atk wrote:Greg's going to vomit all over Josh Kato :(

http://www.bikepacking.com/plan/josh-ka ... ivide-bicycle/

Where's the post "Like" or "Favourite" button

Josh Kato vs Mike Hall, this could be interesting!

I'm out of here. Few things to do before I fly out today.

Happy dot watching kids. See you in July.

Good luck Greg

godspeed and eternal tailwinds to all of you going for it.

GregMay wrote:I'm out of here. Few things to do before I fly out today.

Happy dot watching kids. See you in July.

Greg, don't forget to pull off some no brake drifts
Go to the nice place beyond your expectations and never forget to have fun doing so.

Very best whishes my friend.

jameso wrote:

JohnClimber wrote:

voodoo_simon wrote:

Blackhound wrote:Well you don't have to carry a SPoT in TD but would be surprised if Mike isn't especially as he is likely gunning for the record.

Maybe that's why! He must have saw the way it finished last year and maybe wants to ride stealth so it doesn't motivate other riders

That's not playing fair though.

I've been told Mike doesn't do 'Spot games' so I expect he'd either ride with or without, with most likely.

I think it's fair to use a spot or not, the Great Divide Race was done w/o phones as a rule so it was more chance-tactical in that way. I think it's a shame that everyone now feels that smart phones and GPS is part of a level playing field but that's how it is, I'd use GPS anyway. It's been said, if you want to follow other racers via your smartphone as you go you're already faffing and not focussed on your own race. I think smart-phone use (when you have a signal .. ) can remove the element of suprise like Basinger and Curiak's final miles of the ?2004? GDR and that's why Josh Kato's win last year was such a great story, but it's part of riding and racing now, just make your own choice. I love the lo-fi and delayed news aspect of the TDR on trackleaders so my opinion is only coming from that pov, bit like following the Tour of the early years in the daily paper.
Further on the stealth aspect, I've heard of twitter accounts being used to notify riders of being passed, by spectator supporters watching trackleaders, so the notified rider could get on with chasing. Similarly riders being notified of other elements of the race that may give them an advantage over others by logging into forums has come up before, but very few riders manage a totally solo race over 15-20 days anyway and I can't see how it's likely to affect things much. Better to race your own race, there's no other reason for riding.

I thought that monitoring fellow competitors whilst in the race was against 'the rules' so should lead to self disqualification. It did not appear as though the top three last year were monitoring each other otherwise they surely would not have stopped so close to the end

Yes, best wishes for a great ride Greg, Nigel and Tom. As I just said on ST, hoping for great conditions for you all but not so great you feel short-changed on that full TD experience! : ) Make good decisions and enjoy it!

I know I am a bit romantic about the underdog / Joe Blogs holding down a 9-5 but still competing on the bike he has been putting together in the shed, but I feel that these big races such as TransAm TD etc. are changing, with more sponsorship opportunities available to the top of the field they no longer compete in a level playing field. Some of the soul that made these events is being lost and in the consumer society that we all live there is not much we can do about it. Perhaps this was always the case and I was naïve but it appears to be more in your face the last couple of years.
(Yeh, I'm feeling a little grumpy today)

Si wrote: I thought that monitoring fellow competitors whilst in the race was against 'the rules' so should lead to self disqualification. It did not appear as though the top three last year were monitoring each other otherwise they surely would not have stopped so close to the end

(edited as somehow I'd attibuted the quote to the wrong person)

Not sure about that, I do remember (hopefully not mis-quoting) Matt Lee saying something on BP.net about no avoiding smartphone and web use now and it's for riders to self-regulate, or similar. No idea if it's considered a DQ thing, doubt it though. More of an answer-to-yourself point perhaps. (edit to add, they do refrain from discussing the real-time detail of individual rider progress on BP.net so as to not give anything away that may be used tactically or read unintentionally by a racer as a spoiler - maybe worth noting here also)

Seems common for riders to stop within what seems like a short distance of the finish. Easy to think you can go that extra 100 miles to the end but the need to sleep at that point may be too strong so you risk an hour or so's nap.

