2015 TD

[RobD(NZ)]

Regarding the music selection... I listened to Ed Sheeran a lot more often than I thought I would... Particularly memorable heading up Priests Pass on the way to Helena. For me it was great to finally see an extended stretch of blue-sky and sunshine after the cold and rain of the previous days. Put me in a good mood. Not sure my singing would have the same effect on anyone within ear-shot;-)

[sthig]

I listened to bubblegum music and rap... a lot.  Happy music = Happy scott.  Repetitive music with a catchy hook (a la today's rap) = a metronome for climbing hills.

Yes, I listened to Ke$ha on the Tour Divide and am not ashamed to admit it.  You try taking Richmond Peak in the middle of the night with no one around and not listening to anything.  Man I was singing at the top of my lungs to some poppy music

[RobD(NZ)]

On the music front... I had a bluetooth speaker. Logitech X100. Light, good sound. Can't recommend it enough... the purists out there may see this as unnecessary noise pollution but I found it so much better than headphones and I believe safer - especially on roads where vehicles can come up from behind quite quickly. Good for letting large, hairy tooth and claw wielding creatures know you're coming too:-)
 

[RideLikeAlf]

Coming out of the Basin on the old Oil Company Road I stuck on a playlist of my all-time favourite Northern Soul classics. Man - that had me dancing on the pedals like Bert Contador.

Good to use headphones that let plenty of ambient noise through. I nearly got ambushed by a pack of dogs coming out of Pietown at night. I didn't see them until the very last second, and didn't hear their snarling due to being lost in music. 

[sthig]

On the music front... I had a bluetooth speaker. Logitech X100. Light, good sound. Can't recommend it enough... the purists out there may see this as unnecessary noise pollution but I found it so much better than headphones and I believe safer - especially on roads where vehicles can come up from behind quite quickly. Good for letting large, hairy tooth and claw wielding creatures know you're coming too:-)
 

oooh, I'm going to look that thing up!  Purists smurists... music got me through that race!

[sfuller]

I've been thinking about this a bit more over the last few days, based on Scott's comments. It's amazing what music can do to alter your mood and mental state. I know me, and it would be very easy to mentally torpedo myself with the wrong music at the wrong time, even if it's something I really like. Johnny Cash singing about being alone and forlorn in the middle of the Basin might not be the best thing.

[sthig]

I made like 8 playlists on Spotify, cached them all and listened HOWEVER Sean P had THE BEST solution which was two ipod shuttles (with tactile buttons).  Hours of music, always had one charging. 

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hi All,

To help with next year's Cordillera, I've put up on Google Docs the unofficial entry list for TDR 2015 to:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnV6xT65HkPRdEx5eUtMaTZmVWQ5TTVlUlNhaFg2RFE&usp=sharing

Please be sure to include your e-mail addresses so I can harass you for contributions!

Kindly DO NOT SORT the workbook or delete entries etc. The 2014 list was seriously munted and it was only thanks to efforts of David Chirnside and Kent McDonald that it was repaired.

In case you are interested, Volume 6 of the Cordillera will hopefully be out by Thanksgiving. Contributions are slowly flowing in (hint hint ...) and I'm planning on breaking the back of the editing in October.

Thanks to David Phillips for helping to sort out the statistics on the workbook which also somehow got seriously munted.

Since there appear to be ongoing issues with the workbook, would anyone be willing to help out by putting in a form so that people can just enter their data and not get at the actual workbook to do the sorting etc?

[bakerjw]

I am new to the forums here, first post actually, and just recently became fascinated with the TD. As such, I'm devouring all of the information that I can about the race.

I'm not currently in the kind of shape that is necessary to make a full TD attempt in 2015, but the chances are real good that I'll get to Banff sometime next Summer and go spend 5 to 6 days touring on the route to get a feel for what I'm up against. You can look at pictures and read about other people's experiences, but sometimes you have to personally look at what you're up against in person.

