Tour Divide 2010

[bgiro]

Medicine Lodge Rd will be a mess when wet.  IIRC Big Sheep Creek Rd has a better surface and is gravel plated and shouldn't be too bad when wet.  However, snow changes everything.

[limamtnvu]

Connie here, at the Mountain View Motel & RV Park in Lima, Montana looking outside to a rainy, rainy day, possibly snow @ 46 degrees.  The Lima Peaks are not visible, clouds are lifting.  Waiting for the Tour Divide racers to arrive (hopefully) today sometime.  Roads are mushy, rolling gumbo, good luck racers!  Andy Buchanan is here looking at the same weather as I am, he is chasing the racers, and cheering them on. Keep on peddlin'!!   

[fneilsimms]

Are the race roads/trails back around Butte and Helena (ie, where the main pack is) solid enough that the folks behind Matthew and Eric will be closing on them, or will they be having just as much trouble covering the ground in between, given it sounds like they've had just as much rain?

[sportsman]

Reid from Vancouver

Hi, I'm sorry to see that you had to withdraw. My wife and i were pulling for you.  as we were both stoked to see someone else from Vancouver that shares our same affliction (well, you have it worse than we do). anyway, drop me a pm if you'd be interested in some riding. we're out bikepacking around bc every weekend, prepping for the upcoming CTR


scott

[Bounce]

Looks like Erik is correcting his mistake and heading back down to the intersection. too bad he was getting closer to ML

I see where Erik backtracked.  He made up a bunch of time in a big hurry.   Tough conditions - whew!    

[AmyL]

Dave Blumenthal spent last night under the I-15 overpass 5 miles west of Basin (as he described in his call-in and as shown by his SPOT).  Google map has street view there, so you can stand on top of his overpass and scan 360 to see the view.  Google map has a second track along the on the entrance/exit ramps on the west side, so you can stand right next to the interchange and look underneath it.  You can even see the turn he missed this morning. 

Jeez there's so much info so readily available - quite fun.

Connie at Mt View Motel in Lima -- Thanks for posting your note. 

[MrWaves]

Well Matthew and Eric must be in sight of each other! Hopefully they will make it to Lima together - and the race then restarts through what must be horendously muddy conditions.... My hat off to all the racers!

[Bounce]

Dave Blumenthal spent last night under the I-15 overpass 5 miles west of Basin (as he described in his call-in and as shown by his SPOT). 

Amazing, the stuff we volunteer for!  If the Taliban were forced to endure that, they'd call it TORTURE!  LOL

[klhall222]

Matt/Eric- Eric/Matt  the race is on!   Matt is not use to having someone with him at this point in the TD.  At least they can "enjoy" each others company through this section of weather and road.  Nice job guys.  All I have to say is WOW about the pace!  I hope they don't "draft" off each other too much (rules ). Everyone, be safe out there!

[Chad B]

Amazing, the stuff we volunteer for!  If the Taliban were forced to endure that, they'd call it TORTURE!  LOL

Spending the night under an overpass does sound like a form of waterboarding. Brutal, very brutal.

[bjamin]

Weather forecast not good. Get out the paddles

http://www.wunderground.com/US/MT/008.html#WAT

The National Weather Service in Great Falls has issued a

* Flood Watch for a portion of southwest Montana... including the
following areas... Beaverhead... Gallatin and Madison.

* Through Friday afternoon

[krefs]

Well, in the mean time, the two leaders haven't been slowed to a walk by the muck, so it must not be too bad for now.  If they can make it a few more miles, they should be fine the rest of the way into Lima.  The broad valley to the east heading toward the Idaho border would not be any fun to be riding in during a strong thunderstorm, though...there'll be almost nowhere to hide!

[montanakb]

Hey if someone does offer to send out a blimp..can I send a Happy Father's Day shout out to my man from his kiddos??JK. I'm trying to think of creative ways to tell him what an awesome dad he is! Missing my man! Semper Fi! Faethfam

We saw Pete about an hour ago outside Big Sky Cyclery in Helena.  Knew he was in the area and I asked, "Hey, are you by any chance Pete?"  He said yes.  I said, "Pete Faeth?"  He said yes.  I said, "Your wife has been posting on the message boards.  She said if anyone saw you, to tell you she and your kids wish you a happy Father's Day!"  Big smile, despite the rain and miles.    He said he does get to talk to you every couple of days and asked for directions to his hotel, so bet you hear from him soon, if you haven't already!

[caseygreene]

Was eating breakfast at 8ish this morning at Elkhorn when Erik stumbled in. He hit snow at 7800ft btwn Wise River and Elkhorn and was not in great condition. I think breakfast, coffee, and a clothes drier got his spirits up. He was back on the road in an hour and a half after initially telling me that he might spend the night there.

Talk to Matthew this morning also. He slept at Grasshopper and got up early to ride, but a 1/4 mile down the road a hail-storm stopped him and he turned around and got back into bed.

Erik was able to make up ground because he was flying on the pavement while Matthew slowed on the mud. Hate to say this but it was probably my fault. I told Matt that Erik wasn't looking great and was thinking about staying at Elkhorn. He might have slowed because of this info. When i saw Erik again He was flyin towards down the Scenic Byway towards CR 287.

[steveintheboat]

Matt/Eric- Eric/Matt  the race is on!   Matt is not use to having someone with him at this point in the TD.  At least they can "enjoy" each others company through this section of weather and road.  Nice job guys.  All I have to say is WOW about the pace!  I hope they don't "draft" off each other too much (rules ). Everyone, be safe out there!

Ya :draft" LOL.. I woulder what kind of a draft you get at there current pace of 3-4 mph. The rain and mud most be nasty. Impresive pace crazy.

[teamfaeth]

Montanakb
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! That was sooooooooo cool. He just called me. How did you know it was him? Well, duh..he looks like a nice guy huh? JK
I am shocked you told him that. It made his total day!!! You just refueled him. Mamma on the move to take my son to the Prarie City bike races. He is 9 and riding a SS in the junior cat..he wore his new baggy bike shorts he got for his birthday last week and placed 2nd (first week he got 1st), so he dawned his tights today to make him go faster. Like father like son. Ha! Thank you so much. Is it too much to ask to give him some sugar for me? JK. So kind..really. Cindy Faeth

[krefs]

I really hope Erik's rear derailleur didn't just get destroyed.  He's still walking, and Matthew has ridden off down the valley at a good clip.  

[teamfaeth]

Forgot to mention after the races we are running over to finish his soccer practice for a tournament this weekend. Don't tell Dad..but he told me he likes bike racing better. Ha. Peace!

[Dogger]

We saw Pete about an hour ago outside Big Sky Cyclery in Helena.  Knew he was in the area and I asked, "Hey, are you by any chance Pete?"  He said yes.  I said, "Pete Faeth?"  He said yes.  I said, "Your wife has been posting on the message boards.  She said if anyone saw you, to tell you she and your kids wish you a happy Father's Day!"  Big smile, despite the rain and miles.    He said he does get to talk to you every couple of days and asked for directions to his hotel, so bet you hear from him soon, if you haven't already!

Thanks for the post montanakb, and for passing on the message to Pete.  Big smiles from all Pete's riding buddies at MCG!

[Bounce]

looks like Erik is riding again