Have him tow the trailer! You can ride nice and light!

What is your budget?  It will make a big difference in the gear you take.  My bike was just over $2500 but all the other stuff has added up to more than that.  You could go cheaper but then the weight adds up even faster.  I've heard this ride described as the most expensive free bike ride in the world.

For shoes I am using Pearl Izumi Alp-X's.  I am not sure which model but they seem fine.  Fairly stiff but walking is great.  I can just slightly feel the pedals while standing. 

Just keep reading and you can learn a lot. 

I will be heading northbound in June.  But being from just outside of Houston, TX, I can do 100 miles and get less than 300 ft.  Too see any type of hill (not mountain) I have to travel to San Antonio and I haven't been in a while.  Boy, this is going to be fun! Slow and steady is going to me my motto.

I joined through this program last year and just recently renewed for two years.  It's been great reading the magazine but the maps are the best part for me.  Looking forward to many years of this relationship.

Good news about the border crossing.  Another question.  What would be a good location to pick some bear spray up when traveling northbound?  Or should I just have it from the start?

I had heard somewhere that carrying bear spray across the US/Canada border was a problem.  Is that the case?  I will be northbound if that matters.

newer Etrex's use one like this-
http://www.amazon.com/GA-COBM-Handlebar-Colorado-Approach-010-11023-00/dp/B00BPXWW0C/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1388073345&sr=8-5&keywords=etrex+handlebar+mount

It's worked just fine for me so far.

Also '5"10+ and ride 56cm top tube road bikes and have a med Fargo.  Fits me just right with a 110mm stem.  My son who is '5"8 also has a med Fargo but uses a 90mm stem. 

Hard to tell in the pics but is it the newer design with the single seatpost strap or the older 2 strap?

I picked up a pair at REI in Houston a few months ago. Hope you tried them on first.  I usually wear a 45 but ended up with a 47 in those shoes.  Overall I like them but they are not near as stiff as my normal road shoes, but then again I can't really walk around in the road shoes. 

I've got two short travel 27.2's.  I only need one.  Let me know what you are willing to pay. 

Now at least I have something a little more challenging to shoot for next year.      

I've seen people use a second high rise stem for the aero bars if their steerer tube was long enough.

'14 will be my first time doing the Divide also.  I am planning on going south to north for logistics reasons. I am in TX so Antelope Wells is only 800 miles or so from home and we have a family vacation cruise to Alaska leaving mid July from Seattle.  The plan is to get to Banff and hang out with the family for a few days before heading to Seattle.  If for some reason it looks like I won't make it in time then I can cut it short and head straight to Seattle. 

The weather looks like it might be less of a challenge going south to north too.  The overall elevation is about even but northbound might have slightly steeper sections.   I was looking forward to the Grand Depart but there are future years for that.
I am also interested in hearing the veterans thoughts on the subject. 

I got my membership packet Friday.  Thanks again.  I will definitely be continuing my membership after the free year. 

But it was $.35 not .30.  That puts it in a whole other ball game!

I've got my bar end cables like the above and it's been working just fine.  If I abandon the bar ends and go with brifters it will be because I am not that comfortable on the hoods of the Cane Creek levers.  

Thanks, I've been meaning to join and now my first year will be free.  I am planning on doing the Divide in '14 so it will help in my early research.

I am going with the SP PV-8 hub and B&M Luxos U headlight with the built in usb charger.  Hard to beat the price of the SP hub.  I've got a while before I tackle the Divide so I can give it a good test beforehand.