Tour Divide 2017 Race Preparation

[KO]

[/quote]  

The "Spirit of the race" is that a reroute should take the shortest path around an obstacle and rejoin the route.  In this case the obstacle is a bridge that has been removed in the Flathead.  It appears that starting the reroute prior to Elkford rather than going south on the main Highway (the start of the ACA official alternate) from Sparwood is unnecessary and has been done to make the race more "fun".  The reason that the Wigwam route was not taken is that it would have cut a large portion of the Flathead, including Cabin Pass, unnecessarily.

Please don't take this the wrong way, but that sounds like a contradiction.  We want a reroute as short as possible yet we're unnecessarily cutting off 24 miles of the route starting 3 miles north of Elkford to Sparwood where the reroute can actually begin.  It makes more sense to me to leave those 24 miles in and then cut out the 26 miles of actual TD route by taking the Wigwam detour instead of heading towards Flathead.  Again, I'm just trying to make sense of this.  

[BobM]

  Please don't take this the wrong way, but that sounds like a contradiction.  We want a reroute as short as possible yet we're unnecessarily cutting off 24 miles of the route starting 3 miles north of Elkford to Sparwood where the reroute can actually begin.  It makes more sense to me to leave those 24 miles in and then cut out the 26 miles of actual TD route by taking the Wigwam detour instead of heading towards Flathead.  Again, I'm just trying to make sense of this. 

Well, the intent (and rule) is that the shortest and most direct detour should be taken.  The bridge is out just before where the Lodgepole road rejoins the Flathead, so that part is as it should be.  Taking Wigwam down to the river would cut out Cabin Pass.  The part that is not in keeping with the rule is the part that is being added from north of Elkford to Fernie.  However, it is Matt's race and he can make the route whatever he wants it to be.

[BobM]

I'm just curious...is it a permanent removal of the bridge or just a repair / replacement issue?

Apparently it was dangerous enough that they had to remove it, but cannot rebuild it until sometime in 2018.

[flyboy]

Good to see that "The Wall" is still in there.

[BobM]

Good to see that "The Wall" is still in there.

The Wall must be experienced!  However, it is a red herring.  The real challenge is the ascent (and descent!!) of Galton Pass soon afterwards.

[kato]

I've always viewed the Wall as a nice little walking break.  It's lovely and cool there and gives you a moment to contemplate the weight of your kit.

The new little re-route looks quite nice to me.  Bypasses some pavement and some rather ugly mining operations.  Besdies, looks like a new fishing river along the way to scout out. Win, win!

[flyboy]

The Wall must be experienced!  However, it is a red herring.  The real challenge is the ascent (and descent!!) of Galton Pass soon afterwards.

It really isn't that bad in the big scheme of things (400m in 4400km) but is a "must do" much like Brush Mountain lodge and Pie Town.
I must admit, I am feeling some pangs of jealousy not being on the starting line this year. This damn race gets under one's skin.....
Some free advice for the rookies, the race isn't won in the first few days but you sure can blow it in the first few days. Soft pedal for the first 3-4 days and get a feel for it. Enjoy and look to the long term.

[bakerjw]

Saturday night, I watched the Koko Claims videos over a beer or 2 and thought, "Oh S***" It will certainly be a few miles of HAB for me.

I am leaving GD +5 days (06/14/17 at 5:00AM. If I have weather like last year (no guarantees) and DON'T stop to take pictures every 10 minutes (#TouristMode) then I would hope to hit the reroute in the mid to late afternoon. Most likely I'll be bedding down in one of the 4 campgrounds on the BullRiver service road.

I have all of the campgrounds from Elkford to the border in on my TD map. I just don't have the new GPX file with all of the reroutes in place yet.
http://www.appalachianbiketrails.org/openlayersTD2017.php

[kiwidave]

Paul Attalla and Mark Cunnane's potential "Koko Claims" re-route report is attached:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yiRlfjl0r49qqciiqC2ilC1PupsaE1m2N4_p4srwa3w/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=30000&slide=id.g1e28f1daeb_0_127

[bakerjw]

Paul Attalla and Mark Cunnane's potential "Koko Claims" re-route report is attached:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yiRlfjl0r49qqciiqC2ilC1PupsaE1m2N4_p4srwa3w/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=30000&slide=id.g1e28f1daeb_0_127

It is a very good write up. Quite detailed as to the misery... er uh excitement that lies ahead.

