Tour Divide 2013

[BobM]

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!!!

Hi Gary. Thanks for all your assistance to racers an tourers over the years!  I hope you have a truly incredible trip.

[Briansong]

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

Hi Forest,

Thank you for posting your gear. I closely checked it out. I have 2 questions. First is 3L enough? I realized we all hydrate differently, but if a 100oz and a 20 oz. bottle is adequate between water opportunities, that answers lots of nagging questions. I will carry a Sawyer Squeeze as well.

Second, is your lighting solution adequate? it seems pretty simple. I was really thinking about the Sun 28 hub but, simplicity looks pretty appealing as well,

Thanks again,

Steve

[forest_on_bike]

Thank you for posting your gear. I closely checked it out. I have 2 questions. First is 3L enough? I realized we all hydrate differently, but if a 100oz and a 20 oz. bottle is adequate between water opportunities, that answers lots of nagging questions. I will carry a Sawyer Squeeze as well.

Second, is your lighting solution adequate? it seems pretty simple. I was really thinking about the Sun 28 hub but, simplicity looks pretty appealing as well,

Thanks again,

Steve

Hi Steve,

I rode in 2010 and I was fine with just the 100oz bladder. I carried an additional 32oz into the Basin, but a good tailwind allowed me to cruise through and have a lot of water leftover. I have enough room in seat bag for a 32oz Gatorade bottle.

Most of the time though, I didn't carry more than 2L during any stretch.
 
I did run out of water trudging through the Gila in NM. That was my fault as I didn't stop at the Beaver Work Center to fill up. With the new single track section, I'll definitely fill up and carry an extra 32oz. It can get hot in those hills.

As for my two LD22 lights...I think they are more than adequate. In 2010, I used only one. And I rode over Lava Mountain in the night. Most of the route is not very technical, so you can safely keep your speed with about 50-60 lumens. I'm not familiar with the Sun 28 hub, but you'll be fine running lights that take disposable batteries. I just carry some spare AA's. If one light goes down, the other still throws out enough light to keep going.

Forest

[Briansong]

Forest,

Thank you for the info, the Sun hub is a power generating front hub, runs your light at night and charges your GPS, Phone, etc during the daylight hours. It does offer some resistance but allows you to carry no charging devices or extra batteries. Down side is just the extra weight of the hub and the small amount of resistance. For simplicity, I think you've helped me decide.

Thanks,

Steve

[marco_n]

Forest,

Thank you for the info, the Sun hub is a power generating front hub, runs your light at night and charges your GPS, Phone, etc during the daylight hours. It does offer some resistance but allows you to carry no charging devices or extra batteries. Down side is just the extra weight of the hub and the small amount of resistance. For simplicity, I think you've helped me decide.

Thanks,

Steve

I ride a supernova dynamo hub from 1 year. Is light, powerful and fast rolling. When you ride is impossible to note the friction from the hub.
I have 1'000 lumens EVER (if i have power in my legs i have lights) and via a little cache battery i have infinite power for my devices (gps on the day and power for phone and camera in the night, when i sleep).
The weight... My wheels (crest, american Classic rear hub and Sapim laser spokes) is 1750gr.
If I add a 1000 lumens Led light (Magic shine) with one battery on a pair of wheel builded with the same components (but with AC hub in the front wheel) i have the same weight, but with only 2,5 hrs of full power light...
For me is the best choice for the adventures!

[marco_n]

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

more or less my same equipment, but i prefer merino wools at synthetyc fabrics...
you don't have a rain overshoes on your list?

on my today's ride I've definitely decided to DO NOT use my seal skinz socks... after 4 hrs my foots was completely wet and cold...
now I'm in doubt if is the case to have a goretex shoes on my equipment (but I have a gore-tex overshoes!)

