Tour Divide 2018 Race Discussion Thread

[bikeny]

Looks like Richard Dunnett is back on the trail. Hopefully he is healed up a bit and thinks it's safe to continue.

[Drewdontdothat]

Any idea why the NoBo riders do not show up on the Trackleaders elevation profile under the map?

Looks like Dom got some rest in Salida but was gone before any shops were open. Good sign that his bike is in decent shape.

[bikeny]

Any idea why the NoBo riders do not show up on the Trackleaders elevation profile under the map?

Looks like Dom got some rest in Salida but was gone before any shops were open. Good sign that his bike is in decent shape.

There's a little window that lets you toggle between Northbound and Southbound riders. You cannot show both at the same time though.

[Drewdontdothat]

Completely overlooked that. Thanks!

[schillingsworth]

Ron,
Someone earlier had mentioned DotWatcher, I saw some updates there. Some link to FB pages.

[kiwidave]

Hey bikelite - where are these updates being posted? I'm not seeing them on either of their facebook or instagrams, so clearly I'm looking in the wrong places. Thanks for sharing!

Ron - those updates are being posted here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourdivide/

[kiwidave]

Can anyone on route grab some shots of Dom Irvine for us dot watchers, please?

Images of Dom are here:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156408997778670&set=pcb.622809261386508&type=3&theater&ifg=1
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156408997743670&set=pcb.622809261386508&type=3&theater&ifg=1
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10156408997808670&set=pcb.622809261386508&type=3&theater&ifg=1


Interesting to go all dark colours in the heat and to rock a mid sized Osprey.

[ron]

Joined the right FB group now - thanks guys!

[Jilleo]

There's been a surprising number of route deviations this year. Ben Weaver appears to have left Seeley Lake and wandered off into the Rattlesnake Wilderness. http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide18i.php?name=Ben_Weaver

[Iowagriz]

Jill - I agree, lots of deviations. Not sure if people are more unprepared, tougher conditions or what.  I blame it on the popularity of the Facebook groups getting to a larger population of people that are not fully prepared.

As for Ben, he is doing his music tour.  He played at Whitefish Bike Retreat Monday night. Plays in Missoula tonight or tomorrow.  Playing various locations along the route.  A little odd that his dot is not on the touring page, but it does get him more coverage from those that might be interested.

[Jilleo]

Oh, I wasn't aware of Ben's music tour. The "coverage" is so fractured these days, it's impossible to keep up. He did pick and interesting route to get to Missoula!

I feel a little discouraged by all of the route deviations this year. It appears the growing abundance of fractured information out there has also diluted understanding of what the Tour Divide even is. Ah well. Still fun to dot-watch.

[Iowagriz]

Agree, people have diluted the original intent of the grand depart.

I'm curious if Ben is taking the new route that offshoots to Missoula. Fairly sure I saw that Adventure Cycling was adding that to the new maps.


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[geekonabike]

The weather forecast keeps getting worse for Saturday for Pie Town and the Gila. Now it is 100% for thunderstorms and rain. It looks like a one day thing. I am in Grants heading south (not racing) and I am curious what the drying time is for the roads after a one day storm as opposed to the daily monsoon.

In a normal year, it could take another day even two. The forecast 1" to 3/4" as a 1st rain for months may well get sucked unground leaving only dampness in 1/2 hour. 
 Your conditions may vary  ; -)   This Buds 4 U 

[kiwidave]

I feel a little discouraged by all of the route deviations this year. It appears the growing abundance of fractured information out there has also diluted understanding of what the Tour Divide even is. Ah well. Still fun to dot-watch.

Food for thought:

In 2009, 38% finished. In 2017, 39% finished. "All those deviations", which are effectively scratches, is probably similar pro-rata to 2009 when only 42 started.

In 2010 of the 48 on the start list, 9 had scratched by Whitefish - 20%. And the route was easier to Whitefish in 2010 than it is now.

In 2004 (Rooseville - AW) one of the sponsored racers stopped in Breck to party (!) and finished in 30 days. Sponsored. Border to border.

[Jilleo]

In 2009, 38% finished. In 2017, 39% finished. "All those deviations", which are effectively scratches, is probably similar pro-rata to 2009 when only 42 started.

Many of the 2018 deviations are people who are still riding ... so the thinking is they probably didn't want to "scratch" and are still effectively in the race.

You may recall Deanna Adams from 2009. She rode a fixed-gear cross bike with a huge gear all the way from Banff to Mexico. Her time might still stand as a fixed-gear record (not sure what it is or how it compares to Fixie Dave's, to be fair.) She bypassed a small part of the route in Montana while riding with somebody else and was disqualified. To say she was upset about this is an understatement.

