CTR 2013 Planning

[mtnbound]

Toby, thanks for the info. I'll second that it is an extremely handy book, I would say almost a necessity, particularly for newcomers.  

Did they also fix the elevation data for a few segments that were off?

[Done]

Did they also fix the elevation data for a few segments that were off?

I'm guessing that they fixed any errors that they are aware of. But if you haven't done so already, it might be worthwhile to send Bill Manning (CTF Director, contact info on the CTF site) an e-mail with any suggestions.

[mtnbound]

Toby, thanks.  I sent an email to Bill Manning, noting Segment 11 and 23.

Segment 23 in the Guidebook shows 3,515 feet of climbing while the Databook shows 1,040 (I think most would agree that 3,515 is the MUCH likelier number).  I think this was discussed in the CTR 2012 Planning thread and it seems likely that the 1,040 in the Databook was probably measured in meters since 1,040 in meters is close to 3,515 feet.

I also thought the climbing total for Segment 11 in the Databook was off/under by 1,000 to 1,5000 feet, though I don't have any proof since I didn't record it in my GPS but it certainly felt that way!  Also, the chart in the Databook for this segment seems to indicate the same, though it is not clear.

In any event, the Databook is a great tool, full of so much useful stuff.  I used it and pulled it out probably 10-20 times a day, to check for distance to some marker, water source, camping place, etc.

[Woodland]

Any thoughts out there on mail drops with pre-packed food supplies vs. just buying in town?

I did the mad rush through City Market in BV, but was inexperienced and wholly unprepared...wandering the aisles thinking I would just know what to get (epic fail on my part)

Considering a mail drop this year...

[Done]

Any thoughts out there on mail drops with pre-packed food supplies vs. just buying in town?

I did the mad rush through City Market in BV, but was inexperienced and wholly unprepared...wandering the aisles thinking I would just know what to get (epic fail on my part)

Considering a mail drop this year...

A mail drop requires that you get into town when the PO is open--which would be too stressful for me. The advantage of shopping locally is that you can hit City Market, the Mount Princeton HS store, gas stations--or even the Safeway in Leadville. Lots of options, and easy to adjust on the fly depending on time of day, speed, appetite, etc.

I fully understand wandering around City Market in a daze though. I figured that might happen, which is why I made a sheet with different food choices beforehand--including how many calories per package. I just walked around and picked up stuff until I had the necessary calories. It wasn't perfect (I ended up in Silverton with A LOT of extra food, and then stupidly bought more), but I didn't starve. My groggy brain had some trouble adding, so I'm going to simply things for next time by rounding up calories to make them easier to add.

[Johnny_mtb]

I was looking a the guidebook and noticed the services listed don't show any open/closed times for the stores. I know they must change but does anyone have a cheat-sheet for services and times they are open? I can call some places later this summer to make a list so we don't all have to call ahead to find out this information.
Also does anyone have information for some of the detours? The guidebook doesn't list any water stops etc. on the detours and this information would be nice to know.

[Done]

I was looking a the guidebook and noticed the services listed don't show any open/closed times for the stores. I know they must change but does anyone have a cheat-sheet for services and times they are open? I can call some places later this summer to make a list so we don't all have to call ahead to find out this information.
Also does anyone have information for some of the detours? The guidebook doesn't list any water stops etc. on the detours and this information would be nice to know.

I usually check online and make a call or two before the race starts.

As far as water on the detours, there's generally no shortage. But it's not a bad idea to fill up at Apple's (his location is included in my GPX file).

[Marshal]

Any thoughts out there on mail drops with pre-packed food supplies vs. just buying in town?

I did the mad rush through City Market in BV, but was inexperienced and wholly unprepared...wandering the aisles thinking I would just know what to get (epic fail on my part)

Considering a mail drop this year...

