Tour Divide 2013

[mtbcast]

MTBCast: Episode 137 is up! We talk about plans for the show, upcoming interviews for the Tour Divide, and we talk to TD rider Ed Turkaly about why he rides and what he’s packing for the race this year! Ed will be riding to raise money for Schwachman-Diamond Syndrome. Please consider donating to the cause and follow along as he rides the Tour Divide!

One thing I'm planning this year is to leave call-ins off the feed that goes to iTunes and I'll probably do roll-ups and post there instead. The calls will be available on the page, of course. Let me know what you think of this idea. Do you prefer getting the calls individually on iTunes? mtbcast AT gmail dot com! I'm planning to have more regular episodes again and interviews leading up to the TD.

[Area45]

The track up setting means the arrow allows follows the track.  A right turn on screen is actually a right turn on the route.  HOWEVER, on the eTrex 20, because it doesn't have a built in compass, it automatically reverts to north up when you stop.  It might seem minor, but mine almost graduated airborne school off the side of a mountain on the Vapor Trail last year because of it.  I've called Garmin, and they said they would look at the problem, but no updates have fixed it yet.  the best way I found to deal with it was if I needed to stop and check bearings, I'd just push the bike a little to keep the track orientation right. 

Spend the extra and get the 30.  I'm not looking forward to dealing with this on the Dvide, but I think Ill manage.

What about getting a small compass, like for a zipper pull and putting it on your bars or bag? That way you could do a quick direction check before you roll? Just a thought.

[BobM]

What about getting a small compass, like for a zipper pull and putting it on your bars or bag? That way you could do a quick direction check before you roll? Just a thought.

I had a small one with me and it came in handy.

[wookieone]

My advice on tires is don't be a weight weenie. Run something with fast tread, but good thick-ish casing, soo many folks have had lots of flats, bead snaps, etc. the bit of weight is not going to kill you, fixing flats sucks! Don't go too skinny, it will pummel your hands, just cause it works for a few miles or a few hundred don't mean it will work day after day, after day, after day....
You are going to be sloppy at times, ie tired, stomach funky, etc, so not always choosing the best line. I ran a bit heavy on tires, but didn't get a flat till I broke a spoke and it punctured my rim tape, one set of tires got me the whole way. Happy Planning, bit envious for sure, Jefe

[Thumby]

SB8's:  Worst mtb tire I've ever used, I feel strongly about that.  I ran Maxxis Crossmark rear and Aspen front on TD with slime, no flats.  (OK, one pinch flat, operator error).  My next tires were SB8's and I had a gash through the tread on a brand new tire with just 10 miles of gravel road riding.  Less cush to them too, says my tush. 

[jryter]

What about getting a small compass, like for a zipper pull and putting it on your bars or bag? That way you could do a quick direction check before you roll? Just a thought.

Just never stop !

[Mental-Miles]

Hi Folks,

due to the fact that my IIT starts 7th of June I was wondering, when to start checking the amount of snow on the passes in Canada and Montana...

Some question to the locals:

What about the snow levels so far in this season? More than usual, less?

Beginning from now: Does usually snow level on passes still growing from now till June or is it continuously getting less? (right grammar?!)

Thanks for your answers/estimates in advance

M-M

[falkenjaeger]

Some question to the locals:

What about the snow levels so far in this season? More than usual, less?

Beginning from now: Does usually snow level on passes still growing from now till June or is it continuously getting less? (right grammar?!)

Referring to your first question the following link might be helpful for MT: http://www.mt.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/data/comparison.html and in general: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/snow/

Good to hear you will start a week earlier than most other folks. I hope you'll shovel all the snow away before we get there :-)

[Bigcottonwoodkid]

Been following this forum in prep for my 2015 Tour Divide.  Sure a lot of great info and advice.  Looking forward to traking all of you this summer. I have been making my way through the recommended reading on tourdivide.org, but it has been down the last week or so. Any title/author suggestions?  Any idea when the site will be back up?

