Tour Divide race discussion

[kato]

Bill Littmann's SPOT is back on now and he's on the move.

Does anyone know Bill's status???  Does he need a ride somewhere or a place rest today?  My ride home is on the way as we speak.  I'll be headed north through Teton and then Yellowstone Parks within a few hours.  Will have one spare slot on the bike rack.  Will be lodging in the Old Faithful area tonight.  Please PM me if you know he needs something.

[Bounce]

He appears to be moving in the right direction (south).

[JayP]

good morel picking where Bill is at. hopefully he tripped across some good spots he can let us know about.

[samh]

good morel picking where Bill is at. hopefully he tripped across some good spots he can let us know about.

Good hotsprings too.

[mtbcast]

Good luck jefe

I am leaving pinedale looking to have a triple crown golden spike moment with Jill
We haven't seen each other since the ugly first day of the Azt 750

I know it's not jefe and Dave but I am excited - need the boost I am a little low this morning on the energy

Life is good gunning for a triple

Go Mark!

[PerryD]

good morel picking where Bill is at. hopefully he tripped across some good spots he can let us know about.

shhhh. that is supposed to be a secret.

[dp]

These are the times I will never forget. For some reason I cant remember the perfect sunny days...

I love this!  Maybe it's why we push ourselves into scenarios we're not sure we can get out of, so we can forge these memories of trial and triumph.

"This row across the Atlantic Ocean will create memories that you will take to your grave.  The dolphins, the sharks, the storms, the struggles - it's all priceless.  Your years of work will all blur into one another.  But this year won't.  Believe me, forty years down the road, you're not going to kick yourself for having rowed across an ocean."  - Julie Angus, author of Rowboat In A Hurricane

-dp

[the tortoise]

http://www.ehow.com/how_5839651_pick-morel-mushrooms.html

[Mathewsen]

Does anyone know Bill's status???  Does he need a ride somewhere or a place rest today?  My ride home is on the way as we speak.  I'll be headed north through Teton and then Yellowstone Parks within a few hours.  Will have one spare slot on the bike rack.  Will be lodging in the Old Faithful area tonight.  Please PM me if you know he needs something.

Josh, I have asked him to phone me when he gets into range. I have your mobile #, too, so I will let him know of your gesture and see what he wants to do. If you do not hear anything by voice or text, assume he's carrying on by bike. Thanks for willingness to help.

[mtbcast]

TD14: Hal Russell and Gary Tucker called in from near Togwotee Pass!

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td14/

[mtbcast]

http://www.ehow.com/how_5839651_pick-morel-mushrooms.html

Talk about trail magic! 

[desertrat]

If this is already a "dead horse" - please forgive. 

We watched last year as Forest Baker was robbed of a higher spot in the top 10 by two riders from a certain land-locked country who were, by many reports, drafting, a clear violation of the rules. It's a tough pill to swallow when a racer has spent many valuable resources of time, energy and money so that he/she can compete at this high level, to not have their true "place" validated.  Those racers that have integrity, a clear moral compass, don't need external government.  Those who don't have integrity, do.  External government requires authority, which the other races don't possess. One rider can't DQ another.  So it seems that if rules are going to be enforced, there has to be someone with the authority and willingness to do so.  Making more rules doesn't change this dynamic. Neither does abandoning them.  Under the current structure, each rider goes into the race knowing that others may not have the strength of character to race with integrity, but that his/her own ending time will reflect everything they brought to, and left out on, the trail. 

[mikepro]

Very impressive for a 21 Y/O, exciting to see. I'm super stoked for him.

And with a 5am departure from Del Norte, Calvin D is sitting in on a brunch in Platoro, having caught the tandem and passed the EH ghost.  Dude is clearly 'feeling it' and making better and better time as the ride progresses.  Passerby in Platoro: "watchya been doin' today?"  Calvin: "aw, nothin', just a little ride up and over Indiana Pass from Del Norte 'fore lunch."  His 150mpd avg ain't bad, either.

[BobM]

If this is already a "dead horse" - please forgive. 

