Tour Divide 2017 Race Preparation

[Sandstorm]

Thanks for all the responses, I love reading through the forums. I have a few more questions.

Does anyone know how to get on trackleaders? When does this need to be done by?
I have my own Spot, just need to get it linked up to trackleaders.

Also, can you still rent spots for the ride? I know they have been available to riders in the past, my brother is looking to possibly rent one.

Any thoughts on using a carbon seat post? Good idea/ bad idea?.... It's whats already on my bike.


Thanks again for all the feed back!

[Sandstorm]

Also, Where can I find the starters list?

[Sandstorm]

I found the unofficial starter list google doc. I put my name on there.

Isn't there another list to get your name on and also to send a letter of intent?

[kiwidave]

Sandstorm - starters list is by sending an email to tourdivide@gmail.com with you letter of intent.

For all entry and starting logistics check the pinned post at the top of this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/228009294199842/

People always post here or on Facebook once the GPX is finalised and signup notices for Trackleaders are sent out.

[Sandstorm]

Kiwidave- Thanks, Ill get my email out to that address.
I do have have the 2015 route I don't believe there was any changes for the 2016 route. Any idea if the route may change for 2017?

[BobM]

Kiwidave- Thanks, Ill get my email out to that address.
I do have have the 2015 route I don't believe there was any changes for the 2016 route. Any idea if the route may change for 2017?

I wrote to ACA and they said none of the maps would be updated before the race.  I imagine there will be announcements about the "special" portions - Boulton Creek bike path, Josephine Falls and Wamsutter.

[Flinch]

Every year we ask/answer the same questions re TD sources and issues. Here are some of the common topics I've noted the past years. I've taken the liberty of stealing with pride from other posts, so thanks to the original authors. If there are any additions/corrections please comment.

[ Moderator: can we make this a sticky? ] [ Updated with comments Jan 5 ]

Here are some sources for Tour Divide concerns.

The Tour Divide is a self monitored race that has no prizes and no entry fees, but does have rules to race by. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR KNOWING THE RULES! The first and most important thing to study are the race rules and ethics! When in doubt, race with honor.

The official rules are at: http://tourdivide.org/the_rules  Note that this site is not updated anymore. There are several 'alternates' or changes to the route since the rule list was posted. These are the Boulton Creek bike path, Union Pass reroute, Josephine Falls reroute, through the town of Butte MT, and the Wamsutter reroute. These changes are in the most current GPS GPX file.

An interesting ethics discussion is at: http://tobygadd.blogspot.com/2012/05/ultra-racing-rules.html

Update with race participants image: We all are representative of both racers and other non-TD bike riders. A very few in the past have behaved, ahem, in a naughty way to those people along the route, principally in stores or cafes. We all get sullen and grouchy, often multiple times a day, so remember that you are an ambassador, and your behavior can either bless or curse others who follow. I'm saying it nicely, Matt said it best, "Don't be a dick!". Seriously, the best part of the race is the people you meet. Give them a reason to say the same about racers!

For international racers: Tipping in the U.S. is expected in cafes and restaurants. Tip amounts are from 10-20% of pre-tax food bill in full service eateries (depending on quality of service), but no tip required for fast food or self serve places, such as MacDonalds, Subway or Port of Subs sandwich shops or the like. Some coffee houses have 'tip jars', and you can decide to tip or not.

Entering into the U.S. at Rooseville: In 2013 the people there were super nice (I'm a U.S. citizen) to myself and three people I was with from the U.K.. In 2015 the guy there was a dick. Tip: Wait your turn at the stop light in the entry lane until you get the green light - even if behind a line of cars - as they don't consider bikes anything special. Have your passport out when you ride up to the building - I got grouched at for reaching for my passport. Foreign citizens will probably have to go into the building for a song and dance, but they will instruct you.

Letter of intent: Send an email to tourdivide@gmail.com with your letter of intent

Sign up sheet for 2017 at: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SlZyqb4CMYfnAitaiD3RdlFHQHTt4uhW0-Qy8SO26Ns/edit#gid=24721170

SPOT Rental or SPOT registration: Trackleaders rents SPOT units, and you can register your own SPOT for them to track. Normally the SPOT rentals are handed out in Banff. If you are heading northbound from Antelope Wells, notify them and your SPOT can be mailed. Email Scott Morris at Topofusion or Trackleaders (he runs both). He has the rental units and will have a solution for you. From Scott's 2015 post, "The general procedure is to send an LOI in using the contact form on tourdivide.org.   Matthew then sends out the link to riders by email after that.  That's the form to get the SPOT registration form"

For entry and starting logistics check the pinned post at the top of this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/228009294199842/

When the race starts (June 9th 2017) an new thread named something like  "Tour Divide 2017 Race Discussion" will start. That thread is for actual race discussions and updates, and allows race supporters (family/ friends) to see what is going on during the race. It is not intended to discuss normal bike chat or race prep.

