You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
My friends have taken the plunge and booked 3 months off to ride the Tour Divide this summer (starting late June) with a view to riding it over 2 1/2 months approximately, loosely planning 50 miles/day average.
I can't commit to that unfortunately but my plan would be to try and join them for ~a week or so within a 2-3 week window as I appreciate that their plans and progress will be fairly fluid! Based on their current plan that would mean joining them for approximately 300 miles over 7 days. Can anyone recommend (or help with a good resource to find) a section that might work logistically with travelling from the UK (either fly out to one place and back from another, or somewhere with good transport links back to the start point).
Might be very optimistic in thinking this could work, but I'm keen to try and join for some of it! Ideally I'd let them settle in for a month and then join them for a fun section 😀
It passes fairly close to Denver (Breckenridge is only 100 miles) which you can probably get a direct flight to/from. Colorado section is probably some of the most interesting.
Try to get yourself to Steamboat Springs to join them and then stay with them as long as you can, giving yourself time to get back to Denver?
sounds brilliant, have you checked out this:
https://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and-maps/interactive-network-map/
from the UK, I'd have thought flying to / from Denver would be simplest, and then one-way car hires to get to / from the route itself?
something like: Section 4: Rawlins, WY to Salida, CO (377.8 mi.)?
Might not want to hang around Rawlins, WY too long waiting for your friends to get there. It has a bit of a reputation for being a shithole (though I haven't been there myself) apparently this is part of the reason why the Tour Divide route doesn't go through it anymore, but goes through Wamsutter instead (which is just a truck stop).
Depending on where you want to meet and leave your friends, Colorado has shuttles from the airport to Breck, Steamboat, etc. Denver has direct flights from the UK with BA and United to DIA. You may be able to take a shuttle from Gunnison or Salida or fly from Gunnison to Denver. As most ski resort towns have summer tourists, there are usually shuttle van options between them and Denver airport in the summer. Bustang may be an option, too. https://ridebustang.com/bus-lines-routes-maps/
Just a suggestion, but if you join them for the start then they won’t have any pressure to make a certain point by a certain date or if they’re ahead of schedule they won’t have to hang around. Jasper is also pretty was to get to.
The elevation around there isn’t too crazy, either. Breckinridge is about 3000 meters in the town.
The entire route is on trail forks, which I think you can view without a subscription using the website. This will show you where the sections that appeal most are located and will show their proximity to airports.
One thing to keep in mind would be where you’ll end your stint as it will be quite a way from the airport you arrived at, but may not be close to one that you can fly directly home from. You may need to get an internal flight to an international hub.
The Alberta into Montana section would be pretty stunning.
Thanks All, Denver certainly looks like it might be a good option in terms of transport links.
Thanks for the links @tractionman I'll have a rummage through.
@LAT I did think that might be the easiest logistically, but I wasn't sure about gatecrashing the start of their trip (they have invited me to join, but I think they're more keen to have company later in the trip when they're bored of each other and have generally settled in a bit). But it might make sense as if they've then overpacked anything that it turns out they don't really need, I could always bring it home with me.
Plenty of food for thought!
they have invited me to join, but I think they’re more keen to have company later in the trip when they’re bored of each other and have generally settled in a bit
ah, a bit of a peacemaker role! Sounds like it will be a good trip wherever you join them.
A couple of nasty mechanicals could easily knock them off schedule by a couple of days and leave you hanging around at the rendezvous. If you don't want to gatecrash the start, then might be worth aiming to arrive slightly early and planning some separate riding or sightseeing to do if you have a few days to spare.
Yes I think so, which is another plus point for somewhere like Breckenridge as I could hire a full-suspension and ride the bike parks and trails etc. and generally explore.