Oh, I guess the non-motorist coverage would probably only apply if you get hit by a car, but something good to know about.

Not as good as I remember it, but still totally worth it.  Even an ambulance ride can hit 20k pretty quick. Layer up with a travel insurance thing for an event and you're probably doing the best a person reasonably can.  If something did happen, chances are they will try to deny you coverage on some grounds, but you’ll only be out $12 a month and maybe have a fighting chance to sue.

Also, if you have car insurance you may have some coverage as a non motorist.  That saved my butt when I had a 45k bill after getting hit by a truck on the divide a few years ago.  About 12 months of a lawyer going back and forth with the hospital we were able to get all the medical bills knocked down to a level that I could cover them with my non motorist coverage and my little bit of savings.

Does anyone know of coverage for accident and or extraction coverage while bikepack racing? I looked into travel insurance but don't know if it would cover bikepack racing or not. I know spot offers extraction coverage for $12.95 per year but I don't think it would cover any medical.

Thanks in advance!

I use the SPOT GEOS Evac insurance.  Been a while since I’ve looked at it and it may have changed, but I thought it covered up to 100 k evac and up to 10 k medical.

Negatives?   Lots of flat or fast sections and a really sore butt.  Props to Jefe and others for pulling it off and with style, but I  like ss  for most of my riding because it’s fun, and the Divide on a ss does not sound fun. 

Ah.  Yeah just noticed that.  bummer

Wonder if Rick will reel Jay in.  Only a few miles back.
For those that don't know, Rick is an old school, under the radar endurance bad ass.

I am planning my Tour Divide ride and thinking about how to approach the risks associated with road side camping in a bivy sack.

My thinking is that in risk from bears and and lions while actually riding is lower because hopefully the wild life is not likely to prey on a moving vehicle with lights and unnatural sounds.  On the other hand I am a little concerned about the idea of sleeping in my bivy or out in the open.  In the bivy sack it seems there may be more risk from a bear or lion.  They may thing that a bag that smells a little like discarded human food might be worth investigation.  Snakes might also simply think it is a nice warm place to hang out.

How much risk of bivy attack exists?  Is this like winning the lottery or do I actually need to make plans and take steps to prevent attack.  If plans are needed what is a typical approach for TDR riders?

You should really carry an electric fence to be safe.  Little extra weight, but totally worth it.


http://www.udap.com/bearshock.htm

Thanks for the links.
Now I'd like to know why the panicking over snow hasn't started here yet.

 A while back, maybe last year, somebody had a link to snow levels along the route.  I can't find it searching through threads.  Anybody care to re-post that.

Thanks
P

Hey Kurt.  Nice ride dude.

I'm glad you confirmed my feeling that the current route is a little slower than in the past.  I felt like that last push fron the construction to the end was way longer than the old mining road.  Anyway, good times.  I had a blast riding with Steve W and it was nice meeting Phil, Carol and Tanner at Summerhaven

So what the hell is up with Scott waiting for a better weather window?  Everybody please give him shit for that.

P

Anybody from Oregon headed down there?  Leaving from Bend. I can fit 1 more person and bike.  Hoping to leave a car in Superior and then catch a ride to the start somehow.

Pete

Must've been the kind of mud that makes a rider go faster, not slower, 'cuz JP's "splits" from Abiquiu -> Cuba -> Pie Town were pretty darn fast.

Yeah, there was a block of about 8 hours where the Trackleaders site wasn't updating, so we were just speculating, but apparently he moving pretty good.

I'm guessing he's dealing with mud right now.  Judging by the last call in and the spot dot.
Bummer.

I rode Gold Dust a few weeks ago and it's an OK trail.  Couple fun sections.  I couldn't help wondering though, why it was added?  It is a little rough for a loaded bike and pretty inconsistent with the rest of the route.  There are so many places in CO where more mtn bike like trails could be substituted for the GD route, so why not them? 

Just through Frisco and Breck alone you could ride almost all dirt.  I don't think that's what the Divide route is though, so I'm kinda wondering what the story is behind the addition of Gold Dust?

P

He is several hours ahead of ML's time from 09, but right on track to John Nobile's record border to border time from 08.

