Josh, so sorry to hear.  Hope to see you at the finish line next year!

I'm curious to see how her navigation mistake shakes out over the next couple of days.  She's clearly physically tough, but was you point out that would be crushing mentally. 

Seems silly to me that at least a mention of the route change wasn't made well known at Banaff prior to the grand depart.  Perhaps she could have even updated her GPS track.  

My favorite pic of Josh Kato.

Wow.  What a finish.  It was impressive to watch happen first hand.  I lost cell coverage just after the 60 mile to go mark so here is how I saw it develop.  Long drive back last night and I really needed a couple hours of sleep.  What a bunch of gifted athletes and humble people. I'm sure when the time is right each will tell their own story, but this is my perspective from going from watching the dots for the last couple of weeks to actually going to the race site and finish line.  

I was in the car from El Paso from the time all three of them were are McDonald's in Silver City and my plan was to be at the gas station at I-10 when they got there.  I didn't count on Josh putting the hammer down like he did and he beating me to I-10, so I got off at the 146 exit and headed west on the frontage road where I saw him up ahead.  He was killing it head down in the aero bars.  I continued west on the frontage road and saw JayP and Neil's bikes outside the gas station.  JayP flew out of the store and tore off in chase of Josh with Neil a few seconds shaking his head in disbelief on how fast the race was getting that afternoon.  I meet a fellow spectator by the name of DJ, apparently a 2011 TD vet, in his green van and we spoke on and off as we leapfrogged the race.

I drove to back to 146 and went to about the 60 mile to the finish mark and watched Josh continue to hammer.  JayP arrived at that point 27 minutes after with Neil about a minute back.  I went ahead to catch Josh and told him he had a great lead just keep doing what he was doing and he would be fine and I went ahead to Hachita.  


Josh still looked great at Hachita and maintained his 25-30 minute lead at that point. He commented that a 25 minute lead was nothing with the "fastest riders behind him"  -perhaps a bit of self doubt or just true humility and respect for the two racers just behind him.   JayP rolled in to Hachita and took brief stop on route 9, got back on the bike and as he remounted Neil turned onto 9 from 146 and he looked shocked to be able to see JayP 200 yards ahead of him about to turn on to 81.  I followed the two of them and a mile and a half south of Hachita Neil caught JayP and they rode side by side for a few miles.  DJ got a great video of Neil catching JayP.  There were a couple of other TD fans on the course, Mitch, with a professional looking camera setup, a couple of guys taking video- Jeffery and his associate- and a dude on a motorcycle.

Without cell coverage I lost a bit of situtational awareness on the race, so I would stop and take time checks at easily recognizable places as Josh passed and then drive back to see were JayP and Neil were, snap so pics and head back to the place I took time checks.  Josh maintained about a 20-25 minute lead in each of these checks.

I leap frogged ahead to caught up to Josh just after the 25 mile to go mark and offered some more words of encouragement.  Josh was focused.  Later I would find out that Josh ran out of water at the 25 mile to go mark and would start to cramp up.  He thought his race was over if he didn't get some fluids in him so he stopped in a rain filled culvert and refilled his bottle and drank some "nasty tasting" water.  It worked and he avoided locking his legs up.  

I headed to the "finish" line.  Shortly thereafter Lindsay arrived awaiting her husband's and the rest of the racers arrival.  DJ, Mitch and the others arrived shortly after Lindsay.

Josh was still flying as he entered the finish area at 7:39.  He could not believe what had happen that day.  After finishing he commented that he could not believe he finished, or that he finished ahead of Neil and JayP... "I'm just a nurse... This hasn't sunk in... I can't believe it" he said to himself and those around him several times.  


As those of you watching the blue dots know, JayP pulled ahead of Neil after mile 40.  JayP rolled into the finish at 8:02.  He had nothing be respect for Josh and Neil and spoke of how those two guys" "pushed [him] all day long."  Neil finished up at 8:20 and was relieved and excited to be done.  

Josh told those there that he had not had a flat or mechanical issues for the entire race, he thought he brought much more stuff that he needed but after freezing the prior year he was going to be prepared, and that he never thought about not finishing.  He commented that seeing JayP and Neil very early that morning, he was sure he woken them up as he shined his headlight at their bivy site as he passed.  He also said that he thought before he started that his best possible time would have been around 17 days.  

JayP spoke of how his BB issues really had him concerned, but most of all he regretted sleeping FIVE hours the night before, which was way more than he had planned.  Neil was super pleased with his effort and felt he has done all that he could have and had raced the best race he had in him.

