TD'12 Race Discussion

[candrus]

Dave is stomping up to Cabin Pass.  Hope he gets to the cabin by dark and has a chance to warm his stream-soaked feet. 

[fahrenbd]

Congratulations to the latest finishers, how exciting to be at the end of the race to welcome them done and to help them all celebrate!!!  Wish we could be there for all the ones who cross the line. 

To those that had to leave due to illness, sure would like to know how you are all recovering!!  Praying for total recovery!!!

Ride safe to all those still riding.

Diana

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Three kiwis: Katherine Wallace is also one, although she is based in Colorado. Didn't she also break the old women's record?

I was #4 but had to bail at Steamboat when my 90 year old mother broke her hip (but if the stars align I'm heading back in a few weeks to try and complete the ride).

Here is the NZ contingent at the start. Three mainlanders and one JAFA.

[SlowDave]

JAFA!!!  Watch the swearing here as some of us are of NZ heritage.   

[Climb On]

and he's out
2013......?

Bummer. You cut your time significantly last year. I was looking forward to what you would do on a course that seems really fast this year based on the Grand Depart riders' times.   

[rhino-x]

June 8: Corbin, near buildings. Possibly indoors, I can't tell. - I slept in a derelict shed, Ollie in his tent.
June 9: Camped at Tuchuck USFS Campground east of Whitefish Divide. - I slept in the concrete outhouse, Ollie in his tent.
June 10: Holland Lake Lodge (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - We shared a cabin, our first reward for the Eureka break.
June 11: Helena Best Western Motel (as per phone-in). - BW.
June 12: At Grasshopper Inn near Polaris (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Shared a room in the Inn.
June 13: Sawtell Mountain Resort near Island Park (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Camped beside the resort.
June 14: Lava Mountain Lodge (on highway, east of Brooks Lake / Togwatee Pass) (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Got a room at the Lava Mountain Lodge. Left bikes outside, mud frozen solid, well below zero that morning.
June 15: Atlantic City (probably slept on the lawn next to the bar and cafe/shop). - Camped on the spot of the old teepee.
June 16: Rough camp next to road ~8 miles north of Aspen Alley. - Correct.
June 17: Rough camp next to road ~2 miles before Kremmling. - Correct.
June 18: Salida Motel (as per phone-in). - Aspen Leaf Lodge.
June 19: Rough camp next to road ~2 miles south of Del Norte. - Near the end of the pavement on Indiana Pass.
June 20: Rough camp next to road near Canon Plaza, ~5 miles north of Vallecitos. - Camped near the snack shack before El Rito.
June 21: Pueblo Pintado Gas Station area, probably slept in the parking lot or behind a building. - Slept under the roof of a community mailbox.
June 22: Rough camp on side of road ~43 miles south of Pie Town (without Craig) - Best Western in Grants for me.
June 23: Rough camp on side of road ~15 miles north of Separ (without Craig) - Rough camp about 8 miles past the Beaverhead work station

I think that's right. It kind of all blends together. Looks like six nights indoors for me. Way more than I anticipated. Ollie would have been five. Roughly 1/3. Partly due to the crappy weather in the beginning.

Thanks mate,

How did you keep everything charged up?

Rhino
June 8: Corbin, near buildings. Possibly indoors, I can't tell. - I slept in a derelict shed, Ollie in his tent.
June 9: Camped at Tuchuck USFS Campground east of Whitefish Divide. - I slept in the concrete outhouse, Ollie in his tent.
June 10: Holland Lake Lodge (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - We shared a cabin, our first reward for the Eureka break.
June 11: Helena Best Western Motel (as per phone-in). - BW.
June 12: At Grasshopper Inn near Polaris (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Shared a room in the Inn.
June 13: Sawtell Mountain Resort near Island Park (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Camped beside the resort.
June 14: Lava Mountain Lodge (on highway, east of Brooks Lake / Togwatee Pass) (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Got a room at the Lava Mountain Lodge. Left bikes outside, mud frozen solid, well below zero that morning.
June 15: Atlantic City (probably slept on the lawn next to the bar and cafe/shop). - Camped on the spot of the old teepee.
June 16: Rough camp next to road ~8 miles north of Aspen Alley. - Correct.
June 17: Rough camp next to road ~2 miles before Kremmling. - Correct.
June 18: Salida Motel (as per phone-in). - Aspen Leaf Lodge.
June 19: Rough camp next to road ~2 miles south of Del Norte. - Near the end of the pavement on Indiana Pass.
June 20: Rough camp next to road near Canon Plaza, ~5 miles north of Vallecitos. - Camped near the snack shack before El Rito.
June 21: Pueblo Pintado Gas Station area, probably slept in the parking lot or behind a building. - Slept under the roof of a community mailbox.
June 22: Rough camp on side of road ~43 miles south of Pie Town (without Craig) - Best Western in Grants for me.
June 23: Rough camp on side of road ~15 miles north of Separ (without Craig) - Rough camp about 8 miles past the Beaverhead work station

I think that's right. It kind of all blends together. Looks like six nights indoors for me. Way more than I anticipated. Ollie would have been five. Roughly 1/3. Partly due to the crappy weather in the beginning.

