August will be the warmest it will be up north, and beautiful. Increased chance of northern forest fire smoke impacts. But a beautiful time to be on the trail.

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Sounds like a great tandem trip. What time of the year? I hope to get out there again at some point this summer.

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J - you lost me on your description from Fernie to Eureka. If you are looking at options, there are what I know.

1) Normal race route - lodgepole road to butts cabin, cabin pass, etc.
2) Maybe 1/2 way up the lodgepole climb (which was tough), Wigwam road appears to save you some climbing by avoiding Cabin Pass, it comes back to the race route as you head down the flathead for the climb up the wall
3) as you turn onto Wigwam, before you cross the river, you will see a road on the map that heads west towards Elko.  For more details on that, look into maps from the BC1000 route and trip reports as I think it might include some singletrack.  I do think it would tend to be mostly downhill.  From Elko, stay on the BC1000 route until it crosses back over hwy93.  This would save you some hwy riding and likely be more scenic.

Good luck

You do need to be aware of the thorns in the SW USA.  But, as long as you stay on the major part of the trail or road, you should be fine. However, do not let your guard down. I've ridden all day without problems, but then walked my bike off the road to the campsite and gathered up several thorns. 

Going tubeless?  Or, with tubes? I'd suggest tubeless if at all possible.

Haven't raced it, but have ridden twice for a week each. El Mariachi mtb with flat bars. First year with my normal xc aggressive Niner carbon fork, low stack height, no aero bars. Worked OK, but felt too hunched over for the long days.

Second time was with carbon Firestarter fork with purposely tall/extra steerer tube. This allowed me to feel less hunched over and when I added the BarYak it made it work OK for semi aero. I liked being able to use the bar tops on each side of the stem. Sidenote: used bar-ends both times.

I've also used aero bars with the Firestarter fork setup and it worked great for gravel, but I couldn't use the hand position next to the stem.

In summary, I think your first bars would help feel less hunched over. BarYak or aero bars would work well if they can fit the bars. Additional hand positions are really nice after long days in the saddle, not sure the risers help with that.

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I know a lot of us left on here don't do Facebook, so....

Mack McCoy posted the following in the TD group in FB:  "We at Adventure Cycling Association have received word that the GDMBR into Flathead Valley (between Flathead Pass and Cabin Pass in British Columbia) is accessible again over the Pollock Creek bridge, which has been replaced. See photographic evidence below."  (not sure how to link)

As expected lots of conversation on if Koko will still be in play or if Matt will route back thru the Flathead.  Group seems to be split about 50/50 in the comments.

Check out the route for the Fitz to Barn bikepacking race. This might have some roads to use. Then perhaps connect with the Tour Divide Route north.

https://www.mapmyride.com/us/jackson-wy/entire-route-fitz-barn-route-117977141

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I think my Beargrease came with the WTB Volt. I put the Silverado on my other bikes and love it. To me, the Volt is slightly wider and softer than the Silverado, as such I get rub spots from the Volt that I don't get from the Silverado.  However, I always need to put in higher miles on the Silverado to get the taunt in shape for the bigger mileage days. Probably due to the stiffness of the Silverado.

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Tea Boy - reading thru the previous years threads will give you an idea of possible routes and supply options. Read both the prep and race threads, especially from 3+ years ago, when they were much more active.

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I also used to stuff extra clothes into a stuff sack for a pillow.  But, I recently bought the Cacoon Sleeping Bag Hood Pillow for a 3 day trip. Packs very small.  I'll never go back to the stuff sack now, such a nice little luxury that definitely improved my sleep.

https://www.rei.com/product/142507/cocoon-sleeping-bag-hood-pillow

Not sure that I've seen the info on this one.  Any web links for more details on the route?

Seems somewhat familiar, am I confusing it with the Pony Express Route (but shorter?). 

At initial glance, this looks good to me.  Easy access from the Midwest, then Amtrak back from ABQ to KC.

Ah yes...Thanks

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Anyone know the Women's Singlespeed record? Does one exist?  I looked thru the TourDivide.org site and couldn't even find the past fast times posted.  I thought that I had seen them posted on that site before.  Maybe not?

aaa and bbb were told to exit further north than Hal yesterday.  They went east to 285 and south to Tres Piedras (I think) before hearing it was fine and backtracked to their original exit point.  Cost them 5-6hrs but they were able to ride the route.

Looks like two others were deterred at a similar place as Hal.  Johana Stastna and Frantisek Kasanic.  I'm assuming that Forest Service must have someone posted near there that is deterring passage.

^^^good idea.  Good luck on the ride.  May the odds be in your favor

Are you talking about Peter Puenner missing out the Golddust trail?

Looks like Golddust and some odd activity just prior to Brush Mtn - maybe bike repairs?  Advanced forward and overnight and then returned a ways back on the route to start again.  I may be incorrect, but I believe advancing and returning for bike repairs is ok.

So looking through track leaders and reading racers blogs I came across this one. She has a great story and I tip my hat to her, but you signed up for a race and it’s an UNsupported race. Maybe you should get your Spot tracker moved to the tour page.

“Thank you NICA team, Randolph Team for supporting Grace this past weekend! you rode over 50 miles with Grace! Knowing you were rolling with her gives Grace he extra power to roll on!”

I tracked down her blog and read it differently. NICA is not big in Montana, plus the fact that she was riding down the Seeley/Swan valley, I imagine those kids were riding "virtually" with her.

The closest kids to ride with her during a weekday would be from Whitefish, Missoula and Helena. No way they have 50.

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I've jokingly wondered to myself that, in order to be on the race tracker, you need to write an essay on "Who was Toby Gadd? Describe his importance to the history of the race."

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That it is a race.  Too many Facebook posts prior to the past few years start on how people don't plan on racing, don't plan on completing the entire route, don't intend on following the self-supported rules (ex: riding with partners). 

If you plan on Touring, no problem, just don't join the Grand Depart under false pretense. I've said it before, it will get too big and authorities will come after it. Try to find organizers, try to shut it down.  Too many rules in the USA if this gets out of hand.

Agree, people have diluted the original intent of the grand depart.

I'm curious if Ben is taking the new route that offshoots to Missoula. Fairly sure I saw that Adventure Cycling was adding that to the new maps.


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