Jay and I have talked about this so I know he has both records in his crosshairs.  

MLs 09 time from Canada is ~17 d 23 h  (is this right?  I always thought it was faster)
JNs 08 GDR record is 15 d 1 h

Tacking on Canada in race mode for these guys adds about 29 h.
So the target, is about 16 d 6 hr.  That is, John Nobile's time plus the added Canada section.  Obviously just an estimate.

As far as I can tell, he is on track to hit that if he maintains his average of 165-67 per day.  When John set his record he ramped up his milage considerably towards Antelope Wells, but I think the overall average still worked out to 165 or so.


p

From what I can tell, Jay has caught and passed Craig if you factor in Craig's 30 hr lead.
Anything can happen of course, but interesting to watch.  Would like to see Craig get back on his pace and keep things interesting.


Is anyone else planning a fall start?

Ok
Looking more closely now.

Craig left at 6 am Aug 25.
Jay is 12noon Aug 26.

Hey
Looking through the threads, but didn't see this information.

Did Craig and Jay end up starting at the same time?  If not, what is the starting time difference between these two?

Also, I saw a detour mentioned.  Could someone explain what and where.

Thanks
P

I think he's preparing to break the record beginning today.

from my inbox:

Fwd: Endurance Cyclist Jay Petervary Seeks Record on the Great Divide Route                   
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Inbox
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Reply
Jay Petervary to bcc: me
show details 7:22 AM (34 minutes ago)
hello all,

sorry for the mass e-mail, but in case you haven't heard what i have been up to here is one of the last press releases. i am about to head out as we speak on my last journey of the campaign. i encourage you to follow this 2+ week ride as well as challenge you to ride your bike more and keep your car off as much as possible. "like" No Idle Tour on facebook and follow the "blue dot" (you will know what i mean if you do) to be in on the fun!

thank you.



Endurance Cyclist Jay Petervary To Tackle Great Divide Route For Final Leg
of No Idle Tour
 
Mountain bike ride from Canada to Mexico will cap Petervary’s yearlong 7,000-mile Tour
 
JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. (Aug. 26, 2011) - Three rides. Three bikes. 7,000 miles. That’s the simple essence of endurance cyclist Jay Petervary’s 2011 No Idle Tour.
 
Today Petervary will pedal the final leg of his No Idle Tour from Canada to Mexico along the Great Divide route covering 2,745 miles on singletrack and dirt roads. Departing from Banff, Alberta, Canada, Petervary’s solo, self-supported journey will take him south to the end of the route in Antelope Flats, N.M. – at the US/Mexico boarder.
 
“To wrap up the No Idle Tour like this is just perfect,” said Petervary. “My previous two rides this year have been both challenging and rewarding and I know the Great Divide will provide some of the same. Although this is the final leg of the Tour, my work this year is really just the beginning of trying to bring awareness to this important issue.”
 
Petervary is no stranger to the Great Divide route. In 2009 he and wife Tracey finished the route on a tandem bicycle in 18 days, 13 hours. In 2007, Petervary set the route record in just over 15 days. This year, Petervary will be riding a fully rigid Orbea Alma 29er carbon mountain bike with Slime tubes. Carrying everything he needs – from sleeping gear to GPS unit to a bike repair kit – Petervary’s bike weighs about 30 pounds. You can follow Petervary's progress at www.trackleaders.com.
 
The two other legs of Petervary’s No Idle Tour included setting a record on the 1,000-mile Iditarod trail while riding his snow bike from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska in March. In June, Petervary followed the Race Across America (RAAM) route and completed it self-supported in less than 13 days – while setting a new record.
 
After completing the Great Divide route in Sept., Petervary will travel to the bicycle industry trade show Interbike in Las Vegas, Nev. All three of Petervary’s No Idle Tour bicycles will be on display at the Slime booth for viewing.
 
To learn more about the No Idle Tour and how to donate and get involved, please visit: www.facebook.com/noidletour and www.noidletour.org.

 

Jay came through Durango this morning.  Spent a few hours eating, swapping out tires and taking care of some general maintenance to his gear and bike.  He said the heat through CA and AZ was pretty brutal so he found himself stopping pretty frequently to fill up with cold water.