Tour Divide 2017 - race discussion thread

[jjmundt]

Well, we're about to get an idea of the conditions around Brooks Lake.  Brian should be there shortly.

[woody]

On another note, for the mega dot junkies, I've put together a MEGA tracker that includes TD, TABR, ATR and even RAAM.  Pretty cool to see so many people out on huge rides across the country.  Right now it's only updating sporadically -- I have to give it a bit more thought to get it crunching all that data more quickly.

http://trackleaders.com/megaxc17

That's awesome looking.
Looks like most paths cross in Colorado.
Great photos Angler..

[Two Tired]

What's the story that goes with this picture?  Nice.

[BeetRuth]

Good point BeetRuth. And I understand how that would piss you off.

In 2014, Kirsten at Brush Mountain Lodge gave me the best advice - "ride your own race and don't worry about anyone else." If you finish the race, you're badass. And you'll know you did it self-supported.

Hope you get to race it next year. It's a ton of fun in between all of the pain and suffering.

That's some good advice! Thanks....each to their own and just get one with it!! I'll apply it to my dot watching too! :-)

[AndyAmick]

Beyond just the riding and pushing yourself, getting to meet people like Angler in Ovando, Russ in Polaris (unfortunately I didn't stop there), Kirsten at Brush Mountain, and Nita in Pie Town are some of the best parts.

[Angler]

What's the story that goes with this picture?  Nice.

The story is what one man will do to keep his tire on his wheel to get those 30 miles to the next place with tires [me].  In face there were 2 of these zip tie wonders keep it on.  I think it was the side wall blew out and wouldn't stay within the rim.  My guess at least.

[spruceboy]

Martin Robards, 49 of Alaska. He is here for a while suffering from the little known and cycling's most bizarre injury: Shermer's Neck. Where you no longer can actually hold up the head. It comes on suddenly without warning and is cyclist centric. We saw it once before a few years ago. The only remedy is IRI: Ice. Rest. Ibuprofen. So Martin is spending his time in the Sheep Wagon currently.

Thanks for the update!  Martin is a riding buddy of mine.   I hope his neck recovers!

[Joaz]

Billy Rice is in Missoula. Hope all is good. Anyone in Ovando know why he took a trip west?

[Angler]

Billy Rice is in Missoula. Hope all is good. Anyone in Ovando know why he took a trip west?

Billy Rice is in Missoula. Hope all is good. Anyone in Ovando know why he took a trip west?

Billy Rice is in Missoula. Hope all is good. Anyone in Ovando know why he took a trip west?

Yup.  Unfortunately Mr. Rice arrived to a small cheering group of us and the Sheila's and immediately announced he was out due to pneumonia.  After 6 trips to Ovando --- this one he is leaving without finishing.  And the decision was not easy.  But he is not feeling well.  Was hoping he would announce it first but there ya go.

[Joaz]

Oh man, Bummer. I know how that goes, had the same thing happen to me in 2013. It's definitely a hard decision, but health is more important. Get healthy Billy.

Thanks, Angler.

[mtbcast]

#TourDivide17 Keith Mollet called in from Helena and Glen Carter called in from Lincoln!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td17/

[Angler]

June 15 in Ovando Montana.

May I introduce to you:


Adrian Davis 22 of Australia who arrived with Ivan Jensen 50, from Denmark and Christian Nielsen, 45 of Denmark.

[Angler]

Part 2 from Ovando Montana on June 15

May I present to you:

Bill Chilton, 40 of Texas
Bobby  Smith, 51 of Kansas
Darin Cabulla, 51 of MI who states he may be dropping as the heart is waning.  However there are plenty of other rider in Ovando that may not allow that.  As he said, that is what the race is about, changing your mind.  So we'll see where he is in the morning...... 

Greg Goodman, 62 of MO
Jean Francois Cantin, 41 of Alberta Canada

more coming.
stand by

[Angler]

Part 3 Jun 15 in Ovando MT

There was a little trail magic happening today.  Billy Chilton arrives asking if Sheila Reiter had arrived yet.  Tell him I just heard she dropped out due to not feeling well.  Well it appears along the trail he found a pair of gloves with Sheila's name on it and if she's dropped how is he to find her and return them.  I tell him before you leave just drop the gloves off at the Angler and I'll find a way to ship them to her.

