Tour Divide 2017 - race discussion thread

[BobM]

I am new posting here but have been riding for 35 years and lurking here for 3 or 4? I know some folks do not like FB but it is quick and essential in this day and age. It would be nice to have a singular pager over there. Most folks have FB on their phones and these types of forums not not real mobile friendly, Thanks for the info from everyone!

Hi Tman,

My beef with Facebook is that the TD pages are very active and I cannot for the life of me determine when new comments are added to existing posts.  There are far too many posts to be able to scroll down and open each comment string looking for responses.  Here, as I am doing now, we can quote and comment and it is placed chronologically so that nothing gets missed.

Do you know of a way on Facebook to view all new comments?

[mtbcast]

#TourDivide17 Eddie O'Dea called in earlier from Buffalo Valley Cafe, Mike Tuomi called in from the Montana High Mountain Lodge to say he is OUT, and Josh Kato called in from Steamboat Springs!

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

[jjmundt]

These forums >>>>>>>> Facebook.  I will never, never, never, never be on Facebook.   If the survival of the human race rested on me joining Facebook, still I would not.

[BobM]

These forums >>>>>>>> Facebook.  I will never, never, never, never be on Facebook.   If the survival of the human race rested on me joining Facebook, still I would not.

Don't hold back - tell us what you really think! 

[mtbcast]

I'm on FB a good bit. I still think forums are important and consider this particular forum a better source of information about different races. If I had to make an analogy it would be this forum is the Chilton manual and FB is the magazine. FB is going to appeal to a broader audience, a more general audience, because that is what is there. To me this forum is the racers' forum.

In the end, things change. I don't think FB necessary has to supplant this forum nor should it. It's just another medium. There are plenty of racers who post there and don't do calls anymore. It's just part of inevitable change. That said, I still tell people if you want to get deeper insight into the the race then Bikepacking.net is the place to come do that.

[Two Tired]

" ...To me this forum is the racers' forum."

...and race fans.

[mtbcast]

...and race fans.

Yes!

[flyboy]

Looks like Brian had no trouble finding the Gold Dust trail turnoff. I wonder how many will blast by, then have to climb back up Boreas to it?

He seems to have a comfortable buffer over Josh now but there is still a loong way to go. Great to see some huge solo efforts going into this race. It must be hard riding alone at these high intensity levels.

[jjmundt]

Looks like Brian had no trouble finding the Gold Dust trail turnoff. I wonder how many will blast by, then have to climb back up Boreas to it?

He seems to have a comfortable buffer over Josh now but there is still a loong way to go. Great to see some huge solo efforts going into this race. It must be hard riding alone at these high intensity levels.

Definitely!  JayP's ride has been remarkable...he's up to 8th in the Grand Depart rankings.  And Maertens has been outstanding as well...to say nothing of the battle between Lucido and Kato.  Great stuff all around.

[jjmundt]

There is a legitimate chance that Brian Lucido will cross paths with Dylan Taylor (leading the American Trail Race) as they approach Salida.  That would be VERY cool.

[mtbcast]

#TourDivide17 Episode – June 18, 2017 – Tour Divide Day 10!
We’re in Day 10 of the 2017 Tour Divide! Jay Petervary has worked his way up to the 8th slot among the Grand Depart in his ITT, the Bonita Wildfire may mean re-routes are coming for the SOBO’s, and peace, thoughts, and prayers for TransAm racer Eric Fishbein who was struck and killed in that race overnight! Be safe out there, Racers!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/2017/06/18/mtbcast-episode-june-18-2017-tour-divide-day-10/

[jjmundt]

#TourDivide17 Episode – June 18, 2017 – Tour Divide Day 10!
We’re in Day 10 of the 2017 Tour Divide! Jay Petervary has worked his way up to the 8th slot among the Grand Depart in his ITT, the Bonita Wildfire may mean re-routes are coming for the SOBO’s, and peace, thoughts, and prayers for TransAm racer Eric Fishbein who was struck and killed in that race overnight! Be safe out there, Racers!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/2017/06/18/mtbcast-episode-june-18-2017-tour-divide-day-10/

Oh man, terrible news!  Just awful...

[Angler]

and peace, thoughts, and prayers for TransAm racer Eric Fishbein who was struck and killed in that race overnight! Be safe out there, Racers!

Anybody know if Eric did the TDR.  His name is familiar somehow.  This is so fraking tragic.  How to make this stop.

[Angler]

Day #10 from Ovando Montana - June 18

The day started with Gus Laskaris, of Louisiana.  This man looks about as Cajun as they come.  Knew he was from LA before I checked where he was from.  To show the diversity of who attempts this journey, you may call him Dr. Laskaris.  ER Doctor.  Enjoyed talking to him.  This is a tough journey for him.  A lot of thinking time but all worth it.

The rest of the day went without a rider until late afternoon when a lineup started appearing with:
Jim Trainer of Rocklin, CA.  Now this was important to me as Rocklin is a not any longer small town that had a Jr. College I went to when I lived in the smaller  town of Grass Valley.  Hadn't been there in over 30 years so he brought me up to speed.  After a few set backs on the trail he is ready to play catch up.

Steve Barnard of CO, who scratched from the race but had to come to check out Ovando on his way home.  Bike is nicely packed in the trunk of the rental.  Had a great time just chatting with him in the shop.  About his thought of the journey.  How much tougher it actually is.  He too, within hours of having to go Out, was already planning the return.

Stand by for more.

[Angler]

Some views from the day:
Weather which was 10 degrees cooler than forecasted at 55, with a light mist out of the dark clouds all day; instead of the sunshine they called for.   Sunshine tomorrow?    FYI riders.....30 mph gusts forecasted for Tuesday.

The constant rains have deteriorated my signage.  And it has been replaced twice already.

Always have to appreciate the diet of the common rider. 

[Angler]

The last of the riders into Ovando Jun 18 before 7 pm:

David Sorrentino, 55 of WA.  The Iraq War Vet and riding for other wounded warriors.  Proud man on a proud journey.  

HJ Kim 43 of NY.  This guys has been having mostly bike issues I believe and is awaiting a shipment of parts into Helena.  He didn't waste anytime tonight and was back on the trail as soon as he ate at Trixi's.

Trevis Spohn, 31 of Lincoln, CA another guy from a nearby town of my earlier Nevada County Days.

John Campbell 49 of CO.  Had me worried that he went off track when he went directly to Trixi's, but this isn't his first rodeo and he did it exactly right after fillin' his belly.

A coupla guys came in "after hours" so hopefully maybe I'll catch 'em tomorrow.
Have a good night
RIP Erick Fishbein on the TransAm
Carry On.

[tanadog]

Andrew Kulmatiski is in Lincoln on night 3 of a ITT... fastest to there this year I think. Andrew scratched in '16 on Polverdera Mesa with a busted rear mech while on track for 16 days.

[mtbcast]

#TourDivide17 Overnight: Eddie O'Dea, Peter Kraft, and Brett Stepanik call called in from Pinedale!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td17/

[duffar]

Hi wondering if someone can provide some advice on checking up on a rider. Got a text from my son Brad Ryan last night that he was not feeling well and haven't been able to reach him since. His tracker has not reported any movement over the last 12 hours.  He's between Boulder and Atlantic city at the 1284 mile mark.

[mtbcast]

#TourDivide17 Randy Neill called in from Butte!

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