2015 TD

[simon cross]

hey alex
yeh we tried this. I am going to purchase a 5 v to 3 v converter (3.00 aud on ebay) but to resolve the issue and get on with the important task of cycling I have purchased a limefuel battery!

probably like some others I will have a few items which will be onsold when the TD is done and dusted

cheers
simon

[JayP]

I think Alex Harris is good one to watch this year. I don't know if JayP can recover enough after the AZT race to really go for it?

yea, JayP probably can't recover, I wouldn't count on him...

[kato]

yea, JayP probably can't recover, I wouldn't count on him...

The only thing I wouldn't count on JayP doing is being behind any of us.

[sfuller]

I'm hoping JayP will let all of us have a few seconds in front just so we can know what it's like.

[flyboy]

The only thing I wouldn't count on JayP doing is being behind any of us.

Maybe he will ITT it a few days after the GD so that he can pass us? (just so we can say hi, of course!)

[vmjim]

Is it too early to expect the release of the TD 2015 gps file?  Or, will the the 2014 file be reused?

[tuhduhvuh]

I have a similar question.

Does anyone know if the maps/cues will be revised from the Adventure Cycling Association?

I made a mistake last year and didn't take along very good cues.  Following the line on the GPS was easy and worked just fine , but I missed having a sense of what was coming up, and having some things to "look forward to"  as I was riding.   I had only the major points/resupply in my cues.

I'd like to be working from a more detailed set of cue sheets, but have been holding off, wondering if they were going to be revised/updated.

Anyone with "inside info"  on that?

I think the idea has been fully explored in terms of how folks use the cues  (important turns, water, resupply, etc.)

If anyone has comments on their use of cue sheets and how they use them,  that might be helpful to newbies.

Note,  I did not use a phone last year, but this year I have a shiny new iPhone, and hope to use it (in combination with a dynamo hub)

So one reason I am exploring more elaborate cues is I plan to have them as PDF files on my phone, not actual printed paper files.

So really,  "size" is not the object.  I suspect I will be using the gps primarily, but would check the PDF file from time to time, and make note of what is coming up more from "interest" than navigation .  I.E.   campground gates in 5 km ,  or cross dam in 3 km,   pavement in 6 km,  that kind of thing.

Tom

[BobM]

Is it too early to expect the release of the TD 2015 gps file?  Or, will the the 2014 file be reused?

The old alternate around the Union Pass area is now the main route and the old main route is now the alternate, so that at least will need to be updated by Scott for this year.

[BobM]

I have a similar question.

Does anyone know if the maps/cues will be revised from the Adventure Cycling Association?

I made a mistake last year and didn't take along very good cues.  Following the line on the GPS was easy and worked just fine , but I missed having a sense of what was coming up, and having some things to "look forward to"  as I was riding.   I had only the major points/resupply in my cues.

I'd like to be working from a more detailed set of cue sheets, but have been holding off, wondering if they were going to be revised/updated.

Anyone with "inside info"  on that?

I think the idea has been fully explored in terms of how folks use the cues  (important turns, water, resupply, etc.)

If anyone has comments on their use of cue sheets and how they use them,  that might be helpful to newbies.

Note,  I did not use a phone last year, but this year I have a shiny new iPhone, and hope to use it (in combination with a dynamo hub)

So one reason I am exploring more elaborate cues is I plan to have them as PDF files on my phone, not actual printed paper files.

So really,  "size" is not the object.  I suspect I will be using the gps primarily, but would check the PDF file from time to time, and make note of what is coming up more from "interest" than navigation .  I.E.   campground gates in 5 km ,  or cross dam in 3 km,   pavement in 6 km,  that kind of thing.

Tom

I have HEARD that none of the maps are due for revision this year.  The cues can be purchased separately and formatted as you please.  I have attached a pdf of one of my cue sheet pages.  I have annotated turns in red/bold, Food in green, Shelter in brown, and Water in blue. Yellow highlighted mileage is the mileage to the next resupply point. The best thing about the cues for me is that they occupy my mind and give me a sense of where I am - "Hey, I should be crossing a bridge in about a mile."

[sfuller]

The maps have already been recently revised. The US maps were revised late last year and the Canada maps were revised early 2015. I need to check with AC and see if they have updated cues for the Canadian section that can be downloaded for those of us who bought them earlier. I've been spending some time working through how I'm going to utilize the cues and what I'm going to put on them.

I built a separate sheet for resupplies just so I can quick see the distance between resupplies, even across maps.

I like your color formatting ideas Bob. Good thinking.

[THE LONG RANGER]

The old alternate around the Union Pass area is now the main route and the old main route is now the alternate, so that at least will need to be updated by Scott for this year.

