TD'11 Race Discussion

[Rob Colliver]

Finished on the 4th of July in the heat of the day - just got myself to a computer; I would like to thank everybody who has helped develop this epic event to what it is and hope it continues to develop in such a sportsmanlike way. I did an ITT because I wanted the whole experience to myself - but its the people in the trucks and the towns who come out to see you who made me choke up everyday and inspired me to continue. The athletes who rode by me were awesome company and I would like to spend time with all of you again..... so here is a plan for a reunion of TD riders...... come to Fernie in January or February and we can get together, drink beer, kick back by the log fire, ride snow and drink more beer! Paul and Franck are Fernie residents (I have space for about 30 if you bring your fart-sacks, but beds for only 10). Fernie is a pretty cool place to hang out and you can bring your Pugsleys if you feel the need to ride!

I wasn't sure what to expect out there on the trails, but the one thing I didn't feel was lonely - there were comfy ditches, brilliant views of the stars in the desert, but the most special place for me was the basin - the whole 2690 miles I did were fun, but that tops the list of places to go back to and experience again...

Off to England now, but this will stick in my head for ever - I have never met such a kind hearted bunch of people that I bumped into during this race - Thank you again,

Rob Colliver

[Jilleo]

I just returned home from the long weekend and have yet to catch up on all the happenings of the race, but it's fun to see all the chatter about Cricket. I had the pleasure of spending quality time with Cricket during last year's TransRockies stage race in Canada. Not only is she nice, funny and completely unassuming, but she's a fierce racer and a strong mountain biker. She beat me handily in every single stage of TransRockies, and I mean handily. I'm rooting for her all the way.

I'm not 100 percent certain of Cricket's timing, but it looks like she's about a half day ahead of my 2009 pace so far if she is indeed spending Tuesday night up on Fleecer Ridge. I look at it in terms of where they're spending nights. I spent the sixth night in Butte and the the seventh in Elkhorn Hot Springs, and she's halfway between the two. Not a bad pace given that there's likely still a fair amount more snow on the course at this time than there was during the 2009 race. However, it's my opinion that the weather really decides how good of a pace anyone can keep. If Cricket can skirt the worst of the thunderstorms and keep her knees happy, I can't really think of anything stopping her from her goal.

My 2009 stopping points, for those tracking: (Might be easier to keep track of than the time splits.)
Day 8, Lima
Day 9, Sawtell (Island Park)
Day 10, Togwottee Pass
Day 11, Pinedale
Day 12, Atlantic City
Day 13, Rawlins
Day 14, Slater (Brush Mountain Lodge)
Day 15, Steamboat Springs
Day 16, Silverthorne
Day 17, Salida
Day 18, Canaro Pass
Day 19, Platoro
Day 20, Hopewell Lake
Day 21, Polovarda (sp?) Mesa
Day 22, Grants
Day 23, Plains of San Agustin
Day 24, Silver City
Day 25, Finish 24:07:24

Plenty of short days in there, including one that was only 50 miles and several under 100. Not tough to beat, but the weather, mechanicals and body all have to play nice together to carry on to the finish. Go Cricket!

[BobM]

Looks like Stephen and Cricket spent the night at Beaver Dam Campground just prior to Fleecer.  Weather predictions for Wise River and Lima look pretty good plus no rain reported for the past few days so hopefully little or no mud to slow them down. 

[Chauncey Matthews]

Not if Cricket can ride the original course without deviation. So far so good, now we just hope the southern route stays open from the fires and she has a possibility at the women's record.

Ah but she can't- this year's course has changed with the new route into Silver City so I guess technically just finishing this year without riding a reroute will set a new record...even if she does it in 30 days.

[MrWaves]

It is fantastic how supportive everyone is - Jill, I so enjoyed your writing on your race. In particualr the extract in the first Cordillera, so now I will have to buy your book.

Just watching Steve and Cricket take off from their camp to go over Fleecer - hope they enjoy their breakfast at Wyse River, and no doubt they will be gunning for Lima tonight - Go Steve! - Go Cricket!

[Shakenbake]

Ah but she can't- this year's course has changed with the new route into Silver City so I guess technically just finishing this year without riding a reroute will set a new record...even if she does it in 30 days.

Why the new course? If she rides the original (used in 2009-2010 etc) will that not count as a record?

[Pelican Peloton]

Caboose is a much better term for the last Tour Divide rider ..... for poetry it rhymes with so many western things like moose, noose, ....

[BobM]

Why the new course? If she rides the original (used in 2009-2010 etc) will that not count as a record?

