Like my Joystick by Exposure, small and light. Have used it on handlebar and helmet, very bright 400 lumens.

I would ride any day with Peter D Kraft Sr, that is what TD is all about. Good luck guys!

Thanks Scott, its not official yet but he's out, back in Silver City. He got too hot on the first day, you know us northern boys we don't do to good with anything above zero.

Hey folks, heard from Wade Larson early this morning, he's OK.
Eat,sleep,ride...repeat
Mario

Hey folks in the Silvercity area, my friend Wade Larson (northbound) has been camped out at Black Canyon upper campground area for two days now and I'm a bit worried. Had a text last night from an other friend that started with him that said he had a bit of a heat stroke issue the first day and was thinking of scratching but that's the last info. Maybe his spot id not working and he is making his way up the route, but just want to make sure. Lindsay Sheppard is about to pass him in a few miles, so if there is a way to contact her, he rides an orange Kona Unit with red Revelate bag and camp in a grey Tarptent. Any info would be great.

OK! change of plan for me this year, I'm a non starter but I'm willing to double the amount in the post for "king of la Manga TD 2013". Since I would have been a northbound rider with C$ its only fitting that I raise the stakes a bit. Bounce if you don't mind keeping track... we might just have ourselves a real race this year! 

All good! Hope to see you on the trail!

Hey Doc,
If I were you I'd plan for TD14, it seems like you have a lot of important "details" to iron out. Speaking for myself, but I suspect that most riders this years already have all their kits packed and are ready to roll. My kit is probably versions 8 or 9, and I have been training with the full load for more than three months. Even with a good fitness base, poor kit selection will probably be a bigger liability then not having enough millage in your legs.
Mario

Hey Derek,
you might be on to something, going from Dawson to Whitehorse sound like a great idea. You get the hardest part done first, while the trail is still in good shape from the dog traffic. I was just talking to someone today about getting a bunch of local rides interested in doing a  test ride of the course on our own to see if it could turn into a regular thing. Find a few friends with snowmachine to follow in the back just in case or go ahead if the trail gets really bad, chip of cash for the fuel... We should talk about this with the local crew and see what kind of interest we have.
Mario

Hey Big Dave,
Just wanted to say thank you for the offer, we have a great community here on this site. There is three of us from Yukon going north for TD this year and we know how hard it is to get to Antelope Wells. We are flying to Phoenix and it took almost three weeks of email and phone call. Were all set, but i hope someone takes you up on your offer, its fun to met fellow bikepackers. Can you make sure it won't be too hot while were in New Mexico
See you at the start
Mario

Hey Flambert33,
Nope, did not start... The race was well organised again, large field of runners and skiers but only two bikes. The trail was very soft again this year, so the two cyclist ended up pushing a lot. I bailed about a month before the start since at the time I was the only bike and the idea of racing myself on my home trails and pay some guy $1700 didn't make much sense. I think cost is what keeps the NA out of YAU, we could have an informal race with locals from town if we wanted, the trail is packed for the Quest sled dog race and is public access. YUA does provide food, hot water, medial support, trail breakers but if you know the trail and are experienced in winter bikepacking we can do that on our own. Don't get me wrong its is a great race, often very hard because there is not as much traffic as the ITI, so the trail is often very difficult and the weather the last few years as been unpredictable from very cold one week to melting for the race. This year while I was training it was mostly in the -30c range the whole time and it warm up the week before the start to above freezing for a few days.

There won't be a 430 next year since it alternate yearly with the change in direction of the Quest from Alaska to Yukon and vise versa. If there was a larger group of cyclist for the next 430 I might give it a try we will see. I am racing the Tour Divide this year so I might not want to ride a bike after that anyway.
Keep me posted on your intent or any questions.

Reading Toby's comment on JayP's race camp and going back to older post about who should take part in TD all I could think of was the video:
http://youtu.be/UOXsmNhvPEU

"For those of us who have the health and optimism to ride the divide, no matter what the outcome, we are truly blessed."
C.R. Bennett

See you on the trail my friend.

I used JB Weld epoxy on all the welds before using them, still have to to for long a test ride. I have the same setup as you have and plan on using it on the Tour Divide, so I hope it will work. Last fall I went on a bikepacking trip with friends and one of the guy had one of his cage snap at the weld just like you are talking about, sure hope Salsa is working on a better design but that leave all of us early buyers with a bit of uncertainty when or if they will fail.

Yep! They sleep most of the winter, some might wake up and roam around a bit if it gets too warm. For most people around here bears aren't on the radar in winter, but with climate change who knows, it was 10c yesterday in Whitehorse.

The most important thing is that you went out and rode, plans always change, you have to go with the flow. Every trip we learn more about our skills, gears, the land, but the most important is what we learn about ourselves. On your second trip... just plan to have fun.
Welcome to bikepacking.

I'm in for TD2013, starting AW on 14th, riding northbound.

After a very cold ride Saturday night where my rear wheel froze due to ice build up in my BB7... a little bottle of lock de-icer.

Will do for sure, next year they won't have the 430 only 300 since the longer distance is only run on alternate years. It has to do in the direction of the Yukon Quest sled dog race that starts just a day before. When the dog are coming from Alaska to Yukon they don't want to have a bunch of racers going the opposite direction. Don't know if its any indication of what is to come but it has been in the -30c all week plus wind chill, its warming up today -26.

Have not been very impressed with the Warmers so far, had more fail then success, don't know if its operator error or bad batches. Was using the solid charcoal sticks that go in small metal case but can't seem to find the sticks anymore.