2016 Tour Divide Preparation

[kiwidave]

To answer a question posted elsewhere and which will certainly occur here:

Tour Divide "registration" ... bearing in mind that this is an underground race ...

Part 1:

Send a letter on intent after the winter solstice (21st Dec) to Matt Lee:

http://tourdivide.org/start_list
http://tourdivide.org/letters_of_intent
tourdivide@gmail.com

Don't worry if you get no confirmation - it's an underground bike race! Some get confirmations, some don't. During May 2016 check with Matt that you are on his list - it's important as those on the list are the riders who will get sent emails for updates to last minute route changes, fire detours, etc etc. Matt Lee also sorts out the spot rentals.


Part 2:

The GPS map file will be posted here sometime in May (most likely) by Scott Morris and check before the race in case it is updated. (Remember check a week before, it was updated in 2015 and some riders missed the update while travelling)

http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

Part 3.

If you're using a SPOT tracker already, then get in touch with Trackleaders.com (Scott Morris) in June so they have you details to include you on the Tour Divide 2016 trackleaders page. If you're renting one then they will be in Banff at the YWCA a day or so before the race starts and you'll register it then.

Part 4.

Chris Bennett or Megan Dunn will create an open access informal spreadsheet in Google docs and post a link here in this thread.  Probably in September - Chris just finished the Transcontinental (in 60th ish out of 190ish riders - a great ride in the heat).

Part 5.

Be in Banff on the second Friday in June for the start at 08:00. The gathering point is the YWCA for some pre-start pics and pre-race nervs. The riders get sorted into 3 or 4 pace groups for Butt's Cabin / Sparwood / Elkford and then head off to the trail head for a rolling start at 08:00.

[landel]

Thanks very much swighton, that's excellent information

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hi All,

I'm working on the gear survey for Volume 7 of the Cordillera and I've noticed that there are a number of new providers of bikepacking kit (14% last year used 'Others'). I'd be grateful for any additions to the list I've assembled (good resource if you are looking for gear as well). Thanks in anticipation.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MPV3kDx1mRf36C45eyvuxxsHoyVd1xUJbrlzBjducR8/edit?usp=sharing

Regards,

Chris

[fotooutdoors]

I'm on my phone right now, so I can't look at the google doc. That said, there is a list that is a sticky on the mtbr bike packing sub forum. Idk if there are any there that don't show up on your list, Christopher, but thought I would throw that out there.

[kiwidave]

Rohloff Hubs:

I'm going to run a Rohloff and my bike builder has asked what ratios I want. I know some have raced 38x16 ... any other suggestions?

[vikb]

Rohloff Hubs:

I'm going to run a Rohloff and my bike builder has asked what ratios I want. I know some have raced 38x16 ... any other suggestions?

I'm running 34 x 16 and will probably go 32 x 16 when I get a new chain ring.  I'm not a racer so take that FWIW.

[HughieP]

I ran 34 x 16 Rohloffed back in 2013. Worked well for me. I was in lowest gear far more regularly than I was in highest. Keeping in mind the the higher gears are more efficient than the lower gears on your Rohloff, 32 x 16 may be better?

[Get Mounted]

There's some helpful analysis of Rohloff gear ratios on Yoda's site:

http://www.sheldonbrown.com/harris/rohloff-impressions.html

[dp]

If I were running a Rohloff (I'm not, so take this with a grain of salt), I'd run the lowest/slowest ratio allowed by Rohloff.  You're climbing a lot, you're hauling a bunch of stuff, and the lower 7 gears are slightly less efficient than the upper 7 (even according to Rohloff).  If the goal is to stay in the saddle as much as possible, gear that puppy down as much as possible without over-torquing the hub.  You can always coast downhill.  ;-)

[vikb]

If I were running a Rohloff (I'm not, so take this with a grain of salt), I'd run the lowest/slowest ratio allowed by Rohloff.  You're climbing a lot, you're hauling a bunch of stuff, and the lower 7 gears are slightly less efficient than the upper 7 (even according to Rohloff).  If the goal is to stay in the saddle as much as possible, gear that puppy down as much as possible without over-torquing the hub.  You can always coast downhill.  ;-)

Keep in mind the lowest legal Rohloff input ratio is good for the power of a pro-racer. So most people can safely go lower.

