Tour Divide 2015 - race discussion thread

[woody]

Just heard on the local Albuquerque TV stations that afternoon thunderstorms will hit the northern mountains for the next 4-5 days.

Woody

[JeffOYB]

I like the 3-up dynamic. Let em do as they please. This whole thing is so different from other stuff that regular concepts don't apply. Or, we see the usual dynamics in new lights. Athletes interact and lift each other up, raising the game, in every sport. ...Teamwork among rivals. Victory is one of many worthy dynamics in play. (...Sleep dep not being one of them.) (I wouldn't even mind seeing other rule changes so good thing I'm not writing them! Go team, go drafting! Share the work, share the load! But that's too crazy. Or at least another new category.)

[cloudrider]

Looks like he stayed at Andy Pierce's place. Andy built my bike and does beautiful work in a welding shop that used to be a potato storage barn. http://www.ampeircecycles.com/frames/frames-2/

Holy schmuckoly ... fancy arriving from outaspace with a broken ti fork and landing in this dudes back yard!!

[Eszter]

This is playing out very similarly to the Kurt/Jefe battle of yesteryear. Kurt leads leaving Pie Town. Jefe passes him while he's sleeping at the Beaverhead work station. They ride into Silver City together.

Then Kurt had gears and Jefe didn't, so he won it by a few hours...but this time...

Especially intriguing with JK there...I doubt they'd go for a three-way truce.

[gringo]

does JK have the stones to hold his 3 mile lead?

very impressive riding.

as has been mentioned, some type of enforced sleep / stop time per 24 hrs. would probably not be a bad rule change, these are all fantastic athletes, but you can do some serious damage without enough (any) rest.

[mountainjah]

there will be no 3 way truce. It will be Danielson or Mr. Miagi....unless Johnny sweeps the leg.

[mountainjah]

sleep when you're dead....a mandatory, auto-pause for shuteye is a great rule for long distance truckers- not ultra mtb racing.

[JeffOYB]

(Do I have this close to right: Lael is 6th overall on the road and only a day or so behind the overall record pace and she's on a singlespeed?)

[lotomojo]

Today feels to me like the final day of the TdF where it's more ceremonial -- if you haven't set yourself apart from the competition in the prior weeks then just chill and enjoy the final glorious day on the bike.

[gringo]

sleep when you're dead....a mandatory, auto-pause for shuteye is a great rule for long distance truckers- not ultra mtb racing.

Sleep deprivation is torture according to the Geneva Conventions. Not that I don't appreciate what these guys / gals are doing, just that what they are doing is not , by a very long shot, healthy.

[Lederman]

Today feels to me like the final day of the TdF where it's more ceremonial -- if you haven't set yourself apart from the competition in the prior weeks then just chill and enjoy the final glorious day on the bike.

I find it more like this year's ToC. It's coming down to the wire for the three up front. JK is turning himself inside out. What a great chase by JK. The two sluggers are trading punches. It's a nail biter.

[bergersride]

Wamsutter is the planned future route. One rider struck by a truck / nearly killed on MineralX Rd is enough. Wamsutter route (itself) is indeed -40mi, but tougher riding and all dirt (-75mi of Rawlins pavement). The approx riding time diffs Sobo (as measured by JayP) from where the two routes split / converge are as follows: Into Rawlins = 8hrs; into Wamsutter 5.5hrs. Out of Rawlins(to Slater)=8hrs; out of Wamsutter=6hrs. Wamsutter is also a faster / more centralized pit stop. Rawlins is a trap. Initial feedback from mid pack on Wamsutter route as reported by Kirsten at BML is, "tough, more exposed, slightly better wind cooperation, HOT" One plus is delicious solar-pumped fresh water occurring 40mi out from Wamsutter just as one begins to unravel.

Does anyone have any more info on this water source or other general info about this detour for people touring the route?  I assume its 40 miles north of Wamsutter and probably connected to a drill site?  Starting a tour of the route next week and this looks a good alternative to Rawlins.

[Eszter]

sleep when you're dead....a mandatory, auto-pause for shuteye is a great rule for long distance truckers- not ultra mtb racing.

