Hey Guys!

George here.  I have to say (now that I have had a while to think about it) that I like the route.  It is much more than I expected from VT.  I think Dave put a great, world class route together.  The amount of forest service roads, then VAST trail, then singletrack, then back to roads, are a great sampling of what VT has to offer.  At first, I thought more singletrack would be better.  While riding, I hated the singletrack, but it felt awesome after Cady's Falls to be done.....with only 70 something miles of road/atv trail left.  I up my ride, and attached it.  It was tough...very CTR-esque, but it is awesome to have a true Bk Pk route in the home state.

Happy Riding!

Donated money to CTF, but missed the message box to highlight biking.  Getting on the plane tomorrow from VT and ready for some suffering.  Psyched to ride again this year and looking forward to meeting new friends and seeing old ones again.

HEY ALLEN!  

Just saw Travis in VT, we rode a bit and we were discussing our CTR, wish you could've been there to reminisce with us.  

Would April 24-30th be too soon for an ITT weather wise?  No way I can get vacation for May 25th, but I am still interested in this ride, sounds fun.  

Stefan, thanks for putting together a great race!!  Travis Wildeboer and I finished together, but I don't see him on there.  Also, how do we return the spot trackers? 

Thanks again, 

George Lapierre

Anyone have a suggestion for getting from greenwood to littleton or the trailhead tomorrow on public transportation?  No time constraints for tomorrow so any route will work.

Thanks!

Just found my next bikepacking race.  Looks like a great one!

Groundshine,

When do you want to ride??  I will be back in late August.  Is there a gpx file?  Sounds like a lot of fun. 

Groundshine, is the Mass-Quebec ride on roads or does it include trails?  Sounds like fun, I hope I can fit it in with school!

Stefan, do we need to do LOIs for the ctr?  Or is saying you are in on this thread enough? 
Thanks and looking forward to June 30th!

Don't know if this is exactly the right place, but here is a little write up of my first trip of the year to prep for the CTR this summer! 
http://www.lapsintheneast.blogspot.com/2012/04/shakedown.html?m=1

I used this one.

http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/103/

It had all the roads for the places I have been, even some tracks of local trails that I will have to explore. 

Good luck.  Maybe we can get together for a ride and test them out this spring!

Used mine skiing last few days and it seems to have all the counties in vt for me. Which maps did you use, Mike?

THanks, Mike.  I am in Williston, so I figured I would ask you.  Followed the directions and it seems to work now....

Hey B-Mike,
have you had any luck with with the maps from that site?  I just got an etrex 20 but I can't get the maps to load....Are they not Mac friendly?   

I would watch that on the internet.

GPS, maps, databook, compass, and I think I am going to bring some breadcrumbs along just in case.  At the very least, I know there will be people in front of me, so there should be some tire tracks to follow   

All good stuff, thanks to all who chimed in.  I am sure I will have more questions later. 

Thaanks again Bart. I don't have a gps at this point, but I plan on getting familiar with one skiingthis winter. This will certainly be an eye opening experience for me in more ways than one. Good luck with AZT!

I am in the "never set foot near the CTR, but I've seen a lot of pictures category" I plan on bringing the guidebook/gps/additional map and compass (seriously).  I have never set foot on the CT and I won't be able to get out to CO until about a week before the race.  I will have the waypoints loaded onto a GPS, and now that you have put the idea in my head, I might buy two guidebooks, and "edit" one for weight. 

Have you used Stefan's waypoints?  It seems like that is what most people do, how easy/idiot proof is it? 

(Because I will surely test the limits of it being idiot proof)

Thanks again for the advice!

Thanks Bart. I have some book shopping to do. How helpful/essential is the CT guidebook?