Anyone know if these can still be found in north america?

I think this has been partly covered but I still find it unclear. With the huge field this year, are there going to be enough spot units for everyone. Is it better for racers to buy their own or depend on the "organizers"?

Hey Blackhound and anyone else who may be interested. I'm going to be riding from Calgary, I was tentatively thinking wednesday the 8th. If you arrive in Calgary on tuesday the 7th, I can take you on great warmup ride. We'd start around 8am with breakfast and coffee at Cadence cafe, a cycling meet up spot in NW Calgary. Then I have inner city single track that leads to great back country roads, through Cochrane, the Ghost river valley, finishing off with 30 km of single track into the park. About 130km. It would be an honor to share some our best roads and a cool trail. It's the second half of this ride but in reverse.

Epic Devils Gap loop.

"May is a sketchy month to expect quality riding in Alberta. It can be very wet/snowy/windy", or dry warm and sunny. You can expect every type of weather but Calgary is know for it's dry climate. I would base out of either Calgary or Canmore. Either would be good if you have a car, Canmore would give you lots of access to real mountain biking without a car. Majority of trails in K-country are within a one hour drive of Calgary. Both Calgary and Canmore would have good access to road and gravel road rides right from your door. Riding out of Banff is more limited. The Canmore nordic center has a great trail network and has hosted world cups and the 24 hour worlds. Calgary is at ~3500', Canmore ~4400- 4800'. I road ride year round in Calgary, the mountain bike season, as far as  riding in the mountains, gets going sometime near the beginning of May. Lots of stuff in the Canmore area that is in shape early season. The Alberta enduro and xc season is also going by then. Edmonton area has a 5 hour enduro around May 24, my club puts on a 8 hour enduro in Calgary around may 30. I've attached a link to pinkbike's trail conditions thread and the Alberta Bicycling Association calendar.
http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=246&pagenum=293
http://www.albertabicycle.ab.ca/events
Craig.

First ever post. I'm in too! Based in Calgary and being a big fan, last year I decided to come out to Banff for the Ride the Divide screening, stay overnight and ride the first 60 miles with the riders. Met some great people like Aidan Harding, Dave Goldberg and Phillip Fogg. I stayed at the mountain Y and by luck ended up rooming with Matt Arnold, great kid. I had the great pleasure of riding with Matt Lee, Robin Borstmayer, Kevin Dean, Pete Faeth and Erik Lobeck until Boulton creek last year. Matt acted as a gracious host within the lead group, neutralizing the group for photo opps, a hidden waterfall and occassional reminders of " no drafting". I met Met Blaine Nestor at the Boulton trading post as well. I headed home with a host of fresh faces in mind, happy to watch the race unfold, having spent a small sliver of it getting to know some of those involved. I look forward to seeing everyone in Banff and being "in" the race for 2011.

ps. I will probably ride from Calgary to Banff. I am thinking about hosting an informal prolog/ warm up for those intersed who connect through Calgary and need to a way to get to Banff, why not ride? The route would take in some of our favorite pave backroads and the best bikes allowed singletrack in Banff national park, roughly 130km. Food for thought.

Craig Stappler
Calgary, Alberta