Tour Divide 2013

[LenzMan]

DAMN....... i was going to contribute to volume 4....I have/had great stories and hundreds of photos.....I'll try to get my act together for volume 5....

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Regarding photos - What I don't understand, but I thing I know the answer, is the fact why so many books in the US and Canada are decoreted inside just with black and white photos? I've held countless books like hiking guides, trip reports and so on in my hands. The cover - always in color, but inside only black and white photos. I was very astonished the first time I saw that. Here in Germany it's hard to sell these special kinds of books just with black and white photos inside, even if the edition is running in low quantities. Color photos are a sales argument!
Of course, books with more color photos are increasing the price and mimimize the profit at the end. But maybe it is worth to think about including some more color photos for the fore coming 2013 edition?? Even if the price of the book is a little bit higher. But the most important thing is that in the end it shouldn't reduce the donation for the college fund!

           Michael

Michael,

I asked Eric Bruntjen who is doing the final edit and getting it published by Lulu.com. He said that it would increase the cost of the book from $15 to $50. I guess that is because Lulu.com is a 'Print on Demand' service.

BUT ... I would assume that if you buy the soft copy the photos would be in colour. You could then print it off yourself on a colour printer. But you wouldn't have as nice a cover!

And for all those who keep on writing me and asking when ... Eric has promised soon!

[chainagent]

Thanks Christopher for your feedback. Indeed an incredible blow up in price. Nobody would buy an "undercover" book for $50.

    Michael

[mfairlie]

Whats up Tour divide 2013 crew! It will be a pleasure to share the trail with you all this summer.

With that being said, Does anyone know any good upgrades I can make to my Salsa Fargo that will make the trip a more enjoyable experience?

[pickupel]

Hi mfairlie,

I'll see you in Banff! Which model Fargo do you have?

Ed

[mfairlie]

I have a 2012 Fargo 3. One thing I'm gonna change is the handle bars. I just cant get comfortable with the drop bars. Probably go with a low rise and attach some the to it.

[pickupel]

Nice — the Fargo looks like a great bike for the Divide and some pretty quick times seem to have been set on it. Looking at the spec the only immediate thing I would change are the rims (Alex XD Comp 29er — from the build list on the Salsa website). Some Alex rims came as stock on my cross bike and they were destroyed in half a season. I'm not a heavy guy, about 165lb, and haven't trashed a wheelset that quickly before. I have no experience with the exact model on there, and maybe I just had a bad experience, but that's my only suggestion! Other than that it looks like an awesome setup!

[Prometheus]

Hey Northbounders,

I am still undecided on direction of racing, but the biggest thing holding me back on northbound is trying to figure out travel home.  It seems like getting a no notice flight out of Canada might be difficult, and purchasing early would be a gamble based on race time. 

What do the northbounders typically do for getting home after the race?

[mikejolly]

For flights back from Calgary, I'll be winging it.  I'm in Houston, there are numerous flights per day direct Calgary-Houston, sorta pricey if purchased last minute.

[sthig]

I'm sure this has been asked - but when you make it to Mexico...who/what/any-ideas of what to do for transporation?

[linshepard]

Hey Northbounders,

I am still undecided on direction of racing, but the biggest thing holding me back on northbound is trying to figure out travel home.  It seems like getting a no notice flight out of Canada might be difficult, and purchasing early would be a gamble based on race time. 

What do the northbounders typically do for getting home after the race?

I plan to camp a night or two at Tunnel Mtn once I reach Banff. Messing with dates on Orbitz, ticket prices seem to drop quite a bit if one is purchased for a couple days out rather than next-day. Even with spending a few dollars exploring beautiful Banff I still anticipate it will cost less than buying a no-notice ticket. Plus, how can I not stay a few days in Canada after working so hard to get there?

[Veetack]

I'm sure this has been asked - but when you make it to Mexico...who/what/any-ideas of what to do for transporation?

