TOUR DIVIDE 2014

[Walkurtalk]

My take on the Goldberg "rules" for the triple is show up for the race on the race date and time for each triple event.
I interpret that to mean that going backwards at the same time/date in any of the 3 events counts.

And that just doing an ITT outside the race date/time doesn't count towards a "real" triple, thus that's what makes a triple so hard. You have to be able to complete the third event in the timeline, which makes for some beat up CTR riders so far in the Triple's history.

I figured you already knew most of this, as why would anyone endure the puking, pain, fainting, heat stroke dehydro ordeal you did? Why not just restart for an ITT in AZT750? You knew the triple was on the line, so you didnt quit. You are an animal, or insane, or both.

The answer lies somewhere in between I suppose. Well, probably closer to insane, as most would likely agree. Kinda brings to mind my all-time favorite Kerouac quote:

“the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”

Seems like many of these folks congregate here. So cool.

[FernieTeam]

Here is a very useful link for snow depth around the Flathead area.
http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/data/asp/realtime/asp_pages/asp_2c09q.html
Next one is weather tonight!
https://scontent-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hvideo-frc3/v/t42.1790-2/1357087_586194871488763_1291296886_n.mp4?oh=f0b822d4e50c9138c82bf8a2cea63907&oe=5369A783

[Canbaroo]

I've got a bunch of them US$25 a week or part thereof + postage back to a NY address.

Just to clarify .... these are SPOT Gen3 [20-30 day battery life] and will be by personal delivery to Banff 11/12/13 June. You can post them back to a US address in NY or SFran. If you're riding slow i'll give you a slow  discount ... $75 for three weeks +$2.50 a day....  that'll help you go faster!

[dream4est]

how bad do i want the triple?
running on treadmill at 225am
dreamforest all in- quit tv quit all my vices rockin jack johnson destiny is rollin towards banff no limits no excuses
go for your dreams
never give up

wait till nest year used to be my lame azz motto
fukk next year 
CARPE FRIGGIN DIEM

[dwengs]

Just to clarify .... these are SPOT Gen3 [20-30 day battery life] and will be by personal delivery to Banff 11/12/13 June. You can post them back to a US address in NY or SFran. If you're riding slow i'll give you a slow  discount ... $75 for three weeks +$2.50 a day....  that'll help you go faster!

Sounds good.  I assume they come with the service plan?  What is the best way to make this happen? 

[dream4est]

Just to clarify .... these are SPOT Gen3 [20-30 day battery life] and will be by personal delivery to Banff 11/12/13 June. You can post them back to a US address in NY or SFran. If you're riding slow i'll give you a slow  discount ... $75 for three weeks +$2.50 a day....  that'll help you go faster!

I dont know where you get 20-30 day battery life estimates from. Last month I got 6 days in the AZT. Turned it off while sleeping. On about 19 hrs a day.

[GregMay]

Folks,

I'm officially having to withdraw. Life has got in the way. New job and family commitments are getting in the way. I'll be there in 2015.

I wish you all the best of luck and I will follow you with great pleasure.

Smash it, one and all.

Greg

[james-o]

I dont know where you get 20-30 day battery life estimates from. Last month I got 6 days in the AZT. Turned it off while sleeping. On about 19 hrs a day.

I know I got 8 days plus a few hours from a Gen 3 recently at 16-18hrs tracking a day (edit to add, after 8 days plus the batteries weren't flat), more than the 5 days I was getting from a Gen2 last year on the TD at a similar use per day.

[Marshal]

how bad do i want the triple?
running on treadmill at 225am
dreamforest all in- quit tv quit all my vices rockin jack johnson destiny is rollin towards banff no limits no excuses
go for your dreams
never give up

wait till nest year used to be my lame azz motto
fukk next year 
CARPE FRIGGIN DIEM

well I see someone is feeling the stoke!!

[dream4est]

well I see someone is feeling the stoke!!

Maybe I need to back off a little! Weighed 144 this morning. I am there. Gonna have to chill out a bit until the taper.

[cobbnat]

Just rode the section from Grants to Silver City, NM. The Toaster House in Pie Town is a special place. Pretty dry out there! Hope we don't get diverted by fires this year. Allow extra time for the CDT alternate, big winds have knocked down a lot of dead/burned trees across the path. Some are big enough that I bet even Cjell couldn't bunny-hop 'em!   
Can't wait to be in Banff. Four short weeks.
Nat

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hey Chris,

I got a question on one of your earlier posts. You said that Garmin Street Maps are pretty handy for services and such. I was going to run Garmin Topos already, do you thing if I ran both tops and street maps it would slow down the Etrex 30 too much?

Not sure. I know that the topos ground my 800 to a crawl so I disabled them. Didn't have much use anyway. I found the 800's display of the upcoming gradients more useful!  But if they did I would just switch off the Street Maps until I needed them.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hey sorry for so many posts back to back, but I have one more question. I am running an Android phone and I've heard of people loading the track some how onto their phones. What app and how do you do this?

Orux Maps will load the entire TDR track.

I've other navigation tips on my blog at: http://triduffer.wordpress.com/2012/12/28/navigating-for-the-tour-divide-race/ (including using waterproof paper for the cue sheets!).

