Women riders

[spcabin75]

Only one women riding this year? 

[kato]

If you refer to the Tour Divide, I see three.  Two south bounders and one north bounder.

[spcabin75]

Thanks, did not check the north bound riders.

[Eszter]

An all around sad statistic.

[spcabin75]

Eszter
After you ripped it up last year you would think inspiration would have rippled through the female riding community.  Maybe just the opposite: intimidation!

[Eszter]

Ask anyone, I'm terribly intimidating. 

[Jilleo]

I too am disappointed with the overall ratio this year, although excited for the three out there. Something tells me 2014 might be a bit different. ;-)

[kato]

I too am disappointed with the overall ratio this year, although excited for the three out there. Something tells me 2014 might be a bit different. ;-)

Hope that 2014 does indeed have a greater contingent of women.  My wife will be racing.  She has no delusions of grandeur but may very well beat me.  I gotta get out and ride more!
This makes me wonder...  Have a husband and wife raced in the same year, not on a tandem but actually against each other???  I guess that being married more than 10 years makes a couple realize that a Divide bound racing tandem may not be the best vehicle to sustain marital bliss. Thank goodness my wife is smart and realized this before I even suggested it.

[Jilleo]

I can't think of any couple combos outside the tandem contingent. I think in 2010 or 2011 there was an Italian couple that started together but dropped early (not sure.) Sounds like this is not your plan, but beyond the race ethics, I think it's risky to start these multi-day endurance races with the plan of traveling with someone else. The faster person is going to be worn down by traveling at the slower person's speed, and the slower person is likely to feel a level of tension or intimidation by the pacing alone. This is before you even throw in interpersonal issues.

The general consensus is that traveling in a "team" setting is an unfair advantage in these self-supported races. I actually disagree. It may feel more comfortable (psychologically), but I think the overall effect is a slower pace or more wasted energy versus what one might accomplish solo. Making all of your own decisions can be a wonderful thing (says the person whose major race this summer involves a team of three.)

[kato]

Just to clarify,  we will not be racing "with" one another.  We will be completely seperate race entities.  Just as anyone else in the grand depart.  Besides,  it'd be hard to work as a team when she's several hundred miles ahead of me

[kato]

Looks like Kristen Arnold is moving pretty quickly.  Do I see it right on Trackleaders that she is on target with Eszter's early pace from last year?

[jryter]

Looks like Kristen Arnold is moving pretty quickly.  Do I see it right on Trackleaders that she is on target with Eszter's early pace from last year?

I don't think so. Last year Eszter was pushing through miles of snow. And she still was at the border way before Kristen.

[the tortoise]

Sara Dallman is now in the lead!

[Noah_Deuce]

I can't think of any couple combos outside the tandem contingent. I think in 2010 or 2011 there was an Italian couple that started together but dropped early (not sure.) Sounds like this is not your plan, but beyond the race ethics, I think it's risky to start these multi-day endurance races with the plan of traveling with someone else. The faster person is going to be worn down by traveling at the slower person's speed, and the slower person is likely to feel a level of tension or intimidation by the pacing alone. This is before you even throw in interpersonal issues.

Didn't Kurt and Caroline both ride (separately) in 2011? They're not married (so far as I know), but I'm pretty sure they were both out there.

[HappyWanderer]

Has anyone heard from Kristen or Lindsay today?  I do not see their spots moving.  Sara seems to be zipping right along, but not the other two.  I hope they both make it to the end. 

[Blackhound]

In 2011 besides Kurt & Caroline doing there own race a South African couple Luke Bush and Marian Penso rode together throughout.

[fate_lizzie]

I was told that Kristen Arnold began the TD with her boyfriend.  I don't know if this is accurate, but her and someone else from Columbus, OH (Taylor Kruse) have been riding pretty consistently together the entire race.