TD'11 Race Discussion

[mtbcast]

Pete Faeth called his parents this morning at the crack. He lost his tracker yesterday, but found it. Whew! He said he rode 16 hrs to catch up, but not sure what his plan is. He is complaining that his rear is starting to hurt now  and he sounded like the smoke was getting to him.. he hasn't called me yet, (I am assuming he lost coverage) so I don't have any details. His tracker shows the last update  14 hrs ago. Does someone need to reset it, or is this something he has to do?

He will have to. I'm sure someone can chime in with the procedure.

[Slowerthensnot]

"WYO 70 closed to through traffic indefinitely" -From the WyDOT website
(note this is on the GDMBR. TD are talking with WyDOT, investigating detours)


Snow removal operations on WYO 70 over Battle Pass between Baggs and Encampment are expected to take another two weeks to complete, however, once finished, the highway still won’t be reopened to through traffic because of a landslide that has taken out about 200 yards of the road.

WYDOT’s geologists hope to begin drilling and mapping efforts at the slide site on June 27 to gather the  information needed to assess the alternatives for repairing the highway or detouring traffic around the slide damage.

District Maintenance Engineer Tim McGary said it could take until mid-July to get all the information needed to fully assess the options and choose a course of action, so the closure to through traffic will be indefinite.

The slide is located at milepost 30, just west of the 17-mile highway section closed during the winter

I've been on co road 501 and i believe mccary road exploring... Matt however have no idea how they would fair?

[Marshal]

Looks like very distinct chase groups have formed for both 5th and 10th place.  4 racers in the group chasing for ‘5th’ place and 6 in group chasing ‘10th’.  (And Paul Spencer all by himself in between the two groups)

[Note:if you look you will see other groups forming up clear to the last rider]

TDR group dynamics can be quite interesting.  This early in the race some of these racers may be a bit torn between wanting to ‘escape’ verses hanging with the group.  Later they may be wishing they had company.

It can feel ‘safe’ in a group and if a group of racers stay together for very long they soon begin to accommodate each others pacing.  In the ‘long haul’ this can be quite advantageous from the mental perspective.  On the other hand it means at least 1 if not more of the racers are holding back—or some are pushing extra hard to hang on.

If you want to read more about TDR ‘groups’, here is a link to Steve Wilkinson’s “Story of Eight”
http://www.bikepacking.net/multiday-race-reports/the-story-of-eight-tour-divide-2009/

Steve wrote a great blow by blow account of his 2009 TDR.  And as he spent a lot of time in a ‘chase group” it makes fascinating reading about group dynamics

[mr cowboy]

Hope no racers run into this guy

http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_bbf0e0d6-9538-11e0-8dfb-001cc4c03286.html

"He was last seen wearing a bluish colored shirt and a fanny pack, and is believed to be armed with a handgun and possibly a rifle."

Gotta watch out for people with fanny packs!

[mtbcast]

Sheila Torres-Blank called in from Holland Lake Lodge. Dejay Birtch called in from Butte with a recap as only he can bestow them.    Matt Porembski called in from Butte to say he’s out. It turns out that his heat exhaustion was actually a bug!  Take care of yourself, Matt! Karlos Bernart called in from Silver City to recap his start. This call gets cutoff but it's great to see him on his way after what he's been through!   And Richard Ridlehuber called in from Helena. He says he’s becoming the rider with the accent (South Carolina). I say, What accent? (Georgia)   He also found Martin Wimpenny’s Spot!

You can get the audio here, via RSS,  or on iTunes!

[muze]

Deejay's reports are awesome. 

[Woodland]

What's going on with John Richardson? Looks to me like he started up Divide Creek Road, but then decided he needed to get to Wise River pronto (or before the Fleecer Ridge I keep hearing about) and now he is working his way back to where he left off?

[bjamin]

Kurt Refsnider's current speed = 134.4 mph. ; )

[elitheknife]

Anybody hear from Mathy lately?  Seems as though he left Helena, then went back?

Hope all is alright with him!

Scott

[Done]

Bummer about Matt. Sounds like he's making a smart decision though. Huge kudos to Jeff for helping him out!

[Spoonie]

Hey, we're not out there...it gets cold...

What happens on tour, stays on tour??

Cheers
Craig

[caseygreene]

Huge shot out to Bruce Burrows at the Wyoming Department of Transport. He and his on-site engineers in the area have granted permission for cyclists to walk around the landslide on State Route 70. The engineers seem to be confident that racing and touring mtb'rs are savy enough to get around it. He did stress to use caution. Also, there could be people/heavy equipment working in the area.

God bless the free state of Wyoming.

Again, the Wyoming Department of Transport has granted permission for cyclists to walk around the landslide

[SlowDave]

The state that produced Dick Cheney knows how to do things right.  That would never have happened in California. 

[caseygreene]

That would never have happened in California.  

ha! I was thinking the exact same thing.

[Slowerthensnot]

Huge shot out to Bruce Burrows at the Wyoming Department of Transport. He and his on-site engineers in the area have granted permission for cyclist to walk around the landslide on State Route 70. The engineers seem to be confident that racing and touring mtb'rs are savy enough to get around it. He did stress to use caution. Also, there could be people/heavy equipment working in the area.

God bless the free state of Wyoming.

Again, the Wyoming Department of Transport has granted permission for cyclist to walk around the landslide

YAY!!!!!

[rocky rode]

Yep.  He stopped by our place this AM.  He got a room in Platoro last night.  He said he had 2 buffalo burgers last night!  He got here (Del Norte) before 9:00 and is having tire issues.  I helped him put new tubes in and he took three more with him!  His Nano sidewalls have been cutting so he lost his Stan's and has been running tubes and is still having flats.  He's planning to be at Absolute (Salida) when they open in the AM and get some new tires.  He's in a hurry!  Patti has just returned home from her Divide ride and made him some Breakfast.  He's happy doing well, and his only frustration after the heat down south, has been flats.

Too bad the Nanoraptor is gone.  It seems the Nano is only the same tire in tread, not in quality.

Sorry, we were busy with the bike and he was in a hurry so I forgot to get some photos.

Gary

[Woodland]

Question for all those Divide veterans out there - you are Dave Bruno (or Jefe although he is farther out) and you've been riding all day, sun is getting low and Teton Pass is in your sights...do you climb it now, most likely in the dark, or bivy and then climb it in morning? I would think you go for it now, but the legs have got to be getting tired now...

[ddebile]

I am a little nervous to pick up alone in Antelope Wells.....anybody else going alone:)

[flyboy]

Hi all. These guys and girls rock!

It looks like Dave Bruno took a wrong turn between Drummond and Felt. Just wondering does this have any effect on his race?

[mtbcast]

Got a voice I can't match to a name on the roster. Erin Voskis?

Also, Chris Bennett (touring now) is reporting a sign says Boreas Pass is closed. Can someone confirm?