TD'12 Race Discussion

[multisportscott]

That's what I think to. Would be an huge ride for EL and SC to catch up tonight.
If OW and CS get a good feed and sleep in Helena it will look like a good break?
But it is only day four or is it five? Still very early 

That would be a great setup for tomorrow if they make Helena tonight. Fantastic riding!

[ridingman1]

CrazyLarry posted another video on YouTube of the riders rolling out. Enjoy !!!

2012 Tour Divide Race - riders leaving YWCA Start

[Marshal]

+1.  Which would take a page right out of the TD book

Just make sure it doesn't ruin the route for anyone else wanting to race it.  That's not meant to sound harsh.  I don't fully understand all of the factors at play as I'm not a race director so again I'd suggest reading the old threads for complete understanding.  Lots of details in those 150+ pages of collective thought.

Ya, Lots of background info in the old posts--

Every time a multi-day race kicks off (and also in the pre-race thread leading up to the race kick-off) there are questions and comments about the rules. 

Race after race many of the same questions, comments and suggestions come up time and time again.

Let me be clear—these are usually legitimate, honest and sincere questions and comments.  BUT---I wonder if it would be better to make a permanent sticky thread for these type posts. 

Said permanent thread/location could start with some sort of compilation of old “rules” discussions. Perhaps right up front could be a rule summation of all the common races. Including rule variations from race to race. Next pick out/post up the top ten or so most frequently asked rule questions with the correct answers(s). And post up not just the answer but include the event organizers basic rational for said rule.

Then when someone inserts a rules question or comment (just like I am doing right now) in the current race thread they could be directed the permanent rules thread.

Once there they could first read the 1st page or so for some background/understanding.  After that if they still want/need to carry on they would do it there.  This way new forum members (and old) can learn- criticize- suggest etc etc about “rules” as much as they feel the need to.  And in the mean time the rest of us could focus on the actual race. 

And perhaps the moderator could, as needed, move some posts from the race discussion thread to this permanent thread and force the discussion to that location. 

(Oh and the moderator could also have a place to move the predictable, soon to be coming, comments about how racer X did or did not break  this or that rule)

Marshal

[mtbcast]

Thanks for posting that, ridingman1.

And someone sent me a link to Youtube, it may have been this one, but somehow I lost the email or message. I honestly can't remember if it was FB or email.

Agreed, marshal, these come up every year and there are legitimate discussions to be had. But having this thread for posting race info is preferred simply to leave the thread on topic.

[JF-mtnbiker]

Tog Pass in WY is def going to be a snow pusher on the backside. Maybe part of Union too. Then they might be done for a while.

Union Pass, WY web cam. Dried out early this year.
http://www.rtcom.tv/index.php/wyowebcams/20-wyowebcams/24-unionpass.html

I remember the 2009 riders had a brutal Union Pass traverse. Mud caked coming into Pinedale. All it takes is a little rain.

[Marshal]

6:45pm TDR race time:

Dredging up old memories-- most of the surface conditions of the GD route from Lincoln to Helena should hold up well with rain.  However I distinctly remember a few miles where the mostly gravel surface & rocky conditions turned to dirt.  And said dirt turned to real sticky, scrape-it-off, MUD in the rain that day. 

I wonder if our current leaders, Ollie, Craig (and probably Eric, who might have turned off his Spot?) will see much mud in this section. 

If so I think it would be very hard for any of them to reach Helena tonight.  Ha, but I will be checking from the warmth of my TX hotel room, just to see

[mbeardsl]

Great idea Marshal.  I think the rationale behind the rule is the most important tidbit there.

[Pivvay]

Union was pretty dry for us in 2009, just a short section of snow walking but I got hammered by rain (with Kurt) into Pinedale where he had previous broke his derailleur.

However on the backside of Tog there was much snow, mud and pushing. Very cold after midnight.

[pro_out]

If Eric has went stealth, Ollie and Craig should probably sleep with one eye open. If my memory serves me correct he is capable of a long hard attack.

[mtbcast]

Calls:
Hanoch Redlich (HR) called in from Whitefish. He’s OUT! Can’t walk or ride due to achilles tendon issues from trekking through the snow. Maybe next year. Nathan Mawkes called in from Whitefish. Bike and body are holding up well. Camped out in an outhouse overnight, now drying out after the slog through snow yesterday. Amazing scenery! Craig Stappler called in from Lincoln, MT at lunch time. Conditions forcing them to be careful, but ended up in front and hoping to keep it that way. Steven Martine called in from Roosville. He just crossed the border and sounds like he’s doing good!

[Apis]

Question regarding rules on singlespeeds.  Is there a rule or ethical argument against carrying or procuring a different cog or chainring to change the gearing once one is out of the mountains?  If one were to switch out the gearing of (hypothetically) 32x20 to 38x16 does it violate any rule or ethical argument?

[Pivvay]

Yep. No changing gears, otherwise you're just a really inefficient derailleur. Singlespeed is run what you brung from start to finish.

[mtbcast]

Serge Chiasson called in from Ovando. He’s having dinner at Trixies with Erik, Josh, Kurt, and Eszter!

[DenisVTT]

once one is out of the mountains? 

When does that happen?  

It's the divide, there are mountains all the way. The highest elevations and passes are in the south.

OK, maybe the last 75 miles are kinda flat!

[Pivvay]

The last 450 miles are relatively flat from a SS perspective. After Cuba a bigger gear could do you some good.

[Marshal]

Serge Chiasson called in from Ovando. He’s having dinner at Trixies with Erik, Josh, Kurt, and Eszter!

7:40pm TDR race time:

If Eric L is still in Ovando then I hope he is ok and soon to be back at it!  Best of luck Eric!!

[mbeardsl]

That's what I think to. Would be an huge ride for EL and SC to catch up tonight.
If OW and CS get a good feed and sleep in Helena it will look like a good break?
But it is only day four or is it five? Still very early  

It seems from the past few years you can't rule out the big 36hr 300+ mile breaks in the WY basin or towards the tail end in NM.  I know we're all secretly waiting for it.  Can Kurt pull same thing this year with Caroline on Big Blue?  Eszter perhaps to take the lead even for a little while?  Man I can't wait to see how it unfolds!

[Pivvay]

Could be Eric S? His last spot was almost 2 hours ago?

[JML]

Erik Lobeck is not on the stelth. he is hung up with an ankle foot injury.  I hope he can get it rolling again.

[mtbcast]

TD 2012 Day 4 show is up! Lots of calls recapped from yesterday. The we replay todays calls as well. HR and Scott Grinwis are OUT and lots of folks licking wounds and warming up after some cold hike-a-bike!