My new rig


Krampus in its Element by mbeganyi, on Flickr




Just added a Rohloff to it. Need to get out again before winter sets in.

Marshals post highlights why I still sometimes carry my wingnut hyper 3. It's just so damned conveninet for all the stuff I like on my person - SPOT, wallet, phone, lip balm, sunscreen, knife (in the little mesh strap pouch, etc.

Have carried bear spray on the bike here in the east for 1 trip. Sort of for piece of mind, and sort of for the locals. Would consider it for the TD, and already have a bell on the bike and a whistle on the pack.

[Therefore, antihistamines cannot be considered performance-enhancing.]

Claritin for allergies and other OTC drugs should be fine but even they might give an edge to someone if others in the field are not aware of their benefits.

Should we limit the budget and frame materials and choice of gear too? Seriously... I can't compete with someone who can drop $6k or $8k+ on a carbon or ti featherweight bike and wheels and another $3k on the lightest weight gear... + the time off to ride.

Is a dyno light OK, because I can ride all night without worrying about batteries? Or does everyone need to be using the same 150 lumen headlamp strapped to the bars and a 2) AA flashlight strapped to the helmet?

Can I ride in wool and not tell others how it works pretty well when cold and wet?

How do you handle folks who live at sea level and folks who live at altitude?

Can I bring a first aid kit, assuming I know how to use it? Is that an advantage if I get hurt? What about knowing basic bike maintenance? It is clearly an advantage if someone doesn't understand basic bike maintenance and I do...

If someone doesn't know how to take care of their body - including pain management, asthma, allergies, etc. etc. - then thats for them to figure out - just like a rookie won't likely know where the best water or sleep stops are, much less the course.


Regarding antihistamines, this is from Livestrong (ha! a drug reference on live strong!: http://www.livestrong.com/article/324137-antihistamines-exercise/

(other links out there)

Expert Insight
A report in the March 1993 of the journal "Sports Medicine" indicated that athletes suffering from seasonal allergies -- such as rhinitis, which may impair breathing during exercise -- have a choice of antihistamine medications to reduce symptoms and improve athletic performance. Medications that cause drowsiness and sedation are less desirable for athletes, because they may slow a person down. Newer types of antihistamine do not have sedating effects. The study stated that there was no apparent effect on exercise performance when antihistamines were taken by an athlete without symptoms relating to histamine. Therefore, antihistamines cannot be considered performance-enhancing.

Warning
Many antihistamines cause significant drowsiness, so as an athlete, consider whether you will be safe to drive to and from a race if you plan to take antihistamines beforehand...

I agree, ride it for yourself. This whole thread is moot then. Declare an ITT, line up, ride as hard / fast as you can following the published rules. Submit your GPX track and SPOT tracking. All other riders be damned - do it yourself, follow the rules.

If it's available over the counter, or a rider has a script, why does it matter? Part of knowing your body is knowing what to do when things go south. If someone gets hurt or is hurting - they should be able to forage for the goods / services / meds along the way to keep riding. Unless the team motobike is riding up alongside with IV bags I can't see how normal, over the counter stuff would cause an issue.

Claritin is hardly a performance enhancer. But it can make a fundamental thing thar we all need to to easier - breathing. Someone suffering from asthma or allergies or altitude sickness can be in a real bad spot.

Mike Hall could drop me before we got out of the Y parking lot, even if I was on a motorcycle. The fact that he sorted out what he needed, and rebounded should likely be attributed to him training and riding in all sort of shit conditions - weather, health, pain, etc. and knowing what to do to keep going.

Now, of his claritan was juiced we can talk about calling in WADA and having mandatory piss tests atop every mountain pass....  But I doubt it.

bmike-vt

I like your 3D printed switch housing.  K-lite does something similar with there top-cap switch http://www.klite.com.au/#!product/prd1/1992209975/top-cap-switch. Considering getting one of these for my system.   

Thanks for that link. Nice to see him making one. I asked him about a switch and charger back in the early spring and he didn't seem interested in providing one.

I have yet to wire mine up. My light had to go back to the UK for warranty. When I get it back I'll take another step on the project.

Thanks. Have a map of that already. Not very much riding there, and its pretty flat, but might be a stop on the trip.

Nice work!

Looking to plan a trip in Maine late summer / early fall of 2015.
The timber / logging roads I know cause a stir in the bike community and the legality of riding them is up for debate - but looking for ideas.
Likely going to rendezvous with a friend from up in NB, CA, so Maine is a logical choice for a meeting point halfway.

Some folks have suggested Rangley as a starting point. Looks like some cool terrain.

Dirt roads, Class 4, forest roads, and single track all welcome - although we'd prefer single track and forest roads as much as possible.
We'll be on fat bikes or 29+, just because.

In the end though, you do need someone, or some group of someones to maintain rules / records / times / finishers / etc. And put people on that list if deemed appropriate.

Somewhere, sometime, someone needs to draw a line and enforce who gets across it.

