CTR 2013 Planning

[Majcolo]

I have had my bike at top of Elbert.  Can't find the damn pic.  It was late 90s though, so perhaps they've restricted it by now.

I did Lincoln and Bross on my old steel Mountain Goat hardtail back in '96 or so. Loads of fun and suffering with a crazy descent as a reward. Might as well go completely gonzo if records are off the table due to detours. 

[Couloirman]

^^^ That's kind of what I personally am leaning towards at this point as well. Not that I will win it, but new unofficial contest to see who can bike off the summit of the most 13ers/14ers along the way on the most elegant (least amount of backtracking) route?  

Just kidding. Sort of...

[TruthRider]

...  I did Lincoln and Bross on my old steel Mountain Goat hardtail back in '96 or so.  ...

I did Elbert in '98 on my fully rigid Bridgestone MB3.  The steel steed.

[markphx]

It really is a bummer that Segments 22/23 are closed due to the fires. Being a lowlander, I suffered extensively from the altitude as I pushed and pedaled my rig from Spring Creek to Stony Pass last year. When I finally landed in Silverton at the end of that day I was filled with relief. Thanks to my selective memory, I find myself yearning to get back up there. I'm planning on starting an ITT on July 27 and I'd really dig the opportunity to push my bike up to Stony and pedal intermittently all the way to Spring Creek. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Segments 22/23 open up before the official CTR start.

By the way, an Elbert ascent sounds absolutely fantastic/brutal, especially if Segments 22/23 don't reopen.

[THE LONG RANGER]

if y'all are adding 14ers to the mix, just step aside and let the master here get by

[dream4est]

If anyone driving from Denver to Durango Friday or Saturday for the race wants to give me a ride I will gladly pay gas money. In Idaho Springs but would meet you if 285 way is your plan.

Mark

[Stefan_G]

The new data book lists Tarryall as the official Lost Creek Wilderness bicycle detour. Was that always the case, and the CTR just used 285 instead?

Tarryall has always been the "suggested" detour in the CTR guidebook.  There was an "honorable mention" for the option of going to Bailey and up 285 in the old guidebooks IIRC.  CTR '07 and '08 both used Tarryall, but skipped Tenmile and Coney/Cataract.  Back then the goal was to make the race rideable rather than stick to the CT as much as possible.

[GrizzlyAdam]

Ah, thanks.

So if 22/23 are still closed on race day, what are the detour options like? Pavement, dirt road, etc? Would it be possible to create a GPS file that included 22/23, but also the possible detour? If not, heck, what's a little old school navigatin'? Adventure awaits.

I've been watching some CT through-hike videos. I'm pee-my-pants excited for 7/21!

[Stefan_G]

Ah, thanks.

So if 22/23 are still closed on race day, what are the detour options like? Pavement, dirt road, etc? Would it be possible to create a GPS file that included 22/23, but also the possible detour? If not, heck, what's a little old school navigatin'? Adventure awaits.

I've been watching some CT through-hike videos. I'm pee-my-pants excited for 7/21!

Best detour is Cinnamon pass - 4WD road from Silverton to Lake City. I'll definitely *try* to get reasonable .gpx files of detours, but people should still study the options and bring a map or two.

[GrizzlyAdam]

I like map scourin', so I'm happy either way. Whatever we do will be new to me.

[Couloirman]

Cinnamon pass is gorgeous too and a great ride. Not to mention it's proximity to Sunshine/Redcloud/Handies.

[ScottM]

I should have GPX of Cinnamon to post if needs be.

And if needs be, I was thinking the course may as well take the bike path into Frisco -- race the original course, and compare times, you know? 

Hope 22/23 are open by July 21...

[pro_out]

You could consider Engineer Pass (the nothern part of the alpine loop) in lieu of Cinnamon Pass, to mix things up a bit.

[wookieone]

without sections 22-23 the CTR is just not the CTR. Hope it starts raining...

[Eszter]

Well, for what it's worth, I got dumped on south of Silverton today on our beloved CT.  It's raining...it's just a question of if it's enough.

[wookieone]

True Dat!
hard to swallow not racing the whole CTR! Silly in the big picture, but it is MY big picture!

[joeydurango]

Got rained on several times yesterday while out racing the DDC.  The monsoons are definitely beginning... but given how dry the beetle-kill timber that's burning is, it's not a given that the rain will actually change anything.  That seems to be the firefighters' take, anyway.  I agree with you, Jefe - somehow the exclusion of 22/23 just doesn't seem right!  There are other segments I just wouldn't miss, but that area is too extraordinary.

[JosiahM]

There are other segments I just wouldn't miss, but that area is too extraordinary.

shame the fires couldn't be on sargents instead

[THE LONG RANGER]

Had a wonderful time recon'ing the route from Waterton to Copper Village last week - here's the rig on top of 10 Mile. Made it to Breck on day #1 (no Tarryall), which gave me some needed confidence to take the rest of the trail on. Was hoping to get to Camp Hale, but didn't know if I was going to make it from Copper to Hale by my cutoff time of about 6:00pm, to meet up to climb Mount of the Holy Cross the next day (which y'all can see in the BG, there) - or at least have the energy to do it!

That saddle has to go, and I gotta figure out some better grips for the route. The Ergons are leaving my R. thumb  numb. I think the Ergon little fin thing is doing more harm than good on these rocky portions. Or maybe figure out some more hand positions - little pads to put in the middle of the bars for the "road" portions, and maybe bar ends as well?

Figure out how to get the weight of the rig a little lower, as well

[JosiahM]

That saddle has to go

that saddle looks evil. I can't imagine if you had a backpack sitting on that thing.