The Tour Divide 2016 thread

Great read there Tom, the mud does put the winners(and everyon elses) rides into context of speed/endurance !

Reading your blog with interest NewRetroTom.

I fly out to Banff on 2nd August to do the GDMBR as an 8 week bimble just to ensure that fat middle aged (ex) IT managers are properly represented in true STW fashion. Did a 1200km bimble round scotland in June and feeling good. Bike and kit all ready (just playing with stem rise on Fargo). Just starting on my GPX files and route card now. Getting very excited!

BTW it cant be more gnarly than Swinley can it? 😉

oh and if anyone has any route card docs or split GPX files they can share that would be fantastic 😀

Andy – the 10k GPX file is more than adequate for navigating on, you really don’t need more. Or you could just make up your own route. Which appears to be fine too 😉

If you ping me an email I can send you on my route notes, I’ll even update them for you if you want.

Cheers Greg – will email

any route card docs

The ACA word doc file is good enough to navigate when combined with GPS or a good bike computer and available for ~£10 via their site. If you’re on the GDMTBR with ACA maps (rather than the current TD race route) it’s worth having the cues also I’d say – they’re the same cues as on the maps, just a lot easier to read when in an A5 pocket on the bars.

Good luck Andy!

I’ve never ridden at Swinley, but from what I hear it’s pretty gnarly. I’m sure the GDMBR is easy by comparison.

Thanks James, I’m still waiting for the ACA maps to drop through the letter box so not fully sure what the difference is between the GDMBR and TD and which I should take. Sure will all come clear once I sit down with the maps.

Is all the info on the “Great Divide Narratives TXT” on the maps? If so I will be doing my own A5 notes anyway – so they may be a good basis to start – I have a mass of anecdotes from the various forums to incorporate if needed (water, food, accomodation, bikeshops, dog issues etc…). Not sure I will need turn by turn instructions.

GDMBR starts in Banff same as the TDR, but follows the ACA route with whatever diversions you chose. It would not constitute a time on the TDR, even a touring time as the TDR takes in several alternates which are not on the ACA maps, but Matt is currently trying to get the ACA to adopt.

These alternates are what make the TDR – they are there to challenge you, to take more time, and to force you to think about what you are doing. Some of them, the Gold Dust Trail, are even wonderful pieces of singletrack you’d otherwise miss. Without them, you’re not doing the Tour Divide, you’re touring the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Which is easier, but not easy.

For me, these TDR extras are worth the time and effort – yes they suck, yes they are hard, yes you will be pushing, but who cares, it’s the journey that matters, and that journey is tied to the route and the experiences come from that route and it’s defined nature.

Personally, unless you want to just go and experience the USA on a big long offroadish tour, I’d take the TDR route.

Quick post TDR kit breakdown and comments here:

http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3034

Good read that Greg – thanks for posting!

Thats an impressive amount of kit to go in a relatively small set of bags!

How much did it all weigh (apologies if you have said earlier in the thread)

Is all the info on the “Great Divide Narratives TXT” on the maps?

Yes, the txt doc is the text from the GDMTBR maps in a simple format, nothing more or less.

Without them, you’re not doing the Tour Divide, you’re touring the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. Which is easier, but not easy.

The TD route does use 2 alternates on road that are mandatory sections, they will be easier than the ACA / GDMTBR off-road sections, but John Stamstad used the road sections on his ITT and the TD has always followed that. If I rode the route as a tourer I’d take the off-road sections unless it was very wet (the reason the TD misses them is they’re so weather-dependant, more so than most/rest) or the tarmac just appealled for break. But the Gold Dust and other TD variations from the GDMTBR are good, the best route might be a bit of both. Anyway .. if you’re touring you have the benefit of choice : ) I can see the appeal of doing the full TD route as a tourer too, a bit like riding the Etape.

How much did it all weigh (apologies if you have said earlier in the thread)

No idea. I don’t weigh things. Not a huge amount though. Most of it has quite a small pack size.

Hello, its taken a while, so whilst I’ve got a day off I’ll try to scribble a reprort of my TD this year.
For some reason I did the Dunwich Dynamo on my loaded bike over the weekend (we missed seeing the sun rise over the sea, but it was a chuckle all the same) and it reminded me that the mind may be willing but the body is still weak.

