Tour Divide 2024

[whitestone]

I wonder what's happened to Ulrich? He's not moving, and his tracker dot has disappeared?

Sometimes the SPOT devices throw a wobbly and until someone contacts you to say so you don't know.

Anyway...

By my reckoning Justinas Leveika is some 150 miles ahead of Mike Hall's record pace. I've no idea of what differences in this year's route compared to the one MH rode lay ahead. The Gila seems one that's always subject to change.

[GoneCaving]

The pace of Justinas and Uba is staggering. It looks like they’re well ahead of Mike’s dot (though recall that the dot is an average pace).

In terms of the route changes since MH’s time, the main one in the North is Koko Claims vs the ACA route through Elkford. I reckon this adds two hours minimum, as it’s a tedious hike a bike up, not ridable in parts on the way down (don’t ask me how I know), and later another small pass to rejoin the original route.

In the Southern end of the route, there are three new changes this year that take in more off-road sections which again will slow down this years riders vs prior years. It will be interesting to see if this is enough for the MH to pass, I’m guessing not.

And then there’s always the random element of the weather in the remaining days….

[BridlewayBimbler]

The pace of Justinas and Uba is staggering. It looks like they’re well ahead of Mike’s dot (though recall that the dot is an average pace).

In terms of the route changes since MH’s time, the main one in the North is Koko Claims vs the ACA route through Elkford. I reckon this adds two hours minimum, as it’s a tedious hike a bike up, not ridable in parts on the way down (don’t ask me how I know), and later another small pass to rejoin the original route.

In the Southern end of the route, there are three new changes this year that take in more off-road sections which again will slow down this years riders vs prior years. It will be interesting to see if this is enough for the MH to pass, I’m guessing not.

And then there’s always the random element of the weather in the remaining days….

The pace is indeed staggering! Both Justinas and Ulrich are well ahead of Mike Hall's FKT. I think Laurens Ten Dam would've also beaten it, or been damn close if it weren't for his tyre issues. Also, kudos to Meaghan Hackinen, who has been absolutely incredible so far,, Aidan Lampe who through The Great Basin half blind afrer being bitten by a bug while bivvying, and Terry Byrne from Colchester, who I believe is an ex Para who was injured while merging his country, and is the first amputee to ride Tour Divide

[Dave Barter]

Justinus nearly at Abique where I paid a fortune for the biggest motel room ever and an amazing steak! The section after that is tough and if it rains … very sweary

[Hyppy]

Looks like Justinas is playing rope-a-dope now, letting Uba gain ground without rest, in readiness for a push through to the finish? </armchair opinion>

It's gonna be odd not seeing a MH dot on the map in future editions.

[riderdown]

It's gonna be odd not seeing a MH dot on the map in future editions.

They can run it as a dot as often as they like,they just need to add a separate record one

As for the race, if I was chasing I'd want to pick the point at which I do the overtake and a have a plan for how to keep the lead

It could end up a two up sprint on the final 500m

[Dave Barter]

Big road section then easy tracks coming up. We will see who has the legs to Pie Town

[fatbikephil]

Interesting spectating Meaghan Hackinen versus Lael Wilcox's dot - every night it passes here and every day she passes it. She also seems to have dropped Ana Jager again.

[GoneCaving]

Interesting spectating Meaghan Hackinen versus Lael Wilcox's dot - every night it passes here and every day she passes it. She also seems to have dropped Ana Jager again.

That would be the average speed aspect of the dot (it’s not tracking Lael’s ride but rather her average pace). I think the final route change will swing in Lael’s favour (straight run on road to AW vs the off road section from Hachita).

[fatbikephil]

Ah right enough. Could be down to the wire then!

https://bikepacking.com/plog/2024-tour- ... die-clark/

Some good pics of the conditions...

[Hyppy]

Ah right enough. Could be down to the wire then!

https://bikepacking.com/plog/2024-tour- ... die-clark/

Some good pics of the conditions...

Some stunners there. Although every time I consider the event something to aim for there's a pic or mention of a bear and it becomes a hard no. Nope. Never.

Very much related, anyone seen the movie Backcountry? <-- Gory Spoiler Content Warning!

[fatbikephil]

Some stunners there. Although every time I consider the event something to aim for there's a pic or mention of a bear and it becomes a hard no. Nope. Never.

Very much related, anyone seen the movie Backcountry? <-- Gory Spoiler Content Warning!

Bears in Canada, tarantulas in New Mexico....

GB divide anyone?

