2011 CTR Planning

[Done]

Anyone else already planning for the 2011 edition of the CTR? 

[sherpaxc]

I am not going off with the CTR starters as my schedule just won't allow it, but I will be doing the full route a week before the starters.  I know that around 5 or 6 Austinites are in for sure for either the race or a thru ride.

It's been a long time coming for me.  I need some redemption after my first attempt.  I just want to finish it and be able to hold my head up high.

[Done]

I am not going off with the CTR starters as my schedule just won't allow it, but I will be doing the full route a week before the starters.

I'm looking forward to following your tracks! Let's hope for a drier year this time around. I'm OK with a little rain, but last year was a bit much.

There are a few of us in Fort Collins who are planning to get together somewhat regularly before the race to chat, drink beer (or root beer), train, ride, etc. If anyone is interested, please PM me. Everyone is welcome, whether you plan on racing or not. Anyone from Denver, Boulder, etc. is welcome too.

[RikPerry]

I had heard that the start may be brought forward to get a full moon ??

I think Stefan was going to start a thread and poll riders for opinion .

Discuss ??

[Done]

Full moons are always nice! But whatever Stefan decides is fine with me.

[sherpaxc]

Do we know if Segment 1 is going to be apart of this year's race? 

I have a question about resupply.  Is there enough food to stock up at Princeton Hot Springs for the journey to Silverton or should one load up in BV.  What type of food does the Hot Springs offer?

[Done]

Do we know if Segment 1 is going to be apart of this year's race?

The Waterton closure is still in effect, so I expect that there will be a detour again.
http://www.coloradotrail.org/waterton_closure.html

I have a question about resupply.  Is there enough food to stock up at Princeton Hot Springs for the journey to Silverton or should one load up in BV.  What type of food does the Hot Springs offer?

The Hot Springs Store is amazingly well stocked! They've got everything from Power Bars to pizzas. As long as you arrive when they are still open, you can easily scrounge up enough calories to power you all the to Mexico!

[peteshoe]

I have been planning on riding it this year for more than a year now.  So depending on dates, I hope to ride the official CTR, but if not I plan on riding it on my own.  There was talk (forum talk last year) of racing in backwards and starting in Durango.  Curious to see how it shakes out as that is the way I am leaning on riding it.  I hope to lock in my dates and plans over the next few weeks.

[joeydurango]

I'm more or less planning on it.  If 2011 shakes out to be a terrible year, fitness-wise, then no, but otherwise I've watched my friend Doug Johnson do it too many times to sit out again.  Get dropped in Denver and ride home as fast as I can - sounds pretty rad!

[ScottyJ]

Thinking and re-thinking this on a daily basis.
Anybody know whether waiting for the new edition of the guide will be worthwhile?

[Done]

Thinking and re-thinking this on a daily basis.
Anybody know whether waiting for the new edition of the guide will be worthwhile?

I figure that the newer the information, the better--especially if you haven't been out there yet. For what it's worth, I'm buying the new guidebook even though I completed the CTR in 2010. Who knows what useful tidbit of knowledge it might contain?

[ActionJackson]

I won't be going off with the starting group, but will head out onto the CTR on July 23rd with two other Texans.

Giving myself 10 days, more touring than racing, an adventure.

Anyone close to the trailhead where we could leave our car or close by and drop off us? Question answered.

[sherpaxc]

Jackson, Keith has this figured out.  We're leaving the car with his friends up there in the Denver area.

[gdillon]

My schedule will not allow me to participate this year, but I am planning on a Durango start on July 22 and riding the course backwards.

[ETURK]

I am in as well, unless for unforeseen work circumstances, that changed my plans 2010, but its going to be hard for even that to stop me as this has been on my mind too long now. 

However I have firmly decided to riding in reverse. Since the polls are leaning towards the typical direction, guess I can start whenever I want. Have not decided yet on the start time, but I'd wouldn't mind seeing a bunch of those reverse-ers agreeing on something....

[Mr.Pink]

Joey I am stoked you are doing it this year. I bet the ginger kid will be in also.It will be rad to have so many single speeders in the mix this year.

[joeydurango]

Ginger Kid is indeed considering it.  "Considering" is also what I'd say I'm technically doing - I'd love to race the CTR, but August is a long way off and there's a lot of riding to be done between now and then.  That said, my first ride after a few weeks off the bike yesterday felt awesome, even though it was 10 degrees and icy.  Studded tires are great!  A Pugs would be even nicer.

How about you, JC?  Are you in for 2011 or still thinking about last year's rain and destroyed feet?

Oh, and sorry to disappoint, but I may be running 1x9 part-time this year... we'll see how it all shakes out.  For sure I want to do Ring The Peak and the Don Ride with you again!  RTP is on the CO Endurance Series list!

[Mr.Pink]

 I feel like I didn't truly leave it all out there last year. I learned so much about myself,the challenges of the route and my gear that I feel I have a much better chance this year and lets face it I am not getting any younger.The race is a life changing challenge. I think about it all the time, I can't even go on a easy bike ride without thinking about how it pertains to the race. I highly recommend you commit to it and make it a focus for the year.Remember how long you put off the "Don ride"? How old will you be when you commit to the ctr?It is worth the effort.
...jon 

[bartspedden]

I'm in for another try this year!  Believe it or not, most of my gear is out on the kitchen table right now! My wife and I started weighing each piece of gear.  It gives me an idea of where I could save some weight, but it also gives me a good idea of how much storage space I need.  I'm changing my strategy have very little weight on my back this year, I can still feel the psychological scars from last year's saddle soars.  I'm going to order my frame bag this week and I'll start riding with most of my gear once the frame bag arrives.  

Here's to happy CTR planning!  

Bart

[Done]

Hi Bart, good to hear that you'll be back out there in 2011. Like you, my butt ended up in a bad, bad place! Most mornings, it took me 1/2 hour or more before I could actually sit on my saddle. No infections or anything during the race, fortunately, just a lot of missing skin and sore bones (sorry, maybe TMI ). I didn't carry anything more than water on my back, so I'm not sure how much weight is really an issue--although I suppose things could have been worse.

I've been testing saddles, chamois lube, and shorts, hoping to eliminate/reduce the agony next year. So far, I think that a different saddle will make the biggest difference. But if anyone else has any secrets, I'm all ears. With luck, this will be me in August: