[cue sheets for the re-route to Wamsutter]

Hello all! Wishing all you GD riders luck in your final prep. I'll be starting July 1st assuming all goes smoothly in transit.

I've successfully uploaded the new 2015 track to my Garmin, but I'm wondering if cue sheets for the re-route to Wamsutter have been posted anywhere? I've looked around (tour divide page, Topofusion, this thread) but I'm not having any luck.

I'd appreciate any input or advice. In the end, I can just follow the track, but I like to use cue sheets too to keep my mind busy.

Happy trails, Nick

Cue Sheets are still pending.  Matt told me a couple of days ago they'd be coming asap.
I'm leaving as a SOBO ITT in about 30 minutes so assume that I'll see them show up in email before I need them in Wyoming.

I'm in transit to Banff and missed out on seeing Tiana today by about an hour, I'd guess.  Your mud theory is probably a pretty good one, now that I think about it.  It was a mess last year when I went through a week ahead of the GD people and it hadn't rained lately.  It's been intermittently rainy around Montana the last couple of days and was raining on/off as we came through Butte, Helena, Lima, Dillon today.  I see Tiana is back on course and still making progress at this hour. She might make Lima tonight unless there's other obstacles.

No news on Tiana, but my guess is that she is being smart and safe. Where she turned around was an almost impassible mud quagmire last year, after heavy overnight rains.

What is (a) tick twister?  The only thing I've heard about removing ticks is the end of a lit cigarette or something.  I'm not from tick country.

Adding tick twister to my packing list (less than 1g in weight)

My guess is that because both are on the device and are very similar they are interfering with each other. Try moving the version one file off of the device and putting just the version two file on the device as opposed to using enable/disable with both residing on it.

Slowride ...

Thank you for the 'guess'.  I am paranoid about deleting something that's working, so I moved the V1 file to another folder that already existed on the Garmin.  Hopefully, effectively deleted it.  When I went back to the map, the V2 file was automatically enabled and I see roads, contours, etc when sampling a few spots.  Should be able to confirm more when driving up there this week.  I do see details at Wamsutter and at a way point I marked last year in MT. 

Thanks again.  I know the gps is supposed to be able to handle multiple maps, but I as usual not always.

fwiw:

I just downloaded the V2 .img file to my ETrex 30, disabled the v1 file, enabled the v2 file.  See no roads, contour lines, etc.  Disable V2, enable V1, can see roads, contour lines.  Delete V2 on Garmin, download file from Topofusion again, download to Garmin.  Same result.  V1 looks normal, V2 'blank'.  Looks like file size is correct.

Anyone else see something like this?

For the moment, I'm falling back to V1.  Am leaving in the morning towards Banff to start my ITT on Friday, June 5.  Hopefully, I'll get some narrative from Matt describing the Wamsutter route and I can use that and the red line to get through to Wamsutter and on to Savery.

TIA

4 hours, yep.

FYI - thanks to John Fairbairn, we have a "v2" of the garmin .img file for basemaps.  A couple of tiles were added to the original v1 file to cover the Wamsutter reroute.  Thanks John!

It's on my topofusion/divide gps page (same place for the GPX).

Sarah,

Lots of riders go with a lot less level of backup (power and GPS) than you have. 

I bring the maps because I like the info on them and find them both productive and a pleasant mental diversion to read them and compare to the surrounding terrain and my ETrex 30.  I can't get into the mode where you just put your head down and blindly follow the red line on the GPS.

So, it will come down to your personal comfort level.

See you out there, maybe. 

My question is this: do I have enough backups in this electronics/navigation system? (I've thought through a number of ideas, and this is what I settled on; I just wanted to double-check it with the vets out there!)

Scott will you post when reg is open on this forum? I'm not really sure if I'm on any sign up lists. Thanks

Robert,
You are on the sign up spreadsheet at https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IlxJlEG7KjpgvjOQ13p_NBPw55bQHtg-8jhdlhY0Z6c/edit#gid=0

Also, did you send a 'letter of intent' to TD via either the contact page:  tourdivide.org/contact or by email: tourdivide@gmail.com?  I think that's what Matt/Scott use to build the list of riders to contact for Trackleader.

