One way to do this is to roll equipment purchases into a specific project.  In general, my experience in the non-profit world is that projects are more fundable when they benefit people beyond those involved with the project and if the project has a long tail, with many other benefits that play out over a period of years.  In other words, if you can develop something that is great for those students, but also benefits the broader community that might be to your advantage. 

For example, let's say you put together a great bikepacking overnighter.  The planning, execution, and documentation of it will benefit your students (obviously), but if you can wrap some community service in it (e.g., trash collection, trail maintenance, etc) that makes the whole thing bigger and more powerful and also introduces the notion of stewardship into the project.

As for grant sources, try your local library or local university.  In fact, you might want to partner with a professor who works in the education field.  S/he will generally know about grants for this kind of thing.

I hope that helps, and best wishes for a successful project.

I finally figured out a way to ride the Divide that makes sense to me and brings together my passions for experimental music and ultra-distance mountain biking (man, talk about two niches . . . )

www.sonicdivide.com

Check it out and let me know what you think.

Happy trails . . .

Payton

[$50]

Two items for sale:

1.) Selle Anatomica Titanico seat, brown color, $50 shipped, lower 48.  I put about 200 miles on it, but it wasn't the right fit for me.  Some scratches, but otherwise in perfect shape.  This is a popular saddle for bikepackers, many people claim it works wonders for them for ultra-distance races like the TD.  SOLD

2.) Thomson Elite Setback Seat Post, SP-E128SB, black, 30.9 x 367mm, $50 shipped, lower 48.  Some scratches but otherwise in fine condition. SOLD

I will entertain reasonable offers as well.  Email is the best way to get in touch with me: payton [dot] macdonald [at] gmail [dot] com

This item is SOLD!!!

XL 2011 Specialized Stumpjumper 29er comp.  Great mtb for a great price, set up for bikepacking.  $900 plus shipping or best offer.  Includes both a rigid fork and a suspension fork.  New bottom bracket, new cables, brakes replaced last year, chain and cassette also replaced recently.  I also had the rear wheel rebuilt two years ago with brass nipples so it can handle quite a bit of weight without breaking a spoke.  It's bomb proof in all respects, especially with the rigid fork.  Perfect for commuting, bikepacking, or you can throw on the suspension fork for racing or eating up single track.

Specs:
XL (21")
aluminum frame
29er wheels.
steel rigid fork or RockShok suspension fork (both included)
SRAM X9 rear derailleur
SRAM X7 front derailleur
SRAM X7 shifters
Avid front brake, trail 7 rear brake
phenom saddle
pedals NOT included
good tires, WTBs, front is running tubeless, back has a tube in it

I used this bike for bikepacking and commuting to work, mostly pavement, rail trails, and double track.  Very little single track.  I only crashed it once, but nothing was damaged or broken (except my shoulder!), otherwise it's been handled carefully.  Of course it has scratches on it, but it still rides very well.  Great bike for great price.  Please email me if interested as I don't check PMs that often: payton.macdonald@gmail.com.  For pictures go here: http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/301732722096?  I will offer a discount to anyone who finds the ad here.  Just mention it in your message to me. 

[Tarptent Contrail for sale]

Tarptent Contrail for sale

I've used it about 7 or 8 times and it works fine.  No rips or tears or other problems, but I prefer bivy sacks, so I'm selling it.  $150 shipped in the lower 48.  Please email me if possible as I don't check PMs here that often: payton.macdonald@gmail.com

Great for bikepacking!  Light, easy to set up, durable.  Here's the page with all the info: https://www.tarptent.com/contrail.html

Thanks!
Payton

Congrats to Josh, JP, and Neil, and congrats to all the other folks out there riding hard and finding their bliss.  Also, huge shout out to ACA, Matthew, Scott, Joe, Crazy Larry, and all the significant others, trail angels, and other good folks who make this race happen.  Your dedication and enthusiasm is inspiring and a real testament to American ingenuity and generosity.

