Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[forest_on_bike]

+1 to Ezster's comment. The Rez gave me the creeps in 2013. I was going to try and bust through it at night while the temps were cool, but I got freaked out about drunk drivers and some guys slowing down and checking me out as they passed. Sleeping on the Rez can feel sketch too!

[bmattingly]

I had 2 very different experiences from Cuba to Grants.  The first time I was chased by some aggressive dogs that were headed toward my ankles like missels.  I was chased in two or three different places in a short stretch.  Gave me a cortisol dump each time.  Lucky it was not on an uphill.  Those rez dogs are more dangerous than the grizzlies.  The second time I pedaled in the dark and watch an amazing sunrise that was fantastically peaceful and beautiful. 

Gotta give a shout out for Joe Fox.  He is crankin.  I rode with him about 4.5 years on the Tour D Haiti.  He led a group of men on a charity ride to give free bikes to orphans that lost their parents in the Haiti earthquake.  He  seemed like a motivated racer and expressed motivation back then to do this race.  Go Joe and hey to your father.  He must be proud. 

Brad M Flagstaff

[Angler]

It's turning into crazy town in Ovando tonight with everybody seeming to show up now and everybody closed.  The Market, Blackfoot Commercial Co is opening up if someone needs something.  I'm going to try to get in by 7 am [I live 30 minutes out] to get all the photos, especially the ladies since they all arriving at once.  Hopefully they don't want to leave on an empty stomach and will have breakfast at the Bullet.  So far 4 in with at least another 6 or more on the move in.  

[Angler]

Here are some of the latest newcomers into Ovando after 9:30 pm.   Thank you Alona at BCC [the market] for her cell phone photos!
-   Alice Drobna, Oregon
-  Brent Stepanik, Wisconsin
-  Eleanor McDonough,  Tennessee
-  Simon Cross, Australia

[mtbcast]

FYI, as Charlie Kemp noted in his call-in he lost his GoPro coming down Galton Pass. I changed the greeting on the call-in line to let racers know. He did manage to get a ride back up as another racer noted seeing it up there but was unable to find it. So someone likely picked it up.

[Angler]

After missing the photos of these two I went to Trixi's diner to find them just finishing up and retook their photo.

Sorry guys!

 Lukas Ausfachlage, Switzerland and
 David Hoswell, of Australia

whew.

[enjoy Rebecca!]

Carry on
and good night!

[Angler]

I've got some ideas for next year. Time and money willing, I'll be heading South down the route instead of staying in Banff as long as I have recently. Love the town, don't get me wrong. There's just so much to be gleaned with the racers on the route. Haven't been to Montana in awhile so it's time.

oh yea!  We'll talk about this.  Ovando would be honored!!!!!!

[Mental-Miles]

HI Folks,

does anyone know, why the TD-route does not pass the Outdoorsman in Butte anymore? It was a great place to restore with bike parts, having a pizza and meeting great people.

[Adam Alphabet]

Looks like Alex got ahead of Jay and Neil while they were catching some zzz's. Josh, Dylan and Seb all within 20 miles of each other too. Very interesting race at the front so far this year.

[SimonK]

Yuss!! One advantage of living down under at this time of year - you get to see the big night-time moves go down on the TD! Alex has just passed JP and NB's blue dots. Were they sleeping? When will Alex sleep? I wonder if he's even aware that he's (maybe) just taken the 'lead'?

[Roland Sturm]

+1 to Ezster's comment. The Rez gave me the creeps in 2013.

Worst part of the route? The dogs in New Mexico, the only part I truly detested. Vicious, dangerous, not just the pack on the rez between Cuba and Grants; Vallecitos as well.  That's where I used the bearspray - and the riders an hour or two behind me said they didn't see any dogs.

[cossrider]

What's happened to JP's blue dot?? Can't see him,

Scratch that he must have been hiding..

[SimonK]

Woohoo! They're up and chasing! And it looks like Alex might finally have stopped for some shut-eye.

[pbarsom]

As the sun is setting on the east coast, a question for vets: which sections of the route would you LEAST like to hit at night, for whatever reason(s)? The descent into Radium? Lava Mtn? Richmond Peak (if snowy)?

Great discussion topic, ron, thanks.  imo, (assume riding alone) from a cycing standpoint, Brazos Ridge (up, across, down, etc.) in the wet, for the 'creepy' side, any tight singletrack or dense willow growth parts of the route through grizzly and moose country (Banff to Whitefish for sure) on a moonless or cloudy night.  Fortunately for Soboers, that part of the route is over before one's thinking gets too fuzzy and inventive to trust entirely (that'd be around the Basin?).  I'd hoped to ride the Basin in the dark.  Next time?  To add on to ron's question, then, what would be your FAVORITE section to ride in the dark?

[bgiro]

Great discussion topic, ron, thanks.  imo, (assume riding alone) from a cycing standpoint, Brazos Ridge (up, across, down, etc.) in the wet, for the 'creepy' side, any tight singletrack or dense willow growth parts of the route through grizzly and moose country (Banff to Whitefish for sure) on a moonless or cloudy night.  Fortunately for Soboers, that part of the route is over before one's thinking gets too fuzzy and inventive to trust entirely (that'd be around the Basin?).  I'd hoped to ride the Basin in the dark.  Next time?  To add on to ron's question, then, what would be your FAVORITE section to ride in the dark?

In the dark of night, crossing the last 60 miles to the border.  Assuming a clear night with a quite border patrol, the canopy of stars would be incredible.  Maybe add in a few howling coyotes for ambiance.

Ha ha, might need to dodge a few snakes on the pavement.

[Mental-Miles]

Spot tracking-problems or navigation skills still sleeping?

[superdavebruno]

Its a little confusing up there on Fleecer when your tired and pegged out, and picking where to start descending is like picking a downhill ski line. Looks like he made it!  The other two ahead: come on surprise us and take the Elkwood hot spring plunge!

[Honcho Boncho]

I spoke with Marshal Bird briefly this morning as he fueled up in Helena.  He seemed to be in good spirits - he's dealing with aches and pains as expected, but having a great ride.  Marshal said that he's having an issue with charging his electronics (a broken wire), including his lights and phone, which is why he hasn't been able to call mtbcast or his wife as he had planned.  He's trying to save the little bit of juice left in his phone until he's able to take the time to repair his charging system, hopefully at a hotel sometime in the next couple nights.  He may also buy a portable charger if he can find one.

It was great seeing him go through - he's having an impressive ride! 

[mtbcast]

Episode June 16, 2015 – Catch up show and #TourDivide15 Day 4 True Up!
In this episode we get caught up on news and my trip to the Tour Divide start, true up you day 4 racer calls, and talk to Eleanor McDonough about her charity ride and approach to her race!

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

[woody]

I spoke with Marshal Bird briefly this morning as he fueled up in Helena.  He seemed to be in good spirits - he's dealing with aches and pains as expected, but having a great ride.  Marshal said that he's having an issue with charging his electronics (a broken wire), including his lights and phone, which is why he hasn't been able to call mtbcast or his wife as he had planned.  He's trying to save the little bit of juice left in his phone until he's able to take the time to repair his charging system, hopefully at a hotel sometime in the next couple nights.  He may also buy a portable charger if he can find one.
It was great seeing him go through - he's having an impressive ride! 

Yeah Marshal is killing it. Keep hammering it out man.

Love Mark Caminiti call-ins, he tells it the way it is.