My Tour Divide Assault 2011

Drifting back to the Divide.....I need to stop!

2011-07-17T16:01:00.001-06:00

The Tour Divide......is it really over?

I keep finding myself drifting back. Back to the endless miles of dirt, snow, mud, rock, wind, smoke, ash, sky, water, darkness, light, solitude and silence.  I am still on the Divide and I need to stop.

Banff, Boulton, Elkford, Sparwood and the Border. Riding through Canada on adrenalin and sheer excitement and a healthy dose of fresh legs, knees, achilles and mind. Aspen groves and raging rivers; mountain tops and mining operations; bear spray and biblical snow; forever friends were forever lost. Chasing Nanoraptors through the mud through some of the wildest country. Gatorade, chocolate milk, crackers and cheese. I could not believe I was actually racing in the TOUR DIVIDE! Racing the Rooftop! Riding the Spine! It was a euphoric high that would last forever. Wouldn't it?

Cold and rain - on the verge of hypothermia in Montana on a screaming fast - and long - downhill. GET to the bottom and thaw out. Cue sheets flying off the cockpit never to be recovered. Roosville and PBR's at the Last Chance. On to Whitefish, Seeley Lake, Butte, Wise River, Polaris, Cross Ranch and Lima. Wet chills seep to my core. Rough roads, no roads, single-track, grizzly fear and grizzly traps, new friends and no friends. Cliff Bars, Power Bars and Bars in between. Mysterious maps, mysterious towns. A century a day is a good day of work. Climbing into the clouds and the mist; rain showers, snow showers, pushing for countless hours.

Red Rock Pass and Idaho - home but far from home. Rail Trail from Hell and maddening sit-bone travails, bone sauce and Blue Steel = winning! Solitude, deep sleep, and sleepy eyes. More rail, more trail, more pain in my tail. Tetonia, Driggs, Teton Pass, cloud riding and re-routes. Rain gear on - rain gear off - repeat. Wilson and warmth, bagels and friendship. How do you want to live your race? Emotional ups, emotional downs. Erie shadows and loose gravel.

Vast, stark, harsh, magical, unnerving, and disturbing Wyoming. Pinedale, Wind River Brewing, Divide 9, South Pass, Atlantic City, Great Basin - Greater Stars! Miles of nothing and everything, sick friend with a heartbreaking end hitching a ride. Lost in the mud, prayers answered and an Angel came to me in a Camry. Mineral X Road - who are you and why are you so lonely? Why was I so lonely? Rawlins and Rednecks; Pussies in Spandex; sticks and stones.....I'm hot, hungry and in no mood.  Man up and say that shit to my face cause I'm on edge and ready to take you truck load of fucks on. I dare ya!! Peace, finally, in camp - cow camp, near Middlewood Hill, near the Middle of Nowhere, under the stars, satiated, complete and content. Kaizen!

Playing in the land of 14ers on my 29er.  Colorado. Race ending pain with an angry achilles the size of a baseball bat. Tears of failure; tears of disappointment - the machine is broken. No Country For Old Men! A late afternoon limp into Brush Mountain Lodge. Watermelon and lemonade - all you can eat and drink. Kirsten the Angel, the Siren, the Healer! Ice, food, beer, camaraderie, more food, sleep and up at 4am.  Unfinished business so let's roll. Another steep hike-a-bike, or, more like drag-a-bike through steep and deep white stuff - again.  Achilles manageable - endorphins exploding! Dave Blumenthal's last camp before he died.....Lexi and Linnaea, my thoughts were with you so often! Dave's spirit gave me strength.  Steamboat: fresh drivetrain, fresh food and fresh spirit. High passes and high camps. Shag ass for Boreas Pass, son (love you Dad!), Divide 15, High Winds, Horrid South Park and Hartsell.  A stealthy descent into Salida in shadows turning to darkness. Beers, friends, hospitality, late night pasta, a shower - born again! Marshall, Cochetopa and Carnero Pass; a Del Norte resupply then a grind in a HEADWIND 23 miles up Indiana Pass, elevation 11,910.  Body beat but spirit high. Summitville, erosion, scars, man's hand, Superfund Site. Don't drink the water!  Elwood Pass Camp - a room with a view.  Broken shifter cable near Platoro (replaced), a real breakfast with real people - generous and curious. Whew, Colorado is BIG..............