Steel is what I used for the Canadian and half of the Montana sections and it was great.  You'll be glad you have the bomb proofness of it . . . +1 on the tire pressure.  Makes a big difference

Just giving this a bump.  I'm getting some folks interested and getting some commitments, so if you want to jump on this please do so soon.  I'm limiting it to 12 folks so we don't overwhelm the camp sites and so we stay under the radar.  It's going to be an amazingly gnarly good time.

Hi guys and gals,

I'm attaching a pdf with information about a new event I'm hosting here in New Jersey in mid September.  This is a 24-hour mountain bike/trail run/hiking event that will include a bikepacking component.  The dates are September 13-14.  It's self-supported and kind of a choose-your-own-adventure style of event.  No fee, no prizes except a crappy home-made certificate and a nice pot-luck dinner with all of the participants.  I'm limiting this to 12 people, so if you live in the area and want to do it, first read the description and rules and then send me an email.

Thanks,
Payton

payton.macdonald@gmail.com

I think that for me (and I suspect a lot of other folks) Mike Dion's documentary got me inspired.  But what I found out this year when I was out there for just five days is that it's a heck of a lot different watching a documentary film than it is to actually ride that thing.  Matthew makes it look easy.  He's just riding his bike and smiling and not worrying about the weather too much.  Can't be that hard, right?  I mean, sure you might get a little tired or cold, but you're riding your bike all day.  That's way better than sitting in the office!

I was prepared.  I had done countless overnighters in all kinds of weather, climbed hills like a madman, done several 3-day+ adventures, put in some 19-hour days in the saddle, tested and retested my gear, etc, etc, etc.  And guess what?  It worked!  After five days I was slower than I wanted to be, but I was hanging in there and my body and bike were fine.

But I just wasn't digging the race format.  I just couldn't figure out why I was pushing so hard and trying to get ahead of everyone.  It sort of felt like . . .  well, I hate to say it . . .  but it sort of felt like I was back at work, on the career ladder, competing, competing, competing.  Why?

So I bailed.  I'm going back next year, but I'm riding ITT and I'm going to excuse myself from the race format.  Marshal is 100% correct.  What works for Mike Hall or Jefe or other folks may or may not work for you.  My advice is get out there and ride, ride, ride, and find your own vibration and bring that to the TD.  Make it unique and cool in your own way.  I only saw Canada and part of Montana, but when it wasn't dumping rain it was pretty amazing.  I can't wait to see the rest.

Professional musician.  www.paytonmacdonald.com. 

I mostly do experimental, avant-garde stuff, like John Cage, Lou Harrison, Berio, Stockhausen, et al.  I also compose music for various ensembles and I'm deeply involved with North Indian Hindustani classical music. 

I make most of my $$ as a tenured professor at a university, but I also tour internationally and get commissions for composing.  I love the teaching and the schedule is pretty awesome.  I have plenty of time to bikepack in the summer, though I do work non-stop, basically seven days a week, but I never think of it as work. 

I'm one of the lucky few who was able to turn my passion into a career. 

I love bikepacking, though.  It's by far the sport that most closely aligns with my general aesthetics.  I like the balance of the tech and the sweat, and the feeling of freedom is incredible.  It's just magic out there.

The rules issue is complex, for sure.  When I was at Butt's Cabin a few weeks ago one of the other riders who stopped there for the night was having a severe asthma attack.  For some reason this person didn't have a puffer.  For some reason I had two.  So I gave one to this person.  In return, this person gave me an energy bar, which was nice since I stupidly forgot to pack enough sugar out of Sparwood.

Did I break the rules?  I did, but only in hindsight did I realize it.  At the moment I was just thinking "Wow, this person is in bad shape and I don't need two asthma puffers.  I would be a real hard heart not to share in this situation."

