Tour Divide 2013

[Ryan Correy]

If anyone is interested, I have started to organize a supported tour of the route from Banff to the Hammer Nutrition headquarters in Whitefish, MT. It will take place after the grand depart this year, from August 23-30, including some training days in Canmore. Those of you who are interested in "sampling" the first few days and gaining some valuable veteran knowledge, check out my Facebook event page at http://www.facebook.com/events/388327464573517/

Cheers,

Ryan Correy
Adventure Cyclist & 'Fueling Guru' for Hammer Nutrition in Canada

[Mental-Miles]

Hi Folks,

I just started the route preparation and have got a few Q, may someone got some helpful links/hints:

- Does someone got the GPS-Data of the snow detours of TD 2011 and 2012?
- Which GPS Map to be run on a Garmin etrex30 suggested to be the best?
- Is any free/open map available?

Thanks for answers in advance! Happy Miles-Eating!

M-M

[woody]

Here's the link for GPX files for 2011 and 2012
No snow detours in 2012

http://www.topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

I got USA GPS maps from http://www.gpsfiledepot.com/

I ended up purchasing Canada

Woody

[Bsimpson]

I'm in for the grand depart.  Been looking at buying my ticket into Calgary on the 11th but thought I'd see if anyone was driving up and needed a driving buddy.  I'm in central PA but could fly into somewhere closer.

[Foster]

I'm in for the grand depart.  Been looking at buying my ticket into Calgary on the 11th but thought I'd see if anyone was driving up and needed a driving buddy.  I'm in central PA but could fly into somewhere closer.

I waited till 3 months out to buy my plane ticket, from this time last year to now it went down in price by about 60 dollars. 

[hikernks]

I'm in for the grand depart.  Been looking at buying my ticket into Calgary on the 11th but thought I'd see if anyone was driving up and needed a driving buddy.  I'm in central PA but could fly into somewhere closer.

I also hope to get there on the 11th.  I may end up starting on Thursday instead of with the grand depart Friday, just to get an extra day of riding in.  Would anyone else be interested in joining me for a mini-GD Thursday?

[sthig]

I'm there on the 10th plane ticket bought and have reservation at hostel

[Bsimpson]

I waited till 3 months out to buy my plane ticket, from this time last year to now it went down in price by about 60 dollars. 

I plan to use frequent flyer miles so don't want to miss out on open tickets.  Debating the 10th also.

[eadidas]

Planning to have my wife drive me from Ohio, to be there on the 11 or 12....

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Slightly off topic ...

I'm editing Volume 4 of the Cordillera which is on experiences from the 2012 Tour Divide race.

If there is anyone who participated and would like to contribute it is not too late! Drop an e-mail to chris [at] lpcb.org and I'll tell you what to do. You can join such noteworthies as Ollie and Estzer who have provided great stories, as well as quite a few from people like myself who didn't make it to the end...

For for those of you who promised me something and haven't finished ... consider this another not so gentle reminder   We want to have it out next month so it can become the best possible Christmas present for a Tour Divider. Of course it also helps the late David Blumenthal's daughter's education fund as that is where all the proceeds go.

[Foster]

Slightly off topic ...

I'm editing Volume 4 of the Cordillera which is on experiences from the 2012 Tour Divide race.

If there is anyone who participated and would like to contribute it is not too late! Drop an e-mail to chris [at] lpcb.org and I'll tell you what to do. You can join such noteworthies as Ollie and Estzer who have provided great stories, as well as quite a few from people like myself who didn't make it to the end...

For for those of you who promised me something and haven't finished ... consider this another not so gentle reminder  We want to have it out next month so it can become the best possible Christmas present for a Tour Divider. Of course it also helps the late David Blumenthal's daughter's education fund as that is where all the proceeds go.

I will have you mine on Thursday . 

[mkomp]

eadidas, your from Ohio....not many of us into this. Where are you from? I'm also a fellow flat-lander and will be at the start in 13. I did it in 2009 and looking for a normal start this time.
Mike

[hruss]

I made resevations at Banff ywca last night for the 2013 tour divide. Plan to arrive in Banff on the 10th.

[hikernks]

hruss,

Good to see someone from close to home riding.  I'll have to make sure I remember my KU jersey ;-)

If you don't mind me asking, how much was the reservation?  I'm 99% sure I've got the days off, just waiting on the official word, just trying to get a cost estimate.  Also, if you'd be interested in meeting up for a training ride or what-not, I think you're only about 2 1/2 - 3 hrs away.