Heat, fire and ash raining down in New Mexico. Rocks, sidewall fear, pushing through steep grades, no running water, no flowing water, no people, washboard from hell, taint of steel. Better stock up when you can. Canon Plaza, Vallecitos, keep riding cause you may be killed by these hostages. El Rito for the special, make that two specials and two milkshakes. A friend appears and two disappear. Abiquiu at 4pm and the sky is dark and raining ash. Chocolate milk, Gatorade, more food and a wet red bandanna for protection - I got someplace to be. Lightning wars, bolts and flashes then rain, a sweet night descent (keep the bike between the fog line and the yellow line and pray there are no animals, or rocks lying about), finally Cuba by midnight. Completely buzzed! George the Angel provides shelter from the storm. Deep sleep, big dreams and bigger breakfast. Headwinds - no surprise - Pueblo Pintado, nectar from a soda machine and Adrin wants OUT of his current life and dreams someday when he grows up of a divide race of his own to escape a terrifying reality. Pain and suffering aside, I can indeed think of easier ways to escape. I'm on a quest - let's leave it at that. Another late ride, a long pavement ride, and a most surreal ride.  Watch out - Skynet towers are just on the horizon just before Grants. The Rise of the Machines! And those headlights coming from 10 miles away? Am I hallucinating? In all likelihood, yes. No-Doze only goes so far and I am way sleep deprived and fatigued to a level I've never seen before. Been hooked on the No-Doze for a couple weeks by now.........used to be an afternoon pick me up, then it became a noontime treat and the past week it was first thing out of bed along with my other meds.  But back to my self contained separate/desperate reality. Things got weird in a very good way......my 'multiverse' had two layers with no connection between the two. My night world of silence and darkness with no fear and slicing through time on my bike.  Brilliant stars, enormous sky! The rare car brutally shoved me through the rabbit hole and I flashed into the here and now.  As Soon, I mean As Soon, as the car went by I went back through the portal and there was complete silence, brilliant stars, no cars, vanishing cars, life was in balance again and this vast new dimension was so freakin' alive! A hidden world discovered. Route 66 - Grants at midnight, Sands Motel, spoiled chocolate milk, get some sleep and don't sleep through your 4am alarm. Big push to Pie Town, downed 4 milkshakes, 2 slices of pie and loaded up with Gatorade, water and turkey sandwiches. The Gila loomed.....cattle tanks, spigots and pumps. Washboard from HELL! Shaken and Stirred! Rigid fork not advised. Plains of San Agustin. Heat, thirst, rock, did I mention the washboard? Soda machine at the work station....Root Beer in the middle of the Gila Wilderness - God's Hand! Late night push to a high camp and a ride on top of the divide for several miles. CDT Alternate shorter by 6.2 miles but longer by HOURS - hike-a-bike is my friend! Water and food about gone. Pinos Altos and two Coors with George Clooney. Silver City: 3 girls, 3 burritos, 6 tacos, 4 Pepsi's, 3 friends, Divide 29. A 5000 calorie resupply for the 123.9 miles to border. Fast slab, fast dirt and final night ride under the stars and the ocean of desert and ongoing mind-bending hallucinations.  I've got pictures so I know it was real. 1:00am Bivy next to I-10, trucks howling, trains singing, alarm screaming at 4:30am. Alien activity, drug trafficking, Border Patrol, 95 degrees, Hachita and the Loneliest Highway 81. Two miles from the Border - tears, dirt, fatigue and 25 days of emotions slowly being unleashed.  Seeing my forever love, Eve, I crumbled like broken child. I cried tears of joy and tears of sadness. Was it really over? Connie and the 3 wives...amazing show of love and support. 25 Days: 11 Hours: 18 minutes......Antelope Wells - International Border and Southern Terminus of the Tour Divide. My deranged dream was over.

....................

The Tour Divide may be a race of individuals, but for me it never could have happened with out the love and support of my family and friends. My beautiful wife, Eve, was with me every moment and at the end of a few difficult midnight phone calls, to offer support and encouragement. She sacrificed enormously to allow me to chase this dream. My amazing daughters, Erin and Ali, and their positive get-it-done attitudes kept me moving forward. My sister Connie for volunteering to take a couple vacation days to visit beautiful Antelope Wells for the finish of the race. My Dad and brother for watching over my family, and lawn, while I was gone. And my mom.....well, she's an Angel and always with me, especially on the divide!

And my friends? Wow, I am one very lucky and blessed man. Pals raised a pint at 8pm nightly and now I toast you for your love and support. I am truly honored and humbled by your friendship. And to the many others whom I don't know but offered me support in many different ways, I hope our paths cross one day and I can repay you kindness. What an incredible support crew!!

...................

I took a bunch of pictures and videos while riding the divide and am currently editing what I have and hope to cobble something together that I can share with family, friends, and any others interested in this race. Photos, videos and more ramblings coming soon. Plus I have a gear list - what worked and what didn't - that may be of interest to some coming soon.

....................

Great minds have agreed on one thing: poets go first and scientists catch up later. Do not discount your imaginings. They become your future”.

HOROSCOPE 12/8/10………

Grand Depart - Class of 2011

2011-06-09T23:17:00.000-06:00

It is the evening before the Grand Depart. The sun was finally out for the first time this week. Since we arrived on Monday the weather has been wet, cold and gloomy. What has been rather amazing is it stays light until 10:30pm, despite the oppressive wet weather! There is a reason they run this race shoulder season and the extended daylight hours is one. Lots of time to put in the miles if you have it in you at that hour. A storm is scheduled to blow in tonight not surprisingly.

Met lots of interesting cats from all over......Germany to Switzerland and Virginia to California. Seems like there is lots of nervous energy from the rookies and Eve said it appeared to be a very somber bunch. Some of the veterans of the Divide came in later and are happy to share their knowledge. A much more calm group for sure. And Crazy Larry was making the rounds and holding everyone in rapt attention! Mathew Lee, the guru of divide racing, multiple winner and all around great guy was missing this years event, but watching over us and sending emails regarding re-routing, GPS info and logistics.

....................

One of the riders doing an ITT (Individual Time Trial), Dave Bruno, lives in Switzerland. He left around 3pm on Wednesday and I rode with him for a few miles out of town on the Spray River Trail. He was missing his family and was ready to roll. We had an excellent chat and it gave me chills to escort him out of town on a magnificent trail and wish him well as he rounded the bend and disappeared in the silence and the mist. Safe travels Dave and I hope you make it to Antelope Wells.

....................

Many thanks again to Eve, Erin and Ali - wouldn't be here without your unconditional support and love. And so many thanks are due to dear friends who are so behind this and have become part of it . Much Love, kindness and respect to each of you.

....................

0.0 - In the parking lot behind the Banff Springs Hotel,

begin riding south on the Spray River Trail.

8:00am - the Tour Divide Class of 2011 rolls out!

Shout out to some very special people

2011-06-05T08:49:00.000-06:00

....................