Whaaaaaaat? That's truly a killer part of the route. I'm surprised to hear it's been removed. Is there a link to understand the reasoning behind that?

[BobM]

Whaaaaaaat? That's truly a killer part of the route. I'm surprised to hear it's been removed. Is there a link to understand the reasoning behind that?

I asked Matthew about it and he said the old alternate (now the main route) has more gravel and climbing.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Anxious to see the reroute. Getting to the start of the dirt after Togwotee Pass isn't so bad, since it's mostly downhill and that climb up, up, up is one of my favorites (I did it twice, in my first race!). Getting back to civilization after that Union Pass is sort of a slog, but it does feel oh-so-good to feel pavement again. 

Kind of a bummer Union Pass is right before Dubois, as that's a super cycle friendly place.

The only detour I know is through Jackson, and that can't possibly be the detour they're talking about. 

[BobM]

Anxious to see the reroute. Getting to the start of the dirt after Togwotee Pass isn't so bad, since it's mostly downhill and that climb up, up, up is one of my favorites (I did it twice, in my first race!). Getting back to civilization after that Union Pass is sort of a slog, but it does feel oh-so-good to feel pavement again.  

Kind of a bummer Union Pass is right before Dubois, as that's a super cycle friendly place.

The only detour I know is through Jackson, and that can't possibly be the detour they're talking about.  

This is the established alternate that is on the old maps.

EDIT:  Just got out the map.  It was called the "Warm Spring Alternate" and starts about a half mile past the Tie Hack Historical Monument.

[THE LONG RANGER]

Ah, OK, that's not bad at all - you still hit up Union Pass  I believe, just miss that initial climb and you do get off the highway sooner. 

[Flinch]

'Nuther cue sheet example attached. Tip: condense cue original comments to main ideas, like 'Left on Hwy 43', not 'look at the pretty mountain'. Any extra clutter is confusing when you are tired.

Headings are Miles <keyed to map>,
Dist. <distance to turn or logistics from last Mile reading>,
Turn/Logis. <Turn direction, logistics: food, camping, water, etc.>
Comments <Last column is detail, with cities/towns hi-lited in magenta.>

Keyed in color, so I know Orange background is Right turn "R", or bear right "RB". Ditto left turn "L" or bear left "LB". Straight is either blank or "S" depending on my mood.

After the turn direction, there may be F = Food/Groceries, C = camping, L = lodging, W = water.

At bottom of cue sheet I'll make notes re phone numbers, handy info, bike shops, etc.

Note that I haven't updated this particular section yet, not sure if any changes since 2013.

Peddle-to-the-meddle

Glen

[flyboy]

Hey Flinch and BobM. I am just to that point in my prep and have never had experience putting cues together before. I know how important they will be, so thanks for the ideas for cue sheets. I like the idea of colour coding turns and call me a traditionalist but it would have to be red for left and green for right for me. Thanks for posting your examples.
Tom, I agree with you on knowing what is coming up to help with situational awareness versus blindly following a pink line on the gps.

[Flinch]

Ah, OK, that's not bad at all - you still hit up Union Pass  I believe, just miss that initial climb and you do get off the highway sooner. 

My OC nature compels me...Ruff numbers:

Elevation at Hwy-26/Warm Creek Road: 7,725'
Pass at 5 miles: 9,090' (climb of 1,365' starts at 1 mile, average grade 6.5%)
Joins main Union Pass route at 16.6 miles, elevation 8,380'

Then you get to experience the rest of Union Pass road - voted 'most sucky/rocky' in 2013 by a distinguished panel of....me.  (The first part of the Pass was just recently graded and superhighway! Not so the stretch past the houses.) I even heard a gentleman curse roundly up there. No kiddin!

KML attached - real unofficial but shows route well.

Thank God - more climbing!

[simon cross]

Hi there...
Normally I have never had to concern myself with how the butt may go whether touring, bikepacking .... but for riding down the divide , it is probably a different matter.

I have read in old blogs info spots that US bikepackers like to use Anbesol when the going gets tuff on the butt

Is this the product they mean?  -Anbesol Maximum Strength Adult Oral Pain Reliever .33 oz  - This was in gel form also available as cream

Never used this stuff however I can recommend for the australians and NZ folks Lanolin - 100 % no petroleum additives - The brand is Essentials. No doubt 100% lanolin is available in the states?  I will be bringing it along

cheers
simon

 
]

[sfuller]

This is the established alternate that is on the old maps.

EDIT:  Just got out the map.  It was called the "Warm Spring Alternate" and starts about a half mile past the Tie Hack Historical Monument.

Bob,

Just to be clear, Adventure Cycling changed their route so that this old Alternate is now the Main Route? I don't have a copy of the older maps to compare with.  Trying to figure what, if any changes, I need to make to their cues that I downloaded.