Good Luck,

One of the things I like about eating dill pickles, in addition to the electrolyte/cramp value, is that they clean your mouth of the taste of all the other junk you've been eating. 

Yes, lithium are available in AA and AAA many places along the way.  I got mine mostly at Walmarts.  Alkaline more common in smaller places.

Hi All, A simple question - probably to vets.
Lithium Batteries - for Spot and back up GPS

Are they available in towns along the way?

Particularly in petrol stations etc or are Alkaline the more likely common purchase option

thanks for your help
Simon (Australia)

I've watched this video a couple of times and passed it on to others.  Great attitude and perspective.  Now, have watched part of the Yukon trip.

Thank You  Iohan.

Back in February, in the TD2015 topic, Chris Bennet told about problems he had with the plastic tongue in the USB port of his "The Plug" breaking after some time on the trail.  Basically, it sounds like the stress of the USB plug bouncing back and forth was too much.

I've done something to help alleviate this, for my Plug USB port.  Haven't proven that it will work or not, in the long run.  Am attaching some photos to illustrate:

• Photo 1: The basic "The Plug"
• Photo 2: A typical USB cable plugged into The Plug.  The USB plug and cable stick out several inches before even starting to curve down.  That's a lot of weight on the internal connection, even at rest and will exert a lot of force when things get bumpy.  I can also see myself whacking that pigtail sticking out with my hand while riding.
• Photo 3: I found a USB connector with an L shaped USB plug.  It has cable that's about 6 inches long terminated by a standard female USB plug.
• The L cable, again. Purchased on EBay for under $4, came from Hong Kong in a very few days.  Search for something like USB A 2.0 Female to Male Down L Type degree adapter cable
• Photo 5: The L cable installed.  Sticks out less than an inch.  I also put a band of Gorilla tape around it to try to ensure it doesn't bounce around much. The pigtail cable works as a good extension cord reaching over to a Gas Tank or Feed bag that holds the item being charged.

I've taken it on a few rides; works good so far.  We'll see.
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Honestly, as a resident of Alberta, and an avid outdoorsman and hunter. The bear and wildlife thing is blown way out of proportion. Everyone is worrying way to much. Just make noise and they will avoid you. Think about how many thousands of people visit the backcountry in Alberta every year compared to the number of attacks. Just make noise and don't approach bears too close they need their space. There not out there to eat you. Come to Alberta and just enjoy the riding, and don't worry so much about the scary bears and cougars. Good luck to all the riders

Thanks for the vote for rationality.  The first year I started, I was totally ignorant/oblivious.  Over time my ignorance, coupled by info here and elsewhere, has spawned paranoia.  I have a bear bell, of disputed value, and bear spray.  Also, a whistle, for when it's 2 am and I feel really alone on the trail.  One of the hazards of doing an ITT.  Plan to just keep moving if I feel insecure.

Krampus Cockpit by mbeganyi, on Flickr

I have some profile aero bars that will work - they slide back far enough and clear the jones loop bar. Just haven't had a need to run them yet. And they will fight with all the other stuff jammed on there.

BMike: I have just installed Jones Bars like yours and am considering adding back the aero bars I had.  I like to watch my maps as I go along and don't have anywhere on the Jones to accomodate the ETrex, maps, etc without losing the hand positions afforded by Jones.  (the reason I went to Jones).  My headlight (dyno) is below the handlebar bag, on the fork crown.  I have a backup headlamp I'd like to mount on the bars, as well.

We'll see how badly my adding the aero bars messes up everything else, when/if I add them.

I'm looking for a generic small flat bag that can go in the little space provided by the 'loop' in the bars.  Under your Etrex, etc.  I've seen one online that's custom for this space but it was expensive.

Regarding snowpack in the Rockies: I drove through the Crownest Pass from Coleman, AB to Sparwood this afternoon and it seems really sparse. We've had a dry winter in southern Alberta and it was almost summer-like when we passed the Corbin road turnoff. Ski resorts have closed earlier than normal, the bears are out early - we're certainly ahead of where we've been at mid-April for the past few years at least. Some of Kananaskis had a dump of snow last week at higher elevations, but my assumption is it will be gone sooner rather than later.

