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1  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 Tour Divide Preparation on: January 19, 2016, 12:44:29 PM
I am trying to track down Josh Kato - last year's winner - for an interview for Canadian Cycling Magazine. Anybody have his contact details?

Cheers,
2  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2016 Ultra Racing Calendar (sticky thread) on: January 19, 2016, 12:43:09 PM
We have the Alberta Rockies 700 kicking off on June 19!

More climbing per KM than the Tour Divide. Thankfully, its a whole lot shorter!

https://www.facebook.com/events/1653233641589345/
3  Forums / Question and Answer / Surly Krampus Suspension Fork - Tell All on: September 14, 2014, 01:15:53 PM
I absolutely love my Surly Krampus, but I cannot help but want to add a 120mm front fork. It'd make a world of difference trail riding and make something like the Arizona Trail Race or Colorado Trail Race somewhat less painful!

I have seen lots of photos of different Fox f29 forks and lefty's, but there doesn't seem to be a definitive forum consensus on what truly works and what truly doesn't. That's what I'd like to do here.

For all you 29er+ loving riders - how have you added a front fork to your bike and what are the pros and cons?

4  Forums / Routes / Re: anyone have beta on the Carretera Austral and/or Ruta 40? on: June 28, 2014, 11:20:15 PM
Well... March 2015? I could piece together a map. Ruta 40 based, with some other fun tossed in. Shouldn't we go for broke and push it to Ushuaia, that's be the length of Argentina.


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5  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2014 CTR Discussion on: June 09, 2014, 08:23:36 AM


The second reason does not apply to me at all. I do not love being out there every minute. The first two days are tough but you still feel like a real person. After that it’s just brutal and there are only moments that I truly enjoy.


I haven't raced the CTR (hope to this year after my TDR dreams were dashed) but I have done plenty of really painful outdoor adventure. I can point you towards the fun meter:

Type 1 fun is pure joy. Like flying around a roller coaster, jumping out of a plane or even enjoying a coffee with an ocean view.

Type 2 fun doesn't seem like fun until it's over. It's like a bike race or moving to a new home. It sucks to get there, but you grow as a person, reflect on the journey and realized you wouldn't have it any other way. This is often the best type of fun over time, and the most memorable.

Type 3 fun is just like type 2 fun, except without the joyous post-activity reflection. This is when it's just struggle and no lasting reward. His is where you are tempted to hit the little red button on the spot, cause you just might not make it any other way.

I'd say if you are considering lining up for the CTR again, then you've been exploring some truly challenging type-2 fun out on the course. Embrace it and ride hard!


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6  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: Tour 14er - Self-Supported Duathlon 14er Challenge! on: June 08, 2014, 09:10:05 AM
It looks like the record for this is 19D 10h 40 min 37 seconds. Found it here http://www.wwwright.com/climbing/speed/colorado14ers.htm


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7  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2014 CTR Discussion on: June 06, 2014, 10:57:05 AM
Sure, the Krampus will work - gonna be pushing it a lot anyway Smiley

But seriously, anything can work out there.  It's just what you prefer, not what everyone else is riding.  I've ridden it on a hardtail and on a full-sus, and I much prefer the hardtail.  But that's just me.

Six days might not seem that fast when you're looking at the Jefe/Jesse 4-day times.  But believe me, that's a tough pace, especially since we've all decided to keep the Tarryall detour (which added mileage and time).  You better be prepared to move 19+ hours a day.  Not saying it's impossible for you, just that most first-time CT riders greatly underestimate the difficulty given the mileage.

Somehow I ended up with the word Cool instead of the number 8. I'll have 8.5 days as a maximum to get to the finish, so I think it is definitely doable in that time frame. I'm just gonna be a rag doll at work on the 19th!
8  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2014 CTR Discussion on: June 06, 2014, 10:12:58 AM
One option is to do what I did in 2012: Flew into DIA, walked (with bike-in-box) to the 'RTD Island' (one level above baggage claim) to catch an RTD bus to the RTD light rail station at 35th/Downing in downtown Denver.  The RTD bus is/was a motor coach type bus, so the bike box went in the cargo hold underneath.  At 35th/Downing transit center, get on the lightrail route to Littleton.  The last light rail stop on this line is Mineral Station.  From Mineral Station it is approx. 9mile (over-estimate) ride through Chatfield State Park to Waterton Canyon TH (the CTR start).  I stayed the night at the Hampton Inn on W County Line Rd, which is 1mile from Mineral Station (towards the state park), so I had an approx. 8mile flat prologue to the start that year.  The hotel gave me a courtesy shuttle from the light rail station to the hotel.  Total cost of the RTD bus/rail trip: $11.  Total time: 2hrs.  Went the entire leg from DIA to the hotel with bike-in-box, then had the luxury of spreading out gear and assembling the bike in a hotel room. 

Also, a bike shop, Elevation Cycles, is 3miles uphill from this Hampton hotel, to the East.  It's in the Highlands Ranch shopping mall area, which has all the stores one needs for last-minute.

Freaking awesome man. Thanks for the details!
9  Forums / Trip Planning / Need a partner / Re: Chilcotins Tour - Room for 2 Riders... on: June 06, 2014, 08:50:05 AM
Cool. I was curious for a Canadian Cycling article concerning the issue vs doing a travel piece for them that is angled at "go ride now" It'd be slated for a winter publication, so it might be too late!

Thanks!
10  Forums / Trip Planning / Need a partner / Re: Chilcotins Tour - Room for 2 Riders... on: June 06, 2014, 08:30:49 AM
Any word on when BC Parks is going to announce their decisions?

