2011 Tour Divide

[Mathewsen]

I've avoided using Delta since they jacked their bike prices up from free/$50 to $200 I think now?
Unfortunately bike friendly carriers seem to be a rare thing lately.

as is the case with the people in canada, air canada are more friendly--and more posh--than us-based airlines. my flight from nc last year: $230, and bike tariff $50 http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/sports_equip.html#-bike-arch

[6thElement]

Yep, Air Canada looks to be my choice for the flight to Calgary from NYC, which is still a lot more than flying from NC! Westjet are the cheapest price for me, but the flight time just doesn't play nice. Returning with Southwest from Tucson is only $50 for the bike too.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Hello everyone,

I'll be a rookie at the TD this year - sent the LOI via the form and got the schizophrenic response, like many else. I'm guessing I'll just have to hold tight until that gets figured out.

I'm in Denver - would love to meet up with other TD riders from now, until the race begins to ride bikes, talk gear - all that kind of stuff,

[robinb]

as is the case with the people in canada, air canada are more friendly--and more posh--than us-based airlines. my flight from nc last year: $230, and bike tariff $50 http://www.aircanada.com/en/travelinfo/airport/baggage/sports_equip.html#-bike-arch

Another good airline to calgary is westjet - they fly to major US destinations. I just went to Phoenix from Calgary and they didn't charge me at all either way.  If they do charge it's $40-$50CAD. So yes, we must be nicer up here...

[BobM]

United is $100 each way.

I've heard of people disassembling their bikes, packing the parts in 2 bags, and saying they have "bike parts" if asked, but I don't know if that would actually work.

Bob

[BigPoppa]

I figured out this secret when I used to travel for triathlons.


Check in online prior to going to the airport and be sure to check that you have an extra bag. (The extra bag fee is usually $25-35 USD.) Then when you get to the airport, the clerk will see in the system that you have already paid for your bags and take your huge double bike box (all3sports cases rock!) without charging you the extra bike fee. Paying the $25 extra bag fee beats paying $150 for 60 pound double bike box brimming with gear any day.

Every now and again I have to pay the full fee but I've probably saved $1500 using what I like to call, 'The Big Poppa Method'. (Registered trademark of Big Poppa Inc.)

[DenisVTT]

Hi Denis, welcome to BP.net. Speaking on behalf of TD organization, Divide racing is intended to be a solo adventure, and not just in terms of gear. A pre-plan to ride with another is a 'complication' not intended--or recommended--by the founding challengers of Divide racing. It is not prohibited, but if you do plan to ride together, you need be that much more 'fundamentalist' about the self-supported format. Even if you only collude for comparison's sake on gear list selection, you probably ought declare yourself ineligible to share items mid-race, simply b/c of your intent to remain together.

Above I say, 'declare yourself', because TD hopes to avoid being in the biz of declaring this for you, hairsplitting the nuances of good samaritanism. As the saying goes, 'no man is an island', and this is probably more true for the grand depart, but it's still important to conduct yourself as if one; for the physical challenge, but also the mental frontier. If you wouldn't ordinarily take on a challenge like TD unless you could do it with a buddy, my advice would be to think about fast-touring the route together and share as much as you like, not be concerned with any rules.

Hi Matthew. Thanks for the info. I also got some additional info via PMs from a member. Seems like riding the entire route with a friend may not be in the spirit of the race. I'll discuss that with her and we'll see if we want to pursue that idea with the "fundamentalist" approach, or maybe just go our complete separate ways, which might be best.

[BTW, I met you at the screening of Ride The Divide in Arlington, VA. I was the guy who asked about Dave Blumenthal and had ridden the SM100 a few times. We talked for a few moments after the screening, and you encouraged me to enter the race. This is all your fault! ]

[DenisVTT]

was curious what folks have done getting their bikes up there as well.

I put my bike in one box and the wheels in another, and all my stuff. At the Delta Counter I told them the two boxes were "one Bike" and so they charged me for one bike. Needlesstosay, pack the bike well, esp the derailluer and spokes

So what do people do with their bike box(es) when they get to Calgary? Obviously, you can't take it with you all the way to AW, but you'll still need it out of Tucson. Those things ain't exactly cheap.

