TOUR DIVIDE 2014

[Marshal]

Well I am at Sol bivy in Rei bivy- plus 10oz down jacket and all clothes. And Sol groundsheet. And Sol sheet as a tarp with homemade tie outs I can use that as a blanket or low tarp for dew.
I have used this setup 5 times. On Kenosha Pass in 2010 without the down jacket I survived the conditions you speak of, 36 degrees rain all night some snow etc.
Not worried one bit.

I have way more concerns over getting a new bike from my "sponsor" than my rest strategy.

Yes,that's a lot more R-Value than I had envisioned from your earlier post.  The Sol bivy as a 'liner' in a REI bivy with 2 additional Sol's for tarp/blanket/ground cloth  is plenty of layers/options.

On a different note have you lined out a ride to Banff yet?

[dream4est]

Yes,that's a lot more R-Value than I had envisioned from your earlier post.  The Sol bivy as a 'liner' in a REI bivy with 2 additional Sol's for tarp/blanket/ground cloth  is plenty of layers/options.

On a different note have you lined out a ride to Banff yet?

No. You offering?

[Marshal]

No. You offering?

PM sent

[hikernks]

13 women lining up this year, is that a record?

[phil_rad]

13 women lining up this year, is that a record?

Wow! I bet it is. Where's the link to the starter list? I know it's buried somewhere in this thread.

[hikernks]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AnV6xT65HkPRdE5WZ2c4S0pyZnd5Tk51cko1ZzJneFE&usp=sharing

[phil_rad]

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AnV6xT65HkPRdE5WZ2c4S0pyZnd5Tk51cko1ZzJneFE&usp=sharing

Thanks!

[dream4est]

Booked flight to Calgary on june 11!!
Taking shuttle to Banff with Marshal most likely, as we are on the same flight!
Ordered baddest bike I could get my hands on.
Have all gear/maps needed to order in carts ready to pull the plug tonight.
Ready to make a new gas tank and some custom homemade aero arm holders and some summer pogies.
Have a list of 40 other things to do but thats pretty much standard bikepack race stuff.

This  "Who the hell tries a Triple Crown after finishing the AZT and then decides to do it" plan is coming together nicely. I have even been training well and now I have a loaner bike to ride until my bike shows up.

I have been preparing in my mind ever since Goldberg drove me to Kanab in  April 2012 and every other word was "triplecrown"!!

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Taking shuttle to Banff with Marshal most likely, as we are on the same flight!

When you book the Banff Airporter shuttle ask for the 'Tour Divide' discount. Matt organized this a few years ago and hopefully it is still in place.

[dream4est]

When you book the Banff Airporter shuttle ask for the 'Tour Divide' discount. Matt organized this a few years ago and hopefully it is still in place.

Thanks Chris I will try that.

A little birdie just told me that another AZT750 rider is thinking of triple crowns and Tour Divide. It may be a triple crown*, but it would still be a triple crown.

I think we will see another step forward soon. Nice!!

[Enzo149]

Booked flight to Calgary on june 11!!
Taking shuttle to Banff with Marshal most likely, as we are on the same flight!
Ordered baddest bike I could get my hands on.
Have all gear/maps needed to order in carts ready to pull the plug tonight.
Ready to make a new gas tank and some custom homemade aero arm holders and some summer pogies.
Have a list of 40 other things to do but thats pretty much standard bikepack race stuff.

This  "Who the hell tries a Triple Crown after finishing the AZT and then decides to do it" plan is coming together nicely. I have even been training well and now I have a loaner bike to ride until my bike shows up.

I have been preparing in my mind ever since Goldberg drove me to Kanab in  April 2012 and every other word was "triplecrown"!!

What bike did you order?

[dream4est]

What bike did you order?

I got the 2014 Scott Spark 900SL. I was looking at the Scale, as it was less than the Specialized Stumpy S-works. But Scott was out of the Scale I wanted. I havent had a new bike in 4 years. Sold my whole stable to start a biz. Rode a pretty much a beater the last 5 races (Voodoo Canzo 29er). So I went for the lightest FS bike and figure thats what I like to ride and know how to ride.

I dont think I will be any slower on a 21.5 lb fs bike than on a under 20 HT or rigid. But I know I will be way faster than before on a 28 lb bike. And maybe my way of saving energy on the FS and getting stronger as the days go by will even work better on the Scott, which weighs nothing and has a sick dual-shock bar control of the suspension so the pilot can instantly choose climb, traction or descend settings instantly.

This had to be a bike I could finish the triple and train on and ride all the time. So I went for the only better/similar option I had than the Epic S-works, which is simply overpriced.

