2016 Tour Divide Preparation

[johnnystorm]

How much chamois cream (and what kind) are you all bringing with you? I typically don't need any, but I will not be taking any chances on this! Is bringing an entire 8oz tub uncommon?

I'm using 2 4oz udderly smooth tubes. Easier to pack and I can throw the tube away when it's half gone.

[Flinch]

There are really no changes here from the original rules dating from the GDR.  Basically just do it yourself. I guess they are just going into more detail about what that actually means.  I've heard they get hate mail each year from relegated riders that blatantly and sometimes admittedly break rules.  The tipping thing is funny though.

Amen (except the tipping part).

The race is self policed, so to speak. Matt and Scott may be overlords, but should not be looked upon as authority figures to enforce rules. Racers should embrace the spirit of the TD, rather than try to game the 'system' and give them butt rash. This is a way cool thing we have going! For those who like/need a blast of racing ethics/rules reality, look up historical posts by Toby Gadd (purist - "Do It Yourself Dammit"). There you will find running threads re the ethics of the race.

Tips etc. example: With regards to Brush Mountain Ranch- Kirsten and Greg are true trail angels! Unless things have changed, they don't have a license for room and board for the summer racers, so be aware that your stay, laundry, and food there can only be compensated by 'donations'. Some racers in the past have taken advantage of them. Bad racers, naughty racers! Figure out what a commercial place would charge and donate accordingly.

The race has many rules/sub-rules, but DBAD is the main one to live by (Don't Be A Dick). You owe it to yourself, the other racers, and the reputation of the race itself to 'Race like Gentlemen/Women'. The only higher honor than finishing, is reporting yourself for a rules/ethics infraction should it happen.

Oops, getting dizzy up on soapbox, so end mini-rant 

[BanffCrazyLarry]

 

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

Thanks buddy!
I had found the link ....jussst as you posted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SEE you ALL here at the YWCA for a SUPER LOUD CHEER Grand Depart !!!

Let me know, each of you, on F.B. (friend request me) or via email how I can help you out. bigbearhi@gmail.com

THERE WILL STILL AND ALWAYS BE the Over-flow hockey bag for all your extra stuff / things you don't want or need.....INSIDE THE YWCA in the bike building area / room across from Bistro Restaurant inside.
I send all used stuff....after a wash to the church; unless good I can use myself (ha ha ha) ; or leave it for next year's race is a lot - of - the - times what happens.
 If, you don't want or wish for me to send back to you; All that is necessary is leave me with money to send. = NO problem. I LOVE you guys / gals to bits for doing what your doing!

 Local WEATHER REPORTS coming on https://www.facebook.com/groups/TourDivideQuestionandAnswer/


 X 2 times weekly and every day the LAST WEEEK before Grand Depart from Banff.

***It would be nice if ~ EVERYone, remembers to sign the CrazyLarry guest book .
This to ensure, you get emailed the LOUD CHEER and some pictures and that friend you become is the friend that you'll be. A GOOD one!
  AND [possibly] we can keep in touch along the route...for those that can REMEMBER TO SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE......that's how we feel a part of your EPIC journey & relentless efforts made! ok gang!?  

*** Picture attached is my training rig......with bike camper trailer. And smoothie maker / power source on board/ fridge for all veggies for smoothies *organic only.  Ahaa ha ha haaa!
      ~   GOES like ALL stink FAST behind my bike!!!!     Aaah ha ha ha haaa!  


Cheesie   YOUTUBE video's you might enjoy hav'n FUN ! ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pgR0pXu6TQ

                                               ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzW5LxOyCwQ#t=12.691354

                     ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIy1pTX2NSI#t=56.609613

[flyboy]

How much chamois cream (and what kind) are you all bringing with you? I typically don't need any, but I will not be taking any chances on this! Is bringing an entire 8oz tub uncommon?

Hey Joraff, I used an Altoids Smalls (Wintergreen flavour if that makes a difference) tin last year. Just filled it with chamois cream from home them refilled it with 3 or 4 small disposable sachets from Orange Peel bikes in Steamboat. Held it closed with a rubber band. Those 2 small tins full did me the whole race with some to spare and it takes up no room at all.

[MTBRichT]

One thing to cheer everybody up and one to make you go 'harumph'
I went up Grave Creek road just after Eureka yesterday and stopped in a pizza cafe that is run but the Cafe Jax team; it is made on site wood fired pizza and is awesome. They open Wed to Sunday from 3 to 8.30 . There is also a taproom with beer and soft drinks and restroom facilities as a separate  business.
They are only 50 metres off route.

The not so great news is it dropped 4" of new snow in Fernie so far today and I've had to go back on the turbo trainer.

You love that Turbo Trainer really.

[kiwidave]

Tour Divide updates during the race.
This email was sent out to people who have already registered their Spots:
"If you are beginning your ride any time between now and late June, and will be carrying a US mobile phone, you may want to subscribe to the below text (SMS) alert group.
https://www.rainedout.net/team_page.php…
If there is an emergency TD route detour, or other time-sensitive news, it will be broadcast via this channel. If you will *not* be carrying a mobile phone, the service *does* offer the option to receive the alerts to your email."

