Tour Divide 2023 - Race Prep Discussion

[bon]

After a phantasmagoric '22, I'm excited to see how '23 unfolds. Who's in for '23?

[Briansong]

Hi Bonnie -

I'm not riding but did an August depart last year 8/20/21. Dp and I chose that date based on potential best weather window, course wide. Neither one of us made the distance but our weather strategy was solid. We had some light showers (not cold) first day and a half. But the rest of our ride, the weather was perfect.

To my point;

Why do you think there is such hesitancy for  a larger and later group depart? I started with the GD in 2014 as well, that was also a terrible snow year. I can't understand so many risking an adventure this monumental in scope on bad weather, as 2022 was. What year did the race leaders get stuck at Brush Mountain? The weather track for a depart anywhere in the middle of August just makes so much sense.

I know the June date is because of daylight hours. Me, I'd rather ride a couple hours in the dark than a couple hours in snow or worse yet, freezing rain. Dp here and I even started a August depart FB page, little to no interest.
Think of the time invested in training, money invested in gear, time away from work, time away from family. Based on all that, why risk bad weather, that seems more likely, than not.

Discuss...

[bon]

Hi Bonnie -

I'm not riding but did an August depart last year 8/20/21. Dp and I chose that date based on potential best weather window, course wide. Neither one of us made the distance but our weather strategy was solid. We had some light showers (not cold) first day and a half. But the rest of our ride, the weather was perfect.

To my point;

Why do you think there is such hesitancy for  a larger and later group depart? I started with the GD in 2014 as well, that was also a terrible snow year. I can't understand so many risking an adventure this monumental in scope on bad weather, as 2022 was. What year did the race leaders get stuck at Brush Mountain? The weather track for a depart anywhere in the middle of August just makes so much sense.

I know the June date is because of daylight hours. Me, I'd rather ride a couple hours in the dark than a couple hours in snow or worse yet, freezing rain. Dp here and I even started a August depart FB page, little to no interest.
Think of the time invested in training, money invested in gear, time away from work, time away from family. Based on all that, why risk bad weather, that seems more likely, than not.

Discuss...

I'm glad you guys had a great ride! I would venture to guess it's based on daylight, weather, and tradition. But anyone can ITT at anytime.

[MikeI]

Hi Bonnie -

I'm not riding but did an August depart last year 8/20/21. Dp and I chose that date based on potential best weather window, course wide. Neither one of us made the distance but our weather strategy was solid. We had some light showers (not cold) first day and a half. But the rest of our ride, the weather was perfect.

To my point;

Why do you think there is such hesitancy for  a larger and later group depart? I started with the GD in 2014 as well, that was also a terrible snow year. I can't understand so many risking an adventure this monumental in scope on bad weather, as 2022 was. What year did the race leaders get stuck at Brush Mountain? The weather track for a depart anywhere in the middle of August just makes so much sense.

I know the June date is because of daylight hours. Me, I'd rather ride a couple hours in the dark than a couple hours in snow or worse yet, freezing rain. Dp here and I even started a August depart FB page, little to no interest.
Think of the time invested in training, money invested in gear, time away from work, time away from family. Based on all that, why risk bad weather, that seems more likely, than not.

Discuss...

I "think" several folks who were doing GDMBR, leaving close to your time ran into serious mud in New Mexico. Going northbound, leaving in early June seems to work well as long as you don't blow yourself out of the running on the first couple of days ( it was 100 degrees at Lake Roberts in '21 and then it got hot ).

Guess tradition is the reason for the 2nd week. Kinda wondering what Parks Canada is going to be saying regarding next year after having a bunch of folks getting evacuated this year.

[shredgnar85]

Kinda wondering what Parks Canada is going to be saying regarding next year after having a bunch of folks getting evacuated this year.

I suppose the worst that could happen with Parks Canada is that they ban it from the park. They could easily move the TD start line to Canmore and follow the 2021 AR700 route up to the High Rockies and not really lose that much.

[Briansong]

I "think" several folks who were doing GDMBR, leaving close to your time ran into serious mud in New Mexico. Going northbound, leaving in early June seems to work well as long as you don't blow yourself out of the running on the first couple of days ( it was 100 degrees at Lake Roberts in '21 and then it got hot ).

Guess tradition is the reason for the 2nd week. Kinda wondering what Parks Canada is going to be saying regarding next year after having a bunch of folks getting evacuated this year.

Mike -

I really think a NB start at the June GD is wise. Getting out of the desert early enough not to have heat problems id key. However, me being from Phoenix, I'd rather ride in 100 deg than 42 and rain.

[bon]

Mike -

I really think a NB start at the June GD is wise. Getting out of the desert early enough not to have heat problems id key. However, me being from Phoenix, I'd rather ride in 100 deg than 42 and rain.

If you're heat acclimated, you're a step ahead of a lot of us mild temp dwellers. I'd tackle a NOBO if I could, but I usually need 2500 miles to heat acclimate.

[Briansong]

If you're heat acclimated, you're a step ahead of a lot of us mild temp dwellers. I'd tackle a NOBO if I could, but I usually need 2500 miles to heat acclimate.

