2016 CTR Planning

[Adam Alphabet]

Almost.  There's a pretty big gas station / store about a half mile off route, just east of where the alternate comes back to the main route.  You miss the safeway, cafes, etc, though.

Does anyone remember the milage difference between the two routes. I'm not seeing the green line when i load up trackleaders on my old ipod. Thanks guys.

[JosiahM]

Does anyone remember the milage difference between the two routes. I'm not seeing the green line when i load up trackleaders on my old ipod. Thanks guys.

the bypass is about only 2.2 miles shorter but it's a climb going into leadville.
the biggest difference is just bypassing all the tourist traffic in leadville and on hwy 24 leaving leadville.

[Homegrown_CTR]

@Woodland,
CTR 2012, first day, after having been pinned-down on the Kenosha side of Georgia Pass for about an hour, I finally make it over Georgia and descend down below treeline, just in time to setup my tarp before another round of storms comes rolling thru. Long story short, I've never had lightning strike that close to me. Usually it's flash-bang, between the light and sound. That time the sound came before the "L" in "flash". The lightning seemed brighter than daylight and for a surprisingly long time. Nothing like lying under a tarp, getting pelted by hail and rain, having never felt that helpless and wanting to just snap my fingers and transport the hell out of there. I had three series of storms roll thru that night, about every 90 minutes, and the last one was the crescendo which I will never forget. What topped off the evening was while pretending to sleep for a couple hours, after the storms quit rolling thru, it was oh so quiet by then, I was startled by the sound of a tree snapping and then the slow-motion snap, crackle, pop of many limbs as it crashed into other trees on the way to the ground, what felt like less than a hundred feet away. No wind when it happened. Gravity? The causality of the lightning strike? A sign to get the flip out of there? My palms sweat just thinking about that night...
-B

I was out there that night too. It was my only attempt of CTR thus far...and that night was legendary. I may try again someday...I made it to mile 288 before pulling the plug. But yes, that night was MEAN.

[Adam Alphabet]

the bypass is about only 2.2 miles shorter but it's a climb going into leadville.
the biggest difference is just bypassing all the tourist traffic in leadville and on hwy 24 leaving leadville.

Thanks Josiah.

[Woodland]

Almost.  There's a pretty big gas station / store about a half mile off route, just east of where the alternate comes back to the main route...

That gas station has absolutely everything!! Even candied crickets - since I'm sure you all have those on your shopping lists.

[nepbug]

@Woodland,
CTR 2012, first day, after having been pinned-down on the Kenosha side of Georgia Pass for about an hour, I finally make it over Georgia and descend down below treeline, just in time to setup my tarp before another round of storms comes rolling thru. Long story short, I've never had lightning strike that close to me. Usually it's flash-bang, between the light and sound. That time the sound came before the "L" in "flash". The lightning seemed brighter than daylight and for a surprisingly long time. Nothing like lying under a tarp, getting pelted by hail and rain, having never felt that helpless and wanting to just snap my fingers and transport the hell out of there. I had three series of storms roll thru that night, about every 90 minutes, and the last one was the crescendo which I will never forget. What topped off the evening was while pretending to sleep for a couple hours, after the storms quit rolling thru, it was oh so quiet by then, I was startled by the sound of a tree snapping and then the slow-motion snap, crackle, pop of many limbs as it crashed into other trees on the way to the ground, what felt like less than a hundred feet away. No wind when it happened. Gravity? The causality of the lightning strike? A sign to get the flip out of there? My palms sweat just thinking about that night...
-B

I too remember that night.  Descending Georgia at 11 pm with that intense storm going on was ridiculous.  There were several people camped near swan river road, I remember seeing someone under a tarp trying to sleep (you Barry?).  I thought it was crazy to stop, not like one could sleep in that storm.  I pushed on to 1:30 am that night through hail drifts and bonks.  But by the time I laid down to sleep the storm had passed, thank goodness.

4 years later and that storm is still the most vivid memory from that race.  Riding through all the wet grit is what (I'm pretty sure) killed my brake pads and forced me to buy a new set in BV.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

[Stefan_G]

Just to clarify, the Leadville bypass is a legit option, but you will miss ALL resupply option in that area?  Thanks

Yep. I don't think there's even a gas station that way. But B.V. isn't too far off...

[hikeabike]

That gas station has absolutely everything!! Even candied crickets - since I'm sure you all have those on your shopping lists.

