Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread

[mtbcast]

#‎TourDivide16‬ Episode July 11, 2016 – Day 32 True Up!
Just a few calls to true up for the main podcast feed as we likely have our last true up episode for the Tour Divide 2016! We’ll keep posting calls from Bonnie Gagnon and any other riders who call and keep them on the call-in feed.

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

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide16‬ Dieter Borsutzky called in from Abiquiu!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/

[bpeschka]

It looks like Mike Ingram (NoBo) might be finishing in the next few hours.  He was shown just north of Elkford about 5 hrs ago, then his icon started bouncing on Trackleaders as if he'd finished.  Then, his icon disappeared from Trackleaders.  There hasn't been enough time for him to finish.

Anyway, he'll be done pretty soon.  Good Job, Mike!

[ScottM]

It looks like Mike Ingram (NoBo) might be finishing in the next few hours.  He was shown just north of Elkford about 5 hrs ago, then his icon started bouncing on Trackleaders as if he'd finished.  Then, his icon disappeared from Trackleaders.  There hasn't been enough time for him to finish.

Anyway, he'll be done pretty soon.  Good Job, Mike!

Looks like he's still 70 mi out.  I had the NB trigger at Elkford accidentally -- now at Banff.  We can track him on home!

[bpeschka]

Looks like he's still 70 mi out.  I had the NB trigger at Elkford accidentally -- now at Banff.  We can track him on home!

Thx Scott ... such prompt service!  ;}

[bpeschka]

Mike Ingram is almost done, probably in the next hour.  I can't see exactly as Trackleaders is trimming off his last few miles.

Bundy Phillips isn't very far behind, where the NoBo route leaves the Smith-Dorian Trail.  It looks like he's gone down for the night, though, so should roll into Banff Thursday.

[dalerider]

looks like 5 southbound finishers coming in in the next few hours, Gary Macpherson, Bonnie Gagnon (riding on kiddie cranks and after recovering from near fatal illness  - hear her pre race interview on mtb cast),Dieter Borsutzsky, Ian monteith and Renato Allesandrini

[dp]

Alright, here's my post TD ride report. Enjoy!

http://davidjamesphillips.blogspot.com/2016/07/2016-tour-divide-recap.html

Congratulations to today's finishers, especially Dieter, who I had the pleasure of riding with (briefly) a couple of times in the opening days of the tour.

-dp

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide16‬ Dieter Borsutzky called in with his finish call!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/

[mtbcast]

‪#‎TourDivide16‬ Bonnie Gagnon called in with her finish call!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td16/

[Rob Colliver]

I've posted this on the FB endurance page and on our club page. Apologies for the lateness of posting here too.






There are so many great blogs and race reports from this years Tour Divide that I feel unable to equal any of them, so I submit my list of ‘.....est’s’ for  you to digest.

Longest distance in a day..........................152 miles.
Greatest climbing in one day.....................11796’
Shortest distance in a day...........................94 miles.
Abruptest stop ...........................................falling off during the descent from Brush Mountain Lodge on my way to Steamboat (I didn’t get there that night, and stopped to look at my bruises about 20 miles shy)
Etheralest night.........................................camping  in the Great Basin and looking out at the milky way stretching almost horizon to horizon.

Grubbiest.................................................I only did 5 nights in motels; the first two nights of the race were planned motel stops to aid recovery from the Flathead and the blitz out of Banff, so pretty much any other night was in the tent with no washing. I got more feral as the race continued. Who cares?
Itchiest section........................................riding out of the Colorado river crossing towards Kremmling and being eaten by evening mosquitoes.
Lengthiest normal day in the saddle........19 hours 4 minutes
Longestest day in the saddle....................28 hours 3 minutes with 229 miles covered through the Gila, the CDT and down the blacktop to Antelope Hell.
Biggest grin...............................................47 mph down the graded road towards Kremmling.
Frustratingest night......................... ........missing the last room in Lima and sleeping on the launderette floor
Gourmetest stop................................. ....Del Norte; the motel owner fired up the grille to cook an awesome mushroom burger and whisk up a really thick milkshake. He then left me to lock up the diner  as he had to go and run some errands in town.
Magnificentest view................................ a tie between the Great Basin and looking back at the Tetons from Togwottee pass.
Dumbest decision....................................thinking I could ride down Fleecer ridge
Brokenest bit of kit................................ my rear tyre (Stans Race couldn’t fix it) on the way into Butte. I also killed the front brake pads and replaced them in Salida.
Reliablest kit........................................... is a tie between my xtr chain and xt cassette and Raceface crankset. All made it to the finish in one piece and they got me through the Dunwich Dynamo too. Its probably time to retire them now.
Numbest bodypart.................................. nothing to report. Hands and feet never had any issues. Backside had a small relative of Uncle Fester on day 20 but in usual fashion, I gave it room to expand by cutting a notch in my saddle and he kept quiet until the finish line.
Blushingest moment...................... ........it involved wearing arm and leg warmers and nothing else and getting up for a wee. No more information.
Charmingest food stop........................... The Hungry Bear Steak House, slightly off-route near Holland Lake. They had forgotten to flick on the ‘open’ switch and were wondering where all the customers had gone to. They made a great burger, yam fries and chocolate milk and gave a huge bowl of ice cream for desert.
Easiest section............................... ........the flat section before the evils of the Bannock road with rain and headwinds. Oh, the calm before the storm.
And finally, the relievest momet of the entire tour..................riding into Beaverhead camp and finding people there. I was badly prepared leaving Pie Town as I can’t eat nuts and all I could find was trailmix and chocolate with peanuts in apart from some wraps I found in the Toaster house, I kept my supplies going from Grants as long as I could but was bound to run out..... the guys at the camp  gave me brekkie and fruit and sarnies for the road that helped me get to Pinos Altos.
Sadly that put me out of the race with a self-inflicted relegation, but it was still the best way to spend 21 days on my bike and meet many  amazing people. I would like to single out one moment and that was riding into Brush Mounntain Lodge and being greeted by Kirsten and Billy Rice. I can’t think of an adjective to express that moment.
Thanks to all the companies who helped me out – see you on the startline of the 5000 miler next year. I’d better get back on the bike.

