This thing has been abnormally quiet for less than a month out!!! Looking forward to getting back out there. Hoping for good weather, fun trails, and high fives along the way!! Anyone up for some sightseeing/exploring pre GD? Im getting in tuesday evening, 11th. Would love to see a few things around town.

At the moment my bike frame is cracked......soooo im thinking of happier thoughts while not being able to ride. haha... Hopefully Giant comes through!

Good luck to everyone finalizing their plans and training. See you soon!

Signed up! See everyone at the start.

Bon, it helps to read all the threads. haha. I  must have missed that yesterday skimming through. Schweeet!!

Different route yes, but unless it adds significant mileage and/or elevation change then the record is what it is. It didn't seem to me, watching, that the times were much different across the board. So many factors go into "racing"... weather and the like, hard to compare year to year anyways.

That being said, a buddy sent me a post saying that the bridge between Elkford and Sparwood was fixed. Maybe no KoKo? I was sorta looking forward to a different route from 2014.

I bought a $9.99 saddle from Lidl, a grocery store.... mostly as a test to prove to my wife that sometimes quality costs money.... I was wrong. I think i have like 15 saddles in my shed from all the brands. I too like WTB, they make a great saddle, but after 1000+ miles on my $9 saddle, im still using it, and its held up to the abuse. Going to keep rocking it.

Try'em till you find one I guess. Most good shops have demo or test saddles in stock. Good luck.

Evdog.... No not to the border that day. Staying in a hotel in Sierra Vista, I was planning on just riding to the start the day before. Its not that bad of a ride, last hill slightly steep. One less day of hotel cost. haha. I know he brought people to the start in 2017,  But you would have to ask him. Im going for the Triple Crown Challenge, so have to start on the GD. I really wanted to ITT as well, until i read about the starting on the GD part...booo... same week should count!!

nelsjustin... I just threw on a 2.35 Ardent Race, and so far have been very happy with it (only 300 miles or so). Most likely same setup im running now for the AZT, 2.35 ARace Front and Ikon Rear.

Big Ben... Im a VA SS too. Up North of Charlottesville. I rode the TD on a 34x18 in 2014. Most likely will be riding it on 32x18 0r 16 this year. Might jump back up to a 34. but waiting till May.. after AZT to change over/decide that. We are never in the right gear... haha. Youll walk some stuff, youll spin out on occasion but i found those ratios to be about the best all around for me.

Training for the TD... go find gravel roads, fireroad or a combination of ST and those. Stokesville area is nice if you live close to there. Good luck!

Landsharkbrian... Mark from Sun and Spokes is picking me up at the airport and has a few more spots available for that day. Im flying in mid day tuesday. Can't say enough about him and his shop!

Hey guys! Im flying in to Tuscon on Tuesday April 16th. Anyone driving to Sierra Vista that day or the next that can shuttle a body? Im shipping my bike out to Sun and Spokes before I leave, so it will just be me. Or split a shuttle?

In once again. Looking at plane tickets now. Glad to see so many other singlespeeders signing up!!! See ya at the start.

 In reply to above... definitely check out all the previous TD threads. A wealth of knowledge on there from other vets of the race. If you have a question, its probably been asked and answered. Good luck with the training!! 

Brand new ! Never mounted white/black Lauf fork for sale. 15x100. These things rock.  only selling as I'm upgrading to boost spacing. $475

I rode a rigid in 2014 and had no issues with the fork. You could certainly ride a rigid, or a suspension fork. What I did suffer from was finger numbness from all the miles of washboard and small bumbs. So when Lauf came out with their fork I figured I'd give it a go, and haven't been disappointed. The only thing I would say, it's not something I'd take out to ride super technical rocky single track for miles on end.... It can do it but not as good as a suspension fork.

I'm planning on TD2019, and will be running a Lauf. I run a SS, so I am out of the saddle on climbs, and I love the throw back it gives me. It almost helps with the climbs. I was throwing around the idea of switching to boost.. So if you are in the market for one, I have a brand new never mounted black and white 15x100 for sale (I had two, still running one on my geared bike)

TD vet here, definitely in for 2019. Yes!!! Wondering if I need the new maps or will the updated amendments work still? Not sure if the route before elkford is going to be in play again for this year or any other changes to the course other than warmsutter.... 2014 doesn't seem that long ago but I guess it has been!

Also, good luck to everyone starting to prepare, its awesome!

Best not to worry about the snow..... As you have 2745 miles or so between Banff and Antelope wells. Whatever it is, you will just deal with it as it comes. One day at a time. Move forward and have fun! My guess is..... You will have some snow to deal with, But that's part of the adventure.

I bailed at Oracle for my first go at this. I really enjoyed most of the trails, but after crashing in the Canelos and having my two extra bottles come off the bike and lids open, spilling the contents -then biking about 12 miles w/o water on the very first day.... Was a bit much to overcome. Attempted to hydrate and get back into it, but couldn't keep any food down. Great meeting new people and will definitely be back out there.

For the reroutes, as I'm not a local. If one were to attempt the actual course. Would you realize it's pretty snow covered early or is it a 5 mile in -now I wish I would have taken the reroute, kinda thing. Generally speaking, as I know there are a few.

Looks to me like the road will be open! Hoping anyways. I'm stuck for the April 7th start, and leaving Flag on the 18th. I thought AZ was suppose to be dry and hot?!

Ron, I was just talking with my buddy. We were thinking the same thing. Calling on the shuttle tomorrow. Looks to be a straightforward ride from SV.

Ok, my buddy had some unexpected things come up and won't be back in Tuscon to give three of us a lift to the start. Checked with Home Grown and they are full, any other shuttles out there? I found one to Sierra Vista, does anyone know what sort of ride that is from there? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the pictures, after a mild February we just got hit with a big snow storm and single digit temps wind chill. Looking forward to the heat, or maybe not.....lol