My first ride failure on the TD route sent me home pretty ashamed... I was surprised that people at work were excited when I got back to hear how it was out there. I told them that I was embarrassed. There response was that I attempted something that no one else in the building had ever tried before.
“Don't fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim, is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious even to fail.” Bruce Lee.

Thanks for the update. Many of us do not do facebook.
I really hate to read this and just hope that Josh is okay.

Looks as if Josh has made a stop at the Hospital in Del Norte.

Aw man. Hate to hear that.
But, you are correct it seems.

Sometimes things get into ones head and can't get shook loose. I think that's what happened to Sophiane.

I had not read about Lael scratching because of her friend and I think that I would have given that a pass due to how the weather impacted all travel and how everyone was packed into BML. Of the riders that were there, I wonder how many of them are friends in real life. Or even friends with those that run BML. Just my take on it.

As mentioned previously, I still would have liked them to document how record setting rides can be completely knocked out of whack by something as unforeseen as a mid June snowstorm.

Eight weeks from today, my wife and I were supposed to be in the air headed to Ohare on the first leg of our flight into Calgary. If you read my other posts, you will see that she had broken her fibula and would be out of action for a bit.

Her leg is mending fine and she has been on the trainer for a couple of weeks now with low resistance as well as lifting weights. Since she is on the mend, I've went ahead and booked our flight out on Aug 27th to follow our original itinerary of a modified TD route. I'm tempering daily mile expectations a bit but we can still easily put in 50 mile days. She is always of the belief that if we hit 50 miles by noon then we might as well keep going and not let daylight burn.

The best part is how well American Airlines took care of us. Our original tickets were non refundable and the fees to re-book would have been $200.00 per ticket. They really tightened down waiving the fees as people abused it too often. I opened a ticket with their customer support, explained the nature of our trip, the injury and offered to provide ER statements and any other documentation to prove that there was an actual injury involved. They got back to me pretty quickly, sympathized at the unfortunate turn of events and waived the fees. I called this morning to rebook and was allowed to book an alternate flight for about the same money and was given a voucher for the difference which ended up being $50.00 per ticket or so. Very very good service on their part.

Alexandera is one of the diamonds in the rough in this years race. That picture of her carrying her bike over Koko Claims screams volumes to me.

I cannot imagine what has been going through the riders heads these last few days. Many here who have completed the entire route and those of us that have failed miserably on each attempt (I am in the latter group) know how quickly a great day on the bike can turn to junk in a moments notice. Going from "I'm doing great!" to WTFJH #$%^$%&%^!!!!! can certainly mess with your head even if you have plenty of rest and are not sleep deprived.
I know that Lael had some folks riding with her to document the race and her goal of breaking the women's record as well as even perhaps beating the Mike Hall record. I hate that she scratched because this would be a perfect year to fully document how things can go bad so quickly. This seems like one of the years that will live in TD infamy.

Pretty sure it's also called an e-bike.

<edited>Yes, it is an e-bike. Looking for the model. It is chain suck too. Although I have seen some real odd chain runs lately.

mud has got to be the worst ... I hit the area south of BML after a little summer rainstorm and was stopped in my tracks out where the sheepherder lives ( there's a sign calling it Slater Park ) ... in a matter of 30 seconds the bike becomes immovable ... it suddenly weighs about 100 lbs more ( maybe not, but feels like it ) .. can't roll, can't drag, can't carry, can't push ... thought about just throwing it in the creek and walking out ... these folks were feeling that, plus snow and cold ... serious admiration for those that made it through

Although the mud is bad, what killed me North of Elkford 2 years ago on my ITT was the small rocks that got jammed in the cassette. That was not a good time for me too.

A few extra oz/g for an Etrex could have made the difference?

I believe that he has a GPS but it bonked out on him.

Two years ago, I was attempting an ITT a few days aftyer the grad depart. I hit the mud North of Elkford. Ten miles of frustrating agony. That included dipping the bike in a raging ice cold stream only to have it muck up again 1 mile down the road. I'd never dealt with that kind of mud before, but the people a few days earlier have and knew what to do.
Some at the lodge will push into it, deal with it and move on.
Myself, at that point, I was about to throw my bike off of the road in disgust until that little voice popped in and said "Deal with it".

If you are the praying type, please say some prayers for these riders. Many of them, not just the front runners, are wet from rain before even hitting the snow in the passes. That is a perfect recipe for hypothermia and can turn deadly very easily.

From a blistering pace into mid summer snow in the higher elevations. Wow... What a year.

What is that picture on Dotwatcher Day 6?  I hope it's not a volunteer crew clearing portions of the route for the racers!

If it is public land and it benefits all of the racers then I don't think that it is a problem. IMHO it would be no different that have a state highway department clearing avalanche debris.

Thanks for posting... Once again...

In an interesting anecdote. Late last Summer as my son and I were enjoying a couple of cold beverages, we reflected on riding from Banff to Helena last July. The topic came up on the difficulty in climbing the 2 steep grades prior to Elk Pass. My son asked, "Do you think that Josh rides up it?" I had no idea as we pushed up it. So, I messaged Josh and asked him if he rode it and how. He got back to a couple of days later and responded, "I ride with a triple".

So, when I see pics like this, I have to say... "I'll be darned. He does ride a triple."

All, thanks for the pictures!!!

[best looking shirt in the race]

4. Randall Rieker of Florida wins the best looking shirt in the race. This guys has so much personality.

No doubt about that.

It is still early in the race with many more riders to pass through Ovando, but I have to give a hearty hats off to the Blackfoot Angler for these pictures and stories. They, along with the webcam, bring a lot of excitement to the race for those of us who are desk jockeys in real life.
Thanks!

...and just like that, Josh's SPOT is back in business at the top of Koko Claims.  Nevermind...

We saw the same thing. After 4+ hours, we assumed that it was just a SPOT acting up.

It is a long race. Those who are at the front now might be half way back tomorrow. I know that I don't have the mental stamina to do what they do. Ten hours on the bike and I'm asking, "Why am I doing this?"