Tour Divide 2010

[jimfab]

Everyone

I figured it may be time to start the 2010 Tour Divide discussion thread. Just over one week left to the start. What is everybody's thoughts on records being broken, weather forecasts, personal set ups, who will win? Who is your hometown hero you will be tracking? Racers chime in on your goals, and or plans to conquer your tour. Enjoy!

[jimfab]

I will start it off, I bet ML will be gunning for a new record this year, I am sure if weather permits he could do it and i hope he is able. Myself, I am gunning for the 3 week mark but will see how things go. I wish the weather to be 70 and partly cloudy with spectacular afternoon thunderstorms that come in when i am under the cover of a small mountain town cafe with some sort of coffee drink. My only other goal is to make some new friends, and return home in one piece 20 lbs lighter with 2 full 4G memory cards and some new stories to tell. 

[elobeck]

Wind will be blowing a brisk 20 knots from the North from 5 am to 11 pm, beginning June 11 and lasting for 30 days, except in the basin, where it will occasionally shift direction to be at your back during all the zig zags.

[SuzM]

And in addition to favorable 20 knot winds, the monsoon season that we are currently experiencing in the Northwest is melting all of the snow off the passes :-) 

[Marshal]

My set up can be seen here: http://desertmountaindivide.blogspot.com/2010/05/ok-from-front-and-finishing-at-rear.html

My 1st goal is of course the typical ‘just finish’.
And my personal (realistic) time goal is to hit Antelope Wells around 25 days.  

However perhaps my real goal is to have a ‘good race’—for me that mean’s I stay focused, in a racing frame of mind, make good food/rest/logistical choices along the way, all to optimize my personal potential.  

As needed I will drop it down a notch to pull off a ‘finish’ but at the heart of the matter it’s the ‘racing’ that animate’s me.  And even though for me, it’s racing at the back of the pack, it’s still a race to me.  

In other words I may not be able to ride very fast but I plan to ‘race’ the entire route.  And hopefully finish in front of the guy or gal right behind me, and maybe nip by the one right ahead.

Marshal Bird


Luck & Cheers to all the starters!!

[elobeck]

I've learned to be cautious of individuals with a good sense of humility and self deprecation, as those are very often the riders that finish near the top with grace. The braggarts on the other hand....

That being said, my goal is to finish, but the overarching MO is to expect nothing, and that way I won't be disappointed.

[jimfab]

everybody

7 day weather forecast not so hot. Looks like a good chance of rain through Wednesday, hopefully the storm will blow through and leave sunny skies for the 11th. New moon starting the 12th.  http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/71122.html . I can tell you first hand that the summertime high pressure has taken its place over the desert southwest, I believe this is the cause of the northern track of summer storm systems. They predict 108-110 temps by this weekend here in Phoenix, i can't wait to get out of here. 37/67 in Banff. Anybody in the Northwest notice anything?

T-8 - Jim

[robinb]

everybody

7 day weather forecast not so hot. Looks like a good chance of rain through Wednesday, hopefully the storm will blow through and leave sunny skies for the 11th. New moon starting the 12th.  http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/71122.html . I can tell you first hand that the summertime high pressure has taken its place over the desert southwest, I believe this is the cause of the northern track of summer storm systems. They predict 108-110 temps by this weekend here in Phoenix, i can't wait to get out of here. 37/67 in Banff. Anybody in the Northwest notice anything?

T-8 - Jim

start day in banff looks good actually - at least as of today...

http://www.theweathernetwork.com/fourteenday/caab0016?ref=qlink_lt_14day

sparwood shows some showers possible on saturday. 

FWIW the banff forecast is much, MUCH nicer than what we have been having for the last few weeks - i will take it...