Maybe Matthew will chime in, but in the past he has said that riders are eligible for the historical GQ (and records) if they ride the ACA main route (or the 2 allowed alternates) for the year they ride.  The course changes every year, either the line on the map or the conditions on the ground.  If Cricket can ride the main route in NM (fires are out) then her time will be official and if faster than Jill's, will be the new women's record.  If she has to take a significant detour off the main route (other than the 2 authorized in the Rule) she will have an official 2011 time and placement but will not qualify for the historical GQ or records (as is the case for the other riders this year).

[NJD]

Caboose is a much better term for the last Tour Divide rider ..... for poetry it rhymes with so many western things like moose, noose, ....

Agree!  papoose, vamoose, and I can't wait 'til my Cordilleras I and II arrive!    

[AZtrailertrash]

Caboose is a much better term for the last Tour Divide rider ..... for poetry it rhymes with so many western things like moose, noose, ....

I had noooo Idea this would turn into the Great Haiku Divide! Keep 'em coming, the riders, and the cowboyesque poetry!!!!  It even rhymes with Great Western Canadian Goose! Barely. Now Lantern Rouge... to my mind, reminds me of the old red light districts and brothels of the wild, wild, west, not a good label for the last lady on the course.

[Climb On]

I just returned home from the long weekend and have yet to catch up on all the happenings of the race, but it's fun to see all the chatter about Cricket. I had the pleasure of spending quality time with Cricket during last year's TransRockies stage race in Canada. Not only is she nice, funny and completely unassuming, but she's a fierce racer and a strong mountain biker. She beat me handily in every single stage of TransRockies, and I mean handily. I'm rooting for her all the way.

I'm not 100 percent certain of Cricket's timing, but it looks like she's about a half day ahead of my 2009 pace so far if she is indeed spending Tuesday night up on Fleecer Ridge. I look at it in terms of where they're spending nights. I spent the sixth night in Butte and the the seventh in Elkhorn Hot Springs, and she's halfway between the two. Not a bad pace given that there's likely still a fair amount more snow on the course at this time than there was during the 2009 race. However, it's my opinion that the weather really decides how good of a pace anyone can keep. If Cricket can skirt the worst of the thunderstorms and keep her knees happy, I can't really think of anything stopping her from her goal.

My 2009 stopping points, for those tracking: (Might be easier to keep track of than the time splits.)
Day 8, Lima
Day 9, Sawtell (Island Park)
Day 10, Togwottee Pass
Day 11, Pinedale
Day 12, Atlantic City
Day 13, Rawlins
Day 14, Slater (Brush Mountain Lodge)
Day 15, Steamboat Springs
Day 16, Silverthorne
Day 17, Salida
Day 18, Canaro Pass
Day 19, Platoro
Day 20, Hopewell Lake
Day 21, Polovarda (sp?) Mesa
Day 22, Grants
Day 23, Plains of San Agustin
Day 24, Silver City
Day 25, Finish 24:07:24

Plenty of short days in there, including one that was only 50 miles and several under 100. Not tough to beat, but the weather, mechanicals and body all have to play nice together to carry on to the finish. Go Cricket!

Thanks for sharing these.  They're quite helpful to me as I follow Cricket's progress toward her goal.  I know that Cricket wants to do "something special" this year and she is in her best shape ever for a record-breaking attempt. I hope it counts.

Someone else mentioned the new section into Silver City. From what I've read and heard on call-ins, it includes some grueling single track with no water resupply, so I'm thinking the comparison will still hold (Take that with a block of salt, however, as I am a competitive rock climber and know very little about extreme endurance mtb races.) Anyway, I have little doubt that Cricket wants to discover just how fast she can get from Banff to AW via the GDMBR, and I think she knows that she still had something left in the tank when she finished in 26 days last year. I doubt she'll leave much in the tank this year, and that is pretty much the definition of 'extreme' competition. As a late 40something myself, I love seeing older athletes still pushing their personal boundaries. Go Cricket!        

[moosevt]

Maybe Matthew will chime in, but in the past he has said that riders are eligible for the historical GQ (and records) if they ride the ACA main route (or the 2 allowed alternates) for the year they ride.  The course changes every year, either the line on the map or the conditions on the ground.  If Cricket can ride the main route in NM (fires are out) then her time will be official and if faster than Jill's, will be the new women's record.  If she has to take a significant detour off the main route (other than the 2 authorized in the Rule) she will have an official 2011 time and placement but will not qualify for the historical GQ or records (as is the case for the other riders this year).

