maybe 22 gears is overkill

Indeed. According to this article http://normallyaspiratedhuman.com/?p=1337, Mike Hall's bike is 1x10.

I've heard some of the single-track through NM is pretty technical. Is Mike through that already, or is it coming up, crossing the Gila?

Hi everybody, I'm new here and have only recently discovered the tour divide.
I have been following the live tracker for a the last few days now and I'm just in awe of what these guys are doing.

Then I find out that some people can do this on a singlespeed......and they are placing really high.....!!! WOW!
How can they do this? What type of gear do they run? So impressed, totally amazing and quite inspirational.

Chris

I 2nd Chrisw's question. Last year, Marshal Bird (a TD veteran), who was running a 1 x 11 setup, lamented on his blog (almost to the point of depression) that he did not have enough top end for the flats or long downhill sections.

Those of us with no SS experience find this (a SS for the TD) impossible to comprehend and be competitive (yet 2nd and 3rd place as I write this are riding SS.) How is it possible to find a ratio that allows you to climb most of the grades (on a fully-loaded bike packing rig) and still have any speed whatsoever on level ground?

I know there are folks with SS TD experience here. Please explain! (Or should this be discussed elsewhere?)

Good point. Buy more at the next opportunity! 

Seb had a slight cold that turned really nasty and Rob got attacked by a dog. He has some really bad looking wounds on his lower legs.

From last year, I remember Team Rice Burner's "dog strategy" was simply to ride super slow until the mutt lost interest. Other than the natural response to try and outrun the dog, or wasting bear spray on it, what can a rider do?

Anyone know what's going on with Robert Orr? His dot has been stalled a mile from AW all day.

A post ride post about Lael :
https://gypsybytrade.wordpress.com/2015/07/01/keeping-it-real-on-the-tour-divide-with-lael-wilcox/

Wow, what a ride. Tough as nails. Hard to imagine Lael's record falling anytime soon - unless broken by Lael herself. What an amazing story - amazing person!

‪#‎TourDivide15‬ - Josh Kato called in from Grand Teton! Josh Johnson called in from Helena! And Team Rice Burner called in from near Lincoln!
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td15/

Josh Johnson's call might be the quintessential TD call-in!

  >>> Epic call from Josh!!! Wow. You must listen to this!

@ Gringo

On the MTBCast call-ins, there is lots of talk about stopping to clean drive trains. Naturally, I know how to do this in the comfort of my garage with bike conveniently hanging from the work stand (chain cleaner gizmo & cassette brush). How is this best done on the trail?

BTW: Thanks Get Mounted for asking about Rohloff/IGH! I've been wondering this myself from studying the pics. I was beginning to think the cost could not possibly be the main reason I'm not seeing more of them in use here.

[jun 15 005.jpg] is Brian Steele on the left & Josh Daugherty (my husband) on the right.. Thanks for posting a pic!! So great to see him

From Dallas, right? I noticed the Oak Cliff Bike jersey and figured it was him! Oak Cliff native myself.

What's up with the chick in flip-flops? Thought it was a joke at the trailhead but there she is again at Goat Creek!

Alex.C good job man! Thanks for posting the pics! You can see the energy in that pre-race meeting.

Can't miss Billy & daughter. Have any idea if you got a shot of Jill Homer?

Wow - gotta be a first, eh? Parent/child team on a tandem? And did Billy ride THAT bike NB?

Hello, long-time lurker here, with a question about fellow Texan, Billy Rice. He was/is signed up to ride a tandem on the SB   with (I guess) his wife Lina. On the Leaderboard, I see "Billy Rice Up" (I understand the yo-yo thing - OMG) but I cannot find and active spot tracker for them now. Anyone know how they are being tracked?

Cheers,
Gary