In my run-up during training for my ITT last year, I was riding 6-8 hours on the road. All of June, July and August. I remember getting home and it being 116-118 at times. I was solid in the heat. Its not terrible if you take proper care of your body. "They" say, drink a 20oz bottle every hour. I was drinking a 32oz magnum, every half hour. No different I guess than reading about the Ididarod folks at those insane cold temps.

[bon]

In my run-up during training for my ITT last year, I was riding 6-8 hours on the road. All of June, July and August. I remember getting home and it being 116-118 at times. I was solid in the heat. Its not terrible if you take proper care of your body. "They" say, drink a 20oz bottle every hour. I was drinking a 32oz magnum, every half hour. No different I guess than reading about the Ididarod folks at those insane cold temps.

Sounds like excellent training, and even more important - you know your body. Giving it another go next June?

[Briansong]

Sounds like excellent training, and even more important - you know your body. Giving it another go next June?

Bon -

Nope. My mind just isn't cut out for this. I pulled the plug in Montana...again. This time I was physically fine. I just couldn't wrap my head around all the miles, time in front of me. I have never DNF'd a race, ever and I'm 0-2 with this.

I'm focusing on my road bike and might even do some crit racing.

I sold my bike and all the gear when I got home. I didn't wan't to be tempted. 

[bon]

Bon -

Nope. My mind just isn't cut out for this. I pulled the plug in Montana...again. This time I was physically fine. I just couldn't wrap my head around all the miles, time in front of me. I have never DNF'd a race, ever and I'm 0-2 with this.

I'm focusing on my road bike and might even do some crit racing.

I sold my bike and all the gear when I got home. I didn't wan't to be tempted. 

Whatever you do, enjoy it with all your heart or keep trying new things. I hope to hear if you enjoy crit!
I hope to try ultra running someday. Just gotta get healed!

[bon]

Great interview with Scott Morris on singletracks:
https://www.singletracks.com/mtb-trails/he-works-to-give-bikepacking-racers-more-visibility-and-to-keep-them-honest-too/

[ChrisE]

KiwiDave

Are you putting up the usual Google Sheet signup thing?  The UK racers use that to contact each other

Cheers
Chris

[ScottM]

Guess tradition is the reason for the 2nd week. Kinda wondering what Parks Canada is going to be saying regarding next year after having a bunch of folks getting evacuated this year.

Parks Canada is quite happy with TD and the way the start waves were executed in 2022.  It's primarily Fernie SAR that wasn't pleased with the event. Matthew has worked hard to communicate with them and make sure they are OK with the event in 2023. As far as I've heard he's been successful.

[bon]

Parks Canada is quite happy with TD and the way the start waves were executed in 2022.  It's primarily Fernie SAR that wasn't pleased with the event. Matthew has worked hard to communicate with them and make sure they are OK with the event in 2023. As far as I've heard he's been successful.

That's so good to hear, Scott. Thank you for the update!

[ChrisE]

Parks Canada is quite happy with TD and the way the start waves were executed in 2022.  It's primarily Fernie SAR that wasn't pleased with the event. Matthew has worked hard to communicate with them and make sure they are OK with the event in 2023. As far as I've heard he's been successful.

Scott, from what I saw, much of the problem was riders going into an isolated area, that's relatively high altitude, when they really were not sufficiently prepared to do that by their mountain skills or their equipment.

The section from Fernie to the US Border is about 110miles, with two passes at around 5,600' and then Galton Pass at 6,200'.

At this stage on the 2nd or third day of the ride, people were taking decisions to push into areas that they were ill-prepared for.  That is borne out by the statistics of people that got "pulled out", not because they were injured but has simply got into a place they were not prepared for.

The way our community needs to help with this is to encourage riders to be 'more skilled' or 'more prepared' by understanding better what they are getting into, by carrying more wet-weather and cold-weather gear but probably most importantly having the knowledge and skills to wait it out (perhaps in Fernie), or by having all the low-level escape routes in their knowledge so that if needed they could always be in a safer space.


It's going to be a difficult time on 9th 10th 11th June 2023 when the riders are going though that area again, to be kind to those services that helped out so much in 2022 and to show that we, as a community, have dealt with this.  Of course it's not only Banff to about Sealy Lake that has these hazards.  There are so many other tough sections, high altitudes, isolated areas, lack of services and potential bad weather.  These are similar and different hazards all the way along the entire 2,700 miles but we must show to the outside world that we have the skills and equipment to be prepared.

We need to do everything we can.

Chris

[bon]

I hope everyone's training and preparation is going well, and you're enjoying the adventure to the start line!

[bon]

Happy New Year, riders! Anyone excited for June?

[shredgnar85]

Happy New Year Bonnie! Hope you have a great 2023!

I've put my LoI in last week so I'm just getting all of the little things ready for my first crack at it. I'm jealous of all of the racers that don't have snow on the ground for the 6 months before the race. Already sick of the bike trainer!

[bon]

Happy New Year Bonnie! Hope you have a great 2023!

I've put my LoI in last week so I'm just getting all of the little things ready for my first crack at it. I'm jealous of all of the racers that don't have snow on the ground for the 6 months before the race. Already sick of the bike trainer!

Right on! I'm excited for you!!
I remember getting a bit envious of warm winter riders too but my fatbike helped a bit. Every pedal stroke on the trainer will pay off in spades on the Divide!