With that said, is it possible to even make a good comparison for records year to year. Sometimes, as pointed out earlier, depending on where you are and when the current year route can change. Unless you are Renaissance Simoni, it could keep you from the record books unless you happen to go again at it with the luck of another year.

Serious question: If you ITT, does your time not count for the record books? Do you have to Grand Depart for that chance?

[BobM]

With that said, is it possible to even make a good comparison for records year to year. Sometimes, as pointed out earlier, depending on where you are and when the current year route can change. Unless you are Renaissance Simoni, it could keep you from the record books unless you happen to go again at it with the luck of another year.

Serious question: If you ITT, does your time not count for the record books? Do you have to Grand Depart for that chance?

From tourdivide.org under the ITT-Divide section:

"Abide by TD Rules, carry a SPOT GPS tracker or other brand of GPS logger/tracker, and finish in no more than twice the standing course record (17days x 2) to be eligible for the same Divide racing General Classification that ranks group racers. Contact us for more info."

[mtbcast]

Yesterday evening and Overnight: James Hodges called in from Cuba. "Neckbeard" Norb DeKerchove called in from his finish. Roland Sturm called in from his finish. And David Horton called in from his finish.

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

Also, thanks to those who corrected me on Markley Anderson. Once you see the name you can hear it. 

[moosevt]

ITT-Divide

An Individual Time Trial (ITT) is the earliest form of Divide racing. Although perhaps less dramatic than group starts, an ITT blitz of the GDMBR is no less difficult or worthy of documentation.

Can't make the Grand Depart, 2nd week of June? Prefer the solitude of an ITT? Ready to challenge the Route from south-to-north instead? Enter: ITT-Divide, a season-long Great Divide Route tracker and updates blog dedicated to following soloists blitzing the GDMBR.

Abide by TD Rules, carry a SPOT GPS tracker or other brand of GPS logger/tracker, and finish in no more than twice the standing course record (17days x 2) to be eligible for the same Divide racing General Classification that ranks group racers. Contact us for more info.


never mind, i found it right here! (above)

[AZtrailertrash]

While I enjoy watching thoroughbreds racing on their Spot Markings, I'm not the thoroughbred, I'm a donkey, and a slow one at that. If I ever do portions of the Tour Divide, it's going to be just that, a Tour, at a retired mans pace... Not much money, no job, no rush, no worries, and certainly no hurry. My finish time will be measured in months, not days. I'm bringing my "B " game and my type B personality for that ride. And my camera. I'm thinking the Great Tourist Divide ride.  

I am very curious what is a good chain lube that will last 130 miles a day for rides like this?  Suggestions? What about 29'er tires?  I seem to see alot of Nano's in there.

[moosevt]

From tourdivide.org under the ITT-Divide section:

"Abide by TD Rules, carry a SPOT GPS tracker or other brand of GPS logger/tracker, and finish in no more than twice the standing course record (17days x 2) to be eligible for the same Divide racing General Classification that ranks group racers. Contact us for more info."

Thanks Bob. I think that I will give the ITT a shot in '13. Seems to me that it will mentally break the need/desire to group up. This is a solo gig anyways.

[naked indian]

The old section from the gila to silver city was pavement the whole way.

the new section includes signal peak and a ton of singletrack and burly jeep road.

I would say the new section(CDT)would be alot more time consuming since hike a biking is required in parts.

Its one of the few sections of the divide I got to ride this year and it was my absolute favorite, my kind of riding right there!!!

[Newfydog]

. My finish time will be measured in months, not days. I'm bringing my "B " game and my type B personality for that ride. And my camera. I'm thinking the Great Tourist Divide ride.  

What about 29'er tires?  I seem to see alot of Nano's in there.

I ride it in a similar manner, with my wife, in stages.  Two day stop at home in Fernie to eat and drink some decent wine, play with the dog etc.  We try to spent some time on the route every year.

The Geax Saguaro has been the best tire.  The rear wears a bit to give a sort of continuous central ridge which rolls real fast on the pavement when pumped hard.  It makes a good tough off-road tire at lower pressures and holds up to the rocks of New Mexico well.  A bit too heavy to race on, but a nice reliable cruiser for me.

[mtbcast]

From tourdivide.org under the ITT-Divide section:

" and finish in no more than twice the standing course record (17days x 2) to be eligible for the same Divide racing General Classification that ranks group racers."

Alas, my crux.  

At the very least, I hope to ride a portion one year soon with the GS. Maybe Banff and as far as maybe Butte. A man's got to know his limitations. I haven't let go of doing the whole route, though.