CTR 2015 Planning

[hjknox]

also works great to powder up an inner tube should you need to put one in.

smart.

[Cadence Lee]

Waterton Canyon was briefly closed.  It has re-opened now!!!  Game on!!!

[joeydurango]

Well that's a bummer.  Hope they fix it soon...

[Robzilla_Killa]

I am planning on doing a ITT leaving from Denver and heading South.  Haven't decided on July 24th or 25th for my start date but will prob start around 6am. 

Is there anyone else looking to do the same? 

It would be cool to coordinate a ride to the trail head/ a near by hotel or someone willing to house a cyclist for a night.  I will be flying in from Phoenix Sky Harbor.  Willing to throw in some money for arrangements. 

Thanks, feel free to message me  I'm new to using the site

[Askjeff]

In response to the bivvy/sleep system options; I used a lightweight tarp from Hyperlite of the great state of Maine in combination with a Summerlite mummy bag from Western Mountaineering and a bivvy from Borah. The system both packed light and gave me the protection and versatility I needed. I was poured on hard for two nights and stayed dry and warm enough...

[Adam Alphabet]

Tires, tires, tires......
What do you guys down in Colorado run for a front tire day to day and for this event?
Thanks in advance!

[Montana Miller]

Tires, tires, tires......
What do you guys down in Colorado run for a front tire day to day and for this event?
Thanks in advance!

Something knobby, but not too heavy. Ardents are super popular in my area. You certainly could get away with something racier, and deal with pedaling something heavier. I really dig a 29x2.5 Minion up front for extra downhill radness

[aaron w]

I've had a couple successful runs on Saguaro's non-tubeless version (running tubeless though).  No flats or problems either time. 

[mtnbound]

Continental X-King and Mountain King both do well in Colorado.

[joeydurango]

I've been stoked on Ardents for a few years now.  The 2.4 EXO/TR version is especially good.  They also just came out with a 2.35 EXO/TR Ignitor, which I'll have to try soon - always liked the narrower Ignitors.

[Majcolo]

Conti Trail Kings are excellent here, but really heavy. Very happy with Race Kings now.

[ayayron]

I've been riding the new Ardent Races EXO for pretty much everything this past year. Same knob pattern as Ardent but slightly lower profile. Lighter and rolls faster. Max size is only 2.20 tho.

[Adam Alphabet]

Thanks a bunch guys... Up here I've been on a DHR II front 2.3" and an ikon rear 2.35" both EXO and TR. I wish they made that Ardent race in 2.3/2.4" as I don't want to slog that DHRII over all that gravel/road. I  toured the CT in 2012 on a 2.4" Ardent up front and found it good, but trying it again recently I found it pretty round and couldn't trust it in the corners.

Thanks for all the input.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Tires: chance I may do this without a sus. fork, so the widest I can fit on the thing, perhaps even a Krampus-like Fork. Having a sus fork blow out of me again would be less than ideal.

Sleep system: my current UL setup is as followings:
Bivvy: BD Twighlight 303 g
Pad: Neo Air XTherm M 410 g (warm!)
Bag: Kelty Light Year 40 degree down 822 g
= 3.4 pounds. That should do.

Still considering hiking it (with that same sleep setup) to go for the unsupported (all food from the begining!) FKT (currently: 10 days 19hrs 5 min), which I think is soft, soft, soft, then turning around and establishing an unsupported time on the bike, which will not be fast by any means at all! I STILL would like to beat my 2013 time of <8 days, which I... think? Is doable?

I've got a bit of a kink in my plans, as I need to be home before the 1st of August to clean my house, which is laaaaaaaame, but I don't think I can get out of it! Sigh. I'd like to do the bike part somewhat near the mass start, but if not, I'd do this all earlier. With the snowpack, that may not be a doable thing, especially with the bike part.

[Enjoying the View]

Hey Guys and Gals,

I am planning to ride the CT this year with a start date of July 29th or 30th heading NB.

I guess you could call it an ITT, though I may be riding it with another person.  I will be no means racing it but will be putting in my own hard efforts each day.  I'd be happy first and foremost with just finishing it, but in the back of my head I would be pretty happy with a sub 10 day finish or who knows maybe even faster. I have been riding for ever but combining backpacking and riding together is new to me.  I  have been reading and rereading just about everything I possibly can in regards to trail beta, gear, ect.  A few weeks ago, I rode the first three segments out and back as an overnighter and got a taste of how hard it will really be fully loaded up and also how rewarding it can be.  Lesson learned: Must lighten gear and myself.

So I just wanted to check in and say hi and thank you to all those who have contributed to the resources and knowledge that has been shared over the years. It's been extremely helpful.  I'm sure I'll have questions and hopefully be able to contribute some as well.

[martin]

Hi Aaron,
my Wife & I are popping over to the States to ride the CTR next month, excited is an understatement....
Your flyover gave us such a great insight into the Adventure - so thanks a million for that.
Cheerio
Martin

[Bob Loblaw]

Is anyone out there that raced in 2013 that wants to weigh in on a few Day 1 strategies?

• Going light on food, going hard and aiming for Silverton by closing time on Day 1
• Going light on food, taking it easy and just committing to being at the store the morning of Day 2
• Packing enough food to just skip Silverton completely if you hit it during the night

I've read the discussions on the 2013 CTR Discussion thread, but I didn't see anyone's post-race thoughts on the strategy they used.

[joeydurango]

Hey Bob, a few thoughts on my 2013 "fast tour" CTR:  I personally chose to pack 3-4 days of food from the get-go and figure on missing the store in Silverton.  Several reasons:

-Packing food from the start that I know I like and can eat while riding
-Packing food well (small) without extra packaging ahead of time, saving time in Silverton
-If you pack one day of food to Silverton, you still have to get 2-3 days more food from a limited selection, so your weight benefit is really only one day and it's sacrificing time and choice
-Rather than having to make the store at night or waiting until the morning, you can have your own schedule

I made Silverton at about 10pm and left by 4-5am or so.  I actually ended up packing too much food, would have been able to cut a fair amount of weight had I been a little less conservative.  But, my error in the other direction in the 2011 CTR made me REALLY not want to run out of food again.  In the AZT 300 this year I finally nailed the amount, packing all the food from the start, skipping all stores, saving time, and ending up with the perfect emergency reserve at the finish.  Of course, as with any of this, YMMV!  There are very few wrong answers.

[Johnny_mtb]

About 13 of the 70'ish riders made Silverton by 8pm if you watch the replay here:
http://trackleaders.com/ctr13
If your not light and fast plan on packing for BV or hitting Silverton on day 2 prior to heading up Stony. I decided to camp about 12 miles short of Silverton and packed for BV but ended up hitting the gas station in Silverton the next morning. I'm planning on packing for BV again just in case.
John

[Matt Schiff]

In 2013 we had to guess how long it would take because it really isn't a popular ride in that direction and in its entirety. Riding from Molas to Durango was more beta. The first thought was that it was going to be hard for the fastest people to make it to the store on time. I think many people felt it was quicker than expected. With that in mind, I am certain I would make it to the store in time once again, but what Joey said about selection is true, so I'd still be up in the air on what percentage of the food to make it to BV I'd start with.