TD`13 Race Discussion

[mtbcast]

Matthew Liggett called in from near Milan.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[mtbcast]

Drew McIntosh and Peter Maindonald each called in with their finish call!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[mtbcast]

Episode 164 – Tour Divide 2013 Day 25! Billy Rice completes the YoYo, Hal Russell get’s a sprinkler shower, and a true up of today’s calls!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[elveepee]

Sara rode from Pie Town to Antelope Wells with only about 4 hours sleep. She left Pie Town at 7:30 a.m. on Friday morning and we picked her up at about 3 a.m. Sunday morning. She is a real LADY too, a real Classy Lady.

[Bsimpson]

Lost Oakley Sunglasses.

Just in case I thought I'd post here. I lost my sunglasses in New Mexico maybe twenty miles over the border. On the gravel before the pavement climb to hopewell picnic area. If you found them let me know.

Thanks. Brett

[mtbcast]

Overnight: Fred Arden called in from Horse springs.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[ron]

Anyone know how the SS riders are geared? I keep zooming in on pics trying to get an idea. Doesn't really work. I ride and race SS all the time, but can never get my head around how I would gear for this event.

I'll take a stab at this. I just finished TD in 22 days (3rd place SS) on 32x18, which is also what Taylor Kruse (sp?) was running. That was perfect for me, as I think the stuff I walked would've had the same outcome regardless of gearing.

Don't know Aaran Pearson's ratio, and I want to say both Scotts (McConnell and Thigpen) and Rich O. were in the 34x21 range. Prentiss Campbell was running 34x18 contra the too tall 36x18 he ran (and finished with) last year.

Don't know mr. Money's #, but Chris Plesko's SS record was on 32x17, Jefe killed it in 2011 on 33x19, and Justin "Long Ranger" Simoni prefers 32x19, IIRC.

Not sure on Fixie Dave's rig or Drew M, who I believe just finished this TD on a fixed gear as well. I ride a track bike at home but can't even imagine doing this route fixed -- standing + coasting was the best part!

[sthig]

Ron, first of all - CON-FREAKING-GRATS

second.  I ran 34x22 (and was 4th)

[KPut]

Congrats to all the finishers.  Great ride by everyone.  I want to congratulate my Brother in law, (ETurk) on his finish today, i'm very impressed and also a special congrats to Scott Thigpen, who rode with Eddie for the first part and through his blog, I was able to keep track and see pics of him.  Thanks, and well done Scott. For those still out there, keep going strong.  Everyone who finishes the ride is a winner in my book.

KPut

[mtbcast]

Rick Ashton and Rick Ashton each called in from Cuba.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[mtbcast]

Tour Divide 2013 Day 26 True Ups!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[mtbcast]

Overnight: Fred Arden called in from Glenwood.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[mtbcast]

Ed Turkaly called in with his finish call.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[Christopher R. Bennett]

It's great to have finished and to read about the race through this discussion.

To reopen an earlier issue, I think that Mike's amazing achievement does suggest that the 150% 'rule' for a competitive ride (i.e. 21 days or so) should be revised.

I was troubled by the number of this year's riders who proposed finish times well in excess of 25 days, even before the race started. After all, the goal of the TDR is not to 'tour' but to race. This means pushing yourself like Sarah did with little sleep, pushing on when you don't feel like it, etc.

To that end, I think that a minimum of 110 miles/day - which is 25 days pace (http://tourdivide.org/the_rules) - should be the goal of all riders. I know that every day of the race I used that as the gauge as to whether or not I had done sufficient time in the saddle for the day.  If you aren't going to at least try and do that, then why are you participating in the GD and the TDR and not just going at some other time?

Yes, some people will not be able to do that - blowing up, having equipment problems, etc. but that is fundamentally different to starting the ride without even intending to try and do that sort of daily distance.

The TDR is going to continue to grow in popularity and so it would be timely to put in place what the expectations are for the ride. We really need to avoid it becoming a group start with people planning on 30-40 days rides.

As the TDR grows - will we have 250 next year? - perhaps we should also look at a staggered start based on expected finish times. This would see the slower (say 22-25 day finishers) starting first, and the fast (< 18 day riders) starting a few days later. This would be see us ending the race at around the same time, but greatly reduce the 'footprint' of the race during the early sections. It would also be exciting to see people being caught, and hopefully inspire those of us slower riders to try a bit harder.

Finally, as someone on the wrong side of 50 I think that having a different colour for 'senior' riders would be great. Does our egos good to see us spanking the young ones. Even if it is only because people like Peter and Ezra stopped to sleep in Silver City while I drank 2 x 5 h energy drinks and rode through the night to AW 

[JRA]

It's great to have finished and to read about the race through this discussion.

To reopen an earlier issue, I think that Mike's amazing achievement does suggest that the 150% 'rule' for a competitive ride (i.e. 21 days or so) should be revised.

I was troubled by the number of this year's riders who proposed finish times well in excess of 25 days, even before the race started. After all, the goal of the TDR is not to 'tour' but to race. This means pushing yourself like Sarah did with little sleep, pushing on when you don't feel like it, etc.

To that end, I think that a minimum of 110 miles/day - which is 25 days pace (http://tourdivide.org/the_rules) - should be the goal of all riders. I know that every day of the race I used that as the gauge as to whether or not I had done sufficient time in the saddle for the day.  If you aren't going to at least try and do that, then why are you participating in the GD and the TDR and not just going at some other time?

Yes, some people will not be able to do that - blowing up, having equipment problems, etc. but that is fundamentally different to starting the ride without even intending to try and do that sort of daily distance.

