Tour Divide 2019 Preparation and Planning Thread

[bon]

This thing has been abnormally quiet for less than a month out!!! Looking forward to getting back out there. Hoping for good weather, fun trails, and high fives along the way!! Anyone up for some sightseeing/exploring pre GD? Im getting in tuesday evening, 11th. Would love to see a few things around town.

At the moment my bike frame is cracked......soooo im thinking of happier thoughts while not being able to ride. haha... Hopefully Giant comes through!

Good luck to everyone finalizing their plans and training. See you soon!

Sorry to hear about your frame! I hope Giant comes through. Do you have a backup plan?
Make sure you walk up and see the falls, across the river from the castle. Stunning!
I'll see you at the start!

[bon]

For any north bounders or south bound finishers going through Phoenix we have a guest house for cyclists.  We are Warm Showers hosts.  Usually we can do airport pick ups and a lift up the hill to Globe.  There are no fees for any of this, it is just my way of repaying for all the kindness I have received over the years.  Good luck to all.

Super kind of you!! Thank you!

[Southwest Trailhead Hand/Hachita Bike Ranch]

   I will be here again this year.  Quick note:  There is water at the Separ store on the west end of the building.  (interstate 10).     
                                                             There is water at the Hachita Community Center out front,  west side of building.
                                                             Take extra food and water when you leave Pie-Town,  Many have told me they ran out.

Cheers~!

[bon]

   I will be here again this year.  Quick note:  There is water at the Separ store on the west end of the building.  (interstate 10).     
                                                             There is water at the Hachita Community Center out front,  west side of building.
                                                             Take extra food and water when you leave Pie-Town,  Many have told me they ran out.

Cheers~!

Thank you!

[SlowDave]

I am going from memory here from riding that portion of the GDMBR last year.  West of Pie Town on HWY 60 about a mile is the Top Of The World C store.  That is the last chance for food until you get through the Gila.  A few miles south of Pie Town there is an animal rescue place that had a cooler of water out for TD riders.  Further on there is a well that riders are welcome to use, it is on the right side.  Then there is nothing until you get to the highway that borders the Plains of San Augustine.  There is a church there and riders are welcome to fill up from the hose bib.  Don't be intimidated if there is a lot of shooting going on at the church, they have after church services shooting matches.  They are nice people and they are sure to give you some reading material for the rest of your ride.  Once in the plains there are a couple of ranchers that had coolers out with water, one even had candy bars etc for TD riders.  Then there is nothing until the work camp.  After the work camp there is a lake and a couple of stream crossings that may have water.  Silver City has everything you could want.  After Silver City there are no supplies until Separ.  However a couple of miles after you turn off the highway from Silver there is a well and cattle tank on the left.  It is set up so you can catch the water right as it pumps from the well so no need to filter.  The people of Hachita are wonderful.  The community center is available for cyclists to sleep in.  There is a small store that is much like what you would find in Baja.  They carry enough to get by with and ice cream.  It isn't like a C store that is open at all hours so plan accordingly.

[MI_pdlr]

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/site/warranty-return/terrapin-recall/

So everybody can run and check their bags like I did.

[bon]

I am going from memory here from riding that portion of the GDMBR last year.  West of Pie Town on HWY 60 about a mile is the Top Of The World C store.  That is the last chance for food until you get through the Gila.  A few miles south of Pie Town there is an animal rescue place that had a cooler of water out for TD riders.  Further on there is a well that riders are welcome to use, it is on the right side.  Then there is nothing until you get to the highway that borders the Plains of San Augustine.  There is a church there and riders are welcome to fill up from the hose bib.  Don't be intimidated if there is a lot of shooting going on at the church, they have after church services shooting matches.  They are nice people and they are sure to give you some reading material for the rest of your ride.  Once in the plains there are a couple of ranchers that had coolers out with water, one even had candy bars etc for TD riders.  Then there is nothing until the work camp.  After the work camp there is a lake and a couple of stream crossings that may have water.  Silver City has everything you could want.  After Silver City there are no supplies until Separ.  However a couple of miles after you turn off the highway from Silver there is a well and cattle tank on the left.  It is set up so you can catch the water right as it pumps from the well so no need to filter.  The people of Hachita are wonderful.  The community center is available for cyclists to sleep in.  There is a small store that is much like what you would find in Baja.  They carry enough to get by with and ice cream.  It isn't like a C store that is open at all hours so plan accordingly.

Great info!

[bon]

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/site/warranty-return/terrapin-recall/

So everybody can run and check their bags like I did.

No doubt! Ha! Thankfully mine was ordered after they discovered the issue.