[mtbcast]

Calls tonight: Fixie Dave Nice called in from the border! Dave Meissner called in with his finish. He recaps his last few days and sends congrats to those he rode with. And Brett Stepanik called in from Silver City. He recaps a rainy ride.

[mgasman]

Nathan's spot is tracking him as he headed north. Plan was for him to catch a ride with Tom Thomas and his wife Betty to rent a car and do some touring to Zion, Yellowstone etc. then make to LA to fly to NZ.
The picture of Ollie sure makes it look like he is ready to roll!
That Minty rechargeable must have used a few hundred AA cells.

[multisportscott]

Hi Chris, I did not know Katherine was a Kiwi, I apologise Katherine for missing you. AWESOME effort on your ride.

Chris I was sorry to hear about your Mother and that you had to pull the plug. Hope she is recovering well.
I was cheering you on from Christchurch.

Well done the lot of you, I was too soft to even get to the start 

[/quote]

Three kiwis: Katherine Wallace is also one, although she is based in Colorado. Didn't she also break the old women's record?

I was #4 but had to bail at Steamboat when my 90 year old mother broke her hip (but if the stars align I'm heading back in a few weeks to try and complete the ride).

Here is the NZ contingent at the start. Three mainlanders and one JAFA.

[phil_rad]

and he's out
2013......?

Sorry to hear Stephen. Get well soon.

[DenisVTT]

June 8: Corbin, near buildings. Possibly indoors, I can't tell. - I slept in a derelict shed, Ollie in his tent.
June 9: Camped at Tuchuck USFS Campground east of Whitefish Divide. - I slept in the concrete outhouse, Ollie in his tent.
June 10: Holland Lake Lodge (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - We shared a cabin, our first reward for the Eureka break.
June 11: Helena Best Western Motel (as per phone-in). - BW.
June 12: At Grasshopper Inn near Polaris (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Shared a room in the Inn.
June 13: Sawtell Mountain Resort near Island Park (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Camped beside the resort.
June 14: Lava Mountain Lodge (on highway, east of Brooks Lake / Togwatee Pass) (can't tell if it's camping next to Lodge or in a room). - Got a room at the Lava Mountain Lodge. Left bikes outside, mud frozen solid, well below zero that morning.
June 15: Atlantic City (probably slept on the lawn next to the bar and cafe/shop). - Camped on the spot of the old teepee.
June 16: Rough camp next to road ~8 miles north of Aspen Alley. - Correct.
June 17: Rough camp next to road ~2 miles before Kremmling. - Correct.
June 18: Salida Motel (as per phone-in). - Aspen Leaf Lodge.
June 19: Rough camp next to road ~2 miles south of Del Norte. - Near the end of the pavement on Indiana Pass.
June 20: Rough camp next to road near Canon Plaza, ~5 miles north of Vallecitos. - Camped near the snack shack before El Rito.
June 21: Pueblo Pintado Gas Station area, probably slept in the parking lot or behind a building. - Slept under the roof of a community mailbox.
June 22: Rough camp on side of road ~43 miles south of Pie Town (without Craig) - Best Western in Grants for me.
June 23: Rough camp on side of road ~15 miles north of Separ (without Craig) - Rough camp about 8 miles past the Beaverhead work station

I think that's right. It kind of all blends together. Looks like six nights indoors for me. Way more than I anticipated. Ollie would have been five. Roughly 1/3. Partly due to the crappy weather in the beginning.

For the last week or so (it's 103 pages) I have been in the middle of reading the TD 2011 thread, which I had never done (since I was racing while it was being written). In it is a discussion about sleeping outside vs "hoteling". Matthew mentions that he is very much in favor of hoteling as little as possible, and says that his own record for an entire TD is 1 night. He also says that if folks start using motels and hotels a lot more than in the past (I guess with more people in the race that's been the case), it will change the nature of the event. He also doesn't think you can do well in the race by hoteling a lot. Jill said she disagreed.

Now I'm not saying that 5 or 6 nights is a lot, but 5 or 6 nights is 5 or 6 times more than Matthew's hoteling record, and it is 1/3 as you mentioned, and yet both of you beat his old time record.

I personally don't think it changes the nature of the event. Hoteling when well timed (that's a big 'when') has made things faster for me (I'm quicker out the door, and I ride faster and longer when cleaner (clothes and body) and well rested). But I'm wondering what others think about it. Would be nice to have Matthew's opinion as well 

[mtbcast]

Jim Stansbury called in from Atlantic City. He caught up with Tracy Burge and they stayed there last night and will push to Rawlins!

