Tour Divide 2013

[Mathewsen]

I hope I didn't do anything to screw up Billy's run.

You didn't. If he has half a brain, he knew before looking at app.bluedot.mobi or Trackleaders. If one rides by cues, as one is supposed to--GPS or not--the cyclometer quickly doesn't add up. What is undesirable is outside influence on riders' moral dilemmas. Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching (somebody said that). That's sort of the sacrifice in authenticity when SPOT tracking honor-based racing...but alas, we are seeking records and glory, right(?), and thanks to social media, the future will be notarized!

How do you control it?

You can't. Doping is human. Gains of tenths of percentage points are rationalized. We can just hope we're using tech for the greater good.

[Adam Alphabet]

  Integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching.

Words to live by. Here's a quote every 'racer' should have stickered on their handlebars beside their 'WWSD?' sticker.

"What Would Stamstad Do?"

[mtbcast]

Gunnar Fehlau called in from Whitefish. He reports about 1 mile of hiking through snow on Red Meadow Lake but nothing too hard.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[pro_out]

He who lives in a glass house shouldn't throw stones.

[elobeck]

oh really...paul attala is back? This is getting interesting. When is he starting his ITT? Anyone?

[mtbcast]

MTBCast: Episode 143 – Moab gets a 3-day stage race for the fall and we talk to TD ITT’er Gunnar Fehlau!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[Pizzaz]

Well, after many planes trains and automobiles this Aussie arrives at the Lodge... Looking forward to catching up with others.

[stappy]

I have the set route variations as -
the Gold Dust Trail after Boreas Pass (not on ACA map/notes, I'm hoping it's a single trail?)
the CDT Sapillo alt north of Silver City
 and also the Chaco + El Malpais alts that are optional for a faster race route. Is this all / correct to the GPS route, I understood the other alts are not part of the race route?

Those are the four legal alternates, the first two are mandatory for SOBO. The 2012 topo-fusion file takes you on all four alternates, not the standard ACA route. If you are racing, you won't mind the pavement, trust me.

[stappy]

Snow report
I think this info is out there already. I spent yesterday riding from Corbin to the top of Galton and back. I came across no snow. Conditions are fast. Speaking of that, the hike-a-bike is in the best shape I've ever seen it. I ran into Richard and Kerrin on their ITT. They were a little down, I tried to cheer them up. When I left them they felt optimistic about making it to Eureka and taking a rest day.
Craig.

[robinb]

Snow report
I think this info is out there already. I spent yesterday riding from Corbin to the top of Galton and back. I came across no snow. Conditions are fast. Speaking of that, the hike-a-bike is in the best shape I've ever seen it. I ran into Richard and Kerrin on their ITT. They were a little down, I tried to cheer them up. When I left them they felt optimistic about making it to Eureka and taking a rest day.
Craig.

do you know how it was in the valley between flathead pass and corbin pass?  lots of ground water?

[stappy]

It's wet coming down Flathead pass. Maybe more water than last year but no snow! It's all ride-able, in both directions, save for the biggest most violent creek crossing. I'm guessing you mean Cabin pass Robin. The valley in between is dry, hard pack and very fast, like pavement right now all the way to Butt's cabin, which is pretty much the start of Cabin pass.

[hikernks]

Thanks for the G-2 on the route.  Hope the conditions hold out!

[serge]

oh really...paul attala is back? This is getting interesting. When is he starting his ITT? Anyone?

Paul is en route to Banff. Probably starting Tuesday in the early AM. It will be a good ride to watch.
Good luck Paul!

[elobeck]

Paul is en route to Banff. Probably starting Tuesday in the early AM. It will be a good ride to watch.
Good luck Paul!

anyone know what his motivation is in starting ahead of the GD by just a few days? "Hoopla" avoidance? More "purity"? Work schedule? Weather? Just curious....

[hikernks]

I'm starting a day early for two reasons.  1) I'm maximizing all of my vacation time.  2) I'm going to buy every single bag of Peanut Butter M&Ms in Elkford.  Every. Single. Bag. 

But that's just me.  I'm sure he has his own reasons.

[Bounce]

CJELL$ THROWS DOWN!!!!!! and tells all you “Worthless SoBo-ers" to "SUCK IT!!!!”
 
First, the story:  I was watching the Leaderboard and saw that Cjell was going to ride right by my property on his way to Antelope Wells.  So, I made a sign that said, “GO Cjell!” and he stopped on his way by.

We got to talking and he asked if I’d follow him to the top of La Manga Pass and take a couple of pictures.  I readily agreed.  He started his timer at the intersection of FR-250 and Highway 17 in front of HORCA.  He stopped his timer at the top of La Manga Pass.

Cjell wrote his time on a dollar bill and stuck it in a hole at the bottom of the LA MANGA sign post.

Next, the challenge:  Cjell$ is openly disrespecting every southbound rider.  He says you have neither the “nad,” nor the “ability” to challenge him and that every SoBo rider who doesn’t put their name and time on a dollar bill, and insert it in the base of the La Manga Pass sign, can “SUCK IT!”

After everyone passes, I will mail the winner all the dollar bills.  That would make quite a collage, don't you think?  Cjell doesn’t think any SoBo-er has the guts to even attempt to beat his time. He's laughing at you!!!  

Cjell$ has thrown down!  Who’s in???  Who will be 2013's KING OF LA MANGA and ride away with the gold?  Cjell has a buck that says it will be HIM!

   

[Bounce]

I may "modify" that sign post to allow for more contestants.

[Endurance Junkie]

He's going down! From the guy who gave him a woopin in the AZTR "NOW WHAT!

[robinb]

I'm pretty sure my time will be under 37 min... don't bring a knife to a gun fight... hippie...

[bluemarlin]

haha I love that guy, that's the divide breed I am looking forward to, hope there are more like him out there, selfmade frame beats lycra-facebook-live-coverage