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The Cordillera of the 2019 Tour Divide.

As many of you know, each year for the past 10 years a collection of stories relating to the Tour Divide is published in The Cordillera. Whether it is a 25 pages summary of your race or a one page poem, everything is welcome.

Already a number of you have submitted or are working on contributions for this year's Cordillera and it's shaping up to be another great edition. Anyone can contribute - dot watchers, former racers, racers who scratched (already a couple contributed), racers who finished ...

If you're interested in writing a contribution then please email it through to tourdividecordillera@gmail.com

Article length - 1 page to 50 pages

Format - whatever you want

We have an interview "template" available which some use too - please email the above address and I'll send it to you.

I met Stirling and Oscar (14) just before Hartsel. They were heading north, anyone know how they got on?

They made it up to the Canadian border at the Port of Del Bonita crossing. Seemed to be their plan. Didn't have a rest day in last 22 days since Salida. He is sterlingminick on Instagram if you want to check out some of his pics - they're good pics.

The ones who hate that sort of thing (and there have been some big names in the past) do an ITT.  No one needs to know you're out there except Matt.

You'll still be asked doing an ITT. There's hardly anyone out there, so it is not like a hassel. I was out there for a lot longer than most as I did 25 days - the only day I met a lot of people was into Wamsutter, but it was so hot and I looked so dead that people stopping were just concerned. Must have had like 5 pickups stop. I personally found those random interactions with random people - roading contruction workers, ranchers, mom's picking up kids from school  - to be really interesting.

Day 10 summary here. Pretty epic riding from the front four since Brush.

https://www.dotwatcher.cc/race/tour-divide-2019

edit: post deleted as link not available

What is that picture on Dotwatcher Day 6?  I hope it's not a volunteer crew clearing portions of the route for the racers!

I was thinking the same thing! Hopefully they have a different reason for clearing it.

I wondered the same thing...

Too many people going out on the route and doing things to "benefit all the racers" will spoil the spirit of the race.  I doubt any state highway department will go out specifically to help TD racers.

Word with the original photo is that this was a Scout Troop doing a public service - not sure if it was planned specific to the racers or for the general good of all that tour the route.

Hi guys  - just to clarify for you all - they are clearing it for Camp Loll, which is off Ashton-Flagg Road. It is camp staff, locals and Boy Scouts (Camp Loll is a Boy Scout Camp). Full text is clear on https://www.facebook.com/groups/tourdivide/ if you wish to read more about it.

Sofiane's dots indicate there might be a bit of snow on the road to Brooks Lake, but hard to know for sure...and Josh's dots have been so inconsistent that it might be hard to determine...

Image's in the Day 6 report here: https://www.dotwatcher.cc/race/tour-divide-2019

I think Sofiane has done his homework. It looks like his strategy was to get past Mike Hall then rest when Mike did. I wonder if Josh is reacting to what Sofiane is doing? They both have access to Trackleaders so can keep an eye on the MH dot as well as each other.

Sofi is just aiming for the win - he is surprised that he is currently ahead of Mike's record.

what are men's and women's singlespeed records?

Women's actual single speed record is faster - see in Dotwatcher update. Alexandera is crushing it.

first time hearing of that guy....

Sofi came 3rd equal in the TD on 2016 on a cyclocross bike in 16:00:25. He also jointly won the Italy Divide in May 2019, and in 2017 came 8th in the TransAm in a bit over 20 days but had some costly bike issues IIRC. 2018 he biked self-supported from Paris to Shanghi averaging 200km per day.

He's the real deal.

I wonder how many other participants do a similar thing and bring whiskey or stop for beers or even smoke some pot to help out.... 

I know three ... one's even sponsored by a pot company!!

Truth there.  No Koko during the Hall administration.  However no snow around here like that year.  Interestingggggg.

There was no snow in 2016 when Mike Hall set the record and he rode pretty much in front of the cold & wet system which hit most of us Day 1, 2 and 4.

Evan Deutsch (TransAm winner) and Steve Harrigan (TD 4th, Terra Australis winner) are going to be giving it a serious nudge too. Peter Kraft is back for 3rd time, so could be a surprise, as could Stefano Roumaldi who beat JayP in the Italy Divide. Probably deepest field ever lining up this year. Dave Stowe, Janie Hayes (TransAm podium), Geof Blance, Kai Edel ...

