so how big a deal are bugs at night? I had a few buggy nights in Colorado during the TD, but the CTR is higher so I'm guessing they're less of an issue??

tickets booked and paid for from NZ...committed now

What if the price of the ticket was completing another (any) bikepacking race?

Yip, seems to me that trackleaders is the right medium to control "entries" and a completion of a multi-day event an appropriate standard.

On the FB front, I think the unofficial TD pages filled a vacuum. If the TD had up to date web presence and/or central point for info/updates I think there'd be alot less discourse

Andrew Kulmatiski (ITT) has been kicking it in high gear. On track to place maybe second??

Anyone have an idea why he stopped for such a long time shy of Cuba? He had been right on Brian's time up till then.

Any way you look at it, and amazing ride!

Rear wheel issues, XD driver went. Got a new wheel from Santa Fe and back at it. Last year had a rear mech fail on Polvadera Mesa, bloody unlucky

I think 2012 had the huge fires in New Mexico...?

2012 had snow up north but good weather in general. Was Ollie Whalley's year!

Is that wifi in Hachita?

Jeff, Say Hi to Stefan from me, and give Steve H a big high 5 when he gets in.. cheers Brian from NZ

Agreed, that doesn't make sense. If you go to their full history, you can see when their first ping was, almost 2 days different.

JayP at Del Norte was 11d4h. Josh was 11d1h and Brian was faster. You can see this if look at an individuals' tracking page and click on the appropriate point.

Thanks. I understand that he's doing an ITT, and as you state,  the clock for his attempt begins at his chosen departure time. Therefore, it would seem that his total elapsed time should be somewhere over 10 days and not the 12+ days that is listed...

JayP's elasped time at Sargents was 10d11h27m. Josh K's at the same point was 10d10h41m.

JayP is going well, but on that split he'd be in 3rd place.

Russell Shanks has had to bail out to Baggs WY to go to hospital - chest infection he's been fighting the whole way has finally got hold. Sounds like it's final.....

Andrew Kulmatiski is in Lincoln on night 3 of a ITT... fastest to there this year I think. Andrew scratched in '16 on Polverdera Mesa with a busted rear mech while on track for 16 days.

Back to the racing eh? looks like tail winds thru the Basin. I think Steve H will catch Rob soon, nice comeback after 24hrs out with rear mech issues in Elkford on Day 1. Go Steveo!

Looks like Ben S is walking down from Fleecer, av ~2mph downhill... mechanical?

Steve Halligan looks like he might have had a mechanical in the mud... stuck at mi 85 for over an hour. Shame as he is the fastest Kiwi on course and I'm picking him to break Ollie's time from 2012...

Looks like the leaders are walking along 43 heading to Elkford, same as '16, must be some rain about eh?....for many will be their first experience with PB mud

Rode Vittoria Mezcals 27.5 x 2.35 on ibis 741 rims in '16. Fast tyre, big volume (with wide rim) and good on dirt too. Gave cushy ride. Started at high 25+ psi, then lowered when I realised rough nature of many of the roads. In such good condition at the end that I reckon they could've ridden back again. Unfortunately the engine wasn't up for it.

Trackleaders is up. I found the link on the tour divide 2016 Facebook page.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1K9eeB6OGsN4WWh9pl7tH4ga4u4Rt2Q70nd--SW2NlyE/viewform

Hi TDers - I've created a small town notes sheet that I want to share. My goal was to be concise enough to fit it all on one sheet of paper (4 pages per side), but that didn't happen so there's now PLENTY of room on the second sheet of paper for more beta.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/8oe4581fjkokm64/TD%20TownNotes%20Updated%202016.pdf?dl=0

Vets and those with knowledge of the route, can you look it over to point out any issues you see and to add any good information I've left off? You can msg me or leave a comment there on the dropbox link.

Thanks!

To add to this, I had some friends who toured the route last August and they said that the community centre in Vallecitos is open for water, frozen food, occasional cooked meals & wifi. And the dogs are friendly if you slow down to say Hi (they are very doggy folks)

Shimano M200. Had them 2 years, hike most rides, multiple multi day bikepacking trips/ races in NZ & (incl tour of Scottish Highlands - the ultimate test) guide in them so tend to wear them for 12hrs days on regular basis. I would guess 200+ days use.

Soles have been great, some minor delam around toe box but shoe goo fixed that. Buying second pair now. Snug it for average foot. Giro Terraduros are too narrow for me. Mavics too wide.

Sorry if this was posted before, but does anyone have the distance or GPS coordinates for the water supply between Atlantic City and  Wamsutter?  Thanks!

 Diagnus 42° 18.557'N 108° 28.645'W

Solar well  41° 55.499'N 107° 59.839'W ( a bit of a guess)

Is there a store on the Bannack Rd where it crosses the Grasshopper Ck?(after Polaris) I've seen some references to it but would like to be more certain - there's definitely buildings there...