[TugMariner]

Anyone have any info on when the .gpx will be posted in Topofusion?  Thx

[Iowagriz]

Anyone have any info on when the .gpx will be posted in Topofusion?  Thx

Usually the week prior, they wait to the last minute as re-routes due to various reasons are usually considered and checked.

[TugMariner]

Thx!

[Lincfish20]

Hi all!

Avid follower of the TD (with one failed attempt under my belt ) here with a friendly request. I am a grade 6/7 social studies teacher in New Brunswick, Canada. I currently teach at an inter-city school where the students have very little opportunity/exposure to outdoor adventure. I feel many of these students would be very interested in following an event such as the TD via Trackleaders, and noting the changes in climate, geography, etc, of each region in which the racers ride through. In addition to simply following the race itself, I was hoping to recruit a few TD participants who would be willing to send us some occasional updates on how their Tour is going along the way. We could accomplish this through email perhaps? I feel that putting a personality to the "Dot" would go long way with keeping the kids engaged.

If anybody participating in this year's Tour Divide thinks they may be interested in this, please drop me an email at nkporter20@gmail.com and we can discuss further. I totally understand that time and service are in limited quantities out on the Divide so I certainly would not expect regular updates. Even a weekly check in would be fantastic and I know the kids would love it!

Thanks a lot everyone!

[Kiwi Pete]

Looking forward to following TD 2019
As it's the start of winter downunder.
All the Best to all that are starting this year
 

[bon]

Looking forward to following TD 2019
As it's the start of winter downunder.
All the Best to all that are starting this year
 

Thank you! Looking forward to seeing so many friends!

[Pirahna]

I am going from memory here from riding that portion of the GDMBR last year.  West of Pie Town on HWY 60 about a mile is the Top Of The World C store.  That is the last chance for food until you get through the Gila.  A few miles south of Pie Town there is an animal rescue place that had a cooler of water out for TD riders.  Further on there is a well that riders are welcome to use, it is on the right side.  Then there is nothing until you get to the highway that borders the Plains of San Augustine. 

Leaving Pie Town the first water I remember is the small lakes by the ruined church. After that is's up the hill to the campground where there's cattle troughs if you're really, really desperate. Then it's down the hill where there's a river at the bottom. After that it's out to the highway, when you turn left onto the dirt there are some houses, one of them puts water out.

I can't remember after that, I was riding into a headwind and was contemplating suicide. A man in a truck towing a trailer stopped and gave me a cold Coke and pockets full of treats. I think I filled up with water again at the fire training camp and then again out on the highway before Silver City. I passed a campground somewhere in between these places, just before you start the long climbs, fairly sure there was water there, maybe a river but I could be wrong on this one.

[bon]

Leaving Pie Town the first water I remember is the small lakes by the ruined church. After that is's up the hill to the campground where there's cattle troughs if you're really, really desperate. Then it's down the hill where there's a river at the bottom. After that it's out to the highway, when you turn left onto the dirt there are some houses, one of them puts water out.

I can't remember after that, I was riding into a headwind and was contemplating suicide. A man in a truck towing a trailer stopped and gave me a cold Coke and pockets full of treats. I think I filled up with water again at the fire training camp and then again out on the highway before Silver City. I passed a campground somewhere in between these places, just before you start the long climbs, fairly sure there was water there, maybe a river but I could be wrong on this one.

Is it bad that I laughed out loud at "...contemplating suicide." ??
Great info. Thanks for sharing!

[kiwidave]

I passed a campground somewhere in between these places, just before you start the long climbs, fairly sure there was water there, maybe a river but I could be wrong on this one.

There's no water at Sapillo Campground - wish there was though.

[elobeck]

Where exactly does most of the pre race banter happen these days? Does not appear to be here....

[flyboy]

Where exactly does most of the pre race banter happen these days? Does not appear to be here....

Seems to all be on FaceBook. It sux though as there seems to be no chronological order to it so it is hard to find anything.
Going back over previous year's prep threads is a great way to glean information as most of it is still relevant. About the only advantage to FB might be snow updates as that is where people can post photos/info easily and quickly. You have to find them of course.....

Anyway, good luck to everyone racing this year. Wishing I was going to be out there again...but sort of not.  It WILL be a life changing experience, especially if you manage to finish.

[bon]

Seems to all be on FaceBook. It sux though as there seems to be no chronological order to it so it is hard to find anything.
Going back over previous year's prep threads is a great way to glean information as most of it is still relevant. About the only advantage to FB might be snow updates as that is where people can post photos/info easily and quickly. You have to find them of course.....

Anyway, good luck to everyone racing this year. Wishing I was going to be out there again...but sort of not.  It WILL be a life changing experience, especially if you manage to finish.

I'm happy to find info here. Love the older threads too.
The snow will be a contender this year, it seems. Can't wait to find out first hand.