TDR 2012

[Georg66]

How do our relatives follow the TDR?

short answer:
http://trackleaders.com/tourdivide

This worked the last years, when I was following others ...

[Christopher R. Bennett]

For staying in contact, another option to MTB Cast is to get yourself a free Google Voice phone number.  When you call this number it transcribes the voice message to text (not perfect but comprehendible), and then e-mails it along with the voice recording. This is how my wife gets personal messages I don't want posted to MTB Cast.

If you are using SPOT and have your own personal web site you can embed the SPOT GPS Map on a web page. It is very easy. The advantage here over Trackleaders is that will show all your points for 7 days. This is an example of my web page (with yesterday's jetlagged century after arriving at midnight in the USA from NZ):

http://www.lpcb.org/lpcb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=30&Itemid=47

[pgadola]

My wife and I will be in Banff for a few days before the race, any recommendations of "can't miss" things to do while there?  Also, should we rent a car or is it pretty easy to take public transportation to the "can't miss" locations?

[Christopher R. Bennett]

If there is more than one of you it is best to rent a car from Calgary airport than take a shuttle: they are about $50/day and you can drop off in Banff.

My two "not to miss" places are Johnston Valley and Lake Louise. Incredibly beautiful as you do the drive north.

[Cosmo K]

So I'm flip floppin' at the moment and need some input.  I had been planning on running a double for simplicity, a 24 x 38 with a 36 in the back.  Now, I'm not so sure.  Is a 24 low enough?  So then I was thinking I'd run a 22 x 36, which certainly would be low enough but, is a 36 big enough for the flats...especially if I just happen to have a tail wind?  Now I'm thinking maybe I should just go with a triple.

If you've raced geared in the TD, what did you run and would you run it again?  Even if you haven't, what are you running?

-- Mark

[phil_rad]

I wouldn't worry about gearing too much, just run what you've been using during your training. I'm running 32-19.

[Georg66]

If there is more than one of you it is best to rent a car from Calgary airport than take a shuttle: they are about $50/day and you can drop off in Banff.

My two "not to miss" places are Johnston Valley and Lake Louise. Incredibly beautiful as you do the drive north.

Thank you for the information about car rental (and dropping off in Banff) and the not-to-miss places. Can you give further information about the rental company? (A further not-to-miss place is the elk-pass :-)))

I will bike geared with a 14-gear-Rohloff speedhub ...

[fifeandy]

So I'm flip floppin' at the moment and need some input.  I had been planning on running a double for simplicity, a 24 x 38 with a 36 in the back.  Now, I'm not so sure.  Is a 24 low enough?  So then I was thinking I'd run a 22 x 36, which certainly would be low enough but, is a 36 big enough for the flats...especially if I just happen to have a tail wind?  Now I'm thinking maybe I should just go with a triple.

If you've raced geared in the TD, what did you run and would you run it again?  Even if you haven't, what are you running?

-- Mark

It kinda depends on your body type and fitness in my opinion.
I'm a lightweight @ 135lbs and my current fitness would mean aiming for 100mi/day.
It means I need to spin a light gear up the climbs so i'm initially building my 29er with a 22t inner ring, but a 20t may be needed.
It also means the number of times where I have the physical strenth to spin out 36/11 will be limited - and in such an event i'll just take it easy and enjoy fast miles for small effort.

For a heavier/stronger rider that is happy mashing a gear then bigger rings would probably be better.

Overall, i'd err on the side of being undergeared as spinning out only has the consequence of slowing you down a little.
Too much grinding for too long on the other hand could lead to a race ending injury.

[sigma7]

Banff Airporter takes bikes too, probably the easiest (and cheapest way) to travel from Calgary to Banff.


-- sigma7

[sluttyduck]

Banff Airporter takes bikes too, probably the easiest (and cheapest way) to travel from Calgary to Banff.


-- sigma7

Matthew et. al. generally negotiates a discount for racers(same for YWCA).
Even w/out the discount Banff Airporter are very nice, they had a breakdown when I arrived; they found me(at baggage claim...we all stick out fyi), and arranged for me to ride on another charter for roughly the same price.

[Foster]

These guys have all sizes in stock. Buy an adapter kit to fit mountain bars.

