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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #600 on: June 23, 2016, 08:11:35 AM
Flinch

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« Reply #600 on: June 23, 2016, 08:11:35 AM »

Mike Hall: Now at 13 days one hour ride time, fully rested. Kato's 2015 time from Mike's location was 20 hours to the border.

13:20:00 projected time? Wooof !! Good on ya Mikey!

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And once the Race is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure whether the Race is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the Race, you won't be the same person who rode in. That's what the Race is all about.

  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #601 on: June 23, 2016, 08:18:35 AM
BobM


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« Reply #601 on: June 23, 2016, 08:18:35 AM »

Mike Hall: Now at 13 days one hour ride time, fully rested. Kato's 2015 time from Mike's location was 20 hours to the border.

13:20:00 projected time? Wooof !! Good on ya Mikey!



Did he make any statements about a goal?  I would think sub-14 would have been the mark he was shooting for.

What do you think the limit is?  You can always shave off 10 minutes from the previous run, right?
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #602 on: June 23, 2016, 08:45:28 AM
gleeloyd


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« Reply #602 on: June 23, 2016, 08:45:28 AM »

I've heard some of the single-track through NM is pretty technical. Is Mike through that already, or is it coming up, crossing the Gila?
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #603 on: June 23, 2016, 08:55:51 AM
nspace


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« Reply #603 on: June 23, 2016, 08:55:51 AM »

13 days is his goal in this Trackleaders profile.

It looks like he got well rested for 7 or so hours in Pie Town? Its nearly all downhill after the Gilla. Maybe he will make one final push and forgo sleep to meet his goal. Would love to see a sub 14 day finish!
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #604 on: June 23, 2016, 09:01:44 AM
Yogi the Barry


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« Reply #604 on: June 23, 2016, 09:01:44 AM »

I wonder how many racers literally go right past Elevation Brewpub, in Poncha Springs, CO, without even knowing it? Ignorance may be bliss, but it often leads to miss... As in missing a great opportunity for something to quench a racer's thirst and fill the stomach. Just saying...
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #605 on: June 23, 2016, 09:05:46 AM
ron


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« Reply #605 on: June 23, 2016, 09:05:46 AM »

I'm doing it on a fixed next year.  Wink

I ride fixed around town and did the TD SS in '13 (for the 3rd place in that category), and all I can say is that doing the route *fixed* seems unnecessarily miserable -- coasting the downhills is the best part!!

To the questions above re gearing, 33x19 is popular (Jefe, Long Ranger Justin, etc), I ran 32x18, and Chris P is currently tearing it up on a 32x16. (All on 29ers, of course.) As they say: only one gear, and it's always the wrong one. Smiley

@Josh Kato: I'm still bummed about your drop. Was so excited to watch you and Mike battle it out on the sharp end for two weeks.
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #606 on: June 23, 2016, 09:14:00 AM
Yogi the Barry


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« Reply #606 on: June 23, 2016, 09:14:00 AM »

Yes, best to avoid any discussion of SS/gearing, otherwise I'll write pages. But while you brought it up, I'll rant for a paragraph [if my comment produces too many retaliations, I'll delete this posting... it did and I did...]
I 2nd Chrisw's question. Last year, Marshal Bird (a TD veteran), who was running a 1 x 11 setup, lamented on his blog (almost to the point of depression) that he did not have enough top end for the flats or long downhill sections.

Those of us with no SS experience find this (a SS for the TD) impossible to comprehend and be competitive (yet 2nd and 3rd place as I write this are riding SS.) How is it possible to find a ratio that allows you to climb most of the grades (on a fully-loaded bike packing rig) and still have any speed whatsoever on level ground?

I know there are folks with SS TD experience here. Please explain! (Or should this be discussed elsewhere?)
« Last Edit: June 23, 2016, 03:26:40 PM by Yogi the Barry » Logged

  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #607 on: June 23, 2016, 09:31:32 AM
riemannia


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« Reply #607 on: June 23, 2016, 09:31:32 AM »

What I don't understand is why the selective, self-imposed handicap, when tubeless tires, 29er wheels, hydraulic brakes, carbon composites/steel/aluminum alloys derived from weapons and space research, yada, yada are embraced as something a proper bike should have, but not a variable ratio transmission? There are so many other ways to handicap the bike and/or make it harder. A simple rubber-band over the brake lever(s) comes to mind and is quite the elegant solution...

Because people enjoy riding singlespeed. I don't know of anyone who gets specific pleasure out of riding tubed tires or riding with locked down brakes.
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #608 on: June 23, 2016, 09:36:17 AM
Lederman


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« Reply #608 on: June 23, 2016, 09:36:17 AM »

Yes, best to avoid any discussion of SS/gearing, otherwise I'll write pages. But while you brought it up, I'll rant for a paragraph... What I don't understand is why the selective, self-imposed handicap, when tubeless tires, 29er wheels, hydraulic brakes, carbon composites/steel/aluminum alloys derived from weapons and space research, yada, yada are embraced as something a proper bike should have, but not a variable ratio transmission? There are so many other ways to handicap the bike and/or make it harder. A simple rubber-band over the brake lever(s) comes to mind and is quite the elegant solution...

