The entries form we do each year for The Cordillera is now live at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEj2bcjUvb5CpKMwfVm10YQ4xPlSPfO0iUGPAb-xxVLrXh2g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please use the above form for entering your details.

The sheet showing who is already lining up is here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IgxHE2PXG122kfBuSvN9shEE8017nph45erhZC8UztU/edit?usp=sharing

(Note: You can't enter directly in the sheet - please use the form)

  Dave - is there a sheet for 2023?

Parks Canada is quite happy with TD and the way the start waves were executed in 2022.  It's primarily Fernie SAR that wasn't pleased with the event. Matthew has worked hard to communicate with them and make sure they are OK with the event in 2023. As far as I've heard he's been successful.

Scott, from what I saw, much of the problem was riders going into an isolated area, that's relatively high altitude, when they really were not sufficiently prepared to do that by their mountain skills or their equipment.

The section from Fernie to the US Border is about 110miles, with two passes at around 5,600' and then Galton Pass at 6,200'.

At this stage on the 2nd or third day of the ride, people were taking decisions to push into areas that they were ill-prepared for.  That is borne out by the statistics of people that got "pulled out", not because they were injured but has simply got into a place they were not prepared for.

The way our community needs to help with this is to encourage riders to be 'more skilled' or 'more prepared' by understanding better what they are getting into, by carrying more wet-weather and cold-weather gear but probably most importantly having the knowledge and skills to wait it out (perhaps in Fernie), or by having all the low-level escape routes in their knowledge so that if needed they could always be in a safer space.


It's going to be a difficult time on 9th 10th 11th June 2023 when the riders are going though that area again, to be kind to those services that helped out so much in 2022 and to show that we, as a community, have dealt with this.  Of course it's not only Banff to about Sealy Lake that has these hazards.  There are so many other tough sections, high altitudes, isolated areas, lack of services and potential bad weather.  These are similar and different hazards all the way along the entire 2,700 miles but we must show to the outside world that we have the skills and equipment to be prepared.

We need to do everything we can.

Chris

KiwiDave

Are you putting up the usual Google Sheet signup thing?  The UK racers use that to contact each other

Cheers
Chris

Scott,

any idea when the TL signup page will be up?  Most of us are slowly moving closer and closer to our flights

Ta

Chris

That sounds like the same re-route that was in 2018?

Looking forward to getting the route and sorting out all the GPS stuff, especially since form the UK it's going to be a real rush, working this week then flying out!

It's a real shame too the Trackleaders no longer has GoogleMap or GoogleSatalite views. It was miles better when it did.  I know the reason is that Scott said it cost too much to pay the Google licence.  I wonder what we'd have to pay to restore it

Chris

https://www.instagram.com/p/BvbU8UGF2dl/?utm_source=ig_web_options_share_sheet

Managed to catch up with Stu at about 7pm tonight.  He was at Askrigg, just about to eat at the pub.  Then as I left he was off in the dark up Cam Road to try and finish at Arnside around 2am.  Been struggling with the wind a lot, especially today, and a very cold night last night.  In great spirits though!
  

Hopefully he will be the first person to ride the entire route.

For those watching, Stu Taylor set off yesterday, (I think around 2pm) on his ITT. Follow him and encourage him at www.trackleaders.com

25th and 26th Aug is the Yorkshire Dales 200.  Not really a race but just a chance to see what you can do in some of the best riding in the UK.

http://riderscyclecentre.com/yorkshiredales-200-thats-200kms/

The event is always a small one, with a real friendly bunch, and especially Stuart (genuinely the best mechanic that you can let loose on your bike).  Just drop Stuart an email and then rock up at his workshop in Skipton for breakfast and coffee before setting off.  Always a good event to learn stuff from him and other riders and perhaps a stepping stone to bigger things, longer events, as I found out!  Riders are given the GPX file that you can either put into a GPS or mark on a map then off you go.  Some nutter will probably ride it without stopping but those having the most fun will have a night out and check out cafes on the route!

Chris

Thank you to both of you.  That's very useful. I should be able to 'mock' one up before I go.

C

Does anybody have a tin of bear-spray they can photo and measure the can dimensions so I can see it?  I am trying to see the best place to mount it on my bike, and allocate a small space to do so.  Presumably there are not many different manufacturers.  From the UK and we would only be able to pick up a can in Canmore (or last resort Banff).  For planning purposes at the moment I've mounted a tin of deodorant on my bike but don't expect that will be very good at protecting me from bears!

Ta
Chris

Seeing the NH flag cruise to the finish, reminds us of what an exceptional racer he was.

The fact he did it along side being such a pleasant and inspirational guy reminds us we should all try to be more like Mike.

C

Scott

Do you think there is any merit in saving any of the previous fire reroutes in a GPS for future years, so that if they are "activated " it's a simple job for riders? Specifically next year......😊

With the latest tragedy on the TransAm being the 3rd similar incident that I know of, is it not sensible to introduce a rule that riders must display a flashing red LED from sunset to sunrise?

I know its a fafff and would only be self policing but we can't keep doing this. Both for the human cost, the waste and devastating consequences but also for the publicity.

C

Hi BakerJW

I can't seem to make any sense of your map.  There only seems to be a small number of points on the Montana part of the route.  Ideally I was looking for a comprehensive list, maybe 1000+ points of water, food, stores, etc

C

Has anybody ever done a list of POIs, a table of lat/long  --- for all the water locations, eating locations, stores, sleeping, etc?
A list that can be imported into a GPS would be very helpful

Cheers
C

I thought, and maybe I was wrong, that you can take anything that is offered, equally, to all riders.  You can't take anything that is available only to you.  That way you can have a hotel room, you can use a bike shop, you can eat at a bar.

You could call at a house and sleep in their house provided the owners would do that for every rider.

You can't get your brother to drive out and give you (only) food, but your brother can drive out and sit by the trail offering every single rider food.

Maybe I am being simplistic.

You can take a ride in a truck, but strictly only going backwards on the route

C

Cheers Andrew,

They used to publish them all on the TD website bt it seems no more.  Shame is that's the case

C

whatever happened to 'letters of intent'?  It is always interesting to read them and get an insight into the characters in the run-up to the start

C