TD'11 Race Discussion

[sunset1123]

I would like to throw something out, struck me that a Cyclocross Bike would be best for this route, comments, thoughts?

I suppose much of a decision like this would be goal oriented. Do you want to win by going really fast on the road, or be more comfortable in the mountains? I would think that for the sheer duration over rough terrain one would want a little more tire volume for comfort than a cx bike might allow for. Something along the lines of what is being called "monstercross" might be better: a cx-like frame, drop bars, and say 45mm or so semi-slick tires on some wide rims.

[trailrider11]

Looks like Kurt is sleeping....?
Maybe Jefe will jump ahead and have a few miles on him before Kurt wakes for the final trek to ANTwells?
Looks to be an epic finish here! The only thing questionable is if Jefe has the power and doesnt sleep again. Kurt looks strong though.

[Marshal]

12:33 pm race time
Without checking the leaderboard projections--My prediction is, regardless of what Jefe does, Kurt will soon get an early start—say around 3-4 am and ride all the way to AW , finish 1st ,approximately 18-20 hours after he starts rolling.

Then again, the heat could but a big twist in my prediction and Kurt’s plans what ever they may be, but I think it will be over soon.

Anyway Go Kurt and Go Jefe and Go all you TDR racers!!!

[mtbcast]

Justin Simoni called in from Dubois. He lost the route and is trying to work his way back. Martin Wimpenny called in from Silverthorn. And Norb Dekerchove called in from Silverthorn.

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

[Pelican Peloton]

As of 2am on Saturday morning:

Top 10 Outstanding Sobo rides of Friday June 24:  Jefe Branham 179 miles (and still riding), Ethan Passant 179 miles, Kurt Refsnider 141 miles (and still riding), Nick Kennedy 140 miles, Aiden Harding 139 miles, Bob Anderson 137 miles, Rob Gianini & Parker Smith 134 miles, DeJay Birtch 131 miles.

The cream floats to the top as the top riders put in the top mileage.  However, at the other end of the ride, Nick Kennedy did the Atlantic City to Rawlins run to catch the group of 8 riders in front of him. This group of riders in Rawlins is the Autobus. Any riders that fall off the bus will have a long lonely ride to Mexico.  The Autobus is on schedule to arrive at Brush Mountain Lodge later today.    

[Mathewsen]

0352 am, Beaverhead Work Ctr. Gila NF. Situation with the leaders: Kurt is sleeping in the pkg lot at the water pump. Jefe is just up the road. Jefe doesn't 'pass go' without checking in with Kurt, then. Pretty good strategy on Kurt's part. It's fitting that it comes to down to water on the CD. 75 miles of extremely hilly terrain including 7mi of challenging CDT singletrack remain to reach Pinos Altos. It should be neat to watch them tackle the Black Range's relentless climbing if together. It will be morning cool-ish for the bulk of the nasty hors category pitches. The idea of Pinos Altos serving as a mountain top finish for TD has been discussed at times in the past. But ultimately the lonely highway to the Mx border has been deemed integral to the experience. My, what an uncertain outcome this edition would hold if it actually ended with CDT singletrack!

[OurManInTheNorth]

As of 11am GMT (UK time) Jefe had caught up to within less than 2 miles of Kurt, who'd been sleeping/stopped for over 6 hours. Waiting for Jefe to catch him to ride in together to the finish? Succumbing to the heat of the desert? Less rested than Jefe who had a hotel stop and shower ready for his final push to the finish? Camped in the middle of the trail so Jefe has to ride past, hoping to play on his heartstrings so he wakes him up, then Kurt uses his gears in a sprint finish to the line? :-) Exciting stuff!

Eric - regarding the Cordillera, does the same donation to the ACA and LB college fund apply if you buy the electronic download through LuLu as ordering the paper version?

[Georg66]

...
But ultimately the lonely highway to the Mx border has been deemed integral to the experience. My, what an uncertain outcome this edition would hold if it actually ended with CDT singletrack!

... one can also imagine that there is no final spurt. In my opinion, they will reach AW together (provided they reach Silver City nearly conjoined).

[OurManInTheNorth]

Ha ha should have known Mathew (and others in the USA?) would be glued to their screens even at 4am to see how the grand finale happens... Full rolling 24hr coverage from TD fans from NZ, Europe, USA etc!

