Tour Divide race discussion

[Gimmearaise]

Is that confirmed? earliest completion of the route ever?

[mtlane]

I think Billy Rice finished the first half of his yo-yo ride last year earlier.  He missed the SOBO Grande Depart by only a couple of days.

[flyboy]

Walter Brumniach has made it past where his race ended last year after he was hit by a pickup. He is powering toward Brush Mtn lodge. Go Walter!

[mbeardsl]

I think Billy Rice finished the first half of his yo-yo ride last year earlier.  He missed the SOBO Grande Depart by only a couple of days.

Good memory, looks like he got there at ~9pm on 6/16/13.

[Gimmearaise]

Jefe is in Salida, 5 hours back From Phantom JP. What does everyone think, can he catch him? Does anyone know if JP had issues with weather and what not from here on out?

This is typically when Jefe sleeps less and goes for the gold, at least in previous CTR's.

[osborne.s.99]

Gimmes raise:  I have been wondering if we might see an attack or a 36 hour or longer run.  Jefe seems to have been keeping to a schedule, I feel a run is possible if he feels it is doable.

[osborne.s.99]

Sorry bout auto correct.

[mtbcast]

Several calls I neglected to post in here. Max Morris called from Pinedale, Mike Ingram called to say he's out, Dave Wilson called from S. Pass City, Hal Russell and Gary Tucker called from Montana High Country Lodge, Andy Amick called in from Pinedale and Tony Litson called in from Butte!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td14/

[mtbcast]

MTBCast: TD14 Day 11 and TABR14 Day 17 True Up!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/podcasts/

[mbeardsl]

Jefe is in Salida, 5 hours back From Phantom JP. What does everyone think, can he catch him? Does anyone know if JP had issues with weather and what not from here on out?

This is typically when Jefe sleeps less and goes for the gold, at least in previous CTR's.

Don't quote me on it but I think JP ran into storms in NM that slowed him down a bit.  And of course there's the other worry through NM that I won't even name...

Jefe seems to have gotten some good rest over the last couple days so maybe feeling strong enough for some long pulls in the coming days?  Very cool to watch either way, and given the weather this year it'll be a great ride regardless of records.

[HughieP]

Walter Brumniach has made it past where his race ended last year after he was hit by a pickup. He is powering toward Brush Mtn lodge. Go Walter!

And I saw he visited the hospital in Rawlins as well. I suspect to say thanks and maybe shake some hands. Made me laugh anyway. Everything from here will be new to him and Colorado is a different kind of beautiful to Wyoming.

[GregT]

Just saw Nat go by the Goat Creek Trailhead - about an hour out of Banff - looking and in a great mood.

[Gimmearaise]

He has to be soooo stoked right now!

[flyboy]

And I saw he visited the hospital in Rawlins as well. I suspect to say thanks and maybe shake some hands. Made me laugh anyway. Everything from here will be new to him and Colorado is a different kind of beautiful to Wyoming.

Ahh, yes. I see that now. Good on him. I bet it was a satisfying moment for him to see them on his own terms.

[dream4est]

I'm lm Lima
Got in early but needed bike cleaning me cleaning clothes cleaning etc.
Feeling good knees better

I love this race- it's sooooo hard but addictive.

I have to say this on the forum
 Though- it has come to my attention thru a
Other racers that many racers have skipped sections and/or rode forward on cars, yet have not scratched officially . I think that's total weaksauce
Anyone who is not really in the race anymore should be open and honest about it . The rest of us following the course and rules deserve better .
Not mad per se - but I am not the only one who thinks its lame.

[Mathewsen]

http://www.thefreepress.ca/news/264306461.html

I promised Fernie SAR / Paul A. (mentioned in article) I would post productive remarks about the rescue incident in the Flathead involving a TD racer. Not wanting it to be too controversial, or take away from the early part of the race, I waited until I could speak to the rider. I can confirm the facts as stated in the article are correct. It's important as a lesson-learned for all of us actively involved or thinking about putting our life on the line for an extreme bikepacking ultra. I always understood clearly the social responsibility to operating my SPOT correctly so as not to freak out family and event organizers, but the Flathead rescue is a super-strong example of how failing to use your beacon effectively, whether for SOS or simply to demonstrate progress along the trail, especially if you agreed with another rider to a use-plan, can really put lots of people in harm's way. The nasty weather in the Flathead peaked the day this search was carried out. It was raining sideways, and no day to be flying. We are extremely grateful to Fernie SAR & Paul for their sacrifice. There have been a lot of bodies pulled out of the CA Flathead through the years. We can thank the heavens TD avoided a casualty this time.  

[Mathewsen]

...I love this race- it's sooooo hard but addictive.

I have to say this on the forum - it has come to my attention thru a
Other racers that many racers have skipped sections and/or rode forward on cars, yet have not scratched officially . I think that's total weaksauce. Anyone who is not really in the race anymore should be open and honest about it . The rest of us following the course and rules deserve better.
Not mad per se - but I am not the only one who thinks its lame.

Thanks for the plug for integrity, Mark. Warms my heart to hear you find grand touring so addictive (coming from a past / present Dividaholic). Re. short-coursing, the most important rider disclaimers should be with one's fellow racers on course. I would hope those whose sauce has become so watered down by the weather as to be weak enough to short-course or hitch, are at least being open with riders keeping pace around them.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Jefe's hitting up Marshall Pass! Will he dive down the other side and keep on trucking on HWY 50 home to Gunni, or take The Left and charge towards JP's ghost?!


I'll take wagers, but the odds aren't equal, if you know what I mean!

[Mathewsen]

Jefe's hitting up Marshall Pass! Will he dive down the other side and keep on trucking on HWY 50 home to Gunni, or take The Left and charge towards JP's ghost?!

I just hope he is not spot-stalked in Doylesville by locals fans as heavily as he was on his first TD run ;-)

I can tell you that JayP's ghost will stop for sleep tonight at Hwy114 & 42G at 2am MDT, and get going again at 7am, so if Jefe can by some miracle get close to Cochetopa Pass tonight, he'll for sure see JP's fresh ghost tracks in the dirt by mid morn.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Past while they're asleep! The oldest trick in the book! Wonder if Jefe will shut off his lights, when creeping up the pass?