[MrWaves]

Box your  bike with cardboard bike boxes from your local cycle shop - recycle in Bannf then get some new cardboard boxes at the other end. Don't know about Phoenix, but no prpoblem getting boxes in El Passo. Oh and if you go on a greyhound bus you need to box it too - but that can be done more roughly with cardboard and tape from a local store. (I rode the route - not racing last year)

[BobM]

So what do people do with their bike box(es) when they get to Calgary? Obviously, you can't take it with you all the way to AW, but you'll still need it out of Tucson. Those things ain't exactly cheap.

Stephen Huddle had to find someone to carry his box back from Banff last year as he got a nasty surprise when the Canadian Post Office said it was too big to mail.  Most others use cardboard.

[BobM]

Hi Matthew. Thanks for the info. I also got some additional info via PMs from a member. Seems like riding the entire route with a friend may not be in the spirit of the race. I'll discuss that with her and we'll see if we want to pursue that idea with the "fundamentalist" approach, or maybe just go our complete separate ways, which might be best.

[BTW, I met you at the screening of Ride The Divide in Arlington, VA. I was the guy who asked about Dave Blumenthal and had ridden the SM100 a few times. We talked for a few moments after the screening, and you encouraged me to enter the race. This is all your fault! ]

There have been others in the recent past who have formed partnerships or groups from the beginning or nearly so that persisted until the finish, but it's a bit less of a race that way since no 2 people are going to be evenly matched along the entire length of the route.  You might want to avoid a major pre-decision on the matter - just pack as though you will be on your own, start riding together from Banff, and see what happens.

Bob

[LyndaW]

curious what folks have done getting their bikes up there as well.

Look into bikeflights.com I've had good experiences with them They pick up from your house (very nice) and will drop your bike off on the specified day at a bike shop, hotel etc. They were on the ball. Cheaper and less hassle than on the plane with you PLUS you can pack enough stuff in the bike box you can go on the plane carry on only as the weight/size limit on shipping is much higher than on the plane. So you save $ and hassle by not checking a bag on the plane. I've only shipped in US so Canada may be diff.

LW

[6thElement]

Is it wrong that on my training ride yesterday I deliberately hunted out steep roads which hadn't been plowed so I had to push through 12" of powder?

[BobM]

Is it wrong that on my training ride yesterday I deliberately hunted out steep roads which hadn't been plowed so I had to push through 12" of powder?

That's insane.  Congratulations, you are developing the right mindset for this event.

Bob

[sluttyduck]

Stephen Huddle had to find someone to carry his box back from Banff last year as he got a nasty surprise when the Canadian Post Office said it was too big to mail.  Most others use cardboard.

Yes we can do heart transplants land on the moon and make cinnamon dental floss yet the Canadian PST office can't ship a bike box to Ohio.

[Marshal]

Is it wrong that on my training ride yesterday I deliberately hunted out steep roads which hadn't been plowed so I had to push through 12" of powder?

Well, it sort of depends on what type of shoes you were using--regular light weight summer ones with no over boots are ok, warm /logical/ winter shoes do not count however

[Markley]

What is a good gps to use for the Tour? Suggestions and advice welcome.

[DenisVTT]

I noticed that 4 people are lined up to start in AW, rather than the more traditional GD in Banff. Is AW also considered a GD? Is there any difference in terms of results, GC, etc?

Aside from the relative difficulty of having to read the maps backwards, any reason why it should be more (or less) challenging?

[Blackhound]

Any tire recommendations?  Struggling to get WTB nano's in the UK (available in April but could be delayed, and I want to be organised early).  Can get Maxxis and Specialized easily enough amongst others.

After 29'er tubeless versions.  Thanks.

[sigma7]

I'm planning ITTing the TD in 2011. Any other requirements except recording the trip using a GPS device? I'll use my 60CSx.


-- sigma7