I'm sorry to say, but I saw all kinds of cheating going on out there.  (I also picked up a ton of wrappers, filling my frame bag each day.) Some of it is cavalier and intentional, some of it is innocent and perhaps even well meaning.  That's part of the reason I intentionally scratched.  I can't get my head wrapped around the racing aspect of this event.  I feel like it either needs a ton more moderation to really be fair, or it should be forgotten entirely.  As I said in my call in, I think I'm more of an aggressive tourer.  I love long days in the saddle, but if people offer me lemonade I'd be happy to sit and chat with them and learn more about their life and the culture of their town.  I'd also be happy to accept a ride with them into town for a pizza or whatever.  To me, that's an essential part of the experience that I was missing when I was racing.  I suspect many others actually feel the same way, even if they haven't articulated it yet.

I'm going to ride the GDMTBR again, hopefully next year, border to border.  The five days I spent out there this year were incredible, just a taste of the magic that is there.  But I'm going to tour it, so I can ride my own ride with a clean conscience.  I fully understand the rules of the race and completely respect them.  They're hard for a reason.  This is a tough race, and it should stay that way.  We as a society need things like this that aren't easily in reach.  It's not right for me, and probably not right for many folks.  I'm okay with that.  I just hope other people are thinking the same way . . .   

I've used this about three times, but can't get comfortable. I'm more of a tent guy. Specs:

-waterproof (though not bug proof)
-10 ounces
-packs very small, 2 attached bags, see picture. One is easy to pack, but a bit bigger, the other one is very small (like a Coke can), but difficult to stuff. You could cut one off if you like.
-Long. I'm 6'4" with an X-Long sleeping bag and I fit in it with room to spare.

Please PayPal to this email address: payton.macdonald@gmail.com

$75 shipped CONUS

Thermarest Neoair SMALL.  $80 shipped (lower 48).  (retails for at least $95)  I used it three times, but at 6'4" it's just too small for me.  Not comfortable for me.

Specs:
51" x 21.5" (at widest point)
approx. 9 ounces
no rips or tears, in perfect condition
blows up in 7 breaths (for me)
includes case with draw cord, as pictured

Super light and small, just a little bigger than a coke can.  See attached photo with dollar bill for comparison.

Sorry, I don't have the little patch pads that came with it, but you can pick those up anywhere or use tire patches.

email is by far the best way to get in touch with me: payton.macdonald@gmail.com; I don't check PMs often.

Andrew,

As a professional musician (been in music since I was 9, professional for 13 years) and amateur endurance athlete for 7 years I have a fair bit of experience with repetitive strain injuries, both from personal experience and from many of my new students who show up at the university.  In general, my experience has been that it is a result of one or a combination of three things:
1. technique problems (in terms of bikepacking that would mean biomechanical problems, cycling technique problems, and poor bike fit)
2. too much too soon
3. general lifestyle stress and poor health

I'm not a doctor, and not qualified to give medical advice, but as I said, I've had a lot of experience with this and done quite a bit of reading on it.  Keep in mind that (a) you CAN solve this problem but (b) it may take some time.  I'm guessing that the stress of the upcoming "race" is weighing heavily on you and you're feeling a bit desperate.  A bike fit is essential.  Definitely do that.  Giving the injury time to heal is also essential, but as folks have pointed out, you can't reasonably be out of the saddle for a month and then start putting in 12 hour days on the bike.  I'll bet you a pizza and a beer if you do that your knee will complain, and loudly.  Ideally, what you want is about six months to see a really good physical therapist and see if there are any biomechanical problems.  For me, that's a huge issue.  Put simply, my right leg is crooked.  But my physical therapist taught me how to manage it and deal with it.  It's always looming, but so long as I ride smart and don't try to keep up with Mike Hall it isn't a problem.  But that took many months of sessions and experimentation to figure out.