When I wrapped my head around the thought of doing the Tour Divide, back in October or so, it seemed like I had lots of time. Well, I did, but the time has now come. We leave this morning for Canada. Ali is taking a break from her studies to join us and Erin is driving from Seattle to meet us in Coeur d'Alene, where we will spend the night, and then Monday we head north to Banff. I'm very happy my family is going to see me off.

We'll spend a few days together in Banff hanging out, hitting some pubs, relaxing, riding, final prep and going to the pre-race BBQ Thursday evening. Beers and Food with other aspiring Tour Dividians! I really can't wait!

The past week has been a whirlwind. With kit prep, closing the loop on work, and trying to get some rides in it has been HECTIC!

The highlight of the week, however was getting together with family and friends at Harrison Hollow for pitchers of beer and some great food. These people mean so much to me and their support and encouragement have truly given me strength and courage to give this race the best shot I can. During the good times, and the dark times I know that their thoughts and prayers will be with me. I love them all to death!

85 year old Norb Sr. who inspires me every day; my sister Connie and my brother Doug who are always there for me. Dear and devoted friends: Iron Couple John & Michelle and their super cool daughter Allie; Photographer Extraordinaire Darren; Fellow Fargo Fiend Chuck; Luvvly-jubbly Tri Couple Harold and Jules. Thank you all so much!

And special thanks to my wife and soul mate, Eve. Wouldn't even be close to getting this thing out of the blocks without your love and sacrifice. I owe you big time!! And my sweet daughters Erin and Ali, thank you for listening to countless, and I mean countless, discussions about all things tour divide. Not to mention Ali helping with those custom cue sheets. And Erin tracking down 'The Cordillera' at a Seattle book signing. Many, many thanks girls!!

And with that, I am signing off. Hope to throw in some updates from the road, but I really don't know how that will play out. The adventure begins.....

