CTR 2011: Race Updates & Results

[Stefan_G]

In the process of collecting and tabulating finish times.  If you're done and haven't sent me your time yet, please do so!

Todd Johnson wanted me to let friends/etc know that he finished at 00:59 early Sunday morning, but was having SPOT trouble.

[tubeSSnapper]

My husband, Jeremy, is in Durango and could use a ride to Denver today. This rookie Californian finished the CTR yesterday and we are all so proud of him. Please call his cell if you happen to be driving to Denver today, Monday. Thanks, his wife, Susan. His cell is (530)264-6164.

[gunni_girl]

This is Becky Sears. Officially out at Silverton yesterday afternoon. I was beginning to feel like a misplaced downhiller (pushing a big heavy bike up mountains for the thrill of the downhill).  Met some great folks (the people are definitely better than the trail).  Big thanks to the Brit Andy who helped me out so many times, and just kept appearing right when I needed him! I haven't seen your SPOT move- hoping it's dead and that you are en route to Durango! I really enjoyed riding with you and hope our paths cross again!  Forest, Jonathan, Scott- Thanks!  Anyone in the Silverton area who could get my resupply from the post office and send it back to me???

[Dro]

It looks like Tim Halbakken finished the CTR yesterday evening and is another of rookie who managed to finish this quest.   Congratulations on an amazing effort Tim, we knew you had in you and are proud of your accomplishment.  I hope you'll still be up for Kenosha / Georgia Pass later this Fall?   Just kidding! 

[Anvil]

Anybody know what's going on with Jill Hueckman?  Looks like Her Spot has been pinging in the same place for about 16 hours now.

[doumall]

Hey all this is ETURK:

I did not bail segment 24 to quit! I did get freaked out by the dark clouds starting to surround me so I bailed to trees (pole creak I think) and camped out! It was about 12:30pm when I was all tented up and like, ok, what do I do now. So I slept, ate, slept, and waited to the morning. I hit over Coney the next day and got out of their! It was beautiful and freaky at the same time. Thunder was LOUD, but no lightning that I saw.

I did pass everyone one by one and it was awoesome to chat up just a bit. You see more people going in reverse - thats for sure - but it is lonely biking alone.

I am in BV right now at another coffee shop and need to get more batters for my headlamp, spot and GPS! GPS wouldn't turn on backlight - headlamp was dim, and spot died last night. Dam I should off had extras cause last night was dark going DOWN to Mount Princeton (I was racing against the available light - dam I made it to the last down just before full dark - so close). Getting a hotel room for tonight, departing tomorrow. 

I had two interesting sheep encounters:  1) After getting up stony pass and into real deal altitude, meet a man on a horse with a dog who didn't speak English - I don't speak Spanish - who told me "Two Sheep!" several times. I said I didn't see them. Then he said "Bam, Bam, Bam!" with his hand in a gesture they would peck at me. I was eating some food then and got the picture - so I said "I go" and he said "go" and then looked over the mtn and about 200 or more sheep started coming towards us! Now I don't have sheep experence, but I bolted! Looked behind me a few times, crossing over a few big ones - no sheep.   2) Ran into someone who told me there were sheep ahead and the dogs were cool - ok - so I guess no worries. Got up to the last feild areas of segement 23 and right on the trail - 500 sheep or so. I was tired and not going to put up with trying to go around - so went right threw them - they moved away real quick when these two dogs came in barking them to split the heard for me - VERY COOL DOGS!

Sergent Mesa - was hard (the end section for me - all those rocks). Section from Hwy 50 to Mount Prinction - was the hardest for me (very ridable, just lots of ups/downs = hard).

So thats my stories so far - still got more riding to do.

ETURK 

Keep on cranking ETURK.  I know what you mean by the lonely eastbound trek, there is no one to pull you along or share in the seemingly endless struggle. No one to help if something goes wrong.  Everything is temporary though, a mantra that got me through. By now your probably feeling stronger, and the last few days will be much more of a mental challenge than anything. For me everything seemed uphill and I was never as far along as I hoped, you are probably there too.  Moments like when I broke an axle coming down the east side of the Tenmile, will test you, push on! The riding does get easier so let that boost your drive.  Lots of cruiser!  The final climbs out of South Platte on the alternate segment 1 were a tough finish, be ready for that and good luck!  Its so worth carrying it through.
Best
Joe Brannan

[mtbcast]

Chris Miller called in his finish from Crested Butte!

You can get the audio here, via RSS,  or on iTunes!

[Erick L]

Anybody know what's going on with Jill Hueckman?  Looks like Her Spot has been pinging in the same place for about 16 hours now.

I spoke with her when she was in Silverton and she complained of an ankle injury but was still projecting a sub 7 day finish.  She took off from there and looked good, I was surprised to see her stop when she did.

She flatted earlier in the race, and reported that her pump wasn't working properly so she had to wait for another racer to come along with air.  I imagine the same thing could have happened again, but this time with so many long layovers in Silverton she'll be waiting a long time.

After having to bail on the AZT 300, she is determined to finish the CTR come hell or high water, so I wouldn't be surprised even if she came down the trail into Durango having carried her bike the last 40 miles!

