Tour Divide 2013

[GregT]

I cannot seem to acquire Rocky gore tex socks anywhere in Los Angeles. REI said they were waiting for their restock shipment to come in, and then the next time I went in they said they would no longer carry them. Any recommendations for a place to purchase them before I leave for Banff on Tuesday?

Hey Jeff - I just checked Mountain Equipment Coop in Calgary and they appear to have stock in size 10 anyways.  You can always call them and have the socks put aside for pick up or arrange something like that for when you get to Calgary.  Here is the link to the website.
http://www.mec.ca/product/4000-338/rocky-stretch-gore-tex-oversocks-unisex/?f=10&q=gore%2Btex%2Bsocks

[serge]

MEC.ca has free shipping over 50$ or you can pay for fast shipping for about 15$. They take orders 7 days a week. You could have your order shipped to the Banff Y in time for the GD

Hey Jeff - I just checked Mountain Equipment Coop in Calgary and they appear to have stock in size 10 anyways.  You can always call them and have the socks put aside for pick up or arrange something like that for when you get to Calgary.  Here is the link to the website.
http://www.mec.ca/product/4000-338/rocky-stretch-gore-tex-oversocks-unisex/?f=10&q=gore%2Btex%2Bsocks

[Christopher R. Bennett]

I cannot seem to acquire Rocky gore tex socks anywhere in Los Angeles. REI said they were waiting for their restock shipment to come in, and then the next time I went in they said they would no longer carry them. Any recommendations for a place to purchase them before I leave for Banff on Tuesday?

Sizing can be a challenge so you may want to order two pairs to be safe. I may have a spare pair of 11's I can bring over if MEC can't help.

[tpkruse]

For those that have rented SPOT units through Track Leaders, have you received word about how we are receiving the units?

It was reported that last year they were just available for pickup in Banff, and this was how they were arranged for the AML last year (the organizer had them). So, I'm assuming that is the plan, but I have not received any notification to reflect that.

[Prometheus]

I cannot seem to acquire Rocky gore tex socks anywhere in Los Angeles. REI said they were waiting for their restock shipment to come in, and then the next time I went in they said they would no longer carry them. Any recommendations for a place to purchase them before I leave for Banff on Tuesday?

I just got mine from Nashbar with two day shipping.  Cost a little extra because of my poor planning, but I am sure will be worthwhile.

[mtbcast]

Gunnar Fehlau called in called in from Sparwood. He reports no snow to Sparwood.
http://mtbcast.com/site2/category/td13/

[MattL]

After listening to recent snow reports, this seems to have the makings of a very fast year with, unless fires close things up in NM, the full course open.  Not sure there is a contender in the pack for taking back the record, but what about the rest of the GC?  Could this be the fastest mid-pack year yet?

[ScottM]

For those that have rented SPOT units through Track Leaders, have you received word about how we are receiving the units?

Rentals will be at the Banff Y lodge / hostel front desk in Banff, after Wednesday.

[ScottM]

After listening to recent snow reports, this seems to have the makings of a very fast year with, unless fires close things up in NM, the full course open.  Not sure there is a contender in the pack for taking back the record, but what about the rest of the GC?  Could this be the fastest mid-pack year yet?

There are some contenders for the record, Craig Stappler being one.  It's going to be a good year.

[JEFFTHEROBOT]

Awesome tips guys! Thanks a lot.

[Pussywhipped]

My $$$ is on C$ to set a new Ss record. On a handmade steelie frame no less. Do I smell a new category? Btw C$ if you need a place to stay/eat/shower on your tour down to AW I got you covered outside of Taos. Check your Fb messages. Ill be in Santa Fe til Sunday night then back at the cabin so lmk. Otherwise ill spot stalk you from the Brazos!

[james-o]

Hey guys, the gps track follow the chaco alternate and the el malpais alternate.
I consider this an option or the Only track to follow???

- Craig, thanks for clarifying the options there, now I'm re-checking my notes, I'm riding w/o GPS so relying on ACA route and notes, plus route variation info from a Td vet over here.

