CTR 2012 Planning

[JReeves]

I hear that!  I took that into consideration, and have some room to "grow" in these Mavics, and the laces offer a ton of adjustment which is nice and simple!
Just a few little loose ends to tie up and I'm good to go... Still not finalized on tire choice...  Was planning on running some big Ardent 2.4's front and rear, but after putting a little lighter and faster rolling tire(Maxxis Ikon) on the singlespeed yesterday and really feeling how much of a difference that made, I'm wondering if the 2.4's are overkill???  Although they're darn near bulletproof, and smooth out the trail when dropped to 20psi, I'm not sure if they're right for the terrain having never ridden it.  What have the rest of you settled on for tires?(29er.)

[riverfever]

Ardent 2.4 front and rear for me.

I would definitely run that 2.4 up front. You can get by with something not as wide in the back but I really like that tire out here. 

[JReeves]

Great to hear... I used them a few weeks ago with my rigid fork and about 20 pounds of gear on the bike and had no problems with them on some really unfriendly bike trails.  So I'm sold on them...  Thanks for the reaffirmation of their performance for the CTR specifically... 
Got my Guidebook and Databook in the mail yesterday!!!  Let the homework continue...

[miaphillips]

Tires...I've ridden and raced religiously on Schwalbe Racing Ralphs Snake Skin tubeless for the last 3 years.  This includes Leadville, Breckenridge and Gunnison and some of the CT.  My problems have been very few and far between.  IMHO...best tires ever!

[bartspedden]

just an fyi - looks like the conoco at copper has had some changes. I stopped by last friday night around 8pm and it was closed. From what I could tell the businesses were very different too. The space that was a convenient store looks to be a restaurant now.  Since it was closed I couldn't really tell if the store had just relocated or not.  I'll try to get up there when it's open to find out more.

[mnmtb]

just an fyi - looks like the conoco at copper has had some changes. I stopped by last friday night around 8pm and it was closed. From what I could tell the businesses were very different too. The space that was a convenient store looks to be a restaurant now.  Since it was closed I couldn't really tell if the store had just relocated or not.  I'll try to get up there when it's open to find out more.

This is not especially good news.  It is such a convenient stop/minor resupply point.

[Yogi the Barry]

Re: Copper
How much of the base at Copper is open in the summer? [The "base," as in the central ski area location where there are lots of shops and restaurants open in the winter.] 5-6 years ago I was up at Copper for a summer MINI in the Mountains car rally and more shops/restaurants were open than I expected, but this might have been because hundreds of people were staying there for this organized event.

[riverfever]

I just rode over 10 Mile the other day from Breck to Copper and the gas station convenient store was open and stocked. Closes at 7 on weekdays.

[bartspedden]

I just rode over 10 Mile the other day from Breck to Copper and the gas station convenient store was open and stocked. Closes at 7 on weekdays.

Awesome, so the convenient store just moved to the other side of the building?

[Joliver]

Awesome, so the convenient store just moved to the other side of the building?

I was in there on Monday, and the convenience store was still located on the same side of the building.

[tridennisr]

I was there last weekend and rode from Avalanche TH to highway 50. I then got a ride to Kenosha pass and rode Seg 6 to Gold Hill trail head. I camped one night near hwy 50. It didnt take long to realize I needed to lose some gear weight off my bike. I did carry a tarp tent, and have been thiking about dropping that from the gear list and just sliding my bag and sleep pad inside an emergency Bivvy to sleep. My biggest concern is mosquito's driving me nut's while I try to sleep. What have some of you done to deal with this? Or is it something you just have to deal with if you don't pitch a tent?

Thanks!

Dennis

[Flounder]

I think your choice of bivvy bag can be a help with the bugs. I use the MSR bivvy. It has a bug net at the opening. The only downside to that bivvy is the fact it doesn't have a complete seal at the opening. It relies on overlapping fabric to provide storm proofness, which you can imagine isn't entirely storm proof.

[Flounder]

Stove or no stove, that is the question.

How man of you are stove users on the CTR? I have always used a stove on my bikepack trips and feel warm meals and fluids have a transformative effect on a weary body. I use an Optimus Crux stove and a tiny Ti tea kettle. Probably less than 400 grams with one small fuel can.

Who else packs a stove?

[joeydurango]

I personally don't use a stove on any bikepacking trips.  I guess a Trangia or something doesn't weigh much, though... I just like to keep it simple.

I do, however, use one of Shires' TarpTents.  Too many mosquitos in the San Juans for a sil-tarp, and I get claustrophobic in a bivy...

Bottom line is use whatever you're comfortable with.  That's what will keep you going!

[Joliver]

Stove or no stove, that is the question.

How man of you are stove users on the CTR? I have always used a stove on my bikepack trips and feel warm meals and fluids have a transformative effect on a weary body. I use an Optimus Crux stove and a tiny Ti tea kettle. Probably less than 400 grams with one small fuel can.

Who else packs a stove?

I have never used one, but I seem to recall Shawn Gregory using one during last year's CTR.  I'm not sure what model it was.

[Homegrown_CTR]

I am taking an Esbit Stove w/4 pellets for times when I need a "real meal"  fix. Living on power bars and junk can be a real downer, discouraging one from eating and you need that fuel.
On another note, has anyone heard if they are having a cut-off of the number of people that can participate? Just wondering if, after pouring myself into this for the last year, if there is a chance I won't be able to participate...

[joeydurango]

I haven't heard of any cutoff, although technically there's a 74-person limit due to FS regulations (I believe).  It certainly seems like this year's race will be quite a bit larger than that.  In any case I suppose there could be a second wave on the next day or something similar.  Maybe Stefan has thoughts on this one... I'm sure he's figured this day would come.  And, of course, there's nothing that says you can't just go out and do an ITT, say in September, when the weather will be quite good and the majority of downed trees will be cleared.

[Flounder]

I just weighed my Jetboil Sol-ti on the gram scale. 312 grams with enough fuel to boil about 10 liters of water. The entire package is roughly half the size of a Nalgene. I think I'll take it. 90 seconds to warm fluids is worth 300 grams.

[TruthRider]

I brought a Jetboil last year ... never used it.  I likely would have, though, it just never got cold and wet enough.  In fact, I was lucky enough not to feel a drop of rain after Leadville.  Leadville!  I was very slow, 9d14h, but if I had gotten rained on a lot it surely would have been longer.

I didn't use the stove, but definitely would bring it again.   If it's cold and rainy, some hot water would be worth it's weight in gold.

[anth]

I too had also recently thought about the FS limit although it seems from another thread(s) that there might be people starting ITTs earlier/later than the mass start on 7/30? I hope this isn't an issue because I've got my schedule/logistics set to show up the morning of the 30th ready to go!

Cheers
anthony