Tour Divide 2024

[AndreR]

To be fair having watched way too many films, I'd be more afraid of the backswood humans

Pedal faster I can hear Banjo's

[Alpinum]

Back to the bears then...

Fears are irrational and take little regard for statistics. If you'd have a bad time being scared of bears, then you'd have a bad time regardless of if you get killed or not.

Better overcome the irrational fears and not have them stand in between you and your dreams.
Then focus on the real issues. I often have mountains of fears when doing something new to me and can't get any info about it either. I had melt downs because of this. Felt sick I was so scared on a few occassions. But the more I lean into it and prepare myself, the more the fear decreases. To the point where I have a clear vision, not one distorted by angst. Then it goes and even the very scary things just become one of many other obstacles do deal with.

To be fair having watched way too many films, I'd be more afraid of the backswood humans

Reading news help to shift the bear fear towards fear of being ran over or being shot (in the US)

[jameso]

Justinas Leveika has about 40 miles of tarmac left to the finish and he's what, a day ahead of the MH flag? It's hard to tell exactly but he's about ~150 - 200 miles in front?

[faustus]

Wow, i'd not realised it was so near to the finish. Will be sad to see Mike's record broken, but it's clearly an incredible ride, especially as the route was a bit longer/more difficult.

[Alpinum]

Justinas Leveika has about 40 miles of tarmac left to the finish and he's what, a day ahead of the MH flag? It's hard to tell exactly but he's about ~150 - 200 miles in front?

But... the dogs!

Wow, i'd not realised it was so near to the finish. Will be sad to see Mike's record broken, but it's clearly an incredible ride, especially as the route was a bit longer/more difficult.

It over when it's over. Many things can still happen.
I hope he can do a "sprint" finish the way he hopes.

It's only a record. Mike's inspiration goes well beyond some record (a number) from a different year/route.
For those dot watching, just put a post-it with MH on yer screens should the record be renewed.

[jameso]

There's no dogs on that bit of road, or if there are they'll be scrawny and thirsty compared to the ranch dogs a few 100 miles previous!

Agree that it'll be sad to not see the MH flag in future years if the record does fall formally, but the route has changed, racing has evolved and it was bound to happen - it's taken a long time too. The way he rode pushed others to go faster or towards his style of racing. I'm not aware of anyone using that 'stage-posting' strategy before him?

[jameso]

The route's 2695 miles this year, I think Mike's record was set on a ~2720 long route so JL has done quite a ride especially as the route seems to be a few hours slower in BC.

It has been up to 2854 miles in the the past, almost an average day's racing longer, that was the year Mike did 14.5 days but didn't get the record due to fire diversion in the Gila (the route took a longer but easier-terrain diversion).

[faustus]

Yeah I guess those variations make true comparisons and records difficult. You're right, he held it a long time, and his rides and record have indeed been inspiring to many, and he will always hold a legendary status too...

[jameso]

13 days and 41 mins

[Alpinum]

Too fast for bears and dogs then?

[Blackhound]

Impressive ride. I think it took me that long to get to Steamboat. Meaghan still in with a chance of the women’s record, knowing she is so close to Lael’s time will push her on.
If she manages the record Peta will be well chuffed having coached both of them.

[fatbikephil]

Pretty quick, farewell to Mikes record!
Ulrich seems to have slowed up somewhat in the last few days, wonder if he's had a problem...

[fatbikephil]

Too fast for bears and dogs then?

Mebbes not but faster than everyone else

[Blackhound]

Ulrich had a tyre issue a day or two ago, perhaps he gave up a bit after that as he was unlikely to catch Justinas.

[Blackhound]

8 finishers as I type including the first woman. Not sure what it tells us but 9 different nationalities in the likely top 10 with Canada providing two of them.

[fatbikephil]

I thought Meaghan might have just pipped Laels dot to the post. I think she has the fastest time for a woman on the group start though?

Time to keep an eye out for the Brits now.

[BridlewayBimbler]

An absolutely stellar ride from Meahgan It would be fascinating to see her an Lael racing next year.

[fatbikephil]

Aye good going for a first timer. Ana Jager has knocked 2 days off her 2022 time!
James McIntosh was the lead Brit but he is well off route and not moved for a while. Broken bike?

[fatbikephil]

James McIntosh got back on route and has finished! First Brit back
Ashley Cordingly has also now gone off route, clearly by motorised transport, so must also have a problem.
It would be good to get the tales behind this but there doesn't seem to be any repository for results and blogs like on the Highland Trail, and Dotwatcher commentary has stopped.

Edit, instagram pic and strava pic says it all - don't buy XTR or carbon cranks!

[jameso]

It would be good to get the tales behind this but there doesn't seem to be any repository for results and blogs like on the Highland Trail, and Dotwatcher commentary has stopped.

It's a shame MTBCast didn't move with the social media opportunities, a whatsapp group or something to call into.

[riderdown]

Bear story https://youtu.be/NMp1_xNiv9M?si=PNgtVX9ZoEeO8g1o

[jameso]

http://mtbcast.com/site2/

MTBCast is still going with some rider call-ins from this year's TD - not sure why I thought it wasn't used anymore.

[Blackhound]

Another thing on the results and faster times is in 2017(?) our jameso finished in a little over 18 days in a sprint for 3rd place, he was 5th iirc. This year on what I think is a slower course, he would have been sprinting to get in the top 20.
Race numbers have about doubled since jameso’s run so quality as well as quantity.
And the 15 year old finished in a very quick time - still not checked his finish time.

[jameso]

Another thing on the results and faster times is in 2017(?) our jameso finished in a little over 18 days in a sprint for 3rd place, he was 5th iirc. This year on what I think is a slower course, he would have been sprinting to get in the top 20.
Race numbers have about doubled since jameso’s run so quality as well as quantity.

It's certainly getting faster over the years. I think I posted earlier on here about how Stamstad's original border-to-border ITT was around 18.5 days, and Jay Petervary's TD record was around 16.5 days at the time I raced it in 2013. I was a couple of hours ahead of Jay's record by Brush Mtn Lodge but I had benefitted from less snow in BC than Jay's record run. Plus I fell apart physically and mentally in NM and he didn't

FWIW and allow me some ego/pride in this bit : ) I finished in 17 days and I think 3 hours. The route was 150+ miles longer that year but no doubt it was a faster conditions year in BC and Montana compared to how it looked this year.
I just had a look at the positions for 2024 and my daily average mileage would put me 8th or 9th this year, Vs 5th on the line in 2013. 3rd place was only 100-200 yards ahead of me but there was almost 2 days between us and 2nd, and another day to Mike Hall who won in 14.5 days.
As a balance to the conditions there's also race style that's changed over the years. I used cue notes only, no GPS, GDR race style and I think that cost me time with all my route errors (but I didn't go off-route without correcting as per the rules, that was the time suck).

[fatbikephil]

Found this old site:- https://tourdivide.org/
Some interesting info and a more comprehensive breakdown of the self supported rules.