I have the set route variations as -
the Gold Dust Trail after Boreas Pass (not on ACA map/notes, I'm hoping it's a single trail?)
the CDT Sapillo alt north of Silver City
 and also the Chaco + El Malpais alts that are optional for a faster race route. Is this all / correct to the GPS route, I understood the other alts are not part of the race route?

Thanks.

[Georg66]

- Craig, thanks for clarifying the options there, now I'm re-checking my notes, I'm riding w/o GPS so relying on ACA route and notes, plus route variation info from a Td vet over here.

I have the set route variations as -
the Gold Dust Trail after Boreas Pass (not on ACA map/notes, I'm hoping it's a single trail?)
the CDT Sapillo alt north of Silver City
 and also the Chaco + El Malpais alts that are optional for a faster race route. Is this all / correct to the GPS route, I understood the other alts are not part of the race route?

Thanks.

My experience from last year:
Gold Dust trail near Boreas Pass:  is a single trail ... and a nice ride!
Sapillo CDT north of Silver city: is definitely a single trail. But it feels only nice, after you have done it. Indeed, I was cursing M.Lee all the time during the ride ... :-)
And the other mentioned paved alts: I was happy to ride on pavement ... and to gain lots of miles :-))

[james-o]

And the other mentioned paved alts: I was happy to ride on pavement ... and to gain lots of miles :-))

Yeah I think so.. I was looking at the maps thinking 'aw, really? I want to be on the nicer routes..' but that'll change if I get that far, I'm sure ...

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Looks like he missed a turn! Hope he finds out soon and heads back ...

[Notsofastfreddy]

It looks like he missed the turn by the Togwotee Lodge?  Now he is headed south on the course, hopefully he is riding back to where he missed the turn and will turnaround.  If he could see the satellite view i am looking at, he would take the highway back to the missed turn.

[the tortoise]

I just got off the phone with Billy. He realized that he missed the turn and went back and re rode it. He is also in contact with Matt Lee. I saw his facebook videos this AM. Between the mud and wind it has been a tough couple of days for him!

[Mathewsen]

I just got off the phone with Billy. He realized that he missed the turn and went back and re rode it. He is also in contact with Matt Lee. I saw his facebook videos this AM. Between the mud and wind it has been a tough couple of days for him!

I asked Billy to report any snowed-in passes to us. (Brooks Lake Rd atop Togwotee is not surprisingly still buried). We exchanged a text msg. I did not communicate with Billy about his (apparent) mistake (remember, all SPOT data are always unofficial).

It wouldn't be anyone's place to contact Billy to inform him he made a mistake. It's probably also not kosher to discuss non-compliance here on the forum 'as it happens', so it might be used by tuned-in racers to correct their own bad behavior.

Not sure what to say about active racers hanging out here. It can't be banned, and I bet it happens frequently among those who ride motel room to motel room, but as soon as one begins to lurk here, one ceases to be racing. Excess time reading about the race you're in, ain't healthy. If a rider lets a bunch of forum armchairs shape his / her ride zeitgeist, then...bummer. The people on the ground are the real thing.

[forest_on_bike]

Amen to that!

[the tortoise]

I hope I didn't do anything to screw up Billy's run. With the spot trackers you get the good and the bad. You keep friends and family informed of where you are. It is much more fun than watching the Tour de France and in my opinion any other spectator sport. The problem is that we live in an information age and the spot tracker is a component of that. Then you got cell phones, smart phones and the internet. How do you control it? And since all these races are "non events" that is another can of worms.
Anyone who has done the race and has gone off course or taken a wrong turn or missed a turn knows what a PIA it is to go redo something. I am sure I added a half day to my ride last year just from doing these very things. One of my fellow racers pointed out a turn I missed and my first thought was "screw that" but upon thinking about it I went and re rode it. When you are hot or cold and hungry and tired the last thing you want to do is to go backwards! Then we get into trail magic! Ha ha!