Your comment about your “mad rush” made me laugh.  Anyone who does a multi-day has experienced their own version of this. Dazed and confused, worse than a deer caught in the headlights

Anyway, short of a mail drop (which may or may not cover your actual-real-time needs) here is my system

Pre plan and pack in such a way so as to have plenty of empty ‘cram it in quick’ space in your Backpack or bike bags

Well before you reach an upcoming re-supply point begin to mentally list what you need to buy.  Break it into food and non-food items

Mentally count off the non-food items—say you need 4 non-food items, AA batteries, chap stick etc etc, now all you have to really remember when you walk into the store in that befuddled state is the number 4—ie: I have to get 4 non-food items before I leave

For food first count up the number of “meals” between the upcoming resupply spots IE: I need say 5 meals between resupply points--1 lunch, 1 dinner, 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 just in case.  Now from your pre-race planning you have pre-calc’ed your needs at around say 1500 cals per meal—so you need roughly 5X1500=7500cals.  All you need to remember when you walk in-- is to walk out with roughly 7500cals

So to summarize before I walk into a store I have just 2 things to remember—the number 4 and the number 7500.

Once in grab a small cart or if you are in a convenience store ask for an empty bag --stuff cart/bag with various items (even ones that do not look so good now but might taste super good come the cold morning) till it roughly adds up to 7500, grab your 4 non-food items, make you purchase –stuff it all in your empty cram space and hit the road. 

10-20 minutes max-- in & out –back on the road

Oh & buy & stuff in jersey pockets any tempting goodies to quickly consume--ie: a re-supply stop should always be a no effort meal—no effort in the sense you don’t have to lug it very far.

Anyway once you have experienced the “mad rush’ it’s not so big a deal to come up with a plan to minimize it.  However, you might find yourself evaluating random convenience stores for their re-supply potential

Marshal

[fotooutdoors]

Thanks for that shopping plan breakdown, Marshal.  Helps us newbies think through the food process logically. Now to make sure I have enough cram space... Also, do y'all repackage any of your food. When I backpacking and canoe trip, I often break stuff down to minimize excessive packaging.  I'm thinking no in general, but will have some zip-locks so that my open bag of jelly beans doesnt spill all over my pack.

[Woodland]

  However, you might find yourself evaluating random convenience stores for their re-supply potential

Marshall

So I'm not the only one who lags behind the family in the grocery store mentally storing caloric densities of random foods huh? 'Ooh honey look at this, this vat of nutella has 2000 calories and 30 grams of protein...' 

That is quite the system...pretty clever way of remembering what you need. Thanks for sharing.

I was looking a the guidebook and noticed the services listed don't show any open/closed times for the stores.

I got to Copper at 5:05pm and found the Healthy Tomato had just closed...ended up with a biggie sized hot pocket and a chocolate donut for dinner  Definitely not a bad idea to call ahead and get closing times.

[Couloirman]

I was looking a the guidebook and noticed the services listed don't show any open/closed times for the stores. I know they must change but does anyone have a cheat-sheet for services and times they are open? I can call some places later this summer to make a list so we don't all have to call ahead to find out this information.
Also does anyone have information for some of the detours? The guidebook doesn't list any water stops etc. on the detours and this information would be nice to know.

I just picked up Eric the Black's CT atlas and it has google maps style pics of all the resupply shops in town, with detailed pics of every shop in town on the main strip, post office hours, and places to get stove fuel. Haven't decided if I will be carrying the official CT data book this year or eric the blacks. They both have their advantages and disadvantages but if a map of all the stores in town if important to you, then check out eric's guide.


EDIT: Also, go to the climbingdreams website and click on a link to a detailed trip report of someone who finished in the same amount of time that you are personally aiming for and read all about how much food they brought, what time they rolled through each town, what was open, etc... to get a better idea of where you might be and when if all goes to plan.

[gdillon]

The guidebook doesn't list any water stops etc. on the detours and this information would be nice to know.

For NE bound.  This is all from memory, but I think it to be accurate.

Weminuche Detour:  There is water nearly all the way up Stony Pass.

