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41  Forums / Ultra Racing / Bikepacking survey! on: July 13, 2016, 07:47:26 PM
If you're a bikepacker (which you probably are being in these forums), could you please take this 10-minute survey! The results will inform and guide a community-driven bikepacking routes initiative that will launch late this year as well as helping aid in the development of bikepacking-related advocacy efforts.

Click here for the survey! 

Thanks!
42  Forums / Routes / Bikepacking survey! on: July 13, 2016, 07:45:57 PM
If you're a bikepacker (which you probably are being in these forums), could you please take this 10-minute survey! The results will inform and guide a community-driven bikepacking routes initiative that will launch late this year as well as helping aid in the development of bikepacking-related advocacy efforts.

 Click here for the survey!

Thanks!
43  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread on: June 24, 2016, 06:15:26 AM
A STELLAR ride by Mike! Every year, riders do what few of us ever thought would be possible on this route, and every year, we say, wow, that'll be tough to top. And just a year or two later, someone comes and tops it. So cool. Congrats, Mike, and congrats to everyone who sets out to give the TD a try no matter their goals!
44  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: How do you wear 2 pair of shorts? on: June 16, 2016, 10:20:35 AM
I'd agree with the comments suggesting to try something other than double shorts. Having the proper saddle fit for your anatomy is critical, shorts without seams that chafe are critical, reducing weight in your backpack (if you're wearing one) can have a huge effect on reducing friction with your skin, and good butt hygiene are all critical. Tackle each one of those things one by one and see how each affects (or doesn't) the problem.
45  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Dixie 200, 2016 edition on: June 16, 2016, 10:09:48 AM
Have fun out there, everyone! I had the pleasure of riding (leisurely) most all of Dave's Dixie routes a few years back, and dang he did an admirable job of connecting some amazing places with a lot of primo dirt (and a bit of less-than-stellar rough trail, but hey, that's the nature of this). You're all in for a real treat!
46  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Tour Divide 2016 - race discussion thread on: June 15, 2016, 10:21:42 AM
There are so many impressive rides going on out there again this year! But it's always concerning to hear about all the reports of close encounters and collisions with cars, dogs, etc. coming in from the TD and TransAm. Be safe out there, everyone!

Russ and Angler, thanks for sharing all the photos again this year...it's much appreciated. Everyone looks so bundled up. Brr...

At the front of the race, Chris Plesko and Mike Hall continue to really ride impressively. Chris is riding at a pace probably 3 days ahead of his 2009 ride!

47  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 AZTR300/750 Race Discussion Thread on: April 19, 2016, 03:05:51 PM
Hunter finished it up around 3pm for second place behind Neil.  I just heard from him and have forced a point for him at Picketpost.

Here are Kurt's remaining splits from 2010.


Name   Superior   Roosevelt Lake   Payson   Flagstaff   South Rim   North Rim   Utah
Kurt Refsnider   2:09:13   3:03:18   3:08:37   5:03:43   6:00:49   6:21:12   7:05:02

Neil is running at 3:02:45 for Payson, so, yes, ahead of record pace!

In 2010 Kurt crushed Jefe's newly minted (during the 'grand depart') 300 record (at a time that wouldn't garner top five this year) then rested a full night at the Best Western in Apache Junction (correct me if I'm wrong, Kurt).  That is probably where a lot of the time to Payson is made up.

The route was somewhat different back then, and Kurt did have a few extra snow detours in play (Mormon Mtn and Snowbowl), so if Neil can continue this pace, he'll for sure claim the fastest time.


Yup, you've got that all right, Scott, although I didn't really "crush" Jefe's new record. I think I took a mere 18 minutes off it. But my body was pretty thrashed after that effort and the heat that day.

