TDR 2012

[BobM]

Thanks Denis!  The spreadsheet has been great.

[Slowerthensnot]

Thanks Denis!  The spreadsheet has been great.

Ditto on the thanks!

[phil_rad]

Thanks Denis!  The spreadsheet has been great.

From me too! :-)
Thanks!

[aaron w]

I am wondering if there are detours that are necessary during the race, for instance for a fire, how do racers find out about them?  Also if a detour is announced, will a specific detour route be given?  At the moment I'm planning no phone and no paper maps so I'm wondering how others have handled this in the past.  Or maybe I *need* a phone/map to deal with this possibility?

[BobM]

I am wondering if there are detours that are necessary during the race, for instance for a fire, how do racers find out about them?  Also if a detour is announced, will a specific detour route be given?  At the moment I'm planning no phone and no paper maps so I'm wondering how others have handled this in the past.  Or maybe I *need* a phone/map to deal with this possibility?

Here's the FAQ from the rules on tourdivide.org:

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When faced with route closure a conscientious Divide racer tries to ride the maximum amount of official GDMBR possible (within reason), detouring at the last possible safe opportunity, rejoining at the earliest safe opportunity.
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In the case of "official" detours I believe these are announced on the outgoing message when you call mtbcast when possible.

[wunnspeed]

I listened to the Podcast yesterday morning.... really made me want to get to Canada and get started. Go Fixie Dave! No. 6 is a charm!! Joe.... thanks in advance. I've listened to the podcasts for years and it's most of what made me want to do the TDR in the first place. Thanks for all the years of hard work too.

[DocTrike]

Just got a iPhone how do I listen to and get the podcast, not tech savy at all.

[rfutah]

Condition Update:
  Ran into a GS Adventure rider today that says he has run the divide in the last week from AW to Rawlins.  He said all passes were clear with the exception of "one near Como, or Sargeants, might have been Marshall's".  He said there was a construction detour for it, which in the mountains around here usually means spring clean up.
  I might venture up to Union and Togwetee, a few days before the start and try an get pictures for all y'all nutballs.  I might personally get nutty in mid August with a Sobo this year.
  Best of Health to all the riders this year.

[THE LONG RANGER]

I was around Marshall Pass ~ 2 weeks ago. There was a construction crew doing some drainage work across the road - the entire thing was dug up - ~20 feet wide. West side.  I just unmounted gave a hello, asked if it was OK to cross, got the OK and crossed over. No big deal. No snow or anything, and the pass was closed on both sides to motorized traffic. Which was nice. The previous day I took a gaze over at Indiana Pass and thought, "Hmm...", as it seemed that 12,000ft was where snow was still chillin' in May. Not that that scares me away or anything... Won't be a problem for that pass def. by the next week.

I was around Radium... yesterday and that area is all groovy. If you do stop in Kremmling for a resupply, may I suggest the Big Shooter Café? They have this milkshake + espresso drink that's like instant New Legs. Opens at 6:30 am. Better coffee than the gas station.

Also, on every overnighter+ I've gone on, I've gotten rained/snowed upon - almost as if the monsoon season is already upon us, but some of these storms are just general fronts moving in. Something to ponder about, when selecting gear. I've thanked my lucky stars every time I bring a rain jacket *and* pants.

[candrus]

The high country of the Gila Wilderness is getting gutted by a wildfire.  Currently about 70,000 acres, the leading edge is about 20 miles southwest of the Beaverhead Work Center.  It is 0% contained and southwest winds gusting to 45 mph are forecast for Friday.  Could be a smokey time in the Gila for us northbounders.  Didn't this happen last year too?

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/2870/

[Rob Colliver]

The Big Shooter is a great stop - they are a great team and the food is wonderful, and they did the best sandwiches of the whole race for me last year!

[rfutah]

The fire last year was bit further northeast, and a little later in the year.  If is in the wilderness it will be hard to contain, as there are not many roads (i.e. fire break lines).  With high water content last year and low content this year, there should be a lot of overtime for the firefighters.  Hopefully it burns itself out and/or gets contained by the time you start.

[woody]

Salida Post Office

FWIW:
I called to find out about "General Delivery" and they do offer it and they hold the package for 30 days before shipping it back to sender. I talked to a very nice lady and I asked if she had heard of the race and she did not, but she did say keep the phone number and if I get there after hours try and call because a lot of times they are working late and will meet you at the back door to give you the package. She did say on Saturday's she works till 3 or 4 and Saturday business hours are 8:30 - 12:00.
Nice to know:)

Address and phone: 310 D Street, Salida, CO (719) 539-2548 mf 7:30 - 5 sat 8:30 - 12
Woody

[febikes]

Where are the coldest nights and how cold do they get if you are riding at night?

I am on the fence about some of my colder weather gear.  Part of me is thinking that I have too much warmth (i.e. weight) but then I don't want to freeze to death.

I think peaks in CO can be in the high 20s/low 30s at night (or even a little colder on the absolute peak).  How about the rest of the route.  Where are the really cold spots?  I can always bivy if it gets too cold for riding but I don't really want to be putting down bivy on a peak and on some days I may find that I am riding late into the night or early in the morning.

[B_Bock]

Does anyone have a good system for attaching a Spot II to a pack or bag? The case it comes with is a piece of sh__! I plan on attaching my spot to the top of my seat bag.

[Cosmo K]

Don't know what seat bag you have but Revelate makes the Sprocket - for a spot tracker. 
https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=4&ProductID=18

[woody]

Don't know what seat bag you have but Revelate makes the Sprocket - for a spot tracker. 
https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=store.catalog&CategoryID=4&ProductID=18

And it works great.
On the newer revelate seat bags he added little loops in the corners to attach the sprocket.

Woody

[jryter]

I sewed some loops on the top of the seat bag and put some stretchy cord through. I also put a strap through the relevate patch for backup....

[groundedkiwi]

Hey guys,

What have y'all come up with for Bear Spray?  Everything that I'm finding that is dedicated bear spray is pretty large and heavy (half pound-ish).  Plenty of pepper spray/mace type items in much smaller sizes.  Does anyone know if I'm wasting my time with one of those?  I'm working on avoidance as the best strategy, but should I end up closer than intended to a bear, and piss her off, is something going to be better than nothing?  Just curious what the rest of ya's are thinking here.

(PS I have bear bell, whistle, and are pretty well researched in bear strategy)

Thanks all.
Grounded

[Cosmo K]

IMO 9 ounces is little to carry for piece of mind.  Bear sprays are formulated specifically for a bear type attack (fog, distance, formula, etc.).  Go with one of those not just a pepper /mace spray not specific for this type of attack (even though the formula may be similar the spray pattern's are most likely different).  Likelihood of being attacked minimal.  So are you feelin' lucky today?  Well are you?? (in my best clint eastwood voice)