whoa. just saw they both updated about 5-7 minutes ago.
curiuos where erik was able to make up ground... especially if the weather is bad all around.

i'll wait for the topofusion instant replay...

The route is paved up to the Bannack State Park turnoff, so when Matthew hit the first mud, Erik was still spinning on wet pavement - that's probably where he cut most of the distance.

Looks like Matthew and Erik are going to battle the next section of mud together.  I bet they'll stick together for a while now...misery loves company, right?

And 2 riders together in hypothermia weather is a lot safer.  Kurt - what are their chances of making Lima before dark given the forecast?

Bob

Spot data need careful interpretation.  Matthew's Spot has not updated for an hour and a half, so he may still be in the lead - we won't know until it transmits a signal again.

Bob

Lima forecast:

Rest of Today
Rain showers and scattered thunderstorms. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds and small hail in the afternoon. Highs 45 to 55. South winds up to 10 mph...shifting to the west in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.

Tonight
Rain and a chance of thunderstorms in the evening... then rain after midnight. Some thunderstorms may produce gusty winds...large hail and heavy rainfall in the evening. Lows 30 to 35. West winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
   
Thursday
Rain and snow likely in the morning...then a chance of rain and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Snow accumulation up to 1 inch. Total snow accumulation up to 3 inches. Snow level 7500 feet. Highs 45 to 55. West winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Chance of precipitation 70 percent.

I made the exact same thing out of 3/32" aircraft cable from the hardware store (I already had the luggage lock).  I'm not too worried about a real bike thief in the places we will be stopping, I just want to eliminate "impulse shopping" i.e. heave the bike in the back of the pickup and drive off.

Anyone else planning on TTing the course down towards Elkford/Sparwood pre-race?  I will be heading down-course on Monday the 7th (barring unforeseen circumstances) and returning to Banff Tues and Weds.  Living at 1,000 feet I figure a little acclimation wouldn't hurt.

Bob

Oh, Yeah!!

Went for a ride today but I'm just not motivated to do any of my local routes - I wish we were starting tomorrow so I could stop obsessing about all the little details that I know will be meaningless once we start.

Bob

Just took a peek at the start list this morning and see that a fellow name of Matthew Lee has signed up.  All you folks who have sights set on a win had better go back and review your kit and strategy again  .

See you all in Banff!

Bob

I've been looking around for a parts supplier that I could call if I need a part overnighted to God-knows-where, Montana.  Does anyone know of a good, reliable supplier with a large in-house inventory and (preferably) 24/7 service?   Thanks!

Bob

Canadian maps in soon.

I emailed Carla at ACA about revised Canadian maps and cues and got this reply today:

"We’ll have them next week, along with the newly reprinted Canada map. I’ll email the text to you then."

Bob

P.S.  Just heard from Matthew that orders before next Wednesday will be the old map.

Thanks Joe,

I'm so used to backpacking in wilderness areas where there is no potable water that I can't seem to wrap my mind around the idea of gas stations, cafes, towns, etc.

Bob

Thanks Matthew,

As a route rookie I will probably carry my boat anchor of a filter anyway since I don't know which sources are really going to be there when I pull up (or exactly how much I'm going to need point-to-point since I won't really know the terrain either).  Big advantage for the veterans.

Bob

For what it's worth, from http://www.epa.gov/safewater/faq/emerg.html:

When boiling is not practical, certain chemicals will kill most harmful or disease-causing organisms.
For chemical disinfection to be effective, the water must be filtered and settled first.Chlorine and iodine are the two chemicals commonly used to treat water. They are somewhat effective in protecting against exposure to Giardia, but may not be effective in controlling more resistant organisms like Cryptosporidium. Chlorine is generally more effective than iodine in controlling Giardia, and both disinfectants work much better in warm water.

2 things to keep in mind:

I had an MSR Hyperflow for about a day until I returned it - the instructions (NOT the advertisements) mention that dropping the filter from 5 feet or so to a hard surface could break the microtubes and make the filter worthless AND you might not be able to tell if they are broken.  That was a no-go for me.  Don't know about Sawyer in this regard.

The second consideration is that I have heard a lot of feedback on clogging/slowing rates with hollow fiber filters.  Not always easy to get enough clean water to backflush on the trail.  Sawyer hints at this:

"Filter is fully field maintainable to ensure a fast flow of water; use the faucet adapter for thorough back washing from a household faucet"

Bob

Less than 2 months to go!!

Epic Designs bags arrived today and are installed.  They are awesome!  Now I'm having fun figuring out the best place for everything.    Is it better to have an even weight distribution or to weight it toward the front or back, generally?

How is everyone else doing prep-wise?  My cue sheets are about done, gear all here, all reservations made, training rides are progressing nicely.  I'm still having moments of panic that I suppose will continue until 9:01 on June 11.  At that point it won't matter what I've forgotten.

Bob

jakpak?

jacket, sleeping bag, bivy?

3lbs +/-

I'm glad to hear the tent and sleeping bag are detachable; could be a problem if they deployed while riding.

Bob

Hi all,

Paul Howard's book about his experiences in last year's TD "Two Wheels on My Wagon" is out.  I received mine yesterday and read it last night.  Excellent read and a great resource as well!!  Lots of info on the route and how people deal with the mental aspects of the race.

Bob

Cross-post from the "Bikepacking" forum:

http://www.ridethedividemovie.com/store/

$24.99 plus shipping - ships in May.  Just put my order in.

Bob

I have been to the states, in fact, I was born there 45 years ago in California. :-)
I've been overseas since 1987, but thats a different story.

Phil

And the governor of California was born 63 years ago in Austria, so I guess you and he are in some sort of exchange program. 

On a new topic, I was super excited to receive my Ergon grips in the mail yesterday. 

Hi Suz,

If you have not used the Ergons before, be sure to play around with the angle to find what works best for you.  I got mine a couple of years ago and hated them at first until I found the sweet spot angle-wise.  Now I get zero numbness except for the occasional 5-second shake-it-off variety. The leather palms of my gloves grip the Ergons so well that on reasonably smooth surfaces I don't even have to grip, I just rest my palms on the grips with my fingers lightly curled over.

Bob

Hi Phil,

First Aid Kit:

2 Immodium
a few antacids and Pepto-Bismols
dozen ibuprofen
half-dozen assorted bandaids
small tube triple antibiotic ointment
moleskin
couple aspirin
hand sanitizer
antiseptic wipes

That's about it.  In case of an 8-inch gash in the leg down to the bone I will cut my jersey into strips, bind the wound, and hit the 911 button on the Spot.  Other than that I just plan to be careful  

Bob

Oh, yeah - in case you have not been to the US before, almost all gas station convenience stores have quite a bit of first aid/OTC medications so restocking supplies should be pretty easy.