[hruss]

KU jersey uh Yea it would be nice to ride with someone who is also doing the divide ride. I am not sure I know how to train for this. I am just about to take somewhat of a rest for this month. I have been riding quite a bit this summer and fall. Nothing too big, some 100 mile road rides and several single track mtb races. Just did the Berryman Epic Trail Race down at Steelville, MO last Saturday and ran the KC 1/2 Marathon the Saturday before and am a little tired. I have one more single track race at Knob Noster, MO on November 10th and plan to do the marathon portion. I am 64 years old so kind of slow. I got my reservation at the Banff Y dorm and they quoted me the 2012 rates which may change. It was $33:00 per night with a 10% discount. Hook me up on facebook if you would like and maybe we can share info on how to do this thing. My name is Hal Russell.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

I made resevations at Banff ywca last night for the 2013 tour divide. Plan to arrive in Banff on the 10th.

When you book at the YWCA be sure to ask for the Tour Divide group rate to get the 10% discount (thanks Matt!).

[bikingbethany]

Hi all! Intent is GD 2013. My partner Seb and I will be coming all the way from Canberra, Australia! Been getting the gear ready, doing the miles and generally getting excited (and a little scared)! Just put my name on the spreadsheet, will send a letter of intent sometime soon I guess. We'll be staying at the Banff YWCA before the start, but plan to be in town before the 10th. Look forward to talking to you all about it in depth over the months to come and seeing you on the start line! You can follow our progress here: bikingbethany.wordpress.com 

[Mental-Miles]

Hi folks,

I´m planing on 24/25 Days for the TD13, so an average on about 110 miles per day. One question to the veterans: Would this time-schedule make sense?

Day (average milage / real distance milage) Location (note)
Day 01: (0/0) Banf  7th June 8 a.m.
Day 01: (110/109) Elkford (Motel)
Day 02: (220/253) Roosville (close to)
Day 03: (330/353) Whitfish (close to)
Day 04: (440/465) Holland Lake Lodge (close to)
Day 05: (550/563) Lincoln (close to)
Day 06: (660/693) Butte (close to)
Day 07: (770/779) Elkhorn Hot Springs (at least to)
Day 08: (880/883,5) Lima (at least to)
Day 09: (990/968,5) Sawtell Ressort (& far behind)
Day 10: (1100/1080,5) Buffalo Valley Cafe (& a few more miles)
Day 11: (1210/1242) Pinedale (close to)
Day 12: (1320/1328) Atlantic City (with an early start)
Day 13: (1430/1462) Rawlings (as close to as possible)
Day 14: (1540/1548) Brush Mountain Lodge (around)
Day 15: (1650/1680) Kremmling (as close to as possible)
Day 16: (1760/1763) Como
Day 17: (1870/1882) Sargents (as close to as possible)
Day 18: (1980/1992) Del Norte (as close to as possible)
Day 19: (2090/2041) Plataro (and some more miles)
Day 20: (2200/2186) Abiquiu (& a few miles into the climb)
Day 21: (2310/2265) Cuba seriously passing as close towards Grants as possible
Day 22: (2420/2469) as close to Pie Town as possible (picking a PIE breakfirst next day)
Day 23: (2530/2626) as close to Mimbres as possible
Day 24: (2640/2645) Silver City
Day 25: (2750/2769) Antelepe Wells

Planing is traning! Cheers M-M

[THE LONG RANGER]

I´m planing on 24/25 Days for the TD13, so an average on about 110 miles per day. One question to the veterans: Would this time-schedule make sense?

As a rookie, it may make sense to keep things fluid, as you're inevitably going to hit Unforeseen Circumstances, like mechanicals, weather, etc.  Mentally, it may be crushing to not feel as if you're on the schedule you want to be on, if something happens. It's easier to feel as if you can throw in the towel. It wouldn't be a bad idea to keep tabs on how far away various resupply points are, and do a Real Time Analysis on where you are, what you need to do, and what sort of resources you have (are you too tired? Is it too dark out? Weather turning? Enough Food? Water?)

If you're racin', you seriously are going to be getting up, riding until you can't, and then: going back to sleep. Always stopping at a town/resupply point to bed down or otherwise is costly, when it comes to your speed. There's plenty of camping in the sticks in between. Anyways, $0.02: Be fluid like water.

[Eszter]

Hi folks,

I´m planing on 24/25 Days for the TD13, so an average on about 110 miles per day. One question to the veterans: Would this time-schedule make sense?

Instead of choosing a target milage per day, I'd take a look at the tracks of people who'd finished it in 24/25 days and see where they slept each night and plan around that.  The terrain/weather/everything is so variable that on some days, you'll be done with 110 miles before lunch, and other days, it'll take 24 hours (read: southern Colorado/Northern NM).