It was amazing to see Neil blitz the Highline Trail in barely 5 hours...the brushing up there must have helped a lot. But either way, he's cruising, and it seems like he's getting a decent amount of sleep now!
48  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 Arizona Trail Race AZTR planning thread on: April 12, 2016, 08:03:19 AM
Oh, I clearly need to look at this on a map again as my mental image was way off. Thanks for clarifying, John!
49  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 Arizona Trail Race AZTR planning thread on: April 10, 2016, 03:46:51 PM
John, how much longer do you figure that trail section to Gold Canyon takes? I wonder if folks realize that there's not water available between the Gila River and the stores as you near Gold Canyon...that's a fairly long haul even taking the road! And obviously, taking water from anyone at Picketpost wouldn't be fair...
50  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 Arizona Trail Race AZTR planning thread on: April 08, 2016, 06:11:18 PM
I've got a proposition that might help someone out with a shuttle of sorts for the 300 - if you drive your car to the start at Parker Canyon Lake, I will be at the start of the 300 and then could drive your car to the Picketpost Trailhead. My plan is to ride back to Parker Canyon Lake starting on Saturday. I may detour a bit on the way to Picketpost to drop water off at a cache or two if any seem like they're in need of stocking. Any takers?
51  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Grand Loop 2009 on: February 01, 2016, 07:00:59 PM
10 years! It's sure been a while since the Grand Loop was in it's hayday!

Now, how about a resurrection? Bruce and I might set a start date for the Grand Loop this year...early June probably given the healthy snowpack that's accumulated already this winter up on Columbine Pass. Who else is interested in taking on the Grand Loop this year!?!?
52  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Grand Loop 2009 on: February 01, 2016, 11:12:22 AM
Bruce, and anyone else that's interested...attached is a gpx file for the Koski Traverse as I rode it a few years ago.
53  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Grand Loop 2009 on: January 31, 2016, 06:54:42 PM
Bruce, I've got a track for the Koski Traverse section of the Paradox Trail that bypasses Bedrock. I rode that a couple summers ago, and it was pretty dang nice. I had heard stories about how overgrown and tough to follow it is, but it was easy to find, wasn't overgrown, and even had water in 3 different places! I'll extract that section of my ride from the track and send it to you...bug me if I don't get it to you in the next week!
54  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 Tour Divide Preparation on: November 04, 2015, 07:52:33 AM
Here's my tarp versus bivy advice...

If you use a bivy, you will still need to find some sort of shelter (dense trees, bridge, porch, etc.) if it's really raining. And most mornings, you'll wake up with a rather wet sleeping bag that needs to be dried in the sun for 15-30 minutes later in the day. But a bivy is quick to set up, light, and simple.

If you use a tarp or tent, I'd say the best option out there is the ZPacks Hexamid Pocket Tarp. It'll keep you dry in the rain, you won't wake up with a wet sleeping bag every day, it's amazingly small and light (though you do need to carry ~6 small stakes and a tiny pole), and it can be set up in <2 minutes.
55  Forums / Classifieds / SOLD - Rohloff Disc SpeedHub on: October 30, 2015, 04:23:16 PM
Rohloff Disc SpeedHub 500 for sale! This hub was "lightly used" when I received it, and I built it up into its current wheel and put ~4000 miles on it. I had it serviced by Cycle Monkey in August (new bearings, paper seals, and a few other parts they wanted to replace), and since then, I put 500 miles on it. Currently, the hub is functioning flawlessly.

Here's what's included:

-- Black Rohloff Disc SpeedHub with mounting hardware for vertical dropouts
-- 14-speed twist shifter with cables/housing that was set up for my 18" hardtail mountain bike
-- Hub is laced into a 29" Stans NoTubes ZTR Flow 32h rim with alloy nipples and DT Swiss 2.0 spokes. This wheel is STRONG.
-- 16-tooth cog (500 miles on this)
-- 160, 180, and 205 mm rotors. The 180 is virtually new. The 160 and 205 are both used but have plenty of life left in them.
-- Rohloff cog removal tool
-- I think I also have an oil change kit to include
-- I can also include a non-driveside Alternator swing plate for use on Salsa frames

I think that's it. First $900 takes it!
56  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 Arizona Trail Race AZTR planning thread on: October 20, 2015, 08:02:25 AM
It's only 6 months away!