I don't think it can be done on a forum thread. But it can be done in a small group, online or off. Or it can be a benevolent dictator that lets folks play in his or her sand box - but everyone playing has to abide by the rules.

Mine quit. called spot. Out of warranty. Bought another.

Gates belts can have issues with dirt and mud. You need the scrubber or tension attachment. Chains are pretty reliable, and likely available in any bike shop, and some hardware stores, Kmarts, walmarts, etc.

Daytriker - I'm not at all interested in running a dérailleur. Seems to be an over complication.

I've had a bike with nexus 8 and a friend has killed an affine 11 bikepacking.

I don't doubt that folks run them out of range. Personally I don't know what I would do with 9 gear inches.

And, I've run front setups with way more tooth change than 12t. Currently running a 30-46 on my brevet bike.

I also don't see what wheel size has to do with torque applied at the hub. The gear inches change - which is the distance traveled by the wheel certainly affects how much effort is required to cover the same distance - if there was this issue Rohloff would tell you not to climb certain grades in certain chainring to cog combos. The hub only cares about the ratio of the ring to cog, and maybe at an extreme the length of the cranks.

I'm not interested in running s 1500$ hub out of spec when the are really good about their warranty. And for my uses I don't know what I'd do with gears that low.

It's not about hammering. It's about torque that the hub can take. I know people run out of spec ranges... But it's not recommended. If you want a better road gearing, just use a larger ring.

Perhaps the GD becomes 'ride the divide' and anyone wanting to 'race the divide' declares an ITT, as that is sort of the 'spirit' of the existing rule set anyway - you are encouraged to treat this as an individual ride, you just happen to be out there with 100+ others.

Folks not specifically signaling at the start that they are looking to compete in the race get listed in as a someone who completed the TD - the 'tour' divide. Folks who do the ITT (they can certainly start at the GD if they want, but that might be counter productive) need to be SPOT tracked and submit a GPX post race. Sort of the spirit of that post JayP made last year or the year before. Do it yourself, for yourself.

The GD becomes the social event. Basically the whole circus goes away other than a common start date. The folks who wish to really compete, and do it for themselves, go for an ITT. Or they post up their start dates and others might show up at the same time. ITTrs regain some purity and headspace. And they don't pay heed to anyone else they may or may not see on course. The rules stay the same - but they apply to the ITT. You want to race? To be listed as a record breaker or a historical finisher of the 'race'? You need to follow the rules and ride it as an ITT.

You want to do the TD but meet your wife on course or ride with friends? Then you aren't following the existing rule set. That's cool. Just ride the TD. Start at the GD if you want. Follow the rules that you want. But don't claim you competed in the TDR.

daytriker you can't (aren't supposed) to use a 30t with a 16t on the Rohloff. And I wouldn't use it with a front dérailleur. You can change the big ring to little ring combo to dial in your low / high gear.

I'm looking forward to my Rohloff arriving. I'll be building it into a 29+ wheel for my Krampus. I'll use a 34t front and 16t rear.

This first post reads like a spam sandwich...

Take a piece of silver bubble insulation from the home store. Cut it 12" square. Put it on the bottom of the harness / drybag. Use it to sit on in camp.

Or get a flexy cutting board and do similar. You shouldn't need to add a fender unless you want it for other reasons.

So an update, I've been using a Shimano dyno with a Revo, love it. Added a USBwerk to the mix. Like that too, and just picked up a Fenix UC40UE that will recharge from USB, and I added a Limefuel to the mix.

I 3d printed this switch housing which will sit atop my stem on the steerer tube:

Being 3d printed for me. Switch housing to sit on the top spacer above my headset. Will take power in from the dyno and switch from charge-off-lights. by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Switch Housing v1 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Dyno Switch Housing v1 (minuteman sent me the wrong switch so I'm hoping they ship out new ones ASAP) by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Dyno Switch Housing v1 (minuteman sent me the wrong switch so I'm hoping they ship out new ones ASAP) by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Minuteman electronics sent me the wrong switches... so I have to wait to wire it up - but this is the plan:

dynoswitchschematic by mbeganyi, on Flickr

IMG_3809 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

fargo at GMNF gate by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Fargo on Chandler Ridge by mbeganyi, on Flickr

IMG_2255 by mbeganyi, on Flickr

IMG_9474a by mbeganyi, on Flickr

Hard to tell, but I'd guess in some cases I've had 2-3" of clearance, more in most cases. How big a dry sack you using?
Ride it on some rough stuff. You'll know soon enough.

Are you using the Revelate spacer blocks? Might be able to order some of the foam pads, and cut down on how far it hangs from the bars.

Sea to Summit (maybe others) makes some oval shaped bags, you might be able to use the same volume bag, but orient it more horizontal, so that you cut down on the vertical distance.

http://www.seatosummit.com/products/display/63

Pics from you would help.

They pop out of form cages to. Use a rubber o ring from the hardware store or an old toe strap. voille ski straps work well too.

i never had them, as my harness is old school, made custom by eric back before he was revelate...
yup, they do give you enough room, as my friend has them.
and i rode there just fine without them.