2011 Tour Divide

[6thElement]

Despite being one of the first ones on the start list for this year, my name has somehow gone AWOL

Time for a quick re-submission of my LOI I guess.

[6thElement]

I see the TD website is still suffering from its dual personality

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[Nathan Jones]

Yeah I've submitted mine a few times.  Wondering if it's a sign I should wait another year, ITT, or go back to the GDR. 

[Marshal]

Today, around 2:30pm, Sergeants Colorado

last food stop till Del Norte

Ahh the memories  

Down the road from Sergeants, turn here

[JF-mtnbiker]

Today, around 2:30pm, Sergeants Colorado

last food stop till Del Norte

Ahh the memories 

Down the road from Sergeants, turn here

Oh yes. Woofed down a good burger and fries in that joint.

[mikepro]

Good memories for sure.  Looks the same in the winter.  Feels as windy as it was going across that narrow valley.

[6thElement]

My name is back on the list, thank you mystery web person 

I'm moving to CO, you have less snow than NYC, another 16" yesterday, no riding for me...

[racing4thesun]

Well I just put my name in. I am super excited to meet you guys in Banff!

Ric Hutchens
Bellevue, Wa

[wookieone]

I just tried to look at Matt's map of griz country and it didn't show any red orange or yellow, anyone have any ideas how to look that up?

[6thElement]

He's obviously decided to race and make us all bear fodder, my bookmark which did show the areas is now not showing the colour coded track.

[pro_out]

My bookmark still shows the colors, try this link, I sent it to my self and it still shows the colors.  http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&t=h&msa=0&msid=200334849650645495946.00047e45e4239031f00c3&start=0&num=200&sll=46.7248,-112.807617&sspn=1.269004,2.221985&z=7

[Mathewsen]

My bookmark still shows the colors, try this link, I sent it to my self and it still shows the colors. 

Notes: the map is three pages long. Find page 2&3 by scrolling to the bottom of the left sidebar. Remember this is just a guide based on what I've experienced (and heard from locals + other racers) thru the years.

[sshep]

I was a judicious whistle-blower or singer, and encountered a total of one bear cub [just after Ferndale] and one mountain lion [~3 mi outside Seeley Lake headed to Ovando] the entire trip.

No camp encounters that I know of. 

[Nathan Jones]

I blew the whistle too much on day one and was a little deafened by day two.  In the end the whistle seemed to work best for stopping dogs which is why I still keep it on my backpack for commuting.  I left the bear bell on as well, it's a little more subtle than a bike bell and seems to get the pedestrians out the way just as easily.  I don't bring my bear spray on the commute though, maybe that's the one thing my kit is missing.

[Markley]

I still haven't heard from Matt about the brew stops on the route for us newbies. Don't let us fester in dispense. As it looks we have a record number of rookies seeking knowledge.

[Nathan Jones]

I don't think Matt's the one to dole out the bar info, maybe I'm wrong.  

I happened to down a few while on route though.

Let's see, the bar in Atlantic City has some fairly hospitable folks (for being in bfe wyoming) and I remember they had a pretty decent selection of beer, it was impressive actually.  Though I'm not sure if the edge of the divide basin is really the best spot for that sort of thing.  They did have a full stock of gatorade there though.  I drank three of them and then had one beer just because I felt awkward being at a bar and not drinking.

I'm sure there are several bars in Salida, I stopped at one that was a part of a pizza place called Pizzaphilia.  I remember the beers were fairly priced and they had an average selection of drafts, maybe 10 choices.  Not bad pizza either, and fries too... double helping.  I met a moto-tourer on the route and we swapped stories there.  I ended up taking the next day off in Salida though, it's a cool town to wanna just stop in for a while.

Those were my only bar stops, however I did manage to pick up the last sixer of Deschutes Porter from the Wal-Mart in Grants, NM.  I killed four of those that night, felt I had earned it.  Probably not the best way to prep for the Gila either but sometimes you just need some beer.

All this said, I'm on day 29 of no booze!  

[JF-mtnbiker]

Those craving brews... There are good selections of the high end,  handcrafted Icehouse and Miller High Life (24oz'ers) in alot of the little gas stations along the way. HaHaha.

[Kevin Montgomery]

I don't think Matt's the one to dole out the bar info, maybe I'm wrong.  

I happened to down a few while on route though...

I have fond memories of getting a pre-race beer at First & Last Chance Bar at the Port of Roosville prior to it becoming trendy to line up in Canada.  Dave Nice would always get a Guinness.  Me?  Corona, with a cheap shot of tequila to chase, as I wanted to taste the fine spirits of the country I was pedaling towards.

People rarely now stop in there for anything more than some water and to fumble around with the payphone so they can announce to the world they made it past the border.  However, if it looks like you're not going to make it to Eureka before the town goes to sleep, or you would like to partake in a lost Divide ritual, I must suggest stopping into the First & Last Chance.  Not only does the smoke-filled bar have plenty of beer, they also have frozen pizza that you can snack on while having a go at some video poker.

Really, I cannot think of a better way to be welcomed to the good ol' U.S. of A.

[firetwofire]

OK how do I get from lordsburg to AW? Any one have the shuttles phone number? Or any other AW starters have room for one more? I get dropped in Lordsburg at 1:00pm on the 8Th or the 9Th depending on my options to get down to AW. I may end up just ridding down.

[Mathewsen]

OK how do I get from lordsburg to AW? Any one have the shuttles phone number? Or any other AW starters have room for one more? I get dropped in Lordsburg at 1:00pm on the 8Th or the 9Th depending on my options to get down to AW. I may end up just ridding down.

There's a nice gentleman by the name of Lloyd Payne who lives in Lorsdburg. He offers shuttle services to and fro AW, as his schedule permits. His number is 575-590-0316. I'm sure he's willing to help you out. I do not remember his rates. Tell him Matthew referred you. Volume is not his specialty, though he may rethink his involvement for late june/early July.