TDR 2012

[jryter]

Well here is my long awaited gear list if your interested.

http://livethinline.blogspot.com/

Jarral

[febikes]

Here is my gear list, lots of rookie mistakes; please let me know what I am doing wrong via my blog....
http://febikes.com/2012/05/25/packing-for-the-tdr/

[THE LONG RANGER]

Here is my gear list, lots of rookie mistakes; please let me know what I am doing wrong via my blog....
http://febikes.com/2012/05/25/packing-for-the-tdr/

Play around and make sure the GPS/SPOT are happy so close together. I think SPOT says not to put it next to any other GPS device, for whatever reason.

Going old-school with the windshield-reflector as sleeping pad?

[groundedkiwi]

Jarral,

My whole kit doesn't weigh much. Easily under 10 lbs before food and water anyway. (from your blog)

So what are you including/excluding in that weight? I'm way above that but my packing list looks pretty similar to yours....

[krefs]

A few considerations I'd ponder based on gear lists I've seen here today and elsewhere:

- Imagine how cold it will be if you get stuck riding in cool temps and rain for several days straight. Got sufficient warm clothes for that? Is your rain gear truly waterproof, or does the manufacturer just claim it is?

- Recovery at night is more important than almost anything else. Sleeping on the lightest possible pad might not be the best for your body.

- Don't underestimate all the parts on your bike that can wear out or break, or how abrasive the mud in the West can be. Some stretches are as long as 800 miles in between bike shops. Make sure you've got the parts and tools necessary to fix anything on your bike that could reasonably fail. Just look back to previous years' race discussions for an idea of how common such failures are.

- None of these gear lists posted today really have any minor first-aid kits that I can see. That seems like a bit of oversight in my opinion. A big part of being self-sufficient is having the knowledge and materials to take care of injuries.

- Bear spray: Sleeping next to your bike, smelling of food, a grizz happens upon you. How good are you at fighting a bear as you try to extricate yourself from your cozy sleeping bag and bivy? The odds are slim that this'll ever happen, but how much of a gamble are you willing to take?

My advice: stop counting grams and plan for adversity and challenge of all types, especially if you're new to this sort of event/experience. These kits look acceptable for fair weather and happy bodies, but as soon as something goes to shit (bad weather, bike failure, crash, etc.), things get tough. Not having one crucial replacement part could cost you a day or more on the trail. Not having enough warm clothing for the often cold and miserable mountain weather this often race includes can be a major safety issue. And nothing is more important than doing everything you can to take care of your body.

And keep in mind that the weather we had (at least the leaders) during the 2011 race was about as perfect as it could get, with the exception of the NM heat. Look back to the miserable weather and awful mud from the 2010 and 2009 editions for a reminder of what could be...broken bikes, broken souls, and high attrition rates.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Kurt,

Thanks as always for your sage advice.

One of the most helpful gear lists I've come across is at:

http://salsacycles.com/culture/kurt_refsniders_2011_tour_divide_setup/

By some fast dude who also like searching for rocks ...

[DenisVTT]

Not gonna be able to add much text to what Kurt said, he's really the expert. So I'll add some pictures.

Sometimes there's snow on the ground (that's northern Montana, 6 miles of this)



Not just in one place. That's just north of Steamboat, CO (another 6 miles of this):



Sometimes the snow isn't just already on the ground: it's falling from the sky. That's June 20 in Frisco, CO:



And there is snow even in the south. That's Brazos Ridge at around 10,000 ft in New Mexico. I spent the night next to that snow drift. It was a bit cold.



As I was NoBo, I started with fairly limited cold gear. But when I got to Frisco and woke up to that snow storm, I went to a ski shop and bought some more appropriate gloves and other cold weather gear. You'll probably be able to do the reverse, ditch the heavier cold gear by the time you reach southern Colorado. Keep in mind that the highest elevations are in the south, though (middle of New Mexico to middle of Colorado)

[jryter]

oops I do have spare brake pads for both wheels, adapter for valve, 1st aid kit, and some other stuff I didn't put down like hat/balaclava, warm gloves, warm socks, shoe covers etc. Writing it with 5yr old hopping on me. I didn't weigh it too carefully actually so would be more and no food . I ride in the snow a lot. Not so much in the rain but have been in it enough to know I don't like it..... I might have forgotten other stuff to write down....  Good luck!