The hub is protected by replaceable shear pins so absolute worst case you aren't destroying your hub. I haven't run into anyone with a Rohloff who has actually sheared those pins.

[kiwidave]

Thanks for the replies on the Rohloff ratios. I'm riding a 27.5 so I'll go with 34x16 now and see how that goes in training.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hi All,

Megan Dunn has kindly created the starter's list for the 2016 Tour Divide. The form is at:

http://goo.gl/forms/xpZ1R6BSRy

Please remember this is not an 'official' list as you still need to send in your letters of intent. I'll use this to harass you about contributing to what will be Volume 8 of the Cordillera.

And if you rode in 2015 - please help with the Cordillera! We are very thin on the ground and it is touch and go if it will be viable this year.

Thanks again to Megan for all her help.

Regards,

Chris

[NelsonC]

Thanks Chris.  Could you provide a link to the Google sheet itself too?  I am having trouble finding it.

Nelson

[Christopher R. Bennett]

I've had a few requests so here is the link to the starter's list spread sheet. PLEASE don't enter data here. It gets corrupted and we have to spend a lot of effort to sort it out.

Data Entry Form:
http://goo.gl/forms/xpZ1R6BSRy

Spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ry-lZPuFXayMt8Do2k_XcidY0HlKsdjDm2iVL1MKbyQ/edit?usp=sharing

[kiwidave]

Flights out of NM?

My plan is to get a shuttle back to Silver City from one of the guys on the ACA list or off this forum, box my bike at Gila Hike & Bike ... but there's no public transport (bus or train) from Silver City to either Tucson or El Paso it seems. I'd prefer to fly out from Tucson, so to get there do people organise a ride share with a shuttle or just get a shuttle to Lordsburg and take the Greyhound from there?

[Dinodinodino]

Went for a training ride on Oct 3rd and this is what the top of Goat Creek Trail looked like.  Good thing the race is in the spring!

[GregMay]

Unsure if ITT or Grand Depart yet.

this time, I won't let a new job - or my current job - stop me from being on the trail.

[dskunk]

Flights out of NM?

My plan is to get a shuttle back to Silver City from one of the guys on the ACA list or off this forum, box my bike at Gila Hike & Bike ... but there's no public transport (bus or train) from Silver City to either Tucson or El Paso it seems. I'd prefer to fly out from Tucson, so to get there do people organise a ride share with a shuttle or just get a shuttle to Lordsburg and take the Greyhound from there?

Jeff Sharp, who was shuttling from the border in 2014, gave a friend of mine and some others a ride into Silver City (to Gila Hike and Bike) and then took them all on to Tucson. I believe there were 4 of them in Jeff's car which made for a relatively inexpensive trip (bikes in a trailer). You might want to check with him to see if he's still able to do that.

Shuttle to/from Antelope Wells, NM
Southwest Trailhead Hand
Jeffery Sharp
575-436-7200
email: sharpjeffery1@gmail.com

[Sparkyga]

Rolhoff related: I've had had one for a good number of years on two different wheel sizes. I typically ride very hilly terrain in the Rockies and Japanese Alps for reference.

I found that 38x15 was totally fine for a 26"x 2.25 setup for loaded bikepacking racing and 42x15 was good gearing for unloaded riding.

For a 700c/29er wheel I had to completely change my gearing (...). After going through a couple combinations I settled on a 34x17 setup using a 2.4" tire. Pretty happy with it overall, but it's an illegal gearing according to Rolhoff. I wouldn't hesitate to go even lower than that.

[jryter]

Went for a training ride on Oct 3rd and this is what the top of Goat Creek Trail looked like.  Good thing the race is in the spring!

Hmm... it looked a lot like that in June when I rode it! Or hiked it....
Jarral