TD'11 Race Discussion

[RossC]

Is anyone else surprised how low the drop out rate has been so far? I know the tour de reroute took out some of the soul destroying climbs into the passes early on, but I was honestly expecting a lot more to have dropped by now. Just ball parking it, but I think there have been less early finishes this year than by the same time last year and the field is twice as large. Impressive stuff. Go one and all!

[DaveH]

Maybe Jefe is using a "rival movement notifier" app on his iphone

That is a great idea!!

[Marko]

It appears that Paul will be reaching Steamboat Springs by this afternoon, while Kurt, Jefe, and Dave might hit Rawlins by lunch time. So as racers approach the half way mark I have to ask if there has been any discussion regarding what route riders will be taking between Steamboat and Slater, WY? The snow line over Meaden peak/Sand mountain (watershed divide) has to be 2,000' vert. below the pass. There is always a little bit of snow in the woods near the pass but this year Routt county received record snowfall (we even broke the all time state record for the most snow/water equivalent at one NRCS snowtel site)
Watershed divide will be a nightmare without a ski-touring set-up, I guess my advice to any racers reading this post is to take the CO129 detour! and of course, stop and get an awesome sandwich at the Clark Store south of steamboat lake.
Perhaps the fact that Lobeck (steamboat resident) has pushed his start date back to the fall might be a good indicator of how hellish the pass will be.

Not my picture, but still worth a thousand words. this is the steamboat lake side of Meaden/Sand peak

[6thElement]

I had the same problem last month in Turkey.  With fresh batteries, GPS would not get a read.  My brother contacted SPOT here in the states, and they offered to have a distributor in Turkey get a replacement to me via overnight post.  I was lead to believe that if the power light is green and the GPS light stays red, then it is a bad GPS chip.  You should have somebody contact SPOT customer service and have them ship a unit to you c/o Orange Peel or Absolut Bikes. 

Mine is a rental unit from trackleaders.

[mtbcast]

Overnight:
Sheila Reiter called in from Basin. She sends a shout out to those who met them on the route. Paul Attalla called in from Silverthorn. He confirms that Boreas is completely clear. And Justin Voss called in from Tetonia.

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

[elobeck]

"Watershed divide will be a nightmare without a ski-touring set-up, I guess my advice to any racers reading this post is to take the CO129 detour"

sage advice indeed, but unless the TD organization officially changes the route, the official route is the only one to take or the riders will get DQ'd. There will likely be many a mile of rotten postholing up there (unless riders saved their snowshoes for up north) but likely on par with what riders have already put up with in Montana. We actually received some high elev snow last night in Steamboat and its cold with precip in the forecast, which will not help the mud situation. Orange peel bikes down route may be busy piecing drivetrains back together.

As for Justin S, I admire his perseverence, but when I read about a 250' snow slide down fleecer ridge my first thought was-people die that way....

[SlowDave]

"As for Justin S, I admire his perseverence, but when I read about a 250' snow slide down fleecer ridge my first thought was-people die that way...."

+1

Please be careful.

[exto]

Maybe it's not the "correct" way of thinking, but wouldn't it be a thousand times worse, to die by beeing bored?

[mtbcast]

Dejay Birtch called in from Lima with more sage advice and commentary. Jake Kirkpatrick called in from Lima with a leather butt. Bruce Giroux called in from above Cuba to say he’s pulling the plug. He’s been having some issues. Props for Bruce riding the race with an ICD! Take care of yourself, Bruce!! And Markley Anderson called in from Lima where he’s taking some down time.

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

[RonDog]

"Watershed divide will be a nightmare without a ski-touring set-up"

How about putting skis on the bike frame. I went up Slater Cr a few years ago and it was a pretty good push with no snow. But then that was when I realized I needed to ditch the BOB trailer anchor. I will be interesting to see how Paul does from the east. I remember screaming down that section with my anchor pushing me forward. At least it keep the back wheel on the ground as I ricocheted off the football size rocks on the road.

[ComoDepot]

Paul made it over fine without ski's.

[mikepro]

Paul made it over fine without ski's.

Different pass - Paul made it fine over Boreas, yes.  It's the divide between Steamboat and Slater that's being discussed here.  Paul may hit this late tonight, but first he's right in the middle of the HUGE climb up away from the Colorado River to get up and over to Steamboat.

Sobo leaders - looking to get to Rawlins for an early afternoon siesta.

