American Trail Race 5000

[aaron w]

I am thrilled to have completed this epic route.  It was a tough one...who would have thunk it    I was expecting the miles to come a bit easier that on the TD route, for me that was not the case.  Surface conditions often made for slow going and at times the climbing was surprisingly relentless.  Also the heat and humidity out east took a surprising toll.  Two riders still on course, Mark and Hal.  It's great to watch their relentless progress.  Clearly neither of them will be stopped now by anything short of disaster.  Go Mark and Hal!

[jjmundt]

Hal Russell's last two call-ins to MTBCast have been incredible.  Torrential rains, gobs of hail, lightning, forest fires.

That man is TOUGH!!!  All kinds of adversity and he still seems so incredibly positive.  You go, Hal!!

[jjmundt]

Hal with about 75 miles to go...he'll be done today or tomorrow.  His last call to MTBCast was a bit emotional at the end.  He's going to have some great stories to tell when he's done...as will all the participants.

Almost there, Hal!!!

[Rob Colliver]

Good job Hal.

[cloudrider]

Congratulations Hal on finishing this epic journey!

Dylan Taylor, Indiana Schulz, Michael Kinney, David and Loreto Garcia, Aaron Weinsheimer, Lindsay Shepard, Mark Snidero and Hal Russell, I salute you all. What an epic achievement and journey.

The highest rider completion rate in contemporary ultra endurance racing history.

Cut a notch in the bedhead, get the scrap album out this has been a moment to savour for you all. I am humbled but immeasurably inspired.

[woody]

Congrats Hal. I really enjoyed your call-ins.

[Payton MacDonald]

Huge congratulations to everyone involved with this.  Amazing job from the racers, so inspiring!!!

[woody]

I was trying to figure out what was going on with Mike, but I think he is doing the original route that goes over Imogene Pass.

[jmrl]

Curious about how Mike is doing. Looks like he's on a highway quite a ways off route heading towards Reno.

[Mikebike]

Hi Guys.  Mike here from what was gunna be the American Trail Race, but turned into an exciting ride across America.  As you already noticed, I did go over Engineer and Emogene passes (Emogene is tough).  Doing both those passes in one day was one of the hardest days, but I knew I had to because of weather moving in the next day.  The day after out of Teluride I got hypothermia from cold rain.  From then on everyday was a race against the weather.  I finally called it quits in Utah after two days of dragging my bike through the snow and mud up above 6500'.  Between the cold, snow, mud and rain, I decided to discontinue the route and just go ahead and make my way across the country as best I could.  I knew I was starting a little late and the weather did not let me pass.  The cold front that put 18" of snow on many of the high ski resorts also brought cold and rain further south making many of the passes impassable (for me).  Anyway, I followed the first 3900 miles on the ATR trail and then put in another 800 miles on mainly pavement making my way to the Golden Gate bridge.  Sorry I did not complete the race, but pleased that I did in fact ride my bike all the way across the nation...against the wind.  Cheers!

[tahic]

Will this be run again in 2018?

[Rob Colliver]

Yes. And again in 2019 (I hope) . Can't play this year as I'm kayak racing in the Yukon. Need to get this race finished and not get ill again.

[tuhduhvuh]

Hi everyone, usually just someone who reads "behind the scenes"....  I too was hoping this event would become a fixture.   Noticed just one person doing the route this year.   Any comments on why that is,  why it shrunk rather than grew?   Hope it will continue to be a "route".

[NewRetroTom]

I believe that the Tour Divide at 2700 miles is at the limit of challenges that people are willing to take on. Fast riders can complete it in under 20 days, and even "normal" people can do it in under a month.
The ATR 5000 is nearly double the distance, and probably more than double the time.

Who would take on such a challenge?
I think you need to fall in to all the following categories:
- have a couple of months to spare
- are already a confirmed ultra endurance athlete who has finished some very long events
- have sufficient funds to get to the start and home from the finish as well as paying for food, parts and some accommodation on route
- believe that this route will be better/more satisfying than other routes available (why not a TD yo-yo instead?)

If you draw a venn diagram of all these people I don't think you will find many who have all the above.

Mike Hall tried to start the round the world race as an annual event, but there were nowhere near enough riders to make it a viable race. The Transcontinental on the other hand, which is only 2 weeks has thrived. Not many people are prepared to put so much time into something, even as a "once in a lifetime" experience.

[tuhduhvuh]

That all makes a lot of sense!   

Hadn't really thought that through but all those things would be factors.   

It's so true,  I can do several "longer" rides close to home,  with very little in the way of planning.

The logistics of getting yourself to a "distant" start and then home from the finish alone would be a potential deal breaker.   

I would have considered myself in the "once in a lifetime crowd". 

Thanks for taking the time to respond!