These three guys were simply class acts.  Each humble in attitude, yet superhuman their race.  As I watched the race unfold yesterday morning, I knew it was going to shape up to be something special.  I also knew I wanted to be there to see it.  I think many of us blue dot watchers had written Josh off as a close third to JayP and Neil prior to Friday morning.  He really found a great rhythm Friday and was just the faster guy.  Josh made some gutsy race winning decisions beginning on Thursday night and dug deep all the way to Antelope Wells.  

I came away with a far deeper understanding of the Tour Divide.  While I don't understand it in the way that those who have raced it,  being on the roads, around the racers gave me a great appreciation and respect any who toe the line and attempt it.  

I took a bunch a pics not much video.  

At 60 miles to go Josh has 27 min lead over JP with Neil about a minute back.

Just saw Josh crushing it down the frontage road of i10. Then I headed west to the gas station and JP and Neil were reapplying. Josh is flying. He has a huge tailwind down 146. JP and Neil are a bit back and are getting hammered in a rain storm that Josh is ahead of.

These guys are racing.

Decided this morning that I am going to the finish line this afternoon.   Headed first to the gas station at I-10 and then will leapfrog the trio to the finish line.  Something I have wanted to see for the last couple of years, this year's race is too good not to figure out how to make it happen.  

Any best guessed on what time these guys finish? 

Day light finish tomorrow?

Hard to believe that less than a half of a mile separates JP and Neil now.  Crazy after 2150 miles of racing. 

I've had the Rime Elite for a couple of weeks and several long bike rides in the very rocky and monsoon trashed trails in El Paso.  A bit more hike a bike than 8 months ago due to the erosion on the trails.  The Rime Elite seem to be doing well and the sole is still in excellent condition.

Fit is spot on, which is why I'm am fond of Specialized footwear.  I opted for the Elite model as I prefer the velcro closure to BOA for all things not the road.  Very comfortable to walk in, stiff enough on the bike.

After few more weeks and some longer stuff, I report with any updates. 

We discussed this briefly earlier in the thread, but stay tuned for more updates as some of us get out on more of the trail.  Lots of work events are happening to fix damage.  Some sections definitely got hammered.

Thanks.  I forgot about that post in this thread. 

As in not rideable hammered? 

My local trails in El Paso got hammered too... some are rideable, some are just significantly more difficult, some are no longer rideable.  I was hoping to understand the extent of the damage when that information is available.

Anyone know how the monsoon rains and floods early this year affected condition of the trail? 

I'm going to order a pair of Rime's.  The Elite model has a only velcro and doesn't have the inside of the ankle pad found on the Expert model.  I'm in the desert of West Texas (not too different from AZ) and will test them prior to AZT.   I've been pretty happy with how every other pair of Specialized shoes fit me, so this look like the best option. 

Any thoughts on the Specialized Rime?  They look pretty good for hike a bike. Not sure how they are for on the bike.

So, I've noticed a lot of AZT 300/750 riders don't use tents, just a sleeping bag and some tyvek

Here in Missouri we either use a hammock or just use sleeping bags on the ground, but aren't there lizards, snakes and stuff to worry about in the desert? I'm curious what the preferred setup would be.

Sure there are critters like snakes and lizards, but the bugs aren't bad, the ground stays dry, and a bag and ground cloth is sufficient.  And light and compact. 

I contacted Exposure, and they told me that their Remote Switch does not work with the Revo.   

So a switch in the power input line, as bmike-vt suggested, is the only option.

Thanks that helps. 

Then I think the easiest solution may be to make a few different power connectors and use the one I need for the specific application. 

I found some DC Plugs that fit the Revo at Radio Shack (PN: 274-1532).

http://www.radioshack.com/4-0x1-7mm-coaxial-dc-power-plug-2-pack/2741532.html#q=dc+plug&start=2

I'll fab up one with a switch as you suggested with the Sinewave, one with a switch and no Sinewave and keep the one that came with the Revo intact. 

Again, appreciate the help.   

If you wire the Sinewave or USBwerk in parallel (as I have mine currently setup) - unplugging the Revo will still power the Sinewave or USBwerk.

I guess I didn't word the question well. 

If I run a Revo and Sinewave in parallel will the Revo reach full power when the Sinewave doesn't have a load on it (nothing plugged in)?   

If I use an Exposure switch on the Revo (if that works) will that allow full power to the Sinewave  when the switch is off (as it does when you unplug it)?

You need to setup a 3 way SPDT switch.
If would function charge (or sinewave) on, all off, light on.

I thought about that too, but wondering if this simplifies wiring and allows for flexibility to run just the Revo or just the Sinewave alone.