There was also Dario, who skipped Brooks Lake, and also was unhappy about his relegation. People may still be "disqualified" for skipping parts of the route they don't like, but I'd be willing to bet a fair number of them don't realize this.

[bmattingly]

I was the one riding much of the route with Deanna in 2009.  We got off route going over a pass where the turn apparently looks like someones driveway and keeps you in the Mountains.  We hit a highway about 25 miles to Butte and took it in.  I tracked the route without GPS, by maps and mileage gauge on bike.  Have done a few more big rides sense with GPS and it is way better.  Deanna's ride goes down as one of the best sports performances I have ever witnessed in my life.  She was 20 at the time I think and is epileptic. Deanna Rocks!!!  Was heartbreaking to be relegated after finishing at Antelope Wells.  Oh well good experience.  Thats some big country out there and easy to get off route.  We have some good international racers charging this year.

[GrizzlyAdam]

Agree, people have diluted the original intent of the grand depart.

Which was what, exactly?

People may still be "disqualified" for skipping parts of the route they don't like, but I'd be willing to bet a fair number of them don't realize this.

That's what happens when a "race" has no official organizer, a website that hasn't been updated in 5 years, conflicting interpretations of the rules, and nothing at stake for anyone who rides in it - no prize, and nothing to be DQ'd from.

The TD has a mind of its own now. I'm surprised people follow the route as closely as they do. Especially with BS like Koko Claims being included. However, most of the riders lining up know the rules (even they follow them in varying degrees), know the route, and understand the history of the TD. That said, if the unofficial organizer never sent out another email again, there'd still be 100+ people lining up in Banff on the 2nd Friday in June every year. The GD is a self-sustaining event The GDMBR is not the TD, nor is it dependent on it.

The truth is that there are only about 10-15 riders at the Grand Depart who are racing. Everyone else is there to see if they can ride to Mexico. They push themselves, no doubt. But that might mean 80 miles a day. It might mean 20. And it might mean 150. Who cares? It takes nothing away from me if someone rides slowly, or takes the Fernie Alt. Too many of us seem to want others to ride the route the way we did (or tried to, in my case) instead of just letting people ride it the way they want to ride it. We ought to celebrate the diverse people that show up for the TD, and every other bikepacking race, year after year. It wasn't long ago that this sport was for the ultra-fit, ultra-competitive, and ultra hardasses. It was close-minded, and far, far too strict about everything.

More people loading bikes with gear and riding the GDMBR, and other routes, is a good thing. It's good for ultra-racing, it's good for the small economies along the way, and it's good for the guys who build the bikes, sew the bags, and draw the maps.

[Iowagriz]

That it is a race.  Too many Facebook posts prior to the past few years start on how people don't plan on racing, don't plan on completing the entire route, don't intend on following the self-supported rules (ex: riding with partners). 

If you plan on Touring, no problem, just don't join the Grand Depart under false pretense. I've said it before, it will get too big and authorities will come after it. Try to find organizers, try to shut it down.  Too many rules in the USA if this gets out of hand.

[THE LONG RANGER]

I've heard all the, "the race is getting too big, where's the purity?" comments for like a decade now. If you think it's going, it's gone already honestly.

I'd say, relax. If you want people to race a certain way, be the person out there racing a certain way. Put up or shud it. Anyone that's claiming a win or a record and has done some questionable things will be called out. It's a gentle-person's agreement out there. Be the best version of yourself, if all the advice I can give ya. No one is out there fer yer entertainment.

[kato]

Super impressed with the racers!  Got a good one going on out there.  Singlespeeders in 2nd and 3rd Sobo.  A 50 year old Nobo in 1st overall (at the moment) and all of them flying!  This is a grand race.  So much fun watching the dots.  Yes, wish I was part of the game but man, fun to sit with a beer and watch this happening.

At the pointy end - Have to say I’m a bit partial to Greg Gleason, Ty Hopkins and Arthur Kopatsky.  Greg of course scratching last year and Arthur with 2 scratches previously.  Met Arthur in Butte in 2016, the location of both of our scratches.  Awesome to see him riding so strong so far.  Ty is a fellow Smoke and Fire race alumni, rode over Kokos with him last year and he had to scratch in Lima in 2017.  Greg has been chasing the boarder for years.  Back for redemption!  Love it!
Great riders all over the course out there.  Lots of folks I’ve met, ridden with and so many I’ve corresponded with.  Lets cheer them all on whatever may come.