As for my Tour Divide plans: I’m counting the days down: 12 TO GO!!! Equipment is 90% finalized; flight tickets, Calgary-to-Banff transfer and 1st night hostel (YWCA) are set. I will take a few more test rides and pack my bike next week.
In 2007, I easily averaged 80-90 miles of riding in a day. That was with a heavier equipment and not a very strict “waking-up” record;) My old Cannondale F400 and Salsa Fargo weigh about the same. But I will carry less stuff for sure this time. Moreover, my stuff will be distributed better (inside a frame bag vs. on a rear rack), I will have aerobars for more relaxing body position and Salsa is a 29″ bike with bigger wheels and just better fit overall. I will also “try” to get rolling by 6:00am every day. Plus, I used to hang in towns and cities too long which I can cut shorter now without stressing myself much…
Preparation-wise, in the last year I had more base miles under my belt (over 2,000) and was about 8 lbs lighter. This year is a bit different. I didn’t get as much opportunity to ride but I was still active. In the first few days, I will take it easier and let my joints and tendons get used to the daily stress of big mile riding. I’m planning to average between 100-120 miles per day (or about 10-12 hours in a saddle). The most important things is not to over-stress my body and cause early injuries, knees mostly. The rest will be fine. Anyways, this ride is much more about mental grittiness and positive mindset than anything else.
My goal is to finish in less than 34 days which is about twice the current route record. Also, my flight back to NYC is on August 21st;) I’m loosely shooting for doing it a bit faster: around 28-30 days. I will definitely know better after the first week, where my “fast-touring” legs will be. I still want to have fun doing it, takes some decent pictures and videos and see the complete route. So, the crossing of the Marshall pass above Salida will be a ride into an unknown;) But my ultimate goal for 2009 is TO FINISH THE TOUR DIVIDE!!!
PS: And I certainly hope for better weather. This rain has to stop one day, for crying out loud!!!
More racers are crossing the line in Antelope Wells, NM. Currently, five of them are done (unofficial standings):
Matthew Lee - 17d23h45m
Kurt Resfnider - 18d11h30m
Jay and Tracey Petervary- 18d13h50m (new tandem record)
Chris Plesko- 19d0h21m (new single-speed record)
Congratulations!!! You guys are an inspiration. With weather still throwing fits of rage, the rest of the field seems to have slowed down a bit. The chase group of 8 riders has been split up. They are making their way through the Gila National Forest, the last big obstacle on the course before reaching Silver City and making the mad dash for the border.
Plus, there were more pullouts in the last few days. The longer this race goes, the harder it becomes to stay mentally focused and keep going… For the current race status, see the race report by Mary Metcalf. In the report, you’ll find out more about an accident Pete Basinger, one of the legends of the Great Divide racing, was involved in. Luckily, he is OK but had to give up on his stealth attempt to best Matthew Lee’s record. Based on his split times, he really was flying on the route. And don’t miss the Jon Billman’s interview with Matthew Lee, a really insightful read about what it takes to win the Tour Divide, mentally and physically.
Matthew Lee hit the border in Antelope Wells, NM as the first finisher of the Tour Divide 2009 edition, some 2 hours ago, @ 9:45am MT. The time: 17 days 23 hours and 45 minutes!!! He rode straight through the night just get get this sucker over with. TRULY AMAZING!!!
Awesome ride in this year’s atrocious conditions. Matthew mentioned in his call-ins that out of the 18 days there were only 3 (!!!) that he didn’t get wet from rain, hail, sleet and snow. Add to that the longer and more arduous section in the Flathead valley of the Canadian Rockies and his new record gains more respect.
UPDATE (June 30th, 09): The things are lighting up on the production of the Ride The Divide documentary. Currently, the movie is in the final two months of post-production. GREAT!!!
Yes, another week behind us and the Tour Divide is nearing its finish. At least, for its leader Matthew Lee who is rapidly closing on Silver City. He should close it out some time tomorrow night. The battle for the second spot is still going on between Kurt Refsnider and the “Loveshack” tandem of Jay and Tracey Petervarys. Chris Plesko isn’t far behind in the fourth place and provided he finishes at his current pace he will shatter single-speed records for both, the Great Divide (held by Kent Peterson from GDR ‘05) and the Tour Divide (by Jen Hopkins; TD’08) races. After these guys, there is a main “peleton” of 8 with almost 3 days behind led by Joe Meiser.
