Great to see Jefe back out there.

Golddust is optional for NoBo.

Nice climb though. Less boring,if slower, than the road.

On another note. Lee Craigie has gone off route big-time and hasn't corrected, being currently at the base of the Indianna Pass climb. I wonder if she messed up the fire reroute or has maybe run out of time and is nailing it toward the finish?
Edit: it looks like she went off route waay back at Como. Anyone know what is going on?

She's been marked as alternate way before Como. Scratched a few days ago.

Agreed.

Who wouldn't want to see the sights of Butte?

*tumbleweed*

5 weeks is nice, I guess if you have the time  it makes things easier.

I had a wife turning up on the 18 day mark expecting a holiday in Utah. I did not have the last two weeks as puffer time

I flew into Alberta - shuttle over to start a few days before - rode down - flew out of Phoenix.

I took 5 weeks total of work (unpaid) knowing I'd be three weeks en route. Time before to get over jetlag (with some pre acclimation before I left) then took the time after as a holiday with my wife.

University was happy to let me take time off and not have to pay me

Such a shame.

 

Most excellent.

Looks like Rickie Cotter missed the Golddust trail. In Como now, hope she realises, rides back up, then enjoys the descent. One of, if not the best, piece of singletrack on the route.

I'm just a TD wannabe ... Was looking ahead at the high temps in southern NM through Saturday ... 100+ at the finish 105 on Friday yikes!  ... Have any of you veterans experienced temps quite that high at the end of this grueling race?

We clocked 42C through the Basin last year (107.6F). Was a tad hot.

Shame about both Ben and Lee. Hope Ben can get a new frame somewhere.

OK, I know people have been bashing on the FB site, and I have been following on this forum, but I fell like I'm missing out on some of the action.  Can someone post a link to the best FB site?  I can't find the moist current on my searches

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=tour+divide+facebook

Keep an eye on Rickie Cotter as well, she's not slow in the slightest.

In case you've not heard:

Book 8 is out - http://www.lulu.com/shop/christopher-bennett/the-cordillera-volume-8/paperback/product-23042874.html

Chris,

That info tends to be something you generate yourself.

Greg

Really interesting Dean, thanks for that. Mine is here:

Prelist: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=2998

Post list: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3034

I am wondering how many riders were on a 1x configuration at this years race? anyone have any info on that?

Stats will be in the next Cordillera possibly?

There is so little off road riding in Ireland you'll need to plan a road trip. All land is privately owned, there will be minimal to no wild camping opportunities, there are also very few campsites.

I'm going to call BS on that. There is loads of riding in the country, not all land is privately owned, there are lots of campsites, you can wild camp sundown to sun up like any other European country.

There are big differences to the US with regards to camping in designated sites in forests certainly - there is no official right to camp like Scotland certainly - but in over 35 years of walking,riding, running in Ireland I've never had issues putting up a tent/bivi to sleep once outside of national parks.

OP - lots of riding opportunities once you're willing to sit down and look at a map. Officially there is no designated difference between trails/footpaths/bridleways in Ireland. Once you're not randomly tramping across a farmers land, but on a designated right of way, you're golden. Walkers may believe they have the only access rights to trails, they are however misinformed.

More of a post race thing at this stage.

Words and photos from an aspect of my experience this year have made it to print, quite happy with the result.

http://grit.cx/magarchive/issue-009

DSC01522.jpg by Greg.May, on Flickr