2011 Tour Divide

[Mathewsen]

I used Body Glide on the CTR last year, and I got some serious butt chafe anyway. I'm testing alternatives. Have you used it successfully for long rides in the past?

viscosity need to be off the charts for multi-day rides. and fairly water resistant. especially if you carry a backpack or use a less-than-broken-in saddle. A&D ointment works for me. It's ultralight and ubiquitous on the GDMBR.

[BobM]

re:chafing, it might be a bit of a "doh" statement, but make sure your shorts/chamois fit perfectly and have no hot spots.  Start of TD = bad time to try new shorts, IMO.

Bob

[robinb]

In the past, the narratives were not an official product, just a bro-deal extended to Divide racers by Carla. Now that is has a skew#, the way they're managed may change. They will certainly gain priority if we buy and buy often! (ie. commodotize them).

I hope this is the case.  Last year I got my 'bro-deal' narratives and the 2A map that is supposed to take you right to Flagg Ranch ended at mile 239 - not 265, so I was missing the last 20 miles of cues.  I caught this by cross referencing maps/electronic cues pre-race so not a big deal - but it did make me a bit nervous for the quality.

I hope now that we pay, there is more QA around the electronic cues.

Any idea if they are considering giving the electronic cues for the alternates as well?

[6thElement]

In the past, the narratives were not an official product, just a bro-deal extended to Divide racers by Carla. Now that is has a skew#, the way they're managed may change. They will certainly gain priority if we buy and buy often! (ie. commodotize them). Care to comment Casey?

If you are prospective rider waiting on a map, my advice is to buy the narratives now (which do not come with services info), so you can be working on your custom sheets (to actually race by). If you're a narratives paying customer, it's likely you can get an updated version of the narratives once changes are made. As the product evolves, perhaps ACA will extend some sort of 'track changes' addenda-style system for the files similar to what employ for maps.

As soon as I got the answers from Casey I got the Canada map and narratives ordered

[caseygreene]

The way we have it set up, if you order the narratives now you'll get the o09 version. You'll have to order it again when the maps come out in April to get the o11 version. We are not going to put route changes for the o11 maps on the o09 addenda.

Speaking of route changes, it seems at this point that there will not be too many. And, most of them are smallish.
The 2 exceptions are:
1) on section 5 North of Grants, there may be a decent size route change.
2) on section 1 between Wise River and Polaris, I'm investigating some rerouting to get the GD off the paved Pioneer Scenic Byway (which use to be a dirt road) as much as possible.

[mcmurv]

What about the gps files?  Will these be updated with the new maps etc? 

[caseygreene]

What about the gps files?  Will these be updated with the new maps etc? 

yup, the gps files will be updated as well.

[6thElement]

What about the gps files?  Will these be updated with the new maps etc?  

Depends if you're referring to the ACA waypointed gps files or the track version Scott provides. For the latter you're on your own.

[Mathewsen]

...2) on section 1 between Wise River and Polaris, I'm investigating some rerouting to get the GD off the paved Pioneer Scenic Byway (which use to be a dirt road) as much as possible.

This would be awesome Casey. I have thought hard on this and short of skipping Wise river altogether it seems tough to parallel PSB all the way to Polaris. Are you looking at going up Quartz Hill Rd off 43? It would be neat to find a way thru the Pioneers to Badger Pass/278 and simply roll straight across onto the Bannack bench.

[Mathewsen]

re:chafing, it might be a bit of a "doh" statement, but make sure your shorts/chamois fit perfectly and have no hot spots.  Start of TD = bad time to try new shorts, IMO.

This is good advice Bob. It's these little details that can 'chinese-torture' you out there. I fight the chamois migration problem by using bibs. Hot spots can also be caused by improper saddle pitch; always a challenge when allowing for TTbar positioning.

Re. TD as a bad time for novelty, here again is TD's version of the tired, but timeless (self-support) rant:
For all the guys (n' gals) who plan to show up for Divide racing having never done a multi-day ultra on their intended Divide set-up, you might be in for some serious trial by fire. Is this a bad thing? Not necessarily. It depends on how you/your benefactors/your family look at DNFing, and how easy it is to chalk up a suffering-induced early exit to pricey 'continuing ed.'.

The film about Divide racing, all the blogging, and the live tracking of the action continue to draw participants from outside the genre's core. This is OK. It is only cause for concern in the way the uninitiated might either disrespect the founding premises, or call undue attention to bootleg racing thru utter lack of personal responsibility. I believe with all my heart in the grand tour racing experience, so i will never try to inhibit participation (in theory). However, if participants are to get what is intended from the 'journey', a proven baseline aptitude/attitude/gratitude is important. This is part of why the return rate is relatively high. Nearly everyone desires to return and apply all their hard-earned lessons to a perhaps, 'more-joyous' suffering. It's very hard for most to clear a month in their lifeline, and why it's often said, if you only have one shot, wait until you can master it.

