I wondered how long it would take this board to be infiltrated fully by typical internet culture theorizing and counterpunching. The price of "progress" I suppose.

For those of you that don't like the concession for personal mail drops, think about the normal fare found at roadside stops - especially in remote areas. Now imagine if you had a condition like celiac disease or some other intolerance for a staple food ingredient that is found in a shocking amount of processed food and greasy spoon menus.

Few people use mail drops, but for someone in with the above condition, they are a necessity and definitely a competitive constraint that is hardly an advantage or contrary to the spirit of being self supported. I think there's at least one person on the board who bikepacks pretty seriously sans gluten that will pick up what I'm laying down.

I'm out, ad infinitum.

Sealed Odyssey "Jim Cielencki" Trail Mix pedals are an even better choice:

http://www.danscomp.com/465131.php?cat=PARTS

Thanks to feedback from those in the know, it's what I recommend for hard off-road platform usage + what I'd use myself for freewheelin'. Robust + good longevity.

The MG-1s are nice, but the pins can be a PITA over the long term as they get jammed with dirt and bashed. Having a pin that screws in from the backside is a lot better. The Trail Mix pedals come in a magnesium version as well if you're really counting grams. All these recs might be more than you want to spend, but see it as an investment in your parts bin for future adventures too.

A lot of the platform cats in Salida ride with trail runners, but an approach-type shoe might be a better choice - again from feedback coming from 24-7 platform users who bikepack.

I ride with customized Power Grips and Suntour XC Pros, but the small platform (even with a good BMX shoe) takes some getting used to. BMX platforms are comfy and turnkey.

I use Carousel Design Works stuff tip-to-tail (I have a seatbag, full triangle frame pack + bento box deal, and a partial frame pack for shorter trips). The seatbag stays on the bike all the time carrying tools, a spare undershirt, and a rain jacket. On bikepacking trips it takes my sleeping bag and light bivy. You can cinch them down plenty tight and they are more stable + quiet than any wedge pack I've ever used. They are also properly designed to eliminate any leg bumping or rubbing. Go for it.

My experience:

I rode for a number of years on mixed surface rides, using a cyclocross-y bike but riding plenty of MTB terrain, using light front panniers and a partial frame bag. It worked OK, but once I got a proper set of bikepacking bags (CDW) I found them to be far superior - even for road/fireroad duty. I have found them to be lighter, quieter, less fiddly, and quite reliable. I suppose it all comes down to how much you really want to carry. I know that I will never use a rack/panniers again unless I have to haul a ton of stuff for comfort camping in benign terrain with my wife.

I am tall enough (6'2" with very long legs) that with a full front triangle bag + tail bag + sleeping pad lashed to the bars, I can carry a pretty conservative (read: warm) sleep system and enough water in most situations to not need a backpack. I too am anti-weight-on-the-back (I haven't bikepacked with a pack at all), but for really technical MTB terrain with a lot of portaging and hike-a-bike, I don't think it's wise to have all your gear on the bike unless you are really traveling light (i.e. "racing") and are OK with not having tons of water with you. Road wisdom doesn't really carry over to riding high altitude rock strewn terrain. I found that panniers really kind of sucked when climbing through deadfall and scrambling up super steeps, even with a pretty light kit.

I can understand though that smaller riders and folks wanting a few more camp comforts might find the bike load capacity a little limiting.

For doing things like the CTR and similar rough travel, bikepacking bags + a small pack if necessary are the ticket, IMO.   

The right turn in question is marked by a sign facing downhill traffic...It isn't marked as you ride up the hill. If you were to ride past the turn thinking it was farther up the hill, then there is a large sign indicating the road and the numbers which match the aca ques... the sign is approximately 20 yards past the turn as you continue uphill.

That was my exact experience when I missed the turn in 2006. I turned around and found it easily. There still hasn't been a good explanation from any of the affected riders, who still seem unsatisfied with their relegation, on why/how they made it to Helena the way they did and still expect to be classified. I feel for them, but it's indefensible. Some of that missed section has some of the hardest climbing on the route from the parts of MT, CO, and northern NM I've seen.

Cool Dave, it's great you met up with her.  42X17 isn't quite SO big.  I read an earlier report that she was running a 73" gear which is too big around here for even road riding.  Still, 42X17 is a big gear, around 65-67", I think.  She is pretty amazing.  We are cheering for her.

+1. Right on, Dave - good on you for meeting up with her. Deanna is an inspiration.

She must've changed her chainring somewhere along the line, as she sure heck didn't start with a 42 on there. That's a stock 46t Sugino Messenger crankset all they way:





They generally come stock with a 44 or 46 on there.

Like I said before - running a biggish gear might not be such a bad thing. It's not the 'fast' way (fixed wheel isn't regardless) but it may be the 'long haul' way, especially when you're staying positive and keeping your ego in check as Deanna has. I'm sure she has had to walk a lot, but that's not as bad when you're a good hiker/runner as she seems to be. Lots of dieseling or walking definitely saves some pressure on the posterior, not to mention being able to ride on the flats and slight downhills more comfortably. Contact points and knees are the real achilles riding like this. Parts of Montana had to be pretty unfun sometimes, but she really rode well through the basin and is doing great in CO.