So what to do?  As I see it you've got two options if you want to do the TD GD this year: rest, let it heal as much as it can in the next month, then throw down the hammer on June 13 and see what happens.  Maybe it won't be a problem once you're climbing 10K feet a day.  But more likely it will hurt like hell.  Maybe you'll gut through it because you're determined to "race" this thing and prove to the bikepacking community that you're tough.  There's potential for long-term damage, though.  Something to keep in mind.  No doubt, all of us are going to be sore at the end of the day.  But there are different kinds of sore, which I'm sure you understand at this point.

The other option is to take a slower, more touring pace, and never push into the realm of injury.  Why not?  Is it less manly to tour the TOUR Divide?  Or could it possibly be a deeper, more personal experience where you discover some things you might not discover if you're guzzling ibupofen and wincing from the pain?  Why does it have to be a race for you?  Maybe it does . . . I'm not judging, I'm just suggesting alternatives.

As for me, I'm doing the GD because I think the general circus of it will be fun and I'm looking forward to meeting some really, really cool people. I'm mostly interested in the bikepacking culture and the camaraderie.  I'll be "racing", but tentatively.  I'm going to push my limits because that is exciting to me, but I'm not going to seriously injure myself so I can see my name high on a spreadsheet.  What's the point?  If the "race" is going well for me and my body is holding up I'll race.  If not, I'll take off the SPOT, mail it back to Matthew, and proceed at my own pace in a way that makes sense for me.  That doesn't make me less of a cyclist.  The beauty of endurance sports out in nature is that we can each make them what we want.  Now that the TD has grown in popularity the level of athleticism has gone way up, which is great.  But there's also a lot more of folks trying to keep up with Jones, and much more number crunching.  That may or may not be good for each of us as individuals. 

Anyway, sorry for the long response, but I've been down this road many, many times.  I totally understand the emotional roller coaster you're on right now.  Good luck, I hope you're able to turn this into the right experience for you.

Best,
Payton

Well here's a bummer of a question for everyone... I've been having some knee pain on my past few rides, which really threw a wrench in my spokes last weekend as Marshall and I rode portions of the Kokopelli (Marshall did a nice write up of this ride on his blog.) Think'n I went off the rails on the "Over"train... I've RICE'd it for a week, and rode a paltry flat 14 miles today. No significant pain, but it was there... Tonight the knee is definitely sore. More RICE...

Fit wise I've adjusted cleats, moved the saddle up/down forward back ward and reverse looking for a sweet spot, but I think I've just overdone it. (Rode a 200 mile tour of Boulder County's singletrack with 30k feet of elevation gain two weekends ago. While awesome at the time, thinking it may have been a bit stupid now...)

I'm starting to get pretty concerned as race day quickly approaches. How long should it typically take for tendonitis to resolve itself? Is there anything else I can be doing in the meantime? I don't want all of my fitness to go out the window just before the race, but at this point I'm weary to get back on the bike... Swimming? (GAG!) Advice?

-Andrew

In terms of aero bars, if you're tall like me (6'4") then you might have issues with getting the aero bars high enough to be comfortable.  After trying various home made remedies that didn't work that well I finally discovered the Zipp Vuka aero bars, which come with height adjustable risers and work very well.  Now I can lean forward a bit, take a nap, and keep pedaling and pedaling . . .

http://www.trisports.com/zipphandlebars.html  (Scroll down to the middle of the page and you'll see the "alumina clip-on riser kit"

It looks like it's also possible to just jump on the Bow Valley Trail and ride that all the way to Canmore and then hit the TransCanada Hwy right into Banff.  But what's the Bow Valley Trail like?  I Googled around trying to get a description but wasn't successful.  Are bikes allowed?  Is it reasonably rideable?

I'm planning on doing the TD this year, but still not sure if it will be an ITT or GD.  One concern I have about the GD is that now that the race is getting bigger and bigger, if I'm in the middle of the pack (likely) the convenience stores will be tapped out by the time 70+ riders have already rolled through.  Is that a genuine concern or am I over thinking it? Did that ever happen to those of you who finished it in the last few years?  Thanks,

I also like late Sept/early Oct.  That would give TD riders a chance to recover and then get in one more event before winter . . .