Tour Divide 2010

[krefs]

He may have been coasting down a long descent.  His pace is back to walking speed 

[Bounce]

He may have been coasting down a long descent.  His pace is back to walking speed 

Yeah, but it looks like he's going up a ridge, too.  It's probably muddy and slick.

[KootenayB]

It does seem like Eric has a bike issue.  Speculating it isn't a rear der (wouldn't he'd do the temporary singlespeed trickeroo?), but a wheel issue (mud seized, hub, taco'd???).

Whatever it is, it looks like mechanical tough break after a great physical charge over last day or so!!!

[krefs]

I see why everyone in Helena is congregating at the motels on the east side of town...

... Record daily maximum rainfall set at Helena Mt...

a record rainfall of 0.86 inch(es) was set at Helena Mt today.
This breaks the old record of 0.7 set in 1897.

KootenayB, I was speculating rear derailleur because that was the exact (within a few hundred feet I think) where Joe Meiser's rear derailleur and hanger were destroyed last year.  Thick clay mud is amazingly effective at pulling derailleurs into the spokes.  The single-speed fix doesn't always work, especially with a mud-filled chain...often the chain tries to shift up the cassette and then snaps.

[delilo]

Is there really a loop in the route near Butte?

[clancyarn]

Looking at the map sure looks like a loop into and out of Butte

[Chad B]

Is there really a loop in the route near Butte?

Probably just the GPX file that Scott loaded into Trackleaders.com. 
 

[LWhite]

Is there really a loop in the route near Butte?

Yes there is. You enter Butte on I-15, bear right on to I-90 and then take your first exit. You'd think you should then turn left and head south, and you could, but the actual route heads north a block, swings by the Outdoorsman (a phenomenally helpful shop), and eventually loops south over the Interstate and on to more secondary roads.

[JML]

I have just spoken to Erik (Lobeck).  Here is what happened...  He has been riding with a broken front derailleur for a day or so which was ok.  today he came over a pass and it was a total blizzard snow was piling up on the frame, then later in the day it was a clay mud fest where he met up will Matt.  at some point the clay took his rear derailleur off and mangled the chain too much to make a single speed.  he walked allot and eventually got a ride to Lima  from where the spot stops (he is with Matt).  he intends to fix the bike (not sure how yet) and go back to where he left off and keep on racing.  this may take a few days unfortunately.  he is disappointed as he said he was feeling good despite the snow and rain. He says the conditions are ridiculously bad much worse than last year.  It is too bad.  Matt will continue on tomorrow and Erik will be stuck.  The forcast for the terrain after Lima is bad more snow and impassible roads.  it's going to be a rough one.

sorry if this is all a bit vague

[heathercycle]

Thanks for the update.  It is too bad because there seemed to be a good race.  There is a lone way to go so anything can happen and maybe Eric will get his bike fixed quick and be back racing.  Prayers are with you man.

[multisportscott]

I have just watched Ride the Divide! AWESOME, Matt Lee is an inspiration.
Go all you racers!!!

[fneilsimms]

A couple of new derailleurs and a new chain should be about thirty minutes if there's a bike shop in town, so hopefully Erik will be back on the road quickly. (Assuming nothing more serious is broken).

[JMeiser]

No bike shop in Lima, but there is a Jan's Cafe' and a cook your own steak joint...The owners of Mt. View Motel might want to think about stocking some drive train components as a service.  I would have payed whatever they were charging to get back on the trail last year.  Being stuck in Lima and watching riders go through kills momentum and morale. 

Total disappointment, it was incredible watching Matt and Erik chase the record.

[fneilsimms]

Bummer. Can you get overnite delivery (USPS? UPS?) in such an out of the way spot (Lima)? It is on an Interstate, at least.

Or maybe get a ride to Dillon, where according to Google there is a bike shop? Is that allowed, assuming he eventually gets back to his original departure point and resumes by bike?

[klhall222]

This will effect most of the riders.  They should be coming through this area at a most inopportune time

Issued by The National Weather Service
Great Falls, MT
9:24 pm MDT, Wed., Jun. 16, 2010

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* FLOOD WARNING FOR THE BIG HOLE RIVER NEAR MELROSE. * UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING... OR UNTIL THE WARNING IS CANCELLED. * AT 8:15 PM WEDNESDAY THE STAGE WAS 5.8 FEET. * FLOOD STAGE IS 6.0 FEET. * MINOR FLOODING IS FORECAST. * FORECAST... RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND CONTINUE TO RISE TO NEAR 6.8 FEET BY EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. THE RIVER WILL FALL BELOW FLOOD STAGE BY EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.

More Information
... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A FLOOD WARNING UNTIL SATURDAY MORNING FOR THE FOLLOWING RIVERS IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA...

BIG HOLE RIVER NEAR MELROSE GALLATIN RIVER NEAR LOGAN

. RUNOFF FROM SNOWMELT AND CONTINUING RAINFALL IS CAUSING RAPID WATER LEVEL RISES ON THE BIG HOLE RIVER NEAR MELROSE... AND THE GALLATIN RIVER NEAR LOGAN. BOTH RIVERS ARE FORECAST TO RISE ABOVE FLOOD STAGE TONIGHT... WITH MINOR LOWLAND FLOODING BEING THE PRIMARY THREAT. RESIDENTS AND PERSONS PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES ALONG THE BIG HOLE AND GALLATIN RIVERS SHOULD BE ALERT TO THE HIGH WATER LEVELS AND BE PREPARED FOR MINOR FLOODING CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

TURN AROUND... DONT DROWN. MOTORISTS SHOULD NOT ATTEMPT TO DRIVE THROUGH WATER FLOWING OVER THE ROAD.

THE LATEST STAGES AND FORECASTS FOR RIVERS AND STREAMS CAN BE FOUND AT OUR WEB PAGE...

[Bounce]

My easy chair is looking more and more comfortable all the time - LOL

[DaveH]

The NWS forecast I am seeing for Lima is actually somewhat encouraging.

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Lima&state=MT&site=TFX&textField1=44.6369&textField2=-112.591&e=0

Showers mostly before noon, precip chances drop to 20% tonight and later this week.  The radar is currently quiet south of Butte!

So how about Marshal, that wiley coyote?  He is having a great ride thus far and relatively unfazed by the weather apparently.

I watched Ride the Divide last night to get in the mood.  Favorite part:  while hearing of a fellow rider's difficulties and complaints of being alone in wide open country Matt Lee blurts out "That's the best part!  It's beautiful out here!"  It was completely off the cuff and an emotional response, in contrast to much of the ML footage where he gives thoughtful dialog on the TD experience.

I wonder if he'd say the same right now?!?

[Stinkybikeseat]

I appreicate the update on Erik.  I actually went to bed last night worried about the guy when I saw where his spot was.  I woke up this morning and saw he had not moved and ML was in Lima.

Just wondering what the next section that ML is currently on is mostly ridable or will he be hiking.  

[Jeff Tomassetti]

Virtual Lee '09 is about 10 hours ahead of actual Lee '10. It should be fun watching him chase his '09 shadow.

[Jeff Tomassetti]

And, uh, how does M. Lee keep mud from killing his bike? pixie dust?