See you in early July when we can share a beer.

~~~ Best to all ~~~

Following the Race

2011-06-05T08:14:00.000-06:00

...................

There are several ways to follow this year’s Tour Divide race. All racers carry a SPOT Personal GPS Locator, so you can see a map showing where everyone is in near real time on the Tour Divide’s leaderboard by clicking here, which will take you to the trackleader site.

Save this site to your desktop so you can be a blue dot junkie all of June and into July!

And another very cool way to keep up with the race is to listen to the MTBCast podcasts. Racers periodically call in and leave a quick report of how things are going out on the route. It’s really a great way to get into the heads of the riders attempting this ride. You can find the podcasts on iTunes, and you can check out the MTBCast Facebook page right here.

Eve will also be doing some updates as she gets them from me or from the other sources. She will post to Facebook and the blog as she is inspired and has time.

EAT.SLEEP.RIDE.GREAT DIVIDE

Random Thoughts.....Divide Wisdom

2011-06-03T08:52:00.000-06:00

As I was going through the process last fall of trying to understand if the Tour Divide was a potential reality or just a dream left to others, I started making lots of notes from my research and it grew into a booklet of ideas, inspirations, pictures and quotes. I ended up with a 26 page manifesto.
I spent some time re-reading this document recently and it has taken on an entirely new perspective for me. What follows is an edited version of 'divide' wordsmithing that caught my attention.
Authors noted if known with apologies otherwise.

....................

"The most difficult thing in life is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward."

~ Amelia Earhart

Your travel arrangements and most importantly your safety is up to you. Approach the TD as if you are doing an independent adventure and have your own emergency plan in place.

Of course, I am not actually intimately involved in this race. What do I know? I haven't been close enough to feel the rhythm of The Race's heart. All I know is what I've read online and seen in photos and skimmed in comments on posts. What's interesting though is that even from my computer screen-- I can feel the heat!!!

The Tour Divide will test a rider’s physical stamina and mental capacity to endure. Physically, the route poses many challenges. Cardiovascular fitness is key. Most of the route is in the high desert above 7,000 feet and ascends up to 11,900 feet. Approximately 85 to 90% of the route is on dirt. A rider may loose up to 15 or 20 pounds of body weight by the end of the ride. Carbohydrate, protein, hydration, and salt intake are critical for stamina and health.

A rider will pass through free range cattle lands and be exposed to water born parasites and viruses, (much like traveling to a third world country).

Endurance is more important than speed. Some sections it is impossible to go fast and the downhill sections can be just as hard to ride as some of the long uphill portions. Wind currents blow from south to north and a rider will experience strong head winds, especial in the exposed basin regions. A rider may also be exposed to rain, thunderstorms, and even a mid summer snow. A rider should be prepared at all times for extreme temperatures that may range from 0 degrees to 120 degrees F.

The route is mentally demanding. A positive attitude is key to success on this ride. Some days a rider may feel like giving up. Don’t, the rewards are worth it. A rider will have to experience the bad to appreciate the good and there is much more good than bad. The route will push every rider outside of their comfort zone and challenge them in ways road tours cannot. A rider must be confident in their abilities and react to pressure with a level head. Common sense is also key.

....................

My point earlier…..asceticism was not that it is the answer for all, only that for each of us there are 'personal conditions' favorable for tapping into the awe of a grand tour race. It's up to each of us to figure out what those are, ipod or not. One thing's for sure: you will probably leave Banff thinking one way on many ideas/methods that you turn 180 on by Mexico.

Toughness is displayed at the moment one is confronted with the option to motel it -- at the 'choice' junctures (usually in towns). If you make it past this and out of town, the survival part down route in the backcountry will take care of itself -- no matter how not conducive to good sleep or resupply it might be. You have no choice, really. You bivy. You cope. Part of toughness is great physical strength/endurance but just as important is the unwillingness to be influenced from gobbling miles no matter what. This is where my talk on uncluttered and no concessions come from. Eliminate the 'tough' choices and you have no choice but to be tough -- because ultimately we all have that capacity. And therein lays the beginning of the 'heightened experience' and one of the more beautiful elements of racing a grand tour. Ask of yourself earnestly with faith to go bigger than you've ever thought possible. When/if you respond and break through to the next level, the possibilities seem endless.

One last thing regarding mental…….I am hereby calling you and anyone else out that tries to cite their age as a factor in their 'choices' on how to race a grand tour. I would like you to stop it. And get that nonsense out of your head. It's you against the course- Period. Not you on an age curve, but you on toughness curve. Cool!

You'll come to conclusions about what your own circadian rhythm will be out there. I suggest you arrive at it quickly and stick with it. The race is too long, too painful to be mixing it up too much. Train the machine early, let it do its thing and it will be happy. Happy machine = happy mind.

~Mathew Lee, multiple Tour Divide winner

....................

"Living on the road
My friend,
Is gonna keep you
Free and clean..."

~willie nelson

....................

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

~Mark Twain

....................

One Week Out.....

2011-06-02T06:26:00.001-06:00

Here I am one week out from the Grand Depart. Life is certainly hectic with final prep for the tour and getting business concerns and personal stuff in order to be gone for 5 weeks. Feels overwhelming but we are leaving this Sunday so I know things will be done. We have our deadline and it will be met. Really no choice in the matter.

I am extraordinarily fortunate to have my wonderful wife and soul mate in my corner on this journey. From the time when this adventure was just an outlying dream; and as it grew into a consuming obsession she was there to encourage and challenge me every step of the way. It has not been without sacrifice! Truly without her continual and unconditional support this TD endeavor would not be happening. She will be with me in my heart every pedal stroke and post hole of the way and be my rock and strength in the good times, the times of difficulty, and the space in between. I am grateful!

If I stray too far from you, don't go and try to find me.

It doesn't mean I don't love you, it doesn't mean I won't come back

and stay beside you.

It only means I need a little time

to follow that unbroken line.

To a place where the wild things grow.

To a place where I used to always go.

~Lucinda Williams

Snow Conditions are Biblical

2011-05-20T15:13:00.000-06:00

Snow pack up North is severe and without a real warming trend happening fast it sounds like there may be a reroute or two. An adventure it will be!!

