Tour Divide 2017 Race Preparation

[KO]

...wait 'till you get to the really hard part of the route ! 



messing with rookies...I'm a baaaad boy!
[/quote]

Don't worry me.  While shorter than TD, the CT has much more hike a bike so I'm pretty used to it. The Koko Claims hab sure looks nasty though.

[THE LONG RANGER]

KO, good luck out there! I'll be following along, if not for you the fact you're livin' on the Front Range! Do double-check if Greyhound charges extra for hauling a bike - they used to, which has thwarted a lot of plans of mine - I wanted to take Greyhound just from Denver to Summit County, but the bike fee add-on was more than the bus fare for the human! Bustang fixes this, now! ($12 w/bike!). I def. know what it's like trying to do this on a budget!

Re: Ankle Injuries (in general). Man, we're too close to do anything helpful, but I would concur that walking in hyper-stiff cycling shoes for miles isn't the best. I would throw in a pair of el-cheapo, beat up trail runners or something just for this long HAB section. Cyclists seem to have over-tight achilles to begin with and have awful ankle dorsiflexion and that really shines through when they're off the pedals.

It may behoove the ultra-prepared to look into ankle dorsiflexion PT stuff specific to tight achilles before the race (I know y'all have all the time in the world!), as well as techniques to relieve Achilles Tendonitis while on route - a big standby is to move you cleat back - but with the huge warning sticker that you don't want to change your setup this close to your start date!. It's a damn shame when someone needs to tap out because of achilles issues. Listen to your body, and keep the Vitamin I intake to a minimum!

[bakerjw]

Luckily I've never had an Achilles issue. I cycle a lot but have also picked up running, a lot of which is uphill here in Eastern Tn. Tonight I'm going to go do hill runs just to keep things loosened up.

[eec]

Luckily I've never had an Achilles issue. I cycle a lot but have also picked up running, a lot of which is uphill here in Eastern Tn. Tonight I'm going to go do hill runs just to keep things loosened up.

Running is a no-brainer, and should probably be part of anyone's routine if you know you're going to encounter a lot of HAB. Even if you're not, it's a great way to add more dimension to your fitness. Every winter I hang up the bike and hit the pavement, sometimes well into spring, and I've never had any ankle problems.

[Flinch]

As a geologist, I am allowed to say this: 'The new route rocks'   ! Not sure if I like this one, or the Lava Mtn Trail more...then there's the backside of Union Pass in the dark...

On a reroute note: Anyone have the pulse on Togwotee/Union Pass situation? Snotel says Togwotee is 68" snow. In 2011 that meant using the Victor ID - Jackson Hole detour.

Sure seems quiet on bikepacker this year - nothing like years previous.    I finally got a Facebook account and there's lots of chatter there.

[KO]

KO, good luck out there! I'll be following along, if not for you the fact you're livin' on the Front Range! Do double-check if Greyhound charges extra for hauling a bike - they used to, which has thwarted a lot of plans of mine - I wanted to take Greyhound just from Denver to Summit County, but the bike fee add-on was more than the bus fare for the human! Bustang fixes this, now! ($12 w/bike!). I def. know what it's like trying to do this on a budget!

Re: Ankle Injuries (in general). Man, we're too close to do anything helpful, but I would concur that walking in hyper-stiff cycling shoes for miles isn't the best. I would throw in a pair of el-cheapo, beat up trail runners or something just for this long HAB section. Cyclists seem to have over-tight achilles to begin with and have awful ankle dorsiflexion and that really shines through when they're off the pedals.

It may behoove the ultra-prepared to look into ankle dorsiflexion PT stuff specific to tight achilles before the race (I know y'all have all the time in the world!), as well as techniques to relieve Achilles Tendonitis while on route - a big standby is to move you cleat back - but with the huge warning sticker that you don't want to change your setup this close to your start date!. It's a damn shame when someone needs to tap out because of achilles issues. Listen to your body, and keep the Vitamin I intake to a minimum!

Thanks for the Front Range support!  I've talked to Greyhound in Las Cruces and they said as long as my bike is boxed up and under 50 lbs it gets to go free.  

As far as the achilles goes, I had to drop out of CTR '14 because of achilles and knees and I definitely don't want that disappointment again.  I'm gonna bring along a pair of light trail running shoes just for that first HAB.  

[THE LONG RANGER]

Awesome to hear about Greyhound - it's not always the funnest experience to bus it half way across the country (I should know!), give yourself a good wash, and maybe even ask a third party of your stinkiness, it's incredible what sort of road-grime you pick up after a few weeks out there! (uh, I should know that as well!). A permanent member of my personal kit is one of those tiny little bottles of Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash... filled with super concentrated Dawn! Cuts through grease! Lasts forever.

I've been tooling around Colorado, I doubt anyone is concerned about snow levels here but everything I've checked out: south of Del Norte, South Park, Marshall Pass is good to go. Not sure about Boreas, but they usually plow it by... now.

