2015 TD

[simon cross]

I have seen a cream called A & D recommended on here before by TD racers. It is a nappy rash cream that contains lanolin and Petrolatin(Vaseline to us Aussies). I have been trying Bepanthin when I have any irritation but can't really say anything for or against it yet. I prefer not to get the "rash" in the first place. To that end, I have just procured some Ground Effect Exocet knicks and after a recent 3 day bikepack averaging 8 hours a day saddle time I didn't have the slightest rash. I think buying the best quality knicks you can will go a long way to warding off monkey butt. It probably won't completely erradicate it in a race this epic though.

Hi Dave , agree with the best knicks and importantly test them out. I never have issues on my normal riding loads but throw a few 10 - 12 hour days on dirt and climbing , camping out , things change!! Ground Effect make a excellent clothing top to bottom and I will be wearing it on the  TD. Enjoy the ACT / snowy mountains when you head down that way . cheers simon

[BobM]

Gary ... or someone who understands the bears in Canada or Montana.  What does the the earlier appearance of the bears bode for us later?  Have they had time to train to chase us faster? Or ?

Regardless, Thanks for the report.  I was worried about that green truck.

You can keep an eye on the big green truck at http://titancam.com/

[sfuller]

Speaking of Letters of Intent. Everyone that submitted a LOI, did they get a confirmation email that it was received? I never got one.

I received a short confirmation email when I submitted mine, which was a couple of days after the Solstice.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

... I have just procured some Ground Effect Exocet knicks and after a recent 3 day bikepack averaging 8 hours a day saddle time I didn't have the slightest rash. I think buying the best quality knicks you can will go a long way to warding off monkey butt. It probably won't completely erradicate it in a race this epic though.

Fully agree with your comments about the Ground Effect Exocets. Used them for the TDR and the TCR and they were brilliant. You can't get any better protection against trail rash.

[Marshal]

I'm glad someone else expressed anxiety about not knowing exactly what the race route is. I've been kind of embarrassed to ask and have been watching for something clear to come out before I freak. The closest I've found is the topofusion files linked from the tourdivide.org website that are labeled Tour Divide 2014 "official". I have the maps and understand that the race doesn't follow the main ACA route all the time, but I don't have a complete picture of what the race route is.

I glad to hear that Matthew will be sending out some emails, I'll be on the edge of my seat waiting for those. Thanks for all the great info that everybody provides here.

Unless this yr is different than all other years--Keep watching topofusion for a official (ML endorsed) '2015' TDR GPS Track. 

Again, unless the established protocol changes, Matt will post up "his" pre-depart changes to the TDR route on this site shortly before the start. 

In the end this will be the only route that counts if you plan to adhere to the TDR format.

[Hadfield]

Honestly, as a resident of Alberta, and an avid outdoorsman and hunter. The bear and wildlife thing is blown way out of proportion. Everyone is worrying way to much. Just make noise and they will avoid you. Think about how many thousands of people visit the backcountry in Alberta every year compared to the number of attacks. Just make noise and don't approach bears too close they need their space. There not out there to eat you. Come to Alberta and just enjoy the riding, and don't worry so much about the scary bears and cougars. Good luck to all the riders

[Mxhdroom]

Here's the Spray Lakes Banff trailhead (mile 0, I guess) today. Looks a little forlorn and lonely and obviously needs some TD racers to liven things up.

It was a great day in Banff, BTW. Sunny, 17C and little wind. Not bad for April 20.

Gary

[bpeschka]

Honestly, as a resident of Alberta, and an avid outdoorsman and hunter. The bear and wildlife thing is blown way out of proportion. Everyone is worrying way to much. Just make noise and they will avoid you. Think about how many thousands of people visit the backcountry in Alberta every year compared to the number of attacks. Just make noise and don't approach bears too close they need their space. There not out there to eat you. Come to Alberta and just enjoy the riding, and don't worry so much about the scary bears and cougars. Good luck to all the riders

Thanks for the vote for rationality.  The first year I started, I was totally ignorant/oblivious.  Over time my ignorance, coupled by info here and elsewhere, has spawned paranoia.  I have a bear bell, of disputed value, and bear spray.  Also, a whistle, for when it's 2 am and I feel really alone on the trail.  One of the hazards of doing an ITT.  Plan to just keep moving if I feel insecure.