[Mathewsen]

Waiting for Jefe to catch him to ride in together to the finish? Succumbing to the heat of the desert?

Doubtful. Just resting up himself for the final push.

Less rested than Jefe who had a hotel stop and shower ready for his final push to the finish?

No, now more rested than Jefe who 'worked late'.

Camped in the middle of the trail so Jefe has to ride past, hoping to play on his heartstrings so he wakes him up, then Kurt uses his gears in a sprint finish to the line?

Basically. If they reach Separ (I-10) together, no way it's a sprint finish unless there's a 25mph headwind.  

:-) Exciting stuff!

Oh yeah.

[Mathewsen]

should have known Mathew (and others in the USA?) would be glued to their screens even at 4am to see how the grand finale happens...

Ha! Yep...though I'm Eastern time, and with a 10week old in the bed with us, 6am is standard rise.

[rocky rode]

Ben Oney and David Goldberg stayed with us in Del Norte last night.  David asked that I let everyone know his Spot unit is broken and he'll finish the ride sans Spot.  David cut a sidewall north of town and we got him set up with another tire.  They both are doing well.  They're packing up to leave now at 5:00 AM (Sat).

Gary

[SimonK]

... one can also imagine that there is no final spurt. In my opinion, they will reach AW together (provided they reach Silver City nearly conjoined).

There's some gentle descending after Silver City that a geared bike has a significant advantage on. If both riders are feeling OK, I'd put my money (small change only) on Kurt finishing around 15 days, 17 hrs. Would that be the middle of the night for you guys? If so, I suspect Kurt and Jefe will be so close they'll be seeing each others lights.

[SimonK]

According to the flow chart, Jefe just passed Kurt while he was still stopped for the night!

[OurManInTheNorth]

According to the flow chart, Jefe just passed Kurt while he was still stopped for the night!

Except there's been no point from Kurt for an hour and a half, has he gone stealth? The last point from Kurt there was 20 mins and <2 miles between them (Jefe <2 miles behind kurts overnight stop, but potentially Kurt had packed up and set off 20 mins previously with the Spot off).

Also, is it just me, or are there quite a few Spots failing this year? I guess not all of them are operator error...

[DesertDog]

 
5:30am New Mexico/MDT and Kurt is finally back to it after an 8 hour rest.

Jefe is a little over 5 miles ahead, but with only the standard 3 hour sleep.

This is it folks!  As the Beastie Boys said; "No Sleep 'Til Brooklyn!"

And now, the hunter becomes the hunted!


I'll be close, but I say Kurt at 1:03am MDT Sunday.

[plodtv]

oh this is so exciting!

[luckylarue]

High of 97 deg. F. for Silver City today.  I cannot imagine riding all day in that kind of heat, let alone on minimal rest.  Someone better have ice cold beer for these guys at AW.

[martinh]

Meanwhile further down the pack Aidan has started his run in and taken a big chunk out of the gap between himself and the two riders ahead of him. Don't think he's settling for sixth

[29singlespeed]

0352 am, Beaverhead Work Ctr. Gila NF. Situation with the leaders: Kurt is sleeping in the pkg lot at the water pump. Jefe is just up the road. Jefe doesn't 'pass go' without checking in with Kurt, then. Pretty good strategy on Kurt's part. It's fitting that it comes to down to water on the CD. 75 miles of extremely hilly terrain including 7mi of challenging CDT singletrack remain to reach Pinos Altos. It should be neat to watch them tackle the Black Range's relentless climbing if together. It will be morning cool-ish for the bulk of the nasty hors category pitches. The idea of Pinos Altos serving as a mountain top finish for TD has been discussed at times in the past. But ultimately the lonely highway to the Mx border has been deemed integral to the experience. My, what an uncertain outcome this edition would hold if it actually ended with CDT singletrack!

I love that you know exactly where he was at. I looked at his time there and he roamed all over the place there based on spot track and I was wondering what the heck the group of buildings were. Then again, I suppose you should!

Jefe got 3 hrs or rest or so just before where Kurt was, probably with no idea Kurt was up there.

I wish AW was a lot closer to PHX and I did not have to fly to the east coast Sunday, otherwise I would have a cold beer at AW.