I know that at my current fitness level that I could easily handle 50 to 60 miles a day, but when, and if, I make a full attempt, I want to put every advantage that I can in my corner. There are some great resources here and for that I am grateful. So thanks for letting me post and lurk around.
John

[sthig]

I remember when I started training for the TDR in 2011 this place was a valuable resource.

Another place is here, as well: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ultraride/

[bpeschka]

Thanks to David Phillips for helping to sort out the statistics on the workbook which also somehow got seriously munted.

Since there appear to be ongoing issues with the workbook, would anyone be willing to help out by putting in a form so that people can just enter their data and not get at the actual workbook to do the sorting etc?

I'm willing to work at it.  Not a google docs expert but it should be doable.  I see there's a form up already but the workbook still looks writeable.  When I figure it out using a workbook in my own doc space, I'll contact you to coordinate doing same to yours. 
Thanks,

[RideLikeAlf]

It can be pretty tough getting out to train for TD during the upcoming winter months - lots of wet, cold, early mornings. Here's a little inspiration including a novel way of getting over those pesky Montana wire cattle fences...

Danny Macaskill: The Ridge

[james-o]

"What's on you playlist for listening on TD?"

As a Brit with big-skies and midwest daydreams and all that stuff, Johnny Cash, Bob Seger, The Eagles, loads of Americana. You may cringe : ) Only had the mp3 on a few times but enjoyed it when I did. Essential 'comfort blanket' kit.

[gotchile]

Powering devices?  Dyno hubs? Solar rechargers? Buying batteries along the way?
What works for you?  Dyno hub seems like a good option, but pricy, $1K for wheel, light, etc, but no worries about charging devices..

[dp]

Powering devices?  Dyno hubs? Solar rechargers? Buying batteries along the way?
What works for you?  Dyno hub seems like a good option, but pricy, $1K for wheel, light, etc, but no worries about charging devices..

Schmidt SON 28 15 hub http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt.asp
Schmidt Edelux II headlight http://www.peterwhitecycles.com/schmidt-headlights.asp
Sinewave Cycles Revolution USB charger http://www.sinewavecycles.com/collections/frontpage/products/sinewave-revolution
Limefuel Blast cache battery http://www.limefuel.com/pages/product-blast

Still gearing up and shaking things down, but this is the electrical package I'm planning to put together.  I'll be using the iPhone/Gaia for mapping and tracking, but taking my Garmin Oregon GPS as a backup (lithium AA batteries - no recharging on that one).  Will also take paper maps as a backup for the backup.  Be prepared.

-dp

[gotchile]

Thanks dp, I've looked at similar set ups, while expensive, on a trip such as TD, you have to have equipment you can depend on.

[sthig]

I have the Shimano Dynamo hub... rounding out 4500 miles on it, still works like a dream.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hi All,

I've had a few enquiries about the status of the Cordillera.  It's essentially done and now going through the final proofing.

Scott Thigpen has completed the cover: brilliant photo by Casper Ortvald and Scott has done his usual magic.  Thanks to a last minute flurry of contributions we've got 38 stories/interviews for some 280+ pages of adventures. The 'Gear Survey' results are in and tabulated with inputs from about 86 riders.

Many thanks for everyone's help and I'll hopefully post a link in a few weeks once the final book is ready for purchase from Lulu.com or download from Amazon Kindle.

So watch this space!

[Mxhdroom]

I've been lurking around the bikepacking.net forums since watching Ride the Divide and becoming interested - nay, obsessed - with the Tour Divide and bikepacking in general. Perhaps I've missed it, but is there a firm 2015 start date yet? I live in Calgary, and while I would never be able to attempt something even approximating this trek, I would like to see everyone off at the Banff trailhead for the 2015 Grand Depart.

Any timings appreciated. Good luck to everyone with their training and preparations!

Gary

[SlowRide]

Grand Depart from Banff is always the second Friday in June as stated on the TD website. That would make the 2015 Grand Depart June 12.