Tour Divide 2017 Race Preparation

[Sandstorm]

I have a 2016 Salsa Fargo x9 for sale, super low miles. bike is still like new.
will ship
asking $1900 OBO
email me, sandyradsek at gmail.com

[Mauro_N]

Hello,

I am in for another run at on the TD on a SS after completing it on a SS in 2013. Just have to decide on wheel size 29 x 2.2 or 29 plus.

Mauro

[kiwidave]

I am wondering how many riders were on a 1x configuration at this years race? anyone have any info on that?

Have a look at the 1x threads in the TD Racers' Facebook group. This should get you there with a search in the group on "1 x": https://www.facebook.com/groups/228009294199842/search/?query=1%20x

[krefs]

I am wondering how many riders were on a 1x configuration at this years race? anyone have any info on that?

Sandstorm, more and more riders have been using 1x11 drivetrains in bikepacking ultras in the past few years. For TD, it seems common that a 34T chainring with a ~10-42T cassette works well. Some riders prefer a slightly easier gear, and others have complained that a 34T ring didn't let them go fast enough.

My word of caution: I wouldn't consider running a 1x setup without a stainless steel chainring. Many of the aluminum 1x rings wear out amazingly fast and probably wouldn't last the full length of the route for most riders, especially if the weather is particularly wet. But the nice stainless rings last much, much longer.

[BobM]

Just so everyone knows, I asked ACA if any of the GDMBR maps would be updated/reprinted prior to the June depart.  They said "No, none of the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route maps will be updated between now and then. Be sure to check the addenda though before you leave."

[Flinch]

Hey Bob/Anyone, do you know if the (2015 route revisions) Union and Wamsutter reroutes are on the current ACA maps?

Thanks
Glen

[BobM]

Hey Bob/Anyone, do you know if the (2015 route revisions) Union and Wamsutter reroutes are on the current ACA maps?

Thanks
Glen

Union is, because the old alternate (reroute) is now the main route and vice versa.  Not sure about Wamsutter as I have not yet downloaded the cues.

[kiwidave]

do you know if the (2015 route revisions) Union and Wamsutter reroutes are on the current ACA maps?

I've the most current maps (purchased 2015) and neither marked on them. Wamsutter route is literally off the map (under textboxes etc), whereas the new route over Union Pass does have the topo visible, but is not marked as it is not the ACA route. Same with Spray Lake on day 1 and entry into Butte - not marked on the map.

[BobM]

I've the most current maps (purchased 2015) and neither marked on them. Wamsutter route is literally off the map (under textboxes etc), whereas the new route over Union Pass does have the topo visible, but is not marked as it is not the ACA route. Same with Spray Lake on day 1 and entry into Butte - not marked on the map.

Hi Dave,

The most current maps (except Canada) are dated 2016.

Bob

[jmarshall312]

Any recommendations on good places for a weekend of winter training?  Someplace where one could get 100-150 miles a day of roads similar to what is 'typical' of the TD course and warm enough for Camping in January - March?  Someplace relatively close to a major airport?

Thanks

Jason
Chicago

[MikeI]

Any recommendations on good places for a weekend of winter training?  Someplace where one could get 100-150 miles a day of roads similar to what is 'typical' of the TD course and warm enough for Camping in January - March?  Someplace relatively close to a major airport?

Thanks

Jason
Chicago

One warmup ride for TD is Stagecoach 400 ... they'll start on March 10 this year and do the route in reverse direction, it's in Calif, starts in Idyllwild and goes to San Diego and back .. mtns, desert, singletrack, bikepaths, sand, rocky, hot, w possibility of rain.

Tucson or Phoenix are good points also .. from Tucson, you can do a few hundred miles on singletrack on the Arizona Trail, or take dirt roads into the mountains and easily get a good strong weekend in, with a plus of starting and finishing at the airport if you wanted to.

[jmarshall312]

Thanks MikeI for the SC400 suggestion.  Have you ridden this course?  Do you think I would be screwed in the sand with 2.1 tires?

[Sandstorm]

jmarshall312

I am in Tucson and we have a lot of nice routes you can do several days on if you choose. But just a heads up. It can get pretty cold here at night during January/ February at night. Day time riding might be nice but expect close to freezing temps at night. Also Mount Lemon is awesome for trainging but again the top of that thing has snow on it. So just an FYI if you're planning on a winter training destination.
I am from the Chicago area and I made the mistake once of coming here thinking ahh its the desert it will be warm! I was wrong.

[BobM]

jmarshall312

I am in Tucson and we have a lot of nice routes you can do several days on if you choose. But just a heads up. It can get pretty cold here at night during January/ February at night. Day time riding might be nice but expect close to freezing temps at night. Also Mount Lemon is awesome for trainging but again the top of that thing has snow on it. So just an FYI if you're planning on a winter training destination.
I am from the Chicago area and I made the mistake once of coming here thinking ahh its the desert it will be warm! I was wrong.

Training with close to freezing nights would be ideal as that's the sort of temps to expect early on and at altitude along the route.

[MikeI]

Thanks MikeI for the SC400 suggestion.  Have you ridden this course?  Do you think I would be screwed in the sand with 2.1 tires?

I had trouble with 2.2 tires ( but I am not a very good bike handler ) ... I probably should have let some air out of my tires instead of running the full pressure. The sand in Anza Borrego is not typical of anything on the Divide, but all of the rest of the route is. Checkout Marshall Bird's blog at:

http://bikedrifting.blogspot.com/2015/03/2015-stagecoach-400.html

or mine ( for somebody who did it really, really slow:)

http://mikesrideforcleanair.blogspot.com/2015/04/stagecoach-400-sands-of-anza-borrego.html

And I would second what some of the others said about it being cold in the desert in January .. but there was a bit of frost on the Divide in Sargents, CO one night and cold enough I had every piece of clothing on when I camped north of Wamsutter one night, so bring your warmy stuff.

[Briansong]

Another vote for routes around Tucson/Phoenix. If you really want forest service roads similar to the TD, there are many in the desert area north of Phoenix, where I live. I did several routes in training for the TD that were really close to what I expected to ride. As some have suggested, the nights can get down to freezing but the days typical of Arizona warm quick and it becomes comfortable (most often)

If you'd like some route specifics, feel free to PM me, I wouldn't mind helping out or maybe even come along. In all honesty winter here is a lot like what we raced in, in June 2104, but less rain...a lot less rain.

When I was in Montana for the TD, I came up with this "The coldest Winter I ever had was Summer in Montana"

[Sandstorm]

Hey guys, Looking for some input on dynamo wheel overall weight.

I am building a SP PD-8x dynamo on a DT-swiss rim (xm401) was thinking brass nipples and double butted spokes. I think the wheel will be about 1125.76 grams. Is that to heavy? Just about right? Average for a dynamo wheel? I don't know, I've never built one nor have I seen one in person.

Looking for opinions on wheel build options, I don't wan't to build the heaviest wheel but I also want it to be reliable on the divide.

Thanks for your input!

Sandy

[Sandstorm]

I went ahead and had a SP-PD8x dynamo hub built on a DT Swiss rim. Excited to try it out.

Now I'm looking on for advice on a carbon fork set up. Trying to decide between the Niner RDO or the Salsa Firestarter. Any advice would be great!

[Pivvay]

I've been happy on my niner QR fork and RDO. I'm Giving enve a try this year but I can say anything negative about the niners I own.

[Snowbd2u]

Bear spray, who needs that. Bears run the other way when they see my ugly face coming down the trail. Haha. Ok, disregard that, bring bear spray.

I love reading all these posts, makes me want to get back out there.