We watched last year as Forest Baker was robbed of a higher spot in the top 10 by two riders from a certain land-locked country who were, by many reports, drafting, a clear violation of the rules. It's a tough pill to swallow when a racer has spent many valuable resources of time, energy and money so that he/she can compete at this high level, to not have their true "place" validated.  Those racers that have integrity, a clear moral compass, don't need external government.  Those who don't have integrity, do.  External government requires authority, which the other races don't possess. One rider can't DQ another.  So it seems that if rules are going to be enforced, there has to be someone with the authority and willingness to do so.  Making more rules doesn't change this dynamic. Neither does abandoning them.  Under the current structure, each rider goes into the race knowing that others may not have the strength of character to race with integrity, but that his/her own ending time will reflect everything they brought to, and left out on, the trail. 

I have no argument with this, but on the other hand when you're talking about a race on a public course with no entry fee, no prize money, and no officially published results, what does DQ mean?  It seems to me that this "race" is really better thought of as an ITT with a group start, which is what Matthew has said it is.  2800 miles and 2-4 weeks is a lot of policing.  If you finish in 23 days and someone else finishes in 22 days but lots of people saw them drafting, that's their problem.  They're the ones who have to lie for the rest of their lives when they talk about their TD finish.

[vivalavelo]

I am visiting family in Casper, WY and took this as an opportunity to also visit Andreas at WMC this morning. He's and in good spirits despite the accident. He's begun to master the crutches. Had I known that he was already on crutches I would have brought a water bottle cage and some hose clamps instead of Wyoming's jackelope dropping candy.

Its crazy how such a typical, seemingly benign fall can mount up to that injury. Here's to a faster-than-prescribed recovery! Best of luck, Andreas.

Rob

[jryter]

Decided for a bike ride today with the kids. Randomly decided to ride dirt roads. Ran into Walter Brumniach from Australia. He said everything hurt but maybe the lower part of his left ear. Looking good otherwise!

[Bounce]

Question for the branch dividians:

Trying to comprehend how the rule structure deals with on again off again , haphazard, or dumb luck food service that is commercial in nature (somewhat in response to the "dubious tortilla salesman" scenario played(ing) itself out near Atlantic city).

Divide racer arrives in a town and is looking for food. Options are "usual franchise" or tasty goodness food truck that is on a cross country tour and happens to be serving in that town on that day. If the divide racer elects to eat the fare at the food truck, is this the apogee of moral turpitude and grounds for relegation since it is not available for all divide racers?

Or scenario 2, divide racer stumbles upon a business that is open only during the month of June. Not available for itt'ers obviously.  The "pure" divide racer will ....Pedal on, right?





 

Grin ;-)

[mtbcast]

TD14: Brian Remlinger called in from Pinedale to say he is OUT! He’s going to pedal home to Jackson.

http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td14/

[mtbcast]

I am visiting family in Casper, WY and took this as an opportunity to also visit Andreas at WMC this morning. He's and in good spirits despite the accident. He's begun to master the crutches. Had I known that he was already on crutches I would have brought a water bottle cage and some hose clamps instead of Wyoming's jackelope dropping candy.

Its crazy how such a typical, seemingly benign fall can mount up to that injury. Here's to a faster-than-prescribed recovery! Best of luck, Andreas.

Rob

Any idea whether he was getting a lot of fan email?

[Mathewsen]

Divide racer arrives in a town and is looking for food. Options are "usual franchise" or tasty goodness food truck that is on a cross country tour and happens to be serving in that town on that day. If the divide racer elects to eat the fare at the food truck, is this the apogee of moral turpitude and grounds for relegation since it is not available for all divide racers?

The existing rules have yet to be amended to reflect the taco truck boom. If food trucks in the Rockies are anything like they are here in NC, they are as legitimate (and likely to stay in biz) as a fixed joint. To be fair to all grand departees / ITTers, though, perhaps the TD live map (integrated with bluedot.mobi, of course) needs a new layer beyond its weather, dopplar radar, checkpoint layers: A food truck tracking layer. Why not? They already exist very successfully in all the big cities: http://findlafoodtrucks.com/ , http://www.findnycfoodtrucks.com/ Imagine rolling up on The Schmuck Truck, ShortRibTaco, PulpFusion, Meat the Greek, MeSoHungry, Let'sRollit, LetsBFrank, or the P-nut Butter Bar. The LA list of trucks is mouthwatering!