Tour Divide 2019

[jameso]

I'm informed that Dave has encountered some snow - obviously mixed with very very sunny intervals.

"...a dark figure roams the high plains alone, using superpowers of profanity to banish softness and seek out fries..."

[redefined_cycles]

And seem by this afternoon (our time) JK will be past SS too. Looks like he's sleeping the big softie

[BobCatMax]

They've posted up the singlespeed record too, Alexandera is more than a little bit ahead of it.

[wriggles]

Looks like Sofiane has had an issue trying to get over the pass above Brush Mountain Lodge. Navigation in snow in the dark? His tracker shows he missed the path and is now retreating back.

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[larsmars]

Looks like Sofiane has had an issue trying to get over the pass above Brush Mountain Lodge. Navigation in snow in the dark? His tracker shows he missed the path and is now retreating back.



Screenshot_20190622-115652_Chrome.jpg

That is worrying in those conditions. Hope he’s okay!

[liamg]

Oh dear, looks like he's retreating He's gone past Josh K now

[jameso]

SS looks to have backed up rather than risk going off route? That section is rough/natural terrain and in the woods, could be one of the hardest places for route finding under the snow. A lot like the Lava Mtn track in places with atricky junction and the descent is rocky. I hope a move similar to the one he made in the Italy Divide hasn't gone wrong for him.

[Jurassic]

So Josh K still hasn't reached the point at which Sofiane turned around, would I be right in thinking that point maybe critical? I assume that Josh will have the advantage of daylight in his favour for route finding and may potentially be better able to overcome the difficulties that seemed to have stopped Sofiane in his tracks? It's all very intriguing as a newbie dot watcher/lurker with no knowledge of the local terrain and conditions.

[wriggles]

As JamesO says. Very rocky terrain. Better in daylight plus Josh has slight home advantage?

[In Reverse]

My ex father on law always used to say "only boring people get bored". How true it is, I don't know but maybe it kind of goes hand in hand with

Boredom is mostly a reflection of your state of mind rather than objective truth of something?

I wouldn't say that's apt for Alex tbf. I rode with him in a small bunch for a couple of hours early on in the Dales Divide and had a couple of brief chats. He struck me as being a very easy talker and very "switched on" if you know what I mean. I suspect he's good banter with a few pints inside him.

Possibly (for Brits) it's that the landscape is so massive. We are used to the whole scenery, fauna and flora changing almost hour by hour when moving around but the States (and most continental areas for that matter) aren't like that.

Wouldn't surprise me if that was very close to the truth. it's what's put me off riding solo on the big rides in the states.

[In Reverse]

Astonishing effort so far by Dave, Les and anyone else who might be reading this.

[jameso]

SS just posted: It's all right. I got lost at the top of the col in the middle of the night. Can't find the way in the snow. I had to turn around because the temperature fell under the-5 degrees and that I'm not equipped to face these temperatures.
Via FB.

Go Dave! Hope it's not too cold where you are!

[Bearbonesnorm]

I wouldn't say that's apt for Alex tbf.

No, didn't mean to infer that at all. Simply a comment relating to boredom.

[jay91]

Go Dave!


Hopefully SS will be back on the move soon he's in 5th place now .
They've had lots of snow

http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra- ... ssion/300/

[fatbikephil]

SS just posted: It's all right. I got lost at the top of the col in the middle of the night. Can't find the way in the snow. I had to turn around because the temperature fell under the-5 degrees and that I'm not equipped to face these temperatures.
Via FB.

This is obviously a new definition of 'its all right'
And here was me moaning about the weather we've been having.....
Also Go Dave!

[Bearbonesnorm]

Here's a film for ya that you might not have seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlrDqnK ... IC84IOEIdg

[In Reverse]

I wouldn't say that's apt for Alex tbf.

No, didn't mean to infer that at all. Simply a comment relating to boredom.

In turn, didn't intend for my post to imply that that was your implication.

[whitestone]

Just copying this from bikepacking.net

Doug Folk on his rookie tour. Day 1 and 2 went well for him, he camped the first night at the base of Koko claims, and night 2 was in Fernie. He and 2 other guys decided to push on late into night three and were doing pretty well up til they got to 'the wall'. While the three of them were working to shuttle their bikes up, Doug fell on his back (he was carrying his bearspray in a jersey pocket) and unknown to him he knocked the safety off.