Well, they are now! I assume we are talking about Saturday's Discount. I just called them and the hours are 7a-8p.

[Woodland]

I assume we are talking about Saturday's Discount. I just called them and the hours are 7a-8p.

Yes - at the corner of Hwy 24 and CO 300

[aarond]

Hmm, according to Google maps, Saturday discount is open from 4:20 a.m. to 4:20 p.m.  what does this mean?

[ayayron]

Just a reminder to call into MTBCast - mainly because it's an awesome service that Joe provides, but also because I'm doing a video similar to my 2014 AZTR video https://vimeo.com/103845154 narrated by MTBCast call-ins. The more the better, get those crazy stories on there! 888-866-4491.

[mtbcast]

Just a reminder to call into MTBCast - mainly because it's an awesome service that Joe provides, but also because I'm doing a video similar to my 2014 AZTR video https://vimeo.com/103845154 narrated by MTBCast call-ins. The more the better, get those crazy stories on there! 888-866-4491.

Thanks, Aaron!

[GeorgeHD]

Anyone have thoughts on the minimum degree sleeping bag to be used on the CT?  I've got a 45 lightweight option or a 30 degree heavier bag.  I plan on starting the CT in a few weeks.

Thanks,

George

[brassnipples]

If you are touring and want to be relatively comfortable (not racing and trying to just survive) then I would go for the warmer bag. You will likely see temps dip into the 30's at elevation.

[nepbug]

Anyone have thoughts on the minimum degree sleeping bag to be used on the CT?  I've got a 45 lightweight option or a 30 degree heavier bag.  I plan on starting the CT in a few weeks.

Thanks,

George

I've used a 40 degree bag that I think might actually be closer to 45 degree.  I also sleep in my puffy jacket and tend to be a "cold" sleeper.  I was also always in a bivy sack, so that was a little bit of warmth too.  I was comfortable most of the time, even the night I spent at 12,500. 

[Yogi the Barry]

I used a 45-degree down Mountain Hardware Phantom bag [discontinued] with a Zpacks Solo Hex [with bathtub floor, no screen]. Sleeping pad was a Klymit Ozone. Wore a balaclava with top/bottom underwear. Never had to wear my down pullover. Even slept barefoot a couple nights. First half of evenings I could get away with open hood. By end of evenings, had to don the hood and close it down. Never got cold, just had to seal up the bag. I also made it a point to avoid low, wet and buggy valleys/meadows. Example: instead of sleeping at Camp Hale, after descending from Koko [it's beautiful down in that valley], I bike a couple miles further to get up a bit higher and warmer. This year, the temperature inversion seemed very strong - valleys were much colder than mid-mountain elevations.

Anyone have thoughts on the minimum degree sleeping bag to be used on the CT?  I've got a 45 lightweight option or a 30 degree heavier bag.  I plan on starting the CT in a few weeks.

Thanks,

George

[GeorgeHD]

Thanks Barry!  And congrats on a strong finish!

I used a 45-degree down Mountain Hardware Phantom bag [discontinued] with a Zpacks Solo Hex [with bathtub floor, no screen]. Sleeping pad was a Klymit Ozone. Wore a balaclava with top/bottom underwear. Never had to wear my down pullover. Even slept barefoot a couple nights. First half of evenings I could get away with open hood. By end of evenings, had to don the hood and close it down. Never got cold, just had to seal up the bag. I also made it a point to avoid low, wet and buggy valleys/meadows. Example: instead of sleeping at Camp Hale, after descending from Koko [it's beautiful down in that valley], I bike a couple miles further to get up a bit higher and warmer. This year, the temperature inversion seemed very strong - valleys were much colder than mid-mountain elevations.

[jgriffiths]

Hi all,

Just after some logistics advice from a non-local! I'll be flying into the West Coast US (probably LA or San Fran) from Australia. What's the best way to get to the start line in Durango? I can get an internal flight from Denver, but a little concerned about excess baggage. I've looked at United Airlines and they seem pretty pricey as the bike needs to be packed ultra compact or they charge you $150....

Any advice much appreciated!

JG

[ec_duz_it]

ShipBikes.com only charged me about $40 to ship my bike to Denver last year. But that was only California to Denver.  You might want to get a quote from them. 

[jgriffiths]

Thanks ec_duz_it!