Colorado Trail Race: Training, bike, gear, nutrition stuff

[@johnmac5215]

Have a great ride. Love your content. I've just put out drinks and snacks for everyone on the CTR just before Hwy 9, or in your case just after Hwy 9. I'll be restocking it daily. Two blue chilly bins and a floor bike pump.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

John, I did see those trail magic bins - what a selfless and kind gesture - might even be featured in my CTR ride video... Ride on!

[@ZenEndurance]

Three tips on fueling: If you don't like gooey gels, just squeeze them into a water bottle and shake. Dilutes them great. For massive energy for cheap, use table sugar. Can pack a ton of it double-bagged in ziplocs and just add water. Or add to whatever flavor of gatorade you want. Can find it at most gas stations or grocery stores in 5 lb. bags. For electrolytes, 1/4 teaspoon of sodium citrate per liter of water. You can buy it online and one bag of it would last you 10 months. All the sodium and none of the sick feeling of eating table salt.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for sharing your insight :) Ride on!

[@mikesymons]

Hey Alan. Met you out by Princeton - congrats on the finish and nice meeting you!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Mike! Great meeting you out there - such an adventure!! 🙌🙌

[@btydings]

I can't believe you attempted such an adventure after all those crafty donuts on Horizon! Gracious! The full time gigs I did (IATSE Electrician here) kept me lazy for months! Kudos to you for that brave attempt and best of luck moving forward!! As always, another great vid!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Haha :) Thanks - this time wound up being a much more enjoyable adventure, for sure! Ride on :)

[@FordTechGuy]

Hey Alan, I too had problems with my right thumb from years of shifting. It was so bad I had to have it surgically rebuilt a few years ago. My current bike, Pivot Shuttle, I ordered it with the SRAM transmission which comes with electronic shifting. I really like it and I'll never go back to cable shifting. Another great video, keep them coming.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for sharing!! Ride on :)

[@iowen8585]

My man! I’m pumped for your NOBO ride and your new rig, new fitness mindset and your continued upbeat energy! Your humble opinion on your riding ability combined with how in tune you are to the mechanical aspect, respect for the trails, the people and all of the stoke you bring to cycling is awesome! Your efforts on the channel, balancing family, work and perfecting your craft is inspiring! I’m SOBO hiking starting 8/19, maybe I’ll see you flying by me near your ending and my beginning? I will be on the lookout for you bro! Go get it!🤙🏼💪🏼👊🏼

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for your kind words and inspiration!!! And yes- there’s a good chance we’ll cross paths - I hope so!!

[@db_cooper3941]

Dot watching your CT ride it looked you finished strong. Congrats. I enjoy your content and detailed analysis. Looking forward to your summary.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for watching :) I had a blast out there this year, met tons of cool folks, took it easy, and super stoked with how it worked out - will put together a video in the next few weeks - ride on!

[@steveetier3025]

I love watching your videos. Nice choice to adjust your schedule to accommodate your daughter’s violin recital.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for watching! I’m so glad I made it to the recital and so was Molly :)

[@lightracer8632]

Good luck Alan! You’ve got this.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thank you!

[@randallgd]

Wishing you the best adventure ever! You got this!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thank you so much!!

[@hauless1140]

Get it done DT! Whoooooooop

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks! Yahoo!!!

[@roncarr7179]

Good luck, safe riding and I hope for a completion for you. I will be dot watching

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Much appreciated 🙏 thanks!!

[@schwanhardi3085]

Good luck Sir!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks!!

[@Tonbo212]

All the best for a successful endeavor. Getty up partner!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks!!!

[@ZenEndurance]

Yeah, you'll be fastest by having fun instead of pushing yourself hard. Pushing hard is for people really trained at the highest level of performance. If you're fit and in decent shape, but not Pro caliber, you'll do best by mixing in plenty of rest. And the best way to do that is to slow down enough to have fun. You'll still be pretty wrecked by the end but will have had a much better time and won't need a trip to the hospital. Mixing in stopping to take some pictures, talk to people, even soaking your feet in the creek is perfect. It'll also give you time to eat more, which you'll totally need. I'm so excited to see how you do!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for sharing - this year was a blast, and I actually wasn't wrecked at all at the end... probably the best I've felt after a bikepacking "race", ever... pretty stoked - ride on!

[@PumpkinVillage]

Prayers and best wish's. Nice bike. Take care, Al

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thank you kindly :)

[@Hansenrum2000]

Really good tips, thank you! Have fun on your adventure🙂Greetz from Berlin

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks so much!!! Ride on :)

[@sylv_ain]

awesome ! good luck on your journey, we'll follow your dot !

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@dw-adventures]

Following your dot! Always enjoy your content, hopefully see your dot to the finish line!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for watching - I had a blast out there this time around :) Ride on!

[@dw-adventures]

​@@DirtyTeethMTB Looking forward hopefully a video of your successful run!!

[@RobertOKruk]

Good stuff brother! Looking forward to hearing all about how it goes for you!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

You and me both! :) thanks, and ride on!!!

[@omare_biketonature]

Perfect timing! I will sign in for the Atlas Mountain Bike Race next year so taking a lot of information for my first ultra at 47 😅 thanks 🙏🏻

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Ride on :)

[@jasonbean4895]

you got this! good luck!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thank you!!