[candrus]

Cough!
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=78090&src=nha

[aaron w]

Salida is absolutely thick with smoke this morning from the Gila wildfire.  I'd estimate visibility at about one mile. 

[ride MT]

On the "Don't skimp on bear spray" thoughts: I live in SW MT, and personally know TWO people who have been attacked by griz and luckily lived, but were severely injured. Bears are no joke. Carry REAL bear spray on your handlebars or backpack strap on your chest or waist where you can reach it in one second. My one friend had his on his backpack when he was attacked and could never reach it. He had his scalp peeled off like an onion skin. Please read these links:

http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/safety/wildlife/bears/bearSpray.html
http://fwp.mt.gov/recreation/safety/wildlife/bears/bearEncounter.html

A few folks were eaten in Yellowstone Park this past year as well: they had no spray, and no idea about bear safety. Be afraid, be informed, and protect yourself!

[candrus]

The west half of the Gila is now closed.  Our route is the east boundary of the closure area.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/gila/alerts-notices

[candrus]

Correction: north of Wall Lake our route is the east boundary of the closure area.

Anyone know what riding is like on Highway 12 and Highway 180?

[jryter]

Here is my gear list, lots of rookie mistakes; please let me know what I am doing wrong via my blog....
http://febikes.com/2012/05/25/packing-for-the-tdr/

Just out of curiosity
What are olive oil and oatmeal for. I didn't see a stove.   
What is the emergency bivy for if you already have one?
personally when riding if I have a wind/rain layer over either knee warmers or tights I am warm so I just take leg warmers.
Good start.
It would be a great study in psych on what people take. I always plan light and at the last minute throw in extra things.

[THE LONG RANGER]

It would be a great study in psych on what people take. I always plan light and at the last minute throw in extra things.

nosce te ipsum. Hopefully, before you take this on, your entire kit has been tested in the field, and you know its strengths and weaknesses. Bringing so little, you're not going to be able to deal with every weather/condition scenario you'll encounter completely perfectly, but hopefully with a little trail gumption, you'll get through it safely. Be prepared to be cold, wet, tired, hungry, miserable and generally uncomfortable. Be prepared to use things not for their intended purposes. Remember through all that to Maintain, above all else.

[Foster]

My frame is cracked...I was warned and now its real(Superfly is Super Cracked).  Considering my options right now, not sure if the warranty will be here by the time I leave and I'm not sure if I want even ride the new one if it gets here in time.  Looking at Ti frames, see if I can't get a bike loan or something.  Fuck, I feel like punching a wall.

[febikes]

Just out of curiosity
What are olive oil and oatmeal for. I didn't see a stove.  
What is the emergency bivy for if you already have one?
personally when riding if I have a wind/rain layer over either knee warmers or tights I am warm so I just take leg warmers.
Good start.
It would be a great study in psych on what people take. I always plan light and at the last minute throw in extra things.

Oatmeal with cold water is really very good and tasty.

Olive oil is nice straight up and good just before bed.

I am scared of the potential for cold and as such have the emg bivy for a heat reflective layer in my sleep system as a last resort if thing go bad.

[sniz]

My frame is cracked...I was warned and now its real(Superfly is Super Cracked).  Considering my options right now, not sure if the warranty will be here by the time I leave and I'm not sure if I want even ride the new one if it gets here in time.  Looking at Ti frames, see if I can't get a bike loan or something. I feel like punching a wall.

Sorry to hear about your situation!  Had the same thing happen early May with a Niner Air 9 scandium, luckily a very appreciated bike shop came to the rescue, and had a new Air 9 hydroform in 2 weeks.

Make sure if you switch frames, that the components you already have line up.  With the new Niner, the headset and bottom bracket wouldn't transfer.  Also if you're running a frame bag, make sure the dimensions are "close".  Best of luck getting something together, it will all make sense as you petal away from Banff.

[THE LONG RANGER]

My frame is cracked...I was warned and now its real(Superfly is Super Cracked).

Ugh, that does suck - the mechanic at my LBS found a crack on my CrossCheck on Monday - the LBS was already on the phone with Surly, before I could make a decision on what to do with and a replacement frame has already been delivered to the shop. Miracles happen! Don't give up hope!

[sniz]

By the way, anyone here coming down from Boreas Pass this afternoon?  Frame bags and aerobars on fat wheels is peculiar sight.