I had an amazing second-half run in the AZT750 with a crap bike. I was way past due to step into the current age of bikes and get a bad azz one.

[Enzo149]

Very nice bike. I am at the same cross roads for my new XC race bike for NUE races. But I think I will go for the Epic, the swat and two bottle cages are to nice of options not to have.

For the divide I built up a Ti rohloff at a sacrifice at about 3lbs to my carbon hard tail. I am very tempted to just run the carbon bike, but I have never made it more then 2500 miles on a mountain bike carbon frame with out having to replace it for one reason or the other. Weight to bomb-profness a constant debate...

[dream4est]

Very nice bike. I am at the same cross roads for my new XC race bike for NUE races. But I think I will go for the Epic, the swat and two bottle cages are to nice of options not to have.

For the divide I built up a Ti rohloff at a sacrifice at about 3lbs to my carbon hard tail. I am very tempted to just run the carbon bike, but I have never made it more then 2500 miles on a mountain bike carbon frame with out having to replace it for one reason or the other. Weight to bomb-profness a constant debate...

The sad truth is that the Epic S-works world cup version (XX1) doesnt even come with the swat or a cage (only the sram xx model does). And is quite a bit more than the Scott for the same exact bike. My take? An extra $1300 retail for 8-9mm shorter chainstays wasn't worth it, as the Brain powered rear shock fails just a little too often for my sanity in a long race like the Divide. The Scott weighs at least 1/4lb less and has a 1 to 1.5 degree slacker head angle and a slightly shorter wheelbase. And the S-works has a 27.2 seatpost? For a FS bike? Still cant figure that one out. Oh and the Epic is the highest priced bike in industry history for its cost price vs. wholesale ratio. If you tried to run a business selling Epic S-works you would fail before the doors opened!!

[Marshal]

TDR Shake Down Ride:

Open invitation to all 2014 TDR enthusiasts.  Come join me in Grand Junction Colorado for my TDR shake down run.

Leg 1:
Depart GJ on Friday, May 9th and travel back roads and some low elevation Kokopelli's trail to Moab UT.  About 120 miles, mixed terrain, pavement to double track to just a tiny bit of single track

Leg 2: Depart Moab to the south on back roads, some highway, more back roads, intersect Hwy 46 and head east to La Sal General Store.  Continue on Hwy 46 to Bedrock, follow Dolores River to Hwy 141 (old Uravan site), north on Hwy & back roads to Gateway Resort.  About 120 miles, mixed pavement—backcountry highways and gravel roads.

Leg 3: Depart Gate way and head back to Grand Junction.  Lots of options for last leg.  If time and legs willing, climb up on the Uncompahgre Plateau and follow back roads down to Whitewater.  If really feisty back to GJ on last leg of the Grand Loop route.  About 75 miles, could be mostly pavement sprinkled with some fairly hard core back country and some urban single track/bike path finish.


Details Details:
Depart on Friday (May 9th) afternoon; plan is to be back in Grand Junction sometime on Monday (May 12th).
Contact me by PM or email (see my profile) I can provide a GPS track and resupply points to any participants so we do not have to stay together entire route.

PS: I have no pre-arranged bail out contingencies plans—so if it goes south ‘we’ (or you) are on our own to get back to GJ.

edit--fixed error on date

[schilds]

Wow! I bet it is. Where's the link to the starter list? I know it's buried somewhere in this thread.

Howdy…I am one of the lucky 13! 

[mtbmxrider]

So I hope I didnt miss this. From what I've seen on this forum, GD is June 13th, from Banff. tourdivide.org states that the race starts June 14th. I have also heard of "pre-race" gatherings in Banff, any insider details? My flight lands in Calgary LATE the 10th, I plan to sleep in the airport and make the ride to banff the 11th. Ive heard a lot about the Y, and it seems mostly booked up, any suggestions for other cheap lodging for the nights prior to starting. June 13th will be my 22nd birthday, last year I spent my 21st birthday riding 141 miles in North Dakota on my crtoss country bike trip, I hope I dont 'have' to wait in Banff and not have a productive high mileage day on my bday.

Anyone riding from calgary to banff on the 11th?

thanks for input!

[wookieone]

that was 2013.....website is a bit behind the times....

[mtbmxrider]

that was 2013.....website is a bit behind the times....

thanks for confirmation! better safe than sorry

[Canbaroo]

As coincidence would have it i'll be in Calgary on the 11th ... never been to Banff, so if I bring my bike I'd be happy to join you for the ride. How long you staying in Banff? Happy to split some accom costs.