TD`13 Race Discussion

[mtbcast]

Larry Hipskind called in from Helena to say he is OUT! Hal Russell called in from Sawtelle Resort. Scott Thigpen called in from near Atlantic City. Rick Ashton called in from Buffalo Valley Cafe. This audio is a little sketchy. And Richard Costello called in from Jackson Spur.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[Bounce]

For those who are interested, here is a separate thread for Cjell Money's La Manga Challenge.

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/index.php/topic,5857.new.html#new

[mtbcast]

Rich Otterstrom called in from Atlantic City. And Eric Foster called in from Rawlins.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[JRA]

but mountain bike downhill racing has a much younger noticeable drop in speed with ageing, so 60+ is probably fairer, more of a true race with the Grim Reaper

That has more to do with the wisdom gained with age than is does with the loss of ability.  :-)

[mikepro]

Peter Haile just went off-course about 6 miles. Figured it out and is on his way back now.
Edit: zooming in on the winding route, may have even been 8-10 miles.

Damn, that's 3 riders to have missed that very same turn in one morning.  Once the first one does it ... there's tire tracks to lead others astray.

[davidhaile]

That has more to do with the wisdom gained with age than is does with the loss of ability.  :-)

I was _always_ faster downhill at 51 years old than anyone else I rode with - until I crashed badly and disconnected all the tendons in my shoulder. 2 surgeries and 6 months of rehab and I am much more cautious now. The reason has more to do with the health insurance deductible than fear!

[AZtrailertrash]

yet, another classic year...

honestly, i have not spent a bunch of time in the details of the race but have been lurking the forum here fairly loosely and scanning posts. i have also been keeping an eye on the front dots once twice a day.

both craig and mike showed us some seriously strong riding with some good independent style.

there is a side of me that cares for the record very little then there is the side of me that hopes it gets broken so i have another excuse to do what i truly love doing, challenging myself and riding the route faster.

i truly felt depressed when i seen Mikes dot on the detour today. he was riding a much deserved record ride and i salute him as top tour rider!

all this talk about start dates, being eligible for classification, blah blah...maybe its time to start a date that is for people that want to race and push each other. how about getting all previous winners, contenders, fast dewds and dewdettes, line up, and go at each other? Mr. Lee you coming out of retirement? now that sounds like a good time regardless of records or detours or not...

Jay, you are a competitor, in the truest sense... my hat is off to you. Both you and Mike Hall are Hall of Famer's on the TD, even if Mike's surname qualifies him... his bubble of time, and hypothetical time should be compared closely timeline and distance wise to your ITT from last year, and a computated time should be estimated, sans the reroute.  I think you two would push each other to insanity on sleep deprivation racing against each other on the last leg for winners rights in a time trial.

[mikepro]

I'm a fan of keeping the silver dot for 50+. I am 53 years old and am on the verge of descending into a decrepit couch potato if I don't stay on the bike. There's often not a whole lot of visible difference between 30 year old riders vs non-riders but there's a huge difference once you reach 50.

I like the 60+ for silver.  As taprider said, there are plenty of 50-59 year old riders that are still crushing it in the bike racing/riding world and beating out much younger comp on a regular basis.  For the TDR, evidence is in Marshall Bird's 6th place finish in 2010 (just over 21 days for the route).  He was 50+ at the time, and I'm pretty sure he still is now.  I'm sure there's been others since.

[marco_n]

Hey Marco,

My daughter and I met you in Helena in front of the drug store. My daughter was completely enamored with the whole experience and we watched your blue dot and then were bummed to see it stall out. Sorry you had to drop out but hopefully you can get your achilles issue figured out and come back for another try.

Best of luck to you.

oh wow I remember you!!!
ciao! nice to meet you here!!!! 

[JRA]

I was _always_ faster downhill at 51 years old than anyone else I rode with - until I crashed badly and disconnected all the tendons in my shoulder. 2 surgeries and 6 months of rehab and I am much more cautious now. The reason has more to do with the health insurance deductible than fear!

Wisdom comes in many forms!

[RonDog]

I like the 60+ for silver. 

I'd say you need to show your medicare card to get a silver dot.

[mikepro]

Dang, Brian P made quick work of Marshall Pass !  Nice !  Belly-up to the bar in Sargents next to Liam !  That's gotta be up there with one of the best moves in this year's race, the way he bridged the 50 to 60 mile gap.  Of course, a "move" that took a few days, but that's fast in TD land.

[multisportscott]

So as usual, I can't get enough "Divide" entertainment during the summer.  I've read "two wheels on my wagon", "divide the great", "be brave, be strong", the Cordillera volumes, and several blogs.  Is  there anything else out there?

Excuse me honez1414 or anyone else who know, who wrote, where can I fine the book "divide the great"?
I too love to devour anything on the Divide and haven't heard of this one.
Any help appreciated, thanks, Scott

[SlowDave]

My yearly warning, when in Grants avoid the Three Bs.  That is unless you want tomato soup that has already been rejected by someone else's body.

[annais]

The involuntarily de-biked Aussie, Walter Brumniach, was on course for a top 20 finish and his age, according to Trackleader, is 50.

Silver dots over 60.

Grim reapers for the over 70's definitely!

Or Yoda's.



 

[Flinch]

With regards to the old vs young vs racers vs elapsed time vs touring discussion, I add my 27 cents ($0.02 opinion + $.13 federal trail tax + $.12 route access fee).

The solution I propose will satisfy all: 

1. Age classification: Everyone as old or older than me is in the Senior Category. All others fend for themselves.
2. A staggered start: Defined as everyone stays at the bar until they stagger to their bikes.  Only the strong survive.
3. Route conditions: We enclose the route in the 'TD-Dome', an all weather, climate controlled building, with night lighting and concession stands.
4. Race times: A combination of a point system where elapsed time plus pounds of M&Ms consumed, divided by sleep hours, times riders age is calculated. Highest number doesn't mean squat, neither does lowest.

This post, in case you can't tell = 

Glen

PS My heroes this race: Mike, Craig, Larry Hipskind, and all other racer/riders.

[skipandmadge]

A small amount of precise info on a chunk of the Canadian section:

http://www.albertaparks.ca/media/4089456/kananaskis_highways_and_roadways_damage_map.pdf

Doesn't cover the damage in the Flathead or Banff park.  As for a reroute through Canmore and along the Legacy Trail to Banff, I believe the Legacy Trail is still closed to bikes, as is the road between Calgary and Banff.  Its a big weekend and crews are going hard trying to get the major roadways in operation again.

[skipandmadge]

Actually, as of 3PM (MDT) today the road to Banff (from the East) is open to two lanes of traffic.

[PerryD]

I now have this race on my list of todo's. It will take me a couple years to pull it off but I hope when I do that it isn't any different than it is right now.

[mtbcast]

I was told 2 bridges are out on the trail leading to Banff.