I'm not sure if there is an expression for types who target big challenges uninitiated simply b/c outside magazine labels them 'the worlds toughest', but maybe there should be. "Summiteers"? In fairness, it's even hard to iterate what about naive immersion is troubling (aren't we all guilty of it?). I do recall that as part of early Divide racing's idealogical struggle, talk of 'qualfiers' was about not wanting the unitiated to make a mockery of what Stamstad/Curiak intended by 'fun-touring' their way down the route well inside physical/emotional comfort zones. Food for thought, I guess.

[BigPoppa]

I used Body Glide on the CTR last year, and I got some serious butt chafe anyway. I'm testing alternatives. Have you used it successfully for long rides in the past?

Body glide is all I have ever really used and it has seemed to work well for me. Thoughts on other types of chamois cream?

Consider Lantiseptic instead of Body Glide, medical grade skin protectant for bed sores, etc. Been using it for 24 hour + road events.

Thanks. I'll give that a try.

How does it all pack out?  Are you happy with the final weight?  Ha, If so you are done to soon.

Pillow-replace with a stuffed bag ?

First Aid Kit
If you have a off the shelf kit I would consider tossing it and replace with something like:
Your choice of naproxen
A few small Band-Aids (for fingers etc)
Roll of elastic adhesive bandage, for a major wound or broken bone

Bike Kit:
Individual tools or a “lighter” multi tool??
Tubes, tube patch, tire plug kit—are you running stans? If so—light weight tubes, 2 self stick patch’s and your duck tape might do
Magic Candle not needed as you have a lighter for an emergency fire
Chain links?  1 golden link and your chain breaker should do to get you going
Extra hanger if geared?

Re-supply--might add some luxury/favorite food to snack on while you repack

Thanks for the input Marshal.

The gear packs out well. Im not sure about the final weight as I have all my Epic/Revelate gear packed out for snow biking right now. I suspect that it will weigh less than the winter gear, 14-15 lbs, by a good bit. I really want to be under 10 lbs when I hit the TD though.


Pillow- I just seem to sleep better and feel less sore with a pillow vs clothing. I just found this http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/flexair_ultralight_pillow.html and will likely be using it. I figure if I wake up more refreshed, it will be worth it. I think I read from a wise man that optimal recover is key...! (Besides 15 grams isn't a huge weight penalty for a little sleep luxury)

First aid kit- The thing was store bought a few years ago but it has been transformed into more of a home brew contained in the package. Only a few ounces at this point. I'll be sure to add the suggested tape. (Nice post by the way)

I am going tubeless. The items you listed are in line with my kit.

Multitool- Really this is a set of Allen wrenches, plus a few other small tools. I got that tip from Mr. Lee on these forums somewhere. (Lighter and much easier to work with.)

Magic candle, gone. (I think it was still listed from the snow bike gear.)

You're right about the chain links. I might take a few golden links though. (Maybe just an out Playin of the adage that rookies carry their insecurities on the divide?)

Spare Hanger- I'll add it.

Also I noticed that I didn't list bug dope. As an Alaskan I am ashamed....


Thanks again for all the input. If anybody here hasn't read Marshal's blog (doubtful), you should check it out. I have countless pieces of advice from it.

[mcmurv]

Matt:
All great points!  Would it help if we added some of our background when we submitted our LOI?  Other events do require this; Vapor Trail 125. 

That is assuming the LOI's go to you? 

[Mathewsen]

Matt:
All great points!  Would it help if we added some of our background when we submitted our LOI?  Other events do require this; Vapor Trail 125.

It might help assuage our concerns over 'trends', but it is not necessary. You can reserve these for your family and those who bear the brunt of your prep time, your absence, and any PTSD you may suffer. Ultimately everyone is on their own personal adventures. TD is merely a clearinghouse for tracking everyone, occasionally arbitrating, and maintaining the records/resources.

[BobM]

...I do recall that as part of early Divide racing's idealogical struggle, talk of 'qualfiers' was about not wanting the unitiated to make a mockery of what Stamstad/Curiak intended by 'fun-touring' their way down the route well inside physical/emotional comfort zones. Food for thought, I guess.

Always hard to figure out in advance.  Some folks with vast experience choose to cruise at a level well below their ability while those with no experience push themselves to the max.  If those without ultra resumes had been excluded in the past we would have missed some impressive performances, not to mention Paul Howard's excellent book.

Bob

[Done]

Always hard to figure out in advance.  Some folks with vast experience choose to cruise at a level well below their ability while those with no experience push themselves to the max.  If those without ultra resumes had been excluded in the past we would have missed some impressive performances, not to mention Paul Howard's excellent book.