Crossing the Continental Divide 29 times means many high passes and unless snow conditions retreat in the next couple weeks there will be lots of pushing and slogging through snow, and melting snow and mud. Parts of the Flathead received more snow in the month of April than December through March combined. Not surprising considering a week ago we had a bunch of snow dump in our foothills and blanket Bogus and Brundage. I can't even get down the other side of Bogus at the moment because of the level of snow!

....................

This is a great article on the '08 Tour Divide by Outside Magazine.............enjoy.

The World's Toughest Bike Race Is Not in France

2011-05-19T20:06:00.000-06:00

Along with the myriad of logistics and details associated with Divide racing, another element to add to the equation is the tacit understanding that you will be riding for many, many hundreds of miles in dense bear territory. The Divide route goes through the thick of bear country in Alberta, British Columbia and Montana. In Montana, the route skirts just east of Glacier only a few miles from Polebridge. I’ve backpacked in Glacier and they do lots of educating in the park before they issue your backcountry permit. No animal commands as much respect, interest, wonder and fear as the bear.

....................

I recently purchased a book titled “BEAR ATTACKS, Their Cause and Avoidance”. This is a must read for all Tour Dividians and was suggested by a few of the veterans and those that live and work in bear country.

The fundamental premise of the book is that knowledge of bear behavior and ecology can help mitigate the chance of an unwanted bear encounter.

Some of the highlights:

There are two types of attacks: defensive and predatory with different ways to respond to each and you need to understand the difference.

Playing dead is the best bet for minimizing injury during a defensive attack

Fighting back using any available weapon (a Fargo, for instance) is essential for a predatory attack Most serious and fatal attacks have been predatory

Most serious or fatal bear attacks have happened to single individuals or two people. There is safety in numbers.

Activities characterized by speed, not cautious attention to the possibility of encountering a bear, increase your chance of sudden encounters and related bear inflicted injuries.

The bottom line is you need to be alert and cautious; make noise with your whistle, do some yodeling; and be extremely cautious around blind corners. And understand general behavioral patterns.

A map was created by a Tour Divide guru of BEAR ACTIVITY zones and where to avoid bivying at the end of the day, or night……which is most of the route in Canada and Montana. There are a few zones that are relatively ‘calmer’. Banff is at the top where the red line begins and it goes south to just northwest of Yellowstone. That red, orange and yellow line is the Tour Divide route.

RED = Highest probability of encounters; ORANGE = Medium; YELLOW = Lowest

....................

My personal strategy is to get to Elkford (109 miles) on Day 1 and bivy in the town park. With a 9:00am Grand Depart that morning it means a late start. Day 2 will be tough with the mileage from Elkford to Roosville at the Canadian/US border being 144 miles. I probably won’t have the legs to get the distance, so, decision making will happen en route.

Gotta be smart about things, especially with food at night. All food off the bike, out of the jersey, into a bear bag 100 yards downwind, with nothing in the tent that would attract a bear. Try to grab some shut-eye…………with one eye open and a vigilant ear to the ground.

Shakedown Ride # 2: Indian Valley Area

2011-05-18T10:40:00.000-06:00

The second Tour Divide shakedown ride (Friday the 13th - darn flats!) came together quickly with a 2 day window to get out and explore. Decisions on which route to take were alleviated when my Dad said I should ride up into Indian Valley - brilliant suggestion!! With just a sketch of a route planned out I thought I would just make decisions as to specifics when the time came. The goal was 100 + mile days, test the knee (recent seat and cleat adjustment - thanks Harold!), work on gear detail, and get out and ride in some HEAT!

....................

The morning was crisp but all I needed were arm warmers since I would be climbing right away.

Riding some slab up toward Pearl.

Once you get out into the country you see some interesting mailbox standards. In college I did an independent study/photo documentary on the history and folklore behind these things. I am still fascinated by what people come up with and thought this was clever.

Snakes were out in full force for the weekend - a sure sign of spring!

This was really a fantastic road. Blue skies and silver clouds.

Puncture wound number one. The rocks on this section were sharp.

But there is always lots of junk on these roads from trailers bouncing around

and parts and pieces falling off.

Plugged and ready to roll.

On toward more of the same. More blue, more sky, more cloud.

Bill's hacienda in Indian Valley. Bill was an intriguing cat; a vet who lives off the grid, a philosopher and a historian. Sipping Keystone Light and rolling his own smokes as we talked, he gave me a tour, lighting up as he talked about his past 30+ years in the valley. He pointed out the history of the area (home of the last Indian war in the Northwest), the hiking, arrowheads, his bike collection, the neighbors - what neighbors?

He was a very engaging guy and I plan to pay him another visit and hike some of the country he was pointing out. And deliver a case of Keystone as well to repay him for the cold and refreshing well water he offered.

A collection of very interesting rocks.

An effigy in honor of the Forest Service.

Bill is a bike nut and was fascinated by the Fargo

Home Sweet Home

One of Bill's many collectibles

On into the town of Indian Valley

Rode Cottonwood Creek and the map and GPS showed an old road that looped to the east and then south to the Middle Fork of the Weiser where I was planning to camp that night. As I got into it it was steep and rutted. After an hour of pushing and riding I decided that was enough of a cardio workout for the day so turned it around.

Riding a quick downriver pace on Cottonwood Road I had another puncture to the tubeless. It was hot and I was tired and not in much of a mood to deal with a flat. Bike strategically placed almost in the middle of the road (no traffic all day!), I heard a car approaching and turned to waive it around and there was Chuck P!! Chuck had been following my progress with the SPOT Tracker and decided to come up and hang out and camp wherever I ended up at the end of the day. My reward for a successful tire plug was a cold Deshutes Red Chair, or was it Mirror Pond? Either way - cold beer with a good friend on a gravel road in the heat under a blue sky in a new place is priceless! Thank's Chuck - you are awesome!

Riding the Middle Fork road to find the campsite.

Always fun to hang out around a camp with fire, water, shelter and beer. I was sure happy.

Excellent steaks and bakers cooked in the fire.

Happy camper!

Heading out early morning

One of my favorite images - color, contrast and texture was a sensory overload.

Lunch time in a slight drizzle. Tortillas, crackers and tuna with trailmix.

Dodson Pass area

Relocated SPOT unit helped a lot!

Some company and cold well water in Sweet

Another day, another cemetery

Chugged two chocolate milks before the climb out of Horseshoe Bend - delicious!

Another hot one! Removed helmet to cool down and had tunes going for the long, slow climb

....................

SUMMARY

206 Miles

Approximately 10 hours a day in the saddle

Left knee felt better (made a minor cleat and seat adjustment)

Rode at a higher cadence - more spinning and less grinding

