TOUR DIVIDE 2014

[Marshal]

Thanks for the replies  (about cell coverage)!   

I should have been more specific.

I would assume the phone would get used ONLY to make calls for MTBCast and home.  So I would turn it off most of the time.  I have a very old phone so would probably need to upgrade and figure out how to get service in the USA  (coming from Canada),  but just wondered if it was worth it.  The two replies indicate  there is "some"   (much better than none!).   

So my specific question would be,  will there be enough coverage to make it worth getting a cell phone to carry so I can "stay in touch" ?   

and once again, my thanks to everyone here who participates in this forum.   It's been a very helpful source in the whole planning process.

Tom

Cell phones can be had at reasonable prices.  If you plan to stay in a lot of hotels you can call home collect from your room.
But if you will be mostly camping yet maybe want to call home while you are eating dinner or lunch in a restaurant-- then a cheap cell phone would be one way to easily accomplish it.

At the end of the day its a personal thing if you want to carry a cell phone--if you do it will be usable at least 1 or more times per day

[charliekharsa]

This is my first time doing something this HUGE ! I would like to say many thanks for the extremely valuable information that each one of you have shared on this site. I enjoyed reading all the insights on each topic. Tons to take in, but AWESOME STUFF!!
 I look forward to meeting you and race/ride alongside of you.  Happy trails!

Cheers
White water!
charlie

[tuhduhvuh]

Cell phones can be had at reasonable prices.  If you plan to stay in a lot of hotels you can call home collect from your room.
But if you will be mostly camping yet maybe want to call home while you are eating dinner or lunch in a restaurant-- then a cheap cell phone would be one way to easily accomplish it.

At the end of the day its a personal thing if you want to carry a cell phone--if you do it will be usable at least 1 or more times per day

Thanks,  just the info I needed.   I "plan" to camp,  but am trying to be very flexible with my ideas about each day.   Showers and a bed are great,  but I'd like to feel I will "push" myself to keep going if conditions allow.  But that's easy to type!  I truly have no idea what reality is going to be, and can hopefully deal with it appropriately when I'm out riding the course.   

Once again,  thanks to everyone on this forum for help with preparing.

[cossrider]

Cell phones can be had at reasonable prices.  If you plan to stay in a lot of hotels you can call home collect from your room.
But if you will be mostly camping yet maybe want to call home while you are eating dinner or lunch in a restaurant-- then a cheap cell phone would be one way to easily accomplish it.

At the end of the day its a personal thing if you want to carry a cell phone--if you do it will be usable at least 1 or more times per day

Hey what phone company would provide the best coverage for most of the route??

[mtbcast]

Thanks for the replies  (about cell coverage)!   

I should have been more specific.

I would assume the phone would get used ONLY to make calls for MTBCast and home.  So I would turn it off most of the time.  I have a very old phone so would probably need to upgrade and figure out how to get service in the USA  (coming from Canada),  but just wondered if it was worth it.  The two replies indicate  there is "some"   (much better than none!).   

So my specific question would be,  will there be enough coverage to make it worth getting a cell phone to carry so I can "stay in touch" ?   

and once again, my thanks to everyone here who participates in this forum.   It's been a very helpful source in the whole planning process.

Tom

You should be fine with occasional coverage. Check with your provider as they may have a roaming plan for the U.S. at a reduced rate.

[fastmtnbiker33w]

Hey what phone company would provide the best coverage for most of the route??

Verizon.  I just switched from T-Mobile because all my summers are normally spent in the mountain states and I was tired of not having coverage.  A little bit more money, but far better coverage.  I also got a phone with a MUCH better camera and I've got a 32g card so I'll actually be able to take pictures on this ride.  Dyno hub should keep me moving as well.

[charliekharsa]

A quick question; Which GPS would you choice for the race.
e-Trex 30 or Garmin GPSMAP 62stc?

cheers
white water!
charlie

[Marshal]

A quick question; Which GPS would you choice for the race.
e-Trex 30 or Garmin GPSMAP 62stc?

cheers
white water!
charlie

No brainer if you look at the key race factors--size, weight and battery life.

The eTrex® 30 is the clear winner from this point of view

[MikeI]

Drat, I keep putting stuff on the bike that I "think" I gotta have... ( from toothpaste, sunblock, STANS, TP paper.... etc )

And bike and gear ( without water ) weighs 38.6 lbs...   

Sooooo what weights are some of you running ?