On the sponsorship, maybe. Don't think it really matters though. TD and TA are too big for those details to make a huge difference. Lael Wilcox was living in a way almost equivalent to a Pro roadie before the Tour de France before her TDR ride last year, she was a full-time bike tourer rather than anything funded and well-paid but her prep may have been unbeatable. Still, got to keep it together in week 2. The soul is there in what people say after the ride - eg the HTR this year. I think social media excess and product launches in Banff (Salsa .. I'm looking at you but not in a bad way, just a little disappointed haha) may over-expose it eventually but it's only natural.

On that point, I like Tom's style this year, same bike as ever fresh from seeing a seized BB out of it, SSing. There's also racers with all mod-cons, team kit and sponsorship who come back with the most inspiring take on it all, profound stuff to me. Takes all sorts : )

I know I am a bit romantic about the underdog / Joe Blogs holding down a 9-5 but still competing on the bike he has been putting together in the shed, but I feel that these big races such as TransAm TD etc. are changing, with more sponsorship opportunities available to the top of the field they no longer compete in a level playing field. Some of the soul that made these events is being lost and in the consumer society that we all live there is not much we can do about it. Perhaps this was always the case and I was naïve but it appears to be more in your face the last couple of years.
(Yeh, I'm feeling a little grumpy today)

What you need Si, is the Great Divide rather than the Tour Divide ... so under the radar, no one knows it's happening*

I do know what you mean but trackers combined with social media and with regard to the TD, a certain film, have increased peoples interest. I was very surprised by the number of people 'racing' the TD last year who appeared to have no prior bikepacking experience, no history within mountain biking and F' all idea if what I read / saw was to be believed ... it'll all go full circle sooner or later, no need to be grumpy


*is it happening?

I also thought of Greg when I saw Josh's bike!

Trail-rat wrote:tbh the cutthroat suits the lauf forks look...... the santacruz full sus does not.

I think you're right , the flexi stays seem to compliment the fork really well too. It's not like the Cutthroat is much of a looker anyway (sorry Greg)

I'd be surprised if Mike Hall does not strap a Spot on?

Reason being that he has a close association with Trackleaders (I know this from working with him on Steve Abraham's year) and promoted their use through his organisation of Transcontinental. Also stalking his Facebook page I see the comment: "Dot watching high season is nearly on us (this isn't the one for following me by the way - that'll be out soon)"

Just having a quick look at this thread:

http://bikepackersmagazine.com/2016-tour-divide-rigs/

and see a few names I recognise from these shores and beyond. One of them is Christien Smeja who I spent about a week with in NZ earlier in the year. He was considering doing it and we spoke about it quite a bit. He was taking it easy out there and was very fast when he started pedalling. Will be interesting to follow him.

Just having a quick look at this thread:

It would seem Cutthroats are like dog sh!t

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

Just having a quick look at this thread:

It would seem Cutthroats are like dog sh!t

I think the green is nicer?
Loads of fargo's too I still want one

Saw a guy on a Cutthroat along Goat Creek, it wasn't Josh, no hideous forks.

Blackhound wrote:Just having a quick look at this thread:

http://bikepackersmagazine.com/2016-tour-divide-rigs/

Some of those seem to be more bag than bike.

This one is great. :D

Richard G wrote:

Blackhound wrote:Just having a quick look at this thread:

http://bikepackersmagazine.com/2016-tour-divide-rigs/

Some of those seem to be more bag than bike.

This one is great. :D

Wonders if the owner can decamp I'm 5 minutes

Amazing hallucination effects from those streamers by NM I reckon .. : )

Is today the day, The Grand Depart?

Friday I believe

JohnClimber wrote:Friday I believe

Cheers!

Well, Greg made it to Canada, his bike however...