The TDR is going to continue to grow in popularity and so it would be timely to put in place what the expectations are for the ride. We really need to avoid it becoming a group start with people planning on 30-40 days rides.

As the TDR grows - will we have 250 next year? - perhaps we should also look at a staggered start based on expected finish times. This would see the slower (say 22-25 day finishers) starting first, and the fast (< 18 day riders) starting a few days later. This would be see us ending the race at around the same time, but greatly reduce the 'footprint' of the race during the early sections. It would also be exciting to see people being caught, and hopefully inspire those of us slower riders to try a bit harder.

Finally, as someone on the wrong side of 50 I think that having a different colour for 'senior' riders would be great. Does our egos good to see us spanking the young ones. Even if it is only because people like Peter and Ezra stopped to sleep in Silver City while I drank 2 x 5 h energy drinks and rode through the night to AW 

Congratulations on your ride!  I have the greatest respect for anyone who completes this route - regardless of their time.

Regarding any revision to the finishing times - in the original "Grand Depart" (the TDF), the winner and the last placed rider are usually only 4 (or so) hours apart.  So the suggestion that finishing 10+ days after the TD winner should qualify as "competitive" doesn't make sense to me.  Completing this route in 25 days is an incredible physical and mental achievement, but not every incredible achievement qualifies as "competitive" in my book.

If an arbitrary finishing time is absolutely necessary, (which I don't believe it is) it should be closer to the course record, not further from it.

[RobD(NZ)]

 
As the TDR grows - will we have 250 next year? - perhaps we should also look at a staggered start based on expected finish times. This would see the slower (say 22-25 day finishers) starting first, and the fast (< 18 day riders) starting a few days later. This would be see us ending the race at around the same time, but greatly reduce the 'footprint' of the race during the early sections...

Going faster will generally reduce the congestion for you Chris  .. I don't think Mike Hall had too many problems in that respect...  He may however not be of this planet..

I was pleased to see you complete this year. Been following you and other fellow kiwis with interest over the last couple of years. Well done

[Donald]

It's great to have finished and to read about the race through this discussion.

To reopen an earlier issue, I think that Mike's amazing achievement does suggest that the 150% 'rule' for a competitive ride (i.e. 21 days or so) should be revised.

I was troubled by the number of this year's riders who proposed finish times well in excess of 25 days, even before the race started. After all, the goal of the TDR is not to 'tour' but to race. This means pushing yourself like Sarah did with little sleep, pushing on when you don't feel like it, etc.

To that end, I think that a minimum of 110 miles/day - which is 25 days pace (http://tourdivide.org/the_rules) - should be the goal of all riders. I know that every day of the race I used that as the gauge as to whether or not I had done sufficient time in the saddle for the day.  If you aren't going to at least try and do that, then why are you participating in the GD and the TDR and not just going at some other time?

Yes, some people will not be able to do that - blowing up, having equipment problems, etc. but that is fundamentally different to starting the ride without even intending to try and do that sort of daily distance.

The TDR is going to continue to grow in popularity and so it would be timely to put in place what the expectations are for the ride. We really need to avoid it becoming a group start with people planning on 30-40 days rides.

As the TDR grows - will we have 250 next year? - perhaps we should also look at a staggered start based on expected finish times. This would see the slower (say 22-25 day finishers) starting first, and the fast (< 18 day riders) starting a few days later. This would be see us ending the race at around the same time, but greatly reduce the 'footprint' of the race during the early sections. It would also be exciting to see people being caught, and hopefully inspire those of us slower riders to try a bit harder.

Finally, as someone on the wrong side of 50 I think that having a different colour for 'senior' riders would be great. Does our egos good to see us spanking the young ones. Even if it is only because people like Peter and Ezra stopped to sleep in Silver City while I drank 2 x 5 h energy drinks and rode through the night to AW 

Once again we have someone who, in a way that can only be seen as self-serving, proposes a "cut-off" that conveniently includes himself, but excludes a whole lot of other people. Further, he presumes to judge that all these other people are not "racing". How does he know? If Mike Hall were to do a 25 day ride, he would be touring. For anyone over 60 or otherwise less well endowed as a cyclist, 25 days is one hell of a race.

[bmike-vt]

Once again we have someone who, in a way that can only be seen as self-serving, proposes a "cut-off" that conveniently includes himself, but excludes a whole lot of other people. Further, he presumes to judge that all these other people are not "racing". How does he know? If Mike Hall were to do a 25 day ride, he would be touring. For anyone over 60 or otherwise less well endowed as a cyclist, 25 days is one hell of a race.

if there are no rules, and no cut offs, and no silly stuff about 'doing it yourself'... well, then you really are just out 'just riding your bike'. this particular thing called the GD (or registering as an ITT) is a race. the rules and the times may be arbitrary. buts its the 'TD', not the 'JRYB'. anyone is free to roll their own, and make up their own rules - stop in every cafe for coffee for extra points!, eat at every pizza joint within 10 miles of the route, ride it only on a unicycle, etc. etc.

from the web page "Tour Divide is a ultra-cycling challenge to pedal solo and self-supported the length of Great Divide Mountain Bike Route...as fast as possible(!)"

as fast as possible continues to get faster. its the nature of the beast.

[BobM]

...
as fast as possible continues to get faster. its the nature of the beast.

"As fast as possible" only gets faster in the general sense, not for particular individuals.  Donald's point is that one may race as hard as they can and still finish in 26 days.  Another person may stop at every pizza joint and finish in 24 days.  Which one was "racing"?

[mtbcast]

J.D. Pauls called in with his finish call. Fred Arden called in from Silver City! And Rick Ashton called in from Grants!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/