Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[mtbcast]

Episode June 15, 2015 – Tour Divide Day 1 and 2 True Ups! Just packaged up the calls from Days 1-2 if you want to save them, this is a good way to do that.

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[dp]

It is interesting to note the difference just in the rigs - bikes, gear, how it's all attached - between those in the front, and those in the back.  A couple years back, someone posted a photo gallery of just the bikes - no riders - just before the grand depart.  You could almost predict who was going to win just by seeing how different riders loaded their bikes.  Those in front invariably pack extremely lean.  It's indicative of overall strategy and preparedness IMHO.  And always interesting to analyze from the comfort of my couch. ;-)

[Angler]

Connor O'Leary is still in Ovando having spent the night with ice on his knee and Ibuprofen in his system.  His attitude is pretty good considering he is considering leaving the race.  Sounds like it was one of those foot slipped off the pedal injuries.  Disheartening. We are trying to encourage him that there is a lot of race to go and to give it a day or two rest to re-evaluate and not scratch yet.  Any words of encouragement would be helpful.

[krefs]

This is turning into one of the most exciting editions of the race so far, with a LOT of fast men AND women.

You could almost predict who was going to win just by seeing how different riders loaded their bikes.  Those in front invariably pack extremely lean.  It's indicative of overall strategy and preparedness IMHO.

This seems to hold true in almost every mountain bike ultra these days. But there is a fine line between being prepared and going too lean. There have been a few races in recent years in which the weather went south quickly, and cold and wet/snow weather put a lot of racers in a bad place. Early in last year's TD was a good example of this. Personally, I feel that a lot of riders carry a bit more gear than they need, but there are also always a few that carry unnervingly little gear.

[krefs]

Angler, tell Connor that spending a day resting and trying to recover isn't the end of the world! There have been plenty of racers in past years that have managed to recover from injuries and push on, finishing strongly. He might not be able to meet his initial goal if he slows up a bit, but he can still have a great experience on the route and come back next year to make use of all he learned.

[dstewart23]

Wishing I was back on the trail this year....guess I will have to settle with blue dots. Good luck to everyone!

[forest_on_bike]

Marshal Bird is crushing it! Top 10 on day 4. Go Marshal!

[Mxhdroom]

Angler, tell Connor that spending a day resting and trying to recover isn't the end of the world! There have been plenty of racers in past years that have managed to recover from injuries and push on, finishing strongly. He might not be able to meet his initial goal if he slows up a bit, but he can still have a great experience on the route and come back next year to make use of all he learned.

+1. Hang in there, Connor - lots of time left to make a real impression.

[mtbcast]

Marshal Bird is crushing it! Top 10 on day 4. Go Marshal!

I pass him on the road early on. I want to see maybe along Spray Lakes or just before Boulton. Good to see him again!

[Woodland]

I'd love to see a By Country category on Trackleaders. I'm sure there are many countries represented these days in the TD as this things grows...

[taprider]

Green tent symbol = stopped time of 4hrs or more.

how about green square with triangle inside? (not the tent symbol!)
and what about yellow square?

[Angler]

Angler, tell Connor that spending a day resting and trying to recover isn't the end of the world! There have been plenty of racers in past years that have managed to recover from injuries and push on, finishing strongly. He might not be able to meet his initial goal if he slows up a bit, but he can still have a great experience on the route and come back next year to make use of all he learned.

Hang in there, Connor - lots of time left to make a real impression.
[/quote]

Just these two notes made all the difference.  Thank you.  We may have talked him into  resting for a day.  If it feels good enough tomorrow to push onto Lincoln and have the Docs at the clinic there check him out.  And I told him to quit self diagnosing on the internet.  It will make you think you're dying!

[Mxhdroom]

Hang in there, Connor - lots of time left to make a real impression.


Just these two notes made all the difference.  Thank you.  We may have talked him into  resting for a day.  If it feels good enough tomorrow to push onto Lincoln and have the Docs at the clinic there check him out.  And I told him to quit self diagnosing on the internet.  It will make you think you're dying!

Good work, Angler. There are obviously worse places to spend a rest day than Ovando, Montana. 

[Angler]

Alex Harris made it into Ovando around 8 pm, after I had left. However with the help of a few good people [who had met with Alex last year and were the recipients of Alex's book on his 7 Summits "Rocks and Hard Places]; I hereby attach their photo and story:

"Greetings All, Shawn and I met up with Alex Harris, from South Africa, yesterday in the early evening at Trixie's.
We had the opportunity to catch up and to thank him for the book. He was well ahead of his pace from last year and very well prepared to be a leading contender. He is humble and a person of great heart.

He was in town long enough to get as many carbs as he could to fuel the next part of his journey and to say hello to few chaps from Ovando.

His next stop, he thought, would be just after Lincoln for a few hours of sleep and the continuing the chase of the leading riders.  Though his stop was brief it was really nice to see him again. He thanks Ovando for welcoming the biking community."

[forest_on_bike]

I pass him on the road early on. I want to see maybe along Spray Lakes or just before Boulton. Good to see him again!

Pretty inspiring. When I'm approaching 60, I hope I'm in half as good of shape.

[mtbcast]

Roland Gugger just called in to say he is OUT with neck and shoulder issues. Could it be swimmer’s neck?

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide15‬ - Lynne Slivovsky called in from Rooseville! Anthony Beatty called in from Whitefish! Eijai Oxford called in from Whitefish! Mark Caminiti called in from near Big Fork! Tim King called in from Eureka! Roland Gugger called in to say he is OUT with neck and shoulder issues. Charlie Kemp called in leaving Eureka! Brian Jett called in from near Big Fork! Troy Hopwood called in from Whitefish! And David McInerney called in from Echo Lake!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td15/

[AndyAmick]

Tell Connor to hang in there. Last year, Calvin Decker came through Ovando somewhere around 15th-20th place and then proceeded to pass everyone but Jefe. Granted, an injury makes it a little bit different, but a lot can change in the next 10-15 days of racing.

[AndyAmick]

And how about the top 5 women all within 20 miles of each other as they head towards Richmond Peak.

[Angler]

Marshall Bird has entered Ovando.  Looks good.  Knee bothering him off and on but says that's just normal for him.  Fueling up and heading out.  Pleased that he is doing so well.