CTR 2013 Discussion

[Nancy]

Fantastic pics!  Those grins?  After so many miles?  Are you KIDDING?  J & J absolutely brilliant!  Go, guys, go!

[Woodland]

Incredible, those guys look like they are out for a day ride!

Inspiring to say the least...makes me feel like a pack mule with my gear!

Great pics

[aarond]

Truly amazing to ride that far in the Rockies with such a small amount of gear!

On another note, if anyone wants to give CTR 2013 a first or second try,( ) I will be driving to Durango from N. Wyoming for a planned Aug. 11 start.  Drop me a line if you want to coordinate transportation.

[danwiz]

I was lucky enough to be in position to see some famous "blue dots" going by live this morning.  First caught the leading pair of Jefe and Jesse coming across from Gold Hill, then drove up to the Dredge and hopped on my bike to catch them again a bit further up.  Snapped some pics and gave chase!

It took almost everything I had to just barely hang close for about 0.5 hour before I turned down on Red Trail and they headed on up.  Just amazing how these guys can maintain that pace for about 100 hours, with virtually no sleep, yet seem to maintain good cheer throughout.
Straight up brilliant and badass
Thanks to all the riders and organizers for inspiring us mortals every year with this greatest bike event of them all, and good luck to everyone still out there cranking!

Enjoy the pics...straight up brilliant and badass

[Woodland]

So they have 70ish miles left. Can they possibly finish before 4am?

[markphx]

So they have 70ish miles left. Can they possibly finish before 4am?

Good question. I'd sure like to see both of them finish in under four days; they've earned it to say the least!

[Herb]

Hey Thanks Jarral,

I am not sure what Will would have mailed (probably not insulin) but I am sure an extra set of test strips would be much appreciated, Will and Brue and awesome dudes and like the rest of these amazing super human boys and girls would appreciate any trail angles that aid their travels.

[mtbcast]

Ben Gannon called in from Leadville!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/ctr13/

[Stefan_G]

So they have 70ish miles left. Can they possibly finish before 4am?

70 miles to go, in rainy darkness...  If anyone can knock that out, it's those two! They're in a class all their own in this race. And I suspect Matt Schiff is somewhere nearby as well.

They crossed Hwy-285 about 4:15pm, so without the Tarryall Detour, they likely would have finished with light still in the sky!  Sub-4 days was already insane before the extra 50 miles/7k' of detour was added. I can't even comprehend how messed up those guys are gonna be upon arrival to Waterton...  Barely any sleep, 550 miles and 75k' (or more?) of climbing.  And that doesn't even say it all as lots of the climbs require technical skill and/or hike-a-bike. Fully self-supported, eating who knows what gathered from 15 minute stops in only a few towns. Hydrating with 2 water bottles filled from creeks along the trail.  Just. Awesome.

Man, it's so hard to believe that both CTRs I completed ('07, '09), I rode the last 30+ hours together with Jefe.  Then he rode Tour Divide, and something happened -- the same thing that's happened to everyone I know who has ridden TD - he became an immortal, unstoppable machine.  And apparently Jesse didn't need TD to get the same effect!  If only Owen Murphy hadn't moved to Oregon. We all thought sub-5 days was a ringer until Owen single-handedly laid down a 4d03h in 2009. With no one nearby to push him, he beat the next fastest racer by 17 hours!! Leave no doubt, that was the revolutionary eye-opener for the race to a sub-4 day CTR finish.

[Stefan_G]

Stefan,
  Nice job, and thanks for putting on this awesome event!  Have you tried Ergon grips? or maybe bar ends to change hand positions?
     Becky Sears

Thanks Becky!

Well, you name it, I've probably tried it...  I always have bar ends.  Ran Ergons in '09 and had different issues with pinky/ring numbess, but not loss of muscle control.  Have experimented with 3 or 4 different bars of various rise and sweep, even spent a boatload of $$ on a pro-3D bike fit trying to come up with a solution to my problem with different positioning.  It kills me to admit it, but my body may just not be built for a race lasting more than 3 days.

I think the next step is to sell my Moots and buy a more upright, downhill rig.  Speaking of which, Jesse and Jefe are on vastly different bikes!  Jefe, a hard-tail Ti 29er, and Jesse, a super-squishy bike with a droppable seatpost.