[forest_on_bike]

This is Becky Sears. Officially out at Silverton yesterday afternoon. I was beginning to feel like a misplaced downhiller (pushing a big heavy bike up mountains for the thrill of the downhill).  Met some great folks (the people are definitely better than the trail).  Big thanks to the Brit Andy who helped me out so many times, and just kept appearing right when I needed him! I haven't seen your SPOT move- hoping it's dead and that you are en route to Durango! I really enjoyed riding with you and hope our paths cross again!  Forest, Jonathan, Scott- Thanks!  Anyone in the Silverton area who could get my resupply from the post office and send it back to me???

Becky - blown away by your ability to push through to Silverton. I saw that you guys had to camp out another night before getting there. Sorry to see you drop out. It was great riding with you. Your constant upbeat attitude was infectious. Now go eat!

Forest

[Zach]

Congrats to all the racers finishing up!
I picked up a black Pearl Izumi beanie heading up the CT from Gold Hill; lemme know if its yours.
The flowers this year were out of this world! Felt like I was riding through a pack of Skittles the whole time.
Thanks to all the awesome people out there for their company and encouragement, especially Sean, Steve, the German girls, and my family/friends for moral boosts when they were most needed.  My brother hike-a-biked up from Kennebec pass to Indian Ridge to cheer me on as I staggered through there in the middle of the night, mostly delirious, and then he drove to Junction Creek to pick me up as I collapsed at the trailhead at 3 a.m.  Holding it together down those last 25 miles was incredibly brutal.

[Done]

Looks like Bart is going to make it this year! Yeah, it's always good to see someone overcome defeat!

[ScottM]

What an amazing year for the CTR.  Congrats to all the finishers.  I've been lucky to meet a number of people either when picking up SPOTs, or dropping them off, and the cool thing is getting to hear some of the stories -- both success and defeat.  This event really captures the soul of mountain biking and adventure.

(I just ate lunch with energizer bunny Eszter and she didn't even look or act tired or worn down!)

I can't believe how many people finished under six days.  That's incredible.  Strong crew this year.

Still quite a few dots out there moving.  Let's cheer them in!

[ScottM]

Also wanted to mention that I erroneously marked Ryan Feild as a scratch.  Looks like his SPOT has not working (and has not been for days) but he is in Salida now.  I am trying to get him a new unit, but have not been successful in reaching him yet.

In any case, he is still rolling (going eastbound).  Sorry about the scratch mixup.

Edit: He got new batteries and is showing a point in Salida now.

[Joliver]

This is certainly not my pulpit, as the focus should be on the riders still out there on the trail, but I want to say just a few words about this race.

1.  It is beautiful, and the people who race it and follow it are too.  The symbiotic cultures of bicycling and adventure are the best, in my opinion, of what this world has to offer.  Fuck the debt discussion.  I'm glad there are no newspapers or computers on top of Stoney.  Give me hail and lightning any day!
2.  Thank you to my wife for not only "allowing" me to race, but for encouraging me and supporting me in all of my unique endeavors.  You are brilliant.   I love you.
3.  Thank you brother.  Get the singlespeed up and working.  Lets ride. 
4.  Charlie, the Specialized needs to be pulled out of the shop and taken to the trail.  Old school style. 
5.  Thanks Stefan, Scott and everyone else who puts in the time to make this event happen.  Pretty amazing stuff.
6.  The guys that I rode with daily....Garret and Jarral...you are some strong mofos.   I chased with all that I had, but you guys were just stronger. John, the same goes for you, but I just happend to have gears in the end.  By the way, did you see that wooley mammoth up on the hill before Kennebec?  What the hell was going on up there?  Lets ride in Vail or Leadville sometime soon.  I'll get the beer, and you can grill some elk at the yurt at Tennessee Pass. 
7.  To the folks who started the race, but had to stop for whatever reason, and to those who finished despite the pain, I give you T Roosevelt and perhaps the greatest quote of all time: 

"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat."

8.  Cantrell...E Town. 

Thanks folks.  See you all soon.  Lets ride, have a few beers and ride some more.  Then ski.  That is livin'. 

-Jerry Oliver
     

[gunni_girl]

Looks like the Brits (Andy, Jonathan and Steven) have joined forces and are going to finish it out!  Come on guys!!!!

[Dro]

There's several riders approaching Durango, and I'm rooting for them to get in safely.  Lets all give a huge shout out to CJ who is in Silverton getting ready to take on the last sections of this beast.  He's the guy who 'used to be an ordinary guy' before taking on the CTR and who someone wrote in about several days ago.  Looks like he is getting this thing done valiantly out there in the 'arena' without fear of failure - a great example of the type of person T.Roosevelt wrote about in his quote. There's much to be said for the folk still out there and it is a true inspiration to see them persevering and sticking to the trail until they get to the end.  Its been fun and exciting to follow the leaders and friends, but its equally exciting to watch the rest of the group.  Much respect to all of them and the whole gang who attempted the ride, no matter if they finished or not.  

[Erick L]

Major props to Jill Hueckman for rolling into Durango in the middle of the night to become the 4th woman ever to finish the CTR!

I'm in awe of your tenacity and courage to fight it out.  I never had any doubt that you would find a way. Huge congrats!  Now get some sleep, the Crown will be waiting for you to get home.

[Walkurtalk]

This is Jill. Aug 8. 11:42 pm.    Durango, baby!!!!!

[mtbcast]

Clark Davidson called in from Silverton.

You can get the audio here, via RSS,  or on iTunes!

[sj]

Congrats to all who entered the Colorado Trail Race! 
You all are tough as nails and probably a little bit crazy!!!