Food was exceptional - thanks again Chuck!

Hydration OK but in heat I was going through water quickly

Still avoiding the pack on my back

....................

Very pleased with the ride and the performance of the hardware. Not happy about two flats but pleased with two successful plugs that held. Good test anyway. The relocated SPOT worked flawlessly this round. Hell, Chuck found me in the middle of nowhere - may have been some luck thrown in there but I was impressed! Friends in Boise gave the SPOT reception a thumbs up. And my sweet Eve knew pretty close to where I was at all times.

I feel a step closer but still have lots to get accomplished at the home front, work to bring to closure, and a never shrinking task list of things yet to do. But it will get done and I will leave on the 5th of June for Banff.

Three Day Shakedown Ride #1

2011-05-07T09:47:00.000-06:00

It was essential to impose a deadline on myself for a shakedown trip to focus on assembling final gear, the logistics of packing, and getting in hundred mile days back to back. The weather was finally cooperating - at least it was not pouring rain!

The early part of the week was spent dialing in gear: bike, packs, tools, replacement parts, sleep/shelter, medicine, clothing, electronics, nutrition, hydration....the list goes on! All assembled and placed in its appropriate pack, bag or cage on the Fargo. I gotta say I was happy with some of my organizational solutions learned from years of dual-sport motorcycling. Here is a brief description with some images of the ride.

DAY 1: UPSTREAM, 107 MILES
ROUTE: From home to Bonneville Point/Blacks Creek to Prairie/South Fork/Anderson Ranch Dam/Pine/Featherville/Camp 1 east of Featherville a few miles.

Late start, around 10:00am or so, and headed out the Greenbelt toward Lucky Peak. My fellow Fargo friend Chuck (whew!), working in his office on Saturday, had been keeping an eye out for me. He hailed me down as I cruised by and we had a quick Fargo briefing confirming all systems GO. I then saw Colby and Casey, a couple tri friends, on their long Ironman training runs and had some conversation - Boise is small! Rode up to Bonneville Point and the water was rushing down the rocky trail. The Fargo was feeling good - well balanced and well behaved considering the 20+ pounds of gear. Lots of climbing to Prairie and had a quick re-supply at the Y-Stop. Roads were excellent and dropping down to the South Fork was incredible and inspiring. Zero traffic too!

After a hellish climb out of the surreal canyon there were black clouds to the north and as I crested the choppy road to Anderson Ranch I was hit with wind and cold with eventual rain to hail to snow flurries. Idaho weather! Put on my rain gear and rode in warmth and comfort along the west side of Anderson Ranch Reservoir and then had a chilly - and long - descent through some aspen groves as I headed north toward Pine. Rode through Pine and on to Featherville on pavement in a light rain. Talked with a couple grumpy old codgers in Featherville and was 'told' I could not head east, which was where I was planning to go. Eventually we all agreed I was on a non-motorized vehicle and it would be cool and I would not receive the requisite $500 fine for the infraction. I was expecting spandex comments but was prepared to retort that I was wearing wool. I bought a three year old Payday to bribe the authorities if necessary.

The campground was on the river and off of the road still closed to motorized traffic for the winter. It was excellent, quiet and had firewood at hand. Swiftly set up camp, changed to my lounge wear and prepared a gastronomic delight of fish tacos, a cheese quesadilla and a peanut butter tortilla roll up for desert complimented by a fine drink (Translation: tortilla with sardines; tortilla with parmesan; tortilla slathered with PB; washed down with a packet of REV3 in water). I was beat, didn't set an alarm and did not wake till after 8am to a cold, cold morning. Crazy long sleep....I was surprised!

....................

Day 2: UPSTREAM>DOWNSTREAM, 101 MILES

ROUTE: Featherville Camp/Baumgartner/Big Smokey/Reverse course>Featherville/Pine/Anderson Ranch/Camp2 above the South Fork.

Super cold morning, broke camp with numb fingers and toes. A Starbucks VIA (cold) and a breakfast burrito later I was ready to roll. Rode the Baumgartner Road along the Boise River and it was beautiful. The sun was out, patches of snow here and there, the evergreens smelled strong and it finally felt like it was SPRING! Headed toward the Big Smokey to check on snow conditions. Had a short-lived thought of hiking up to Skillern Hot Springs, but with only bike shoes and sandals this was not going to happen. Rode 10 miles or so south along the Little Smokey - it was a soft sandy base and it was brutal and slow going, plus I was climbing again! Ran low on water and got out the Steripen and treated 3 bottles of water, although the source was fast flowing and clear.

Discovered a real fine mid-day pick-me-up: Starbucks VIA coffee with Elete Electrolyte supplement added. Tasty and loaded with the right stuff! I never had to dig into the No-Doze to keep my head propped up and my eyes open. Retraced my route at this point back to Featherville, Pine, Anderson Ranch and then back down to the South Fork of the Boise. The goal was 100 miles and my calculations were very close. I got to the end of the canyon before the climb out to Prairie at a sliver under 100 miles. I crossed the Danskin Bridge and rode a brutally steep old rocky trail up for a mile or so, eventually finding a very remote and primitive campsite sheltered behind enormous rock formations - no wind, nothing - completely still. As night came on you could hear the sounds of animals moving and talking among themselves.

The campsite was fantastic and I had a small fire and enjoyed a meal of slow roasted ravioli's, some beans and a small bag of chips. I gotta say they were some of the best raviolis I have had.........cheesy, cooked el dente and full of flavor! Was I hungry?

....................

Day 3: DOWNSTREAM, 103 MILES

ROUTE: Camp2 above the South Fork/Prairie/Long Gulch/N. Middle Fork Road/Troutdale/S. Middle Fork/Arrowrock/Hwy 21/Boise

Woke up to a sub 30 degree morning........shook up some Starbucks and broke camp as quickly as possible. Frost on the bike, tent and gear with ice chunks in the water bottles. Had about a 20 mile ride to the Y-Stop, where I was going to grab some grub. Had an excellent breakfast of a giant pancake, eggs, slab of ham and coffee. This would prove to get me through a good portion of the day. I was again the only person at the Y-Stop (and maybe Prairie for that matter) and chatted with Cort, the owner, for an hour or so while I ate. I was feeling good as I started the multiple climbs up Long Gulch and eventually dropped down Slide Gulch to Middle Fork Road. The weather again was great and warming up quickly. I peeled my helmet off on one especially long climb cause I was getting overheated and there was no air.

I rode north toward Atlanta planning an out-and-back far enough to log the necessary 100 miles for the day. The road was super rocky and rough but once past Twin Springs the road became firmpack with only some potholes and boulders in the road to watch for. The river was so clear and deep I stopped a couple times and scanned for trout.

Had a front tire blow-out with the tubeless. Not sure what I ran over but the sealant could not keep up with the wound so I had to decide whether to boot the tire or take the easy way out and just toss a tube in. I went for the tube and hoped I didn't have another puncture since I only had one tube. I'll practice my booting techniques in the comfort of my garage. And by this time my interest was to point my wheels south and to rock and roll for the home front.