I obviously misunderstood Stephen's call. I thought he was "pulling out" of Columbia Falls. It should have been obvious when he said, "calling it a day." Sorry to see you pull out, Stephen, but it's understandable. You have to listen to your body. No "TV Party Tonight!" call this year but maybe next year!

[chriskmurray]

I have not read any comments for or against some of the original concerns that were brought up even for last years race about having such a large field overwhelming these small towns and in turn leaving very few options for food from smaller gas stations if you are one of the slower riders.  Has this turned out to be a non-issue? 

[mtbcast]

I have not read any comments for or against some of the original concerns that were brought up even for last years race about having such a large field overwhelming these small towns and in turn leaving very few options for food from smaller gas stations if you are one of the slower riders.  Has this turned out to be a non-issue? 

I don't see how this is that big of an issue except maybe early in the race. You could have a large contingent hit say Sparwood and Fernie but by the time the riders reach the border, Whitefish, and beyond you're not talking about large numbers hitting a town at once. Is this what the concern is?

[chriskmurray]

I don't see how this is that big of an issue except maybe early in the race. You could have a large contingent hit say Sparwood and Fernie but by the time the riders reach the border, Whitefish, and beyond you're not talking about large numbers hitting a town at once. Is this what the concern is?

That is exactly what the original concern was for the first few days, naturally after that people will be spread out enough that it would be a non issue.  Have you noticed any mention of this in early call ins?  It could have turned out to be a non-issue but I remembered the concern being brought up a while back when people were debating if larger fields were a good thing or not.

[BobM]

For the last week or so (it's 103 pages) I have been in the middle of reading the TD 2011 thread, which I had never done (since I was racing while it was being written). In it is a discussion about sleeping outside vs "hoteling". Matthew mentions that he is very much in favor of hoteling as little as possible, and says that his own record for an entire TD is 1 night. He also says that if folks start using motels and hotels a lot more than in the past (I guess with more people in the race that's been the case), it will change the nature of the event. He also doesn't think you can do well in the race by hoteling a lot. Jill said she disagreed.

Now I'm not saying that 5 or 6 nights is a lot, but 5 or 6 nights is 5 or 6 times more than Matthew's hoteling record, and it is 1/3 as you mentioned, and yet both of you beat his old time record.

I personally don't think it changes the nature of the event. Hoteling when well timed (that's a big 'when') has made things faster for me (I'm quicker out the door, and I ride faster and longer when cleaner (clothes and body) and well rested). But I'm wondering what others think about it. Would be nice to have Matthew's opinion as well 

Motels require more discipline. So long as one remembers that he/she is there to clean up, refuel/hydrate, and get a good rest it's fine.  Get it done and get out, even if that means 7 hours in a $100 room.  Start watching TV and having a good time and it's hard to leave IMO.

[spcabin75]

I have been reading Cordillera V3 this morning.  Excellent, love to have first hand accounts of the riders who have made this race an epic event.  Thanks again for the  riders contributions and for those who edited/published this book!

[mtbcast]

That is exactly what the original concern was for the first few days, naturally after that people will be spread out enough that it would be a non issue.  Have you noticed any mention of this in early call ins?  It could have turned out to be a non-issue but I remembered the concern being brought up a while back when people were debating if larger fields were a good thing or not.

I didn't but I can see this being an issue in the beginning, I suppose. It is what it is, though. This race is growing in popularity and that's a genie that can't be put back in the bottle. It's a TT so you can ride it anytime. But I don't know how you could really limit the GC. You could say only 50 ppl can do the GC but that invokes controversy as well and how you would stop someone other than threatening to relegate them? With several folks having completed a NoBo option maybe we'll see the field split more. Maybe we could think about 2 GC's, one later Spring and one late Summer? Everyone has opinions and options but ultimately you have to decide what's the best overall. The large field doesn't bother me so much but I can see it being controversial as more riders ride together and such. The race will inevitably evolve, though.

[mtbcast]

There's still a number of folks out there on the route. If you're in contact with anyone please encourage them to call in.

[chriskmurray]

I didn't but I can see this being an issue in the beginning, I suppose. It is what it is, though. This race is growing in popularity and that's a genie that can't be put back in the bottle. It's a TT so you can ride it anytime. But I don't know how you could really limit the GC. You could say only 50 ppl can do the GC but that invokes controversy as well and how you would stop someone other than threatening to relegate them? With several folks having completed a NoBo option maybe we'll see the field split more. Maybe we could think about 2 GC's, one later Spring and one late Summer? Everyone has opinions and options but ultimately you have to decide what's the best overall. The large field doesn't bother me so much but I can see it being controversial as more riders ride together and such. The race will inevitably evolve, though.

I have a feeling we will see more even numbers between the north bound and south bound racers.  I also have a feeling some of these stores might catch on and stock up pretty heavy for June.  I think more cyclists is a great thing as long as they keep respectful and know how to handle themselves but it seems those showing up these past couple years have done their homework for the most part.