Fast forward one hour and in comes the Sheila's!  Sheila Torres Blank and Sheila Reiter.  They just wanted to stop by Ovando on their way home in a rental car all the way to Texas.  Not believing the coincidence of all this, I ask Sheila R if she lost gloves.  Affirmative.  I run outside and getting ready to leave is Billy.  I introduce the two of them and the gloves are returned like this was all planned.  Sheila R very very happy.

While the exchange occurred Billy Rice YO arrives to a thunderous applause from the 3 aforementioned fellow Texans [above] and myself.  With a wanning smile he dropped the bombshell that he was Out of the race due to pneumonia.  He didn't look none to well either.  Billy said even if this was his 6th trip into Ovando via the TDR; deciding to drop out was not an easy decision. 

On a happier note also arriving with broad smiles on their faces:
Philllippe Lebas 68 of France and David Cordovan 40 of France.

More to come
Stand by.

[MattL]

Unless your're riding a tandem, if you're riding in a team you 'aint racing the TD.

Wow, I really stirred something up with the word "team".  You can all have your argument about teams in the TD.  I don't disagree with much of what's being said, but I don't think this is the place for the discussion.

Regardless, it's not fair to have this discussion on the backs of the names of Peter Kraft Jr & Sr, and for any part I played in that, I apologize to them both.  I didn't mean to imply anything about the Peters breaking the rules.  Not at all.

I've seen people drafting each other on course, for example.  That is not at all what I meant by a "father/son team".  Rather, a father and son entered and finished in the same year.  To the best of my knowledge, they were the first pair to do so.  The defining characteristic of their ride, at least as a human story, was the hardships they repeatedly encountered including, IIRC, hospitalization in the absolute tail end of things in New Mexico.  If you're curious about it, find a copy of the 2013 Cordillera, or search the race thread for that year.  It is a compelling story about human endurance and hardship, things we're all obviously drawn to.

Now back to the race!

[Angler]

Part 4 from Ovando Montana Jun 15

Dan Nolan, ageless from Alberta via Ireland and the Irish never devulge their age.  Or so he insists.

Kim Ortloff, 48 from Florida

John Bolton, 49 of Ireland

Sandy Radsek, 35 of Arizona

[Angler]

The infamous Bonnie Gagnon Larvick and newleywed husband Grant Larvick arrive in Ovando around 7pm, fast than last year.

Photo shows her specialized pedal AND that they are doing the TDR for their honeymoon.  Hence the veil on Bonnie's helmet and the top hat on the front of Grants bars.  He tried wearing it but when it rained it got to heavy and kept fall off.

Happy Honeymoon you two!

[BrianR]

Anybody else seeing what's happening in northwest WY and Togwotee Pass?  Things are starting to get interesting in the lead pack.  SM and BS are making their moves.

[Briansong]

Anybody else seeing what's happening in northwest WY and Togwotee Pass?  Things are starting to get interesting in the lead pack.  SM and BS are making their moves.

Just checked in on it. I think things are about to change some? Very interesting.

[Angler]

I leave you tonight with the tale of Ko Saynourath , 40 from Colorado.

For two whole days I heard from riders filing through about Ko.  Had we heard from him.  Do we still have a 29'er tire.  

Apparently Ko has had tire issues.  And as of Eureka it was starting to bulge.  And it was getting worse.  He didn't want to go off course so kept on peddling, thinking that he could pick up something in Seeley Lake, not know that bike shop has closed a year ago.  Luckily i had a donated 29'er from Nick Legan; one time use, cost to you only a donation to the Ovando Improvement Fund.

Ko made it into Ovando with the biggest smile I had seen all day, happy to see a tire wrapped around my arm.  His was currently being held together with the latest idea of zip ties.  Within an hour he had it changed out, and was back on his way, with an even bigger smile.

Ride hard and safe my new and old friends!
Carry on.