La Garita Detour:  There is water once you hit the highway at Spring Creek Pass. 

While riding up Slumgullion Pass, there is a somewhat obvious clearing to the right (which I mistook as the right turn to the Cebolla Rd. intersection).  At the bottom of that draw, there is a creek.  At the real Cebolla Rd. intersection there is a campground.  After a looong downhill, before the turn up Los Pinos Pass Rd., there is another creek. 

Another creek can be found after Los Pinos Pass at Cochetopa Creek (where I had to run for my life from swarms of mosquitos).

Collegiate Peaks Detour and the rest of the way to Waterton Canyon:  water everywhere!

Any thoughts out there on mail drops with pre-packed food supplies vs. just buying in town?

The mail drop just didn't work for me.  I skipped a section of trail to make it to the post office, and once I got my package I didn't even want the food that was in it!  I still hadn't gone through the supplements from before the mail drop, so ended up mailing most of the specialized food home anyway. 

[Marshal]

Thanks for that shopping plan breakdown, Marshal.  Helps us newbies think through the food process logically. Now to make sure I have enough cram space... Also, do y'all repackage any of your food. When I backpacking and canoe trip, I often break stuff down to minimize excessive packaging.  I'm thinking no in general, but will have some zip-locks so that my open bag of jelly beans doesnt spill all over my pack.

Actually I use zip-locks from day 1 and carry a few spares. 

I like to use a big one to stuff & carry greasy food, like fried chicken or wings (my favorite re-supply food for dinner/lunch/morning & even on-bike snaking) or pizza slices etc etc 

I keep a ‘clean’ big one for quick water proof storage of all sorts of food and non- food items

I also always seem to use one for on-the-fly trail mix, Fritos, nuts, broken up granola bars, candy pieces, jerky pieces etc etc.

Humm, I guess plastic is still the future….

[Done]

New Map Book is now available from the Colorado Trail Foundation!

http://www.shop.coloradotrail.org/Colorado-Trail-Map-Book-MAPBOOK.htm

[mikedeber]

Looking at the calendar today at work confirms it, I'm in.  Unsure which direction I'm gonna ride though, leaning towards heading southbound.  Also not quite sure the exact day I'll be starting but I like the idea of being out there at the same time as other folks for the motivation if nothing else.  Psyched!

[ayayron]

Anyone have any quick tips on a good way to get back to Durango after the finish? Bus, trains, anything? Do people try to coordinate rides?

[mtnbound]

The new CT Databook does revise the elevation gain on Segments 11 and 23.  The correct (as stated in the new version) elevation gain for Segment 11 is 2,910 ft and for Segment 23 it's 3,515 ft.  Please support the CT Foundation - it is a great foundation and supports keeping the CT open to mountain bikes!

[Done]

Please support the CT Foundation - it is a great foundation and supports keeping the CT open to mountain bikes!

I don't think that the importance of the Colorado Trail Foundation can be overstated. Not only do the put in THOUSANDS of hours of trail work every year, they are also bike advocates. Without them, we simply wouldn't have the Colorado Trail. $50 or $100 is nothing compared to other required expenses (bikes, gear, food, spare parts, etc.) And it's a whole lot cheaper than any race entry!

It'll be interesting to see how many riders send money this year. It's an easy way to stand up and be counted--and to thank the good people at the CTF.

[Buttermilk]

Here, here!
It is fundamental to our racing and riding enjoyment that we support those that represent and work on our behalf to keep these trails open and enjoyable. In my mind it is part of the cost of racing...a small cost compared to the benefits.

Also, if you're riding the AZTR then send some cash the Arizona Trail Foundation also.

Lets secure wh.at we have before others take it from us.

[Done]

For everyone who's wondering about snowpack this year: http://www.coloradotrail.org/snowandweather.html

Obviously not an issue for those starting with the group (since there's never snow then), but it might be helpful for anyone considering an ITT.

I'm hoping for more snow. If we don't get some moisture soon, I expect we'll have another crazy fire season...