Sleep deprivation is really pretty bad for your body. Adding mandatory rest periods would completely change up the racing...better? Worse? Who knows. But I think it would definitely lead to the sustainability of people doing these races for multiple years instead of the usual one-and-done. Maybe then we could increase the chances of more of the big names lining up in a single year.

JayP seems to be the only one who's been able to stack big effort after big effort year after year.

[Wayne]

does JK have the stones to hold his 3 mile lead?

very impressive riding.

as has been mentioned, some type of enforced sleep / stop time per 24 hrs. would probably not be a bad rule change, these are all fantastic athletes, but you can do some serious damage without enough (any) rest.

RULES?

Oddball: "Why don't you knock it off with them negative waves? Why don't you dig how beautiful it is out here? Why don't you say something righteous and hopeful for a change?"

 

The 3 riders at the front finally reported their positions at approximately the same time. No change except a bit tighter than yesterday.
That said, given Josh's one week effort last year in his first attempt at the TD and where he is today, he is truly an inspiration. To me, anyway.
All the best to everyone in the 2015 Tour Divide!

Wayne

[B_Bock]

Sleep deprivation is torture according to the Geneva Conventions. Not that I don't appreciate what these guys / gals are doing, just that what they are doing is not , by a very long shot, healthy.

If riders want to sleep, then sleep. This not a stage race. This is self supported racing. No one is forcing anyone to not sleep.

[mountainjah]

Sleep deprivation is really pretty bad for your body. Adding mandatory rest periods would completely change up the racing...better? Worse? Who knows. But I think it would definitely lead to the sustainability of people doing these races for multiple years instead of the usual one-and-done. Maybe then we could increase the chances of more of the big names lining up in a single year.

JayP seems to be the only one who's been able to stack big effort after big effort year after year.

I appreciate that perspective EZ-many times I wish we'd all stop for a big dinner together....FWIW- I liken ultra mtb's evolution to the path that contemporary alpine climbing has taken. Climbs that once were done with a series of camps over a number of weeks are now sent in 20hrs.....in that sport, the rapid completion of objectives has actually made some climbs "doable" or "more safe" because exposure to hazards and time out on the hill/at altitude is decreased, etc....those faster ascents also wreak havoc on the body-but so do the 3 week west buttress slogs....I know not what the answer is....I do find it fascinating that we can train our bodies and minds to explore those boundaries that we perceive are static and push thru to enlightenment.

[JeffM-VT]

If they were asleep they would have no idea. Neil and jp look to be slightly off the trail. Maybe kato doesn't realise he's two miles ahead. First on the road will probably win. However jp has shown in the past he's a classy guy regarding joint winning. I do hope a2750 mile race doesn't come down to a sprint. In 2013 3rd 4th and 5th came to a sprint. Should have all been joint 3rd.

Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk

I definitely hope they race it out.  A 2 or 3 way tie would be extremely disappointing. This is a race and hopefully everyone races it to the end.

[bikeny]

(Do I have this close to right: Lael is 6th overall on the road and only a day or so behind the overall record pace and she's on a singlespeed?)

All correct except she is not riding a singlespeed. Super impressive ride from her, especially considering her health issues early on.

[Lederman]

All correct except she is not riding a singlespeed. Super impressive ride from her, especially considering her health issues early on.

IIRC didn't Lael ride to Banff from Alaska? Crazy.

[B_Bock]

I appreciate that perspective EZ-many times I wish we'd all stop for a big dinner together....FWIW- I liken ultra mtb's evolution to the path that contemporary alpine climbing has taken. Climbs that once were done with a series of camps over a number of weeks are now sent in 20hrs.....in that sport, the rapid completion of objectives has actually made some climbs "doable" or "more safe" because exposure to hazards and time out on the hill/at altitude is decreased, etc....those faster ascents also wreak havoc on the body-but so do the 3 week west buttress slogs....I know not what the answer is....I do find it fascinating that we can train our bodies and minds to explore those boundaries that we perceive are static and push thru to enlightenment.

The problem is that the more rules that are in place, the more enforcement that is necessary. Who's going to enforce the rules? Once there is rule enforcement, then all the sudden there are entry fees, podiums, cash payouts etc. I hope these event continue as they are....grass roots self supported racing.