Trans Am Bike Race / TransAm / TABR

There's got to be more to it than that, it's a hell of a detour and can't be accidental.

"Ben Madden stopped at Safeway on Coburg Road for a donut Monday morning'

Mmm donuts

I've never had Taco Bell but maybe its really good?

Looking at streetview though I wouldn't do a detour like that either. Looks pretty grim! So your prob right and there must be another reason.

How far would @hippy divert for booze? Couple states over?

That bike theft report has really irked me; humans can be right shitflaps sometimes.

It does rather look as if the men's winner will come from the first four, and Tanja Hacker is nearly 130 miles ahead of Simone Bailey (as well as just ahead of Lael Wilcox's marker), so it would be hard to bet against her right now. Obviously, there's always the possibility of someone doing a Simon Yates.

hippy currently seems to be shown some distance off-route. Surely not a bivvy? Probably tracking issues.

Tracking down beers?

If someone's buried some in a forest ...

Don't know about this. There are some strong riders further back. Some from this year's IPWR who haven't really shown yet. Think this time last year the front names were Colwill, Anderson, English - none of them finished. E.g: wasn't Heath Ryan running second placed for most of IPWR? And Ryan Flinn (Rhino) finished it well too. Then you have Dalgas (who has done TCR?) etc. Tortoise not hares maybe?

Heading up a reasonably high sided valley with quite a lot of tree cover... almost certainly tracking issues.

Anyone who rode ipwr will feature no where. I guarantee it.
Too much fatigue.

Lolo Pass only 29 miles away for Rushton

Crazy ride to start the race: https://www.strava.com/activities/1618063511

I've never had Taco Bell but maybe its really good?

It an acquired taste.

Usually acquired via the 2am drive-thru after a night out.

I was checking out his race flow earlier and it’s quite the start! Keeping an eye on him

Done nearly 14,000km before the race so far this year.. blimey

It does rather look as if the men's winner will come from the first four, and Tanja Hacker is nearly 130 miles ahead of Simone Bailey (as well as just ahead of Lael Wilcox's marker), so it would be hard to bet against her right now. Obviously, there's always the possibility of someone doing a Simon Yates.

I'd agree with that, they're starting to open a gap now. Once these races get established there isn't usually too much passing. They might not all finish but they probably won't all blow up either.
I'm on my phone so can't see clearly, but I would go for whichever of the front four, or five, has slept the most, hence has ridden fastest and had most recovery.

I would go for whichever of the front four, or five, has slept the most, hence has ridden fastest and had most recovery.

I think I agree, the front four seem to be pulling out a lead but from the race flow I think it's still too early to see who has the best distance/sleep ratio. That said, MR certainly seems to have had the least sleep.

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Peter Anderson is having a good day. He's the best rested and has covered a lot more ground than the others in the front group. MR has gone a bit further but he's been out a lot longer without sleep and it looks like he's slowing down a bit. I'd expect PA to pull out a bit of a lead in the next few hours.

Number 4 DC could win. Best early schedual.
Pa is pushing pretty hard of good sleep. Possibly pushing to hard to soon? Or knows they’re within there limit.

Hippy got overtaken on the road a couple of hours ago.

Solved my knee issue but now Achilles is fucked. Sockless. Fucking tendons.

The bike theft is sad. I wouldn't expect a lock is something you'd want to be carrying. What's the general strategy for stops when you need to leave it unattended or bivvy?

The stolen bike in Eugene has been recovered, sans trailer. Facebook link.

Weather looks pretty mild and might avoid snow altogether this year, depending on pace. Nothing significant on the forecast in Yellowstone or the mountains in Colorado. Silverthorne at 9k ft has overnight lows of 5C or higher (it's 10C there now, at midnight) and highs in the 20s.