2011 Tour Divide

[iPhrankie]

Here is a Stan's question:

This past week, I had a slow leaker on my front tire and Stan's wouldn't seal it.  After taking the tire off, Stan's had turned into a yellowish liquid.  There wasn't any of the latex left in the liquid.  The Stan's was only about 1 week old.  I had just finished a pretty long weekend out in the hill country of Central and West Texas, where it was in the 90's during the day. 

Has anyone seen this before?   Is this the issue with Stan's in high temperatures I have heard of?

I've seen Stan's turn into a "yellowish liquid" after a CO2 cartridge was used. Stan's and CO2 inflators do not cooperate well together.

[mcmurv]

I've seen Stan's turn into a "yellowish liquid" after a CO2 cartridge was used. Stan's and CO2 inflators do not cooperate well together.

iPhrankie:
Ah, yea.  make sense.  I was using CO2 for a couple days to keep it inflated with the slow leak.  Thanks. 

[Rob Colliver]

Just a long shot for anybody living in Fernie or Calgary... I'm flying out from the UK on 26th May and am looking for a lift down to Fernie that day or the day after, where I can get a few hilly rides in before the start of the race. Any takers, and we can talk bikes and crazy events during the ride down - happy to pay gas!

Kind regards

Rob Colliver

[forest_on_bike]

Since I can't do the ride this year, I wanted to be involved in some small way. So I decided to profile some TD 2010 veterans who are racing again this year.

Since it's Mothers Day, first up is Cricket Butler. To read about her setup for this year's race and some stories about last year, click here: http://teamkaker.com/tour-divide-cricket-butler/

Happy Mothers Day,

Forest

[THE LONG RANGER]

Nice work on the phone-in interview, Forest!

Anyone in the Denver/Boulder - uh, Colorado area want to do some ultra-long days/overnighters together to, "Train". I was thinking even pre-riding the route, maybe from Steamboat to Salida. Partly to see what the snowpack is on some of those passes and the creek crossings, etc. And to do a major shakedown.

PM if you're interested. I'm in Denver. There's a 300 km this weekend and a 600 km next weekend the local Randonneurs are putting on, as well. I was thinking of doing it fully loaded and being, "that guy". But I'd rather ride more specific routes for TD training.

[DenisVTT]

Team NOBO (all 8 starters on the tourdivide.org list) has set its starting time for 9am in AW. Super organized group and there already is a good plan to get everybody to the border on time (it's going to be a bit crammed, though). We all are in favor of beating the heat, so might start sooner once we are all there.

Hi Roland:

Looking to book my flight to Tucson today. Can you tell me more about this group and whether I can join in to get to AW, or what logistics you recommend since the train isn't available? Feel free to PM or email if you prefer. Thanks.

[trebor]

Matt - can we please get the GPX?

Pretty please?

With sugar on top?

[russmcb]

Question:  I'm assuming that any route listed on the official ACA maps is a legitimate route, right?  There are lots of route options via alternate routes and it's each racer's choice as to which of these alternates he wants to (or does not want to) use, correct?  This means that for those of us using GPX files, we'll have to modify accordingly based on our decisions about these alternates....

[krefs]

Re ACA-designated alternates: Read the rules on the TD page - it's clearly explained there after a recent update.

------------
Challengers must always ride 100% of the 'main' ACA Great Divide Route as defined by the most current edition of the ACA maps. Previous map editions may not be used unless updated with the most current ACA Addenda.

Alternates: At times along the GDMBR, ACA maps provide cues for 'Alternate Routes'. No ACA Alternates to the main route can be used with the exception of the following THREE in NM:

   1. The 116-mile section between Cuba and Grants, New Mexico. The main route is impassable, potentially dangerous when wet, so racers have the option to follow the alternate paved route.
   2. The 40-mile section between Grants and the Pie Town road, through El Malpais National Monument. Zuni Canyon (main route south of Grants) is commonly closed for fire danger.
   3. The ~12-mile section of Continental Divide NST between Sapillo Campground on NM Hwy 35 and NM 15 (just North of Pinos Altos / Silver City) Item 3 FAQs
------------

Then there also will be the Gold Dust trail added for SoBo'ers off the east side of Boreas Pass...that'll be in the GPX file.

[russmcb]

Cool, thanks Kurt.  It's been awhile since I've looked at the rules page.  The Gold Dust trail is *only* for SoBo'ers?  And as far as we know, those 3 alternates are the *only* legal alternates, even with recent changes and new maps?  If so, this will make GPX modifications (and things in general) simpler.

[krefs]

Yup, that's the good word from Matthew for the 2011 adventure...no other additions, no other legal alternates, and no other exciting singletrack has been mentioned.

