Forums are so much more efficient than Facebook posts.  No scrolling through so much crap.  Ask the question- get answers. Search for something-find it.  Done!  I like it.

Chris has ridden a great race from start to (hopefully) his finish shortly. It’s not just luck. He has made some great decisions and pulled some tough miles when others said no mas.

Chris's lead is growing and all info coming from people who have seen him is that he's feeling good.

Let's put a face on him.

http://www.lostonabike.com/lost_divide/

I've been reading all of the discussion about riders who are out and I'm wondering why nobody is discussing the rookie out front.  It is interesting to discuss and dissect the reasons for failure and especially when something serious like Josh's situation happens.  I hope he recovers quickly and completely.  

Another poster said it was disrespectful to the other racers for the favorites to quit.  I think it's disrespectful to the ones who quit to armchair quarterback their decision and especially disrespectful to the ones still in the race to ignore their ongoing performances.  They are the tough guys/gals who didn't quit. Let's get back to the race.

Chris Seistrup has been riding a stellar race, making great decisions and enduring just like the rest of them except it's all new to him.  Whether he wins or not give the guy some love!  All the experienced experts who are behind him or scratched have their reasons for being where they are but let's pay attention to the guy(s) who is(are) in the same race enduring the same conditions not quitting.  The other two guys out front deserve some attention too but Chris is a friend so I am pushing for him.  This will go down as another legendary TDR and the fact that a rookie is leading it for so long is astonishing.  Not to mention that the guy is a hemophiliac who missed the race last year because of a training crash causing a serious internal bleed.  The guy is out there risking his life and heath!

And another shout out to John Shilling who has zero chance of winning but is out there to finish and take in the experience.  Burrito power!

I'm glad to see Chris Seistrup getting a little attention now.  He's been moving up steadily and doing awesome for a rookie.  Now he's in the lead.  We had a big winter here in Prescott, AZ last year and Chris was out riding and pushing in the snow regularly.  Now he gets the payoff.  He does not own a car.  He has his own business fixing computers that he does all on his bike in a fairly wide area and in all conditions. 

Is anybody watching the Trans North Georgia?  Kurt is on pace for a new course record.

John Schilling finished at about 8:42pm MDT according to Trackleaders.

Big congrats buddy!  Way to stick with it. 

I expect an equally epic and lengthy trip report.

I'm getting the urge to return to OZ but this time on the west side.  I'm thinking June-July 2017. I'm wondering about bikepacking options along the coast or anywhere interesting.  I've even considered just fat biking along the coast forever but I don't know if you are allowed ride on the beaches there. I'd probably fly in and out of Perth but would consider other options.  On my last trip we rented a camper van and toured around from Victoria to QLD hitting small towns and various attractions along the way.  I'd want to do a similar thing but on bikes this time.  Bike and camp for a couple of days between resupplies.  Seeing that WA is more arid than the east is the frequency of water resupply a big issue?  Any suggestions?  Also, are their options for renting bikes so I don't have to deal with getting mine there?  Thanks, Chris

I have a 2013 safety scissors blue Karate Monkey frame (size L) and fork (with headset) for sale. 
It's also on the Salsa and Surly Trader Facebook page or you can PM me from here.

$400 plus shipping.  It is in Prescott, AZ

It is straight and true but with some paint wear from having bikepacking bags on it.   
Monkey Nuts and Tuggnut for geared or SS setup are included free. ($50 value)
I'm only selling because it is a bit too small.

I also have a good condition Revelate frame bag for it that I'll throw in for another $75 (1/2 price).

Has anybody used the Guthook or other AZT apps?  If so are they worth it?

Thanks Tim.  I forgot about the water sources info. on the AZT website.  I have looked at the AZT mtb data book but I guess I just missed the line about the resupply box.  That spreadsheet format makes my eyes glaze over.

My wife and I plan to ride the AZT from Flag to The Canyon over Memorial Day weekend.  I'm wondering how the water sources are recently.

Thanks, Chris

If you are going when it is hot I'd do the northern loop.  It was hitting well over 100 in the southern parts when we were there.  Otherwise either part is beautiful and fun. The Lowman cut off would suck going from W-E though.  Uphill and slow all the way and I think there is a lot of traffic on it especially on weekends.