[oKo]

Tore all the bags and paraphernalia off my Fargo last night as I am heading to my LBS tonight to rebuild the drivetrain and "stan up" the tires.
Darn thing looks naked!

36 days and counting.

[aschuhmann]

Orux Maps will load the entire TDR track.

Hmmm.. Downloaded the ap, but trying to get MOBAC (I think I need this?) uploaded to MAC so I can create the map but it will not download. Checked help and it said this. "Linux and OSX

"You can start MOBAC by executing the start-up script start.sh . Before starting MOBAC the first time it may be necessary to set the executable bit for start.sh e.g. by executing the following command:

chmod u+x start.sh

During the first application start all necessary files and folders are automatically created by the application."

I'm thoroughly confusing myself trying to figure this out. Can anyone who's used this AP with an Android and Mac make sense of this for me? My first attempt at GPS, total nube, and the forums I've looked at are literally speaking in "code". Any help would be appreciated.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Hmmm.. Downloaded the ap, but trying to get MOBAC (I think I need this?) uploaded to MAC so I can create the map but it will not download. Checked help and it said this. "Linux and OSX

"You can start MOBAC by executing the start-up script start.sh . Before starting MOBAC the first time it may be necessary to set the executable bit for start.sh e.g. by executing the following command:

chmod u+x start.sh

During the first application start all necessary files and folders are automatically created by the application."

I'm thoroughly confusing myself trying to figure this out. Can anyone who's used this AP with an Android and Mac make sense of this for me? My first attempt at GPS, total nube, and the forums I've looked at are literally speaking in "code". Any help would be appreciated.

No idea what MOBAC is.  I did the following:

1.  Install Orux to my Android phone.
2.  Connected the phone to my PC.
3.  Opened the folder oruxmaps\tracklogs.
4.  Dropped the .GPX file into the folder.
5.  Started Orux.
6.  Clicked on the second icon from right at top (looks like a road).
7.  Selected Load File.
8.  Selected the .GPX file.

At that point you should see the .GPX file.

[aschuhmann]

No idea what MOBAC is.  I did the following:

1.  Install Orux to my Android phone.
2.  Connected the phone to my PC.
3.  Opened the folder oruxmaps\tracklogs.
4.  Dropped the .GPX file into the folder.
5.  Started Orux.
6.  Clicked on the second icon from right at top (looks like a road).
7.  Selected Load File.
8.  Selected the .GPX file.

At that point you should see the .GPX file.

Awesome! Thanks Chris, this will make a great back-up. I was falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole on that one. I guess where I got astray was I figured I needed to be able to work offline, since we'll be out of service/WIFI the majority of the way.

"If you want to work offline, you need to calibrate your own maps. It is neccesary:
-You can create your offline maps from online sources, with the built-in Map Creator (See the manual section)
-Create a map from scratch with a customized version of TB Atlas Creator (See the download section)
-OruxMapsDesktop + image (the map) + coordinates of the four corners
-OruxMapsDesktop + a calibrated map for OziExplorer. There are a lot of applications that allow you to create Ozi maps (see Links section)"

Is this the case, or will we be able to follow "Online" even without service? Things seem to get a bit more complicated to be able to view offline. Thoughts?

[BrianR]

Just rode the section from Grants to Silver City, NM. The Toaster House in Pie Town is a special place. Pretty dry out there! Hope we don't get diverted by fires this year. Allow extra time for the CDT alternate, big winds have knocked down a lot of dead/burned trees across the path. Some are big enough that I bet even Cjell couldn't bunny-hop 'em!  
Can't wait to be in Banff. Four short weeks.
Nat

Thanks for the inspirational photos! I've been in a funk lately with all the training, planning, family, work and snow still falling here in NW Wyoming.  You made me smile and focus on what it's all about... the beauty and the ride!

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Awesome! Thanks Chris, this will make a great back-up. I was falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole on that one. I guess where I got astray was I figured I needed to be able to work offline, since we'll be out of service/WIFI the majority of the way.

"If you want to work offline, you need to calibrate your own maps. It is neccesary:
-You can create your offline maps from online sources, with the built-in Map Creator (See the manual section)
-Create a map from scratch with a customized version of TB Atlas Creator (See the download section)
-OruxMapsDesktop + image (the map) + coordinates of the four corners
-OruxMapsDesktop + a calibrated map for OziExplorer. There are a lot of applications that allow you to create Ozi maps (see Links section)"

Is this the case, or will we be able to follow "Online" even without service? Things seem to get a bit more complicated to be able to view offline. Thoughts?

It is an ideal backup. Especially if you have a Sony Xperia waterproof phone.

Don't over complicate things.

Just load an Open GPS map of the states you are going through. It will be the background map (or Garmin Streetmaps).

BUT ... as with *everything* for the Tour Divide you need to test first.

So go out on a local ride and record with your Garmin the route and export it as a .GPX.  Then load the .GPX file to Orux maps using the process I've described above. You can then play with Orux and the track to familiarize yourself with the program.

[tuckpana]

All - Just activated my Spot, findmespot.com, you get half off the activation fee until May 11 using code "3000GEN3", new activation's only....See you in Banff.
Gary