[chainagent]

Hello,

does anybody know who the rider of the bike (picture below) is? The bike is a Felt Nine Team. The same bike I ordered for my TD 2013 attempt in week 1 this year and received it two weeks ago (very long time to sit in the waiting room). Now I make some modifications on it and would like hear some other experience with this bike especially on the Divide.
Thanks!

         Kind regards from Germany

         Michael

[elobeck]

c'mon Ethan! get back with Kref & Wookie! u can do it!

[Marshal]

Different pass - Paul made it fine over Boreas, yes.  It's the divide between Steamboat and Slater that's being discussed here.  Paul may hit this late tonight, but first he's right in the middle of the HUGE climb up away from the Colorado River to get up and over to Steamboat.

Sobo leaders - looking to get to Rawlins for an early afternoon siesta.

Without checking or thinking about it to much I would say the section that Paul is climbing now till Hwy 134 is the hardest from a pure ‘steep gradient(s)’ point of view on the entire route.  Once he hits 134 it will be back to more modest gradients till near Slater

[ComoDepot]

Different pass - Paul made it fine over Boreas, yes.  It's the divide between Steamboat and Slater that's being discussed here.  Paul may hit this late tonight, but first he's right in the middle of the HUGE climb up away from the Colorado River to get up and over to Steamboat.

Sobo leaders - looking to get to Rawlins for an early afternoon siesta.

Rabbit Ears?

If so it is much lower.

Or north of Steamboat?

[ScottM]

2nd and 3rd place in the Nobo game are through Absolute Bikes, now headed to climb the Ute Trail.  The dynamic of riding together in the divide race is an interesting one.  Even waiting at the bike shop Russ was getting impatient (and ribbing Franck at every opportunity), but the combo seems to be working well.  Quite different personalities, but seeming to complement each other.

So far no one has had much good to say about New Mexico -- hot, dry and rough roads.  They're happy to be in Colorado, and tempted to stay after seeing the big party that is this weekend in Salida (Fibark river festival).  They kept pedaling anyway...

[mtbcast]

John Pettit called in from Butte. He reports waking up with black bears about 20′ away! He doesn’t seem concerned.   And Dave Goldberg called in from Driggs. He’s still having SPOT issues.

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

[brunch]

Oh Lordy that climb out of the Colorado Basin is a monster. It was raining so hard when I started up in 09 that there were  little whitecapped waves running down the center of the road.

The ditch was completely full and a DOT road grader was trying to dig out the bank to give the water someplace to go. He had his door open and looked so warm and dry in that cab when I slogged past. He had steaming coffee in the cup-holder, what looked like a leather chair and the radio was playing. The whole cockpit was bathed in this cozy warm glow from the control dials and hot exhaust blasted air on me when I slogged by. I damn near jacked the grader right then and there.

As hard as it is for me to envision I have to say that the climb might be even worse this year.


Eric

[JF-mtnbiker]

Dave Goldburg is still alive. His spot has been down for a couple days but he just went through Driggs and is more than likely down Teton Pass and moving past the Jackson area now. He was the typical funny Dave I remember from last year. He was talking to Matt Lee trying to figure out why his spot wasn't working when my son and I spotted his bike leaning on fence. He was eating a coffee shop burrito. Too bad I didn't see him earlier because a place right over his shoulder lays down some real Divide racer portions for breakfast. He said he was enjoying his ride but it was a totally different experience than last years race. More riders out there, alot of just motoring flatter terrain due to the passes being snow caked and just plain ole "cold" all the time. He said he has no doubt he will finish and hopes his "other race in Banff", the second week of July doesn't get canceled. (some kind of 150 mile mountain running race) Yep. He is an animal.

You know, I've talked to a few racers over the last couple days and one thing is clear. They are very aware of the differences in the routes because of the snow but-they-are-in-a-race. They are tired, hungry, dirty, excited and are experiencing great things out there. It is a good race. There are some incredible athletic performances going on out there. The guys in the lead are flying as alot of you know. Smoked WY. So, although there are comments about the epic sections of the north being gone, ya gotta be respecting the ride guys and gals out there putting in out there. The southbound SSer guys are having the toughest time because of all the tempo pace type riding this year. They would love a couple more big climbs tight now. Hard for them to get off the seat. The vets I've talked to don't like some of the group riding going on out there but they expected it with so many starting together. My hats off to em.