silver City in 2012. Mentally tough doing it on your lonesome!

Great photos Angler. Jefe is absolutely pinning it! Being a super experienced outdoorsman, I am sure he knows what he is capable of but I hope he isn't going out too hard.
On another note, Soveiga Saule is almost across the great basin. She seems to be making good time NoBo on her ITT. Can someone point me to where I can find her start date please? I can't seem to find it anywhere.
Cheers

Maybe these early fires will burn up all the fuel before we get there?

Not having been there, but I was thinking the same. Look at it as a positive.

I can't believe I'm actually writing in this forum as I never thought I'd work up the stones to do this.

I'm a total newb to ultra racing on bikes. I've done two long distance thru-hikes, but this has always interested me so here we go.

Just trying to decide whether a northbound attempt is the better idea. Trolled this thread and haven't seen much in the way of people discussing leaving northbound. Wondering if there were many nobo's this year, and if so: HOW the hell do you get to AW? Maybe its possible that there is another thread for northbound riders.

Finally is it proper "form" to carry the spot and register for tracking?

Really pumped to meet everybody.

Martin, have a look at previous years Tour Divide threads. There has been a bit more discussion last year and 2012 on NOBO tactics.

Best of luck to everyone starting this year. I look forward to following those blue dots again and perhaps being one in 2015!

Hi guys
I am keen for a "fast tour" of the route next June/July as well, aiming for about 30 days. I am still working on the required permissions so will let you know when I obtain clearance. Kiwi Biker, your plan sounds very similar to what I am thinking.

Oh, for information I am 42 and married with 2 kids.

Wow! Billy Rice is totally powering along! He is definitely going to suffer some post ride adjustment after living The Divide for 5400 odd miles.
I noticed AP on the original route earlier today but his Spot has been "massaged"? Is the original route still closed for fire purposes? What effect might this have on his race time? (Sorry if this is an uncool question or if it has been answered on another page)

As far as things go with Eric Foster. I'm pretty upset that comments here have affected his ride. I'm absolutely APPALLED that some would hunt down his phone number and text him crap like that. Whoever you are, you should be ashamed of yourself. Eric, keep riding your ride, there are plenty that still support you. Haters gonna hate.

+1. Despicable, weak act.

[want]

It would want to be Damn Good Pie.

Riding 200 miles a day for two weeks? I would want some pie!  

On another note, by this stage of the race there is normally about 120 pages of comment. Why is it so quiet here this year? Is it because there are 130-odd riders on the route that might normally be in here?

So, hypothetically, if Jesse was to get to the closed section where Mike diverted from route and the route was opened again, would he be able to win the race and claim the record? (Assuming he gets back in front of JayP's pace bubble) 

5:30 on a Friday afternoon, so it must nearly be "beer o clock" for the golden spoke moment. 
Well done to both of them. They are doing some low flying this year.

XTC 29er with Stans Crest/Hope ProII hub wheelset.

Is Brush Mountain Lodge open this year? Their website looks a bit out of date and nobody seems to have mentioned it this year.

With the smartphone 'rule' discussion...who has the final decision on all 'rules'?  It seems that this race is supposed to be simple, but as more and more people become interested in both participating and following it, inevitably is becoming more complex.  

It is a slippery slope to go down as who is going to police any (more) rules? A lot of Grand Departees had trouble even hearing back from the organisers that their LOIs had been received.
It seems to me that the intent here is to be true to yourself (and hence, other competitors) and ride the route as a personal challenge with the reward being finishing as best you can.

The beauty of this race seems to be in it's brutal simplicity?

As for the Golden Spike, I am tipping north of Rawlins. How tough is the terrain ahead of Dave Nice as he and Cjell head through Steamboat?

Great photos there Caseygreene. The guys actually look surprisingly fresh in them.
As an interested watcher from down under, is that a "normal" amount of snow up there for the time of year?
Oh, and go Ollie! 

Today's the day (at least in my time zone).
Good luck to all riders, be speedy and safe!

Yes, good luck to all of the racers. Remember to enjoy the ride as much as you can.
Game on....

Hi. Mine is mostly MTB related stuff. Just starting to get into Bikepacking here in Australia and hoping to tour the GDMBR next year. Thanks for the invite.

www.dave-livingthedream.blogspot.com

my son ordered 2 Revelate bags the other day & I couldn't believe how fast they made it from Alaska to Nebraska, the quality is AMAZING on them as well, very well thought out & made, new fans here for sure!

I ordered a custom bag from Revelate and waited 2 months or so, but this was as expected. This and several other bags arrived in Australia just one week after payment was made! Great service and I am very impressed with the quality of the bags. I can't recommend Eric enough.

Edit: Sorry, this doesn't help much with your Carousel question.

Quote SteveW-
 While I'm talking about biking in Australia, this needs a mention too:
http://www.wildworks.co.nz/csr/route.php
Some great opportunities for tough routes out there.


I lived in Halls Creek for 3 years in the early 1990s and the Canning Stock route is a frighteningly remote part of the world. I would not even ride a motorcycle along it.
On one occassion I remember receiving a message from the police that a Land Rover had broken down about 300km southwest of Lake Gregory. The driver was a mechanic and had requested certain parts be flown down so he could repair it. I flew a six seat Cessna 206 down with a local State Emergency Service volunteer in the back to drop the parts out in a couple of heli-boxes ( http://www.pbase.com/stevie_j/image/76293439 ) The driver turned up three or four days later to pay us for the flight, but I can still picture his 4wd stranded in the desert, between the massive red sand dunes, as if it were just yesterday.
Man, that would be a hell of a ride!

Looks across the line from here.

Indeed the "race" is far from over, many still slogging it out and some (like Erick Lobeck) are yet to start.

No discredit to those who havent started yet, but from this end of the globe it does seem perplexing that others may start weeks later when conditions may have changed dramatically.

Different circumstances perhaps? Maybe they could only get time off work to start later?

Well done to Kurt! Super human effort and totally amazing that I can sit here in Oztralia and see it almost live!

Hi all. These guys and girls rock!

It looks like Dave Bruno took a wrong turn between Drummond and Felt. Just wondering does this have any effect on his race?