Some profiles of the top prospects are up on https://www.dotwatcher.cc/race/tour-divide-2019

For those following the TD this year, https://www.dotwatcher.cc/race/tour-divide-2019 is doing a race commentary again - some rider profiles of the top racers are posted up currently - Steve, Janie and Sofi.

I passed a campground somewhere in between these places, just before you start the long climbs, fairly sure there was water there, maybe a river but I could be wrong on this one.

There's no water at Sapillo Campground - wish there was though.

Would you say that the course with Koko in it is slower than it was before 2017? If so, how can you compare results from 2017 and after to the amazing result of Mike Hall in 2016?

Koko adds 4-5 hrs for the front runners, but also sets them up nicely for a resupply in Fernie at the end of day 1, incl hotel if they want.

any experience with bringing a puffy vest opposed to a puffy jacket?  also, thoughts on a dynamo light?  it seems that with the ability to charge from my dynamo, i can charge lights i already have, and that will work better on slower efforts where the dynamos do not seem to shine . Also, bugs... Rollin with a Six Moons Design Deschutes tarp, found the sea to summit nano bug system which seems proper, affordable, only 3 ish ounces.  is it worth it, maybe just a head net?!

Synthetic puffy with hood for me is great - can ride in it, sleep in it ... and did both frequently, even in mornings through NM. Lightweight vests are great backup (I take them splitboarding) but on TD you're likely going to need a full puffy. Note: Lael  rode in '15 with just a REI puffy vest, so it can be done ... but she was putting out some strong power the whole way so generating body heat.

Dynamo lights -

a. best is to get a purpose built dynamo light to run directly off your hub (klite / Sinewave beacon / Exposure Revo etc). Dynamos generate AC power and dynamo specific lights run VERY efficiently off AC power. If you're charging a Li battery light, then the AC is converted to DC (e.g. Sinewave Revolution) .. with a loss of efficiency ... and then often the charging is via a cache battery .... with a second loss of power (30% loss of power there at best).

b. at low speeds, you need less light, so the system basically self regulates so you have the light you need.

c. take a helmet light also, so if you need to get around a low speed obstacle in the dark you're covered (e.g. avalanche debris on Koko Claims at midnight).


Bugs - in '16 they were never so consistent that you couldn't ride out of them within 30mins. (In '16 I didn't camp at Upper Red Rock Lake due to swarms of mozzies, but 15-30mins later it was clear).

Any advice on what bike computer to use. I am looking for a backup if my gps fails.

If you're racing, then a bike computer is not much use - racing off the cue notes is a slow way from A to B. Many take a spare GPS and most download the route onto a GPS enabled smart phone with a mapping App as their backup. I used Gaia, but there are others ... such as maps.me. I tried the bike computer thing in training but a. it broke after a few weeks, b. took up precious bar space; c. was not great for navigating off in practice.

I'm still wondering the choice of wearing a backpack or not?

 Every opinion and experience about the topic is more than welcome!

Hi,

I rode TD '16 with small backpack, 13 litres - was great. Rode Silk Road with larger one and also great. Get one with expandable mesh side pockets on both sides so you can access additional water or put damp items there. Would NOT put main (regular) water there unless you have to so as to keep weight down. That said, a buddy did TD this year and WOULD put water there as he feels he would drink more with a camelback tube than reaching for bottles.

 I used it also for on/off clothes some days, and in the Gila put tent there and food in front roll. I had one day around day 14 when I had sore shoulder because of it, but passed after half a day.

I did all my training rides, including on road bike, with backpack loaded above the racing weight.

Convenience of having key items in it is great too - money, toilet paper, etc, plus you don't have to muck about with finding places for your food after a resupply.

And I won’t. Its interesting that you won’t call this top 15 racer out on your own if it bugs you. Just an observation.
I’m done

I have, just not on this Forum.

It begs the question of why you won't? You are happy to "call out" a 57 y.o. lady but not top racers?

Well I guess the consensus is not to call anyone out on this forum during a race. I don’t get it, but so be it.

Mark - there is no such consensus. Personally, I was just observing the fact that you called out someone who is already not racing the TD in "regulation time" anyway and for something that was not a breach. However you didn't (yet) call out the top 15 racer who missed a section. Just an observation.