Tour Divide 2017 - race discussion thread

[geeoler]

Quick update: If you refresh your tracker maps, you'll get an orange line, the detour, in northern New Mexico.  BL should be there later this evening.

How much additional mileage is there with the reroute in northern New Mexico?  How is everyone notified?

[Mike Honcho]

JK is a stalker. After he gets some pie he might double his ground speed. Looked that way in '15.

[nspace]

^ That is what I am hoping. That final stretch to the finish was close and great to follow. Would love to see Josh make up some ground for the final push!

[jmiked72]

How is everyone notified?

I'd be interested in learning about this also.

[Angler]

Angler - is Stan packing a squirt gun on his shoulder strap? I assume with water or ammonia for dogs?

Dang.  Good eyes.  Not sure what it is or what it does or what it is filled with.  Wish I had noticed before.

[mikepro]

JK is a stalker. After he gets some pie he might double his ground speed. Looked that way in '15.

Apples and oranges.  In '15, Kato was only 1hr to 1.5hrs back as of Del Norte, and had caught Neil and JayP by Cuba, only to fall back by a few hours, to then again, as you say, close the gap completely between Pie Town stop and Silver City.  This year, he's ~12hrs back as of Del Norte.  That's quite a bit more ground to make up at the pace/distance these riders are covering daily.  Also of note is that Brian Lucido's time check at Del Norte was 10d 14h which is only 3 hrs slower than Kato's '15 time check there, even with the extra miles in Canada this year.  It'll be interesting to see where they are at come Abiquiu and then Cuba.

[taprider]

You gotta be kidding me - NORTH Vancouver??? I thought just us southern boys did stuff like that!

\
Yes but I still live in the south part of North Van (south of Bad Boys Trail aka Race'n Prickly Line)

[PMalcolm]

Did Ben decide to soldier on, with the cracked frame?

Yup, he passed through a town with 3 bike shops yesterday, so I'm not sure if he stopped for an assessment or whatever there, but he's trucking on.

[dream4est]

At brush mtn bill peschka made me a burrito at 3am after riding  from Atlantic city to here. I am feeling really strong already had a 200 mile day Lima to colter bay, I plan to ride nearly all night through Colorado so watch out everyone.ahead of me I am getting faster each day lol

[jjmundt]

It seems Brian got the re-route message alright, and we're about to find out if Josh did as well...

[jjmundt]

...yep, he did.

[BobM]

...yep, he did.

Can't shake Josh that easily!  Brian must feel like he has a pit bull on his tail.

[flyboy]

Here you go.

That, is frickin scary!   knowing how fast he must be bombing the descents I hope it doesn't get worse for him.

I'm just a TD wannabe ... Was looking ahead at the high temps in southern NM through Saturday ... 100+ at the finish 105 on Friday yikes!  ... Have any of you veterans experienced temps quite that high at the end of this grueling race?

Rob, that is just normal for the final few days of the TD. If you have made it that far you will know what to do ie switch over to night riding from about Cuba to the finish. I didn't do this in 2015 and was caught by a few who did HOWEVER, looking back at my photographs I was kitted out in all black, with just some small reflective strips and a small rear light. In hindsight I am glad I mostly rode daytime from Cuba but I did set out from Silver at 2:30am to beat the heat and "get it done".

[geeoler]

The riders aren't being tracked, at this point, on the reroute through Carson Nat'l Forest.  It will be interesting to see how many additional miles they road.

[bikeny]

It seems Brian got the re-route message alright, and we're about to find out if Josh did as well...

Looks like Josh got the message as well. Brian is almost done with the reroute. I'm interested in how much mileage it adds as well.

[flyboy]

With the latest tragedy on the TransAm being the 3rd similar incident that I know of, is it not sensible to introduce a rule that riders must display a flashing red LED from sunset to sunrise?

I know its a fafff and would only be self policing but we can't keep doing this. Both for the human cost, the waste and devastating consequences but also for the publicity.

C

Unfortunately I don't think any amount of rear facing light would save you from some drivers at night. One thing the internet has taught me is to not be surprised at the stupidity of the general public. Riding a race on relatively major public roads exposes a rider to a much broader spectrum of the general population which equals a higher risk factor.
 The TD is largely on back roads and as an example one of the "major" roads it used to traverse was into Rawlins on the southern edge of The Basin. As far as I know several riders were struck and many more rattled on this short, but bustling section of race trail. The reroute through Wamsutter has removed the danger of this particular section but in any of these Ultra Endurance type races you can't remove the racer from the race. Riders will push themselves on these busy roads and perhaps prioritise speed over safety.
I am no hard arse (ass) and wish to pass my condolences to those who have lost loved ones. Mike H was on one of "our" roads, so his loss was particularly painful to us bikepackers in Oz.

[jjmundt]

How much additional mileage is there with the reroute in northern New Mexico?  How is everyone notified?

I did re-calcs of my GPX files and, if MapMyRide is to be believed, the fire re-route adds 16 miles and just over 300' of additional climb to the route.  Of course, the biggest loss is the Canon Plaza Store, but depending on the fires, Sylvia and her family may have other concerns right now.

[jjmundt]

Unfortunately I don't think any amount of rear facing light would save you from some drivers at night. One thing the internet has taught me is to not be surprised at the stupidity of the general public. Riding a race on relatively major public roads exposes a rider to a much broader spectrum of the general population which equals a higher risk factor.
 The TD is largely on back roads and as an example one of the "major" roads it used to traverse was into Rawlins on the southern edge of The Basin. As far as I know several riders were struck and many more rattled on this short, but bustling section of race trail. The reroute through Wamsutter has removed the danger of this particular section but in any of these Ultra Endurance type races you can't remove the racer from the race. Riders will push themselves on these busy roads and perhaps prioritise speed over safety.
I am no hard arse (ass) and wish to pass my condolences to those who have lost loved ones. Mike H was on one of "our" roads, so his loss was particularly painful to us bikepackers in Oz.

Exactly!  I try to avoid busy streets/roads at all costs, but when I do ride them, I always assume drivers are somehow distracted.  I'm constantly looking behind me, waving my hands, using a taillight...anything to garner attention.  Bright flashing lights and reflective clothing are the best things I can do, but even more important is a "situationally aware" driver that isn't goofing with their GPS or sending text messages.

[geeoler]

I did re-calcs of my GPX files and, if MapMyRide is to be believed, the fire re-route adds 16 miles and just over 300' of additional climb to the route.  Of course, the biggest loss is the Canon Plaza Store, but depending on the fires, Sylvia and her family may have other concerns right now.

 
Thanks, jjmundt!

[BobM]

Exactly!  I try to avoid busy streets/roads at all costs, but when I do ride them, I always assume drivers are somehow distracted.  I'm constantly looking behind me, waving my hands, using a taillight...anything to garner attention.  Bright flashing lights and reflective clothing are the best things I can do, but even more important is a "situationally aware" driver that isn't goofing with their GPS or sending text messages.

I always figure I don't want to have to tell St. Peter that "I had the right-of-way!!" and so I move well out of the way of cars approaching from behind (I always wear a rearview mirror on my helmet).  People just don't get that they are driving a very effective heavy weapon and in my experience, some bike riders don't fully appreciate that either.