Originally Posted by
billyymc
There will be places where we COULD diverge from the route if we needed something - it would cost us maybe 4 miles and at 5 or 600 feet of additional climb to divert then get back on route.
I'm surprised nobody else has picked this option, since it seems the best choice to me.
Divert two miles and return? No big deal. Check in with rescue team? There's probably cell service at the convenience store/gas station/whatever. Sit down, chat, relax, recharge for 15 minutes -- that's not a major schedule driver on this ride, now is it? Ice in the middle of a 95 degree afternoon? Priceless!