Tour Divide 2013

[BobM]

Whoa!  Somebody get off on the wrong side of the bike?? Doc asked if there IS a coupon code, not that he expects one and he also said he renewed his ACA membership.  As to the cue download - up until last year that's the way ACA delivered them - through email for free (with a pitch for a donation).

[DocTrike]

Justin,

Obviously you did not read my entire post! First I have been an ACA member since 2000, second I renewed my membership today as posted. I asked for no privilege what so ever, the site asks for a discount code, I wanted clarification! I asked for clarification of the process of obtaining the current cue sheets and what I needed to buy from ACA PERIOD!

Trying to ruffle feathers and stir up drama, instead of giving factual answers to queries does little to supporting the sport, the community, and ACA in general.

[hikernks]

Yeah, these MTBR forums can get really heated someti... Ohh, I thought I was somewhere else.  My bad.

[salsola]

Fire restrictions are beginning in NM.... 

No closures yet, but parts of the state have gone to stage II (no fires, no smoking, no explosive use, no having fun)

http://firerestrictions.us/nm/

Here in Santa Fe it doesn't seem as bad as 2011 or 2012, but the heat just starting kicking in the past few days.  90 degrees F in Hachita as I write this.

[Mauro_N]

Man, I really hope there isn't a fire reroute this year. If there is and the optional trail is closed as well, whats the next option? Any predictions on fires for this years race?

[salsola]

I predict there will be some.... Just kidding.  The last storm cycle that came through New Mexico dropped a little rain state wide, but hardly enough to offset the drought that is going on 3 years.  The Gila had some dry lightning and a few small starts, but I think crews have got on them early. On balance, this spring has been less hot, less windy and slightly wetter (but only very slightly) then the last few years.  But, the fire season is just getting started.

Last years big fire (290K acres) in the Gila started May 9th.
The big fires in 2011 on the Santa Fe Forest (Los Conchas on the Jemez side and Pacheco on the Sangre de Cristo side) started June 17 and 26th. 

I'd be surprised if there isn't moderately sized fire somewhere in New Mexico by the time the race is underway.  Hopefully it will be put out quickly and not incinerate another quarter million acres. 

If you want stay up to date:
http://nmfireinfo.com/

[forest_on_bike]

FYI  - if you have been waiting to book your flight to Calgary, prices just dropped by about ~$100 for my route (San Francisco to Calgary). It might be a good time to book your flight now.

Also, anyone planning on riding from Calgary to Banff on June 12? It would be great to ride with other people.

Here is my tentative plan:
June 11th: Start riding away from the Calgary airport around 3pm and stay near Cochrane
June 12th: Ride to Banff

[marco_n]

Good infos about fire alert! Thanx!
But: in case of closed roads or trails, we ride the "official" alternate route of the ACA maps, or others different roads?

If the firsts riders rides the official track and the track will be closed on the days after, all the others "racers" will be scratched if ride another way? (I think no but...) There are a method to comunicate at someone the road closure or the impossibility to ride the official route?

(it is correct and comprensible? i hope, but sorry in advance for my super BASIC english!)

[BobM]

Good infos about fire alert! Thanx!
But: in case of closed roads or trails, we ride the "official" alternate route of the ACA maps, or others different roads?

If the firsts riders rides the official track and the track will be closed on the days after, all the others "racers" will be scratched if ride another way? (I think no but...) There are a method to comunicate at someone the road closure or the impossibility to ride the official route?

(it is correct and comprensible? i hope, but sorry in advance for my super BASIC english!)

Your English is very good!  The mtbcast.com toll-free telephone number usually has a message posted for riders when there is a known, official alternate in the case of fires or snow.  When the tourdivide.org website is back up you can read the official rules, but basically if you get to a place and it is blocked because of a fire closure, you should choose the shortest route around the closure.  In the case of closures no rider is scratched, but it will be impossible to compare times with other years and other riders who did not have to take the reroute.

[ron]

pickupel and Cosmo -- very sorry to hear this isn't going to be your year. Rest up, get better, and I look forward to watching you guys hit it hard in '14.

[stappy]

Also, anyone planning on riding from Calgary to Banff on June 12? It would be great to ride with other people.

Here is my tentative plan:
June 11th: Start riding away from the Calgary airport around 3pm and stay near Cochrane
June 12th: Ride to Banff

Forest that is pretty close to my offer to lead a group ride. Breakfast at 8am on the 12th at Cadence cafe, in Bowness, NW Calgary. Ride around 9. I have 5 or 6 firm commitments so far. Should be an enjoyable ride and a chance to spend some time with other TD riders before we all spread out in the race. We will pass through Cochrane on our way. I'm thinking of having a send off bbq for the riders on the evening of the 11th. I don't have accomidations to offer but if you're willing to stay in NW Calgary for one night you and anyone else is welcome. I'll start a June 12th ride to Banff thread in the next couple weeks.
Craig Stappler.

