Previously unheard of extremes because the last boyfriend/girlfriend/significant that chronicled their partner’s entire race with e-bikes and a film crew didn’t have to, or because it’s something that hasn’t been done before?
Following the whole thing online was bizarre. It wasn’t until the third update from Rue that it was explained that Matthew Lee had approved the film crew and that really seemed like an ex-post facto appeal than what actually happened. The random facebook comments were trash and the lack of women’s voices was off-putting but some of the stuff posted by Sarah Hammond and Jay Petervary (despite his checkered past) made a lot of sense.
My cousin had a lot to say about it as a prior racer but had quite a chuckle when I told her to post in the comment thread. Her voice was better left in the circle of female racers who correspond by PM/DM apparently.
Anyway, the whole thing is fascinating as emergent friction occurs between so many different identifying groups. Especially for an event that not 1 in 100 of the people watching/commenting have ever done let alone completed.
I kind of wish they had a film crew covering the entire race, or Alexandera now that she’s one of the people in front and all the celebrities have scratched.
Pretty sure the intent was always to film the whole race, or at least the sharp end, with a focus on Lael’s individual experience whether or not she wins or finishes or whatever. Rue did directly mention that they’re still going on filming, catching up with the leaders after the scratch, and Lael will continue to just ride her bike, which is the reason she was out there to begin with.
Like, yeah I get that at some point there is a trust element to this. To believe this was a legitimate attempt, you had to trust that the steps approved by the race organizer were strictly observed by the film crew, and you have to believe that the steps were sufficient. The thing is, that trust element exists with every single racer… everyone has the opportunity to “cheat”. she’s just the high profile woman who happens to be crushing these races and improving year after year. Logical fallacy aside, it’s kind of a race to the bottom. Where does it stop? Cellphones not allowed at all? Every rider must have a GoPro to prove that they observed every rule for the entire race? Are previous results delegitimized if new and stricter rules are implemented?
Anyways i hope they get some good shit from Alexandria, because she is fucking awesome and crushing it.
I find the whole thing rather ridiculous, especially the extra restrictions put on Lael that others do not have to abide by (the cell phone crap). Just because shes the famous/fast one. It honestly makes me wonder if they would have put those restrictions on an equally famous male leader. I think probably not.
I loved all the content Jay Petervary generated on the Silk Road MBR last year, really got the camera in there with him, gave him time to talk about his feelings and plans while he was out there on the race.
Definitely glad that he thinks that this is not something other people should do because it’s cheating.
JP sure comes out with some judgey stuff at times. I remember him dissing Ollie Whalley the year he won, as a rookie, for riding with another guy for a lot of the ride. I think this is the link Capn https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourdivide/
Yeah there’s been some sketchy shit with some of Petervary’s old races, of course he’s the most visible flatbrim old dude riding ultra endurance rides so he got a full pass on it in the name of visibility/sponsorship dollars
This was the first thread, there were more but the mod of the group started locking them and deleting them: https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourdivide/permalink/854804911520274 it’s got the posts Rue mentions where she clarified the steps they would be taking to avoid unnecessarily impacting the race
Sucks for my buddy Steve. His knee crapped out yesterday and I think he spent half the day not moving at all. Dropped down to 3rd place. Seems to be moving again.
Then he got passed by the dude in 4th as he walked the hills… eventually he passed him back, then his rear derailleur’s jockey-wheels shat shat theyselves. Poor bastard.