[adventuremtb]

Hi legends!
Im currently planning my trip for 2016 but as an aussie who is terrified (Im talking seriously terrified) of spiders can you please tell me what I could expect generally across the race? specifically are there webs containing spiders across tracks? my absolute fear is not bears or cougars (I'll deal with these guys if and when) but a spider to the face is too much!

I know the southern parts have tarantulas which is probably ok if they stick to the ground?

Thanks for responding I know you are all BUSY!

[Hadfield]

Look up a video of my friend who is a bear outfitter. He walks around black bears all the time and has had no issues. I understand if your not used to something it can be scary, however if you respect a bears space they will not bother you. Too many stories out there that cause paranoia. Again good luck to all you brave riders, we will be rooting for your success this year. Friends website is manitoba Stickflinger bear hunts. There is a video on the website of my buddy walking around wild black bears. Oh yeah they are calling for a dry season this year unusually warm this time of year.

[BobM]

Hi legends!
Im currently planning my trip for 2016 but as an aussie who is terrified (Im talking seriously terrified) of spiders can you please tell me what I could expect generally across the race? specifically are there webs containing spiders across tracks? my absolute fear is not bears or cougars (I'll deal with these guys if and when) but a spider to the face is too much!

I know the southern parts have tarantulas which is probably ok if they stick to the ground?

Thanks for responding I know you are all BUSY!

Our spiders are not like your Aussie killer spiders.  Yes, you will find webs across the narrower portions, but our poisonous spiders, at least in the North, like to hide in woodpiles and such and are not very common.  Also no crocodiles, so no worries about getting water from a pond or lake.

[BobM]

Look up a video of my friend who is a bear outfitter. He walks around black bears all the time and has had no issues. I understand if your not used to something it can be scary, however if you respect a bears space they will not bother you. Too many stories out there that cause paranoia. Again good luck to all you brave riders, we will be rooting for your success this year. Friends website is manitoba Stickflinger bear hunts. There is a video on the website of my buddy walking around wild black bears. Oh yeah they are calling for a dry season this year unusually warm this time of year.

Definitely the fear of the unknown, coupled with anecdotes of maulings. Ten billion visits to the woods in grizzly country and a couple bad incidents in a year's time really is not that terrible.  If the grizzlies wanted to eat us those bear bells would be dinner bells.

[BobM]

Here's the Spray Lakes Banff trailhead (mile 0, I guess) today. Looks a little forlorn and lonely and obviously needs some TD racers to liven things up.

It was a great day in Banff, BTW. Sunny, 17C and little wind. Not bad for April 20.

Gary

Looks better than it did at the start in 2012!

[THE LONG RANGER]

I know the southern parts have tarantulas which is probably ok if they stick to the ground?

Double-check your shoes in the morning? I know at least scorpions like ta cuddle up in those.

Spiders shouldn't be a worry.


Porcupines, in my humble opinion, are the real menace of this route. Beware! their slow, bumbling, shy, and cowardly ways!

[pbarsom]

This is a very important tip for aspiring TDR racers that seems to be overlooked.  One thing to keep in mind while preparing for this race is what you'll do after you finish, wherever that happens to be, but especially if you make it all or most of the way.  We spend so much mental and physical energy getting ready to do the thing but, if these posts are any indication, little if any time thinking about how to recover from it, both mentally and physically.  That's how it was for me.  This isn't a typical adventure race that might last from a few days up to a week.  It's usually at least three weeks of continual physical and mental grind-down.  Given the fact that this event is front and center of our cycling lives for a year or more in many cases, and that the load put on brain and body is greater than anything most of us have attempted, it should be no surprise that what happens to you after you (hopefully) ride up to that gate at AW will be unpredictable.  Suddenly, the constant load placed on you is swept away.  All of a sudden, the one task that has dominated your focus is replaced by a kind of vacuum.  How your physiology and psychology reacts to that sudden change can be profound.  For my 2014 Divide Race I give myself an A+ for preparation, an A for the event itself and an F for planning my recovery from it.  All I could think of was how to do the event as effectively as possible, but not how I was going to taper off from it or what would fill that void.  No surprise then, that after three weeks I still wasn't feeling particularly recovered, physically, and that my mental side had started to slip sideways.  All the months or even years of build-up, then the thrill of actually doing the thing, then - BAM!, the bottom just drops out.  Your mind and body probably won't respond well to that shock, any better than they would if you were to do the TDR without any preparation.  Don't get blindsided by this part of the process.