Booyah!

http://3-athlon.com/product.php?cat=82&page=1&productid=245

They are out of all sizes in the C2.  I talked to the guy that runs 3-athalon and he said that they haven't gotten any of those in for about 6 months and that no one has them.  I checked with a few other companies and they all said the same thing.  So I went with the C3, they are a little shallower but I think they will still work great.

[pgadola]

Is there any public transportation in Banff that can get you to the interesting 'tourist' spots?

[annoying crack]

Is there any public transportation in Banff that can get you to the interesting 'tourist' spots?

I would assume you'll have a bike, no?

[sthig]

They are out of all sizes in the C2.  I talked to the guy that runs 3-athalon and he said that they haven't gotten any of those in for about 6 months and that no one has them.  I checked with a few other companies and they all said the same thing.  So I went with the C3, they are a little shallower but I think they will still work great.

these look cool - I'm talking with my Local Bike Shop to see what they have for fitting mine...I'm doing the TD next year so I've got some time to shop

[BobM]

I have been riding in the area between cabin pass and galton. Last weekend the snowline was 6 miles from cabin pass on the wigwam side. The snowline is already a little higher than it was during the first week of june last year. Everytime I go in there I am more impressed with J. Simoni's ride
  There will be snow to cross during the grand depart but I would be very surprised if there is snow detours.
If your gunning for the record you might want to do a later ITT.
Will keep you posted

Hi Serge,

Do you happen to know what "amenities" the Ram-Wigwam Provincial Campground has?  Bear boxes?  Concrete bear-proof outhouse?  Just wondering about bear-safe camping within the Canadian Flathead.  Thanks!

[KootenayB]

That campsite is a recreation site not a provincial campground, and in BC that can be a huge difference.  In this case, last time I looked you'll find an older wooden single hole outhouse and an old picnic table, but that isn't guaranteed.  The Ram FSR-Wigwam FSR junction is a good location (bit of an open area, nice Ram Creek), but I wouldn't recommend detouring north a few miles to the rec site off of the Wigwam FSR itself - OK spot, but down a steep doubletrack, and not as convenient or nice as right near the junction of Ram and Wigwam FSRs.

Pretty much unlimited camping wherever you wish in this region too, and you don't lose much for amenities bush camping vs. at a rec site.

[BobM]

That campsite is a recreation site not a provincial campground, and in BC that can be a huge difference.  In this case, last time I looked you'll find an older wooden single hole outhouse and an old picnic table, but that isn't guaranteed.  The Ram FSR-Wigwam FSR junction is a good location (bit of an open area, nice Ram Creek), but I wouldn't recommend detouring north a few miles to the rec site off of the Wigwam FSR itself - OK spot, but down a steep doubletrack, and not as convenient or nice as right near the junction of Ram and Wigwam FSRs.

Pretty much unlimited camping wherever you wish in this region too, and you don't lose much for amenities bush camping vs. at a rec site.

Thanks - it's mostly bearanoia that makes me want a concrete outhouse to sleep in.  As a local, would you lay your bivy bag out in that area with no worries?

[phil_rad]

Bob, If you spend the night in Sparwood and get an early start you should be able to make it to the border before dark. Then you won't have to worry about biving in the Flathead with the bears.

 

[KootenayB]

I wouldn't go so far as to say that as a local I'd have no worries.

It's an individual thing, really.  Stats would show that the chance of a bear, griz or black, getting at you when you are sleeping is somewhere as likely as being hit by lightening or bit by a shark - but of course it does happen.  It is a beary area for sure - some people would be nervous, others not.  Can't advise more than that.

But on the flip side of things, there were 2 grizzlies walking, wrestling, and lying down on a residential street in Fernie yesterday, so you never know what you may encounter where!

[Christopher R. Bennett]

I'm sure everyone knows this but just in case ... if you are planning on staying at the YWCA in Banff, ask for the 'Tour Divide' group rate when booking and you will get a discount (thanks Matt!). Their number is +1-800-813-4138 or +1-403-762-3560. 

I just booked and the clerk thought it was a "bike festival". There are many ways of describing the TD but festival is among the last that comes to mind ...