[usernamedoesnotexist]

My weight with panniers, food, warm clothes and all, is around 25 lbs.  I have to add that my bike is dual suspension with Rohloff and so heavy my gear is almost an after thought.  I dumped a sleeping pad for a travel umbrella (hail in the sagebrush hurts).  At this point everything that goes on requires something else come off.

[PhotoJB]

Thanks for the replies  (about cell coverage)!  

I should have been more specific.

I would assume the phone would get used ONLY to make calls for MTBCast and home.  So I would turn it off most of the time.  I have a very old phone so would probably need to upgrade and figure out how to get service in the USA  (coming from Canada),  but just wondered if it was worth it.  The two replies indicate  there is "some"   (much better than none!).  

So my specific question would be,  will there be enough coverage to make it worth getting a cell phone to carry so I can "stay in touch" ?  

and once again, my thanks to everyone here who participates in this forum.   It's been a very helpful source in the whole planning process.

Tom

Any Canadian phone will work in the USA, but the LNG distance fees can be big. Call your provider and get a $20 USA package that includes 100-200 minutes and use them wisely!


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[THE LONG RANGER]

Here's a photo of Boreas Pass, from earlier this week, taken by this dude!

https://twitter.com/thejimmyproject

Lookin' Good!

[charliekharsa]

Thanks for the reply on the GPS!

cheers
white water!
charlie

[Mathewsen]

The new TD GPX file, now dated 2014, is posted here: http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php Thank-you Scott Morris for splicing in the new ACA route between Basin and Butte, MT.

In case you're not on the TD starter email list, here are the details on the upgrade: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iyXrTvW-9Ev5PBdRTN2N41C_QHs1clo-ZkFdDBZfja0/pubhtml

[PhotoJB]

A very frustrating day! After months and months of preparation and training, it seems life (ie: work, wife, and worn out energies) is conspiring against me to make Tour Divide difficult! Still hoping to make the GD, but it may not happen until 2015!

Damn damn damn. 


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[dream4est]

Drat, I keep putting stuff on the bike that I "think" I gotta have... ( from toothpaste, sunblock, STANS, TP paper.... etc )

And bike and gear ( without water ) weighs 38.6 lbs...  

Sooooo what weights are some of you running ?

I am at 35.88 lbs. Which is crazy light but I have no gear and it all still weighs 12 lbs 2 ozs? I took so much out its a 13oz sleep kit 3/2 upper lower layers minimal everything no cook kit no too many extra batteries like I used to haul all over the place. Aero cups only no bars.

I gotta find some more dead weight. Probably not much left in there unless I buy a lighter multi tool. Or dump the cool Rock Shox Boxxer tire/shock pump for a light tire pump only (which would have cost me the AZT750 this year so not likely). Or switch to tabs/2 liter drink bag backup instead of drink thru sawyer filter/2 liter bag backup. Only thing I got for sure is ESI chunkys might get me 2.5 to 3oz lighter.

So I am pretty happy with that number. On a fs bike super plush with dropper post I will take it (bike 23.7lbs naked- Scott Spark 900SL).

[Marshal]

Drat, I keep putting stuff on the bike that I "think" I gotta have... ( from toothpaste, sunblock, STANS, TP paper.... etc )

And bike and gear ( without water ) weighs 38.6 lbs...   

Sooooo what weights are some of you running ?

Got them TDR weight Blues

Funny how all the ‘little’ stuff keeps adding up. 

I think a total of 37-40 lbs (minus water) is quite common.  IE: I think the typical TDR bike (with aero bars etc) weighs in about 23-25lbs.  This leaves 13-16 lbs for bags and gear.  So I think many TDR bikes will be in the 37-40 lbs (minus water). 

Once you add 2-5 L of water + food for .5 to 1.5 days we could sometimes be pushing 50+ lbs during certain sections.

This is why I think it’s important to train with fully loaded bike & gear—gotta get to where that type load feels normal.

humm---not sure if I am going to weigh my bike any more......

[bpeschka]

Lindsay Shepard should be taking off NOBO in just a few hours.   I see her tracker on I-10 in NM several hrs ago.

We can start Tour Tracking now.


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[kato]

Go Lindsay!

[cobbnat]

Weights... I am at 42 lbs. After looking at posts, pics and websites about all the snow this year, and since I plan on camping a lot, I am unwilling to go with less clothes and sleeping/camping gear. If I don't sleep well, I don't ride well. Hope to ditch some cold weather stuff after getting through Montana. But, it is snowing right now as I write this in Silverton CO, and I took note of the Boreas Pass pic from the Long Ranger. At least I can guarantee that New Mexico will be warm!