My fav rider ... Prentiss Campbell

Cool dude, matching shoes and shades ... my Dad used to say. "Son, if you can't play the part, make sure you look the part!"

Prentiss is out there doing it both ways! Go Prentiss!!

Prentiss is a great guy. I was fortunate to get to know him last year. A year of experience has made a world of difference. Averaging around 30 miles per day more!!

These are from a July 1999 trip to Colorado. Started in Durango, took train to Silverton. Rode over Ophir Pass. Went to Alta Lakes, then to East Fork and finished up on Hermosa Creek Trail.

Billy Rice has already completed the course this year without detours.

Well, for us older folks, we should really just shorten the course to something like from here to the bathroom. 

And my answer to that?
Depends!

And Grim Reaper dots for those over 60!

And who knows the affects of the flooded Canadian route sections? How long before that section of course is ride-able again? It could be quite some time. Glad I did it last year when we were able to cover the whole course. Records require fitness, mental toughness and a great amount of luck.
As I rode through Colorado last year I was shocked by the amount of dead standing pine. It is just a place waiting for an inferno to happen. The whole Silverthorn area looks dangerous to me.

I feel so bad for Mike and all the others that they can't complete the whole course. And who knows how long the Canadian section will be unrideable?? What an amazing ride he was having! 
And in regards to JP, he is a competitor but I am sure he wouldn't wish this on Mike.

A maximum fine of $5,000. Might be worth it for a record after that much work!

Now back to our regularly scheduled program!

Will he or won't he??

My friend I rode with last year, Prentiss Campbell is just killing it on his single speed and is averaging around 30 miles more per day!

Kent Davidson has a lead on Mike Hodges of around 30 miles. The old farts race is really close and exciting to watch!

Good luck to all!

This was my exact thought as I was looking at the sub13 day expected times a few days ago. I'll be 53 next year and "felt" a 24-25 day time was great. Now it feels like I would be a "lapper"

Last year I was slow but had the time of my life. I am amazed by record runs and record times but I was more amazed at my own experience. I rode hard and pushed myself but above all I saw and experienced things I never would have without this race. To me it wasn't about finishing first but finishing. Plus the people you ride with and meet along the way are amazing individuals. In a way I feel sorry for the fast people, they are home and back to the grind much too soon! You don't have to be fast or first to get a lot out of this adventure.

James is behind Kent but has made up some ground. As of this morning only around 15 miles difference. Might be the best competition in the race!

Well if you really want to take technology out of the mix the very first thing you would do is to eliminate the spot tracking system from the rider's kit. And then you would only recognize records based upon ITT's Now you take away a lot of stuff that goes on from businesses staying open late, to knowing where other riders are etc etc. Now how many of us blue dot junkies would want that??

In fact if you want to run it as pure as Toby wants it then you shouldn't even announce your decision to do it, so now we just get back to people touring. Wouldn't that be grand! Slowing down and enjoying the route!

Last year, as slow as I was, I didn't even take the little detour to take a gander at Big Fork lake.

The bottom line is people at home can't pedal for you and you can't control the weather or fires or closures. Records are great but if Mike Hall can continue on at his present pace then he might put in a time that most competitive people will look at and say nah I am not even going to attempt it! Perhaps new records should only be recognized that are only 2 hours faster than the previous time!

Max is on his way back to the route. It looks like he will beat Eric Foster (another triple crowner) to the point where he left off. Interesting stuff!

Crazy pictures of the flooding in Canada! Guy swims after and rescues his cat!
http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/06/20/pictures-and-videos-of-massive-flooding-in-canmore-and-southern-alberta/

The lead is down to around 11 miles! Looking at Mike's rig, it appears no aero bars. Interesting.

Ha you should have done the Canelo's 6-7 years ago. Some things they did do a better job of laying out but then the FS fire crews who built it just straiten everything out. And then there's the really old stuff like Oracle Ridge, and there's only some much you can do up there. Of course there are sections that I can ride now due to improved technique.

I've been a member, off and on, for almost 10 years but I've never have gotten my user name and password worked out. So I wasn't aware that they had all of the coordinates. I think it's a hiker thing to not have a track but to just connect the dots. In the old days a lot of the trail was just a route, and you had to work out how to get to the next point. More of a wonder in this direction until you can get to the next waypoint kinda thing. I still see GPX files with no track and just a huge long set of points.

I like to think of AZ as one huge mnt. bike park, but then I don't mind a little HAB.

I may complain but there were sure some fun and beautiful sections of the trail.

I think tech might even slow you down. Oh I gotta call the family tonight otherwise they might worry, returning calls, messing with facebook, looking at where other riders are etc. I just dont' know how tech can make you any faster? The whole key to this race is first the motor then the bike then the gear, then the weather, then luck. If you let other rider's position influence you then you might not go as fast as you would otherwise or you might push yourself so hard that you crack.
I imagine that is what Craig thought when he didn't take a phone. If someone who has done it can clearly state that tech made them faster I would like to hear how? For me it was just a time suck, kinda like this whole TD spot tracker forum thing!

But seriously, everyone who wants to do this race should join the ATA. It is not expensive; for something like $30 you get access to a wealth of information as well as knowing you are supporting a great cause. All y'all in AZ are lucky to have access to such an incredible natural resource and all the public lands around it.

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Hey, I have paid my dues for two years and I would gladly pay more if they would make it more ride-able! ha ha!

Billy Rice made a great push yesterday from Elkford to the Border. He made Elkford after a late start on Monday. Be interesting to see if he can do a "negative split" on his run? Hopefully his rear wheel issues have been resolved.

Kent and James are yo yoing back and forth. Fun to watch!