[@chucklayton5753]

Good luck this year Alan! I'll be pulling for you!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks, Chuck - it was a great adventure!

[@chucklayton5753]

@@DirtyTeethMTB I followed your dot and cheered you on bro!

[@Robinators]

Best of Luck and strength!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for the encouragement - I wound up having a great adventure :) Ride on!

[@robertbotta6536]

Awesome. Good luck.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks!

[@jamescarioti390]

Well thought out... good luck!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks, James - I had a blast!

[@caseyfraser2643]

Do it Jaco…enjoy your journey ❤️🙏🚴⛰️🐎

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks KC, it was a blast :)

[@racer_chef]

Thats awesome Alan.. I will watch your dot!! If it works out i will come meet you at the end

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for the inspiration!

[@mickilkr]

Also an excellent video!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thank you very much!

[@yamaha11moss]

This is a great video!!!!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thank you!!

[@davegleason8007]

Kick some a** and enjoy it more this year. I hiked the CT in 2016 and hope to bike it next year. It’s a beast! I live very close to your last 70 miles, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you could use any trail magic, transportation, etc. anywhere from Kenosha to Watertown Canyon.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for the offer- hopefully won’t need it!! Ride on :)

[@terrybuccambuso7917]

I like the Denver start to more gradually gain altitude….that might be why you got altitude sickness last year…?

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Yep, def more gradual rise in altitude from Denver / less chance for alt sickness - and you finish with a nice decent into Durango instead of the brutal climb up :) but I wanna have an apples to apples redo of last year 🤙

[@d.g2676]

You got this!!! FYI, I have both generations of AXS and actually prefer the 1st (what you have). I know there is supposed to be a shift-under-load benefit to T-type, but I never had an issue with that when using the previous generation.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks, brother! Keep recovering and and I hope to catch up with you when you come to my hood 🤙🤙

[@marksandoval5361]

I live in Durango. I would install a 28 tooth chainring. If you have chainstay clearance and you can find one that fits your cranks, I might even consider going to a 26 tooth chainring. It's easier to spin than it is to push.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

I have a 28t oval on there… worked great last time 🤙 thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@helidude72i]

For altitude sickness you can try garlic dried chips they worked for me, and I hear a lot of the Sherpa’s use this method too.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for sharing!! Ride on :)

[@GOODLIFECaribbean]

Great video again. Learningful. Does your new bike have a lockout suspension?

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Yes it does have lockout capability - ride on!

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

Awesome! I was thinking of going to Denver to watch the GD but now that you're leaving from Durango it's no as important lol. I assume you won't have a dot to watch? Will you post somewhat consistently somewhere? Would be cool to see you along the trail and encourage you along when you get closer to Buena Vista!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

I will have a dot - it’ll be yellow (AJ) and will be on the same trackleaders page as everyone else… the link is in description :)

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

@@DirtyTeethMTB you da man be safe!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

@@AdventuresWithDaniel Thanks! had a great and memorable ride - much better this time around :) - Ride on!

[@AdventuresWithDaniel]

@@DirtyTeethMTB I was dot watching and glad you made your goal of finishing the route!

[@sfdint]

I know 2 of the Colorado Trail riders this year. David Landis is my son-in-law and Abe Kauffman is a first rate mountain bike racer from my home town. Both found the riding at elevation to be extremely challenging. Abe Kauffman finished but was far out of the running, even though he had earlier done the Tour Divide in 16 days. Both said it was much more demanding than the Tour Divide. How'd it go for you?

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

I bumped into Abe on the trail and chatted briefly... this year went better for me than last year, and I had a blast out there. I feel like the CTR is definitely harder than the TD... much more technical, much slower, lots of pushing, etc - plus the high elevation... the TD is just longer... ride on!

[@thwood40]

Going east provokes altitude sickness... Going west allows more time to adjust. Just saying!

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Yep I know all about it :)

[@CycleXplorer]

Think the altitude would be a struggle for me living at sea level. Hope it goes well

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks!!

[@fatbikeymikey]

I had never heard of the Airofit trainer. I assume you like it? Pros and cons??

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

I like it and it’s helped increase my lung capacity, but it’s overpriced

[@fatbikeymikey]

@@DirtyTeethMTB I saw it's on "sale" for $240! Whoa. Best of luck on the ride!!!

[@StebrasNotHorses]

290 miles? I've done 290. It took me two months though. Better luck this time.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

🤣🤣 thanks!! 🙏

[@diviscadilek1764]

During a race, I personally don't track my effort intensity at all. Your body knows how much you have left better than any external sensor. All that data is only useful after the race, so you can analyze it for next time. Pacing yourself based off the heart rate monitor is not a good idea.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for sharing 🤙

[@thomashendron4356]

Finish the race?

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Yep 👍

[@youbikewithatube]

I would consider taking some 81mg children’s chewable aspirin, at least for the beginning days until your body gets used to the altitude a bit.

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

I considered Diamox, but decided not to… so def gonna be dosing nsaids for the first couple of days- thanks for watching and sharing 🙏 ride on!

[@gregknipe8772]

dont over train....

[@DirtyTeethMTB]

Thanks for sharing :) Tapered down well, had a blast out there, and felt better at the finish than I ever have after a bikepacking "race" - ride on!