TD`13 Race Discussion

[zedmorgan]

It makes me happy to see the clusters of riders moving together. Reports from the trail are that the camaraderie is awesome, and that meal stops tend to be giddy, delirious affairs of stinky, dirty, knackered riders reveling in large piles of hot food. Veterans - do riders usually group up like this? Think it will hold, or will they string out into solo/pairs as the race progresses?

[mikepro]

So cool seeing all the riders in/out at Ovando.  Lots of smiles.

"Sunny and 70" for the first 4 and a half days will do that.

[mikepro]

It makes me happy to see the clusters of riders moving together. Reports from the trail are that the camaraderie is awesome, and that meal stops tend to be giddy, delirious affairs of stinky, dirty, knackered riders reveling in large piles of hot food. Veterans - do riders usually group up like this? Think it will hold, or will they string out into solo/pairs as the race progresses?

It really could go either way.  There really doesn't seem to be any set behavior pattern.  Some riders will group up for the camaraderie, some riders will latch on to a slightly faster rider than themselves as motivation, some riders will make it a point to stay solo as much as possible, and everything varies from week to week ... there are just too many combos that happen out there and it's real easy to speculate from the couch by just watching blue dots.  With no drafting allowed, the "groups" are kind of funny ... riding side by side on country roads, or just keeping each other in sight a 1/2 mile apart and then sitting down for lunch at the same stop and comparing notes (or sitting at opposite tables not talking at all and checking smart phones instead).  I personally tend to think that the slower riders (something like 22 days and longer) tend to pack together and the longer they last together then the prevalent "hey, let's finish this together" conversation starts somewhere in New Mexico.  On the flip side, I also tend think/believe that faster riders are less likely to group, are more likely to ride their own race, and catch or beat nearest competition or pull away from nearest pursuer, then set sights on the next "rabbit" or time goal.

[bikingbakke]

Like this:

[mtbcast]

FYI: Eric Foster dropped his phone and debit card on the descent to Blossberg. If you here from anyone leaving Lincoln please see if they can keep an eye out for it. I've updated the vmail greeting with the information too.

[MCR]

As one of the legion of blue-dot-watchers, I'm really surprised at the the lack of visibility on google maps of the businesses, camping, and other things along the route. It's fairly easy to suggest edits in google maps or to even use google map maker to enter them yourself. If you have multiple people who can vouch for what "thing" is "where", you can get through the google vetting process pretty easily. (Google wants at least one person to agree that a change you've made or recommended is correct.)

It would help out riders for planning, it would help blue-dot-spectators, businesses along the route, and travellers-passing-through.

[ridingman1]

As one of the legion of blue-dot-watchers, I'm really surprised at the the lack of visibility on google maps of the businesses, camping, and other things along the route. It's fairly easy to suggest edits in google maps or to even use google map maker to enter them yourself. If you have multiple people who can vouch for what "thing" is "where", you can get through the google vetting process pretty easily. (Google wants at least one person to agree that a change you've made or recommended is correct.)

It would help out riders for planning, it would help blue-dot-spectators, businesses along the route, and travellers-passing-through.

The NSA is watching.

[ComoDepot]

Just updated my information.

[Angler]

1700 hours Ovando Montana Update:  The following folks have come by during the calmer weather.  At 1430 hours a severe thunder storm came thru so several folks booked out of here without ID or photos.  Several will be staying the night here as the Huckleberry Pass is lightening ridden and probably a mud bowl.  AND it is still raining here.  Photo will come thru later tonight as I have go to close the door to the shop and get home.  Names of those that stopped. that came thru since noon:  Joseph Holway - AZ, Jeff Stroot - CA, Eddie Thurkaty - CO, Ty Hathaway - CA, Greg Andre-Barrett- Ontario, Canada, Michael Arenberg - IL, Chris Culos - Vancouver BC, Jean-Louis Doridot - France, Philippe Androuet - France, Tom Borst - German, Josh VanJura - UT, and his ITT buddy.  Whew.  Busy day.  And miserable evening weather.

[Prometheus]

Hi All, I had a mechanical issue that has forced me to drop from the race.  Chris King freehub died.  Good luck to all other racers.

