tral_rat: The original border to border race had the no telephone’s rule but once a second race started from Banff they were allowed.
The border to border has not taken place for a few years – everybody goes from Banff – but if you want to ride the old border to border then ‘phones still not allowed. If you do use a phone you are dq’ed.
I think the rules were set before smart phones technology kicked in and perhaps difficult to monitor.
People like Mike and Craig are not stopping and checking there phones every 15 minutes – they are too busy riding. Also minimal coverage except in towns so not as many opportunities to check as you might imagine.
The valley Mike is riding up right now is really nice. Remember camping at Little Joe campground one night.
one of the vets could confirm but to me it looks like hes gone to the end of the dead end track fannied about for a bit – then pitched up for the night.
theres nothing in that loop is there ? lodge , restaurant, shop, camp ground ? going by the names looks like forest tracks to me
According to the internet there’s a lodge there. Probably taking advantage of what looks like at most 1km off his route to get a good rest and meal and cleanup.
given that on the call ins mike sounds like hes ready for a night out on the town and craig sounds absolutely nailed – like he is giving it his all….. hes pulling back a gap on mike every night by going into the wee hours but every day mike gets closer to him and hes getting more rest.
although i believe mikes mantra was its not he who rides fast but he who lives fast……. craig is living fast – but can he keep it up for another 2 weeks – 3 or 4 hours a night sleep , times so short the camping symbol doesnt even come up on the trackleaders board.
best of luck to him but i am still rooting for mike.
read the key at the side – explains about ITT south bound – ITT north bound …. and billy rice going for the double — hes gone all the way north to banff – turned about and is working his way back down was supposed to be the idea.
Re. the Tour Divide diet, there was a really good piece written in the magazine by a former competitor, which went into a fair amount of detail about the food. Remember her writing about consuming ice cream sanwiches from gas stations at ‘1000 calories a pop’ and still losing weight at a scary rate.
You’ve got to be a bit careful with those mileages. If the leader is doing a steep uphill then you might expect the distance to shrink. It’ll elongate again when the leader goes over the top and the chaser is climbing.
I had no idea James was preparing for this… I knew he was doing bivvy stuff and lots of miles but no idea it was for TD. Amazing that he’s hunting down 4th, really pleased for him!