Looking forward to following y'all through the state!

Say hello to master mechanic Andrea (single speed specialist!) when you roll through Salida, and everyone else at Absolute Bikes! I'm sad to communicate the fact that Mamma D's no longer sells delicious, cheap burritos! (under new owners) There is a Chipotle style burrito place near the Safeway. The cafe next to Absolute is now a farm to table type of deal, but they still serve coffee takeaway foods in the morning, Cafe Dawn are very friendly to cyclists - cash only.

Mind the constructions coming into Breck. Breck is happening in the summertime these days, so be mindful on Main Street, the tourists are not very aware of their surroundings.

[THE LONG RANGER]

On a reroute note: Anyone have the pulse on Togwotee/Union Pass situation? Snotel says Togwotee is 68" snow. In 2011 that meant using the Victor ID - Jackson Hole detour.

Hope y'all get to go through Union Pass - it's fun country and a great outro for The Basin - you'll wish you were knee deep in snow, then! I had a lot of trouble finding the route at Union in 2011, but could have punched through on try #1 if only I had a GPS track.

[bakerjw]

The GPS route is up and available...

http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php

[THE LONG RANGER]

I spy me a Union Pass! Awesome choice in route selection You'll love it. If it's seen as snowy, none GPS-ers - bring a map of the area, and look for flags that mark the track poking out of the snow

[PKraft_Sr.]

LR,

I thought they bypassed Union Pass? Or am I missing something?

[Flinch]

"...bring a map of the area, and look for flags that mark the track poking out of the snow"

Or frozen TD racer body parts...

Going to be interesting on Union, as it is not just a up a pass then down, it's a long rolling section up high. Currently Togwotee Pass (next to, and about same elevation as Union) has 58" snow, with 2.4 inches melting each day. Let's see, I make it to Union 17 days from now, 58" - (2.4*17) = 17" left. Oh goody! I feared that it would all be gone... Hey, if Justin can hike the whole thing, then the least we can do is freeze our tooshies off trying - eh?

However, I may trade the snow for no mosquitoes - last time I required an emergency blood transfusion just to keep up with the little buggers. Some brought doggy bags!

Be interesting to see how Ashley Benns does on the pass - currently in Pinedale NOBO.

[THE LONG RANGER]

LR,

I thought they bypassed Union Pass? Or am I missing something?

Loading the track, it looks like it's being taken? I have a few TD routes loaded on my computer, so it could def. be my fault I'm reading the wrong track!


In 2011, Togwotee was so snowed-in, you could walk on top of the pit toilet! I missed the turn off the highway the first time, since there was no turn off! I was half way to Dubois before having to about-face!

[THE LONG RANGER]

I'm looking at, TourDivide2017_v1_10k - is there a newer version, or is there version in error? I see me a Union Pass!

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/display/20170602164823-26022-map.html

[Flinch]

Version 1 had issues: there were three tracks nestled under on GPX file. V2 is out and current. I smells Union Pass on that one!

[jjmundt]

Yeah, a quick glance at my 2015 and 2016 GPXs leads me to believe the Union Pass route hasn't changed this year.  I'll look at it more closely when I update my Day 1 / Day 2 maps for the Flathead Pass bypass.

The Togwotee Lodge webcam seemed to show pretty good snow melt, but it only shows a very limited view.

http://www.togwoteelodge.com/webcam/

[PKraft_Sr.]

LR,
Looks to be my error.  I went in 2013 and was comparing it to that route. In 2013 the route stayed on 26 a little longer and turned off on Union pass road.  The newer version appears to turn off earlier on Warm Springs Creek road and the two routes(new & old) come together at the top where the newer route comes into Union pass Road.
Sorry for the confusion, but what did you expect, I am from Florida. 

[jjmundt]

LR,
Looks to be my error.  I went in 2013 and was comparing it to that route. In 2013 the route stayed on 26 a little longer and turned off on Union pass road.  The newer version appears to turn off earlier on Warm Springs Creek road and the two routes(new & old) come together at the top where the newer route comes into Union pass Road.
Sorry for the confusion, but what did you expect, I am from Florida. 

Hehehe...that's what happens when you follow a year-over-year race on a route that changes a little year-over-year.  The route over Union Pass now includes (I believe) a bit of the CDT as well as the Devil's Gulch Trail.

Great stuff, and I hope to someday ride it myself!

[THE LONG RANGER]

Apologies are all mine! I'd hate to confuse people out there - just want to make sure y'all get your extra helpin' of hills! Muahaha! Def. a highlight of the route - the change from Union Pass to the Basin is extreme. Revel in it!

[sfuller]

I think 2015 was the first year for that earlier turn off of Togwotee Pass. Once you made the push up to the top, that entire section of the route was absolutely beautiful. Decent two track just wandering it's way across the CD. The fields along there were in full wildflower bloom and the smell was absolutely intoxicating. One of many favorite memories of my race that year.