Rather than re-iterate what’s been already posted over at the Tour Divide website, let me just provide you with links where you can get the complete scoop on the race:
This year’s Tour Divide is shaping up to be the edition with the worst weather in its short 11 year history. The elements are taking their toll on the riders. Yesterday was the day when some of them could not bear it any longer and decided to bow out of the race. Others just could not deal mentally/physically with racking up miles day after day and decided to slow down to either enjoy the route more and/or prevent damage to their bodies. Moreover, equipment is not faring any better in this mud and bikes are braking down a lot faster than in recent years: broken chains, ripped derailleurs, seized bottom brackets, etc…
Slowing down is smart this year. Personal records will be a few, if any, so it’s better just keep touring the route, get more beta for the next year, come back and hope to race it again, in better weather. Touring, even fast-touring, is a whole different animal, both mentally and physically. It is lot easier to cycle 8 to 10 hours a day (80 to 100 miles) rather than waking up in wee hours at 5:00am and hitting trails cold and hungry and keep pedaling until 10:00 or 11:00pm night with some breaks for re-fueling and short rests… The top 15 racers are averaging from 125 to 150 miles a day through some really rough terrain. That’s simply mind-boggling in these conditions.
Plus, three more riders switched to touring mode: Bruce Giroux, Martin Rendl and Justin Kline. Also, David Nice, the South-North ITT (Individual Time Trial) Tour Divide racer is out, after 1133 miles. That’s the farthest anyone rode on a fixie, just plain impossible!!! Dave, I don’t know you in person but you are one tough guy;)
Guys, keep your heads high. You achieved the unthinkable and challenged yourself to extreme levels of ultra-distance endurance racing. I applaud you!!! Plus, there is always the next year. Hope to see you out there in 2010. For the rest, still 30 racers left (out of 42), keep rocking all the way to New Mexico. Tailwinds!!!
More recent updates form the race with the first two as always entertaining Jon Billman’s write-ups:
In short, Matthew Lee is still in the lead (Atlantic City, WY), albeit slowed down by this year’s above average rains with clay-like slow-rolling roads and hordes of nasty mosquitos. He is still on pace to match his record from 2007. Chris Plesko and Kurt Refsnider are still riding together and are loading up on some serious calories in Pinedale, WY, almost 11 hours behind Matthew. Jay and Tracey Petervary’s on their “Loveshack” tandem are not too far behind, coming down from the Union Pass, about 6 hours away from Pinedale. Eric Lobeck was able to break away from the Gruppetto of 6 and is distinctly ahead inching his way up the Union Divide. Behind him (5 - 6 hours), somewhere on or past the Togwotee Pass, is a second big group of riders with Steve Wilkinson, Blaine Nester, Cannon Shockley, Adam Goldsmith, John Fettis and Leighton White. I’m glad to report that Joe Meiser was able to get his Salsa Fargo together in Lima and is quickly racking up huge miles to get back in contention. Currently, he is on the Buffalo Valley Road, just past Moran Junction, WY. I wouldn’t be surprised if he caught the Steve Wilkinson’s group in the next 2 or 3 days;)
Great Divide Basin awaits all the riders with its over 200 miles of rolling terrain with limited water sources between Boulder and Rawlins, WY. During his record push in 2007 Jay Petervary rode it in one 225 mile long push!!! I just hope they’ll get some break from rains and mud here. They deserve it.
It really is the AMAZING RACE!!! I’m officially a SPOT dot junkie, checking racers’ progress a few times too many every day…
Welcome to my blog where I share outdoor adventures, travel experiences and random musings from home and faraway places alike... My current plans: 1. [Summer 2009] Mountain bike the Tour Divide: FAST-TOUR the Great Divide ride, from Banff, AB, to Antelope Wells, NM. All of 2,745 miles in less than 5 weeks, that's the goal!!! 2. [Spring 2010] Vagabonding alongside the Silk Route: It’ll be me, my bike and wide-open spaces of Western China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan for 2-3 months...