[Briansong]

I ride a supernova dynamo hub from 1 year. Is light, powerful and fast rolling. When you ride is impossible to note the friction from the hub.
I have 1'000 lumens EVER (if i have power in my legs i have lights) and via a little cache battery i have infinite power for my devices (gps on the day and power for phone and camera in the night, when i sleep).
The weight... My wheels (crest, american Classic rear hub and Sapim laser spokes) is 1750gr.
If I add a 1000 lumens Led light (Magic shine) with one battery on a pair of wheel builded with the same components (but with AC hub in the front wheel) i have the same weight, but with only 2,5 hrs of full power light...
For me is the best choice for the adventures!

Thanks Marco,

Does the hub generate A/C or D/C and what is required to charge phones and GPS devices?. Also, your response to Seal Skinz, why did your feet get wet? was it from the water coming in or your feet sweating?

Thanks for your help.

Steve

[forest_on_bike]

more or less my same equipment, but i prefer merino wools at synthetyc fabrics...
you don't have a rain overshoes on your list?

on my today's ride I've definitely decided to DO NOT use my seal skinz socks... after 4 hrs my foots was completely wet and cold...
now I'm in doubt if is the case to have a goretex shoes on my equipment (but I have a gore-tex overshoes!)

Yep, no rain overshoes. I've never used the Seal Skinz socks, but I've had good luck with Gore's waterproof socks. I've ridden in rain/sleet/snow with them and they've kept my feet reasonably dry and warm.

I did try overshoes years ago on a bike tour. Maybe they've improved a lot since then, but I tore and thrashed them up just walking with them. You will walk during the TD, especially if the rain has turned the trail into mud.

[BobM]

Yep, no rain overshoes. I've never used the Seal Skinz socks, but I've had good luck with Gore's waterproof socks. I've ridden in rain/sleet/snow with them and they've kept my feet reasonably dry and warm.

I did try overshoes years ago on a bike tour. Maybe they've improved a lot since then, but I tore and thrashed them up just walking with them. You will walk during the TD, especially if the rain has turned the trail into mud.

My Showers Pass overshoes were shredded by the time I hit the U.S. border.

[marco_n]

Thanks Marco,

Does the hub generate A/C or D/C and what is required to charge phones and GPS devices?. Also, your response to Seal Skinz, why did your feet get wet? was it from the water coming in or your feet sweating?

Thanks for your help.

Steve

my sock symply was wet after  a long ride in the wet terrain... water comes in my sock... I found more comfort with "simply" merino wools socks!

the hub generator is a A/C generator and if you need to charge you need a kit like B&M e-werx usb mini or similar. but, if you need a STABLE current (is necessary for i-phone or similar) you need a cache battery

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Forest,

Thank you for the info, the Sun hub is a power generating front hub, runs your light at night and charges your GPS, Phone, etc during the daylight hours. It does offer some resistance but allows you to carry no charging devices or extra batteries. Down side is just the extra weight of the hub and the small amount of resistance. For simplicity, I think you've helped me decide.

Thanks,

Steve

I'm running a SON hub on my Stan's Arch EX's. Absolutely amazing. I'v a Supernova E3 headlight and tail light. Also runs my GPS and charges cell phone (when light is off). It's great to be so power independent. Don't notice the drag when riding.  I'm using "The Plug" to power the devices. It's a USB port which fits on top of your step. Tidy kit.

[Briansong]

I'm running a SON hub on my Stan's Arch EX's. Absolutely amazing. I'v a Supernova E3 headlight and tail light. Also runs my GPS and charges cell phone (when light is off). It's great to be so power independent. Don't notice the drag when riding.  I'm using "The Plug" to power the devices. It's a USB port which fits on top of your step. Tidy kit.