Banff Canada facilities: Banff has many hotels and restaurants. The Grand Depart starts from the YWCA Hotel.

Getting to Banff: If you fly to Calgary, there are several transport vans that go to Banff. Cost is around $60 (?). You can ride your bike to Banff, about 70 miles.

Added 1/11/17 (Thanks to KiwiDave!): Riders receive a 15% discount on the Banff Airporter for shuttle service between the Calgary Airport and Canmore/Banff. Click www.banffairporter.com/book  Proceed through the reservation and type - divide - in the Promo Code section on the final payment page to receive the discount. Or call (888) 449-2901 and mention you are attending the Tour Divide race.

[Ditto Dave] Bear Spray discount: 15% off Bear spray for all TD racers from Monod Sports in Banff. 129 Banff Avenue. Please only hit LIKE if you want to buy one from them as they need a rough headcount so as not to be out of stock. (On the bearspray post in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/228009294199842/) If you're not on Facebook don't worry as they'll have some additional stock of course.


Shipping bike to Banff: DON'T ! Your bike may well end up in customs purgatory, as several have in the past. Pay up and take it on the plane with you.

Shipping bike back home after the race: If you are flying or taking a train/bus back home, and don't have room for your bike, consider using the Bikeflights company shipping service. Box your bike and they will pick it up from most residences or motels/bike shops. I used them last year from Denver to Reno ~$40 for boxed bike, three day delivery, and it saved me the $200 airline shipping cost. https://www.bikeflights.com/default.aspx

Pick up at Antelope Wells: There are a couple of people that will pick you up from AW after your record run! Normally they monitor the race and meet you there. I don't have current details, so please chip in.
[Update] Shuttle to/from Antelope Wells, NM
Southwest Trailhead Hand, Jeffery Sharp
home:575-436-7200; cell:575-574-7210
email: sharpjeffery1@gmail.com   also have this contact: Call 575-519-9111 Facebook Jeffery Sharp

"Sorting out how to get out of AW - I'm getting a shuttle with Juan of Juan More Time (phone: 575.388.9272)"

Shuttle options, including those to or from AW, are on http://www.adventurecycling.org/default/assets/File/Routes_Maps/pdf/GD_shuttle.pdf

GPS GPX Tracks: http://topofusion.com/divide/gps.php
Be sure to get the most up-to-date GPS track. Notice that some GPS units cannot handle the full route, thus there are two tracks; one full route, and one '10k' route that has less than 10,000 points.

During the race, your SPOT icon will show up on http://trackleaders.com/ . Navigate to the Tour Divide 2017 race. Scott Morris maintains this site and it is funded by donations. [Correction from Bob Marshall: "One small addition to your info above - Scott also charges a fee from each racer, I think it was something like $25 in 2015.]

MTBCast: Toll Free Message Number: 888-866-4491  This is a call in for riders only. During the race listeners can hear racers messages. The MTBCast messages are posted on the Bikepacking.net TD Race Discussion thread every day, or you can navigate to: http://mtbcast.com/site2/  Note that Joe Polk does this as a free service to the bikepacking community, and his operation is funded by donations.

Maps: The ACA (American Cycle Association) sells maps for the Tour Divide route at https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/adventure-cycling-route-network/great-divide-mountain-bike-route/
Note that some of the route changes may not be on the current ACA maps. The GPS GPX Topofusion route is the definitive route!

TD Elevation profiles http://imgur.com/a/FI1bj
and http://www.bikepacking.net/forum/ultra-racing/2016-tour-divide-preparation/msg83301/#msg83301

Lightning safety :
http://rendezvous.nols.edu/files/Curriculum/research_projects/Risk%20Management%20Reports/NOLS%20Backcountry%20Lightning%20Safety%20Guidelines.pdf

Bear intensity maps: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=200334849650645495946.00047e45e4239031f00c3&start=0&num=200&sll=46.7248,-112.807617&sspn=1.269004,2.221985&z=7

Youtube video Tom Smith's (a student of the bear guru Stephen Herrero) excellent presentation about bears:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PExlT-5VU-Y

THE bear book: Bear Attacks: Their Causes and Avoidance, by Stephen Herrero

Race on!
Glen

[BobM]

Hi Glen (alias Flinch)!  Love your write-ups, including the Cordillera article, which I've read about 4 times.  One small addition to your info above - you say "During the race, your SPOT icon will show up on http://trackleaders.com/ . Navigate to the Tour Divide 2017 race. Scott Morris maintains this site and it is funded by donations."  Scott also charges a fee from each racer, I think it was something like $25 in 2015.

