Tour Divide survey...

[Pastorlocke]

Was wondering if anyone has some numbers on how many attempts and how many finishers for the Tour Divide since the race's official inception?

I am very much looking forward to this ride/race.  For those who've attempted it, I'd love to know what your top 3 most difficult aspects were.  Thanks

[Snowbd2u]

Don't know about how many people attempted or finished only for last year. Think it was somewhere around 155 attempted and about 49 finishers. I attempted and finished last year. Personally my three hardest parts were the rain the first couple of days, the wind in Wyoming, and lastly my lack of route knowledge! Haha. I think everyone probably has their own hard parts. I saw guys that were way faster and better riders not finish due to things out of their control. It's a toss up. But good luck on the race. I tried to talk my wife into letting me go out there again but to no avail!

[ScottyJ]

Top three most difficult aspects were definitely pushing/pulling/dragging my bike through the snow, leaving the warm enclaves of smiling girls when it was cold and wet out and loneliness.

[NatHC]

My 3 biggest challenges were:
The 100 degree heat in NM (especially coming from the PNW)
My tummy hurting from over-eating in restaurants (take it to go!)
Not respecting mother nature and my limitations and ending up in unsafe (for me) situations

As I got better at listening to my body and staying in the present moment, each challenge became a lot easier to deal with. It was an amazing and very humbling experience! Enjoy!

[Rorr]

Did mine in 2013 going for it again this year. Three worst experiences for me 1) Great Basin winds and running out of water 2) lightning Thunder storm in South Park 3) heat, dust and wash board roads of NM. Must not have hated it to bad sense I'm doing it again.

[dream4est]

I would say from my 2014 effort is this:

1. Course knowledge. Rookies dont have it unless they pre ride or have driven sections. Map looking/online research is okay but not even close to pre ride etc.
Example. I was a rookie. But when I got to Colorado I was able to make moves based on some pre knowledge of the course. Overall I lost most of the time back because I was a rookie and then made more mistakes.
I was going to add bike maintenance as a category but IMO that falls under course knowledge. I made mistakes in this as well that I wont in 2015.

2. Injury. This race is a classic example of repetitive use injuries. Hard to avoid as one is trying to get somewhere quicker than touring.

3. Length. The time it takes to complete route under duress can be overwhelming early on. I believe this is why getting out of Montana is so hard and a barometer of finishing.

[SlowRide]

2. Injury. This race is a classic example of repetitive use injuries. Hard to avoid as one is trying to get somewhere quicker than touring.

I was worried that you were going to be out of the race as I pedaled past you walking your bike up to Red Meadow Lakes. I'm just glad the 5 mile HAB in the snow actually helped your injury!