TD'11 Race Discussion

[mtbcast]

Craig Dolwin called in from Cuba where he’s been talking philosophy with an Arapaho. Dejay Birtch called in from Seely Lake. He saw his first bear and apparent a curiously short avalanche sign. Rob Roberts called in from Lincoln. He took the flooded route from Ovando which wasn’t too bad. Dylan Taylor called in from Seely Lake. Pete Faeth called in from Cuba.

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[Spoonie]

So I'm wondering if the NoBo or SoBo guys will be first into Rawlins...

...and if anyone packed some jousting sticks

Cheers
Craig

[Marshal]

Could this be an attempt to break Kurt and Ethan early?  

Who knows but I really doubt that’s the case.  With a SS Jefe really needs to ride his best pace, ‘regardless’ of what anyone around him does.  

If anything at this point I suspect EP and KR are more concerned with each other than with Jefe.

Watch Mike's start and stop times over the next few days--assuming no bike or body issues they will tell all if he is to catch up

it is fun to speculate away

[caseygreene]

Just got back from the Outdoorsman in Butte. Everyone was in great spirits. Jefe is looking and feeling good. He took off right after we got there.

Kurt and Ethan rolled in bout 15 mins later. The road near Comet GT wasn't in the best condition and they had a bit of a slog + headwind, but Ethan downed a couple beers round Basin and was ready to push through to Wise River. Both had sore Achilles, and Kurt's knees were acting up but he shove his saddle all the way forward and up, and that seems to be helping.

Again, all were in great spirits 

Was checking out the weather with Kurt and it seems the Bannack Road should be dry for their push to Lima tomorrow. If there is rain later in the week behind them, a bigger gap could open up. Although, Matty told me that he talked to a fello today down in the Grashopper Valley who said they resurfaced the road with larger stones this past fall. Should help especially if its wet. Guess we'll see.

Thanks Rob Leipheimer and Rick Smith for not only scouting out the Comet alternate, but providing a great service to Divide Racers. They've got not only free bike service awaiting folk, but lots of goodies as well.

(picture below: Kurt, me, Rick, Ethan, Rob)

[hungry gnome]

GO JEFE!!

[Georg66]

If anything at this point I suspect EP and KR are more concerned with each other than with Jefe.

There's a gap between Jefe and Kurt of more than an hour (>10K), ... very little distance compared to the whole "thing" ... but maybe a crucial moment

By the way, have a look at the picture from Casey in Butte, Kurt seems to ride on a rigid fork ...

[Spoonie]

By the way, have a look at the picture from Casey in Butte, Kurt seems to ride on a rigid fork ...

Yup...  the article in outside magazine:

http://outside-blog.away.com/blog/2011/06/the-cycle-life-10-questions-with-tour-divide-favorite-kurt-refsnider.html

shows it a little better

I have to admit, it's got me thinking a little, mostly for his 20lb bike, and 13lbs of gear!!   The maths on saving 1kg in weight puts you at up to (a dirty guesstimation of) 8hrs ahead by the end in a pure dragging weight up hills kind of way.   is it worth it?

Cheers
Craig

[bjamin]

They're still turning them over tonight. What a day!

[6thElement]

We've scheduled a reroute to the reroute that bypasses Huckleberry Pass east of Ovando, MT. The 'Cutoff Road' from Ovando-Helmville Rd over to MT-141 (included to avoid sketchy MT-200) is closed due to flooding. Riders will therefore be routed on the main route up Dry Gulch Rd (marked in yellow) directly to MT-200. From there it's straight (east) into Lincoln to resume the main route.

Below is the Gmap graphing the changes. The yellow line is the high water line. I've arranged for signs to be hung at the Stray Bullet Cafe and the Mercantile. Hopefully this enough. I'll try and phone the leaders in Seeley Lake now. They'll be loitering at the Conoco store soon.

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=200334849650645495946.0004a4094c052d4b30cf6&ll=47.01678,-112.94632&spn=0.580499,0.987396&t=h&z=10

Directions posted in the ovando mercantile said dry creek rd, not dry gulch, so myself Derek B, Caroline and California Dan waded through the waters, not bad at all.

[DoctorRad]

Watch Mike's start and stop times over the next few days--assuming no bike or body issues they will tell all if he is to catch up

Looks like Mike is holed up at the Super 8 Motel in Butte for the night. One of Mike's biggest choices over gear was to take a bivi-tent over a normal bivi-bag in order to help ensure he got the best recovery possible at night. Looks like he's taking that philosophy a little further tonight 

[mtbcast]

Overnight:
David Horton called in from Seely Lake with a little TMI! Justin Voss called in from Helena. He’s hoping to get a broken front D fixed in Butte. He also warns that there's a loose boxer up in the mining town above Helena, "boxer" being a dog as opposed to say a pair of underwear. Denis Chazelle called in from Cuba. Despite some minor issues he’s doing well and sends a message to his French-speaking friends back home. And Dan Simas called in from Lincoln. He put in 140mi today and saw a couple of bears.

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[TXMTBCHICK]

What's up with all the folks this morning coming down 83?

[Woodland]

I noticed the same thing but it looks like they actually headed north from the route...stores, restaurants up there maybe??

[caseygreene]

I noticed the same thing but it looks like they actually headed north from the route...stores, restaurants up there maybe??

yup, they're in Condon, MT. Couple restaurants, a small shops to buy food. Kinda looks like a few of them stayed at the ranger station just north of town.

[Georg66]

I noticed the same thing but it looks like they actually headed north from the route...stores, restaurants up there maybe??

Joel came down 83, he lost the route, ... but Simon went north-bound to get to Condon, correctly.

[Pollyhound]

My man (KC) definitely looks like he's turned round and is going back up 83 - dropped something?, coming home???

[russmcb]

Russ McBride here writing from the Abiquiu Inn. Barely scraped my way over the hills of Abiquiu on an old broken plastic Huffy pedal I picked up from an "enterprising" auto parts store owner in Cuba.  It was a bargain at $40! ;-) Getting a ride into Santa Fe shortly for a new one as my elaborate plans to have one shipped fell through. Itll be interesting to see if I can bridge back up to the front.  The theme of this race for me has been that of waiting.  The afternoons have been brutally hot.

Best pie ever:  Pioneer cafe's piñon chile apple pie.

Paul, Franck and I were almost stampeded by a pack of wild horses in the dark coming into Cuba.  Im quite grateful that I didn't snap my peddle during that stretch when we were out if the saddle at 30mph.

Thanks to the race organizers and everyone's support!

[Slowerthensnot]

Buddy marko just shot this pic today of the watershed divide outside steamboat....

Very happy about my delay plans....

[bmike-vt]

Very happy about my delay plans....

you still going nobo?

[caseygreene]

Man Dave, that is going to be rough for those guys. Hopefully it'll melt off for you.

Speaking of rough, Ethan and Kurt ran into a couple of tourists around Basin who were lugging their BOB trailers through the snow on the main route. Brutal.