I don’t think my efforts of reporting and blogging will be up to the ones I’ve read – us Brits do a good job out there on the Divide and at home, spreading the knowledge.

There are so many great blogs and race reports from this years Tour Divide that I feel unable to equal any of them, so I submit my list of ‘…..est’s’ for you to digest.

Longest distance in a day……………………..152 miles.
Greatest climbing in one day……………………1796’
Shortest distance in a day……………………..94 miles.
Abruptest stop ……………………………….falling off during the descent from Brush Mountain Lodge on my way to Steamboat (I didn’t get there that night, and stopped to look at my bruises about 20 miles shy)
Etheralest night………………………………camping in the Great Basin and looking out at the milky way stretching almost horizon to horizon.

Grubbiest……………………………………..I only did 5 nights in motels; the first two nights of the race were planned motel stops to aid recovery from the Flathead and the blitz out of Banff, so pretty much any other night was in the tent with no washing. I got more feral as the race continued. Who cares?

Itchiest section………………………………….riding out of the Colorado river crossing towards Kremmling and being eaten by evening mosquitoes.

Lengthiest normal day in the saddle……………..19 hours 4 minutes

Longestest day in the saddle……………………28 hours 3 minutes with 229 miles covered through the Gila, the CDT and down the blacktop to Antelope Hell.

Biggest grin………………………………….47 mph down the graded road towards Kremmling.

Frustratingest night……………………. ……missing the last room in Lima and sleeping on the launderette floor.

Gourmetest stop…………………………… …Del Norte; the motel owner fired up the grille to cook an awesome mushroom burger and whisk up a really thick milkshake. He then left me to lock up the diner as he had to go and run some errands in town.

Magnificentest view………………………….. a tie between the Great Basin and looking back at the Tetons from Togwottee pass.
Dumbest decision………………………………thinking I could ride down Fleecer ridge.

Brokenest bit of kit………………………….. my rear tyre (Stans Race couldn’t fix it) on the way into Butte. I also killed the front brake pads and replaced them in Salida.

Reliablest kit…………………………………..is a tie between my xtr chain and xt cassette and Raceface crankset. All made it to the finish in one piece and they got me through the Dunwich Dynamo too. Its probably time to retire them now.

Numbest bodypart……………………………. nothing to report. Hands and feet never had any issues. Backside had a small relative of Uncle Fester on day 20 but in usual fashion, I gave it room to expand by cutting a notch in my saddle and he kept quiet until the finish line.

Blushingest moment…………………. ……..it involved wearing arm and leg warmers and nothing else and getting up for a wee. No more information.

Charmingest food stop……………………… The Hungry Bear Steak House, slightly off-route near Holland Lake. They had forgotten to flick on the ‘open’ switch and were wondering where all the customers had gone to. They made a great burger, yam fries and chocolate milk and gave a huge bowl of ice cream for desert.

Easiest section…………………………. ……..the flat section before the evils of the Bannock road with rain and headwinds. Oh, the calm before the storm.

And finally, the relievest momet of the entire tour………….riding into Beaverhead camp and finding people there. I was badly prepared leaving Pie Town as I can’t eat nuts and all I could find was trailmix and chocolate with peanuts in apart from some wraps I found in the Toaster house, I kept my supplies going from Grants as long as I could but was bound to run out….. the guys at the camp gave me brekkie and fruit and sarnies for the road that helped me get to Pinos Altos.
Sadly that put me out of the race with a self-inflicted relegation, but it was still the best way to spend 21 days on my bike and meet many amazing people. I would like to single out one moment and that was riding into Brush Mounntain Lodge and being greeted by Kirsten and Billy Rice. I can’t think of an adjective to express that moment.

Thanks to all the companies who helped me out – see you on the startline of the 5000 miler next year. I’d better get back on the bike.

Excellent stuff Rob,sounds like you had a great time.
Was the Lauf all you hoped it would be for those big days?

Good reading that Rob – thanks!
Well done again!

Great reading Rob and Greg and well done. I am in awe of your mental and physical capacity to take on something so immense.