It just goes to show you that a positive mental attitude, determination, acceptance, and humility are the goods that are really important beyond gear/kit analysis, etc. Not messing about and putting in as much time as you can during the long daylight hours = forward progress regardless of what you roll. Not to mention, a few of the really serious (meaning: ride from home, 600k brevet, ride back home) fixed wheel rando riders across the pond run monster gears in the high-70s or low-80s. I'm still attached to the twiddling though...

She deserves a finish + plenty of respect for her attitude and determination. I'm cheering for her too!

I hope Matt is ok. He's been off course for almost 6 hours now and he's heading west on 197. Not good.

He's on a legal alternate...the red line only shows one option.

I am on the edge of my seat.  The race has finally begun.  Kurt has pulled away and apears to be chasing Matt.

This is a great year and a great field! One problem can change everything too!

Tell you what...why don't you guys formulate a simple rule that allows assistance in the event of a catastrophe (mechanical or medical) and is mindful of larger, more competitive fields years down the road - many of the riders coming from a broader range of backgrounds, outside of the bikepacker clique? I think it's already there.

What pandora's box might be opened by people moving in a forward direction, vs backwards or rearwards?

Really? What pandora's box can be opened by making it legal for people to travel forward on the route in a motor vehicle? How could such an allowance be stretched, interpreted, and abused down the road? Is the honor system important in this sort of racing? You bet. Does the possibility of incorporating motorized vehicles going forward on the race route maybe put undue strain on said honor system? An extra hundred yards from where I stopped? A few miles? The next junction on the route?

Riding the route in it's entirety is the spirit of the event...but being tired/ill, getting a ride back to a hotel with a shower and a bed, and then getting a ride back to where you left of is not. Now do you start legislating that it's OK to do it only if there's a mechanical?.....and round and round we go. Better to make an ironclad rule and leave it be while still allowing for people to get help when necessary, yeah?

You have to think more broadly than "hey, that's unfair that you can go other directions but not this one" in certain instances. Force majeure. Tough luck. Them's the breaks. Luck plays a pretty major part in this sort of activity and you can't legislate that. The rules are blunt and keep in mind that these rules have been thought up by people who have been doing this sort of riding for many, many years and there is lucid reasoning behind them.

The whole point of me bringing up this rule was not to debate it or call anyone out - I was merely pointing out that a number of people started the race without knowing the rule(s).

This is all I'm going to say about it. I've started the event once, may again in the future, and I support the rule as it stands now.

Dave had to scratch south of Steamboat. :^(

He really rode great - I thought he'd pull it off in fine style. He sounded really down...keep your head up Dave!

Many people seem to think it's nuts to do it on skinny tires, I'm not one of them.

I'm with you - though it wouldn't/won't be easy...especially riding sub-25 day pace.

Ok, this is why these events becoming organized is really turning me off to the idea of doing them.

This has nothing to do with "organization" - this has been a rule in self-supported racing since there were a few guys standing around in the dirt at the start. You have to think about the broader consequences/ramifications of allowing people to move forward on the route in a motor vehicle, not just about certain situations when application of the rule seems unfair. You already see how things are changing and possible conflicts arising as more and more people show up. There aren't many rules to begin with, and those that are in place are simplistic on purpose with good reason.

From Curiak's GDR rules:
The original intent of this race was to ride the GDMBR as fast as possible in the simplest/purest style possible. As time has gone on people have begun looking for loopholes within the rules that'll save them time on the course. This is human nature and all of us do it in different ways in our everyday lives. With respect to the GDR, we ask that you please consider the long term ramifications of finding and using loopholes--the race will only get 'easier' and (conversely) require more rules/regulations as time goes on. This goes against all of the principles that the race was founded on. People: PLEASE don't bring The Race down to your level--elevate yourself to the level of The Race. If you find yourself looking for loopholes, consider taking another year to prepare before racing. Most likely you'll go faster and enjoy it more as a result.

Getting assistance from a motorist as it stands now in the rules is a good compromise between two poles: 'Getting motorized assistance = DQ.' vs. 'Getting motorized assistance and, you know, just make sure that you ride the entire route.' This is necessary due to the scope and nature of the race. If you want to take the latter tack, well, how are you going to verbalize it in the rules? More rules = more organization = more of what you state you don't like.

The fact that you can use a motor vehicle at all is in consideration of health + safety, not 'racing.' At many shorter races (e.g. Colorado Trail Race), motorized vehicle = DQ.

[Advancing on the route by any means other than your own pedal power is strictly forbidden.]

Yo Matt, Do you mean "back to where I left off" as in back to the folks you were riding with?  I haven't followed the race quite closely enough to figure that out, and figure out in which circumstances that happened.  I know you can get a ride back to the point you left the route (the furthest point to which you had advanced by bike).