[BobM]

Paul Attalla and Mark Cunnane's potential "Koko Claims" re-route report is attached:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1yiRlfjl0r49qqciiqC2ilC1PupsaE1m2N4_p4srwa3w/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=30000&slide=id.g1e28f1daeb_0_127

Interesting!  Anyone want to start a pool on number of ankle injuries by riders hiking through that stuff in cycling shoes?  It would almost be worth taking an old pair of hiking boots just for that section and discarding them afterwards.

[bakerjw]

I, for one, ride flat pedals with hiking shoes. This year I went with a mid height hiking shoe that surprisingly came in at less weight than my shoe from last year.

I suspect you are correct about injuries. i.e. ankles, banged knees, etc... not to mention an occasional sidewall issue.

[jjmundt]

Interesting!  Anyone want to start a pool on number of ankle injuries by riders hiking through that stuff in cycling shoes?  It would almost be worth taking an old pair of hiking boots just for that section and discarding them afterwards.

...or sending them back home via the Fernie Post Office...it's just one block off the proposed re-route.

[jjmundt]

I, for one, ride flat pedals with hiking shoes. This year I went with a mid height hiking shoe that surprisingly came in at less weight than my shoe from last year.

I suspect you are correct about injuries. i.e. ankles, banged knees, etc... not to mention an occasional sidewall issue.

Same for me....platform pedals and hiking shoes.  The little knobs on the pedals provide excellent grip and the hiking shoes (in may case, Keens) are extremely comfortable and easy to move around a bit on the pedals without stopping to make adjustment that require tools.

[BobM]

...or sending them back home via the Fernie Post Office...it's just one block off the proposed re-route.

It truly might be worth carrying them for the first 100 miles.

[jjmundt]

It truly might be worth carrying them for the first 100 miles.

This might be the video mentioned in an earlier post...not sure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13mHVUCYtSc
NOTE: There is at least one naughty word in this video...

After seeing the re-route, if I were participating this year I would definitely agree with you.

[KO]

Yikes!  You guys are really trying to weed out the rookies early this year.

[Flinch]

>> Yikes!  You guys are really trying to weed out the rookies early this year <<

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



messing with rookies...I'm a baaaad boy!

[Pirahna]

20 miles of hiking and Grizzlies gather at the top for an easy snack of tired cyclist

[bakerjw]

Same for me....platform pedals and hiking shoes.  The little knobs on the pedals provide excellent grip and the hiking shoes (in may case, Keens) are extremely comfortable and easy to move around a bit on the pedals without stopping to make adjustment that require tools.

I just sent back some Keen Durands. Too heavy. I opted for some Adidas mid height Goretex hiking shoes. Good ankle support at 16 ounces each.

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

I think that this section will possibly be some of the hardest in the entire route this year. 2 miles of HAB over that terrain?

This might be the video mentioned in an earlier post...not sure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13mHVUCYtSc

That is one of the videos. There are several, a pair from Kootenaycat which are slower and more detailed.

Then... There is Bull River FS road. Once you get off of the pass and on to Bull River Road, it is a dream ride. Still one climb into Fernie though
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d74mS5TOQGI

There are 4 campgrounds along the route. Nothing fancy, but targets.

I am leaving Banff 5 days after the grand depart at about 5:00 AM. If weather is good to me, I should make the reroute about 3:00 to 4:00 in the afternoon. With an estimated 4 hour crossing I suspect that I'll be in one of the campgrounds. The good thing about that? Waking up at 3:00 or 4:00 AM. Loading up, riding to Fernie with the reward of a couple of hot cups of coffee. Some biscuits. Load up more food for the next 3 mountain passes and head off.