The road to Arrowrock was no better - rocky and rough the entire way, but once I hit the pavement of Highway 21 it was easy sailing, except for the grind up to Hilltop, where I got a large Coke at the grill to cool down and satisfy my afternoon caffeine requirement. All pavement and all downhill into Boise at this point. As I rolled into town there was a big wind storm and rain clouds brewing and it was starting to spit rain just a few miles from home.

....................

SUMMARY

311 miles total
About 10 hours a day in the saddle
Left knee damn sore and concerning
Sit bones bruised but healed quickly
Two toes on right foot numb for two days
Bike weighed in around 47 lbs. without water and food
Exhausted the day after both mentally and physically
Did I mention my messed up knee (Dr. appointment next week scheduled)
Sleep/shelter system was comfortable and quick to deploy
Food - need to work on higher calories and more variety
Hydration - May need to figure out how to carry another 2L or fluid
Goal of not wearing a pack on my back was met

....................

All in all I was pleased with the equipment, loved the route, my overall fitness level and how everything worked. I need to dial in some details still and I have a list in process. The SPOT GPS was not sending a consistent signal I found out after returning home. Wingmen John, Darren and Chuck were tracking progress online and it seems like the signal would go out for lengthy periods of time. Eve was happy to see my dot progress each day as well, even if it was sporadic.....movement is always a good thing.

With 5 weeks until the Grand Depart I feel I am under pressure and still feel under prepared. I plan to get in another shakedown ride, get the knee resolved, the GPS tracks of the Tour Divide route loaded without issues into my GPS, the cue sheets manipulated, the revised maps studied and fitted in my bar map holder, my cyclometer re-calibrated, parts shipped to two locations, bike torn apart and rebuilt, new rubber and hope to get to the starting line healthy, organized and confident.

Getting in the Miles

2011-04-29T09:18:00.000-06:00

Training for the Tour Divide has involved getting in lots miles and time on any bike. Winter training was in the 'Cave' on the computrainer four days a week, riding hills as much as possible, and getting some run miles in as well. The end of February I was able to pull off a trip to Boulder City, NV for four days of riding pavement on the TT bike. Here are a few photos from the archive:

Nevada = excellent weather, glassy roads and open space

Since the Fargo build I've been riding and dragging whoever I can with me on some training rides.

Near Emmett

Above Boise

Coming down 'Hard Guy'

Bonneville Point area

Chuck grinding it out

Near Pearl

Steve and Tom near Pearl

Motorcycle reconnaissance on South Fork checking out conditions

for a three day shakedown ride later in the week

Yep, had to pick up 575 pounds of love. Thanks for the assist, Bill.

Saving Harrison Hollow

2011-04-27T23:41:00.000-06:00

Not the Highlands Hollow Brewpub, that is...they are doing just fine with their handcrafted quality brews....love the hoppy Hippie Shake!

Harrison Hollow is a privately held 58 acre undeveloped parcel just off Bogus Basin Road. The current owners generously allow the land to be used for mountain biking, running, hiking or whatever. It is a very unique place close to downtown and just out our backdoor. We are very fortunate to have such a fantastic amenity so close to where we work, live and play.

The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley is raising money to preserve this parcel of ground. The Land Trust works to conserve important recreational, scenic and natural land from development through conservation easements. They have until the end of 2011 to raise the remaining funds and make the purchase.

Please consider helping the Land Trust make this important purchase by making a donation, and get out and enjoy these trails with your friends, your family and your dog!

Training and Unpredictable Weather.

2011-04-26T07:47:00.005-06:00

It has been an interesting evolution to ween myself from swim, bike and run training to a more focused effort on simply riding my bike. I've been getting in more long, off road endurance oriented rides along with bouts of single track. All of it includes as much vertical elevation that I can throw in. However, a major issue is the continuation of unpredictable weather. On rides north the snow line is at around 5,400 feet. This limits your options for mountain rides and the desert is just too wet. Cold hands and cold feet just seem to be the norm these days.

April 26 - NWS Treasure Valley Forecast: TODAY...PARTLY SUNNY WITH A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW SHOWERS IN THE MORNING. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT. HIGHS 48 TO 53. BREEZY. NORTHWEST WINDS 15 TO 25 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 40 MPH.

But I gotta keep training on the hills. The Great Divide route has some serious elevation gain!

Elevation Profile for the Tour Divide

A few hours mountain climbing turns a rogue and a saint into two roughly equal creatures. Weariness is the shortest path to equality and fraternity—and liberty is finally added by sleep. —Nietzsche

My Tour Divide Letter of Intent

2011-04-23T23:16:00.000-06:00

The Tour Divide accepts letters of intent annually, from the Winter Solstice, December 21st, until the Grand Départ, which is the second Friday in June. Prospective challengers are encouraged to declare their intent, but may also simply show up in Banff on June 10th.

....................

Dear Rulers of the Tour:

I hereby declare my intent to be at the starting line in Banff, Canada, on June 10th for the 'Grand Depart' of the 2011 Tour Divide.

This pursuit has been a wicked burn in my soul and now it is time to quench the fire and explore, dream, and discover. Uncertainty and trepidation are a part of this decision, along with a steroidal-like sense of adventure and the desire to push the boundaries and challenge myself in body, mind and spirit. I am ready to submerse myself into life on the divide in this border-to-border battle of attrition.

I resolve to abide by the rules and the honor code which has been laid down by the chiefs, as well as race with respect to those souls of the past who have suffered and endured in their own spiritual 'divide' quest.

See you in Banff in June and, God and knees willing, Antelope Wells sometime down the road.

It will be a good suffering.....

Cheers,

Norb DeKerchove
Boise, Idaho

....................

"Time-trial season on the Great Divide Route begins annually with a Grand Départ, occurring approximately the 2nd weekend in June from both termini of the Route. The goal of a Solstice common start is for athletes to challenge the Route in situ, under similar weather conditions and maximum daylight. Tour Divide requires no entry fee or formal registration. There is no prizing for finishing. A toll-free phone number with voice mail is provided to all riders for field reporting. Voice messages are podcasted on the Race Updates blog. Riders who carry SPOT GPS Messengers are tracked via the Live Tracker."

~from the TD web site

Hard parts.....Salsa Fargo

2011-04-15T06:25:00.002-06:00

My Tour Divide ride will be a titanium Salsa Fargo 29'er with a steel 'enabler fork' - so called due to the multiple bosses for bottle cages, racks or other bolt on items as needed for carrying options.