Fasthag – I had this advertising campaign built in my head for the team from Lauf…… the fork is built to take the vibration and brutality out of the trail; the washboards job in Colorado is there to pull your pants down and rape you. The Lauf stops that happening.
It was a great piece of kit and my hands, feet and backside all survived in perfect working order.
I will be using the Lauf on the Billy Rice race next year.

I won’t be using it in the Alps in August.

Glad it worked out,right tool for the job and all that.

Great read Rob, thanks.

the guys at the camp gave me brekkie and fruit and sarnies for the road that helped me get to Pinos Altos.
Sadly that put me out of the race with a self-inflicted relegation,

Maybe a bit harsh on yourself there. All debateable and subjective stuff though and I respect your high standards. The meal vs snack trail-magic definition has been stretched pretty far in the past. It’s the experience over everything else isn’t it?

Initial musings over on Grit.cx – will write my own report after I finish the article. Otherwise it’ll be too bloody long and Jeff will lynch me.

http://grit.cx/adventure/2016/07/gregs-knowledge-drop-v2-16-2

Thanks for taking the time to post your experiences gents, great info

I concur regarding the Mozzies near Kremmling. They drove me mad. After a long day riding your (well my) patience was totally gone. Awful sequence of one pedal stroke, slap Mozzie on leg, pedal again, slap Mozzie on arm. Really steep climb so nothing in the legs to outrun them. 😐

Johnnys – did you get bugs flying at head height down the last few miles to Antelope Hell too?

Pleased to say the run into Antelope Wells was bug free. That or I knew I was so close I didn’t care any more. My God that stretch was bleak! 😆

Just catching up here. Good luck Andy

johnnystorm – Member
… My God that stretch was bleak!

Not at all, it was entertaining with the car that rolled into the ditch, the frogs jumping at me, and all the tarantulas on the ground 🙂

Doing it at night and not being able to see the distance of the road ahead may have helped.

Midday sun and obvious mile markers that took forever to countdown were psychological traumas!

The trail angel Jeff, who gives rides to TD finishers just sent me proof that I finished and it was not all a bad dream.

Thanks Jeff.

Is that dirt or sun tan?

several layers of both. Apart from on my ears – thats all sunscreen, and they still burnt.

If you’re interested, I dumped a load of photos from this years race here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskFctRNz

DSC00204-Pano.jpg by Greg.May[/url], on Flickr

So I decided to blog my whole Divide day by day while I was working on my photos

DSC00459-Edit.jpg by Greg.May[/url], on Flickr

Long term plan is to go back to this – edit it – then combine it into a short publication. That will be a month or so off.

All of these were written in one sitting, with no editing to the words after I’d typed them (puke draft), so it can feel a bit raw in placed. But that was what I wanted, not a glossy happy shiny BS write up about how I found myself. The truth is far more interesting.

Enjoy.

Preamble: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3060
Day 1: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3071
Day 2: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3084
Day 3: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3098
Day 4: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3109
Day 5: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3128
Day 6: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3140
Day 7: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3157
Day 8: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3174
Day 9: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3192
Day 10: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3223
Day 11: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3232
Day 12: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3264
Day 13: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3276
Day 14: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3290
Day 15: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3323
Day 16: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3331
Day 17: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3359
Day 18: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3361
Day 19: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3374
Day 20: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3462
Finish: http://www.gregorymay.ie/?p=3486

Read this as it was going up (mostly).

I’m impressed, would (in my minds eye) love to do it but know I never will….

Can’t believe you’re going back for another ‘proper’ go in ’18

Hope you enjoyed it 🙂

What’s actually stopping you doing it? Other than excuses.

Honest question requires honest answer.

Yeah, I enjoyed it. Thanks.

Why never do it?

1 I’m 51, overweight and unfit. It would probably kill me! (+ chronic back issues, phlebitis, etc)
2 logistically, doing it completely solo, no back up anywhere. Wouldn’t know where to start, would probably end in disaster…
3 finances, nobody ever would sponsor me, not exactly flush with cash these days…
4 you make sound such fun…. 😉

Don’t often read things that inspire me but that certainly has! Fantastic photos and has strengthened my resolve to actually attempt this.

What a brilliant set of piccies, some of those mountain pass views are awesome.
Thanks for sharing – I won’t be back next year but might cross trails with you as I’m doing Billy Rice’s epic and I think it goes through Brush Mountain.