Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[dream4est]

Thanks for the support Steve.
I am having one of those moments where one realizes how selfish they have become
This is bigger for me than the race
I am ruining things around me in my personal life
With too much racing

I saw it today
Mike prochaska said something to me in the azt750
About how he realized what was important to him
When I blew up
I thought of the ppl that have made sacrifices so I could ra e
Leila has done so much
She is why this all happened- no 11 in a row without such a trooper back home

That's why I say I am cool with not going bak out
Perspective

[Briansong]

Thanks for the support Steve.
I am having one of those moments where one realizes how selfish they have become
This is bigger for me than the race
I am ruining things around me in my personal life
With too much racing

I saw it today
Mike prochaska said something to me in the azt750
About how he realized what was important to him
When I blew up
I thought of the ppl that have made sacrifices so I could ra e
Leila has done so much
She is why this all happened- no 11 in a row without such a trooper back home

That's why I say I am cool with not going bak out
Perspective

I get it. Family and business commitments are real. The TD will always be there. Just know how many folks you have motivated out there.

I watched your dot go by just 5 miles from my house near the AZT in Happy Jack. I was tempted to roll down and say hello but didn't want to even give the appearance of outside support.

Supportive regards,

Steve
 

[flyboy]

Hi from sunny Helena.
A summary of my race so far. Day 1 and 2 went to plan.  Day 3 provably went a bit too big miles wise and I developed a twinge in my left Achilles.
Day 4 I nursed it up Richmond Peak and I am glad I did because the views and the decent were so worth it.  I grovelled into Ovando to find the Stray Bullet Cafe closed, so ate at the bar on the highway.  That is where Angler took her photo.
I stealth camped about 10 miles out of Ovando to ice my ankle in the river which seemed to work wonders.  I felt good up Huckleberry Pass and into Lincoln this morning but the three passes to Helena worked the ankle some more so I am staying in Helena to rest and ice it some more. I will crawl to AW on my lips if I have to (but would prefer to pedal).
I just want to say there are some awesome people out there both in the race and along route. It has been an amazing ride so far.

Cheers
Dave H.

[lesleeee]

[jun 15 005.jpg] is Brian Steele on the left & Josh Daugherty (my husband) on the right.. Thanks for posting a pic!! So great to see him

[mtbcast]

Episode June 16, 2015 – ‪#‎TransAmBikeRace‬ '15 Day 11 and ‪#‎TourDivide‬ '15 Day 5 True Ups!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[mtbcast]

Mark I'm posting the interview we did in Banff. Not to talk you out of pulling from the race. Rather to give you some perspective on what you were thinking before the race as we talked. What ever you decide, maybe this will help. It will certainly help others. It was a great discussion and I'd planned to play it back a little later but maybe this way everyone following the race and contemplating doing this race will get some perspective and inspiration and perhaps it will help you too!

Bonus Episode – An Interview with #TourDivide ’15 Racer Mark Caminiti!

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

[Killy]

Hey, is there a leader list of riders over 60...top ten as of right now? Can anyone tell me how I can find it on trackleaders? Thanks! 

[Angler]

[jun 15 005.jpg] is Brian Steele on the left & Josh Daugherty (my husband) on the right.. Thanks for posting a pic!! So great to see him

Thank you!  Another mystery solved!  Now i'm raising money for that photo booth idea of Eszter's.  I hate when someone comes up with a great idea.  always means more work for me.  HA!

[mikepro]

The sleep monster roars on night #5 ... so many riders to sleep 'early' tonight ... 'cept for a few mutants out there still pushin' the pedals.  Booyah.

[bikee]

Just saw she's back in the lead and still moving. I'm rooting hard for her. Wondering of losing her bivy has anything to do with it
https://gypsybytrade.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/tour-divide-update-helena-mt/

But it's such a good race. I'm rooting for them all.

(New to the forum, posted this earlier in the wrong place, sorry)

[Beagle]

@flyboy. Sorry to hear you're hurting out there Dave. Hope a bit of rest and recuperation gets you on the bike again. You were looking strong, been cheering you on (just can't get comments working on trackleaders).

Sounds like both the Brisbane Daves are hurting this year though reports from Dave W is he may be on the bike again tomorrow so fingers crossed for both of you!

Nick from BNE.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Yann___k]

Is that a Tioga Spyder saddle on Marketa "Peggy" Marvanova's bike?

Not sure about the saddle, but here is the picture of her bike.

[Nellie]

I'm staggered at the overall pace of the race this year. Those 4 or 5 guys at the front are incredible. The race as a whole is starting to open up a little, and I know that there is a long way to go, but so many riders under the 25 day pace, unbelievable! Super-competitive. Super exciting. And great pictures from Angler!

[wunnspeed]

Hi everyone. I am absolutely loving this years TD. However...
I have a question that I'm sure many of you may have already considered.
What do you think about the use of drop bars and cyclocross bikes in what is considered a mountainbike race?
I don't know what the situation is in the US but here in the UK you are not allowed to enter MTB races using cyclocross bikes. Equally I would believe that the use of drop bars would also be frowned upon.
Please don't shoot the messenger here, I think that I am asking a valid question and I am interested in hearing other peoples opinions.
Thanks. Neil.

When I first arrived in Germany from the US where I was a racer and promoter it was rather strange as official race rules banned anything that wasn't a 26" mountain bike. I'd already been on a 29'er, exclusively, for a few years. I entered anyway and never had an issue. I did have one guy forbid a team of 29'ers in a 24 hour race, calling them 'touring bikes'. Now, many years later he's one of the biggest 29'er advocates around. At this point, 10 years later, other than CX bikes in the marathons being dis-allowed, I've seen bikes I would never even sit on, let alone ride in races.

As far as aero-bars, I'm not a fan but I know most are. I have done all my bikepacking/racing without them (including the '12 TDR). I don't even own a set. Most, seem to have music at some point during races here.... at least in bikepacking. I know I do.

[SimonK]

Awesome job of closing the gap by Seb over the last 12 hrs!

The think I like about aero bars for this kind of thing is the ability to remove all pressure from the hands for a while (as well as drill through a mean headwind).

[gleeloyd]

[jun 15 005.jpg] is Brian Steele on the left & Josh Daugherty (my husband) on the right.. Thanks for posting a pic!! So great to see him

From Dallas, right? I noticed the Oak Cliff Bike jersey and figured it was him! Oak Cliff native myself.

[bakerjw]

I have to jump and post a hearty thanks, firstly to the racers and secondly to those providing pictures and valuable commentary. I'll likely never be able to maintain a pace like these people are riding but in the next few years I hope to be able to do a respectable pace out there on the trail.

Speaking for others here at work in the Mountains of NE Tennessee. Seeing the loadouts and bike configurations helps immensely.

[dream4est]

I am heading back to the place I left route
Will ride to Helena and see how I feel
Thx all

[bikeny]

I am heading back to the place I left route
Will ride to Helena and see how I feel
Thx all

That sounds like a very smart thing to do. Get your head straight before making a final decision. Hopefully you have a pleasant ride into Helena.

No matter what your decision, you have my respect!

Mark

[rippling over canyons]

Thanks for posting all of the pictures, Angler.