fall divide race? -"Divided We Fall"

[elobeck]

hey everybody...Erik Lobeck here trying to gauge interest in putting together a "tour Divide" in the fall (late august thru early september.) which I am enjoying calling Divided We Fall. Exact date would still be TBD,  but it would depart from Banff and follow what was to be this years version of the divide route (before snow detours). This includes Gold Dust. It would be fun to get a group of 10 or so riders together. Basically just trying to see how much interest there may be in a venture of this sort. The idea would be a course by and large free of snow, and entering New Mexico as the monsoon wanes. The disadvantage? More darkness. Jay Petervary is intent on an ITT and a rugged individualist, but perhaps he could lead the charge? John Nobile? ANy other vets? Newbies?

Erik

[racing4thesun]

Im planning to start late August early September. It would be great to have the company for sure. I planned to start 6/10 but had to push it back. So I would say count me in!!

[elobeck]

Sorry you had to push back-but given monsoon season at southern end of route may be for better. I hope a few more people are in-then we have ourselves a race!

[rfutah]

I would love to, but planning on starting some classes about then.  Might see me still out there, heading north from my depart of July 8.  Sounds like a great idea though.

[dbclimb]

I hope they consider it for next year also! 

[stappy]

Hey Erik. Interesting idea. I lost my grand depart due to injury. I plan to do the route sometime this summer. I would love to have someone to race with. I even wondered about showing up and crashing your ITT date...I wouldn't want to set a precedent with a grand depart that rivals the original date. Are you going to race the CTR this year?
Craig.

[elobeck]

Hey Erik. Interesting idea. I lost my grand depart due to injury. I plan to do the route sometime this summer. I would love to have someone to race with. I even wondered about showing up and crashing your ITT date...I wouldn't want to set a precedent with a grand depart that rivals the original date. Are you going to race the CTR this year?
Craig.

The last thing I want to do is rival the TD start date. That is not the point. I just wanted to organize  a friendly group of ITTers with a mutual start date interested in riding the full course this year.  I wish I could have been part of the TD this year-but for many reasons chose otherwise. Yes, I am planning on a CTR.

[Done]

Yes, I am planning on a CTR.

CTR and TD in the same year = very cool!

[pgadola]

For what it's worth...I'm leaving from Banff on Tuesday, August 9th.  The plan is to start a little slower, maybe 70 to 90 a day and increase mileage as I go.  I only have 30 total days to possibly ride so I need to average at least 90 or so a day.  I'm planning a mix of main route vs. alternates...I'm up for the Flathead, but I really don't want to do it by myself.  Also, I'm hoping to not ride at night...my main goal is to actually see the beautiful country I'm riding through.  Technically racing?  No, I guess not, but 30 days would probably be 'racing' for me. 

[pbasinger]

Does anyone have any insight into what the weather is typically like along the route in the fall?
Are forest fires more or less common?

[elobeck]

Does anyone have any insight into what the weather is typically like along the route in the fall?
Are forest fires more or less common?

Not sure about the forest fires-that is worth looking into.(Will do this weekend) I live along the route in Steamboat and a typical fall day is really warm (often hot) and dry with clear, chilly nights. For my own purposes I would opt for a kit skewed more toward warmth and less toward moisture resistance. As I've said before, more darkness is the downside, but you are used to that from Alaska.
Pete, it would be an honor if you joined the party.....

Erik

[Jilleo]

I've done a bit of research and concluded that fall would be my preferable season to ride the Divide. Weather, thunderstorms and the threat of mud are by far the largest factors in this conclusion. For starters, May and June are typically the wettest months of the year in the Northern Rockies. By late June, the monsoon season begins in Colorado and New Mexico, and afternoon thunderstorms become a near-daily occurrence. However, by late August, the thunderstorm threat lessens and weather stabilizes. For Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, as a whole, September weather is general pleasant and dry — as Erik mentioned, warm days and chilly nights.

I thought if I started riding from the north around August 20 or 25, I'd have my best shot at my own ideal weather window, escaping the majority of the heat in the south while avoiding the onset of winter in the higher passes of the north. Of course, there's always the chance of anything happening, including a higher chance of snowfall. But in the dry month of September, any snowfall isn't likely to be significant enough to slow forward progress even as much as rainfall does, and in my opinion light snow is always preferable to cold rain.

