What do you do when you don't have data coverage. Does Gaia allow you to download the maps so they are available without cell service?

I have received and read my copy through cover to cover (along with the other 4 late last year). Great job on selecting stories and putting everything together. Worth every one of the extra pennies it cost this year.

Thank you Chris, and everyone who contributed (in any form)

Is there any need for this kind of race to bring a replacement chain or derailleur hanger?

In general, people will bring a minimum of one or two quick links. I had that, along with a few actual links of chain, and a spare hanger last year. But I'm a duct tape and bailing wire kind of guy, and I liked the warm fuzzy of the extra insurance. Turns out last years road conditions were some of the best ever, other than a lot of fresh rock. Only one really small wet section that we walked, and that was more for insurance than anything (literally 3 steps across a wet seeping area on a B road)

I've enjoyed using the MSOs a lot. From what little I have seen of Iowa B roads, they will be unrideable by any tire width if they are wet (Fuller would be a better person to ask about this). Just let the other 95% of the route guide your choice in rubber.

Late to the party on this - Wet Iowa B Roads = walking

If they aren't complete soup, then they are clay and sticking to your wheels, or they are snot on top of clay.

Check Siren's page on FB. They are doing a new run of them due to demand.

Oh for sure, Im not worried about the drag at all, or else I wouldn't have even bought the thing. I know I won't actually 'feel' the difference. I am simply curious about how electronics work and wondered about the physics behind the dynamo and how/when it draws its power.

When on pavement, I can barely tell when there's a power draw on my Schmidt hub when climbing hills. Mostly due to a slight vibration I can feel in my bars (odd I know). My legs can't tell if it's on or off, whether I'm riding pavement or gravel.

I haven't seen a true lefty one yet, but I know that they make dynamos for recumbent trikes, and the mounting is somewhat similar in a lot of respects, so it should be possible.

I agree with everything Striker said. Amount of chain cleaning and lubing you will need will depend on the road and weather conditions. I started with a clean and well prepped driveline last year and didn't do anything to it the entire race. However, it was bone dry the entire race, even the B roads. This is an even year. Rumor has it that means the weather could be epic.

I used a generic 5000 mAH pack from Amazon during TIV9. It was small and light enough that I used it just for the GPS, even though I had a dyno hub for my lights. It was also $25 vs a lot more for any of the dyno to USB power adapters. A 10000 mAH pack is overkill in size/weight for running that series of GPS for TI IMO. From what I recall, the battery in my 500 was rated at around 700-800 mAH.

FWIW, I didn't even notice my dyno hub during TI last year. Key is to ride with it and get used to it well before the race. I did the math and the weight increase was an even swap for the amount of batteries I was going to take. I also didn't need to think about conserving batteries while running my lights.

I'd be prepared for broken derailleurs and/or bent derailleur hangers, especially with the mud that can show up on course. Errant rocks or sticks can take out a derailleur as well.

Make sure you have a bail out ride pre-arranged somehow.

I started on Jan 1 with the program. I did do a HR and power zone test in late December.

The person that built my training program for me is a triathlete. I was concerned about the timing of the ride with the race being a week away, but he hadn't steered me wrong before. And since it was a "race pace" ride and not an 8 hour hammerfest, I only ended up with about 110 - 115 miles for the 8 hours. By the time Saturday AM came around, I was raring to go. The only real post ride issues I had, other than regular fatigue, were some minor knee stiffness for a couple of days afterwards. Ice took care of those issues. You have a good distance base as a triathlete so I think you'll be fine with a 3 month build.

The longest ride I had before TIV9 was 8 hours and I did that the Sunday before the race. Lots of 2 - 4 hour rides during the weeks leading up to the race, and then started getting into one longer ride on a weekend day for the month before. I tried to keep the longer rides to early mornings or late evenings just to break things up and so my wife would actually know I was still alive. Lots of trainer time for me over the winter just so she could sit and talk with me.

It's a little easier to do when you don't have to travel across parts of three states to make the starting line.  The amount of time spent riding the events isn't too bad.

Not sure what your time frame is, but I may have my Gen 2 in Funguy Green available once my Ti Fargo is delivered later this fall.

Assuming I can stay healthy, I'm planning on V10 and the Masters Program.  I'm a sucker for punishment, and for seeing my state.

My longest ride was approximately 7 hours and 110 miles. That was the Sunday before TI. Most of my long rides were in the 4 - 6 hour range, and they were mostly on pavement (I used the same bike I used for TI, but with a different set of wheels/tires. I did a lot of 2 hour interval sessions of various difficulties on the trainer in my basement. I had about 194 hours of seat time and just shy of 3200 miles (real and trainer combined) before the race.

Good to know, I didn't think so but was curious.  Anyone know how big you could practically go with a rear tyre on a 2012 model?

Salsa's site says 29 x 2.3 for the 2012/2013 models. The first gen frame was spec'd to take a 2.4" max size.

A HUGE congratulations to Mike Johnson for finishing his rookie Tour Divide around 5:30 AM today!!!!! Time for a well earned cheeseburger and a beer.