Dan Sweeney

[Russ Kipp]

Greeting Blue Dot Fans from Montana High Country Lodge,

Billy Rice and Kerrin Walker stopped by the lodge last week...I forgot to post their photo.

[Russ Kipp]

Craig Stappler was the first to arrive on the Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway and stop by the lodge.  He looked great and was approximately 25 hours ahead of last years ride.  He said the conditions are favorable for riding this year.  He showered, had his riding clothes laundered, slept, eat dinner, breakfast and packed a couple PB&J's for the road, patched a plugged tire, did a call in, checked the TD site and this forum.  Lots to squeeze in, in a short few hours stop and was off for Lima long before the sun came up.

[Russ Kipp]

Mike Hall stopped by the lodge for breakfast and a lunch to go.  He jumped on the WIFI and was out the door in pursuit of Craig.   

[Russ Kipp]

Jesse stopped by the lodge for lunch and a short break.  He was only here for a few minutes and was off for Lima.  He told me that he had experienced a wicked, wicked storm in the mountains above Basin last night...huge hail, deafening thunder and lightning so close he felt the static electricity on his face.

[AZTtripper]

Is Eric Foster really going backwards? I see that he dropped his phone but that's crazy! Kid just can't catch a break on this thing.

[the tortoise]

Is Eric Foster really going backwards? I see that he dropped his phone but that's crazy! Kid just can't catch a break on this thing.

I think he is going backwards just to get in Max's head!

[cobbnat]

What causes all the Achilles problems and what, if anything, can be done in terms of training to avoid them?

I've been struck by all the Achilles problems as well. Here are my thoughts on cause and prevention:
1. Pushing a loaded bike uphill is quite a stretch on calf and tendon.
2. The aerobar position puts more stretch on back and flexor muscles/tendons of leg.
3. If cleats are positioned too far forward on the shoe, when you mash on the pedals you need to use the calf muscles to counterbalance and keep the pedal level.
4. And, as was mentioned before, repetitive motion/overuse is the principal cause!

So for prevention, I would consider the following during training:  Instead of always riding, at least once a week run on hills (walk down if you have bad knees) or on sand. Also hike on hills.  Do more stretching or yoga, with emphasis on forward bends to maintain flexibility of hamstrings and achilles. Be sure your cleats are properly positioned. Consider a more upright position - riser stem or spacers. The aero bars will still help in the wind and will take pressure off the hands. And your neck will thank you. During the race, don't try to win it in the first 3 days. Let your body get accustomed to the position and repetitive motion. Then when you are 800 miles in or so, start putting the hammer down!

On a related note, it makes me nervous when athletes pound down the ibuprofen and then go out and get dehydrated. Young people can get away with it, usually, but if you have any underlying kidney disease you could end up in renal failure. Especially if you are on ACE inhibitors (blood pressure meds). Listen to your body!

That's my lecture for today.  Anyone have any special insight into the hand numbness problem?

Nat

[the tortoise]

I did a google search and there is an app you can put on your smartphone to be able to locate it if it is lost or stolen:
http://blog.laptopmag.com/how-to-find-your-lost-or-stolen-android-smartphone

[Noah_Deuce]

Achilles problems can also result from not having calves strong enough in the correct way to keep the load off the tendon. You want to load the calf muscles/tendon eccentrically, which you can do either with calf-descends off a stair, or riding a fixie. Running will aggravate any Achilles problems, and likely won't do much to prevent them.

[bikingbakke]

On the achilles front, I'm going to +1 for tightness as a contributing factor.

I ride some long distances, but not like Tour Divide folks.  If I've been flying or working too much, both awful sitting, but especially the flying where I end up sleeping in that position, my body goes rigor mortis tight.  After that, I can get signs of the achilles tendonitis in just a few hundred km, as for me, it keeps the back, glutes, hamstrings, calves, all tight and it feels like it just constantly yanks on the achilles, and doesn't let it move as easily in its sheath.

If I stretch, and keep doing so, long distances aren't an issue.  Craig and I got it simultaneously at TransPortugal a few years back and really had to work through the recovery of easing off, rebuilding strength, but also being very diligent on stretching.