So preparation tip offering #3 (after #1- perfect your bike fit and, #2 embrace the positive side of this event at all times) is to prepare not only for the event, but for your post-event recovery.  It's not just a matter of resting.  Ending this thing is a big comedown, no matter what the circumstances and no matter how thrilled you are with your results.  It needs to be as gentle a landing as you can manage, not like you've fallen off of a skyscraper.  My old skydiving instructor used to say "falling never hurt anybody, it's hitting the ground that hurts". Mike Hall probably could add some wisdom here, having spoken openly about his mental relationship to this kind of event and the ups/downs that can come with it.  He's certainly as qualified as anyone I know of.  So it's probably a good idea to have a post TDR cycling plan in place (other easy rides/events) and something important to engage you mentally (an important project of some kind).  I knew that doing this would kick my ass in all kinds of new ways and it certainly did.  I just wasn't prepared for some of them.  In 2016 I'll work that into the plan.  For you 2015ers there's still time to sort this out.  Good luck.

Peace

[tuhduhvuh]

Hi everyone,  I sure appreciate the comments and the sense of community with the input here.   Nice to read what various people are doing and thinking.

Aside from riding and working....   I'm still thinking of the idea of "cues" and "entertainment".  
This is completely aside from navigation.  Just exploring ideas about getting information about where I am riding, what I am seeing, what's coming up, etc.

A program I use for teaching lets me input GPS data and mess with it.

I pulled in the first section from the start to Boulton grocery,  and typed a list of random things
Like I said, NOT for navigation... just for interest

poi = {{0.1, "Trailhead"}, {10, "Bridge"}, {19,  "Spray Road"}, {27,
    "Dam"}, {43, "Dam"}, {51, "Bryant Trail JCT."}, {57,
    "Parking lot"}, {61, "Unnamed High pt, 1894 m"}, {75.1,
    "Parking area"}, {90, "Highway, Visitor Centre"}, {98,
    "Boulton Grocery"}};

and get this.....

I figure that would be in my phone and I could get a "section at a glance"....  
Takes just the time to type my list of "points of interest",  which of course would be different for everyone.
Any comments...?  Is this useful, silly, a waste of time?  Anything that could make it more useful?

I plan to simply make a list of a few points,  high points, re-supply, etc. and create a picture for each major leg of the route.
(also note, yes... I exaggerated the elevation by committing a  "graph sin" and not starting at zero.  But I did that on purpose,  it's more for perspective.  Just wanting to emphasize the profile...)

[Rorr]

Forget the Bears and the bugs if you want worry, watch out for the dog of NM!!

[THE LONG RANGER]

Puddles! There's a few puddles on the road!

(Actually, tell me if you don't course the nth cattle crossing)

On a more serious note, doing some research on the history of the route beforehand can help with the boredom blues. For example -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Slide

[megand]

I plan to simply make a list of a few points,  high points, re-supply, etc. and create a picture for each major leg of the route.

Tom, I've done something pretty similar - when I'm riding a set route, I really like having a visual idea of the elevation profile ahead, and I find it much easier to understand when I'm tired than numbers or words.  Mine mostly has camping spots, and water/supply spots marked on it though, as well as passes.  Colour coded lines for different stuff

Also, the National Weather Service 3-month outlook is here: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/seasonal.php?lead=2  - hot and muddy this year? The chicken entrails I was consulting earlier suggested hot and dry.

[BobM]

May-June-July El Nino precipitation forecast says WET:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/lead01/off01_prcp.gif

M-J-J El Nino temps say a little warmer than usual:

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/lead01/off01_temp.gif