2017 CTR: Planning & Who's In?

[joeydurango]

'Bout time we got this started.  I've been absent from the site for a good bit, nailing down other parts of my life.  But hey, spring is incoming and the Black Cat and I are looking forward to summer!  Not yet certain of my 2017 CTR ambitions - I have an employee at the shop that wants to do it (go Zach!) - but if I'm feeling good I may just go out there and do it too, for the third time.

So, who's in?  Who's CTR-curious?  And who's starting in our fair burgh of Durango, and who's bucking the grand depart and starting from the big city?

A few of my photos from the 2013 CTR are attached for inspiration!   

[Bob Loblaw]

Awesome pics! That nighttime HAB shot should be the cover photo for the CTR.

I wish I could line up again for 2017, but life got in the way this summer. What an incredible, painful, amazing adventure!

[mtnbound]

Love the pics, though one of them gives me nightmares! 

[Couloirman]

I, unfortunately, only have vacation at the very start of July so am hoping for an ITT the 1st or 2nd week of July but am doubtful the trail will be even close to snow free by then. Fingers crossed!

[nepbug]

I'm not riding this year, planning on next year for the Southbound/Westbound grand depart.  It's always fun to follow the prep thread though and see what people are freaking out over.  It will also get me pumped to go out and do some shakedown rides of some new setups I've been pondering, that's always one of my favorite parts of the training.

BTW, I'm pretty sure I slept about 100 yards up from that night HAB picture in 2015, lol. 

Actually, is that pre-tank seven creek or post-tank seven creek?

[joeydurango]

Love the pics, though one of them gives me nightmares!  

I know, marmots ARE scary...

...but am doubtful the trail will be even close to snow free by then.

Yeah.  We've had some insane snow this year, huh?  In 2011, there was less snow over the winter, and on July 4th, there were still 25'-high snow drifts on the Crest.  Had to do some HAB up, bike-as-snow-anchor mountaineering descents on the steep, leeward side...

...is that pre-tank seven creek or post-tank seven creek?

If memory serves - and it may well not, given my frame of mind at the time of the photo - it was post-Tank Seven creek, on the way up to Windy Peak.  Got around Windy, past Silver Creek, and more or less collapsed somewhere before Marshall Pass.  Woke up a few hours later to this, and lo, it was good:

[Bob Loblaw]

That HAB from Tank 7 to Windy Peak was worst moment of my 2015 attempt. Everyone talks up Sargents and Tenmile as being brutal, but nobody usually mentions this infuriating piece of trail. Going southbound and getting to descend that section put a smile on my face as I fondly recalled the beatdown I endured climbing the other direction.

[schillingsworth]

I'm IN for the Durango depart this year!! It'll be a welcome change from Phoenix in late July. I'll have to remind myself of that while pushing up some of those passes!! I was able to sample some of the CT before & after Silverton last September and I can't wait to see more.

[Ben Salthouse]

Hey Ya'll

I'm an occasional lurker and first time poster on the forum.

I toured the CT a few years ago so am familiar enough with the trail to know better but I plan on doing the race this year. Durango --> Denver

I'll be driving out from Northern California in July if anyone is looking for a ride to Durango.

Have Fun!

-Ben

[joeydurango]

All right, two definite victims, I mean participants! 

[mtbordie]

I'm  a definite maybe at this point have to see what happens.  Keep hoping it is the year I am able to get back out there

[hjknox]

I know, marmots ARE scary...

Don't joke, Joey! I had one walk away with my jetboil once. He managed to get it halfway down a hole into his stupid little marmot den before getting it stuck in some roots. I could've gone DAYS without coffee and oatmeal. Still bite marks all over the lid and neoprene sleeve.

I'm not NOT gonna maybe do the CT(R) this year. I had an interview in DGO last week (I heard you were getting your wisdom teeth yanked!), and if the interview went as well as I think it might've, I'll be up there anyway (woo). As long as I can maintain some level of fitness after the AZTR, and if timing works out, I think I might go for it.

[joeydurango]

I thought I remembered seeing a missed call from you!  Sort of spaced it while dealing with the tooth.  Believe it or not, getting this wisdom tooth yanked had some small bit of reasoning attached to the CTR (and bikepacking in general)... difficult to go out in the backcountry for days at a time if you never know when something's gonna flare up.

Hope you found something good up here.  Will be glad to have you back in town!

You should definitely do the CTR.  Well, maybe.  Do the AZT300 first.  Then multiply that by about 2-3x (longer, higher, techy-er, walky-er), then decide.  I'm all for you going for it, of course...

[Adam Alphabet]

I'm not NOT gonna maybe do the CT(R) this year. I had an interview in DGO last week (I heard you were getting your wisdom teeth yanked!), and if the interview went as well as I think it might've, I'll be up there anyway (woo). As long as I can maintain some level of fitness after the AZTR, and if timing works out, I think I might go for it.

Oh oh... The hooks have already sunken in...if it's in your head it's only a matter of time. Oh sweet beastly CTR.

[iambarnard]

I am planning on being there. Currently coming out of Grand Junction. Looking for space for my 5th wheel in Kremling or Leadville.

[ezr4d]

Very CTR-curious. Concerned about altitude, coming from sea level, and the amount of hike a bike... but yeah. Already planning.

[joeydurango]

Yep, CTR from sea level can be a PITA - but you already knew that.  If you can come out 6 weeks ahead of time, great.  If not, 3-4 weeks.  Barring that, just show up day of, because your body will just get more run down trying to acclimate in a 1-2 week span, leaving you in worse shape for the race.

Lots of HAB.  Prepare to walk ~100 miles, maybe more if you can't breathe...

Best of luck planning and training!

[Adam Alphabet]

Very CTR-curious. Concerned about altitude, coming from sea level, and the amount of hike a bike... but yeah. Already planning.

I live at sea level too, it's the only thing we really can't train for which is a huge disadvantage for us. I finished in both 2015 and 2016, so have experience both directions. I found the Durango to Denver direction easier as you get up and over Coney/Cataracts early before your body fully knows what the heck just happened and in my opinion the course get 'easier' as you move towards Waterton. Either way it's a beast.
Train hard, get your body and mind as ready as you can. Get your gear systems organized and familiar and have (type 2) fun! It's quite an adventure!

[ezr4d]

Thanks for the input Adam. I expect a challenge!
Did you spend any time at altitude before starting, to acclimate?
Either way it's a great excuse to buy a new mountain bike

[Adam Alphabet]

Thanks for the input Adam. I expect a challenge!
Did you spend any time at altitude before starting, to acclimate?
Either way it's a great excuse to buy a new mountain bike

No problem. No time at altitude prior the race, wish I could but just not enough vaca time in the year. Each time I flew down a handful of days before the race to relax and eat a bunch, kind of a pre-ride vacation, but nothing that would be considered acclimating.