And Vik, We'll be driving out of Tyax on the 11th after spending a week shredding up there. Too bad we wont quite cross paths!
11  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: 2014 CTR Discussion on: June 05, 2014, 10:20:40 PM
So, I sadly had to scratch from my TDR attempt due to some funky work circumstances. I'm now sussing out if I can make it the CTR instead. I have a few questions to get started.

1. It sounds like it's 60 miles from the airport to the trailhead. Is there any way to get a free ride out there? Tough when I am coming in from out of town and can only arrive the day before the departure. I doubt I can afford the riding time to get from Denver to the start. How are others getting this figured?

2. Aiming for a 6 (mandatory Cool day finish. Will there be lots of people headed back to Denver? Yup, this is another "can I cross my fingers and find a drive" question.

3. What is the average rider riding? Am I gonna survive riding a fully rigid Surly Krampus or are most people favoring FS on this singletrack heavy route?

12  Forums / Routes / Re: anyone have beta on the Carretera Austral and/or Ruta 40? on: June 04, 2014, 06:36:34 AM
It's 4500 km. ummm. Feb 2016 is the New Zealand race, might lose some of the people willing to travel that far? January would be NASTY hot. It'd be better to ride in November or March.


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13  Forums / Routes / Re: anyone have beta on the Carretera Austral and/or Ruta 40? on: June 02, 2014, 09:53:40 AM
Wow. Ruta 40 from north to south would be a killer. 4500? Practically split 50-50 between gravel and pavement. Some very big stretches without services. I had to carry 20L at one point cause we were 326 km between services and my wife and I were averaging just 100kms per day.

A Ruta 40 race would be something. Some of the gravel is terrible and a 29+ tire would be nice to have. But then there is a bunch of pavement where a 32mm would be nice. It'd be all about kit and what a person can do. It'd climb over 5000m and finish at sea level. It'd have winds far stronger than anything on the tour divide. It'd be one hell of a race. When it kicks east to Rio Gallegos, it'd be possible to do a 400km stretch cause it's be guaranteed tailwinds across the pampas. His gets me excited just thinking about it. Altiplano, wine country, desert, Patagonia lakes district and Patagonia steppe. What a combo! And I've toured it all, so I can attest it's safe, there is just enough services to make it possible.

The Carreterra Austral is getting paved. Not sure how many kms are left of pavement but it's a far more beautiful ride (think PCT rather than CDT).


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14  Forums / Trip Planning / Need a partner / Re: Looking for other bikepackers in Edmonton on: May 28, 2014, 10:30:57 AM
I'll add my email, photojbartlett@gmail.com, if you want to get in touch.


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15  Forums / Trip Planning / Need a partner / Re: Looking for other bikepackers in Edmonton on: May 28, 2014, 10:30:33 AM
I am in Jasper and have a kitted out Surly Krampus! We need to get some tours in this summer. I love the idea of getting a club or group together around the province. Lots of great gravel grinding to do in Alberta!


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16  Forums / Routes / Re: Idaho Hot Springs Start Date on: May 25, 2014, 09:16:09 AM
What did you figure out for a start date on this route?

I am considering giving it a go, as my TDR hopes have been dashed by work.
17  Forums / Routes / Re: anyone have beta on the Carretera Austral and/or Ruta 40? on: May 25, 2014, 09:15:38 AM
I've biked the entire length of Argentina's Ruta 40. What kind of info were you looking for? And yes, I do realize this is months and months overdue! but I am happy to help.

Don't ride it on 35mm cyclo-cross tires!
18  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: TOUR DIVIDE 2014 on: May 24, 2014, 03:29:36 PM
A very frustrating day! After months and months of preparation and training, it seems life (ie: work, wife, and worn out energies) is conspiring against me to make Tour Divide difficult! Still hoping to make the GD, but it may not happen until 2015!

Damn damn damn. 


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19  Forums / Ultra Racing / Re: TOUR DIVIDE 2014 on: May 23, 2014, 05:20:10 PM
Thanks for the replies  (about cell coverage)!  

I should have been more specific.

I would assume the phone would get used ONLY to make calls for MTBCast and home.  So I would turn it off most of the time.  I have a very old phone so would probably need to upgrade and figure out how to get service in the USA  (coming from Canada),  but just wondered if it was worth it.  The two replies indicate  there is "some"   (much better than none!).  

So my specific question would be,  will there be enough coverage to make it worth getting a cell phone to carry so I can "stay in touch" ?  

and once again, my thanks to everyone here who participates in this forum.   It's been a very helpful source in the whole planning process.

Tom

Any Canadian phone will work in the USA, but the LNG distance fees can be big. Call your provider and get a $20 USA package that includes 100-200 minutes and use them wisely!


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20  Forums / Ultra Racing / TOUR DIVIDE 2014 on: May 19, 2014, 05:54:50 PM
Mathew Lee mentioned he reads each and every one submitted to the old TDR web site.  I think I know why, but truly would only be only guessing as to why they are not "published" in a official manner

That said I can think of no reason we can't "self-post" our own here on this forum


I would be more than happy to one up the idea to post a letter of intent. If anyone wants to email it to me - jeff@photojbartlett.com, I'll make sure it winds up on my blog/website http://www.adventurefreelancer.com. It'd bring plenty of people around to the scope of the race and the motivation behind our riding suicide.

That said, I need to keep pouring over the maps. I am behind schedule with some planning, ahead on my training, and on par with my kit. Just need to figure out the water situation :-)

I should also be a Debbie-Downer but there is gonna be snow in Canada unless something changes in  a hurry. The spring melt is 2-3 weeks behind schedule at this point. We need some solid rain and above freezing nights or things might get interesting.

I was also in Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks last week. Teton - where the route goes - was mostly without snow along the roadways, but Yellowstone was still buried (this coming from a Canadian ski bum) It makes me wonder what some of the sections just to the west might have in store.

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