[andrew k]

Kiwidave-
  you mean people who have registered their own personal spots, right?  I wrote to trackleaders but didn't hear back and assumed there will just be enough spots at the start for the folks who submitted letters of interest. 

thanks

[Jbennett]

We're getting a TON of rain down here in Texas this spring.  The temperatures are warm though, so that's nice.  I've seen a few posts about the long term forecasts for different areas, but I'm interested to know what people are actually seeing currently out there.  I've seen some reports of a fresh 4" of snow falling in some areas.  Any real time reports out there from folks?

[THE LONG RANGER]

Currently seeing higher than normal precip. in all of Colorado. We had a fairly dry winter, and a very wet, late spring. It certainly doesn't feel like summer yet around here. I'll be in RMNP tomorrow, where it's full-on Winter conditions on the (very) high peaks. Snow is still on the ground in the forests round 10,000 feet. Anything around 9,000 feet or below is fine.

Everything can change in 2-3 weeks though, so this shouldn't scare anyone, yet. Having a decent amount of snow around makes getting water easy, so it can be a blessing. I don't foresee anything like detours needed for CO for snow OR fires. I just don't know if the conditions are going to be as fast as last year though
 

[Cosmo K]

Hey, I don't know if anyone has done this yet but I'm noting hours of operation for different businesses for resupply.  Here are the bike shops (let me know if I missed any).  If anyone has food locations and wants to post those, that'd be great.  I'm starting food tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll add them as waypoints over the next week.

Whitefish, MT Glacier Cyclery (406) 862-6446  M-F 9-6, Sat-9-5
Helena MT The Garage, (406) 422-5388  M-Th 10-6, Fr-Sat 10-5
The Outdoorsman in Butte, MT (406) 494-7700 W-F 10-6, Sat 10-5
Steamboat Springs, CO, Orange Peel Bikes (970) 879-2957 Mon-Fri: 10-6, Sat: 10-5
Salida, CO  Absolute Bikes, 719-539-9295… 7 days 9 - 6
Silver City, New Mexico the Gila Hike and Bike  575-388-3222, M-F 9-5:30, Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4

[kiwidave]

Kiwidave-
  you mean people who have registered their own personal spots, right?  I wrote to trackleaders but didn't hear back and assumed there will just be enough spots at the start for the folks who submitted letters of interest. 

thanks

Click on the link in post 551 from Tanadog (20th May) - it will take you through a consent form and then a registration form for your rental Spot.

[andrew k]

Kiwidave-
  thanks for the heads up.  i had somehow missed that post.

andrew

[Mike McElveen]

Regarding notification of racers about detours/closures is there any contingency plan for notifying those of us without phones?  I don't foresee any issues until maybe after Brazos Ridge.  Several years ago they posted notices at Bode's for Mike Hall, et. al., about the closure of Polvadera Mesa.  By Abiquiu we're pretty spread out and word of mouth amongst racers might not be reliable.  Or maybe us idgits without electronicals are just SOL on this issue like not being able to call ahead to motels.

[dp]

Don't mess with Roosville.

https://www.kelownanow.com/watercooler/news/news/Kelowna/16/05/25/Kelowna_woman_warns_others_after_terrifying_ordeal_at_U_S_border/

[gotchile]

Last year, I had my passport packed away.  As I got to the border crossing, I was asked to present my passport.  Not having it immediately available, seemed to irritate the officer.  I wasn't detained, but this year, I'll have it ready to give to the officer when I pull up on my bike.

[sheilar]

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

Chris - I've not looked at the spreadsheet in quite some time.  I see some tabs have been added.  On the TD Riders tab, what is the meaning of the colors/why is my name white vs the other women who are pink?  Just curious.  Thx  sr

[andrew k]

just looking at the patterns, i would say yellow is ITT, pink is female, orange is Northbound, blue is southbound grand depart, white is unknown.

[kiwidave]

is there any contingency plan for notifying those of us without phones? 

Yes - you can have the messages sent to your email and then get access to your account somehow along the way. It doesn't support non-US telephones, so I'm relying on emails.

[rick miller]

Hey, I don't know if anyone has done this yet but I'm noting hours of operation for different businesses for resupply.  Here are the bike shops (let me know if I missed any).  If anyone has food locations and wants to post those, that'd be great.  I'm starting food tomorrow.  Hopefully I'll add them as waypoints over the next week.

Whitefish, MT Glacier Cyclery (406) 862-6446  M-F 9-6, Sat-9-5
Helena MT The Garage, (406) 422-5388  M-Th 10-6, Fr-Sat 10-5
The Outdoorsman in Butte, MT (406) 494-7700 W-F 10-6, Sat 10-5
Steamboat Springs, CO, Orange Peel Bikes (970) 879-2957 Mon-Fri: 10-6, Sat: 10-5
Salida, CO  Absolute Bikes, 719-539-9295… 7 days 9 - 6
Silver City, New Mexico the Gila Hike and Bike  575-388-3222, M-F 9-5:30, Sat 9-5, Sun 9-4

Wilderness Sports, Dillon CO, (970) 468-5687, 9-7
there's also a few in Breckenridge

[Mikebike]

Mike go to 'Setup' > 'Page Sequence' >'Add Page' > 'Elevation Plot' Now when you flip through the pages you will be able to see the Elevation Plot for the current track being recorded.

There is a VERY good tutorial on setting up a Etrex here http://www.aukadia.net/gps/lw3_0.htm

-Gary

FYI...I called Garmin on why I could not find vertical gain on etrax20x and as it turns out, this function is not available on this unit.  I shoulda spent the extra $100 and got the 30X.