Having ridden it I find the argument not spurious. I used every position on my drops and wind is a real factor a lot of the time.So the more aero positions the better. I’d go back with my cowchippers every time.

Me, I'm not saying there's owt wrong with drops. I simply commented knowing the industries (and thus many members of the cycling community) push towards bikepacking / gravel being one entity.

The Salsa Cutthoat was designed especially for the TD, yet it's never been won* on one, makes you think

* I don't now what the winner of last years border-to-border version was riding so that might have been.

sean_iow wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 1:18 pm The Salsa Cutthoat was designed especially for the TD, yet it's never been won* on one, makes you think

* I don't now what the winner of last years border-to-border version was riding so that might have been.

JayP wasn't riding a Salsa, that's for sure.

The idea that the TD could be won by a bike astounds me. It's 100% down to the rider, their ability to endure and suffer. The thing I note about every winner is that they come equipped with badass.

Tricky to win it without a bike though.

Bearlegged wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 2:14 pm Tricky to win it without a bike though.

I suspect there's a disgruntled goose out there somewhere..

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 11:46 am Did you know that only 4 of this years top 10 TD bikes are running drops? Course you did because you wouldn't really expect anything different but I bet there'll be a few surprised in the wider world

So just about half and half then.

o just about half and half then.

60/40, so approaching half, yes ... but perhaps somewhat at odds with the media portrayal.

You mean advertising?

You mean advertising?

Kind of Luke. I was going to say 'not just advertising' by which I'd mean videos, articles etc but it's quite difficult to tell just where the advertising starts and stops.

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 1:23 pm The idea that the TD could be won by a bike astounds me. It's 100% down to the rider, their ability to endure and suffer. The thing I note about every winner is that they come equipped with badass.

But given two riders, evenly matched in ability and determination, the rider with the better bike will be at advantage that may determine the final result.
Similarly, put me and any of the top riders on identicle machines and they'll beat me by weeks every time.

PR posts are just soft advertising so I'm not sure there's any real differentiation any more.

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 11:46 am Did you know that only 4 of this years top 10 TD bikes are running drops? Course you did because you wouldn't really expect anything different but I bet there'll be a few surprised in the wider world

I was more surprised to see from various articles, and reading Trep's report, the number of drop bar gravel bikes on the HT550...

woodsmith wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 4:08 pm

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 1:23 pm The idea that the TD could be won by a bike astounds me. It's 100% down to the rider, their ability to endure and suffer. The thing I note about every winner is that they come equipped with badass.

But given two riders, evenly matched in ability and determination, the rider with the better bike will be at advantage that may determine the final result.
Similarly, put me and any of the top riders on identicle machines and they'll beat me by weeks every time.

Not convinced. The TD is a war of attrition against the elements, luck, your ability to ride into the night and many many other factors beyond rolling resistance. I suspect if you analysed moving average speed there's not much in it between the top 20. You just can't compare like with like unless they ride together through the same conditions and sprint the last mile. If you'd have ridden the same bike as Sophiane in 2019 and finished you'd have beaten him ;-)

Anyway, back on Steve watch, he's conquered the Basin and can eat his fill at the shitty Wamsutter Gas station. Looks like tailwinds into Colorado. Go Steve!

Steamboat = Pizza and decent coffee. Not far Steve.

I noticed he had a very early start after knocking off early yesterday - make the best of the wind mebbes? (ooh I do love armchair spectating!) Looks to have caught Zoe Chauderlot back up too
Sophiane seems to now be stopping every night and for quite some time. Interesting looking back at Mike Halls ride from 2016 - super consistent all the way from start to finish. I see his dot has now burned off Sophiane and I suspect he won't catch it again.

This is all good stuff and no media circus this time

PS Fargos were also designed with the TD in mind. Sticking with the armchair postulating, I'd of course do it on the Jones

So you reckon Yorkshire won't lose its TD title then Phil... phew

So, got chased through the basin by a massive storm/thundercloud, so when we (Brian and I were riding together) saw a load of oil Wells with buildings and a big hanger, trying a few doors meant we could get a heated balcony for the night in the warm and dry. So an early finish and early start today.

It's going well - really enjoying it, although it is a tough old ride.

Dave Barter wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 4:58 pm Not convinced. The TD is a war of attrition against the elements, luck, your ability to ride into the night and many many other factors beyond rolling resistance. I suspect if you analysed moving average speed there's not much in it between the top 20.

I seem to recall someone doing an analysis of this (can't seem to find it now). The biggest differentiator between those at the pointy end and the rest of the pack was moving time rather than speed.

Good going Steve. Looks like your in that place where it all kicked off in 2019? (More) Big hills today

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 11:41 pm So you reckon Yorkshire won't lose its TD title then Phil... phew

Mike's dot is now on the route currently closed by wildfires so SS may 'catch up' as it' looks like he is back to riding overnight. No idea how the diversion route compares to the proper route but it's shorter at least.

fatbikephil wrote: ↑Tue Jun 21, 2022 9:54 am Good going Steve. Looks like your in that place where it all kicked off in 2019? (More) Big hills today

redefined_cycles wrote: ↑Mon Jun 20, 2022 11:41 pm So you reckon Yorkshire won't lose its TD title then Phil... phew

Mike's dot is now on the route currently closed by wildfires so SS may 'catch up' as it' looks like he is back to riding overnight. No idea how the diversion route compares to the proper route but it's shorter at least.

More road and no Gila on the re-route so he could be fast..but possibly less water/resupply?

Thanks Phil for explaining that about the fires...

Are abe and Ben riding this as a pair? They’ve been glued together for over 200hours, can’t see how that can class as a solo classification if they are not racing as a pair.