I will be doing the 750 if I get my bike in time.  Fingers crossed.

Foster, you could try size "XL" it's for shoe size 9.5-10.5, that might be a tight fit. The next size up is XXL and it fits 11-12. Order both and send back the pair that doesn't fit 

Phil

Thanks Phil, sizes must run pretty small then?  You riding the TD this year?

For a size 10.5 foot what size Gore Tex Bike wear socks would fit me?  I am thinking a Medium or large...

Well, not much to it really.  I dislocated my right knee on the second day near Flathead pass.  Didn't get a rescue, I got myself out of it and made it to the hospital in Whitefish a couple days later.  After whitefish everything really went downhill, worst knee pain I've ever experienced.  Not sure why I did that to myself, guess finishing was more important at the time.  Could barely walk by the time I made it to Butte, MT so I called it there.  That's the short version.

Oh, and if any of you are American Alpine Club (AAC) member's you get 10,000 in rescue insurance just for being a member which is about 40 dollars per year...not a bad deal.  You also get a discount on Global Rescue insurance as well. 

I will be getting some good health insurance soon as well as insurance for rescue/extraction.  After what happened to me last year on the Divide it just seems like a good idea.  I racked up 14,000 in medical bills mainly in the form of MRI's, X-rays, PT etc from my knee dislocation.  This year I am getting covered!

Well it looks like I couldn't resist so I am coming back this year.  Despite how painful last year was I had too much fun, a combination of #1, #2 and #3 fun that is.  The kind of fun that when 6 months go by after the race you forget about all the pain and suffering, somehow all you remember is how awesome everything was only to come back the next year and you're wondering while riding how could I have forgotten how damn hard the thing was.  I guess that's how these kinds of things go, we just never learn. 

Looking forward to seeing everyone in Banff in just a couple months.

Eric Foster 

Don't forget the concrete bathroom on your way up whitefish pass!  I slept there after being followed by a bear for a mile.  You can surly improvise out there.

Anyone got any bone healing tricks other than milk? Lol

Pins, rods and screws.  Plus lots of sitting on the couch.

How much is the room split 2 ways? 

don't do anything that might require an ambulance and you'll be fine.

http://youtu.be/VMAWrMaCHUg

jim

Good advice that I will be taking this year.

I may be back in it this year after all.  I will know in a couple of days.  Need to start riding my bike.

It is looking as though I won't make it back this year.  Finances are tight and I am still paying medical bills from last years Tour Divide.  My right knee is still not fully recovered either and I am still doing PT.  I can do short rides right now but it doesn't feel like my body will be ready in time and unless I get a sponsor that will pay my way then it looks like I won't be back for a couple more years.  Good luck to everyone this year, I'll be following all of you and wishing I were out there.

Thanks for the info Foster.  Are you talking about the really wide Weirwolf front 29X2.5?
 
Looks like Pana Rampage 2.35, Maxxis Ikon EXO sidewall 2.20, Schwalbe Racing Ralph 29X2.25 Snakeskin sidewall, Geax Saguaro 29X2.20 TNT casing and WTB are top choices.  Anyone tried norrower tires for this route?

Yes the 2.5 one...but it really wasn't much wider than the wolverine 2.2.  So to say that they are a real 2.5 isn't actually true.  But they were great for the loose desert riding.  I think another part of me not getting a flat was also avoid the really sharp loose stuff and walking a couple sections rather than bombing through it.  Like the sharp metasedimentary rocks on Oracle ridge, those things will tear almost any sidewall.  So riding smart play a role in keeping your tires going as well, but you still want really sturdy tires.  WTB's tires have nice soft knobs which grab really well and I found that the casing was pretty good but I have also had issues with their sidewalls as well. So this year I will go with the rampages or the saugaro 2.2TNT...I think.  I have a saugaro TNT that has about 4k miles on it and no flat, so its safe those are reliable tires.

Last year I ran WTB wolverine rear and WTB weirwolf front and didn't get one flat the entire 300 miles.  I ran them tubeless with stans.  Maybe it was luck that I didn't get a flat but I was pretty good at avoiding cactus and getting off the bike in a couple stickery sections.  I never even used my bike pump once.  After the AZ 300 I did the Prescott monstercross and the rear tire started falling apart.  That goes to say the AZT will definitely tear up tires especially the poorly made ones.

A lot of others go with the Panaracer Rampages, probably one of the most common choices for the AZTR.

Yeah, I dread the headwind.  how about the climbs?  Do you think it was harder one way or another?

Anyone planning on starting south and going north?

When are you planning on starting?  I don't finish class until June 2nd for geology field camp.  It goes for 3 weeks after we "graduate" on May 11th and I won't have hardly any time to train because I will be doing field work for those 3 weeks.  I plan to take my bike with me on the trips but probably wont get in much for training.  So because of that I don't know if I will be ready for the GD.  If I am not then I might as well start from the south close to home because I won't be starting with the group anyways.  I think that if I started sometime around June 21st that that would give me a little longer to train. 

There are certainly pros and cons to think about when considering when and what direction to go on the Tour Divide.  I really would like to start with everyone on the GD just because of the camaraderie and the fact that I wouldn't have to buy a plane ticket to get home from AW.  I would just get picked up. 

I used to wear Shimano shoes that were in between on stiffness but the toe box and shoe itself was too wide.  I have a very narrow foot.  I recently switched to a specialized shoe and I am very happy with them.  They are much more narrow and fit my feet really well.  The stiffness is also a little more as well but not too much to where they hurt my feet from hike a bike.  The bottom of the shoes also have really good rubber for steep and loose HAB which is a plus.  IMO there isn't that much HAB on the Tour Divide that was that bad at least in the 700 miles that I rode.  Most of it was walking through the snow whereas in other races you are forced off the bike because the terrain was unrideable and super steep like in the CTR or AZTR.  For me the Specialized Expert MTB shoe works really well for riding efficiently and is comfortable to walk in for extended periods.  I also have extremely high arches and I wear orthotics in my shoes which help tremendously.  I also do not have issues with my feet swelling as some others might have to take this into account, maybe you want some wiggle room as your foot swells throughout the day, try on the shoes late in the evening when your feet are the biggest.

These are the orthotics that I was fit with and they are very comfortable and conform to my arch and are very supportive.  They are not really expensive and will fit your feet pretty well.

http://www.esoles.com/products/efit_supportive.aspx

Here are the shoes that I went with, I tried about 8 different pairs to get the perfect fit.

http://www.specialized.com/us/en/ftr/shoes/mtb-shoes/expert-mtb

So basically if you want a good fit with shoes that are comfy you will need to go and try on as many as possible.  My bike fit included going over shoes and getting them fit just right, they fit specialist then went over my bike fit with the shoes that worked for me.  So make sure you spend time finding the right pair.  Because your shoes can make you or break you.

Anyone planning on starting south and going north?

I am considering it, depends on a few circumstances.

Concrete outhouses are as good as motel rooms.

I slept in one of those on whitefish pass.  I was so glad to see one of those after being followed by a black bear for a half mile.  That bear hung out outside all night but there was no way he was getting in.