Anybody else seeing what's happening in northwest WY and Togwotee Pass?  Things are starting to get interesting in the lead pack.  SM and BS are making their moves.

Nathan - I need to be in Helena on July 16th, so leaving Banff July 12th doesn't give me enough time.  Maybe you'll catch up with me along the way.

Brian

Hi all - I'm planning on riding a portion of the GDMBR next summer, leaving Banff sometime in late June, spending 2 weeks on the bike, and then heading back. My wife will be roughly paralleling me and we'll be meeting up along the way every 3-4 days, but by no means will this be a supported tour. Speedwise, I'm planning on riding 12-14 hours/day and averaging 100 miles/day or more. That's about my standard pace out here in the PNW along doubletrack and logging roads, usually climbing 7-10,000' per day. I'm also not opposed to taking a shorter day every few days as well. Planning on camping some of the time, grabbing a room inside every 2-3 nights.

Just wanted to see if this aligns with anyone else's plans for next summer. Not looking to spend that entire 2 weeks side-by-side, but occasionally riding with someone else would be nice.

Let me know if you're interested and we can discuss.

-Nathan

Nathan - Have you firmed up your departure date?  I plan on leaving Banff July 10th and it sounds like our riding plans correspond. 

leaving Banff approx. July 10th and want to ride 100 or more a day...looking to hopefully, maybe, possibly finish in a month TOPS!

I'm leaving Banff the morning of July 10th and also looking for a partner to ride about 100 miles a day.  I'll be finishing in Helena, but could join you at least for a while through grizzly country.  You can contact me at brianremlinger @ gmail.com

Phillip, I tried emailing you earlier in the week about riding together.  Did you get it?

Brian

Any word on Josh Kato?  He's been stopped for over 12 hours in Butte.  Looks like rain for the mid-pack today!!!  Mike Hall might just squeak through the sticky mud zone without rain.  Huge advantage and time saver!

Mike Hall?  Riding with Josh Kato? 

I was studying the GDMBR maps and noticed it might be possible to continue along the North Fork Flathead River in Canada into the United States instead of riding over to Rooseville.  Anybody taken this alternate route?  Is this a legal border crossing?  Thanks!

I rode NOBO in 2014 and reversed a set of cue sheets beforehand.  I ditched those cues in Silver City.  What a waste of time!! I agree with Mike I. a GPS is by far the most simple and accurate method of navigating.  I also kept the ACA maps open on my dashboard as a reference and to help with a sense of what to expect.  See photo example.  Good luck with your planning!

I did some reconnaissance over the weekend and just wanted to let all of you Tour Divide 16 hopefuls know that the Brooks Lake/Barbers Point section is currently mud free...

Just did a replay from Silver City.  What happened at the start of the Separ road was unreal!  Can't wait to hear more about it from the NB, JK, JP.

Nice finish JayP!

No doubt Josh is having an impressive run but did you see the front chain ring on JPs bike? It's all pavement to Grants and he will fly with the gearing combo.

Afternoon headwinds between Cuba and Grants might come into play as well!!  Anybody know if Josh is riding with aero bars?  Didn't look like Alex Harris has them.
Video from last year riding NOBO on highway in Chaco Canyon...  I had a tailwind!   https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/juQwizcBXOSzLUqvaShFjQMDZJ6LPBFKDki7tWe6LGY?feat=email

Are any other desk jockeys not getting any work done?

This race is quite suspenseful!!  I've got my favorites, however I'm rooting for Bill Peshka to stay with the leaders!!
I'll see some of you riders this Saturday on the Grassy Lake Road. The Around the Rock Ride overlaps with the Tour Divide.

[Protection]

Conti Race King 2.2 Protection.  No punctures or sidewall issues for over 2000 miles of GDMBR including New Mexico.  I ran into about 6 other TD racers using the same tire and no one had any tire issues. This is a comfortable, very durable and fast tire with good traction for GDMBR conditions.

I started Northbound last year and pulled out of the race in Pinedale.  I enjoyed the quiet start and the fact that the services weren't slammed.  It was a little lonely though as I didn't see any other riders after the start until northern CO. New Mexico was generally dry other than a cold and wet night out on the Brazzos Ridge.  Disadvantages are that you will have no one (or group) pushing you along.  You will need to motivate on your own.  I had a headwind in the Basin and the southbounders had a tailwind.  It could be different in 2015.  Tradeoffs.  I have no interest in pushing a loaded bike for miles over snow covered passes and that was an important decision in where I started the Tour Divide.  Monsoon storms in NM were also a factor.  Good luck to you!

Morningstar Soup has been used in the ITI and at cold temps with great results.. Lubriplate low temp grease is another option as well.

Just had issues with my Mukluk rear hub at -23F.  My LBS said Morningstar Soup is no longer available.  They used a lightweight oil as opposed to a grease that is doing great in the -10 to -20F range.

...but alas, I was forced into retirement from the Divide by my kids, Branch & Alma (and their CEO mother), so if I am able to be out on course, it's rare enough I think I'm going to race myself ;-)

Hey Matthew - I know the feeling on my own level.  After running into Tim Hinderman (NOBO, 62 years young) over the weekend, I realized there is still hope for me to finish the TD and you to return once we have college tuition and retirement paid off.  Cheers.

Tracked Tim Hinderman in Grand Teton today while camping with my family.  Tim is as Tough as Nails and all smiles.  Keep it up Tim!
Photo attached.

Way to go Big Dave!  Nice strong finish and way to keep going.  It was great to meet you at the NOBO start and ride together to Separ.  Congrats!

[any]

I'm betting goatheads, for Walter B. Lots of people are reporting lots of flats. I'm thinking that for my non-racing ride on the Divide next summer, I'll go tubeless with the Knards.

Krampus - I rode Conti Race King Protection 2.2s tubeless and so did about a half dozen other riders I met going SOBO this year.  Not a single flat or tire trouble for any of us for many thousands of miles.  You might check them out if you don't like dealing with flats like most of us.