For CP it doesn't seem to be much of a handicap at all. Maybe an advantage, less stuff to break, less fatigue at times, less weight, uphill when one shifts to an easier gear it's slower (but easier), maybe 22 gears is overkill. Might even be walking many of the same slopes as geared racers.
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #609 on: June 23, 2016, 09:44:11 AM
Adam Alphabet


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« Reply #609 on: June 23, 2016, 09:44:11 AM »

Yes, best to avoid any discussion of SS/gearing, otherwise I'll write pages. But while you brought it up, I'll rant for a paragraph [if my commentes produces too many retaliations, I'll delete this posting]... What I don't understand is why the selective, self-imposed handicap, when tubeless tires, 29er wheels, hydraulic brakes, carbon composites/steel/aluminum alloys derived from weapons and space research, yada, yada are embraced as something a proper bike should have, but not a variable ratio transmission? There are so many other ways to handicap the bike and/or make it harder. A simple rubber-band over the brake lever(s) comes to mind and is quite the elegant solution...

Unless you ride SS you'll never know.... Each their own, different strokes for different folks and all that good stuff. But it is awesome!
Stand and Deliver. If you can stay on top of your gear I'd think for the TD the harder the gear and of course the stronger you are the faster you'll be (obviously) 2:1 for Chris, such a hard gear. And he's been staying on top of it since day one. This in my opinion will be the performance of the year so far.

Get it Chris!
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@adamalphabet

  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #610 on: June 23, 2016, 10:04:48 AM
Snarkley


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« Reply #610 on: June 23, 2016, 10:04:48 AM »

Staying on top of the gear for sure. Add to it, and I say this only from seeing pictures of him on course, his bike and kit look fairly light and he looks light as well. A bit of a perfect storm, still, amazing performance.
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #611 on: June 23, 2016, 10:48:18 AM
Woodland


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« Reply #611 on: June 23, 2016, 10:48:18 AM »

Because people enjoy riding singlespeed.

Best and only explanation needed.  thumbsup
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #612 on: June 23, 2016, 10:52:03 AM
gleeloyd


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« Reply #612 on: June 23, 2016, 10:52:03 AM »

Quote
maybe 22 gears is overkill


Indeed. According to this article http://normallyaspiratedhuman.com/?p=1337, Mike Hall's bike is 1x10.
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #613 on: June 23, 2016, 10:54:47 AM
mtbcast


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« Reply #613 on: June 23, 2016, 10:54:47 AM »

#‎TourDivide16‬ Mike Hall called in from the Beaverhead Work Center with a twofer! He left some change for riders coming in needing quarters for the coke machine!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/
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JP - MTBCast.com

  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #614 on: June 23, 2016, 10:58:39 AM
cccniuk


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Re:
« Reply #614 on: June 23, 2016, 10:58:39 AM »

Mikes running xtr Di2 thought it only came as an 11 speed.

Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #615 on: June 23, 2016, 10:59:41 AM
cccniuk


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« Reply #615 on: June 23, 2016, 10:59:41 AM »

Indeed. According to this article http://normallyaspiratedhuman.com/?p=1337, Mike Hall's bike is 1x10.

This is his 2013 bike. His face book page has his 2016 set up.

Sent from my SM-G800F using Tapatalk
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #616 on: June 23, 2016, 11:05:09 AM
THE LONG RANGER

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« Reply #616 on: June 23, 2016, 11:05:09 AM »

If I was to do the TD again, I would totally do it SS again. Too much fun! Paying ~ $100 for my entire drivetrain, with no need to replace parts on the route is def. a factor as well.

That time that Chris is laying down is stupid-incredible. Once he's finished, I think it's going to last at least as long as his LAST record time!
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #617 on: June 23, 2016, 11:41:49 AM
cobbnat


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« Reply #617 on: June 23, 2016, 11:41:49 AM »

#‎TourDivide16‬ Mike Hall called in from the Beaverhead Work Center with a twofer! He left some change for riders coming in needing quarters for the coke machine!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/
One of the biggest disappointments of my life was getting to Beaverhead in 2014 and finding that the coke machine was out of order!
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  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #618 on: June 23, 2016, 12:29:37 PM
Flinch

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« Reply #618 on: June 23, 2016, 12:29:37 PM »

Did he make any statements about a goal?  I would think sub-14 would have been the mark he was shooting for.

What do you think the limit is?  You can always shave off 10 minutes from the previous run, right?

Fun to speculate. In the past near-history of the TD, record times have fallen by 21%. Performance increase is not linear forever tho. Most performance curves for human powered activities are parabolic, that is, they flatten out after a steeper upward curve. Going from 15 days to 14 days is easier (NOT for me!) that 14 to 13, etc..

So, how fast can the next winner race? Some performances are punctuated by exceptional individual performances: Did you see Lael coming along before last year and destroying the record? No.  Expect Mike/JP/Josh/... to try for sub 14 days. Yep. Expect some future racer to do a sub-13 day? Hmmmm....

Me? I'll be happy to finish! Third time is a charm----- :>

Single Speed: MY KNEES HURT thinking about it! Hats off to those who can and do.
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And once the Race is over, you won't remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won't even be sure whether the Race is really over. But one thing is certain. When you come out of the Race, you won't be the same person who rode in. That's what the Race is all about.

  Topic Name: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread Reply #619 on: June 23, 2016, 12:51:21 PM
MrsPivvay


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« Reply #619 on: June 23, 2016, 12:51:21 PM »

I truly think one of Chris's main reasons for riding the SS is simplicity. He likes that there's not a lot of stuff to break, not a lot of places for things to go wrong. He has had some issues with various aspects of his bike this year (the completely frozen BB bearings and he had to rewire his dyno hub one morning) so taking potential drive-train issues out of the equation helps some. He watched geared bikes have major issues in the mud in 2009 and really appreciated not having to deal with that stuff. 

That being said, anyone that knows him also knows... it's just him.  If you want to try it, I'm fairly certain he'll pay YOU to take his bike off his hands in a few days. Ha!

I'm also not going to say he hasn't regretted the enormous gear a time or two this race but he's still turning it!
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