Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[AndyAmick]

Sorry to bring up what I didn't realize was the annual rules discussion here. Didn't mean to open a can of worms. But thanks for your replies.

No worries. The forum has a way of getting too deep into the "rules" talk. I think a separate thread for that type of discussion is perfectly reasonable. For this thread, let's keep it to topics about enjoying the race, following along, and being supportive of the journey each rider is making.

[Wayne]

Given the late snowfall in Colorado, is anyone looking at possible detours around snow clogged mountain passes and, even worse, snow melt runoff swollen creeks & rivers? The Tour divide 2015 leaders are approaching Pinedale, WY this morning. They should be entering Colorado this weekend. Any local updates would be helpful.
Northbound hikers on the Continental Divide Trail are already bypassing Colorado and going north to Wyoming or all the way to the Canadian border and hiking south.
Or is this a case of everybody is on their own? Colorado is going to cause some bunching up.
Thanks.

Wayne

[mikepro]

I don't think anyone's looking at possible detours, and I don't expect many riders to detour if any at all.  CDT and GDMBR are different beasts, regardless of snow/weather conditions.  Leaders aren't gonna hit Pinedale 'til late afternoon/early evening.  First 'snow report' that we're gonna get is from the lead group as they go over the pass between Brush Mtn Lodge and Clark, CO, which is still a couple days away.  My guess is that CO will be passable, with walking through a few lingering snow patches here and there, and some sloppy recently-melted out roads and 2-tracks.

Tight at the front of the pink dot race, with Bethany D very consistent with her daily 4am/5am wake-up-and-ride approach, having caught Lael W today after Lael looks to have rested for 8+ hours last night.  Alice D on the single speed, as tough and solid as she is, will find some spinning out in the long flat-ish Big Sky country and Great Basin roads for the next several days.  Eleanor M and Jill H just another 2-4hrs back.  Yes, tight.

Fortitude props to Josh J for overcoming everything that he mentions in his call (I'm sure he left some things out, too).  And he also indicates the Jeff H is riding a Rohloff, for those of you in the IGH vein of the discussion.

[mikepro]

Also, Robert O's dot came alive again today, after being dormant in Butte all day yesterday.  Whether the day off was mechanically-inspired or R&R-driven, the 60-yrs-young guy is on fire having started pedaling at 3:30am and is now well past Wise River.

And, I'm seeing the triumvirate of John F, Martin V, and Michele M making some good miles and gaining ground the past day and a half.  Perhaps a mini Euro-train in the MV Czech dot plus the MM Italian dot.

[mattman]

Does anyone else have problems with mtbcast? The player keeps freezing and doesn't re start unless I refresh the page. Is it just me?

[kiwidave]

I'm in the process of building up a bike for TD 2016 and Im leaning towards a Rohloff, does anyone know what the general number of riders running one each year is?
Also I can't pick too many front dynamo hubs from the photos. I take it these riders are relying on hotels/motels etc to charge their night time riding lights?

Hi GM,

For numbers running Rohloffs have a look at the TD Rides list in Chris Bennett's starters file and look through the bike descriptions in column J - most with Rohloffs write it there it seems.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnV6xT65HkPRdEx5eUtMaTZmVWQ5TTVlUlNhaFg2RFE&usp=sharing

If you are planning to ride the TD, the Cordillera's which you can get on Lulu (https://www.lulu.com/shop/search.ep?keyWords=cordillera&type=) are a great read. There are 6 volumes and all wonderful reads. V6 has a split of gear from those who answered some questions, including that 10/86 used Rohloff's, 52/85 hard no suspension, and 22/84 used dynamos.

FWIW, I'm building a TD bike for 2016 after a year of reviewing multi forum posts and I am going with Rohloff and dynamo hub (SONS).

Cheers, KiwiDave

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide15‬ - Steve Fuller called in from Butte! Brian Jett called in from Butte! And Peter Yerger called in from Lincoln!

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

[mtbcast]

Does anyone else have problems with mtbcast? The player keeps freezing and doesn't re start unless I refresh the page. Is it just me?

