TD`13 Race Discussion

[mikepro]

Nice work, Forest, Markley, and Double Swiss !  Here's to pulling for Forest to complete the Triple Crown.

[Bradjdavies]

Did anyone get any photos of Jesse Carlsson en route for a potential magazine article? Would be nice to get a quality one of him mid race (and in full flight). An action shot at time of lightning strike would be ideal...

[elveepee]

Getting down to the end here. I'll be picking up two riders and bikes on Friday and I have no idea what to expect. The satellite view of the border crossing doesn't show much of a place to pull off to the side of the road to wait. Antelope Wells seems to refer to a set of water wells to be used by antelopes. What should I expect?

Antelope Wells is about 65 miles south of I-10 and the exit is pretty well marked. You will get on
NM 181 and go south for about 18 miles and will come to Hachita, NM. There are no services there. The route jogs left through the "Front Street" of Hachita about 4/5 blocks and then you turn south (right) for about 46 miles. After you leave Hachita (another 4 blocks)you will only pass one abandoned ranch house (on the right) until you reach Antelope Wells.
The U.S. Gov. has built a new station there for the Border Patrol. It is very modern. The only problem is that they didn't plan adequately for their electrical needs, so it has been just sitting there for over a year. On the right you will see the old Port which they still have to use, with several travel trailers parked in the back, with one full sized trailer where a port employee lives. Park just outside the swinging pole gate and walk to the port. There were 3 employees there the other day, in a small building. It has a soda vending machine. There is one uni-sex restroom, which can get very busy if a shuttle bus from Mexico comes to the port. The employees are friendly and well acquainted with the Tour Divide routine. You can take the riders and the bikes to the actual exact US Mexico border line and get pictures. There were Mexican soldiers there tonight who were not friendly and I wouldn't disturb them very much. Get your pictures in front of the monument designating the border line. Try to stay out of the way of vehicles and the port customers. The US officials will stamp your Visa if you have one. It makes a nice souvenir saying Antelope Wells, etc. The port is only open from 8 to 4 and not at all on Sunday. No open alcohol allowed on the port property. NM also has an open container law for motor vehicles which could be problematic. Hope this helps. Enjoy!!!

[annais]

So amazing to see everyone reaching AW and, having seen MH's data I am in absolute awe of ALL their efforts. Hats off to them each and every one. 

Slightly off topic but someone mentioned (and now I can't find who ...) meeting a woman on the route who was doing the divide with her young daughter in a bike-trailer. I think this may be her and ... kudos!! What a GREAT thing to be building memories of.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=570161399695040&set=a.195540040490513.50924.136757256368792&type=1&theater

[davidhaile]

Antelope Wells is about 65 miles south of I-10 and the exit is pretty well marked.

Thank you for your description of the port. I'll make sure the gas tank and water jugs are full before making that last run to the border. We'll have fruit and vegetables and iced drinks in the car. I shall assume at this point that all cyclists already have planned for someone to pick them up and I don't need to bring the big SUV.

[BobM]

Thank you for your description of the port. I'll make sure the gas tank and water jugs are full before making that last run to the border. We'll have fruit and vegetables and iced drinks in the car. I shall assume at this point that all cyclists already have planned for someone to pick them up and I don't need to bring the big SUV.

In the "old days" (like 3-4 years ago) few cyclists had plans and many took the shuttles out of Mexico as they passed through.  Not sure how the planning goes nowadays - I think the Silver City cycle scene is more aware of the race and offer the racers more options.

[desertrat]

I would just add that if the border crossing is closed, don't go under the bars next to the bronze marker, we were commanded not to and watched carefully. There is a large dirt pull out on the right where you can park.  Also after hours the BP watches the whole road to the freeway carefully - expect to be stopped and inspected; we were.
Lordsburg is somewhat limited in choices for food but we found Kranberrie's to be fairly decent, if they have anything left. Brian fairly cleaned out the kitchen. :-)

Thanks, Cranbaroo.  He's traveled all over the exterior world and now has plumbed the depths of the interior. 

[ComoDepot]

I saw Mauro yesterday afternoon, he said he need to get to the other side of Salida last night which seemed unlikely to me. He said he was feeling good but seems to have only made it as far as Hartsel.

[larelsail]

Had the good luck of picking up my husband, Leo, at AW yesterday morning. He had to leave Silver City at midnight to arrive at AW at 9:45am, but it sure made for a beautiful finish! Cool breezes, birds singing, and thunderstorms had passed over during the night, so the damp desert smelled amazing! The US border agents were very kind, even gave Leo an ice cream bar "reward" for finishing! One wanted to make sure riders had arrangements to get back to civilization. It seems he has shared his home with a number of rideless racers over the years!

[kato]

Has the reroute south of Grants been reopened?

[mtbcast]

Overnight: Richard Costello called in from Silverthorne. And Brett Simpson called in from Grants. He lost his Oakley’s!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[mtbcast]

Has the reroute south of Grants been reopened?

I don't believe so. I see Ethan out there. USFS will likely stop him if it is closed.

[schillingsworth]

Perhaps Ethan's following the Swiss train's route??

Looks like Bryan Heselbach wandered way off route south of Cuba, hope he rights the ship soon!! (Or is that one of the optional routes??)

I'm curious to see if Brian Steele's fractured forearm heals by the time he strolls into AW!! The healing powers of the Tour Divide at work.

[danwiz]

been a blue dot watcher of this event for the last couple years, as well as the CTR.....All of you that embark on something like this are remarkable people to endure everything that the TD has to offer, im sure mother nature can be kind and not-so-kind.  Nonetheless, the idea that you all put your minds and bodies through this route and transform into a different person/cyclist when it is all said and done.  I applaud each and every one of you....
Questions: 
what do guys like Mike Hall and Jesse do for a living--or others for that matter?
what do the riders do on the days after they've finished? (ride, eat, sleep, etc.....?)

[mtbcast]

Matthew Liggett called in from Salida with his appetite back!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[Stijn]

Great race report with plenty pics up on @alexanderharris twitter feed.

[cocavaak]

I'm thinking Bryan Heselbach may be deviating to check out some local geology. I know I'd be tempted to do this! 

[ComoDepot]

Greg, Reinholdt and Velimir came by and had a late breakfast and beer, heading for Salida tonight.

[Lynnex]

 Wow, 7 guys in Pie Town. Guess we will see an exciting finish from BS,GD,LR,MJ,MC,TL & TV.

[mtbcast]

Fred Arden called in from Del Norte.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/