Wildfires are a wild card; they can hit any time of year, but they are more common later in the season when vegetation has dried out. This is true in Montana and I'm sure it's true in Colorado and New Mexico as well. By September, after the thunderstorms have lessened, wildfire season is for the most part over, but I think if you chose to start your ride in early August, you would likely see your fair share of smoke.

But I should also add that, at least in the north, this year's wildfire season is forecast to be relatively mild given how cold and wet spring has been. But as you know wildfire season is already raging in the south.

And of course there's more darkness, about two hours more per night in late August than mid-June. This also could mean less riding in the heat, however. Everything is a trade-off, but I think the benefit of bypassing the wet season in Montana and thunderstorm season in the south would be worth a little more time staring at a headlamp beam under the stars. Not to mention that the previous winter's snowpack would be a non-issue. If it's not gone from everywhere on the route by late August, that pretty much means the next ice age has begun.

If you guys go through with a Fall Divide ride this year I'll be anxiously watching your progress. I'm pretty interested myself in 2012. ;-)

[elobeck]

Okay, I am trying to narrow down a date and time.August 27 or 28 is looking like a reasonable start time. The 28th may be nicer because chances of Butts cabin being available on nite 1 without drunken partiers (sunday) may be better. Other than that I would imagine an earlier start in the AM than is typical for TD (so as to take advantage of daylight)....perhaps 6AM. These are my thoughts thus far.

[mr cowboy]

hey everybody...Erik Lobeck here trying to gauge interest in putting together a "tour Divide" in the fall (late august thru early september.) which I am enjoying calling Divided We Fall. Exact date would still be TBD,  but it would depart from Banff and follow what was to be this years version of the divide route (before snow detours). This includes Gold Dust. It would be fun to get a group of 10 or so riders together. Basically just trying to see how much interest there may be in a venture of this sort. The idea would be a course by and large free of snow, and entering New Mexico as the monsoon wanes. The disadvantage? More darkness. Jay Petervary is intent on an ITT and a rugged individualist, but perhaps he could lead the charge? John Nobile? ANy other vets? Newbies?

Erik

if you get a solid start date i'd likely be able to go for a few days. already burned or will soon be burning vacation time...but will possibly have a few days and would love to see the start of the route. toward the start of july i plan on riding a couple of chunks of the route in montana.

[T.Ray]

Thinking of a after Labor Day start for me,lots of Music that weekend,and what a way to kick off the Fall season.

[mmeiser]

wow!  How is it I miss all the most pertinent posts!?

This sounds like a superb idea to me.  I'd already posted about trying to sneak in a trip starting October 1st from whitefish, but I fear this is a little late.  I'd always wanted to do a mutual start date... not really a racer, but I can do a respectable 90-120 a day I'm sure.

If a date was hashed out for late august I might be able to make the leap and take off earlier then October, would be easier if I could start planning for next year though as time is already short for me to plan such a big trip.

But I'd ohh so try if you're doing it this year.

In short, let's say... PLAUSIBLE, definitely plausible.

[mmeiser]

BTW, I've in general been looking for fall ultra-endurance / gravel grinders as I have more time in the fall.

Trans Iowa, Trans Wisconsin, the arizona trail race, almanzo, everything is in spring and summer.  I need to find more fall events.

more time, I'm in much better shape, and I simply ride better in cooler weather, I'm a cold weather rider.

I'm still dreaming about a late fall southern trans american W-to-E backroad or on road unsupported fast and light tour / IIT or some such. The primary question of which is route. RAAM, ACA's Southern Tier Trans Am, or some have suggested a Trans Am route put together by some off road adventure moto entusiasts. Indeed the Trans Wisconsin is based off a moto enthusiast route.

[elobeck]

A few of us have talked.....Aug. 27th, 2011 ITT "mass" start @ 6 or 7 am -even if it's only 2 or 3 of us...perhaps the route will be melted by then...

Erik

[stappy]

I'm in.
Craig.

[cpblue]

Wish I could, but still not ready.  The fall start seems like a great idea.  Hopefully we can track you guys as well.