Once they finally got to the top, he leaned on his bike and fired the spray into his back. I can't even imagine what the shock of that moment must have been like. In the process of getting his jacket, jersey and baselayer off, he smeared the spray across his back and back of his arms, and of course on his hands. I'm not sure at while mile this was, but I know it very early in the morning (1 or 2?).

Fortunately, the burns turned out to be almost all 1st degree, though he did later mention have a couple of blisters.

He couldn't stand to have anything touching his back, so he pushed on shirtless, and of course it was raining, so now the spray got to flow down his back into his chamois! He pushed on all the way to Eureka and got in there at around 5AM. He suffered through the burning in town for a day and tried to clean up his bike and gear (or threw away what he couldn't salvage). He got on the road the following day and is now making steady progress at the back of the pack.

He has a saying that I greatly relished saying back to him when he told me this story:
"If you are going to be stupid, you better be tough!"

I wouldn't necessarily say he's stupid, but holy hell is he tough.

[voodoo_simon]

Just copying this from bikepacking.net

Doug Folk on his rookie tour. Day 1 and 2 went well for him, he camped the first night at the base of Koko claims, and night 2 was in Fernie. He and 2 other guys decided to push on late into night three and were doing pretty well up til they got to 'the wall'. While the three of them were working to shuttle their bikes up, Doug fell on his back (he was carrying his bearspray in a jersey pocket) and unknown to him he knocked the safety off.

Once they finally got to the top, he leaned on his bike and fired the spray into his back. I can't even imagine what the shock of that moment must have been like. In the process of getting his jacket, jersey and baselayer off, he smeared the spray across his back and back of his arms, and of course on his hands. I'm not sure at while mile this was, but I know it very early in the morning (1 or 2?).

Fortunately, the burns turned out to be almost all 1st degree, though he did later mention have a couple of blisters.

He couldn't stand to have anything touching his back, so he pushed on shirtless, and of course it was raining, so now the spray got to flow down his back into his chamois! He pushed on all the way to Eureka and got in there at around 5AM. He suffered through the burning in town for a day and tried to clean up his bike and gear (or threw away what he couldn't salvage). He got on the road the following day and is now making steady progress at the back of the pack.

He has a saying that I greatly relished saying back to him when he told me this story:
"If you are going to be stupid, you better be tough!"

I wouldn't necessarily say he's stupid, but holy hell is he tough.

Ouch, ouch and ouch

What the hell do they put in bear spray?

[whitestone]

What the hell do they put in bear spray?

Bear spray contains 1–2% capsaicin and related capsaicinoids, the key active ingredients.

So basically chilli oil, and is pretty high on the Scoville scale, like 16,000,000 sort of hot. The hottest chillies intended for human consumption get to around 3,000,000 on the Scoville scale but yer usual "hot" chillies are more like 100,000.

[ScotRoutes]

were doing pretty well up til they got to 'the wall'. While the three of them were working to shuttle their bikes up

What does this mean? What is "the wall" and, if they were helping each other, is this not against the rules?

[FLV]

Here's a film for ya that you might not have seen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlrDqnK ... IC84IOEIdg

Hmmm, not sure how to feel about that film.

[redefined_cycles]

were doing pretty well up til they got to 'the wall'. While the three of them were working to shuttle their bikes up

What does this mean? What is "the wall" and, if they were helping each other, is this not against the rules?

It seems you've your dose of testosterone

[FLV]

were doing pretty well up til they got to 'the wall'. While the three of them were working to shuttle their bikes up

What does this mean? What is "the wall" and, if they were helping each other, is this not against the rules?

It seems you've your dose of testosterone

Whilst I dont know the details and have never been there. If theres not danger, then helping each other is against the rules and spirit of the ride in my opinion.

A stand out example of this is Alan G DQ'd himself from his own race for using another riders shock pump. He still finished in good form, but DQ'd himself. This stands as a clear line in the sand from someone I respect for me.

As I said though, I dont know the wall personally, or the conditions. If it was dangerous at the time then helping each other is the right thing to do.

[ScotRoutes]

Absolutely. Just wondering if it applied in this instance.