Is that the app or the website? There is an issue with the Android app and an update should be available any day. App updates take  time to show up. I have a new server but haven't migrated to it. Kicking myself for not getting it done. The server I'm on is the original server so it may be a little cantankerous at times. You can also run the HTML5 version of the app in a browser if this helps: http://app.mtbcast.com.

[mattman]

its the website. I'm also at work and our network/internet connection is wonky sometimes. I had the same problem with .libsyn.com player for podcasts. Its probably on my end, but was wondering if anyone had any solutions. Thanks again for posting and arranging the call ins!

[danwiz]

I went to the website...same here..went to listen to a must hear mtbcast and midway through it, it froze.  and it never came back on......

[mattman]

I went to the website...same here..went to listen to a must hear mtbcast and midway through it, it froze.  and it never came back on......

Yeah that's the exact same problem I have. Sometimes if I start it then pause it real fast the podcast will load all the way. I then press play. It works more often than not, but it still sometimes fails.

[Wayne]

Yeah, I don't think it has anything to do with gear.  I'd say it's mostly mental.  Races and records keep getting faster and faster because people believe they can do it faster and faster, building on the hard work and belief of those that came before.  TD evolution has been somewhat slower, IMHO, because of the length and the amount of luck required to pull of successful runs (e.g. course closures).  It is interesting to watch and think about.

Keep believin' out there, everyone.  This has been the best race to watch yet.  Both the women's and men's are still *tight*.

2015 conditions are the reverse of 2014. The riders have not crossed Colorado yet. That doesn't mean that they will be slowed any more than they were slowed last year at the beginning. It will be interesting.
All the best to all in the Tour Divide 2015.

Wayne

[mrg]

MTBCast issues FWIW - I listen the website and have no issues and I usually listen to the majority of the call-ins. AT&T home network and Firefox browser.

[sigma7]

HFWIW, I'm building a TD bike for 2016 after a year of reviewing multi forum posts and I am going with Rohloff and dynamo hub (SONS).

That's what I ride since years, the whole year (about 6.000 miles/year) w/o any issue. My 1st Rohloff has about 40.000 miles on.


-- sigma7 (w/ 3 Rohloff equipped bikes)

[mtbcast]

Just a thought: You can always click on the direct link to the audio file instead of the player. I think that player is flash-based so maybe that is giving some people issues. If you click the link, usually "called in," it will just open the file or start downloading or playing from your browser.

There was an issue with Tony Buchman's last call that I have corrected.

[vikb]

Is that the app or the website? There is an issue with the Android app and an update should be available any day. App updates take  time to show up. I have a new server but haven't migrated to it. Kicking myself for not getting it done. The server I'm on is the original server so it may be a little cantankerous at times. You can also run the HTML5 version of the app in a browser if this helps: http://app.mtbcast.com.

I'm connecting via laptop. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. I'm mostly trying to listen in the evening ~9pm Pacific.

[B_Bock]

Yes, please, let's avoid the annual "rules discussion in the race thread!" 

I'll second that

[cobbnat]

First 'snow report' that we're gonna get is from the lead group as they go over the pass between Brush Mtn Lodge and Clark, CO, which is still a couple days away.  

If you look at Billy Rice's Facebook page, he posted a video of his NoBo ride from Pinedale north over the new route...lots of snow there as of two weeks ago. Looks like Jay is already over that stretch, hopefully one of those early riders will call in a report!

[mtbcast]

#‎TourDivide15‬ - Tony Buchman called in from Lincoln! And Brian Steele called in from Butte where he's feeling better and rejoining the route!

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

[mattman]

Just a thought: You can always click on the direct link to the audio file instead of the player. I think that player is flash-based so maybe that is giving some people issues. If you click the link, usually "called in," it will just open the file or start downloading or playing from your browser.

There was an issue with Tony Buchman's last call that I have corrected.

Yeah no problems if I download the files by saving the "called in" link.

Thanks again. I follow this event closely than the Stanley cup and I grew up in Chicago!