CTR 2013 Route Change Poll (US-285 vs. Tarryall)

[Stefan_G]

Would 10-mile stay? That descent is wicked fun in the dark!  And wicked scary.  No point in taking a part out of a route just because it's hard...

With 10-mile and 22/23, I'd definitely vote Tarryall. 

If all goes according to plan, I'll be there in 2014.

Yes, yes, yes!  No changes to the route other than ditching 285 for Tarryall.

[Johnny_mtb]

Keep 285. It will be fast downhill and you'll probably be going as fast a the cars!

[Shirey]

Newbie here & will be racing 2013, although I'm 90% sure I'm going Southbound.

I'd prefer Tarryall. I've always thought the 285 segment was a bit out-of-character from the rest of the ride.

And I hate cars even worse than lighting.

[ScottM]

I vote for 285 since CTR is going east this year.  Going downhill on it is a no brainer, and the Tarryall is looooooong.

Going west/south I would have to give it some thought.  It's the scariest part of the route.

Possible entrant this year.  AZT first.

[mtnbound]

I voted for Tarryall but am not doing CTR this year (so you may discount my vote).  Last year, 285 sucked for me.  It was raining hard and visibility was poor for me (glasses were covered w/water and couldn't see anything) and the traffic.  I was very concerned about getting hit by a car/truck, getting knocked/forced off of the road or wiping out.  Of course, going NB and downhill on 285, it may be easier for everyone though flying downhill in a rainstorm at night (if you that is when you get there) seems scary to me.

Anyway, I plan on doing CTR 2014 (which I hope is SB) but 285 v. Tarryall for next year is a conversation for another day. 

[fotooutdoors]

What about making either an option?  Most everyone will take 285, especially those headed east, while Tarryall will be an option for those looking to stay on the "main" route.  Similar in vein to the TD between Cuba and Grants (pardon me if I got the towns wrong, but you get the idea).

[Done]

What about making either an option?

It's the Colorado Trail RACE. By definition, that means that everyone takes the same route. Impossible to compare times otherwise.

[fotooutdoors]

It happens on the tour divide, though almost everyone rides the pavement detour.  Same ethos, same type of race.

[Done]

It happens on the tour divide, though almost everyone rides the pavement detour.  Same ethos, same type of race.

I don't know why the TD has that option, but I'm guessing that it isn't that similar to the considerations behind the 285/Tarryall question that is being discussed here.

[dream4est]

I am in for this year again, and I voted Tarryall. Saw it in 07 race. Rode my 08 ITT and three CTR's since then the 285 way. Also hit 285 on three separate training runs. I am done with it if a vote ever came up to nix it I was voting Tarryall. If in 09 we would have had the option to vote this way (Tarryall-ten mile-22,23) I would have. 285 will kill one of us one day- lets dump that biatch now.
I also voted Tarryall to make the race harder. Why go for a fourth if it is easy? Why not make this years race going northbound and already the hardest CTR ever even harder and add 50 miles? I say go big and add it back in. I want fewer entrants anyway the race is getting out of hand size wise.
It isnt like we would be hiking the Grand Canyon. Its 50 extra miles of roads over 285 basically no hikeabike. Well unless you are cooked going northbound the Matukat Road to Stony Pass Road to Lake Wellington Road will be a beatdown!! It was for me going south in 07. Total demoralizer. Cant wait to see it again.

[THE LONG RANGER]

What Mark said Especially the point about 285 being a stupid place to ride bikes on (that part anyways). There's OK parts of 285, where there's a shoulder, but I fear the traffic is just going to get worse, every year, it being the backup way to the mountains.

The only reserve is that it *is* extra 50 miles of twisty, sandy in parts forest roads, so don't expect to plow through it, in 45 minutes, which seems to be the consensus on what you can do 285 NB. There's no way historical times are not going to be comparable, especially NB. 

(and pretense again, I'm about 25% "in" for a CTR ITT, which isn't much traction, I understand)

[Matt Schiff]

I'll be riding this year and I voted for Tarryall, but I'm fine either way.

I'm pretty desensitized to 285 from all the road riding and bike touring I've done but that doesn't make it less dangerous. I bet plenty of people, myself included, will reach the top of Kenosha and know things could have been a lot easier for us if we were just riding down the pavement (if the Tarryall detour is included).

[Done]

I bet plenty of people, myself included, will reach the top of Kenosha and know things could have been a lot easier for us if we were just riding down the pavement (if the Tarryall detour is included).

Yeah, there are definitely easier ways to get to from Denver to Durango--which is something that seems to cross my mind in a BIG way on about day two or three!

[wookieone]

Had to be honest with myself here. This year 285 won't be that bad, and soooo much faster. But every other year riding from Bailey to Kenosha is often scary as hell. I voted Taryall, for the future, that road is terrifying at times, too risky, (but I do keep doing it!)

[Woodland]

I voted Tarryall as well. I hate that I find myself leaning toward 285 because of the speed with which you can get back to the trail, but the truth is that the Tarryall, Matakat, and Stoney Pass roads really are much more in line with the route as so many others have mentioned. And I think any effort to get off 285 is worth it.

It just seems to make more sense to turn left on Wellington lake road and head out into no man's land instead of bomb down into Bailey and civilization.

Plus, it's a pretty nice, quiet little slice of CO out there.

[Stefan_G]

Thanks for all the responses so far everyone! Let's leave the poll up for all of April, and make the final call on May 1.

[jmrl]

After having a truly near death experience last year with a semi and having more opportunity to be away from civilization, I also voted for Tarryall. I have to get through AZTR before making my decision about rolling CTR this year. Hopefully, I'll be there though.

[gbach]

I voted for Tarryall.  Having ridden both and doing more than a few rides a year in that area of 285/South Park I, for one, find the ride up to Kenosha breathing exhaust and feeling a fair amount of negative energy and downright harassment degrading to the experience of the rest of the CT.  I intend on doing a itt southbound some time this summer -- shooting for under 7 days WITH Tarryall.

[joeydurango]

I voted Tarryall.  CTR 2013 for me = 80% positive, so long as the bike shop w/ new employees allows at least a little time on the bike.  Already had to scratch the AZTR this year, but really hoping for a repeat CTR... I don't think I could handle seeing you all leave from the shop without me!

[gregclimbs]

Having riden 285 (uphill) the past two years, it honestly didn't bother me that much.  But then again, I have a long history as a road rider... and I will probably be ITT'ing westbound this year.