I plan on racing the divide in 2015...could use some guidance

[Papajazz]

Hey everyone. New to the forum, new to bike bike packing, new to serious endurance biking. I'm a pretty active cyclist both road and mountain. Overall active and healthy person. I want to race divide in 2015. I want to be prepared both physically and mentally. Any advice this far out?  I figure I will just ride the hell out of road and mountain bike, do local century rides on and off road, and continue to educate myself about race while preparing for other races through the country in coming months. I would appreciate any advice regarding training, physical and mental, books to read, etc.  I don't want to burn myself out too far in advance but I want to be prepared for what I'm committing to. Thanks everyone. Steve

[Marshal]

Read the individual race threads for each & every year here in in bikepacker.  While doing so note the links to personal blogs, picture albums etc etc—click & read said blogs.  You will begin to identify racers similar to you and your goals.  Pay particular attention to the comments, advice, gear selections etc etc of the riders you feel match your capabilities and dedication level.  Enjoy your research—I think this is part of the overall experience—IE great winter time fun and for me part of the motivation to get out and test & ride.

Consider all aspects of the TDR—do you want to fast-tour it, do you want to ITT it, do you want to race hard core-max your personal ability, do you want to ride with others or keep to yourself, do you want to follow the TDR rule set to the max or will you pick & choose which rules to follow.  Mentally try on every approach/aspect and then begin to settle & focus on the ‘style’ that fits YOU best. IE: immerse yourself as best you can pre-race, test your perspectives against the whole experience and then, not to be cliché but be true to yourself.

Good luck on your prep------
Marshal

[Papajazz]

Thanks marshal

[james-o]

"Any advice this far out?"
Marshal has it covered there really. I think many riders that plan 2 years or so out may be ready to go sooner if they have enough past experience, it doesn't need to be thought of as actual TDR training in advance. For me, planning it for 18 months to 2 years could be draining -as you recognise- fresh motivation and enthusiasm is so important. So your 'just ride the hell out of road and mountain bike' plan sounds spot on for now, just keep that TD thought in your mind. My 2p would be to get a couple of 10-12 day minimum rides in this summer if you can. Going beyond that 6-7 day barrier is good experience for how you react to being on a bike for extended periods, as well as the kit testing opportunities it presents.
Good luck!

[bikemaniac]

Back in 2003 I rode the Great Divide by myself before it all got hyped. With a Bob Yak trailer. Summer 2012 I met some of the racers at Monarch/Marshall Pass, CO. There is a service station right there.

My advice would be food supply. If you want to go fast you need to get used to very very bad gas station food and you will constantly have to plan for food. Something which might be easy to acquire touring/racing in civilized areas.

Lucas

[BenjyC]

Papajazz: I'm planning on a 2015 Divide trip myself.

Early days on the planning front but I'll be posting up info as I find it. If you find anything magic, message me and I'll link it onto my blog....

http://banditsandbicycles.blogspot.co.uk

Happy trails!

[AlasdairMc]

I'm another 2015 potential. This year I'm going for the Highland Trail Race again as my main focus, and for that I'm just going to ride my bike a hell of a lot and strengthen myself mentally for it. I think a lot of training should be about the head, almost as much as about the legs. The temptation to bin it when you're riding local is always there, so I personally just need to knuckle down and enjoy the pain instead of giving up.

[Fitz99a]

Good morning.....I am assessing my interest in doing the 2015 TD as well........doing lots of research right now...challenges are plenty for sure, but still moving forward.....lots of info from riders that have / have not completed the route, and just about all of it is useful and interesting......hoping to keep in touch....cheers...Fitz

[Payton MacDonald]

I think that for me (and I suspect a lot of other folks) Mike Dion's documentary got me inspired.  But what I found out this year when I was out there for just five days is that it's a heck of a lot different watching a documentary film than it is to actually ride that thing.  Matthew makes it look easy.  He's just riding his bike and smiling and not worrying about the weather too much.  Can't be that hard, right?  I mean, sure you might get a little tired or cold, but you're riding your bike all day.  That's way better than sitting in the office!

I was prepared.  I had done countless overnighters in all kinds of weather, climbed hills like a madman, done several 3-day+ adventures, put in some 19-hour days in the saddle, tested and retested my gear, etc, etc, etc.  And guess what?  It worked!  After five days I was slower than I wanted to be, but I was hanging in there and my body and bike were fine.

But I just wasn't digging the race format.  I just couldn't figure out why I was pushing so hard and trying to get ahead of everyone.  It sort of felt like . . .  well, I hate to say it . . .  but it sort of felt like I was back at work, on the career ladder, competing, competing, competing.  Why?

So I bailed.  I'm going back next year, but I'm riding ITT and I'm going to excuse myself from the race format.  Marshal is 100% correct.  What works for Mike Hall or Jefe or other folks may or may not work for you.  My advice is get out there and ride, ride, ride, and find your own vibration and bring that to the TD.  Make it unique and cool in your own way.  I only saw Canada and part of Montana, but when it wasn't dumping rain it was pretty amazing.  I can't wait to see the rest.

[BenjyC]

After watching Mike's film I had it stuck in my head that I was going to stick to a 'race' format.

Things change, other plans take over and I was beginning to fret about funds for the trip.

I've since taken a step back from in depth planning and I'm going for a much leisurely 6 week trip starting end of August 2015. Just me, my tent and my bike. Funds wise I'll book my flights in February then go on whatever is in the bank at the time.

I'm looking forward to just waking up and pedaling my bike 

[BenjyC]

Oh! And gears rather than singlespeed!

[bakerjw]

Great post Payton! It is good to hear that good preparation pays off.

It is my hope to tour the beginning several hundred miles for a week or 2 next July/August just to see what it is like. It might be a massive fail on my part or not even be something for me, but I'll never know without at least trying.

All that said, I am building a bike specifically for a TD tour and possibly a 2016 full race. Once the bike is built, I will load it with a simulated full race load and that is my bike to ride until I get to Banff and head south, hopefully with another person or 2. When I go do mountain climb, decent, repeat training rides, I'll be on the equipment that I'll be using and will be able to work out mechanical kinks.

FWIW, when, and the obligatory if, I ever attempt the race, I will only be racing against myself in my head. To me, the goal is to finish.