I'm looking forward to a report after this weekend from John Schilling about conditions of the Highline Trail. There's also a new person at the Tonto N.F. over in the Payson area that is making a push for improvements/reroutes of the Highline Trail as well as other new trails constructed in the area to make loop options. It might be a ways off, but it sounds like the Highline Trail could become fun at some point!
57  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Health questions for high-mileage riders on: October 20, 2015, 07:57:31 AM
I feel for you, Joey! I've never had any digestive issues when I back way off the mileage. My guess would be that it's something from drinking water in the backcountry that for some reason wasn't completely treated. I'd get some testing done for that sort of stomach bug as they can definitely get worse over time if not treated, and they're easiest to treat earlier than later.
58  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 TD Training on: August 21, 2015, 05:34:46 PM
How long of a pre-Divide taper period are people planning?  One week/ Two weeks?

2 weeks +/- is appropriate for something like the TD (IF your mind is still excited to be training at that point in your prep). One week is far less than ideal, and >3 is more than necessary for most folks.
59  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 TD Training on: August 11, 2015, 12:14:06 PM
I've had a hard time finding good information on this subject.

You're not the only one to have a hard time finding good info on training for these mountain bike ultras. None of the folks writing books about training have any experience with these sorts of races, so "ultraendurance" gets a paragraph here and a paragraph there, nothing more. And aside from a bit of research done at RAAM, 24s, and ultra triathlons, there's has bee precious little scientific investigation of the demands of cycling ultras or the physiological effects these races have on competitors.

Training for a successful run at the Divide, like for anything else, can't necessarily be reduced down to a cookbook recipe of do this, then this, and then this, and make sure you incorporate this. Everyone's prep likely needs to look a bit (or very) different. Some important considerations include TD goals, training hours during the past 6 to 12 months (to avoid ramping up volume too quickly), strengths and weaknesses on the bike, and past injuries and physical weaknesses that might need to be addressed.

Here's are a few general thoughts I have on TD training:

-- Most importantly, don't overtrain. Too many riders arrive in Banff physically and/or mentally tired of the bike from training too hard all Spring. That's a recipe for disaster in the race, and it's also putting riders at risk for adrenal fatigue. Serious stuff.

-- Don't wait until late winter to start training. This is especially true if your training volume has been relatively low in recent months. It's important to increase training volume gradually. It also takes time to build a substantial endurance base for all-day-day-after-day riding. For most folks, training should start in September or October.

-- Just doing long rides will help make you fast, but 25- to 30-hour weeks week after week isn't necessarily the most beneficial or efficient way to train. Including intensity is critically important and should incorporate everything from low zone 3 tempo to short, hard efforts. There are a whole host of reasons for this that I won't go into, but as swighton mentioned above, there are some great books from which you can learn more about the physiologic adaptations gained from different types of training and how intensity is important for endurance.

-- Training binges can promote noticeable fitness gains, but don't overdo it. I've experimented with these over the years - everything from 3 to 7 days in a row of 8-10+ hour rides, and there's definitely a sweet spot in the middle.

-- Not all your training should be on the bike. Lifting, core work, flexibility work, and hiking/running should all be included.

-- Recover recover recover! You shouldn't be riding seven days a week. For some folks, six days a week might even be too much. And recovery weeks are critical and need to be spaced through your training appropriately. This, again, will differ dramatically from person to person based on past training, fitness, age, where in the training progression you are, etc.

-- And make sure you're having fun with your training. If you're not, something needs to change.

Hopefully that helps a bit!
60  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: CTR 2015 Race Discussion on: July 30, 2015, 01:42:36 PM
Jesse, HUGE congrats. That was an incredible effort you just put in. And Matt, HUGE congrats to you, too, on one of the fastest runs yet on the CT. I'm sad I couldn't have been out there for longer chasing both of you.
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