[3006882]

Well I'm in the spreadsheet, so I guess that's it, I'm in!  Because the new bike, flights and 6 weeks off works were't commitment enough for me
So after 5 years of wanting I'm finally "penning" my letter of intent.  Now all I need to do is keep on smashing the last month of training and hope that the last 5 years of riding have given me enough of a solid base to keep on pluggin away every day to get me to Mexico!

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Been following this forum in prep for my 2015 Tour Divide.  Sure a lot of great info and advice.  Looking forward to traking all of you this summer. I have been making my way through the recommended reading on tourdivide.org, but it has been down the last week or so. Any title/author suggestions?  Any idea when the site will be back up?

The Cordillera - Volumes 1 to 4. Just don't follow Eric Foster's bad example in 2012 :-)

http://www.lulu.com/shop/christopher-r-bennett/the-cordillera-volume-4/paperback/product-20711257.html;jsessionid=4FD9605CA9BBB2FFC8909FE016364BCB

A few other suggestions are on my blog at:

http://triduffer.wordpress.com/2012/07/15/tour-divide-literature/

[Pdk123]

Thank you guys for the feedback on the tires. Long ranger why not tubeless?  What tires did you guys use?
I am really torn on this and am just not sure if the sidewalks will be an issue.

Thank you again!

Peter Kraft Sr.

[legendontour]

Chris, is the Cordillera vol 4. Available as an e book somewhere?

[Endurance Junkie]

Thank you guys for the feedback on the tires. Long ranger why not tubeless?  What tires did you guys use?
I am really torn on this and am just not sure if the sidewalks will be an issue.

Thank you again!

Peter Kraft Sr.

My front small block blew off the rim while going 25mph outside silver city I was really lucky to keep it up rite!
And they were mounted on stans arch ex

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Thank you guys for the feedback on the tires. Long ranger why not tubeless?  What tires did you guys use?
I am really torn on this and am just not sure if the sidewalks will be an issue.

Thank you again!

Peter Kraft Sr.

On the advice of Ollie Whalley I'm running tubeless WTB Vulpine's this year. I swapped out my Maxxis Crossmark for them. Very fast rolling but a lot less grip on trails. He said they performed flawlessly last year - and have the advantage of being easier to mount on Stan's Arch EX rims.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

Chris, is the Cordillera vol 4. Available as an e book somewhere?

I asked Eric Bruntjen to upload one. Let me work on this. I'll post once we get one up.

[marco_n]

nobody use a specialized tyres? I'm interest to use the fast track... abitually I use on my SS the captain and i like so much this tyre... if i change the geax saguaro, i have about 400grams of weight gain...

[jryter]

nobody use a specialized tyres? I'm interest to use the fast track... abitually I use on my SS the captain and i like so much this tyre... if i change the geax saguaro, i have about 400grams of weight gain...

I bought a specialized fast track tyre in Salida to replace my rear tyre. It was worn pretty well by the border but worked well. It was tubeless 29in.

Also Christopher with the Cordillera--I may have been imagining it because no one said anything but it seems like some of the stories are truncated. Like the last 10% is not there as some of the stories stop abruptly. I'll give an example when I get home to the book. Some of the first ones.

[Christopher R. Bennett]

I bought a specialized fast track tyre in Salida to replace my rear tyre. It was worn pretty well by the border but worked well. It was tubeless 29in.

Also Christopher with the Cordillera--I may have been imagining it because no one said anything but it seems like some of the stories are truncated. Like the last 10% is not there as some of the stories stop abruptly. I'll give an example when I get home to the book. Some of the first ones.

Jarral,

Please let me know! I did the manuscript and sent it to Eric who finalized and published. I'll check my copies.

[stappy]

I used a specialized s-works renegade as a front tire. I planned to use renegades front and rear but had last minute doubts on the tread lasting as a rear tire. I ran the front until Salida, it had about 30-40% tread left. I replaced it with another renegade from my mail package. Great side walls, excellent bead, beads up with a mini pump on the trail, zero flats. About the fastest safe tire I can think of, super fast rolling, 460- 500 grams per tire. Fast tracks are interesting as well. They seem to roll almost as fast, slightly heavier, much more tread depth but potentially softer dorumeter.