Hey, I don't know if anyone has done this yet but I'm noting hours of operation for different businesses for resupply.  Here are the bike shops (let me know if I missed any).  If anyone has food locations and wants to post those, that'd be great.  I'm starting food tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll add them as waypoints over the next week.

Whitefish, MT Glacier Cyclery (406) 862-6446  M-F 9-6, Sat-9-5
Helena MT The Garage, (406) 422-5388  M-Th 10-6, Fr-Sat 10-5
The Outdoorsman in Butte, MT (406) 494-7700 W-F 10-6, Sat 10-5
Steamboat Springs, CO, Orange Peel Bikes (970) 879-2957 Mon-Fri: 10-6, Sat: 10-5
Salida, CO  Absolute Bikes, 719-539-9295… 7 days 9 - 6
Silver City, New Mexico the Gila Hike and Bike  575-388-3222, M-F 9-5:30, Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4

Boom...it's up!

http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide16

Tour Divide 2016 starts in 15 days, 17 hours, 7 minutes () -- at 08:00:00 AM (MDT) 06/10/16

I've always used Stans and have never had an issue with it sealing, bubbling, etc.  I change it out every 4 - 6 months because...it's my routine.  At 4 months I never see stanimals...at 6 months, I sometimes see them.  I live on the East coast...it's humid here in the summer.  My guess is that I would have less issues with sealant drying out than those in the west.  Maybe that's why I don't know anyone that uses anything other than Stans around here.  Stans originated in NY...Orange Seal in Texas.  I wonder if the two formulations were designed initially to cope with surrounding conditions??  Just a thought.

Yea, I was looking at those evo's also.  Pretty sweet weight savings but I can't find them anywhere in stock.  Decided to stick with my standard, Maxxis Ultralight's, 27.5 at 140grams each.  Pretty good weight savings over standard 29er tubes.

I am a bit of a weight weenie but I wouldn't ride with just one tube.  It's the one area where I'm willing to carry a few more oz's to insure that my ride continues. 

You may want to check out the TRP HY/Rd brakes. http://www.cxmagazine.com/trp-brakes-hyrd-hydraulic-disc-brake-improvements-interbike-2014  I've been riding them on my Cutthroat for about a month and I'm seriously impressed...cable actuated hydraulic at the caliper.  I've gone down a 2 mile, 8 - 10% gravel descents multiple times fully loaded with no issues with heat or fade using only a finger to pull.  The power rivals "pure" hydraulics (I ride XTR's on one bike and SLX on another).   Whether they'll work with you set-up is the question.

Time until start...in case you're counting

4,233,600 seconds
70,560 minutes
1176 hours
49 days
7 weekends
7 weeks

I've been flip flopping between the race kings and maxxis icons...both with protection.   The both feel like the roll equally well.   The only downside with the race kings is that they are a bitch to get on tubeless.   Once on, they're good but...if you need to break a seal trailside, no way,  even with co2 to get it back on.  The ikons you can.   Both great tires.

The sparwoods look good but not enough history with them to use them on the td....even if Jayp used them.

Interesting perspective...although, I see many past winners lining up in the Tour Divide, Arizona Trail Race, SmokenFire, etc.  In races I've participated, the AML400, CFITT, Huracan300 I see the same guys every year.  I'm a top ten guy and I go back every year.  I'm not even so sure that sleep deprivation is the area where most riders need to recoup from.  Probably wear and tear on the body more than sleep.

Also sustainability...I've been racing ultra races for the past 4 years.  In that time I see the fields continuing to grow.  It's not a churning of participants either...it's the same folks plus new people coming in.  There must be a reason for this.

Bottom line, if you want to sleep...sleep.  In longer races, you have to sleep at some point so this is a non issue.  In shorter races, you can go without sleep for 24 - 48 hours and you're done.  I like that challenge.  Others may not.  For them, there are stage races...which is why again, I see this as a non-issue.  Pick a race that fits you're comfort level and go with it.

I'm drawn to ultra races specifically for the challenge, mental toughness and strategy in the race.  Part of that strategy is sleep balance.  Ride for 24+ hours at a time, take an hour nap and go or get 4-5 hours of sleep.  Maybe sleep during the day and ride at night when it's cooler.  Some people are faster getting 5 hours of sleep, some are good to go at 3...why neuter the challenge?  If I wanted to race a stage race, I'd do that.   

I think the lack of limitations is what brings many of us to this sport.  My first thought reading your post was...don't tell me how to race.  If you can't or don't want to limit your sleep...don't.  I've got no issues with that.  Most of us are not in contention to win anyway, so race as you wish.

Tour Divide Waypoints.  I'm about to start creating these but if someone has them already mapped out (hotels, gas stations, etc.) I'd love to use them as a reference before I start.  If you are a vet, any establishments you had trouble with and wouldn't recommend?  I have the maps and cue sheets but they are a couple of years old.

I've also never ridden the TD but will this year and have been thinking about tire size.  Right now I'm deciding between Maxxis Crossmark 2.25 EXO front and back or maybe the Conti Race King with protection.  Having done multi days on a lot of different sizes I think the biggest benefit for me on a fully rigid bike 29er is comfort.  My thought is the possible speed gain you get from a slightly narrower tire (I wouldn't go less than 2.0) you more than make up from less wear and tear on your body.  At least that's my theory.  The crossmark also has a nice raised center section which definitely helps on pavement in my experience but the Race King is lighter. 

Thought I'd add here.  Got a cutthroat frame and built it up...pretty similar to the top model but with some lighter components (20lbs 3oz currently).  I've ridden it on everything from road, gravel, fire road and singletrack.  It works perfectly on all.  Right now I have 38c trigger pro tires running tubeless.  Getting used to the woodchippers for singletrack took a little getting used to but I can now fly.  I'll be putting on Crossmark 2.25 exo's for the Tour Divide in June. 

One thing about the bike...it's super fast and surprisingly comfortable...even on 38c's.

Good to hear Rob!

So...I just noticed it's 9 weeks til the grand depart.  I guess I'll throw my hat in.  Everything's booked.  Fully stoked at this point.  It's been a long time coming!

Barring something happening to Josh, there's no way JP and Neil can make up that much time in that short of a distance.  It's too much...even for those guys.  That was one hell of a push outside of Silver City by Josh.  He's held 8 - 10 miles since then.  Superb race!

It looks like JP and Neil picked up the pace.  It looks like Josh is around 7.5m ahead now.  It's nice that their trackers are updating at the same time

Holy hell Josh put the hammer down!  8+ miles ahead.  That's a huge gap in such a small amount of time.  If he holds this it would be amazing...it's already an amazing ride by all 3 but...yea, Josh putting in this effort would be legendary.

Honoring the sport and the race is to push until you can push no more.  On the other hand, if they all agreed at some point that they'd finish together and then one guy sprints out, that is breaking rule #1 in racing...don't be a dick.  

It's cool that there are 3 strong guys at the end and any of them could win.  You just don't see this in long races like this very often.  I got almost no work done today!

Personally, I'd rather go all out and come in third than make a decision for everyone to finish together and tie for first.  I'd find that hard to stomach.  It is a race after all.   It looks like they are riding right near each other at this point.  Come Silver City my hope is that they shake, wish each other luck and may the best man win.   But I'm competitive like that...