Tour Divide 2013

[Marshal]

My broken record on Navigation,

To each his or her own-- but if you are doing the route for the first time and you want to maximize your daily miles (ie you plan to race to your personal limits) then a dedicated GPS is really the only way to go.
  
Yes you need a plan B which could be a 2nd GPS or some combination cycle computer/route sheet/map etc-- but for near-100% “no-stop-no-extra miles” confidence at each and every turn a full time dedicated GPS is really the only choice.  ie: simple, near  foolproof, brainless navigation = max miles per day

And in addition to being the clear miles per day winner I would argue the right dedicated AA GPS with the right back up is going to be as lite-weight, compact, durable & over all useful as any other method short of being on your second or more race

Marshal

[sthig]

to follow up - I'm okay with cold, I'm okay with disasters - I just need to get smarter about how to handle them.  Yesterday was a huge breakthrough to take a bunch of negatives and flip it. 

[sthig]

also, I have no problem dealing with a level of cold-suffering as well.  As long as my toes are not wet and it's below freezing then I can handle the searing cold I deal with in my extremities.

we have another cold wave coming through next week - so I'm going to prep for it.  But until that time, I had a nice, nice ride in 77 degree weather today!!!

[sthig]

I don't think I know anyone who consistently trains 20 hours per week. Should be more than enough for base fitness. When I raced TD my theory was that my regular riding and racing would cover most of the bases. I didn't really do anything more or different and I felt good on the divide. Example, I raced my last normal race about 12 days beforehand, didn't switch to divide mode until about 10 days out. So if you are a bike racer, with race fitness and some long rides thrown in, actual fitness shouldn't be a concern.Bring the appropriate gear for your individual needs. If you are typically cold, then a warmer sleep system and an extra layer will be worth far more than the weight they add to you kit. Having the right gear can be the difference between staying relatively comfortable and a dnf. I carried head to toe rain gear and was glad I did. I also remember touching the cold threshold of my clothing at some point every day until Colorado.Off the cuff answer, "Well then you're F***ed!" But seriously, for this type of event this is probably more important than fitness or gear. Take opportunities in you life and riding, to train your mental toughness. Between now and June 14th, when anything bad, tough or unexpected happens to you, Instead of getting upset, embrace it, look at it as a chance to practice positivity and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Stappy, thanks for this and I appreciate it.  My coach has me slated to do some pretty epic training before hand (like in May I'm supposed to tackle an 800 mile week).  I do race, I enjoy it and will be doing some mountain bike centuries, 12 hours and a lot of training.  I do intervals every tuesday and generally on long training days I'll pick a climb that causes me to go anaerobic (I usually save it for the end of the day). 

[marco_n]

Here is the start list: up to 50... and some who have said they are riding the GD haven't listed yet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AnV6xT65HkPRdFRTWGUyNTRnWGNrNkZsbVVPNTViNkE

Hello Christopher, I sent my LOI in December, but I do not see my name written in this file ... can you tell me how to "formalize" my presence for the grand depart in June? can you help me for this?

will my first experience at GTD, but I have accumulated several hours in the saddle (06/12/24 hour races, and race the hellas trans mountains in greece, 465km/14'500m of elevation gain one stage/non-stop in 39 hours)
my goal is to finish the great divide tour in 18 days (or less) with my fantastic salsa fargo...
I have seen many interesting topics in these topics, I will have many things to get ideas!

thanx
Marco from Italy

[bpeschka]

Marco,

Go to the google doc spreadsheet and make your own entry.

Hello Christopher, I sent my LOI in December, but I do not see my name written in this file ... can you tell me how to "formalize" my presence for the grand depart in June? can you help me for this?

will my first experience at GTD, but I have accumulated several hours in the saddle (06/12/24 hour races, and race the hellas trans mountains in greece, 465km/14'500m of elevation gain one stage/non-stop in 39 hours)
my goal is to finish the great divide tour in 18 days (or less) with my fantastic salsa fargo...
I have seen many interesting topics in these topics, I will have many things to get ideas!

thanx
Marco from Italy

[marco_n]

 
added my name now!!
thanx

What is NoBo or SoBo???

[Blackhound]

North or South bound. Banff start is SoBo.

[marco_n]

North or South bound. Banff start is SoBo.

Ok!! thanx! I prefer SoBo, I like downhill  !

[jgoodlet]

Just bought my plane ticket.  I'll be flying in the afternoon of June 12th out of Portland, OR.  Any other confirmed PDX racers out there?  Now I need to research where to stay once I've landed...

[sthig]

hopefully this won't be covered under "spam" but just in case anyone is interested, I'm raising money for my trip and am making my own Divide t-shirts that go hand in hand with my site.  I design and print my own tee's, I've been designing and illustrating for some 20 odd years (I do the covers to the Codillera)



here is the link for information

[Mental-Miles]

Hi outthere,

I do have the ACA-Map-set from 2008 and planing to buy a current set just to make sure I am updated with all necessary info. But: Does somebody knows if there will be a new edition of ACA-Maps before this year TD? So ordering maps now or waiting? Till? Any suggestion from this audience here?

Cheers

M-M

[WatermelonSugar]

Nope, there aren't going to be any updated maps before the '13 start, so just order away!!!

[sthig]

where can you get the GPX files again?  The ones that would be needed to TD13?

[WatermelonSugar]

GPX files are right here
http://www.topofusion.com/divide/gps.php 

[sthig]

ah. thanks!!!

[pickupel]

Hey Guys,

Quick question: I'm getting some new wheels built for the TD and am using Stans Crest rims. I had been planning on running WTB TCS Nano tires, but the Stans website suggests that WTB tyres aren't compatible with their rims. Has anyone tried WTB tires on a Stans rim, if so do they work together? Does anyone have any suggestions on other tires that would be good for the TD.

Ed

[Blackhound]

Can't comment on WTB tyres but 3 of us from UK ran Conti Race Kings in 2011 with 1 puncture between us.  That rider reckoned he got it overnight where he left his bike.  All running tubeless, 2 x 29 and 1 x 26 size.  J.E. James advertising them at £14.99 each at the moment as well in 29 x 2.2 flavour!

Modded to 'Race' Kings

[kcampagna]

Hey Guys,

Quick question: I'm getting some new wheels built for the TD and am using Stans Crest rims. I had been planning on running WTB TCS Nano tires, but the Stans website suggests that WTB tyres aren't compatible with their rims. Has anyone tried WTB tires on a Stans rim, if so do they work together? Does anyone have any suggestions on other tires that would be good for the TD.

Ed

Ed,

If you want to run WTB tires on the Stans rim you will have to run the "race" non tubeless tire. I've been running that setup for a while now.  With Stans oversize rims, you will have a hell of a time "trying" to get that tire on. : )     

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Can't comment on WTB tyres but 3 of us from UK ran Conti Race Kings in 2011 with 1 puncture between us.  That rider reckoned he got it overnight where he left his bike.  All running tubeless, 2 x 29 and 1 x 26 size.  J.E. James advertising them at £14.99 each at the moment as well in 29 x 2.2 flavour!

Did you run these on the Stan's rims? It's a real challenge to mount the Maxxis tyres I'm using so I'm having second thoughts about running them in case I do get a puncture.