[kiwidave]

Kiwidave- Thanks, Ill get my email out to that address.
I do have have the 2015 route I don't believe there was any changes for the 2016 route. Any idea if the route may change for 2017?

The route was different in 2016 to 2015 - around Spray Lake was different and also through Butte.

2017 - final route will be ready a few weeks prior to the start. Matt has some contacts who check out some sections to make sure they're rideable after the winter. No word is out on any planned changes - it'll usually come up here if there was anything in the pipeline.

ACA maps are the general base maps but they are NOT the TD route - use the GPX file which differs in a few places.

Flinch - the rules have been updated on the Tour Divide web site in the past years. Racers should read them and understand them.

Also, on the signup page to Trackleaders there was in  '16 a confirmation required to treat people with respect whilst racing - there's people coming behind you who will bear the brunt of any ill-will created.

[bikelite]

Makes one wonder what the heck is going on in the head of people like the person who intentionally ran Kato off the road last year.

[bon]

Loving the energy, interest and pre-race discussion here. I am super excited to race again this year!
I'm glad to hear the maps will not be changing.  Less expenses for this free race.
If you want to stay true to the race course, be aware that there are a couple of sections that are not in alignment with the physical maps. For example, one is around 40 miles long. One deviation from the physical maps also completely bypasses a city.  You will need the GPX file to stay on course.
Enjoy the journey to the start line and I will see you all there!

[kiwidave]

I've arranged a 15% discount for racers using the Banff Airporter shuttle from Calgary to Banff.

Riders receive a 15% discount on the Banff Airporter for shuttle service between the Calgary Airport and Canmore/Banff. Click www.banffairporter.com/book  Proceed through the reservation and type - divide - in the Promo Code section on the final payment page to receive the discount. Or call (888) 449-2901 and mention you are attending the Tour Divide race.

http://www.banffairporter.com/

[Flinch]

Thanks Dave! Added this to my over-large post above.

[kiwidave]

Bear Spray discount: 15% off Bear spray for all TD racers from Monod Sports in Banff. 129 Banff Avenue.

Please only hit LIKE if you want to buy one from them as they need a rough headcount so as not to be out of stock. (On the bearspray post in Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/228009294199842/) If you're not on Facebook don't worry as they'll have some additional stock of course.

In the shop just say you have the 15% Tour Divide racers discount.
(Note: Last year Atmosphere kindly provided a discount but there has been a fire and the shop is currently closed).
https://www.monodsports.com/

[Sandstorm]

any word on 2016 cordillera? Has one been released yet?

[kiwidave]

Chris received a bunch of late submissions so is still finalising proof reading.

[ChrisE]

Has anybody ever done a list of POIs, a table of lat/long  --- for all the water locations, eating locations, stores, sleeping, etc?
A list that can be imported into a GPS would be very helpful

Cheers
C

[GregMay]

Chris,

That info tends to be something you generate yourself.

Greg

[BobM]

Has anybody ever done a list of POIs, a table of lat/long  --- for all the water locations, eating locations, stores, sleeping, etc?
A list that can be imported into a GPS would be very helpful

Cheers
C

I purchased the cues text from ACA and formatted them myself, including miles to next resupply/water/shelter.  It's also best to call some of the ones in small towns in the weeks before the race to make sure they still exist and what their hours are.  Some have strange hours like "closed Monday" etc. 

[dskunk]

Chris,

That info tends to be something you generate yourself.

Greg

I’m going to add to what Greg said:
It seems like a list of POI’s would be a good thing, but generating it yourself is a really good reason for doing a map recce. And doing that is invaluable. I spent quite a bit of time last year working out my routes through each town. Options: restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, gas stations etc, marked the quickest way to get off route and back on, (going back to the exact place you leave the course and sending a message on your spot from there). I didn’t mark any of that on the gps but put a map of each town, with route and poi’s, on a pdf which was stored on my phone. POI’s for stuff outside of the towns makes sense to put on the gps, but there aren’t that many of them any way.  Cheers, Dave