I ordered my frame back in November from Paul, the owner of Meridian Cycles. While waiting for the frame from Salsa we brainstormed on components and finally put together the parts list. Wheels were built while waiting for the frame and parts. Frame finally arrived the end of February, but I was delayed in building the bike since I was in Boulder City for training.

Once back to Boise I arranged time to work on the bike. The welds and the fit and finish on this frame are superb. The natural finish with 'Salsa' and 'Fargo' etched into the frame makes this a work of art worthy of any museum wall.

I Spent a day at Meridian Cycles building the bike with help from Paul and the super cool crew at the shop. I gotta say their jobs are secure since I am a very slow bike builder! Thanks so much Paul, George, Skye, and Eli for your patience and help. The international currency for bike shops - beer -coming your way.....

The plan from the start was to do a conservative 'build' for durability. The Divide tears bikes up with all the mud, water, dirt and debris. Riders ship drivetrains and other hard parts to various points along the route and hope things don't blow up beforehand. And if you don't need it ship it 1000 miles down the road and hope you still don't need it!

Finished product in the shop at home.

And in the kitchen.....Eve was impressed!

She rides like a dream. Titanium is super comfortable, light, responsive, and durable! The ride feels quick in the steering but not twitchy. And it behaves very nicely on climbs due to the stiffness of the material. And on steep descents the bike is super stable. Being a rigid frame with no front suspension however, it can be jarring in the rough stuff at speed so picking the right line is essential. The more I ride it the more I like it!!

It's about time...

2011-04-12T21:00:00.013-06:00

Well, here I go as I enter the world of blogging. There are 60 days until the Grand Depart from Banff and I am compelled to get this blog off the ground. I told myself April would be a good time to launch this thing.

My motivation? Simply to document my preparation, training and experiences during the 2011 Tour Divide mountain bike race. It has been an amazing several months, since about October when I decided to pull the trigger on this epic event. How did I get here? Let's see if I can make sense of it...

It all began with a couple friends inviting me to see a documentary playing at the local theatre in September of 2010. This inspiring and moving film was Ride the Divide, which is an exceptional movie about the 'world's toughest mountain bike race.' That alone hooked me plus the chance to have some beers and hang out with friends. But, it really was the amazing beauty, the remote landscape, the isolation and the possibility of such an adventure that just captured me.

That same night I started doing some research on 'Bikepacking' and had all sorts of thoughts of getting out and doing some cool trips in the Idaho backcountry. I was all amped up, quickly sending good friends John and Darren emails suggesting we start incorporating bikepacking into Ironman training. My thought was simple.....get a rigid frame 29'er and hit the backroads and trails like I do for dual-sporting on my motorcycle. This would be a great way to log triathlon training miles while getting off the pavement. Throw on some gear for an overnighter and suddenly your building an adventure! I was later told that when they left the theatre the night before they were wondering how long it would take for me to start planning some bikepacking adventures..........my friends know me well! My interest at the time was simply bikepacking, learning and getting in some off-road training miles.

....................

Rewind to a chapter further back in time, I have always had a love affair with all things two-wheeled. Early recollections include tricycles and bicycles - riding in rain and mud and snow. Wheelying around the 'hood on a Schwinn Stingray and riding trails and dirt on my sisters 'big bike'. Graduating to motorcycles and motorcycle racing, back to bikes and long distance bicycle touring, then back into motorcycles and adventure touring - and bikes! Why two wheels vs. four?

'Two wheels move the soul to distant horizons, clearing the mind of clutter and eliminating the noise of our everyday world. One is in the moment - there is no other choice'

....................

Sometime in October I was on a training ride out in the desert on some pavement training for Ironman Arizona.....long miles and lots of hours in the saddle. Two months earlier I had competed in Ironman Canada and was very fatigued - mentally - with pounding out these long rides on pavement. I was ready for a change but had to stay focused and get through the Arizona race.

However, the Tour Divide had wrapped itself around my brain by this time and that seemed to be all I could think about. An obsession? Definitely! A compulsion? Probably! So many questions: Could I do this race - mentally get through it and physically not blow up? Could I handle being essentially ALONE for that long - emotionally? Could I take the time away from family, business and commitments for three weeks, a month? And what could I learn from the process of preparing for a race of this scale? What kind of spiritual journey would present itself? Another awakening?

"A ferocious and sadistic itch.....

I am obsessed and sick of you Tour Divide!

You are a life sucking apparition and I hate you for ruining my life!"

~ Anonymous

....................

Ironman Arizona hit in November and after the race I was in full Tour Divide research and planning mode. Equipment, logistics and planning ensued. All of this was done quietly and family and friends were not aware of my covert operation. I avoided questions about my race calendar for 2012. I had to make sure I was commited and had a long way to go before I threw this out there.

....................

The Tour Divide accepts letters of intent annually, from the Winter Solstice until the Grand Depart on the 2nd Friday in June. My letter of intent was drafted and this adventure was becoming real. Time to have a discussion with my soul mate and best friend, Evadna, my lovely wife of 30 years. A romantic dinner downtown, snow falling, drinking wine and talking over the race. She was on-board with little hesitation and since has been drawn into the vortex of the divide race. I am damn lucky and blessed to have such an amazing, supportive and loving person in my life! Forever and Always.

....................

The next day we had breakfast with our two daughters, Erin and Ali. I told them of the plans for the Tour Divide and I guess they were not terribly surprised. Ali had seen the film with us in September and she even made the comment, "how soon before dad decides to do that?" They were interested and engaged and I think it captured their own imaginations. Life without so many borders.....

I truly hope my beautiful daughters have a life of love, passion and adventure and that they find their own Ironman or Tour Divide or whatever it may be that ignites their imagination and creativity.

....................

So here I am, the 2011 Edition of the Tour Divide is coming up very soon. I'll have the luxury of riding my bike for - how long? Who knows how long it will take me to pedal 2,745 miles. I'll be racing in the shadows of the fast guys and will feel very fortunate just to make it to the finish line. But for now I dream of spending several weeks in some very beautiful and remote mountain and desert landscapes.

...................

"The most difficult thing in life is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.

The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do.

You can act to change and control your life;

and the procedure, the process is its own reward."

~ Amelia Earhart