Delaying start/ chickening out on the divide

[Slowerthensnot]

So delaying my start till June 24th still south to north and planning to ride all the dirt in NM...

Worried about the crazy amount of white stuff and mud vrs the higher temps

anybody's welcome to start at 9am june 24th if they would like

[Jilleo]

Sounds like a good move, Dave. But I'm curious if you've considered the potential of thunderstorms during storm season in the high country of Colorado and Montana. I saw some downright nasty storms last July, both near Missoula and in Butte. They seem to be a regular thing that time of year, and even if you're not irrationally terrified of lightning (I am), they do have the potential to get you really wet and muck up the roads.

Personally I think John Nobile had it right last year with an early fall start. Yes, you're sacrificing daylight. But the weather is so much more stable in August and September, and you don't have to worry about late-season snowpack. Canada and Montana grizzlies are fat and happy instead of lean and hungry. Plus, fall colors! And, although I know this isn't incentive to you, cooler day temperatures. If I ever decide to ride the Divide again, that's the time of year I hope to do it.

[Slowerthensnot]

TS and lightering are an issue trough AUG in colorado.... dunno about NM and this years weather has been so wonkey, who knows. Weather isn't going to play nice the whole 2750 miles just doing the best to mitigate the worst f it

fall sounds nice but much harder for me to get time away from the shop ect....

[rfutah]

Dave
Doing my chicken impression 2 weeks after you.  Still want to see the route south to north, seems natural direction, as that is what I usually do in the summer.  I want to give the snow and mud as much time to leave before I have other things planned.  Late August and September would be nice, was biking Yellowstone about that time last year and it was bit colder than normal.  So there is always trade offs.
Keep the rubber side down, unless you intend to have lots of fun.
Robert

[JML]

Erik L here.

I might be there with you-just pulled my name from the TD. WIll be going NOBO sometime between June 25 and July 5. I haven't been following NOBO discussions to date-how are people getting to AW to start?