Christopher,
Are you running a 29er? I spoke to Peter White about it and he recommends the E Werks or USB Werks, to interface with GPS and phones, I have forgotten. He also recommends the Son28 for use with the 29" wheel due to it's slower hub rotation with the larger wheel. "The Plug" is there a "cache battery" required in there someplace, I think I'm reasoning the plug replaces the E Werks? Geez, just when I though I had a moment of clarity

Steve

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Christopher,
Are you running a 29er? I spoke to Peter White about it and he recommends the E Werks or USB Werks, to interface with GPS and phones, I have forgotten. He also recommends the Son28 for use with the 29" wheel due to it's slower hub rotation with the larger wheel. "The Plug" is there a "cache battery" required in there someplace, I think I'm reasoning the plug replaces the E Werks? Geez, just when I though I had a moment of clarity

Steve

Steve,

3+ weeks out you shouldn't be doing this!  Anyway ... I had the 29" wheels built by Tristan at Wheelworks in Wellington N.Z. Peter White provided the hub. Below are the wheels he built. Brilliant job.

http://wheelworks.co.nz/chris-son-dynamo-hub-and-dt-swiss-240s-laced-to-arch-ex-29/

I have both the E Works and the Plug (Peter sells both). I'm only using the plug as it is a tidier setup. All you have is a small step cap with a USB  socket. No, it doesn't have a battery in it, but I've not had a major issue charging my GPS as I'm riding as the Edge 800 battery normally lasts quite a while.

My E3 light puts out more than the Fenix on full power, and I like the 'free' red tail light.

Ollie Whalley has gone for one of the Supernova dynamo hubs, but I read somewhere that they have an aluminium axle and have been know to have performance issues. Last year Elena and Marco ran SON's which survived well so that is why I went for the SON.

[Mauro_N]

Hey fellas, I know majority ride with aero bars, so I have a few questions about them. The first is how long you spend on them? Also do you think its spares the hands enough to warrant them? Im guessing the answer is yes, but if you are using a wood chipper bar (drop bar) would you still run the aero bars? As the wood chippers have more hand positions than a MTB bar.


Thanks

PS: I have to say a massive thanks to everyone one here that has answered my questions and sharing your knowledge on this site.


Mauro

[Briansong]

Christopher,

One year and three weeks.  

I'm going to call Peter again this week and make my decision as to this or the route Forest went.

Thanks again for the advice.

Best of luck!!!

Steve

[legendontour]

Wondering if anyone can help me.  I am in the process of compiling a list of services along the route that aren't listed on the ACA maps.  Specifically, can anyone recommend physios, chiropracters or acupuncturists.  I have a body that simply won't go the distance without a bit of work and I'm planning to try and make a few pitstops along the way for some manipulation on my back and ITB's.

Cheers, Nick

[marco_n]

Hey fellas, I know majority ride with aero bars, so I have a few questions about them. The first is how long you spend on them? Also do you think its spares the hands enough to warrant them? Im guessing the answer is yes, but if you are using a wood chipper bar (drop bar) would you still run the aero bars? As the wood chippers have more hand positions than a MTB bar.


Thanks

PS: I have to say a massive thanks to everyone one here that has answered my questions and sharing your knowledge on this site.


Mauro

Mauro, i have the woodchipper bar and i use the aero bars.
With aero bars you have a relax position  and you can found a little break for your hands. Ok, is most comfortable than a flat bar, but if you have your weight ever on your hands is possible to have a problems.
After my longest ride EVER (39hrs non stop without aero bars) I'm come back home with problems on my fingers... Now in my long rides i use the aero bars and all my finger problems are finished!

[Donald]

Aero bars have three uses: they give a good aerodynamic position, they give your hands a rest and they act as a useful baggage rack. With a bungee cord it's easy to hang a stuff sack, also extra water bottles in the dry areas.

[Donald]

In 2012, keeping feet dry was a challenge, especially in Canada and Montana. Shimano make a Gore-Tex shoe, the ST71 which I found to be totally waterproof. Matched with mini-gaiters, they kept my feet dry. They also breathe well and were comfortable in the heat. Didn't make me go faster, though.

[Mental-Miles]

Hi out there,

Phil did this list ( http://www.driven2divide.com/2012/03/07/tour-divide-resupply-towns-and-eats/  )

Does any one got news/updates on this List?

Cheers

M-M (in bed with a cold)