[BridlewayBimbler]

Ah right enough. Could be down to the wire then!

https://bikepacking.com/plog/2024-tour- ... die-clark/

Some good pics of the conditions...

Some stunners there. Although every time I consider the event something to aim for there's a pic or mention of a bear and it becomes a hard no. Nope. Never.

Very much related, anyone seen the movie Backcountry? <-- Gory Spoiler Content Warning!

A female rider was attacked and killed on the route.last year by a Grizzly.

[Alpinum]

Some stunners there. Although every time I consider the event something to aim for there's a pic or mention of a bear and it becomes a hard no. Nope. Never.

I spent 90 - 100 days camping in the wild in Canada (Rockies between boarder at Waterton NP and area called Kakwa Lakes about 1000 km north) and in var. places in Alaska.
Often in prime bear grounds. often even following bear tunnels through alders and other shrubs for easier bushwhaking.
Not one single incident with bears. In fact, we only saw two bears from a distance! Saw many other (more fierce?) creatures on a more regular basis. It's not that the bear is a problem, it's your behaviour and also the behaviour of those who came before you.
The more remote you go, the less bears are accustumed to folks.
But yes, along the GDMBR many mistakes are being made and bears benefit from this. In the end it makes your journey less safe. But look at statistics, there really are very, very few bear incidents.
Better stop using roads in UK if you're afraid of being mauled by one of the many monster bears, roaming the NA forests for an easy feast on the muscular legs of tired ciclists.
The book Bear Attacks by Stephen Herrero (ISBN 9781493034574) is a great read and considered the best book to learn how to behave correctly so not only you, but also bears can stay safe.

[Hyppy]

The book Bear Attacks by Stephen Herrero (ISBN 9781493034574) is a great read and considered the best book to learn how to behave correctly so not only you, but also bears can stay safe.

And just what is the average reading age of a bear?

[riderdown]

there's a pic or mention of a bear and it becomes a hard no. Nope. Never.

I remember watching someone's tour divide vids where they are clearly bricking it and constantly singing out "hey bear"

It's a concern but there's lots of good advice available to reduce risk

You are more likely to get killed by an XL Bully in the UK than by a bear when you are cycling that route sensibly

[benconnolli]

Fears are irrational and take little regard for statistics. If you'd have a bad time being scared of bears, then you'd have a bad time regardless of if you get killed or not.

[fatbikephil]

Fears are irrational and take little regard for statistics. If you'd have a bad time being scared of bears, then you'd have a bad time regardless of if you get killed or not.

Primal instincts kicking in - you see a large carnivore and tend to want to run away very quickly, after first lightening the load, so to speak....

[godivatrailrider]

Fears are irrational and take little regard for statistics. If you'd have a bad time being scared of bears, then you'd have a bad time regardless of if you get killed or not.

.... agreed ... it's zombies and werewolves that scare me most wild camping

[Dave Barter]

Fears are irrational and take little regard for statistics. If you'd have a bad time being scared of bears, then you'd have a bad time regardless of if you get killed or not.

.... agreed ... it's zombies and werewolves that scare me most wild camping

Nope. Snoring

[BridlewayBimbler]

Having read about the attack I believe the rider did make some basic mistakes, such as sleeping with food in her tent, which I imagine only encourages the bears to get close to people.

[PaulB2]

To be fair having watched way too many films, I'd be more afraid of the backswood humans

[Alpinum]

The book Bear Attacks by Stephen Herrero (ISBN 9781493034574) is a great read and considered the best book to learn how to behave correctly so not only you, but also bears can stay safe.

And just what is the average reading age of a bear?

I can elaborate how you help the bears by sticking to some rules if you wish.

[jameso]

I'm catching up here. Sorry it didn't go to plan Duncan, sounds like a really tough first few days this year. Fair dues though, there's rides like this, the HT and a few others that there's no way to make it 'just a ride', they're a big commitment however it pans out.

About the reading age of bears

Said one park ranger, "There is considerable overlap between the intelligence of the smartest bears and the dumbest tourists."

To be honest, part of the reason I couldn't consider a tent for that area is the idea of being zipped up inside and hearing heavy wildlife outside. Terrifying. At least from a bivi you can see what's going in. All in all I'd take the tiny risk of bear problems that can be managed with common sense over traffic risk on something like TransContinental which is outside my control. And in terms of actions and consequences I expect there's a lot of overlap between the intelligence of bears and the average (not even the dumbest) drivers..

[Dave Barter]

Back to the race. Mikes record is definitely falling today