Excellent words.

Edit: Thanks for the A&D recommendation, Matthew. I ditched the Glide and started using A&D in BV, and it seemed to help--but unfortunately much of the damage was already done. Do you use the white or "clear" type?

[Marshal]

Ya the TDR is a ‘huge’ learning curve for the less experience (in terms of self supported multi-day racing or extended bikepacking)  

But is there hope for the less experience? Short answer is yes.  

And if you are way short on background/experience but reading this thread in Jan there is plenty of time for study, planning and most important some extended/overnight ‘trial and test’ sessions.

One Example of how not to do it:
While I would not recommend doing it this way -Mathew Arnold, 7th place in 2010, 21:20:10 time—is an example of how someone with pretty much zero bikepacking or multi day experience pulled it off with just 3 weeks prep.  Hey, he saw the movie one night and signed up the next day—and 3 weeks later he pulled it off!!

Going for him Mat had a stronger than avg race bike race background, perfect but coincidental peak/timed fitness and most important imo, he expanded his naturally calm, confident attitude as the race wore on.  ie he successfully dealt with issues that would stop most of us in out tracks

Oh but man, you should have seen him during 1st week.  

Stuff falling off his bike, including losing his Canada section Map & Cues in the middle of Flathead, rack breaking and needing attention every few miles till he replaced it with a emergency ordered/UPS’sed seat bag in Butte Mt, white compression ankle length sox’s shredded on day 1, oh and I think he put in about 25 bonus miles on day 2 alone.  Not to be unkind but Mat was riding around with a bit of ‘determined but lost puppy’ looks.

He mis read his water and food intake and bonked hard hard on the climb to Richmond Pass.  We shared a room that night and some conversation.  Mat was mentally at the end of his rope but still hanging tough.  As we talked that night you could tell he was, and had been for days, way out side his normal ‘comfort zone’.  It was quite a contrast in that hotel room.  At that point in time I was ‘in the zone’ race wise, and he was relying on his fundamentally superior bike condition to barely hang on. If I had been dealing with all the accumulative learning issues he was working through I don’t think I would have handled it nearly as well.

After day 5 we saw each other one more time till he caught me for good, hundreds of miles later, right at the top of Marshall’s Pass in Colorado. We then rode together till Beaver Work Center and he was changed racer.  

Mat was now racing calm, smooth, efficient and with mental ‘balance’ and strength.  Truly a transformation.  

Mat still had some significant gear issues coming his way, broken pump and flats, that cost him huge time, but by Marshall Pass he was now a TDR racer.  Good example of passing a real ‘trial by fire’.

Mat's down for Duo RAAM in 2011 but if/when he comes back he could be a dark horse for a top finish.

[6thElement]

If those without ultra resumes had been excluded in the past we would have missed some impressive performances, not to mention Paul Howard's excellent book.

Bob

A Christmas present I'm halfway through reading

[Mathewsen]

Mat's down for Duo RAAM in 2011 but if/when he comes back he could be a dark horse for a top finish.

Yep, Mat is strong; he was a unique case. He'll be back. I'm envious of the kids who discover grand tour racing when they're young (and free). FWIW, he did spend 4 years working as a Big Horn Sheep researcher in Rocky Mtn NP, living from a backpack extensively on the job. He's also an EMT and worked for a living as a bike mechanic prior to TD.

[Mathewsen]

Always hard to figure out in advance.

Yes, hard to know for sure on the mental part, but not that hard to figure out the physical part by committing to ultralight bikepacking for a while b/f TD. Also, by testing a set-up rigorously, and by picking a year to go for it when you can ensure your life will allow you to be in peak physical shape (particularly if you lack an MTB racing background).

It has been suggested there be an A start and a B start, but i rather like that all line up together.

Some folks with vast experience choose to cruise at a level well below their ability while those with no experience push themselves to the max.

Yep, and going slower is not that much easier than going fast. Those at the back often suffer equally to those at the front, which is part of why TD always stood up against a time cut off.

It's really difficult to say what is 'the right stuff'? It's just important to, 'Do it proud'...with dignity. No whining either.

IMO conscription always has to be totally democratic b/c Divide racing is an open standing challenge; more than just the Grand Depart. The GD is certainly higher profile, so perhaps ought be held to higher standards, but maybe that's a slippery slope.

Regarding Paul Howard, although he was no MTBer, he was a grand tour veteran, having ridden the entire Tour de France route on the same daily schedule as the pros, but solo; part of his book Riding High.

[Jeff Tomassetti]

Yup, the maps will be updated this year in March and will be back from the printer and in stock sometime in April.

Also FYI, the 09 version of Map Section 1 (Roosville to Polaris) is sold out.

Do we have to wait until March to get the updated electronic cue sheet download?
Thanks!