Incredible, those guys look like they are out for a day ride!

Inspiring to say the least...makes me feel like a pack mule with my gear!

Great pics

Looks like it could be a really beautiful evening out in Lost Park after that big storm...although the leaders may be too trashed to notice at this point.

Yeah, still over 115 miles of racing left for them.

It is possible if they get to the road and are still together that they just decide to finish together...I don't see a cat/mouse, duke it out, sprint for the line thing happening.

On 285 outside Bailey looking towards Mt Evans wilderness and Georgia...really nasty here now!

They'll be on Tarryall detour in a couple hours, no?

Jess pulling ahead on the climb...

Looks like he pulled ahead slightly on the descent off the West Ridge, but probably they will be cozying up again in that rough, nasty rocky climb out of the Swan River

Heavy rain and strong thunderstorms forecast for the area - clouds building in Bailey.

Thomas wolf here.  I made my way to lake city last night and I'm calling it.  Found out my lack of breathing from the start was due to an awesome chest infection that showed itself Mon night in silverton.  Finished stony pAss segment but had to walk anything that was't downhill.  Throat and chest are trashed. Was a great experience and I'll be back next year!

Nice effort Thomas - and yet another example of the fortitude and determination that pervades this race.

Gremlins and chest infections won't stop us from coming back  

Overnight: And Jerry Oliver called in from Leadville! He had a creepy experience on Sargents!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/ctr13/

Some good CTR legends coming out of the 2013 event. "Irish woman, dressed like she was Amish" classic...
or Eric Cutlip's 20-hour 1-bottle ordeal
or Michelle DuLieu's epic Indian Ridge adventure
EDIT: or Hubach's gremlin

last but not least the duel for first at the front - I still can't believe how fast those guys can go through this terrain, pretty incredible.

What happened to Ethan P. this year? If I know my CTR history this would be the first year he didn't toe the line.

Pretty impressive that Jesse didn't even stop in BV...looks like it enabled him to catch up a little to Jefe. But Jefe did stop so I would assume he has the supplies he needs to get to the end? But does Jesse?

Here comes the 'Golden Spoke' any minute now...

What is really important is the following:
1. No time limits. Each year many racers give themselves a strict time limit that is unrealistic. The trail is harder than they think. The moment comes when a person realizes that they cannot make their goal, and they quit. I have seen people that are way faster than me riding with me. That is very common as logistics become overwhelming under duress. The person has the ability to meet the goal, but reality means sleeping, breaks, being tired, not being able to eat, etc.
2. Adversity- how to overcome it without cheating or quitting. Things will not go your "way". What are you going to do when that happens? You may have to ride a tire with leaves in it-lash your frame bag with paracord-walk 80 miles-glue your shoe back together-etc.
3. Training is good but specific training is better. If one does not have a decade long endurance base, that is okay. By specific I mean HAB training. Overnight training. Weather training. Etc. I go out and hike a bike all the time in the fall and winter. I do overnighters in the cold or damp weather.
4. Mindset. What is your motivation? If it is 15 minutes of Warholian fame (like blog bragging, Facebook posting, etc.) your odds of quitting increase. This is a journey that has to be internalized. You must be one with the trail and block out human emotions that are ego driven.
5. Riding/racing alone. If you cannot handle being alone in the most remote stretch of Colorado, dont count on the company of other racers. Teaming up for anyone slower than true middle pack racers usually results in a DNF. The team slows you down almost all the time. I practice by camping alone near home often.
6. Injury. What happens when you have body issues? The will to continue the journey when dealing with pain is very important for all racers, not just fast ones. I had to deal with intense pain in 2012 in AZT and CTR. I ended up taking one aspirin in 25 days though I dealt with a heel/achilles injury in Arizona and a stress fracture in the lower leg in CTR. Do you have that drive to succeed? Even if it means your elapsed time sucks in comparison to others or your goal? Many folks quit because their final time would be not good enough or they cant break a record, etc.
7. Logistics. Dont fly in the day before. Have your gear ready prior to the morning of the race. Etc.
8. Practice with a fully loaded bike often. I am riding my bike fully loaded for the AZT 750 and it is 5.5 months from the start. Any gear movement or bike issues are being solved now-not on the trail day 1.
9. Eating. It is a skill to eat and keep up with caloric intake early in the race. Dont downplay this important aspect of the CTR. People quit all the time from this, even saying they got a bug or got sick from what they ate or whatever. It is calorie deficit not a bug. Your brain functions poorly without food not just your body.

So in conclusion if you can race with no time limit, handle adversity, ride alone, deal with pain, ride a loaded bike, HAB 50-100 miles out of 500 and eat food while moving then you have the ability to finish. If that sounds too hard then you understand why CTR is what it is. Is is a lot harder out there doing it than sitting here discussing it. Even people who finished the route underestimate it sitting at home/work talking about it. You "forget" how hard it really is. Time heals those wounds physical or mental. We forget how good it feels to finish or how painful/demoralizing the lows points were.

Going back to page 1 in the thread for one of the best posts about being successful in the CTR. Thanks for it dream4est!

Good luck to everyone this coming weekend. I'll enjoy watching the blue dots as I prepare for my first yellow dot journey in a couple weeks.

Sounds to me like you have some nice locally sourced lumber for your next project!

Crazy

Another $100 off to the CTF ($50 from me, $50 matching gift from Nokia - my employer. Thanks for the idea Stefan!)

Apparently there is some cred to this tribal pressure thing 

Was just in Copper. Sandwich shop open 11-7 and gas station store open til 8. Also a donut/coffee shop there...

Always good to confirm this type of info...

Dude, if you can make it to Breck in one day with the Tarryall detour, well than you are my hero. 

These are my favorite posts on bikepacking.net. Gets me all giddy, game on!  

Thanks for all your efforts Stefan.

As has access to the CT at HWY 126 south of Buffalo Creek.

Apparently the fire is still south of the North Fork of the South Platte - somewhere near Lion Gulch just north of Chair Rocks (the misnomer of the name - Lime Gulch - is driving people nuts around here)

Yes, ITTing a route is purer, because you can't get any moral support. But with group starts, it's not reasonable to avoid interacting with other riders. I draw the line at material support, which is a nice and clean distinction. Some people are OK with borrowing gear, sharing tents, eating from caches, calling ahead for services etc., and still calling it "self supported," but I think that it's more rewarding to set the bar higher. If you really want to see how strong you are, and how you cope under pressure, then try doing it yourself. It brings a greater level of commitment and challenge--which is good for the soul.

With myself unable to meet the group start logistics I will be doing an ITT - so thanks for the extra inspiration Toby. 

And I never worried about my bike last year (call me naive).

I've never been through the famous Apple camp on the CT - but have been hearing stories and appreciations for what you do for years. So I do hope you set up on route for us!!

I think even Toby could be swayed by some Ice Cream 

This from the CTF:

"We’re super excited here in The Colorado Trail Foundation office!  Our publisher just stopped by and handed us an advanced proof of Databook 5.  Sharp!  Going to be extremely useful… best ever.  Every aspect is improved.  Collegiate West and bicycle detours now included.  It’ll be your key to a great trip on The Colorado Trail.

It’s looking likely the CT Store will be accepting databook orders sometime around June 20.  We’ll report to you firmer dates as we learn them.

Stay tuned!"