[Closed] This Tour Divide thing

[i]Letter's of Intent are accepted annually, from Winter Solstice (12/21) until grand depart (2nd Friday in June)[/i]

I think, if it's anything like the GDR, you just turn up at the start line on the day and sign in. The letter of intent just says 'I'll probably be there'. There's a contact page ont he site - maybe ask the organisers?

enter ? entry ? you think its a race .......

nope its just a common start date for a long distance tour .....

Errrrr....

http://tourdivide.org/the_race

Why has everyone suddenly become intruiged by this? Loads of people seem to be entering it? Just wondered.

'cos it looks ace and people have seen the film, I think.

Munqe-chick, do you fancy doing it then ? If you do you would have to ride a funny bike like Mark.

Film was not bad but bloody hell, you'll have to like fireroad...a lot! I just don't get the appeal compared to the alternative of a road trip cycling primo singletrack. To be honest (and this may be unfair), I came away from the film thinking it would make a decent touring or cross route.

"a decent touring or cross route"

'Tour Divide' - there's a clue in the name 😉

it's definitely an endurance race, I'd agree.

Sanny is right, a love of fireroad is a good thing to have, the great divide is mostly fireroad with some interesting sections but not that technical. You could do it on a cross bike. Bit the scenery is breath taking, the climbs are huge, the descents fast and the bears are grizzly! Well the ones I met weren't overly friendly.

I've always wanted to do this ever since I heard about it years ago. I however have not seen or indeed heard of a film 🙂

you'll have to like fireroad...a lot

I don't much care for fire road but I do absolutely love super long self supported treks through stunning natural beauty 🙂

A road trip with good riding stops is a totally different proposition.

I came away from the film thinking it would make a decent touring or cross route.

That's exactly what it is.

I'd love to do it but I think I'd like to take it a bit slower. Maybe set-up camp / stay in a hostel for a few days - a week every so often and go walk and ride the local area. If I lived in the states I'd like to have ago to do the race but travelling all that way to speed though would be a wasted opportunity for me as I hate long haul.

Jenn cycled back up the coast to san fransisco when she did the GDR - had her 'take your time' holiday at the end by cycling another 800 or so miles...

You don't enter, you just do.

If I ever do it, it'll be as an ITT and probably south to north. My brother lives in BC, not far from Banff so I'd head over early and then meet the family in Canada.

That's a good idea. If I could persuade the other half a setup like this would be ideal. 🙂
[img] ?1244464385[/img]

I've been thinking about the ideal bike for a long time. I like the idea of a belt drive rohloff steel fully rigid 29er, but I'm a bit worried that the supposed inefficiency of a rohloff would add up to a lot of extra effort wasted over 3,000 miles.

You could try it singlespeed?

ive got a ragley td-1 in my shed and a thorn raven enduro rohloff im marrying up to make my ride for it .....

inefficiency meh - i just want to see it all and finish with minimal fuss on the way ....

I want to compete 🙂

I don't fancy SS with all that climbing and descending...

[img] http://lh4.ggpht.com/_By42uYleqms/TKr6RPkdWcI/AAAAAAAAGoc/yuVjwGxgdhU/s640/CIMG0420.JP G" target="_blank">http://lh4.ggpht.com/_By42uYleqms/TKr6RPkdWcI/AAAAAAAAGoc/yuVjwGxgdhU/s640/CIMG0420.JP G"/> [/img]

waiting on a few bits before i can make the switch though such as rims , cranks , brakes ......

Jenn did it singlespeed and set a new record.

She had to take 2+ days out halfway through with the squits too.

my thoughts are if i go in to compete i wont finish .....

speak to aidan he did it SS this year

jenn the year before that or 2 years ago infact

carl on here has done it - unsure if he was geared or SS

steve wilkinson used to be on here unsure if he still is.

the squits mmmm giardia- wouldnt wish that on my worst enemy - suffered from it for 3 weeks cycling from abel tasman to hamilton in nz - lost over a stone - take your potable water precautions seriously !

If I go to compete, I'll finish, because competing doesn't mean sprinting off the line and burning out four days later 🙂 You can still compete and pace yourself.

nice bike TR, but I'd have a fork that could take front panniers I think. Spread the load.

you want to compete - yet your taking panniers .....

im not 100% sure on my luggage as its about 18 months away but it sure as hell wont involve panniers

I love Matthew Lee's approach to packing for the Tour Divide.. everything he would take on a long days ride.. plus a sleeping bag 🙂 Minimalist:)

This event is definately on my must do list... maybe not next year though.

you want to compete - yet your taking panniers .....

I may take them 🙂

I would probably take a sub 1kg tent, 400g sleeping bag, one of those new airbed thermarests, and a tiny gas stove.

However the amount of water required would be pretty heavy, which is why I'd consider mounting my stuff on the bike...

ill pretty much be going for the matt lee approach - not for speed but for the less weight the more enjoyable.

im dithering on the tent - im thinking a hooped bivy and having just finished reading rosie swale popes book about running round the world im more inclined to go that way than a tent - either that or shes just plain mental !

the new air bed / neo air mats are ****ing ace - got a full length one my self and i love it - would deffo recomend even if you dont do the tour divide ! pisses all over my original thermarest and either of my 3/4 copys - alpkit and kathmandu while packing much smaller

The Terra Nova tent (forget it's name, Laser something) is as light as a hooped bivi, and it's a tent. Longer to put up, but I might fancy my chances.

I've got a little gas stove that's smaller than a MSR pocket rocket, which I might prefer over other ultra-light weight alternatives like a cup of meths. I'm of the opinion that you need some home comforts and usability, and I might be prepared to sacrifice a lb or two to get that for the sake of sanity.

I'd try it all on my back, but I dunno. Panniers add weight but so much more comfortable day in day out, don't you think? And what about water? You might need at least 5l of water if not 8l for a whole hot day in desert heat, and that's going to be a hell of a burden on your back.

[url= http://www.bikepacking.net/multiday-race-reports/the-story-of-eight-tour-divide-2009/ ]This[/url] is a good read. Yoy can download the pdf. Should've been a book in my humble opinion.

water bottles an look at revelate designs or carrousel designs

my bed roll will be under the handlebars , then a gas tank/half frame pack + a seat pack and a wingnut or ergon backpack with minimal stuff in

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

my set up for the west highland way bivvy

Gonna stuff the frame bag with bottles then?

How's that better than panniers? 🙂

nah i just wont carry 15 litres of water ....

2x 1 litre water bottles and a 3litre bladder

and if i feel i need it for the longer desert days ill just buy a 2 litre bottle en route and lash it onto the seat or bar pack like i used to do in nz when we were wild camping for 2 or 3 days between towns

Trimix, no thanks! From the sounds of this doesn't appeal even now! Fireroad and amazing views, sounds like my trip to Boulder/Crested Butte this summer, although there wasn't much fireroad it was frigging awesome 2 weeks of riding. I'll just support you other crazy fools.

trail-rat - hope 5l is enough for you when it's 35 degrees and you are riding dawn til dusk. To drink, wash cook and drink all evening... 🙂

I might consider something like a rack-top bag for my gear and a big camelbak with two bladders maybe for 6l of water. Cos you would only need mega amounts of water on some of the trip.

MC - much as I love singletrack, it's a completely different thing to a 2 week biking holiday so no point comparing them. Being on your own in the wilderness thousands of miles from home with nothing but your bike and the contents of your backpack is what it's all about. Bring it on 🙂