And yes, the big truck is still in Sparwood.

Gary

Gary ... or someone who understands the bears in Canada or Montana.  What does the the earlier appearance of the bears bode for us later?  Have they had time to train to chase us faster? Or ?

Regardless, Thanks for the report.  I was worried about that green truck.

Hi,  I totally agree with the comment about the gps,  I did the same last year (I dropped at Butte).   The gps was fine.   I'm talking cues purely for the sense of being more connected with the route, and having some things to "check off" as I cycle by.   I know for me personally, that would have been helpful.  

I will be using the gps track as my primary navigation tool.   I'd like to use the cues as a backup tool, as well as a small source of "diversion" as I am riding.   My previous comment was simply wondering why it's not easier to have these more accessible.  This is a forum where we "discuss" the route.  But somewhere  (my 2 cents worth) there should be a place online where the definitive cues reside, and a sense that someone is keeping them UP TO DATE.   A file like that, say in CSV format, could include the various alternatives.  This isn't the first year the route will be followed.  I know there is always the chance that we might get sent in a totally different direction because of ongoing conditions and issues,  but if everyone had these alternatives (or at least easy access), then a change because of fire or whatever could simply be ... take alternative A  or something like that...

Anyway,  enough said about that.  I am obsessing about something that I might not even use.  

I use the maps, in a similar way.  As a means to see what's coming up, as a diversion when reading the cues.  Checking to see how well my gps mileage, bike computer mileage align with the map cues.  I can't just put my head down and follow the red line, as some do.  

The map cues for the route are available from Adventure Cycling in a downloadable format (.txt) that you can modify and do with as you wish.  I've read various posts in bikepacking.net of how people have altered, supplemented and printed/or not their cues.

The Adventure Cycling narratives (cues) are exactly what's on their maps.  You'd need to update them from the map addenda available from them.  $9.75 is not an exhorbitant amount for them to charge.

http://www.adventurecycling.org/cyclosource-store/route-maps/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/sp/great-divide-narratives/

Hi Everyone.
Wondering how many are planning a NB trip and what the start dates of people so inclined might be.
As for me I am still on the fence NB vs SB but would probably try for the same start date as the SB folks.

The current 2015 TD Start List will show you all the declared riders, including NoBo's.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnV6xT65HkPRdEx5eUtMaTZmVWQ5TTVlUlNhaFg2RFE&usp=sharing#gid=32

Is anyone from Utah or Colorado starting the TDR from Antelope Wells this year? I am looking to potentially share a ride to the start out of Salt Lake City or even Denver. Thanks in advance!

In looking at the 2015 TD Start List, I see one NOBO GD from UT and one from MT, I think.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnV6xT65HkPRdEx5eUtMaTZmVWQ5TTVlUlNhaFg2RFE&usp=sharing#gid=32

MTBCast call-in and monitoring is easy, especially now that there are apps as well as web-based.
Don't forget to go to MTBCast.com and make an appropriate donation.  It costs Joe money to gather the resources to provide all this to us.

888-866-4491 is the number. You can call in anytime on the route. Say whatever you want. If you head over to mtbcast.com you'll get an idea of how it works. The Huracan is wrapping up today so there are a lot of calls posted. You get three minutes per call but if you need to say more just call back and continue and I can edit them together. There's also an app for Android and iPhone. Just search for MTBCast. There's a call button in the app.

flanagaj,

If you're talking about racing TD, per your original posting, it has always looked to me as if the rules intended the race to be solo.

Look at http://tourdivide.org/the_rules  The descriptive header says "The Tour Divide challenge is based on one guiding principle: Cycle the GDMBR end-to-end, as fast as possible in a solo, self-supported fashion."

This is what first drew me to TD.  Solo and Self Supported.  As pointed out in earlier posts, look at all the ITTs (and many of the GDs) who have ridden the course by themselves.

See  you out there ...

There's a product I've heard of before called Cat Crap that's sold for this purpose.  Have never used it nor have any impression as to it's efficiency. 

Here's a link to it on EBay and it's available lot's of places online and elsewhere.

http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=catcrap&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=44765983545&hvpos=1t1&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=243893476968613585&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_1fxmdd5t24_b#