Hi,

TD 2025 is coming up so time to get this thread running.

For anyone racing the TD who wants to put their name down on the Cordillera list, see links below:

Form for entering details:

https://forms.gle/G7BgNHiHCT78hbWn7

Sheet showing those who have entered details:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1B-qKVV0DpabgGbMG48t2wLpP7Tn0f9_mifqpA4k5XZc/edit?usp=sharing

Cheers,

Dave

2023 TD route has been posted:

http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

KiwiDave

Are you putting up the usual Google Sheet signup thing?  The UK racers use that to contact each other

Cheers
Chris

Yes - Unofficial Starter's list is live for input at: https://forms.gle/L4TyZAYs6xng5Kps9

View starters at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1mpehw03htjQG7fQn9RMCRgeisWDEePhCtrNc_c0ZdDw/edit?usp=sharing

Assuming an open border, does the 2022 route start in Jasper or Banff?

Banff

The entries form we do each year for The Cordillera is now live at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEj2bcjUvb5CpKMwfVm10YQ4xPlSPfO0iUGPAb-xxVLrXh2g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please use the above form for entering your details.

The sheet showing who is already lining up is here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IgxHE2PXG122kfBuSvN9shEE8017nph45erhZC8UztU/edit?usp=sharing

(Note: You can't enter directly in the sheet - please use the form)

Hey ultra racers - time to kick off the 2022 thread. Hopefully the border is open for all the racers wishing to cross.

Tour Divide 2021 registration for Trackleaders is up.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8SjYKWhB2J3JBgGl9k3XFmkTN1g1lWTM8lEmOW2fLLP0Seg/viewform

UPDATE for 2021:
Trackleaders will be offering bidirectional coverage for the following Divide Route options: A) Full Tour Divide, B) Tour Divide from border to border, and C) Great Divide Classic route.  The Roosville grand depart for options B & C is 11th of June at 12:00 Noon. For Northbound riders departing 11th of June from Antelope Wells, NM, suggested start time remains 8am.  For more information on the different options this year see: https://www.tourdivideupdates.org

What I want to know is if any larger discussion has ever happened on the ethics of the practice?

Mike - No larger discussion of the uses of Montana Hiltons has taken place.

... sleeping on one of the filthiest surfaces imaginable.  

Seeing the act continually popping up in trip reports suggests that many people are willing to gamble a few ounces of kit with the possibility of getting really sick.  

On the TD, I used toilets 4 times and they were very clean and quite odorless. Early season and low use I guess. Came across a few next to busier roads or popular spots which were impossible to use due to smell.

Ethics - "don't be a jerk" rule applies. (Given that leading racers have locked the door at Butts Cabin in the past, I think occupying a remote toilet for a few hours at through the night is unlikely going to get close to being an ethical issue ... don't lock the door, if someone knocks vacate). Also, IIRC nearly all toilets were dual blocks.

Kit - I've not seen any trip reports where racers DID NOT have sleep kit ... it was just a better choice in the circumstances. e.g. quicker than setting up tent, warmer, drier. no wind, no bears.

I saw that (the 50+ record of 16 days) and I wonder if that's a "Mike Hall-type" of record, meaning it's pretty far apart from 2nd, 3rd, etc, or if the top 3-5 50+ times are close to 16 days.

Yeah, it's a solid time with a big 2 day gap from Brian's record to next racer. 2nd fastest is Rob Orr's 18:07:41 in 2015 (also over 60 record) and 3rd fastest is Rob Davidson 18:10:53 in 2017.

Does anyone have a link to Calvin Decker's youtube footage from the 2014 Tour Divide?
I can't find it and would like to remind myself just how miserable it can be out there.

This is the link but it fails as a "duplicate" ... maybe the music got it deleted? Was pretty grim first week until that morning in Ovando when the sun came out ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4EpGcDxYZ_M

I raced in '16 with a Rohloff (with chain). I now prefer my 1xEagle with grip shift. Belt drive is perhaps a solution looking for a problem - nice in the city though. If you run it, think about taking a spare belt (passed a racer in SRMR with snapped belt).

Lets talk gearing - what's everyone thinking?

1xEagle with 32 AB oval ... good for knees, tired days ... loose a bit on the flat or long descents, but resting the legs a bit is OK too. I really like just changing up/down on one lever and not having to think or muck around with the gears.

2x and 3x are good too - better chain line, bigger range possible ... more gear changes, bit heavier, another cable to break.

 

Hello Dave, Can you post the links to the google forms here when you get a chance? Thx, Dave

Dave - good to see you're up for it again! Link below ...

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyh3S85XnT5CYywAUCvLgqb1RQHGg1b1zxop3_iodFPjI4dw/viewform?usp=sf_link

The countdown is on and I am excited for June 12!

Note: The start in 2021 will be on Friday June 11th ... don't give them a one day head start!!

Well done Dave on taking this on and pulling it together .... there's a lot work there .... and also special mention to Chris for his previous years of commitment to the cause. You've got some brownie points ... spend and enjoy when the opportunity presents. Cheers Steve

Cheers - I think all the brownie points were cashed in getting an entry to the HT550.

Which means I have to do a 2020 edition too as there's a few more events to take on.

I have read some divide the route into sections in basecamp. Is that necessary?  All I have done is load the 10000 point file straight to my etrex.  Is that ok?

Splitting is good as it means that the "distance to go" data field becomes very useful. If you split to resupply points then you've got a good heads-up without your sleep deprived brain having to do the maths. I used 6 segments, but 13 would have been better. Eureka / Ovando / Butte / Lima / Pinedale / Wamsutter / Steamboat / Salida / Del Norte / Abiquiu / Grants / Silver City / Antelope Wells.

The Cordillera of the 2019 Tour Divide is now available at:

http://www.lulu.com/shop/david-chirnside/the-cordillera-volume-11/paperback/product-24349464.html

Thanks so much to everyone who contributed to make this a block buster edition with over 300 pages and 35+ super contributions. Hopefully still plenty of time for shipping to arrive for the perfect Christmas present or stocking filler for the adventurers in your life.

As always, all proceeds go to the college fund for the daughter of fallen rider Dave Blumenthal.

Lizzy - I'm lining up too as a Rookie and am going with the bivvy and ride to shelter option. I'm taking an anti-midge head net to deal with them as my bivvy has no screen.

Any idea of tyres? I'm thinking Ikons or Mezcals.

Any news on this?

Yep - nearly finished the editing. Great contributions as usual and bumper edition with about 300 pages.

Still time for more submissions if anyone has a something to contribute.

I’m not planning on 2020, but I am curious about the inclusion of a start in Jasper in the start list. Is that an unofficial unofficial thing or unofficial? , if ya know what I mean.

David - Jasper start was also there last year. It's unofficial unofficial as TD starts in Banff, but one day someone will want to ride a FKT from there as a prolougue like used to happen before the GDMBR started in Rooseville so just throwing it out there to capture the data.