[wookieone]

Yeah all Tour Dividers, best of luck to all! We will be watching and routing you on. Remember while we are all going about our dull everyday lives you will be out there attempting such an amazing feat. So when things are breaking down, keep your head up and keep trying!!! Suffer for us all with a smile! Jefe

[redtabby]

I'd guess that there would be some SNOTEL sites in the vicinity of the route in various places.  Anyone have any idea how this year's snowpack compares to other divide racing years?  Here in the Washington Cascades we've seen a cool, wet spring which has left a good amount of snow intact which normally would be runoff by now.

[robinb]

anyone out there enjoying trying to put on a couple extra lbs. before the race?

[Mathewsen]

I'd guess that there would be some SNOTEL sites in the vicinity of the route in various places.  Anyone have any idea how this year's snowpack compares to other divide racing years?  Here in the Washington Cascades we've seen a cool, wet spring which has left a good amount of snow intact which normally would be runoff by now.

tourdivide.org has about as comprehensive a weather resources section as any geeked-out divide racer or armchair gripper could want or need.
http://tourdivide.org/weather_resources

of interest to me are things like historical snowpack maps and historical el nino/la nina records.

i'm not sure what it means in the long-term climatological scheme of things, but in the past three years many places on the northern half of the route have rec'd 30-50% of their entire annual snowpack in late april and may.

this year should be a nice display of extremes on course, with late snowpack melt/cool conditions from banff down through to south pass, and (predicted) warmer than normal conditions beyond that. I for one would be happy to pull off a finish at the border before july rolls around and monsoonal humidity creeps in. as we saw w/ last year's biblical weather, diurnal t-storms and monsoonal flow have the biggest impact on pace--and emotional health.

the 'snowy pass report' as of wednesday 6/2 is: Red meadow (MT) about a mile of 1-2ft deep corn snow, and Togwotee (WY) a couple of miles of intermittant mud and snow on brooks lake road (descending togwotee). with any luck WY will improve before racers get there.

[KootenayB]

Typing this from Fernie, BC.

High elevation snowpack this spring was record low (Morrissey Ridge, ~1900 m altitude) (record is since mid-80s).  Has been a rainy spring however, and is continuing to rain or shower throughout Sparwood to Roosville region.  Would predict that little snow if any will be encountered on route in this section.

Banff/Canmore region has had more spring snows, but again it wasn't a big snowpack year there either.

Have fun!

[Slowerthensnot]

Good luck to all!  well be enjoying arm chairing it this year =)

[phil_rad]

As a rookie, I'm just going to try and finish. I have 32 days before I fly back home. I would like to be done in less than 27. We'll see how my body and mind adapt to the rhythms of the Divide.
I'm really looking forward to the race, been preparing since last july. I feel ready.
Good luck to all starters and see you in Banff!

Phil

[multisportscott]

Good luck to all of this years racers.
I will be "watching" closely from New Zealand with extra interest having toured the GDMBR last year.
Have fun and stay safe, Scott in NZ

[ScottM]

The tracker is online!  You can see many SPOTs already registering in Banff.

http://tourdivide.org/leaderboard

Weather is looking a little rainy for start day, but better than previous forecasts.  Clearing up after Friday afternoon.

Friday
Sunny with cloudy periods. Increasing cloudiness late in the morning with 30 percent chance of rain in the afternoon. High 15C(59F). UV index 7 or high. Friday night cloudy periods. 30 percent chance of rain early in the evening. Clearing in the evening. Low 2C(36F).


Good luck to all ~49 Divide Racers.  It's going to be exciting to watch.

[DaveC]

It's been raining almost every day here for two+ weeks.  I reckon things will be a bit boggy for the first week or so.

[Jeff Tomassetti]

Hi, I am brand new here. My nephew and I are going from Banff to Jackson Hole starting July 1st. We have adopted bikepacking/racing current rigs leaning towards the comfortable side (such as real tents).
We are rooting for Kent P. and Marshall!

[klhall222]

10:50 est.  The spot dots have start up Spray Ave.  ...wish I were there.  Gods speed and safety to all involved!