From what I've heard, a lot of people arrange transportation to Albequerqe (sp?) or Phoenix fo ra flight home. For 2014, My father actually offered to pick me up in AW, then we're flying to Vegas for a few days from Alb, I guess that's a good way to cap it off.

[BigPoppa]

I'm sure this has been asked - but when you make it to Mexico...who/what/any-ideas of what to do for transporation?

There used to be a twice daily shuttle from the border to some towns off of the main interstate. (I have no idea if it still active. You could probably call the border station and ask.) You can also arrange for a pick up from a guy who does shuttle service in his car from silver city. I don't remember his name, I just had a dude stop me on the side of the road in Silver city and ask if I needed a ride. I said I did and he called the shuttle for me. They even watched my spot tracker and timed his arrival for when I hit AW.

It was pretty sweet. Especially considering the fact that my wife was supposed to pick me up but I beat my planned time by a week. She wasn't even going to fly in for like five days. That would have been a LONG wait in the border station.....

Really, you could just ride back up the highway to Lordsburg or something, catch a shuttle to Silver City or El Paso and fly out from there.

If you decide you want to contact the shuttle guy in Silver, call the bike shop there. I think they can put you in touch with him.

[hikernks]

I just had a dude stop me on the side of the road in Silver city and ask if I needed a ride. I said I did and he called the shuttle for me. They even watched my spot tracker and timed his arrival for when I hit AW.

Hey, you boys like Mexico?!  Haha, joking.

Thanks a lot for posting this.  That was really my last bit of planning, was getting back from AW.  I'll give the bike shop a call this afternoon, and I'll post what I found out. 

[BobM]

Just as long as you don't stop someone for directions and they say "You done taken a wrong turn."  <banjo music>

[BigPoppa]

Just as long as you don't stop someone for directions and they say "You done taken a wrong turn."  <banjo music>

I seriously have a video of when I pulled into Abiquiu of a guy sitting on the front porch of the B and B playing a banjo.

EPIC.

[chainagent]

I'm sure this has been asked - but when you make it to Mexico...who/what/any-ideas of what to do for transporation?

This is my main issue without having a suitable clue at the moment. My flight back to Germany is leaving from Vegas. A rough idea is to hire a shuttle from AW back to Silver City. No internet address or phone number of someone who is running a shuttle up to now. Worst case scenario is to ride the whole way back to Silver City. Great Lakes Aviation Airline is flighing out to Phoenix for fairly small money (bike transportation $50). In Phoenix I am going to rent a car for the last few days. I hope to ride the Rainbow Rim Trail before heading on to Vegas, because I missed them during my 2010 USA Bike trip due to very snowy conditions. Catching the train from Lordsburg or Deming is not an option for me, because you need a bike box and the train is not running every day.

                      Michael

[BobM]

Call Gila Hike & Bike in Silver City and they can hook you up with someone to pick you up in AW.  575-388-3222

EDIT:  The shuttle out of Mexico heading North originates in Mexico and I have never seen a number for them.  Call the AW border post and they may have info.  I couldn't find a phone for AW itself, but here's the info for the Deming and Lordsburg Stations:

Deming Station
3300 J Street
Deming, NM 88030-7146
Phone: (575) 544-6100
Fax: (575) 544-6199

Lordsburg Station
441 Duncan Highway
Lordsburg, NM 88045-1231
Phone: (575) 542-3221
Fax: (575) 542-8841

[hikernks]

Thank you sir, great info!

[Office-escape]

Hi bike addicts,
We are planning to ride the divide in 2013. Since we have only a time window between 05/25 - 06/30 we were wondering if there is a benefit riding northbound to avoid some of the snow...

1) is there a difference riding north vs southbound, regarding snow level (considering early start)?
2) if we go northbound, when/where do we have to expect the first snow?
3) seems not a lot of people riding full-suspension, any reasons against a fully, except weight?

Thanks in advance,
Office-escape