[Woodland]

We all thought sub-5 days was a ringer until Owen single-handedly laid down a 4d03h in 2009. With no one nearby to push him, he beat the next fastest racer by 17 hours!! Leave no doubt, that was the revolutionary eye-opener for the race to a sub-4 day CTR finish.

I remember going to the CT trailhead area on HWY-126 outside Buff creek to watch the racers come through in '09 (as thoughts of racing it myself were beginning to grow) and not even realizing until much later that we saw Owen come through. He was so far ahead of everyone and carrying next to nothing that it never occurred to me that he was even in the race. I just figured he was a day-tripper...that was some ride.

[tjhalbakken]

c'mon Jerry Oliver!  Not sure where he's at, but I have to believe he's not far off the leaders, if not on their heels. 

[Slowerthensnot]

70 miles to go, in rainy darkness...  If anyone can knock that out, it's those two! They're in a class all their own in this race. And I suspect Matt Schiff is somewhere nearby as well.

They crossed Hwy-285 about 4:15pm, so without the Tarryall Detour, they likely would have finished with light still in the sky!  Sub-4 days was already insane before the extra 50 miles/7k' of detour was added. I can't even comprehend how messed up those guys are gonna be upon arrival to Waterton...  Barely any sleep, 550 miles and 75k' (or more?) of climbing.  And that doesn't even say it all as lots of the climbs require technical skill and/or hike-a-bike. Fully self-supported, eating who knows what gathered from 15 minute stops in only a few towns. Hydrating with 2 water bottles filled from creeks along the trail.  Just. Awesome.

Man, it's so hard to believe that both CTRs I completed ('07, '09), I rode the last 30+ hours together with Jefe.  Then he rode Tour Divide, and something happened -- the same thing that's happened to everyone I know who has ridden TD - he became an immortal, unstoppable machine.  And apparently Jesse didn't need TD to get the same effect!  If only Owen Murphy hadn't moved to Oregon. We all thought sub-5 days was a ringer until Owen single-handedly laid down a 4d03h in 2009. With no one nearby to push him, he beat the next fastest racer by 17 hours!! Leave no doubt, that was the revolutionary eye-opener for the race to a sub-4 day CTR finish.

maybe there is hope for me on the ctr this year if i can get a week off in September 
 

[Stefan_G]

A few pics along the trail with the amazing weather near the front of the pack for the first couple days.


Taylor Lake viewed from the climb up to Indian Ridge.



Descending the last miles to Molas Pass in the evening.



Just after sunrise a few miles beyond Stony Pass.



Still above treeline before Carson Saddle.



Typical large cairn looking into the sun.



Cataract Lake? Or maybe unnamed.



"Look! Cows!" -- Danny DeVito



More open grazing land on the La Garita detour



Columbines in the Pines



Sargents Mesa.



Some trail near Sargents Mesa is smooth...



Other parts, not so much.

[mtbcast]

Colorado Trail Race 2013 Day 4 True Ups!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[Slowerthensnot]

A few pics along the trail with the amazing weather near the front of the pack for the first couple days.


Taylor Lake viewed from the climb up to Indian Ridge.



Descending the last miles to Molas Pass in the evening.



Just after sunrise a few miles beyond Stony Pass.



Still above treeline before Carson Saddle.



Typical large cairn looking into the sun.



Cataract Lake? Or maybe unnamed.



"Look! Cows!" -- Danny DeVito



More open grazing land on the La Garita detour



Columbines in the Pines



Sargents Mesa.



Some trail near Sargents Mesa is smooth...



Other parts, not so much.

sweet pics! what helmet re you rocking?

[Stefan_G]

sweet pics! what helmet re you rocking?

Petzl Sirocco.  At 6 ounces, it weighs half of my Giro Xen. Something to consider when you have it on your head 16+ hours a day..

[schillingsworth]

I just got home from work, checked the progress and Jefe has 41 miles to go & it's 1:00am AZ time, so 2 hours to go CO time? I'm not sure this superman can pull off a 4am finish. Regardless, what a tremendous effort put forth by JB & JJ, super fun to watch this race within the race unfold. I'd be lucky to finish in twice their time!!

Josiah: I'll be watching & rooting for you next week!! Is Mark riding with you?

[Nancy]

3:28 AM  C'mon, Jesse!!!

[Mrs. Jakomait]

Photos of the CTR should be found here, if not check my facebook page, will tag Jesse Jakomait and you should also be able to find photos there.
http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/ajakomait/library/?sort=3&page=1