Edit: Just listened to Jamie.  I would assume the rules mean he can get a ride back to where he got a ride from.  Yes he was brought back to Lima, an earlier part of the course, but the ride would only be to where he was originally picked up.

Rich already answered...but here's mine anyway:

You cannot move forward on the route, not even an inch, using a vehicle...even if you've ridden the section already.

The rule:

Advancing on the route by any means other than your own pedal power is strictly forbidden. No drafting. Any type of air scoop or umbrella sail intended to harness wind power is prohibited. In the event of a serious mechanical, medical, or other emergency, a racer may be assisted in moving backwards or directly off the route, but never forward. A racer may also receive assistance returning back to the GDMBR, however, the moment a racer rejoins the route, further forward assistance is prohibited, even if a racer as already ridden that stretch prior to leaving the route. Again, assistance moving forward on the route, in any circumstance, is forbidden.

This rule prevents a pandora's box from opening in getting outside aid...especially for folks that live near or have friends along the route. Unforeseen assistance is needed sometimes, but there are guidelines for it that are spelled out in the rules.

Legal:
Stopping in Butte, getting a ride to Bozeman to buy an odd part from a bike shop there, getting a ride back to Butte. Restarting at the exact same place. This has happened in Abiquiu before (getting supplies in Albuquerque or Santa Fe).

NOT legal:
Having a problem past Butte, getting a ride back to Butte, rectifying said problem, and then getting a ride forward on the route to where you left off. No dice.

Thanks again Scott, Kevin, Joe, etc. for all your great work. You guys are amazing + very generous with your computer skills.

Looks like Jacob Johnsrud caught a ride from around Grant over to Dillon, MT on I-15 off course. Hope he's OK.

I'm pretty surprised at the number of people that are cavalier about "catching a ride back to where I left off" (forward on the course) after a problem. That is in conflict with a basic rule in any self-supported racing. I mean, come on.

So what tires did he end up putting on?

Panaracer Fire Cross 700x45s. They are a true 45 and pretty bomber, they outer knob breadth is sometimes too much for traditional cyclocross forks. They don't roll that great compared to some other "monster cross" tires - but they'll be much more reliable than the WTB Cross Wolfs, which were a pretty risky choice from the get-go, especially on a fixed wheel.

He sounded pretty down in Breckenridge - hopefully it will pass and he keeps at it!

Hoo boy. It really seems like a number of people have come into this ride/race without real understanding of the rules or enough non-competitive background in this sort of travel. I guess it's to be expected as the idea of this sort of race becomes more popular. It's also a good indication that SPOTs can't be used for "refereeing" as many people have surmised.

It takes a special mindset to turn around and make things right (Pete B in previous years is a good example).

He seems to have gone astray over the first continental divide crossing.  D'oh!  This was one of the few places I got lost in 2004.

Oh man, there are so many places to screw up between Lincoln and Butte. There are definitely a few instructions in the map that don't translate well to the confusing junction you might be seeing in front of you. Rudi and I got off our bikes a few times looking for that lone Nanoraptor track of Matt Lee to show the way. It's got to be harder when you've got a gaggle of people in front of you, some of whom are guessing wrong.

Just how big a gear is he running with all those climbs and carrying gear?

32:18 with a 29" WTB Nanoraptor tire = ~51.5" gear. People have run both larger and smaller ratios.  

Does he have to push up the steeper parts of climbs?

Everybody does some walking regardless of drivetrain. The climb at Stemple Pass and parts of the route between Helena + Butte are pretty tough with one gear, especially with a lot of mileage. Consistently going forward + getting up early/riding late trumps big torching energy expenditures to 'clean' something.

Looks like Dave might be off course?

Yeah, he's good now though. The roads in CO are so much better, especially on a 'cross rig - I'm sure he's glad to have NM in rearview.

...some serious 'bonus miles'!!

Check out Bruce Giroux's track...I think he might get the bonus mileage trophy so far!

I'm really impressed with Deanna Adams riding as well as she is on a 73" fixed gear so far - she's doing great! I'm sure she's having to do plenty of walking, but in retrospect that might not be such a bad thing since the main issues one can have with riding this way (on skinnies to boot) are with your contact points. Dieseling or walking definitely saves some pressure on the posterior, not to mention being able to ride on the flats and slight downhills more comfortably. I don't think I would want to do that...but Rudi and I both suffered so much riding the benign road grade down into Helena on our low gears.

Such a great race this year. Thanks to Scott, Kevin, Joe, et al for all their efforts. Looking forward to the GDR getting going this week too.

Brunello does appear to be off course.  His next point will tell all.

He didn't cross into the US (there are a few Border Patrol agents in the area of the old Flathead crossing, despite it being closed)...but he's going west on a road that is going to peter out before crossing a pretty major ridge and have him wondering what the hell is up. He's going to burn a ton of time, but hopefully he'll backtrack when he gets to a junction/switchback on that road. I haven't ridden on that side of the border, but it's common in that area to be on a road on someone's private land without knowing it when you're turned around.

Looks like Dave Nice went through similar navigation stuff in NM a day or two ago. It's a bummer when it happens.

But, wish I was out there!