[naked indian]

 Good info Kurt. So since I'm nobo no gold dust

[Mathewsen]

Tour Dividians--Sorry for the indecision regarding the GPX track, but the snowpack up North is severe enough the Grand Depart might be forced to consider the original CA route (now the 'Fernie alternate') around the Flathead. This will be a big disappointment for record-seekers, but it's a real possibility. Only yesterday did the ridge of high pressure (warming trend) we've been waiting for build in up North. Trend is slated to last for up to two weeks, so we *hope* the normal route will be a go, but it's hard to say as of today. Certainly there will be an emphasis on Kurt's use of the word 'adventure' for 2011.

Challengers can expect at least a similar scenario to the past 3 TD editions on: Galton Pass, Whitefish Divide, Red Meadow Pass, Richmond Peak and Togwotee Pass; possibly even snow patches on Flagg Ranch Rd if things don't warm up soon in Yellowstone. Factoid: Parts of the Flathead rec'd more snow (SWE) in the month of April than Dec-March combined. Pretty biblical. This map says it all: http://ftp://ftp.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/support/water/westwide/snowpack/wy2011/difsnow0511.gif TD's brilliant attack on the Divide's beautiful/dynamic 'shoulder-season' hasn't looked so brilliant the past few unusually late Springs, but I still maintain that over the decades, it's the ultimate race window. Of course, insult to post-holing knee-injury is the fact that Monsoons (perhaps worse?) have simultaneously arrived early in NM. Sometimes it's hard to win on the GDMBR unless you want to forgo 60-min/day of daylight and give`r in mid-August. I guess we'll see how that goes (in earnest) when former GDR record-holder JayP gives it a whirl for the third feather in his NoIdleTour cap.

Alternates Clarification: The first two legal alternates (listed above) are optional (although the de facto 'race-line'). The third legal alternate is (bidirectionally) mandatory. I'll reword it in the rules shortly. It is mandatory b/c it will likely only be an alternate for one (provisional) year...until ACA gets feedback from Bob-pulling tourists that it's good-to-go as the main line for all.

GPX: Russ, there will be a NoBo and a SoBo version provided so that you needn't worry about making any edits.
Karlos, as a NoBo you are more than welcome to sniff (er, hike) a little Gold Dust, but it will not be required (or recommended). -->NoBo, it's ~2.5k of gain in 8mi

If you are on the TD start lists you'll be getting correspondence on these matters shortly.

[krefs]

Don't forget about snow on Union Pass. There's a TON of snow in the NW Wind Rivers from the sounds of it, and we even pushed through deep snow drifts in the Great Divide Basin this past weekend. That'll be gone in a week, but Union Pass could be problematic as well.

Union Pass webcam:
http://webcam.rangefamily.net/~snokater/

Togwatee Mtn Lodge webcam:
http://www.togwoteelodge.com/webcam.aspx

[6thElement]

Just got my map set today, section 3 and 5 were still from '09, is that correct?

Thanks for the conditions/route update Matt. I'll admit I was starting to wonder how we were all going to cope with those first few days and current conditions.

[Area45]

I don't have my maps with me, but I'm pretty sure Map #5 had the new graphics on the front. I don't know how different (if any) it is from the '09 version though. My Map #3 was '09 as well.

[caseygreene]

The Adventure Cycling Association sales department has a policy to sell out of old stock maps before the new ones hit the shelves. This is why you guys received older maps on Section 3 and/or 5. All of the updated service and routing data is in the addenda for those sections.

They originally wanted to sell out the 09 Section 6 stock as well but some folks (me!) were vehemently against this because of the new main routing and CDT Alternate outside Silver City. So, they decided to eat the cost of those maps. It was decided that there was not enough change from the 09 maps to endured the financial loss for Sections 3 & 5.

I do not agree with this policy, and we are looking at alternatives. If you guys want to leave a comment for the sales department, you can do so here: sales {at} adventurecycling 'dot' o r g.

[Area45]

They originally wanted to sell out the 09 Section 6 stock as well but some folks (me!) were vehemently against this because of the new main routing and CDT Alternate outside Silver City. So, they decided to eat the cost of those maps. It was decided that there was not enough change from the 09 maps to endured the financial loss for Sections 3 & 5.

I do not agree with this policy, and we are looking at alternatives. If you guys want to leave a comment for the sales department, you can do so here: sales {at} adventurecycling 'dot' o r g.

Casey, are you aware of the new Section 6 having the wrong route on the B side? It was pointed out in this thread earlier.

Errin

[6thElement]

I definitely don't agree with the policy. I thought I was buying the latest set of maps to avoid the need for addenda.

I can understand the need to not write off stock where possible, but at least make that clear, or give a lower cost option for the old versions.

[6thElement]

Casey, are you aware of the new Section 6 having the wrong route on the B side? It was pointed out in this thread earlier.

Errin

I just got the newest Map#6 and it looks like the 2nd page is incorrect.  It's still showing the old route north of Silver City but the other side, page 1, shows that you're on the 15 north of Silver City (not east).  I.e., page 1 and 2 contradict each other.  Not a problem for the SoBo'ers, because you'll already be in Silver City before you check flip over to page 2, but NoBo'ers take note!

Just checked my "new" 6 and yep, it's different. I'm already confused, which is the correct route?