2022 Tour Divide Preparation & Planning

[kiwidave]

Hey ultra racers - time to kick off the 2022 thread. Hopefully the border is open for all the racers wishing to cross.

[kiwidave]

The entries form we do each year for The Cordillera is now live at:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEj2bcjUvb5CpKMwfVm10YQ4xPlSPfO0iUGPAb-xxVLrXh2g/viewform?usp=sf_link

Please use the above form for entering your details.

The sheet showing who is already lining up is here:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1IgxHE2PXG122kfBuSvN9shEE8017nph45erhZC8UztU/edit?usp=sharing

(Note: You can't enter directly in the sheet - please use the form)

[timon.fish]

Power/lighting question to get this started....

I have a sinewave beacon and son 28 hub.  I'd like to run a wahoo roam & a garmin varia rear light, if feasible.  Both are mini-usb.  As well as have another USB port for charging phone (or battery bank) if needed.

What's the best way to wire that up to make it as efficient/reliable as possible, and is a battery bank mandatory/necessary for the TD?  Would prefer to go without to save weight....but maybe not worth the risk?  idk.

Or maybe it's best to run the gps/rear light wiring straight to a battery bank, then charge that as needed (I'd imagine prioritizing downhills/easy flats and turn it off for climbing).

The wahoo would last 12-14hrs on it's own, and the rear light 6-7 hours, no idea what their lives are with a 10,000mAh bank.  I'll also likely carry a garmin etrex 30x as a backup, because it's not much weight and can double as AA battery holder.

[j.dn]

I think your best bet might be to try out both options. Charging from the sinwave is possible, but the output amperage isn't consistent, it'll vary based on how fast you're going. So it might take a while to charge either your computer / power bank. But for your riding style that might work. The nice thing about the Wahoo, and most modern bike computer/gps is that you can charge and use them at the same time, so it might not matter how long it takes to charge. I'm not sure about your rear light. The etrex, though, can be run fully on external power.

I used the beacon when I raced in 2019, and also brought two power banks, a smaller one that I used for my phone, and a larger one I used to power the beacon light during low speed climbs at night, and to power my etrex. I used the internal batteries on the etrex as a backup in case the power bank ever ran out of juice. I thought I'd charge from the sinewave while riding, but it ended up being easier to just charge the power banks when I was in town or staying at a hotel.

My suggestion though, whatever you end up deciding to do, is to practice charging / powering the devices before you race (and also the easier the solution the better). At least for me, I got pretty fuzzy after a few days of riding all day and very little sleep, and remembering things other than to follow the line on the GPS got pretty hard.

[Iowagriz]

If I had a dynamo, I'd make sure my power bank had pass thru charging and keep it connected to even out the power spikes coming from the dynamo. Then plug in whatever needed charged at the time (lights or gps).

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[Diamond D]

Assuming an open border, does the 2022 route start in Jasper or Banff?

[kiwidave]

Assuming an open border, does the 2022 route start in Jasper or Banff?

Banff

[Salubrious]

Sweet

[pbasinger]

Isn't the border open right now? I understand that could change though.  Does the US require a rapid test within 24 hours of entry when you re-enter by vehicle / bike as it does with air travel?

[Iowagriz]

The last I heard, a US to Canada entry requires the $150 test to get in, but would not have any testing upon return (by car, foot, bike). This is for US citizens only. I had been searching for info to make a ski trip across the border.

Other Canadian rules also apply, they have a registration process (app) that must be completed prior. And some get randomly chosen for swap testing which has another set of rules for registration.

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[bikelite]

I wish the race would stay border to border. Call it the Great Divide Race and get a better organizer than Lee.

[WatermelonSugar]

I wish the race would stay border to border. Call it the Great Divide Race and get a better organizer than Lee.

....Well nothing's stopping you racing border to border and organising it yourself

[bikelite]

Any wagers on Lael W. (and obligatory camera crew) racing the tour divide this year and not saying anything until we find out at the start line?

[Jacobashton]

Any wagers on Lael W. (and obligatory camera crew) racing the tour divide this year and not saying anything until we find out at the start line?

Unlikely, she's supposed to be at other events from what I can tell on her Instagram. Sofiane Sehili should be there though

[Guild44]

Raced this in 2015 and toured the US-portion of the 2015 course in 2018 (South to North). Caught the front-end of the race that time, which was fun.

I'm touring again this summer, riding south to north (Silver City to Whitefish). Looks like the 2022 GPX file isn't out yet? Does anybody know what the route is going to be or which year/route I could use for touring?

Thanks so much!

Sarah

[Salubrious]

The gpx file for the race is usually available about a week or so before the Grand Depart.

[evdog]

Any wagers on Lael W. (and obligatory camera crew) racing the tour divide this year and not saying anything until we find out at the start line?

Seems like she just blew all her remaining karma points doing just that on her AZTR ITT before playing the victim card while her fanbase and media company piled on the race director with accusations of bias and gatekeeping.     

[evdog]

I have a sinewave beacon and son 28 hub.  I'd like to run a wahoo roam & a garmin varia rear light, if feasible.  Both are mini-usb.  As well as have another USB port for charging phone (or battery bank) if needed.

What's the best way to wire that up to make it as efficient/reliable as possible, and is a battery bank mandatory/necessary for the TD?  Would prefer to go without to save weight....but maybe not worth the risk?  idk.

Or maybe it's best to run the gps/rear light wiring straight to a battery bank, then charge that as needed (I'd imagine prioritizing downhills/easy flats and turn it off for climbing).

The wahoo would last 12-14hrs on it's own, and the rear light 6-7 hours, no idea what their lives are with a 10,000mAh bank.  I'll also likely carry a garmin etrex 30x as a backup, because it's not much weight and can double as AA battery holder.

I used a similar setup of Sinewave Beacon and Son dynamo hub for awhile.  Even at my slower speed (my finish times are usually about double fast riders like you and Kurt, etc) I got enough light out of the Beacon when powered directly off the hub to be able to ride on slower climbs or even hike a bike.  The exception being when I would slow down before dropping into a steep chute or other technical section, the light would dim to the point I couldn't see well enough to drop in.  What I did find was I wasn't getting enough generation to usefully charge a device direct from the hub, especially when the light was also on.  The best way to go seemed to be to charge a power bank that could simultaneously charge and discharge.  During the daytime, charge the power bank with the lights turned off.  You can charge any devices off the power bank at that time.  When riding in the dark, lights on and the power bank would still charge minimally.  Then also top up the power bank whenever you can during meals, resupply stops and hotel stays.  I built up a new bike now that doesn't have a dynamo yet, so I try to minimize running the beacon.  Just use it on descents and use a separate helmet mount usb chargeable headlamp for everything else after dark.  That has been enough on AZTR, CTR, etc.  I don't think it is realistic to go without a power bank.  The size you need to bring will require further thought as bigger capacity means heavier. 

[MikeC]

Seems like she just blew all her remaining karma points doing just that on her AZTR ITT before playing the victim card while her fanbase and media company piled on the race director with accusations of bias and gatekeeping.     

I was off grid for the past week and returned to a coupla emails and texts asking what I thought of what was happening with ^ that.

Listened to the bikes or death pod and came away with the same perspective you did.

She had a great ride and should be commended for it.  It just wasn't remotely self supported.

Chapeau to John S for sticking to his guns and taking the thankless flack that comes from being an RD.  We need more like him.

[Iowagriz]

Big (late) snow year for us in Montana. Grave Creek snotel is starting to show melting and temps will get warmer. I wonder how Red Meadow or Koko Claims are doing.  I an on riding the Seeley Lake area in the coming weeks and will report back.

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