Tour Divide 2023 - Race Prep Discussion

[SlowDave]

Thanks to those still posting here.  I refuse to trade my soul to Zuckerberg to access the FB group so I am in the dark other than watching dots and reading what is posted here.  I miss the old days when all the excitement was here.

Dave

[bon]

Thanks to those still posting here.  I refuse to trade my soul to Zuckerberg to access the FB group so I am in the dark other than watching dots and reading what is posted here.  I miss the old days when all the excitement was here.

Dave

All my respect for staying off FB, Dave. After my head and spine injuries are healed that's my plan as well. Can't wait!

[jjmundt]

On his IG account he says his hands are really messed up so  "Will quietly make my way to Mexico border.:

Oh man, what a shame!!  There's no doubt that, barring injury, he would have challenged for the win.  We've said it too many times in these forums, but it bears repeating:  The Tour Divide is a cruel mistress.

All the best!

Joel

[jjmundt]

Our leaders have just crossed the CO/NM border.  It appears they stopped in Platoro for about four hours, then hit the road again around midnight.  Mike's spirit is getting ready to be chased by the dogs in Vallecitos - 70 miles in front.  It will reach Abiquiu around 11:30 this morning and Cuba (if my math is right) at 9:30 tonight.

Ulrich and Justinas have ridden an incredible race!!

[bon]

Thanks Joel! Totally agree. Absolutely fantastic racing.

[jjmundt]

Thanks to those still posting here.  I refuse to trade my soul to Zuckerberg to access the FB group so I am in the dark other than watching dots and reading what is posted here.  I miss the old days when all the excitement was here.

Dave

+1

[jjmundt]

All my respect for staying off FB, Dave. After my head and spine injuries are healed that's my plan as well. Can't wait!

Good heavens!  Did I miss something in this thread or elsewhere?  Are you willing to share a bit as to what happened?

All the best!

Joel

[Shawn]

Alexandra has made up for the slower pace in the North and has now passed her record pace dot.

[bon]

Good heavens!  Did I miss something in this thread or elsewhere?  Are you willing to share a bit as to what happened?

Joel - My car trunk came down on my head 2 years ago and gave me a concussion. I was misdiagnosed and given medication that increased pressure. I ended up with multiple spinal fluid leaks. 12 surgeries so far.

[bon]

Alexandra has made up for the slower pace in the North and has now passed her record pace dot.

Woah! That's impressive!

[Shawn]

I guess that gamble on a bigger gear is paying off.

Is there a rule about changing out gears on a single speed?

[mtbcast]

#TD23  Overnight: Alexandera Houchin called in from near Lake Catamount!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[jjmundt]

Joel - My car trunk came down on my head 2 years ago and gave me a concussion. I was misdiagnosed and given medication that increased pressure. I ended up with multiple spinal fluid leaks. 12 surgeries so far.

Oh my goodness!!  Is this something that will eventually get fixed so the surgeries end? 

[jjmundt]

Alexandra has made up for the slower pace in the North and has now passed her record pace dot.

Good for her!  She's a super-strong rider, so that gearing really hampered her.  Lael Wilcox is a couple of hours behind her record time, but I think it's going to be a while before anyone seriously challenges Chris Plesko's SS record.  In the same year that Mike Hall set the overall record, Chris' ride may still be the most remarkable of all...and he beat his previous record by nearly 4 days!!

And just like clockwork, rain is forming up in the Basin.  We'll see how much havoc it causes this time...

[SlowDave]

Bon, sorry to hear about your injury.  Almost a year and a half ago I fell doing yoga and hit my head on the concrete floor.  I got a nasty concussion but it doesn?t sound as bad as yours.  Anyway, it has turned my life upside down.  It was just a little bump and here I am a year and a half later still dealing with substantial post concussion syndrome.  I have a pretty good idea of what you are going through.

Dave

[mtbcast]

#TD23  Alexandera Houchin called in over Ute Pass and Peter Kraft Jr. called in leaving Del Norte with a recap that?s a bit choppy from the wind.

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td23/

[jjmundt]

Justinas' dot stopped moving 45 minutes ago at 60 miles from Cuba and I'm trying to decide if he has stopped to rest.  Last night, he and Ulrich appeared to stop in Platoro at about this time, resting until midnight...so it would make sense.  Ulrich is a few miles behind.  I guess we'll watch and see here.

Mike's dot is at McDonalds in Cuba.

[jjmundt]

I was just thinking...the leaders rode from Platora to the top of Polvadera Mesa in 20 hours.  That's some serious pace.  In fact, since they holed up in the Basin, they have been basically matching Mike Hall's pace mile-for-mile, just from a 60-70 mile mud-induced deficit.

And as we might remember, 2015 and 2016 were incredibly fast years.  Almost no snow up North, no Koko Claims, and a dry Basin and New Mexico for the leaders.

This year's leaders have been astounding.

[bon]

Oh my goodness!!  Is this something that will eventually get fixed so the surgeries end?  

Joel - only of they finally find the tears in my dura and fix them. Procedure #13 this Monday. DOT watching has been a nice distraction! Missing the Divide.

[jjmundt]

Joel - only of they finally find the tears in my dura and fix them. Procedure #13 this Monday. DOT watching has been a nice distraction! Missing the Divide.

I'll be sending prayers up that #13 is the last one.