[bon]

What a wonderful experience I had completing the Tour Divide race!! Every aspect of the race exceeded my expectations.
Many thanks to everyone for their support.
I hope to see you all again next year!
It's been fun to catch up here on the thread!

[kj78133]

Hey kids --

The active yellow dot known as KJ here - started a southbound ITT the 22nd, but I self-relegated and deviated from the route.  Sent e-mail to ML so they can change my dot color when able.  Just don't want to create any controversy as I continue southbound.  Cheers!

KJ

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hi All,
 
Time for a challenge greater than attempting the Tour Divide---getting Tour Dividers to contribute stories for the Cordillera. Volume 8 – to be published around Thanksgiving—will be on the 2016 race. What a race, with records shattered. Looking forward to the stories.
 
Why Contribute?
 
Three reasons:
 
•   All the revenue goes to the college fund of Linnaea Blumenthal, whose father Dave was killed in an accident just after Bush Mountain Lodge. To date we have raised over $10,000.
•   We’ve a lot of interest in the Tour Divide after Mike Dion’s film and the book feeds this interest. It is a collage of what happens on the Tour Divide and with each year being different records for posterity the race. I can’t wait to read the stories for 2016.
•   For people who want to race the Tour Divide it’s an invaluable resource for what to expect and planning how to deal with broken bikes, broken bodies and broken spirits. Oh, and for the lucky ones...finishing.
 
What to Contribute?
 
Two options.
 
•   The best is to write a story about what you experienced, what you felt, etc.  I’ve attached JD Paul’s story of braking his frame in NM and how he still finished on it, and Mike Arenberg  as examples. Mike’s story is a good example of why your mother told you to wash your hands after toileting—especially if you have leaking Bear Mace around! 
•   Do an interview. I’ve attached a sample interview template with a few questions—as well as Oliver Whalley’s interview after 2012.
 
In both cases make it personal and share anecdotes. And don’t forget pictures!
 
What if I didn’t finish?
 
Welcome to the club. That was me in 2011 and 2012 before finally cracking the beast in 2013.  You still have a story to share so don’t use that as an excuse 
 
We also have a section for friends/family contributions under ‘Blue Dot Watchers’ so please see if they will contribute.
 
The Gear Survey
 
Please complete the online gear survey at:
 
http://tinyurl.com/juegudp
 
This forms an annex to the Cordillera and it is always interesting to see how gear is evolving. The link will be active until mid-October.
 
Where/How Long/When
 
Please e-mail me your contribution to cordillera@lpcb.org.
 
If I could have contributions sooner than later it would be great. A good way to pass the recovery time in Istanbul would be editing the Cordillera. The deadline is the end of September. Two reasons. Main one is that I want to get the book finished in time for US Thanksgiving. It’s a great Christmas present. I’m also on a business trip to the Pacific Islands early October so I have time to work on it nights after work rather than having a life riding my bike or spending time with my wife.
 
If you can use the attached Word Files as templates it would be great. Otherwise send through a document and I’ll do my best to format it. It’s a big job and it’s helpful if you use these files as samples.
 
Do I Get a Free Copy
 
Believe it or not, this question comes up. The editor doesn’t even get one! Besides, what you pay goes to a good cause.
 
We Need Your Help To Find Contributors

Please forward this to any riders of Blue Dot Watchers
 
Not everyone puts their e-mails down on the Starter’s List so if you know of riders – or people who enjoyed watching the race – please forward this to them.
 
 
Thanks in anticipation for your help with keeping this important project alive.
 
Regards,

Chris

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

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[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

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[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

Inside the Hachita Community Center.

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

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[woody]

Looks like the GD red lantern has almost finished it up.
Way to stick with it Nick.
Hats off to you...

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

Here is Nick "The Red Latern" at the community center a few minutes ago.  He has not had a good night sleep since pie town.
Last time he checked he had lost 35 pounds.  Congratulations to Nick and his perseverance!