CTR 2015 Race Discussion

[Shirey]

JJ is burning it up!  Anyone able to compare JJ's current pace to Jefe's winning/record pace in 2013?

Jesse got to Cochetopa Park about 55 minutes ahead of 2013 when he and Jefe got there at virtually the same time. Jefe was about 2 hours behind his own pace from that year at Spring Creek Pass, but I don't think he slept at all in 2013 for something like 44 hours. I think he got a little sleep last night.

[mikepro]

Go Aaron Johnson!  Looking good!  Well, at least your dot is moving fast.  And JayP's dot is pink because ... ?

[Woodland]

And JayP's dot is pink because ... ?

 

oops

[mtnbound]

It looks like Jesse got about 1 1/2 hours sleep last night while Jefe got about 2 1/2 hours (which is the opposite of 2013 when Jefe went with less sleep).  Sam got about 4 hours sleep.  So, while Jesse has got a good lead of about 18 miles on them (I would guesstimate about 3 1/2 hours), I think the sleep strategy will be what determines the winner.  Go go go!

Not sure why JayP's dot is pink . . .

What a race! And the moon is getting closer to full each night, so night racing should be awesome.

[mtbcast]

John Fairbairn called in from Silverton!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/ctr15/

[soride]

Ouch, looks like DD has 1500ft + penalty climb for missing the turn off hwy 149 or needs something in Lake City?

[Woodland]

Not sure why JayP's dot is pink . . .

Seriously, mid-race in the CTR is a strange time to make such a life altering decision.   

[Erik]

Seriously, mid-race in the CTR is a strange time to make such a life altering decision.   

The CTR is the perfect place for a spiritual experience. :;

[THE LONG RANGER]

Thoroughly impressed with Joe Grant, right up there with the leaders (minus Jesse, who is in a league, all his own!). For not being much of a career bikepacker, and just getting a bike built for the race, whoo boy!

[pro_out]

I wonder where Kurt and Matt are in this mix? 

[Woodland]

I wonder where Kurt and Matt are in this mix? 

Kurt has been stopped for almost 6 hours now. Must be something wrong...

[Bedrock]

Thoroughly impressed with Joe Grant, right up there with the leaders (minus Jesse, who is in a league, all his own!). For not being much of a career bikepacker, and just getting a bike built for the race, whoo boy!

If I'm not mistaken this is Joe. (I don't know him) He looks to be traveling very light and, according to the dots, fast. (Sorry Joe, I seem to have caught you in a quizzical moment)

Andrew

[pro_out]

Kurt has been stopped for almost 6 hours now. Must be something wrong...

   Was hoping it was just a spot issue.

[THE LONG RANGER]

If I'm not mistaken this is Joe

That's him!

[joeydurango]

Looks like a lot of SPOT issues out there this go-round.  Really wondering about friends Kurt/Kaitlyn... and yeah, why is JP pink?

This pace is insane.  Gotta hope Schiff is up there somewhere, mixing it up.

[danwiz]

If I'm not mistaken this is Joe. (I don't know him) He looks to be traveling very light and, according to the dots, fast. (Sorry Joe, I seem to have caught you in a quizzical moment)

Andrew

he's carrying almost nothing....that is nuts....doing the CTR is nuts!  and i mean that in the nicest way possible.....as the sun is setting up there..i can only imagine what sights those folks have right now...cheers!

[killian_1]

Ouch, looks like DD has 1500ft + penalty climb for missing the turn off hwy 149 or needs something in Lake City?

I'm actually on vacation out here right now.  Today I was riding the CTR by Spring Creek Pass/Jarosa Mesa and passed by DD.  Later on while driving down to Lake City where I'm staying we saw him trudging the climb before the big descent into LC.  Looks like he's stopped over passed the lake close to where I'm at.  Wonder what is happening with him.

[Stefan_G]

I just received this in my inbox:

To whom it may concern,

I am writing in concern of a recent experience I had while hiking on the Colorado Trail on 7/26.   While hiking out to Junction Creek trailhead I experienced an alarming amount of Mountain Bikers.  When I first encountered them one of the first guys almost ran my 4 month old puppy over, scared her so much she pulled out of her collar and started running back up toward the lake while the biker refused to get off of his bike, chasing her up the hill.  She kept running when he finally did get off his bike 1/2 mile later and disappeared while I was trying to get there as fast I could with my backpack.  As I ran to try to catch her the biker kept riding toward her and scaring her.  He then stated when I arrived to where he was "she took off that way I don't know where she went"  He made no attempt to help find her and took off biking up to Indian Ridge seconds later.  It took me 20 minutes to luckily find her and she was very scared. 

I later found out there were many more bikers, at least 70, who were participating in a race called The Colorado Trail Race.  Many of these racers were in such a hurry that they refused to dismount their bikes and many of them almost ran into us as well.

I understand the race would be quite an accomplishment.  However, I feel this is much too large of a group to be traveling together, on mountain bikes, and on a trail where there are many hikers trying to enjoy the beauty and solitude that can't be found in many places.  I also feel the trail etiquette was extremely lacking and also dangerous.
Finally, I write this in hopes that noone else has to experience this in the future.  I almost lost my poor little puppy on her first backpacking trip because of someone who was in too much of a hurry to experience where he was. I was almost hit multiple times by high speed bicycles many times and forced to walk on steep hillsides to get around bikers. I also felt unsafe and unable to enjoy the beauty of this trail created just for people to do just that.

Thanks for your assistance and have a great day,

The lack of trail side courtesy here by a CTR rider is inexcusable and greatly saddens me. It does occur to me that in my pre-race shpeel at 3:55am I forgot to tell the racers to treat every single trail user encountered as if they were Gudy Gaskill. But I really shouldn't have to preach common courtesy... 

Whichever racer(s) had this encounter, please step forward! PM me and I will put you in touch for a personal apology.

[joeydurango]

Ah jeez.  Oregon Outback and now this.  2015: Year of Bikepacking's Death by Popularity.  (Okay, perhaps a bit dramatic.)

While in the Kennebec Pass area on Sunday morning I did see several people out backpacking with dogs.  For what it's worth, the first several riders were pretty spaced out.  There was one pretty good group of mid-pace riders, but most people I spoke with were friendly and not in the greatest hurry in the world... and what appears to a hiker as "almost run off the trail" can appear to a mountain biker as "nowhere even close".  I often find that hikers underestimate the effectiveness of MTB brakes, although the sight lines weren't awesome with the skunk cabbage on that section in particular.

Whatever the real circumstances, the perception described is a major bummer. 

[the tortoise]

I want to hear the biker version vs just taking a disgruntled hikers word for it. Does not sound like a well trained dog which is the hikers responsibility before taking them out on the trail. and he or she makes it sound like all the bikers were pricks which is hard to believe.
I would think if there were more complaints then I would look more deeply into it.
But this is a reminder to share the trail and respect other users. 70 bikers spread out over many miles doesn't sound like a crowd to me.
Perhaps a staggered start and splitting the group into roughly halves for the two direction start points.