Re: Matt's post on stalkers...

A couple of years ago, I started touring the CT from the opposite direction of the racers.  I ran into Matt on daybreak Day 4.  He was sprawled out on the ground, eating, and bit stunned from riding all night.  But he was very friendly and nice.

Neil is using a 1x11 with a 34 tooth chainring (he explains it at 2:15 in the video on our mag) - and he's rocking it! http://bikepackersmagazine.com/tour-divide-rig/

- Lindsay

Yes he certainly is!  Go go go!

#TourDivide15 - Josh Kato called in from Pie Town!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td15/

Did he say that he was going for his third slice of pie and both JP and Neil got none? 

Triple crown !
I can't believe it

Congratulations!  Enjoy your "recovery" and thanks for the posts.

Sorry about the locked thread. Not sure who hit the wrong one, but I fixed it and merged the new one into this one so all the in race discussion is in one place.

Thanks, Scott.  All the while, on Day 83 of your CDT exploration.  Pretty amazing.

I find it interesting that those who are the most successful are often those who seem most willing to share tips with others. Guys like Mark, Stefan, Kurt, Jefe, etc. contribute more than they might realize.

I agree.  I'm not a racer, but I ride the CT and all the information that is shared helps both racers and not racers - a lot.

I just wanted to congratulate Robert Orr on an impressive ride.  As an older guy, he just took away one of my excuses!  I have others though....

Is this just a problem for me?

So I'm confused - Karlos seems to think he was racing in the CTR, yet he was taking handouts and riding with friends from the start. And only now at this point - after his detour - does he seem to think he wouldn't be considered a finisher...but would still be considered a CT finisher?

Are people thinking they can just use the CTR tracker as a way to track their thru ride (another ITT'r took US-285 instead of Tarryall and was for a fact 'not racing' - according to his bike shop employer)? Is that acceptable? Is it just me that has questioned Karlos' 'ITT' from the start?

I don't want to take away from his effort - I am just questioning his entry into this race.

I enjoyed the call-in from Dominic as a contrast.  I'm staying in town, but not in my place or any friends place.

Awesome ride, Neil!  I hope you heal fast.  Can't wait to hear the inside story.

That was the moment.

Picture of Matt after 3 days of riding (I hope).  Still smiling.

I can't join you, but thanks for the laugh!  Best of luck.  I did it last year and I'm still on a high.

I was wondering how hard they were finding it, NoBo.  I'm guessing that call-in from Max Morris says it all.  What a crack-up!

I will be riding (not racing) the CT starting Wednesday heading southbound so I will probably meet a fair number of you on the trail.  I will try and stay off the race line. 

Thank you everyone for your contributions to the forum as it has helped my preparations and motivation.  Good luck to all the racers.  I will miss following the race this year, but its time for me to go out and give it a try, myself.

A question from someone who has never ridden, let alone raced the Divide.

What causes all the Achilles problems and what, if anything, can be done in terms of training to avoid them?

Thanks.

To tag on to Beardog's post, I have a couple of basic GPS questions.  I know these might be slightly off topic, but I do plan on riding (not racing) the CT this summer.  I have a Garmin eTrex 20.

(1)  Is the trade-off between using the single track and the split tracks that the split tracks has more track detail, but you have to manually change tracks as you move through the trail?  I believe I can load the single track on my eTrex, but I'd like to have more detail where the turn-offs get confusing.

(2)  Does zooming in your GPS to show more detail accelerate battery usage because the GPS is refreshing more often?  I believe it does, but I'm not really certain.

Thanks for your help

To Matt H's post regarding finding FSR 211, you probably won't have any problem finding FSR 211 if you are riding eastbound.  However, I rode the bypass westbound last summer and got confused picking up the CT off of CR 39 at the end of the 285 bypass.  There are lots of earlier turn-offs without much signage.

I was riding it without a GPX of the bypass.  If Toby posts the GPX of the bypass, it probably won't be a problem

After my meager, but nonetheless challenging ride today (for me); I came away just that more impressed by everyone's performance (finished or otherwise).  And, its all for the prize money and contracts?  Any time some paid racer starts whining about the lack of a lead-out or teammates for protection, I can't help but smirk these days.

Congratulations, Chris on a strong finish!  When can we expect Chris and Eszter to team ala Babe the Blue Ox?

Three seriously fit dudes!  Congratulations.