I think riding to Banff makes a lot of sense. Living in Calgary that's how I get to the race. It's a nice warm up, shake down etc, about half a TD days ride, beautiful views, easy surfaces. Around 130 km/ 80 miles from NW Calgary, riding the 1A to Banff. It rakes about 5 hours at a steady pace on a road bike. 10 hours would give time for an easy pace on a loaded TD bike, and a stop in Canmore for a late lunch. I've offered to ride people out the past two years and would love to meet anyone who wants to do it this year. In 2011 I took Kevin Cunniffe and Martin Wimpenny. I'd like to head out on the Wednesday, have Wednesday evening and all of Thursday in Banff. We'd start with breakfast at our local cafe, bike path with some single track out to Cochrane, coffee at another usual cyclist pit stop, 1A to Canmore, lunch, goat creek trail to Banff.
Craig.

[THE LONG RANGER]

My apologies, I do come off a little out of line. I'm doing 100% fantastic and actually on route (erm, off and on)  here in Salida! My computer time is somewhat limited while on the bike, so I may have misread your posts and the rainy weather somewhat puts me in a foul mood, with wet socks. I follow the boards via the RSS feed, so I see posts from all the forums, and it's just strange to see SO many questions from you, DocTrike, SO close to the season. I hope you get things together this year, as of course I want you to succeed. If you look at past posts, I've been nothing but supportive with your ride and generous with my time, answering questions you've asked. Didn't mean to stir up drama, have fun out there, everyone,

[THE LONG RANGER]

Whoa!  Somebody get off on the wrong side of the bike?? Doc asked if there IS a coupon code, not that he expects one and he also said he renewed his ACA membership.  As to the cue download - up until last year that's the way ACA delivered them - through email for free (with a pitch for a donation).

Again, apologies. It just rubbed me the wrong way - I thought to myself, "Why WOULD there be a discount for TD racers?" and if he's already a member (that part wasn't stated, initially), he's already getting a membership discount from the listed price. When I bought the cues in 2011, it *was* actually available in their shopping cart online. Again, apologies to DocTrike, I'll source better coffee before I think about unleashing my inner grump!

[Mauro_N]

Forest that is pretty close to my offer to lead a group ride. Breakfast at 8am on the 12th at Cadence cafe, in Bowness, NW Calgary. Ride around 9. I have 5 or 6 firm commitments so far. Should be an enjoyable ride and a chance to spend some time with other TD riders before we all spread out in the race. We will pass through Cochrane on our way. I'm thinking of having a send off bbq for the riders on the evening of the 11th. I don't have accomidations to offer but if you're willing to stay in NW Calgary for one night you and anyone else is welcome. I'll start a June 12th ride to Banff thread in the next couple weeks.

I think Ill be down with joining you guys! My flight lands on the 11th at midnight so have a few things to figure out before I can definitely say yes. Im on a single speed so I hope that wont be a problem.

Mauro

[forest_on_bike]

Forest that is pretty close to my offer to lead a group ride. Breakfast at 8am on the 12th at Cadence cafe, in Bowness, NW Calgary. Ride around 9. I have 5 or 6 firm commitments so far. Should be an enjoyable ride and a chance to spend some time with other TD riders before we all spread out in the race. We will pass through Cochrane on our way. I'm thinking of having a send off bbq for the riders on the evening of the 11th. I don't have accomidations to offer but if you're willing to stay in NW Calgary for one night you and anyone else is welcome. I'll start a June 12th ride to Banff thread in the next couple weeks.
Craig Stappler.

Sounds great! I'll PM you to work out details. Thanks!

Forest

[Mental-Miles]

HI TD-V-Riders,

does someone know the opening hours and the way to get into the ToasterHouse ... is this "Donation-Hostel" a resupply one can count on?

Cheers M-M

[bgiro]

Ah, the Toaster House.

South bounders will find the Toaster House just up the hill from the intersection of route 603(entering Pie Town) and Highway 60, on the right side of the road.

Supplies in my mind are limited.  The owner takes the donation monies and stocks the Toaster House, but depending upon when you reach the Toaster House, others ahead of you may have 'stripped' it clean of resupplies.

Drinking water is available and you have multiple options for a place to sleep/rest at the toaster house.  The Owner has posted signs and notes to help you navigate within and some of the surrounding property.

Off route and west of Pie Town is a small grocery store (I'm not sure of the hours), and if you hit Pie Town on the right day, one or more cafes will be open for limited hours.

I might be doing it wrong, but I try to carry from Grants as much as possible to avoid any missed opportunities for resupply in Pie Town.

[forest_on_bike]

For those of you still gathering your things, I just posted my gear list for the Tour Divide this year: http://teamkaker.com/tour-divide-gear-list-2013/

This "hobby" is expensive! I estimate that the cost of my bike and gear comes in close to $7k.

Enjoy the bike porn!

Forest

[mtbcast]

MTBCast: Episode 140! This week we talk to The Naked Indian, Karlos Bernart, about the TD13! #tourdivide

[rocky rode]

This is Gary Blakley in Del Norte.  Patti and I are listed on ACA's map as a stop for bike repair and lodging (free).  We won't be be available for TD racers this year as we leave in June for a year long bikepacking and backpacking trip.  I want to let TD racers know ahead of time so you can make other arrangements.  Best of luck to all of you!!!