Great trip report and photos.  I gotta do this.

I did the Idaho Hot Springs main route with my family last summer in 12 days and we had a great time so my wife is wanting to do something similar this summer.  I'm looking for a similar route.  Not too much HAB, not much pavement, nice scenery, backcountry touring kind of thing with interesting little towns along the way.  Any historical sites along the way also makes it more attractive.  Recommendations? 

Geek on a bike Mike,  I just checked to see if you finished and saw that you had. Great job man!  DFL>DNF.  I enjoyed meeting you and pushing up Kennebec with you.  Hope to see you in AZ sometime.  Chris.

I saw Jay and Alex sharing a bivy on the high point before descent into Buena Vista. And while I know that they each brought there own pouch, they were rubbing each other down with baby wipes before they got in

That's creepy!  Great job on your finish. I want to hear your story. I was there just minutes after you finished but couldn't find you.

Joey,

The trail definitely goes through some amazing country and is challenging. My favorite part was Bolam to Molas. That also happened to be when I was still feeling good. My second favorite section was Coney. It was beautiful and mostly rideable. I'm sure I would have enjoyed more had I not been sick and bonked half the time and dreading the HAB killing my Achilles' tendons. I still had almost half the food I started with when I dropped out on day five. That means I was only getting about 2000 calories per day.

Tony,  I think you are right about being sick. I've never had those kinds of problems. My tonsils are all swollen and hurting too. The second night I could hardly breathe just like you described.

I'm at home now with my ankles wrapped trying to get the swelling down. They don't hurt much now but I definitely did some damage and am glad I dropped out when I did.

Hey Geekonabike Mike!  Glad to hear you are still going. You are one crazy badass dude. I enjoyed your company on the march up to Kennabec.

For those that don't know if he doesn't hurry he will celebrate his 65th birthday on the trail and he's riding a single speed.

I scratched today at highway 50 near Salida. Achilles' tendons could not take all the HAB. I had some other issues too but that one took me out. I'm not at all disappointed and am actually feeling pretty good considering what I went through for a few days. I could barely eat without puking. I spent the better part of days 2-4 seriously bonked. Segment 23 was especially brutal. I could barely push my bike up some of the hills. I finally just sat down for a long time and ate a little at a time then took a nap. That got me over Coney and all the way to Los Pinos pass. Today was the first time I could eat any significant amount but I was still not getting enough calories. On top of that I've developed a seriously sore throat so now I don't want to swallow. I feel lucky to have made it through Sargents Mesa and Monarch today but the HAB just finished off my Achilles. Last time I had this issue it took six months to recover and I just can't see any sense in continuing and making it even worse. The HAB is bad enough without the pain. I wasn't really committed to "racing" anyway so I don't mind dropping out. I may come back next summer and just finish the second half so I will have seen it all.

I will say that I was disappointed in the actual trail itself. I knew there would be lots of HAB but I assumed it would be worth it. Yes there were some amazing views etc but the riding was not worth all the effort. I kept waiting for there to be stretches of just riding on decent trail but there wasn't much, at least not for very far.  At times having a bike on the trail seemed as silly as wearing swim fins in sand dunes.

The brand new bag for my Sawyer water filter sprung a leak and I was already suspicious that the msr water tabs I used the first day might have started my stomach issues so that kind of sucked. My spot quit on day 3 too. Never had an issue with it before. 

My Salsa Horsethief was awesome. It allowed me to ride up stuff I should have walked but didn't because I was trying to save my tendons. It gave me pleasure to see the grass trampled from others who had walked even though I was grinding out only 1.8 mph in my 26x42 granny. The Horsethief was amazing on the rocky rooty downhills even loaded for bikepacking. I can't imagine a bike better suited to these rough trails.

Overall I'll chalk this one up to experience and move on but I'll say that I'm not too interested in repeating most of the trail I completed. I am amazed at the guys who crush this course. Both for their fitness and ability but also the willingness to go ride a trail that really isn't fit for mountain bikes.